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BearBottoms Dec 15, 2005

So I'm wondering about all our lovely bear makers and your bears...

Do you keep some of your bears, have you kept any of them, or are they all gone?  I'm tlaking about bears that you've made yourself, and if so, why don't we add PICS!!!!  I'd love to see a pic of the bear (s) that have tickled your fancy so much that you just couldn't part with them....

....mostly because I am longing for a bear that I recently sold and I REALLY wish I'd kept.     Don't get me wrong, I am so happy he's going to someone who obviously loves and appreciates wonderful bears (she has some of Kim Basta's bears, so there's a point right there!! )  but he just really tugged at my heart.  I do still have my first bear I'd ever made...

How about ya'll?  This is Samuel, who has become my favorite to date.... 

Beary warm wishes,
Kimberly Whitlock

Daphne Dec 15, 2005

Great idea posting pictures, Kimberly! We've talked about keeping bears and ones we wish we HAD kept but I don't think we ever shared pictures. I'll have to go find pictures......

Dilu Dec 15, 2005

I have a couple I wouldn't sell on a bet....same with the gollies, but I find myself sending little bears off willynilly when I send out a golly.  I just can't stand the idea of kids travelling alone.  So if a girl golly is going out the door I make sure she has a boy bear to protect her.......from herself!

Pipa Dec 15, 2005

ohh yes i still have the first bear i ever made    he doesn't even have a name. he is purple and yellow

Judi Dec 16, 2005

Great thread.  Here are a few that I cannot part with.  They just tug at me somehow.

Kenai, at the top, feels like he is a child when I hold him.  I am very attached to him and will most likely never let him go.  Sergie my Tiger is also my baby.  "Snow Bear and the Seven Dawrf Hares" is a piece that if I sell, I doubt I will ever make another one.  Things could change, but for now, they are staying with thier mommy.

BearBottoms Dec 16, 2005

Ohhhh, I am loving little Snow Bear and the seven dwarf hares!  They are all three seriously beautiful; I can see why you wouldn't want to part with them... The time alone in all those wee bunnies.... But SO worth it when you have that wonderful set...

Pipa, my first was purple too! (minus the yellow)  His name is Cosmo, and while he'll always have this little spot in my heart, I have already started to pick him apart, all the mistakes I made as a brand newbie!!! lol

here is my first bear I ever did...

Does anyone know how to put pics in amongst the wording?  I can only stick em on top!

Kimberly W.

fredbear Dec 16, 2005

I have kept my very first bear I made, , and he has place of honer amongst my collection, even with he crooked ears. Hubby and the kids have taken bears bears and said "you are not selling this one"
Judi, those bears / animals are stunning, the airbrushing brings them to life !!!!

Delartful Bears Dec 16, 2005

Hi Everyone,

Great topic here!! I have a collection of quiet a few bears, the first three bears I ever made. I couldn't sell them as I didn't design them.  Then I have two bears that I couldn't throw out, as they were my early stages of designing my first pattern.  Then i have my logo bear.

I had actually put him on my webpage to sell, but our Hayley convinced me not to sell him - that I would regret it!! I think I would have!!!

So, here's my Bramble - who I nearly sold, but due to the wise words of a fellow artist, I didn't!

Thanks Hayley - I really appreciate it!

Danni

shantell Dec 16, 2005

I of course kept my first bear...but I have yet to grow attached to any one of my little bruins.  I believe it's because I'm still searching for MY look and can always see what I feel is not perfect....or could have been better, etc.   I get more out of other people loving them then I think I would get keeping them.   For me it's really about others more than myself.

Jellybelly Bears Dec 16, 2005

Kimberly, Samual is darling  and Cosmo is a lovely firsty too     I made around 40 original bears before I started selling mainly coz I just couldn't part with them  Now I have a plan and start making them knowing I will be letting them go...otherwise they stay with me. I get way too attached and take a gazillion photos of any bear that leaves my house

Oh Judi I am glad you are keeping your tiger, I looove him    I can see why you don't want to part with the others either 

xox Sarah

kbonsall Dec 16, 2005

Very cute first bear   My first bear is at my mother in-law's house (I know I have told you all before that it was Scruffy but they both were finished the same day... I cant remember, to tell you the truth which one was fininshed first!)  But she has that bear -named angel and she has my third bear... not sure of a name for that one LOL she has three bears of mine... ones I couldnt part with...  I dont have any for myself except "boo boos" that I wont sell... and I made my hubby one early on and he has that and I have since needle felted a rubber duckie for his bear LOL..... he needed a pal sitting on a shelf all alone... I also keep Lil Wooh, my avatar bear.. i tried to sel him on ebay and he didnt sell, twice, as a matter of fact, and I am glad he didnt... maybe it was a way of telling me to keep him... glad I kept him he sits in my curio cabinet with all my other artist bears, right next to Chow Mein

WildThyme Dec 16, 2005

I miss Rhaine.....

And Callula....

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

kbonsall Dec 16, 2005

Of course you know I love Rhaine but the little one is adorable too!!! I want one! 

Dilu Dec 16, 2005

Oh all the bears here are beautiful.....yes there are bears I have made that I wont sell....like the one with Father Christmas.....I really like his attitude.

dilu

BearBottoms Dec 16, 2005

Hee hee, I can see why you guys wouldn't want to part with the bears you've shown!!

And I Do take a gazillion photos of my bears before they go so that I can go back and look at them from every angle.  That way I still feel like I've kinda sorta kept them... except Samuel... I think I will always miss him. 

I do like Rhaine from Kim B. too, but my favorite of all time has GOT to be Ava... She's just lovely, and my favorite of Kim's...  Coming in a close second is Rory, he's too cute!  I am hoping maybe one of these days I'll be good enough for Kim to want to do a Teddy swap with me... hee hee    Don't worry Kim... I'm not hinting... 

And Bramble is just soooo sweet!!!  He look slike he needs a hug every day!

Kimberly W.

kathytaylor Dec 16, 2005

I have several bears still, some I made for my family to keep, others I just couldn't part with. Others I let go but just miss them still.

WildThyme Dec 16, 2005

Kathy!  I love that little guy!  You do such nice little ones in mohair!  I just find it too difficult to even turn!  Genius!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild thyme Originals

Acipenser Dec 16, 2005

I make bears for a hobby and have kept most of them. My avatar was one of my first designs (third or so). Almost all the bears on my website are still with me and many more, which were made before I got a digital camera. There must be some 70-80 bears, fortunately mostly miniatures. Most are made from other artists patterns. If I do give a bear away it is a present (my mom has most of them) and I have to decide from the beginning that this bear will go to a particular person. Otherwise I am not able to part with them. They are my pride and joy (can you tell i don't have children :lol:). I do swap and I could probably be persuaded to make a bear to sell, but not one of the already existing bears.

Hmm, there is a childhood photo of me holding a huge pile of stuffed animals on my lap. Those belonged to my cousins, but I wanted them all. Seems my bear hording is genetic 

Hugs

Sabine

AnnG Dec 20, 2005

hello, I'd thought you'd like to see our bear group's golly workshop. Mine is the little guy on the bottom right, green jacket and white hair. We were given either a large or small pattern and the rest was up to us. Great fun.
Ann

Stephanie Dec 20, 2005

Of course I kept my very first bear! Awful little thing, but she's part of me and I could never give her up! I also have several 'oops' bears. You know the ones where you try a new technique or pattern design and it went all wrong!
I also have a couple others that I just couldn't give up. I started working up the lising for ebay and it literally hurt to to think of them leaving. Scratched the listing and they are still here on my desk.
Here is one of them. Wendell is just under 6" and at the time I made him, the biggest bear I had done. The long curly fur was a real pain to work with and his legs aren't tight enough so are a little wobbly. He's my baby all the same.

plushkinbear Dec 20, 2005

OMG!!
Kim and Kathy, you do amazing thing!! Such a tiny cutties!

I found almost impossible for me to turn mohair out when sewing bears under 5 inch..

:clap:  :clap:

Girls, all your bears are adorable!

Julia

AnnG Dec 20, 2005

This is my bear maker. He's made of cernit. I made the little bear's he's holding too. Then I got real brave and entered him in a contest at a show and won first prize. Along with the ribbon came the judges suggestions on improving him, which I found really helpful. Funny enough he reminds me of my grandfather. I can't see me ever parting with this fella.
Ann

BearBottoms Dec 20, 2005

I like your bear maker Ann.... 

Stephanie,  That bear's fur is too cute!

Kimberly W.

Judi Dec 20, 2005

Goah guys.  All of your bears look great.  I can see why you want to keep them all.

Kim, your bear Rhaine with the peom is absolutley gorgeous.  !

You ladies that do those tiny ones....hats off to you all!!!  That is very difficult :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

I just came back from a whole day of shopping......I am exhausted..................but 100% done...........

I learned that money does talk...mine says goodbye.

Shelli Retired Help Advisor, Banner SponsorDec 20, 2005

I learned that money does talk...mine says goodbye.

HA!  Man, do I hear you.  I've started measuring Christmas spending in "bears."

"That one will cost me 1.5 bear."

"This will end up being worth .33 bears."

etc.

AARGH!