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Chaska, MinnesotaWell, I can tell you what I would like to see in a bear making magazine: unique techniques that are currently being done by bear artist. I stopped buying bear magazines because I didn't learn anything new. I'm not interested in another pattern. I have plenty. I want to take my bear making to a higher level. For instance, have articles like, making eyelids but taking all the expressions the eyes have and the various ways to accomplish that with cording, fabric, paints, to make happy eyes, sad eyes, sleepy eyes, rabbit eyes....And include where you can buy the supplies too.
Other ideas: sculpting clay noses. Talk about the different materials used (pros and cons), how to sculpt a nose for a cat, rabbit, bear, real life bear...attachment techniques.....painting and shading techniques and finishing varnishes.
Another idea is to devote an issue on to how to antique a bear but really get down to what dyes, pigments and really do a thorough job of educating the reader on various techniques.
I mean really make it a true bear magazine that inspires people with using of the newest and latest materials out there and how to incorporate it in one bear making.
In short, make the magazine like a bear making class that goes beyond basics. Devoting that issue with several pages of "how to". I would suggest you interview those top artists who do the "technique of the month" really well and get many opinions so that you have a really good scope of how to do a technique really well. It is like publishing short teddy bear making books.... If you do this, I think people will buy, buy, buy....
............... We need more collectors, to support more artists advertising, and more artists going to shows so the promoters advertise, and artists buying supplies so the suppliers advertise... You see the trend. It all comes back to needing more collectors to support all of us.
YES!!! Yesterday I participated in a small church craft bazaar. I did not sell any bears but it was a HUGE sucess for me! The reason is that my purpose in exhibiting was not to sell bears... although I would not have been opposed to that :crackup: but to try to spread the word about artist teddy bears.
I got LOTS of compliments from people who were amazed that bears could have such expressions. I am not trying to toot my own horn here... but am trying to say that this was the first exposure to artist teddy bears for many of these ladies!
I had a stack of back issues of both Teddy Bear & Friends and Teddy Bear Review on my table that I gave away for free. Some of these were extras that I had from my home show that Mindy and Joe had given to me... others were back issues that I got from ebay cheaply expressly for this purpose (cause I KEEP my own LOL!)
I placed a flier inside each of the magazines that said this. (I'll be tweaking it later... but I wanted to put SOMEthing in there!)
Teddy Bears as
Collectible Art
"WHAT is an Artist Teddy Bear?"
A "teddy bear artist" takes great care
in creating their artist bears. They draft
their own patterns and then tweak their
designs until they are "just right".
The bears are not simply "stuffed",
but carefully filled with just the right filling
to create the effect the artist is looking for.
The bears are actually sculpted from the inside
by the careful placement of the stuffing
and from the outside with strategic placement of
stitches and carefully skilled trimming
with the scissors... and more!
Why collect artist teddy bears?
There's just something about them...
the quality, the detail, that SOMETHING in the face!!
You just must see them in person! Why not attend a Teddy Bear Show?
You can learn more about
Artist Teddy Bears
and where to find them at:
www.TeddyBearCollecting.com
and from the following magazines:
Teddy Bear & Friends
1-800-437-5828
Teddy Bear Review
1-800-331-0038
Past Time Bears:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: Bravo, Laura - terrific way to win friends to the teddy bear cause!
Laura Lynn - you rock!
You always have great new ideas for sharing your passion for bears with other people. And you manage to fit in the time to make your gorgeous creations too.
Patsy Lake Bears:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: Well done Laura
Awww thanks guys! I wasn't trying to draw attention to myself... but when I hear other people doing stuff like this it encourages me to do the same thing.
I LOVE hearing how others keep spreading the word... it reminds me to keep doing it. It's got to be an ongoing effort 
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)But for established collectors and industry members, you really should subscribe. If nothing else, it's the cheapest method of getting your magazines -- for you and for us.
I subscribe to all that I want to continue to read - it's one of the few expenses that're TOTALLY returnable (write off) on my Federal Tax return!!!
Drea's BearsFantastic idea Laura 
I had just done a 4 day art tour over the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend and while I didn't make enought to cover the cost of doing the show, I did promote heavily the up and comming TeddyBears on Vacation show on Nov. 18th in Toronto. I distributed almost all of my promo material and I even showed off a few issues of TB&F and handed out subcription info for at least 4 or 5 people. I may have even encouraged a few people who have been thinking about making bears to give it a try! Wheather they do or not, we'll find out but it was nice to see more people interested this year than last! Now if only I had your amaing information about teddy art............
AndreaM
About five years ago I saw Jennifer Murphy profiled in Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine. I had NO IDEA there were artists making such beautiful pieces that were available to buy. I had only seen mediocre bears at craft shows that sold for about $20. I wasn't even aware there was an entire world dedicated to the artistry of handmade teddy bears. I was already needlefelting at the time but I had no idea that this world of handmade teddy bear making even existed. I loved the article in Home Companion and subscribed to that magazine after that. I liked that it always profiled a new artist every month. It was that article that opened up the world of handmade teddy bears and spurred me to jump on the internet and start poking around.
Melbourne, AustraliaWell, while the cats away the mice play....
Well done Laura....thank you so much for sharing your idea, I hope all your hard work pays off!
Bobbie...because we enjoy the magazines so much, we often forget they are a business deduction. I know I had, thanks for bringing it to everyone's attention.
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
Newcastle, OntarioI think there have been some great ideas posted here. The magazines are certainly showcases for our bears and it allows us to see what other artists are creating, which can often result in getting our own juices flowing. Hopefully, it results in new customers and artists discovering the world of artist bears.
I'm not out to ruffle any feathers, but I don't think many artists would be interested in having all of their techniques and secrets published in a magazine. It's the extra little techniques that we develop through trial and error over the years, that gives each of us our own style as an artist. It's the individuality that makes the world of artist bears so interesting and appealing. Many artists use the income generated from bearmaking to support families. It's wonderful when an artist decides to share a pattern with a magazine etc. but it would be economic suicide to share all their tips and techniques. It would also result in many artists bears looking the same and that affects everyone.
The bear magazines were always something I looked forward to in the past. I hope with all the ideas shared here, they can once again find a way to keep us dazzled.
hugs,
Brenda
Melbourne, AustraliaI'm not out to ruffle any feathers, but I don't think many artists would be interested in having all of their techniques and secrets published in a magazine. It's the extra little techniques that we develop through trial and error over the years, that gives each of us our own style as an artist. It's the individuality that makes the world of artist bears so interesting and appealing. Many artists use the income generated from bearmaking to support families. It's wonderful when an artist decides to share a pattern with a magazine etc. but it would be economic suicide to share all their tips and techniques. It would also result in many artists bears looking the same and that affects everyone.
hugs,
Brenda
I tend to agree with you Brenda. I have from time to time shared a pattern and technique in ABC, but these are ones I also share publicly through my patterns and teaching. I think it's wonderful that so many artists share tips here on TT too, but I think there is a difference between sharing basics and divulging individual finishing techniques that give each artists their own signature look.
I am the first to admit, I do not sell patterns for my one of a kind bears, otherwise they would not be one of a kind bears and it would be unfair, not mention unethical, to my collectors.
And as much as I enjoy teaching and passing on this wonderful craft to another generation of teddy bear makers, I do think we owe it to ourselves, to draw a line somewhere.
If I was asked to name three things needed to become an artist, I would say IMAGINATION, DETERMINATION AND A WILLINGNESS TO EXPLORE AND EXPERIMENT...these are things that come from within.
OMG I'm waffling again! And right of the subject too...I'm going back to my sewing.
