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Burlison BearsFull time, meaning every weekday like a regular 9-5 job.
Just curious. And for any of you who are could you tell how you were able to get to this point? How long did it take? What's your story? I'd be very interested to hear your career path stories.
-Eliza
Sunnie BearsI just retired from my fulltime day job with the govt. And now I work fulltime from about 10-5 on bears. (most days) BUT that being said, I DON'T depend on the bears to make a living. If my retirement and savings would not have been enough to live on, I could never have retired so early.
Sonya
Newcastle, OntarioHi Eliza,
I'm not totally full time either, but I do spend at least 5 hours a day on my bears and most days more than that. My kids are grown and gone, and hubby works long days, so I am lucky that I can fit in that much time every day. I am a really slow bear maker and sew almost all my bears by hand (except when I make a few larger ones). My income is supplementary, but it does take care of quite a few bills and I seem to be increasing each year. I made a decision this year to really work as much as possible over the next 5 years, until hubby retires. I really think if I had to, I could give it a good go at making it full time.
There are a few gals on here that totally depend on bears for their living and I have great admiration for them. I think it has to be a labor or love, or it would be gruelling. I can't imagine trying to fit in all the hours if there are small children at home, though.
hugs,
Brenda
The bears are my one & only job & has been for the past 11 years. When I started in 95', there were tons of huge shows which made networking & getting your name out there alot easier (thank goodness now for the internet). I do remember that I used faux fur until I sold enough bears to buy my first peice of mohair 
A suggestion I have for getting your name out there (a suggestion given to me by Mindy Kinsey years ago) is to send your pics into the magazines for consideration in The Bruins & Buddies section. Exposure, exposure, exposure :photo: To answer your question about a work schedule, mine depends on how many orders I have. I am such a night owl, that my schedule is more like 2:00pm - sometimes 4:00am, (this schedule made for one sleepy girl when I did the shows) :redface: I want to be a morning person when I grow up
~Denise
Rose Bear CottageI feel like I work fulltime 
on my teddy creations. After my day job, I come home and work on teddies almost every evening and on the weekends. I remember only having teddy creations as an income for a few years.
Denise, I have been encouraged to send in pics of my creations to Bruins and Buddies by Mindy and others and Have never submitted any. I have been working on getting pics in now that I am settled in from my recent move and job change. Thanks for mentioning it here in this post. 
Burlison BearsI would love to get my bear photos out there. What is the Bears and Buddies section? What magazine is that? I don't have any teddy bear magazines. And how does that work? Do I submit a photo of a bear that is not currently on auction? Or do I submit photos of past work that has already sold? And how do I advertise? I don't have a website. I only auction on ebay.
It's been a year now and I feel that my bears are better than ever before, and I feel that I've really developed my own style...so I think it's time I did start to advertise. Don't know how to go about it. What magazines are y'all getting? There aren't any teddy bear magazines at any of the bookstores or grocery stores where I live. Could you guys clue me in on these mags and how to advertise? I'd really appreciate any advice about this.
-Eliza
Melbourne, AustraliaHi Eliza,
Making teddies and critters has been full time for me for the past ten, almost eleven years. I wouldn't say it's a regular 9-5 job, as I often work peculiar hours (a bit like Denise...often sewing at 4 am) and the income can be just as erratic, but it certainly has it's benefits and I wouldn't change places with a soul.
I teach teddies two days a week and the rest of my time is spent either designing bears for myself or for patterns, hand-sewing my bears, updating the website and promoting my work either through shows or magazine articles, taking care of general business accounts, researching new products and sourcing materials as well as preparing notes for classes etc.
If you want to become rich in the $ sense you're in the wrong place ... If you want job satisfaction, a creative outlet, a feeling of being fullfilled ... you've just gotta keep at it and ...
DO WHAT YOU LOVE & LOVE WHAT YOU DO
Good Luck!
EDIT: Subscribe to Teddy Bear and Friends and go to their website for info on how to submit your bears. http://www.teddybearandfriends.com
Hi Eliza. The Bruins & Buddies section is in Teddy Bear & Friends magazine. You can send any bears pics to them. I have sent editions, sold, Ebay etc... you just want to show your work. I would send to Teddy Bear Review & other publications as well. I believe you can email them as well. The magazines are GREAT & love to showcase & support our work. They want to show the World everything BRUIN 
~Denise
If you want to become rich in the $ sense you're in the wrong place ... If you want job satisfaction, a creative outlet, a feeling of being fullfilled ... you've just gotta keep at it and ...
DO WHAT YOU LOVE & LOVE WHAT YOU DO
I totally concur with Sandi (above). It's the most fullfilling job I've ever had. I'd be lost without The Bears & all their wonderful Bear Mom's & Dad's.
~Denise
Burlison BearsThanks Denise!
I'm going to subscribe to those 2 magazines! I can't wait to see all the other artist bears listed in them. And I'll start sending in my own photos.
p.s. I really loved the bear you had on ebay many many months ago. I wish I could remember her name...but she was like a toddler girl bear with a cute little dress and there were pictures of her in a small horse rocker, I think. She was the most adorable bear I've ever seen! 
I also loved the bear you listed over a year ago...a dark girlie bear who ate her vegetables and wore green. Maybe her name was Sweet Pea or something similar. Just the cutest thing! I always look forward to viewing your auctions. 
-Eliza
Your welcome Liza. Try going to their sites to see if there is an area to submit photos. You might just try sending directly to The Editors. These days, they might tend to get lost going "Snail Mail"
Sweet Pea was from ages ago. I'm so glad you remembered her. The little Girly in the horse rocker is Babbs. I'm always on the look out for those doll rockers. They are just the cutest.
Be sure & let me know what happens with your bear photo submissions.
~Denise
puca bearsHiya
a couple more magazines you might like to consider...
Teddy Bear Scene has a regular "What's New " feature, and Kathy Martin, the editor, tries her level best to print as many pics as possible...she's at kathym@warnersgroup.co.uk - nice lady!!!
And then Teddy Bear Club International - they have an "Around the World" feature - editor Kirste (another nice lady!) is at kirste@ashdown.co.uk
Both worth a try - your little bears are SO nice, I'm sure we'll be seeing them in print soon!
huggies
Maria
Burlison BearsOh thank you Maria!
I will look into those magazines too!
-Eliza
Burlison BearsOkay, I wanted to let y'all know that I emailed one editor at a magazine yesterday. The magazine is Teddy Bear Review, which I don't have a subscription to but I am awaiting a free sample copy. I sent a photo of Milo, my recent bear who was just auctioned today...(thanks to Maria of Pucabears...thanks again Maria!!), and the editor emailed me today saying she loved the photo of Milo and she sent me an attached file of advertising rates. I downloaded it, and it's teeny tiny writing...very hard to see. But those look to be some very steep rates to advertise your bears. I didn't know this was something very expensive.
So what option are y'all choosing when you have a little photo advertisement in one of the magazines? I probably can't afford to do anything like this at this time, but I'm just curious. Are the other mags just as expensive?
Which magazines have any of you gotten a photo in? Especially, when you were new at this whole bear business?
-Eliza
puca bearsEliza.....I seem to be following you round the site!
E-mail Kathy Martin for a start, at the Teddy Bear Scene - send her a pic or two for the "whats new " section......won't cost anything, and I bet she prints one! Worth a TRY!
huggies
Maria
Back Road BearsMy turn..... I've been making bears for 7 years, and full time for 3 years. But not just making them... I also do web design for a couple of bear artists, I organize teddy bear shows in New England and I teach bear making workshops. I'm not disciplined enough to keep regular 9-5 type hours. It's usually noon before I get around to much and then I'm up til 2 am with breaks in between for meals, the dogs and hubs. But I'm THINKING bears constantly.... schemeing new marketing strategies, new patterns, new ideas for my shows, new sources for supplies, and so on. I wouldn't be able to support myself on what I make. Most of us know that's near impossible from the start.
As for magazines.... do take advantage of the free sections. Ads are indeed very expensive. Teddy Bear & Friend's ad rates I find to be a bit less than TBR's AND the whole magazine (TB&F) is in color, which, as a collector, appeals to me more. I was contacted by TBR this past month with special ad rates... you might want to inquire about that! Their discounts brought their ad prices down to what TB&F charges. I've placed many 1/8th page ads in TB&F and every time the ad has paid for itself through orders. Sometimes it has taken a couple of months for those orders from that issue to come in but I've been lucky in that it's happened.
It's also said that just putting yourself in the public eye can eventually pay off but you have to STAY in their eye. Keep reminding them about your bears. It's work. You do have to 'spend money to make money' but it's a matter of determining WHERE your money is best spent. You are doing your homework right now.... good for you asking questions! SOme of it is going to be trial and error to find what works best for you.
You might consider being a member of www.bear-artists-online.com- a website created by a bear artist and fellow TTer which has it's official grand opening tomorrow, Mar 1. For a very resonable price you can advertise on that site or even have your own showcase page which Penny designs for you. She does a beautiful job. The site is up.... check it out!
Traveling to a bear show, if's it's not too far or too much of an expense is also a fantastic way to spread the word about your bears and gain new collectors. If there are any upscale, high quality craft shows near you consider participation in those as well. I sell more at these types of shows than I do bear shows to be honest (and that's coming from a bear show promoter.... go figure!) There are more artists than their SEEMS to be collectors. We need to gain new collectors... folks not already at bear shows! Craft show attendees find hand made bears to be something new to them and they get excited and buy!
It's work if you want to earn money doing this and it's near impossible to support yourself on bear making (I didn't say impossible but those who can have worked LONG and hard and deserve the prices they now get!) Have patience and be willing to put in the time and effort and be realistic.... it'll pay off.
Burlison BearsHey Maria! I think we're playing "tag"! 
I just emailed photos to Kathy Martin...so we'll see what happens!
Thanks for the advice.
And Daphne, thank you so much for your advice and words of wisdom. I will take it all to heart. Thanks!
-Eliza
PawssiblesI have been making bears for approximately ten years, early on I went to bear shows and did quite well. Now I live in a rural area, so shows are not available and not cost effective. I did sell to a couple to stores, but sales have gone down in that area. I joined Teddy Talk a couple of months ago and have learned so much from the other artists on advertising, etc. So take up their suggestions and plug along, that's what I'm doing. It's all about perseverence in the end. Good Luck.
