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Sandi got me thinking with her "fed up" post about not being able to find Teddy Bear magazines at local vendors anymore. Bottom line, if not enough people are buying them, vendors stop carrying them. So then I ask, "Why aren't people buying them?" Which leads to, "Why do we buy the magazines we do buy?" "What's the draw?"
I have had two collectors tell me in recent weeks they no longer buy teddy bear magazines. So, I asked them, "Why?" Both answers came back the same. They're boring. They're tired of looking at the same thing in each issue, year after year. I don't necessarily agree. However, after looking at the few issues I've kept over the years I can kind of see what they're talking about. I have to admit this too, I barely give the magazines a thought unless there are current topics....like this months issue of TB&F with the article on blogging.
Some of us would like to see the teddy bear recognized as an art form. Art Doll Quarterly is recognizing it in their winter issue. Maybe there should be Teddy Bear Art Quarterly. Perhaps the industry is lagging behind with their thinking that the teddy bear is just "soft and squishy". Dolls have evolved. Why not bears?
Would you buy a quarterly magazine about bears? What topics would you be interested in? Do you even read the topics in the magazines now or do you just look at the pictures?
One of the things that always draws people to look at here on Teddy Talk is a peek at artist studios. For goodness sakes, there is even a book out there entitled, Where Women Create. People are obviously interested. Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion shows artist studios.
Another thing.....creative display. I'd love to see how people display their bears creatively and how they live with their bears.
I'm an out of the box thinker. I believe it's time for the magazines to think outside the box too. The old formula obviously isn't working.
You've heard my thoughts. What say you? Shake things up a bit.....but let's keep it positive, okay?
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Nothing to add, but a round of applause Aleta :clap: :clap: :clap: I like this thinking! 
I'm a huge fan of the entire line of Stampington & Co. magazines starting from the very foundation of what they're doing -- the paper they use. It's thick, glossy, and high quality. Their super-thick, matte covers are especially appealing.
That publisher chooses paper like that, I'm sure, for two reasons:
-- One, because they can afford to, because they obviously have huge circulation and are well represented in bookstores and can pay for it. Money buys opportunities. This may not be something the bear magazines can currently contemplate, but it might be, going forward.
-- Two, because it better showcases the art work on display in their publications.
Which brings me to my real comment in answer to your query, Aleta, and that is... in the best of all possible worlds, I'd like to see much larger, higher quality photographs featured in the bear magazines, printed on nicer paper, and showcased in a design-coherent way.
I realize there are cost issues involved with options like these. Obviously, for whatever reason, the Stampington magazines (Art Doll Quarterly; Somerset; Belle Armoire; Take Ten; to name just a few) have managed to build huge capital to work with every month. Less cashflow will certainly mean more black and white images, and fewer studio-shot images.
But I think one of the reasons that the Stampington magazines are so very successful is that they don't just present eye candy as a concept... they present eye candy in the form of their magazines, themselves. In other words, it's so much nicer to look at a beautiful PHOTOGRAPH that's really big and shot professionally, printed on gorgeous paper that feels great in the hand, than it is to look at a beautiful bear in a tiny photograph, taken in mediocre lighting, printed on not so great paper. The magazines themselves, with the Stampington offerings, are things of beauty. And they're priced as such! Which encourages them to be viewed, I think, as collectible mini-books. And at roughly $14 a pop, I do save every last one! Which breeds a certain loyalty and memorability. And so on. It's almost circular.
The other thing I think these magazines get so right is that they have a coherent design perspective. Meaning that each magazine has a certain "look" to it. While they all have certain similarities to one another, they each have a particular feeling as well, especially from issue to issue. A Halloween issue of ADQ, for example, might feature orange and black lettering throughout. I like the large fonts used and the color choices and shadows they choose for their titling; there's some real imagination there! Often you'll find blocks of color behind images, and many of the issues feature how-to or step-by-step articles as a part of what they offer. It's not just for eyeballing!
Anyway, what it boils down to, and what might not be possible for the bear magazines at the moment, is that I'd love to see our beloved bear industry magazines produce periodicals that are as beautiful as the bears they feature. And speaking possibly only for myself, I'd rather see a nicer magazine, less frequently -- every other month, or even quarterly -- than receive thin issues that almost give the IMPRESSION that there's no interest behind them.
I'm not singling out any one country, publication, with this comment, by the way; I've seen bear magazines from all over, and most of them seem to struggle with this same problem.
My bottom line, in answer to your question about buying magazines... with these Stampington magazines, the draw is that THEY'RE PRETTY and HIGH QUALITY and I want to have them to use as reference. I probably wouldn't care as much about referencing them if they had photos that were small or in black and white or grainy.
Thank you, Paula. And here I was, thinking I was the only one brave enough to step up and say anything. Unless we step forward with ideas and solutions how can we expect a change?
Hugs and hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Is my post not showing up??? Yeesh. You retire, and immediate become invisible around here.
Cracking up here... :crackup:
Shelli said: And speaking possibly only for myself, I'd rather see a nicer magazine, less frequently -- every other month, or even quarterly -- than receive thin issues that almost give the IMPRESSION that there's no interest behind them.
Yes!!!! Me too!! You always say it sooooo much better. 
Hugs and hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Burlison BearsAleta,
Good job bringing up this topic! :clap:
I think your ideas are wonderful! Especially about seeing how people display their bears and decorate their home with bears...and not just bears but other soft sculpture critters and art related to the creations. I'm really into rustic primitive decorating and I love to see how bears can be added into the surroundings as a perfect fit. A good example I see is Wendy Meagher's bears and how she puts them into old cupboards with related antiques. I'd love to see rooms in the teddy bear mags with how bears are incorporated into that setting. And the same goes to people who decorate in a romantic Victorian style with their critters. That would be really cool. I would love to see photos like that in magazines.
I can totally understand why you say you know collectors who no longer look at the magazines. I've only been looking at the magazines for 2 years now (and only have a subscription to 1)...and I see what they mean. I'm new to this so it is still exciting but if I was looking at the mags for 10 years I probably would be bored. They are very similar in each issue. You do see a lot of the same type of artist bears and the same kind of articles. I think the magazines should try to do a fresh makeover with their mags. I'd love to see more new artists and the stories behind how they got started, what inspires them. And stories about artists who have been around for a long time...what keeps them going, what advice can they give to newcomers, what techniques they can share, how the industry has changed and so on. I'd like to see photo contests with how you display the bears in a theme setting. Maybe even pattern contests. I'd like to see more stories on real life bears, who obviously, is our inspiration for making the smaller furry versions. I'd like to see more literature critiques about all the different bear making books out there. I would love to know more of the history behind each type of antique bear out there. I'd like to see other forms of art that are bear and animal related.
Thanks Aleta for bringing this topic up!
Aleta, I love art doll quartertly.. why.. because they have awesome photographs and out of the box creations in most issues. I love the focus on seasons.. like when magazines do specials on Halloween and Christmas. Issues that are special that you keep for years. I do read the articles, but only if the photos appeal to me. I am getting a subcription to Teddy Bear Scene, I picked up an issue at the book store and was very happy with the publication.
I will agree somewhat about the magazines being somewhat boring. I would like to hear about artists who take some creative risks in Teddy/Critter making. I loved that recent article about "where are they now" artists.. even if they are not making bears anymore, it is still neat to hear how they are doing and what creative endeavor they are into now (or what they are doing now). I use to love the challenges the magazines did.. where they would get a few artists to use the same patten... see how different the bears turned out.
I agree with the studio/workspace, I LOVE to see where others create.. Look at how many home decor magazines are out there. People are snoopy... lol. I know I am! 
Anyway, great topic!
Bear Hugs!
Melanie
q.D.paToOtieSI'm a huge Art Doll Quarterly magazine and have been buying it off the news stand since the beginning (I know I should subscribe but it gives me something to look forward to when I go to Borders 
). I love the layout, the feel of the pages, the uniform look as if I'm almost looking at a catalog, and most of all how much it inspires me.
Anyway, I am a brazen person who willingly shares her ideas whether people want to hear them or not. So at the Doll and Teddy Bear Expo I learned that the new publisher of Teddy Bear Review, Mr. Joe Kools, was coming around to introduce himself. I was prepared and had gone through his magazine the night before making notes. I had dropped my subscription the year before because I was dissatisfied with the quality of the magazine. I told him that I had unsubscribed and then explained the reason why. Then, I pulled out my four pages of notes, complete with suggestions and ideas on how he could "improve" the magazine. He sat there and willingly listened to me for almost an hour, nodding his head, making notes on my notes and acted as if he really cared about improving the magazine. The next day when I had even more suggestions he didn't even run and hide or try to avoid me. He listened once again to my blah, blah, blah, took notes and looked like he was intently listening to each and every word I was saying. I noticed he even wrote a "Letter from the Publisher" in this month's issue asking people to E-mail their suggestions to him.
The point is just this - I know that not only Mr. Kools is open to suggestions but Mindy is also willing to listen to ideas from artists and collectors for stories and what they'd like to see in the magazine. Every Editor I have met has been gracious, kind and very approachable. So write to them and freely give your suggestions.
As for a cutting edge, trendy, quarterly Teddy Bear magazine, if I had money, I would definitely start one! I think it would be a novel idea and an instant success. I even suggested it to the Editor of Art Doll Quarterly when I had her on the phone one day but since Michelle was already juggling three magazines, I had the feeling she didn't want a fourth!
P.S. She's not there anymore so if you want to make a suggestion to the new editor of ADQ, you'll have to contact Staci Dumoski.
Teddy Bear and FriendsYou know what's funny? I've done so much of this in the past. Most of it. But I think there are so many new artists that they don't know what's been done in the past -- and I hesitate to repeat myself, because, well, I've done it. Maybe it's not a bad thing to repeat an idea if it worked well. Give it a fresh spin so as not to bore readers who have been around awhile, while fulfilling the needs of newer readers who haven't seen it before. Hm. You ladies give me much to contemplate. Thanks!
Mindy
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsYou know what's funny? I've done so much of this in the past. Most of it. But I think there are so many new artists that they don't know what's been done in the past -- and I hesitate to repeat myself, because, well, I've done it.
Mindy
Mindy, I was thinking the same thing those things have been done. I have been subscribing without interrruption since 1994. I have seen articles about the artists' work space, creative dipslay, and out of the box bears in the magazines.
I must say though, that the idea of book quality, quarterly Teddy Bear magazine full of lovely color photographs taken professionally is very appealing to me because I do like to keep my magazines. The funny thing about Art Doll Quarterly in my case is that I have purchased it several times and while the artwork within is beautiful (some of it) and definitely out of the box, and while I myself am a doll artist, I think it is the format of this book, the feel of the paper, the weight of it, even the smell of it (I know that's bizzare--I love the smell of new books and crayons!) that appeals to me the most. If it were about Teddy Bears, I'd have to have every issue!
I wish I could, in full color images, take what's in my minds eye and lay it out for you. However, if it's all been done before, there doesn't seem to be a point. 
Sometimes I just want to throw my hands in the air and scream in frustration. I imagine some of you feel the exact same way.
Hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Teddy Bear and FriendsAleta, I wasn't trying to be ... I don't know, mean or snotty ... when I said that I'd done so much of this before. The ideas, yes, but obviously we don't have the paper, and never will. I used to have an art director who made my pages beautiful, but the staff has changed over the years and I know our layout can't compete with ADQ these days. And my photo budget is nothing like what it used to be. I've got to work within those constraints, unfortunately, but I could look at what I'm presenting and how, and make adjustments. Absolutely. Shame on me for discarding ideas because I did them once, sometime in the past 13 years. If the ideas are still good, it's smart to take a fresh and timely approach. And it wouldn't hurt me to take a research trip to the bookstore and read a few magazines, to see how others are approaching these topics. It's been awhile since I've done that, and there are always ideas to be gleaned. ("Glean" being a fancy word for "copied as closely as possible while substituting teddy bears for the major figures" :))
One other thought: Those high-end art and craft magazines have broad audiences who appreciate all sorts of artwork. We should all aspire to take teddy bears to those places -- the art magazines and shows -- to prove what we've known all along, that they are art. Imagine how wonderful it would be to see teddy bear artists at not just doll or bear shows, but the high end craft and art shows, and in those pages. We have several nationally recognized art shows here in Lancaster PA every year; I'd love to see bear people there. Thousands of people attend, cheerfully paying $100 for a handcarved wooden spoon or some such. They'd buy bears, and appreciate the art. A good goal for all of us!
Mindy
I wonder if part of the difference with Somerset/Stampington etc is that they advertise a lot *themselves* in their magazines, and most of the big full-page ads are theirs or really HUGE companies, and they also sell stuff other than magazines, if those profits help to subsidise the magazines/bring them more sales.
I wonder what their circulation is, if it compares with TB&F etc in it's heyday? I wonder if their success at the moment is part of the whole scrapbooking thing (in general), and when that dies down the magazines will die back just as with the Bear scene.
Having said that I do love the publications, I just paid $20.00 for Somerset Studio yesterday 
. They are so inspiring. Funny I don't find ADQ as interesting myself, maybe because I come from the Porcelain side and even my Polymer dolls are porcelain-like if that makes sense Sometimes they are just a bit too radical for my taste. I can't wait to see the Altered bear challenge...
I too love seeing the studios in magazines like Home Companion (another I haunt Borders for lol) I often drag out the issue with Jennifer Murphy's studio story in it, not so much to look at the bears but the studio set up hehe, though all the stories about the different artists and how they started out and work are fascinating, and helps you get out of your own little box. I also loved the section in Sally Jean's book about her studio.... so pretty and inspiring.
I am sure I'd buy another, less frequently published Bear Magazine, because I love magazines and find them inspiring, and as per the other thread, I too feel its a good thing to keep up with whats going on. Maybe even just a once a year special thing.
Posts: 8,574Mindy: i applaud your answers, and as the edititor of one of the best real life mags, you have a vested interest in the subject as well as some really great points and thoughts
Great questions.
I think we do need to remember all the newbies who can easily get lost in the crush.
It can be several months before I get to this months TB&F. I don't seem to have the time. So I too would rather a quarterly magazine that costs as much as the yearly but is so chock full of interesting articals and much fewer ads that it is intriguing rather than the same old same old ad that i saw from Slothfulbears last month, and the month before, and the....
Where Women Create? Oh dear. that would be interesting-after I get the cottage straightened up. Yikes!
Thank you Aleta, you got us all to thinking-you're an angel!
gollyhugs
dilu
Wild Thyme OriginalsThough i know I've seen it before... I REALLY think that a article on "bear decor," would be both timely and interesting for artists and collectors alike. I chat with a bunch of my long-term collectors and many of them say, "I'm running out of space for bears"... "I have a whole bookcase full of them".... "I don't want to become a 50 year old going on 12 with a whole bed full of teddy bears".... things like that. I think that folks like that might really appreciate a series of nice photos of how you can incorporate bears into your home without looking like you live in a carnival game booth! No offense at all to anyone who does display their bears that way! 
I'm not a teddy collector myself (at least not YET!) but I can't imagine that 4 neat rows of 80 little eyes really shows off the bears to their best advantage, or allows the collector to really appreciate the unique character of each one. I think people just run out of ideas as far as what to actually DO with them once they are acquired. I LOVE the way Aleta (and some others) show their bears on a hutch with a few other coordinating do-dads, etc... Nice and "artfully arranged." I'm a total moron 
when it comes to that kind of stuff, and I just love seeing pics of people who know what they are doing when it comes to that kind of stuff... it's inspiring! So though I know I've seen articles with pictures of huge collections, I think it would be nice to see an article with photos of "artfully arranged" bears. I think it might encourage some of those folks who have a big ol' pile of bears and can't find room for more, to arrange them in a way that is not only more pleasing to the eye, but also allows more bears to enter the hug! 
Kim Basta
Posts: 8,574What!!!!!
Carnival game booth?!!!!
Kim you promised not to tell!!!
Posts: 8,574Speaking of ADQ:
i take it to bed with me and devour it a little at a time before the hubs comes in....it is that good!
Wild Thyme OriginalsWhat!!!!!
Carnival game booth?!!!!
Kim you promised not to tell!!!
HeHe He! :crackup: PLEASE though, don't anyone get offended by that! :pray:
Kim Basta
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsKim, "Artfully Arranged" sounds like a great title for an article to me! On pages 28 and 29 of the current TB&F there are some cute holiday scenes. If your house is not the size of a museum, you could put together smaller vignettes.
I have a friend who has loads of bears but to avoid the carnival stand look she rotates displays, having some bears stored and others out. She changes monthly, so no poor furry little souls are left in storage for too long. It's a lot of work, but a pretty cool idea I think. I think I have jumped off topic a bit here! :redface:
Everyone has had such good points to make and said it so thoughtfully. ..now you get my ramblings I am a self-confessed magazine junky - I'm sure it's actually an inherited gene in my family
There was a time when I used to buy all the bear magazines available here in NZ. Now, I very rarely buy them at all. There's no one reason - partly it's a cost factor, with a single issue of a bear mag costing $17 here. Also, as others have commented, the magazines have got thinner and the quality of the pictures and articles so much poorer. For me, there's no wow factor any more and I don't think that's because I'm jaded. I still refer to some of my copies from 1999/2000 and reread the artist profiles and am wowed anew. Those articles used to make me think- I'd look at the profile of an artists' work and it would make me reflect on my own bears and designs and how I could stop from stagnating. There seemed to be a depth to the articles that's no longer apparent.
I don't want to lay blame on any one or any particular magazine - and I also think that I as an artist am a little to blame too. I get too easily discouraged when a magazine doesn't publish photos that I send, or even respond to my email that I give up. I get frustrated that artists outside of North America/Europe are given little recognition in magazines, but I don't do a lot to change that either (and some mags are actually focusing on more international artists so I shouldn't apply that as a generalisation).
I totally agree with all of you on the artist studio/display thing - I think part of the reasons why I enjoy my scrapbooking/Mary Engelbreit mags is that personal glimpse into an artist's studio.
In the same vein, why not do a quality report on a show, instead of the teeny black and white picture (usually of people not bears) that we see at present. With good reporting, good close-up photos this could be really interesting - and possibly a way of promoting shows as being something worth visiting too.
Yes, I would dearly love to see a high quality art-style magazine that truly represents bear making as an art form. Not only would it give me something to show people when they look blankly at me when I tell them I'm a bear artist - but it would also give me nudge to be more creative and challenge myself to create pieces worthy of such a production...and I would so love to read about all the creative artsy people above me in this thread.
I realise that the whole scrapbooking/paper arts industry is very different to bears and that there just aren't the sheer quantity of suppliers that advertise in those magazines. But one of the mags I have bought a few issues of has very little advertising. As Karen said, it's mostly self advertising. It is expensive but it's a brand new magazine and seems to have taken off incredibly well. It is essentially a showcase of cards that are contributed by readers - the photography is good - the mag does a mail call on a topic and those that are accepted send in the cards - I'm sure the stampington mags do it that way too. Sometimes I wonder why on earth I buy it - but it's for the eye candy. For a couple of hours I can wallow in other peoples' creativeness and when I'm having a creativity freeze I'll go and look at it. Funnily enough, it's often when I'm finding a bear frustrating and I just like immersing myself in something so different.
anyway I've said far more than I intended
Our Aussie magazines, Bear Creations and Dolls Bears and Collecitbles have stories on people's collections and how they display them. But then I gues you have the expense of sending a photographer to peoples homes, or relying on them to take decent pics which many people can't.
Back Road BearsA few fleeting thoughts as I tried to read as much of this thread as I could (the guilt I feel for not being at my sewing machine with two huge shows coming up in the next 3 weeks is keeping me from focusing!). Anyway, those thoughts:
A teddy bear version of ADQ would be a dream come true. I know it's not likely to happen though I know of at least 3 of us who would welcome the task if we had the financial backing to get started. Anyone got some money they can send our way? :crackup:
But in regards to ADQ and it's quality and the impression (for lack of a better word) it gives the readers of ARTIST DOLLS: it's a high quality magazine for high quality, artistic work. Isn't that what many of us as teddy bear artists deserve as well? Quality is just as important as quantity.
Aleta - great article suggestions!
Mindy - we, as artists, often use the same pattern over and over, using different mohair or changing certain proportions here or there to create a different look, even though the basic design is the same. We do this because it's a pattern that sells. Collectors love bears from these patterns so we stick with it. I think repeating an article concept or topic that got great responses the first time around would be similar. We LOVE to see what everyone else's studios look like. I don't think we ever tire of that topic! Anyway, my point is that repetition with a twist sounds very acceptable!
What about doing a survey..... for readers to either mail in or answer online... a survey that would help collectors learn about eachother but also help artists understand the collectors. Questions like: what size bears do you collect? how long have you been collecting? where do you buy a majority of your bears? do you collect girl bears, boy bears or both? do you buy other animals made by bear artists? what other animals do you collect? do you buy artist bears for gifts? does the bears name or birth date influence your decision to adopt? do collect a particular color of bear? how many bear shows do you attend in a year? how many bear magazines do you subscribe to? I'm sure there are better, more fun questions but the serious, matter of fact ones that would enlighten those of us working in the bear industry would also be very helpful! This would really let readers know you are interested in them and it would get them involved with the magazine. The answers could be published the following month. Perhaps offer a free one year's subscription to one lucky winner, perhaps chosen randomly, from all those who respond. The survey could have a theme to it and be done annually with a different theme each year.
Just a thought.
I love to see so many of us giving thought to all of these matters, realizing our part/responsibility in promoting artist bears and at the same time understanding the restraints and circumstances around some marketing venues like the magazines. It's great to be able to come together and brainstorm for the good of the industry!
:hug: :hug: :hug:
Now I must get back to work!
So many great ideas. And Mindy, you do great work, so please don't feel singled out just because you're one of a small number of editors that not only read, but also, participate here. TB&F is a FINE publication, and that's sincerity talking, not butt-kissing.
Some more relatively unformed, off-the-cuff thoughts for any one in the magazine industry who might be listening:
-- What about a regular column that features the studio of a given artist? Doesn't ME/Home Companion do something like this? If people can't self-capture print-quality pictures of their studio, well then, sorry, but they can't be featured until they work around the problem. It's always possible to hire someone professional, privately, for a nominal hourly fee, in exchange for the free coverage the artist will receive. A full page ad, wtih ZERO writeup, would otherwise cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars! It's therefore worth the cost to hire someone to get that coverage for just the "reduced cost" of the photographer's time and prints! If the magazine promises a free photo credit to the photographer, perhaps local photographers could be persuaded to shoot for an hour free of charge. That is, if the magazine can't cover the cost of sending a photographer on-site, which I'm assuming is the case for all but the wealthiest of publications, and not just those in our industry.
-- What about a regular "Spotlight on Shows" feature that gives extra emphasis to one particular show, for a particular issue. Bigger pictures, bigger writeup, etc.
-- What about a really eye-catching, prominently placed, event calendar that appears in each issue, that can't be missed, that's easy to read, to help promote exhibitions and events? The magazine would only have to do so much legwork, and the onus of responsibility for a given show to appear in that calendar would be up to the promoter. It would be on them to contact the magazine.
-- What about a dual column in every issue that spotlights an old-timer artist, and a newcomer or rising star?
-- Something to think about... I realize there are many camps of "bear lovers." We are only addressing the needs of the contemporary bear artist and contemporary artist bear collector. There's also a big contingent, I feel certain, of people who collect and care about antique and vintage bears, possibly ONLY about those kinds of bears. We don't want to forget them in our discussions! Having said that, I skip over every last line in every single magazine about bears like that, because that's not my personal "thing." Is there a way to divide the magazine into sections, visually, graphic-design-speaking, so that people can hone in on what appeals without wading through what does not?
-- What about an overall shift in concept... away from covering a lot of bears and artists, shallowly, and toward covering fewer bears and artists per issue, more deeply. ??? Is this heresy? Sometimes I am miffed at the seeming "clique"-i-ness of the Stampington magazines... yet at the same time, I really appreciate the depth and focus they give each artist's work and techniques. Most artists MUST include some sort of how-to in order to be featured. So in similar fashion... what about a move away from just covering people, to covering people in exchange for their OFFERING of something instructional or illustrative to the magazine's readership?
Somebody is going to shoot me. I know it. Heretic!!!
Just some stuff that popped into my head...
Edited to add one more:
-- What about focusing on really showing work that inspires that "awww" factor we all talk about. I love the idea of featuring every bear artist on earth and there's a place for that, like TB&F's wonderful listing earlier this year. But I think what really inspires both artists and collectors when they look at a bear in person, online, or in print, is that "aww" factor, and let's be honest here -- not all bears have it. If we're trying to convince people to make bears, to buy bears, to buy magazines that feature those bears, shouldn't we be featuring only work that DEMANDS "take me home!" ???
Still afraid somebody is going to hurt me.
I just wanted to add something... and I hope no one throws anything at me either... (unless it's mohair! LOL!)
One of my favorite sections of the teddy magazines is the Artist Studio section... yes... the advertisements!
I love to go and look and see what new teddy bears will be there this month for me to see.
PERSONALLY... I prefer to see a new ad each month and not the same thing month after month. New ad meaning new teddy bear. Heck, the ad could be just a head and shoulder portrait of the bear, the artist name, contact info and price and I'd be a happy camper It doesn't necessarily have to be a fancy graphic intensive ad.
Just a thought... that's something that we can do!
Hugz,
Laura
