Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

look how much just the end of her nose wiggles! no way we can make a bear that does that!!! loc-line? :crackup:

I really think so - or it's going to happen soon. I'm following the discussion on FB where Lynn is posting about her straining and flexing muscles in neck and head... she seems to be resting more at the moment... contractions? Should I be timing them? lol

Lily is really getting restless... really restless. I was watching earlier and she had her side facing the camera... there seemed to be a lot of activity in her belly though I know the cubs are only tiny things so not sure what to think. But right now she's incredibly restless, head is out of the den hole while the rest of her is stretched out inside. Have those babies, Lily! You can do it!

Yes, Eva! Thank you Joanne! I'm sorry I drew a blank, Eva! I'm so embarrassed! I'm finding it impossible to keep everyone straight between here, the Guild, facebook..... HELP!! LOL!

Most manufacturers make child safe bears. Manufactured bears are typically made with safety eyes and joints (plastic pop together ones) which is what typically makes them child safe compared to what we do. They usually use safety noses too, not embroidered ones.

Artists... that's another story. Ellen McMaster (Em Bears) is the only crafter I know of who does it willingly! Oh, there's someone in the Guild too who makes cute ones... I've forgotten her name. I'm not sure if she's here too or not.

Have you tried searching the library... people have posted asking who makes child safe bears in the past. You may find some answers there.

OK, the people discussing Lily on her Facebook page are a riot... apparently the branch currently blocking the view has been given a name! And they've created an imaginary family of other critters to keep her company.
Sigh.......... See why I was trying to limit my internet time? LOL!

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#/page … 498?ref=nf

i wasn't... this is much better, thanks!
Got the laptop, on the dining room table and we're going to sit here and eat dinner while watching Lily! 

I'm there... and the feed stopped... over 5000 viewers on there..... maybe that's why?
Now it's working again. :dance:

Ok, I hadn't opened this thread... try to keep my internet time limited... but I had to see what was worth 4 pages of discussion.

She's sleeping... every time I've looked she's sleeping.... I want to reach through my laptop screen and tickle her or something. Actually, watching her slow breathing is making me sleepy!

We have a black bear den out in the woods about 1000 feet back from the house. I honestly don't know if anyone is inhabitating it this winter but it's fun to imagine a mama bear is in there getting ready to give birth too!!!

Happy Birthday, Lily! Nap time is over.... wake up! Please!!??

So much for limiting my internet time. :crackup:

Great question!
I don't know of any first hand but sifted through some Google results and found the following sites that offer software that might work.
Like you, I have all my bear's hang tags and/or receipts in a box.

http://www.filesland.com/software/collectibles.html
http://www.collectiblesolutions.com/
http://collectible.qarchive.org/

I hope someone comes along who can recommend a specific program!

I just purchased the custom spreadsheets sold by MissSideburns on Etsy. www.etsy.com/shop/MissSideburns
The Business Manager pack is only $24 and includes 8 different forms that are comprehensive and cover every aspect of a craft business. I also purchased Craft Show Ease for $8 which is a 3 page form for tracking inventory, sales, expenses, profit/loss when exhibiting at a show.

I've spent only 20 minutes looking over them so far but here's my initial assesment:

Pros
Complete instructions are included on how to use/format/enter data into the forms
It's done using Excel which is a program many of us are familiar with so learning how to navigate/use the forms is easy!
Lots of guides/info on the forms themselves by hovering over headings... it'll tell you what to put in each field!
It can be customized to a point for your specific needs and very easily.
Simple and easy to use!

Cons
It doesn't come with a little elf to sort through all my papers and enter the data for me!

Ellen - great tips - thanks for the info about Miss Sideburns's spreadsheet. I'm going to go check those out.
I'm still functioning in a disorganized mess of piles of papers, half completed spreadsheets who's calculations don't work and am constantly cursing myself for being such a poor business woman. Creative people aren't supposed to be organized business people! Did someone miss that memo? LOL! It's still January so this is the time to get a system in place and perhaps this is the year to actually do it! Now that my mother lives closer she's offered to keep my books. She was a business manager for 10 years so I think she'll do a better job than I do! I just need to get things in order so she has a starting place and doesn't get scared off when the paper avalanche slides off the desk and into her lap.

You might check wholesale floral/garden supply places. Its often used to pack bulbs in.

Welcome to TT and to bear making!!

Giving them away, even selling my creations was hard at first... for the first year or so I'd say. Though I'm not sure who got more attached to them... me or my husband! Between us both I think I kept every single one that first year. After a while it got so that I'd had enough of them and it was time for them to move on. Now I make so many that we simply can't keep them all though occasionally one has to stay here for a few weeks for me to enjoy before selling him. I do this for a business. I have to have money coming in. With that mindset it's easier to part with them.

The other thing that is equally important to the fact that this is my business is that I do this to share hugs, love and the childlike giddiness that wells up inside when we look into those soulful teddy eyes. That's the reason I started making bears in the first place, I loved how happy they made me feel.  That's not something I want to keep all to myself! In this world we need all the good feelings we can get so I'm thrilled to be able to send my creations off into the world to make someone else smile!

Knowing from the start that I'm going to sell or give away the bear I'm making probably makes me work even harder than I would if I was planning to keep him because I would never dream of sending off anything less than the absolute best I can create... from the quality and originality to the character and look upon his face... it all has to be my best... all the time! It's the least my customers, friends and family deserve!

Have fun creating your first bears! You will find in time that you CAN part with them! But don't worry about that now. Focus on the process, the skill, the techniques, enjoy and learn all that you can.

Teddy Talk has a LIBRARY - look just above your first post here, on the left... next to the smiley face waving at you there is a drop down menu... select a topic you want to read up on and you'll be taken to previous discussions we've had on that particular subject! It's such a great resource for beginners!!!

Have fun!
Hugs,
Daphne

ZEALOUSNESS

Zoo expert Aaron Lightfoot often uses sweet newts encouraging shy snakes.

So cute! 

Cheryl - WOW!!!  Big changes from the first website! It's fun to "play" once you get familiar with what to do, isn't it? You've done a great job!

OK, so I sort of agree with US bears. If selling bear wildlife stuff on eBay was allowed then there really wouldn't be anything wrong with this listing. He's been honest, took good pictures I think (I tried not to look too hard) and is simply asking way too much. I'm thinking he could have found some other category to list it in.

However, I do NOT agree with hunting PERIOD unless it is for pure survival purposes. Survival of self or survival of pets/livestock on one's own land. But that's just my opinion. Still, I can't stop others from doing it or showing off their prizes and have been known to get my fur in a bunch... if only in my own head, silently mourning for those poor animals and cursing the heartless people responsible.

So yummy!!! 

negatively

no exact gene attributes to intense vocal energy like yours

Evoke no excitement regarding grumpy yaks.

every beach otter owns kite strings

Cheryl,
I don't put my actual email address on my website but I have a link on every page in my nav. bar that, when clicked on, will open a new email in the person's email software with my email addy already in the "to" field. This has worked just fine for me and I don't get spam beyond the usual, unavoidable crap.

I won't use those contact forms either. So impersonal. In my opinion.

Thank you, girls.
I just looked at his photo on someone else's computer today and he was glowing... that brassy gold fur really isn't THAT bright! LOL!
He's certainly a bit on the sober side but his hugs are wonderful! LOL!

Thanks, everyone! He's really growing on me as he sits here by the computer waiting for someone to adopt him.