Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Excellent design....very neat!

Thanks so much. Sad that there is no more of this fabric left...I wanted to buy more of it....

She's wonderful!!

Thanks so much. The fabric was a dream to work with....so it made my job easier!

This is Paris..a new bear made from the fabulous Tissavel faux fur that I got from Intercal...
Superb fabric!

Gorgeous...innovative.....

Try using whipping twine...it's a strong waxed thread used for sewing sails.....it's very strong...then pull using a wooden spoon or a stick for tension.....if its very very hard though you might need to take a bit out ..

Well the ironic thing is that this subject has stimulated a conversation ..it also has got them a whole article in a national newspaper. I don't think they are stepping over any line to be honest. Who draws the line? If there is a line I think it's there to be stepped over.
Now I don't like them and I will tell you why I don't, of you are going to do something attention seeking like that then make the bears yourself. Then it's art with a bit if integrity. What they are doing is taking ready made bears and doctoring them which to me is not part of the deal. If the person had made the bear then done this anatomical jiggery pokery to it then I'd be happier. But they just took a Build a Bear from a charity shop and ripped it apart to sell it.
The clever bit is that it's done the trick..created the hype. But to be really a piece of impressive art ..in my mind anyway...there has to be 100% input from start to finish. So can I now get a build a bear...doctor it a bit , stick a Three O'clock Bears tag on it and sell it on eBay ? No...so that's my issue with it...
As for stepping on the teddy code..I do understand the tradition but no matter what you do you can't destroy that aspect...the mere fact that this causes outrage re-invigorates the tradition....makes us aware of it.

Thanks so much....really kind of you...

Have to say that I used to use my old hairdressing ones ...they were great but they ought to be...they cost upwards of £200 for the ones I used to use. That said I am pretty sure that certain fabrics cause the blades to blunt quicker. I think the acrylic fabrics do this. I dont use my old hair scissors now as I don't think they are as good any more and the blades are quite wrecked now. I still have my latest pair which I still cut hair with and they won't be used for fabric. I have had Fiskars that have lasted years...and those that go blunt quite quickly.
I like fiskars scissors ...I think that they are pretty reliable so maybe you did get a dud pair. One thing though..try , if you can to keep the ones you cut out with separate to the ones you scissor sculpt with....I think that helps keep them sharper.

I bought my grand-daughter a puppy at Christmas that does all sorts of moves, barks, walks, wags its tail ...it was about £40 ...and it is, I think, more sophisticated in its mechanisms than this bear. So unfortunately I think this has been done many times before...maybe not as an artist bear design though. He does look a bit like a person dressed as a bear though...
I think it's a thing some collectors would love though.

All your work is just stunning....

Well what a lovely thing to say...you totally made my day!
Thanks so much!

I love to brows the vintage stuff on Etsy...but I am sure people looking for bears don't head there. I think maybe Bearpile..and the showcase here is more likely to get a result. I have found Facebook to be by far the best way to build my customer base...takes work and commitment ..I post very day...but I have nearly 2000 fans now and have sold many bears to new customers. It's a great resource...
I haven't used Etsy ...or eBay in ages...so I am toying with an occasional auction...

The thing is we don't know what the person who makes these is trying to do here...is it a social comment...or just a joke. To be honest I think there is room for everything and as long as its well made and unique I don't see any harm in it. The maker has clearly brought their own ideas to the table and that's more than can be said for much of the work on eBay and elsewhere.
I don't particularly find it attractive..I wouldn't buy one...but I get what they are doing and I think in it's macabre way there's a message there. Maybe I am reading to much into it..maybe they are just doing it to shock. I don't think kids would be bothered by it...my grandchildren wouldn't I am sure ...I think it would just stimulate a discussion about why they did it.
I really think it's just another way to depict teddies ..

Thanks so much!

Caroline the bag and box man is more pricey than ASC Direct. They are cheap, fast and you can choose what size you want. I buy two sizes one to fit up to 11 inch bears and another size for larger bears. They come in 2 days.
!!!
Great service

Thanks so much. This fabric was hard to work with...I had to line it and that makes it very thick..

Thanks so much everyone..

Yes that is the seller I was thinking of...they have great bargains...

She's just under 23 inches..which is small for some bear makers but big for me!

Ha-ha....whatever floats your boat I guess!

He's wonderful

This is Storm..a new BIG bear....biggest I have made for a while...she has a new mom already...

The only thing is whatever you put on the auction page they still get a week to pay. Because eBay won't let you chase them for a week. You can report them after 2 days but they get another 4 days to sort it out. After which they get warnings from eBay. Big deal.   But they will pull your auction if you state things that aren't in the rule book too. For example i was about to bid on a camera...i noticed that the seller has a note on the bottom saying  ' if you have less that 10 feedbacks don't bid' ...Now I think that is a statement which, if discovered by eBay would be enough to get the auction stopped because much as we all would like to make our rules up...you can't ...end of. The set the rules and we have to like them or lump them. There's a thing where you can set buyer preferences...like you can chose not to allow bids from people with zero feedback...and you can cancel bids for serious reasons. But I don't think you can actually make people pay immediately... (more's the pity) though most will if they are serious.  Buy It Now might be an option if you know how much you want to sell for...then they have to pay straightaway.