Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I have to agree with you there Becky, Gwen if you don't want to make the bear I'd go with that offer as it is fantastic. Most people charge at least $200 to turn genuine fur into a bear, however most artists I am aware of charge even more. But as you said Becky, only if you like the bears she makes lol.

Also a centre seam is fine in genuine fur bears, I've been making mink, fox, marten, coyote, beaver and other furs into bears for some time and I've never heard that you can't use a centre seam. I use an ordinary pattern, slightly enlarged for an extra seam as I line the fur too.

Making a fur bear is the toughest bear-making challenge you can embark upon regarding materials ~ if you're not sure, I'd get the other lady to make it for you. It takes so much extra time to make a genuine fur bear, and if you haven't made on before you could make mistakes on this one which would not be ideal as you don't have much of the fur. My first 6 genuine fur bears had issues ranging from heads splitting when trying to turn them to the skin collapsing as I was stuffing or finding that the skin was too brittle or thin in places. All these bears had to be re-made, and wow by the end of it I swore I'd never make another one but here I am!

There is a very good reason most artists charge a lot more for genuine fur bears ~ it's because it takes a very long time. Perhaps if you could look into Helen Gleeson's at-home workshop manual that walks you through step-by-step how to make a fur bear ~ I've heard it's very good however haven't used it myself.

GORGEOUS!!!! Love him, is he for sale?? Don't worry about your English your bears speak volumes

I really hope no one took my post the wrong way ~  I noticed no one commented on it and I guess I stress unnecessarily about these things but I hate to think I've upset anyone. I really don't mean to sound as though I'm bragging or anything like that I was just adding to the conversation. I really hate these little posts as there's no tone of voice to go by and none of you realize that I personally have a horrible time accepting that people actually want to pay money for my bears, and the stress of all these things has contributed to my current illness of Chronic Fatigue ~ again this is not trying to gain pitty from any of you or any such statement of "Awww poor thing," I just wanted you to know I'm no bragger and I hope my post didn't sound this way.
It sounds silly but the way people interpret things on these forums really does effect me and I worry unnecessarily about it when I think about it, so I hope nothing I've said anywhere here has been taken the wrong way.... 

Shaneen Flaunty Escobar is a lovely lady but I agree I was just as puzzled I can't find her anywhere! Her site is down as you mentioned and I can't get in touch with her either ~ I wanted to add her to my links page but couldn't as there was nothing to link to! I would also like to know what's happened there..... Gerry's don't know what's happened either as I speak to them regularly and they didn't mention anything when I asked about her site etc.

She's a fantastic artist and I'd like to know what's happened to her bears too, I've always wanted one of her bears.

Do you mean on the body or the head? I have made both before but I don't sell my patterns sorry. You could free-hand one as long as you're not planning on selling the pattern ~ they're fairly easy to make up if you're not big on designing. On the body though it usually makes the front of the tummy seem too big and fluffy than usual ~ there is a reason (or a few) that there is a seam down the centre. Why don't you want a seam down the centre? Is it to do with the lining or skin of the beaver?

I have a very similar bear, he's a GUND bear and he's name's Bixby. He's chocolate brown though not cream ~ I know you can get him in cream though. He's a very big bear. Hope this helps.

OMG How gorgeous they are! Such life in their eyes they look alive and full of personality. Well done!  :clap:

How cute!

I really don't mean to sound as though I'm bragging or anything nasty as that is not what I mean, but I am having more sales at the moment then I usually have. I sell a bit through Bear-Pile but mostly it's word of mouth etc. I design and make bears from the pattern up for very well recognized organizations to use as "logo" or "mascot" bears ~ mostly this makes up my sales. This is because I offer a "consultation" with the customer and discuss shapes for the bear, what they're trying to acheive in the bear's expression and stance etc, colour palette, accessories and even eye and nose shape and colour.

I design lots of my own bears for general sale and these are where my heart goes as well as my imagination, and these creations are my favourites however most of my sales come from the exclusive kind of offer I give of designing someone's bear from the pattern up with the promise it will be a OOAK ~ sometimes I even patent the pattern I design, depending on the customer's comments.
These bears created like this are not cheap, but I find most people don't mind too much as they want a bear to represent them that is exclusive to their company or gallery etc that will not be seen anywhere else.

I have to be honest I wish my other creations sold better as they are what I love to create and I love them the most, but my bears do have to pay bills so I can't refuse an offer to create a custom order bear.

I hope things do pick up for everyone, there are a lot of collectors out there you just have to reach them! My bears are on Youtube, lots of forums, hopefully soon Facebook, and I talk to lots of people so it is all about networking (even if the networking only brings you more custom orders and no purchases of bears you've already got lol).

I really do hope things improve for everyone, this is an art form so you can't sell yourselves short however finding a happy medium is hard with bears as everyone has a different price range and budget.

Bear hugs to you all and hope everything works out and lots of bears get adopted soon!

Awww I love her!!! She's so beautiful. And working with a bear almost entirely white or cream is not easy, niether is the shading so well done!  :clap:

How gorgeous they are, well done they're such little characters. You're very clever with your imagination obviously  :clap: Imagination is such a rare thing these days so bravo to you!!   :clap:  :clap:

Oh wow thanks so much for the link these are GREAT!!! These are fantastic and I use them all the time ~ I love the blender too it's why they're so fantastic

Gorgeous

Awwww what a perfect face! I have a Bullmastiff and she looks just like Gus - well done!

I just sit bears who seem to look like friends together ~ I don't collect bears so I can have them in groups or classifications, I just kind of sit ones that look like they're having a conversation together with each other. I have a lot of cake stands that my bears sit on, I make miniature ornamental cakes so they're often displayed with these on the cake stands which looks great. Alot of my Little Bittie Bears are on a cupcake stand and they look gorgeous there so I wouldn't move them. I like my bears wherever is easiest to access them and give them a hug!

What a great thread And loads of great pics!

Loving that business name it's perfect! And really catchy, it's great good choice

Wow wow wow!!!! An amazing, gorgeous and special bear!

I think it's a great site and websites are an ongoing work in progress so great job so far and things can only keep improving from the great beginning site you have Looks fantastic and I love that the pics are big and clear too

Awww how sweet!

He's so gorgeous and inspires me to try a raccoon..... That's a huge compliment you know as it's hard to inspire me to step outside my comfort zone so well done! So cute and best of luck with the auction

Wow she's gorgeous!!! And reading your post here reminds me I had to get back to you. I have to be off to bed and have work for the next two days so if I don't get back to you soon can you email me??? I keep forgetting that I had to email you about Preston so sorry!! You pig is gorgeous

Wish I could be there ~ maybe next time Have fun all of you!

He's a gorgeous bear Becky and I'd be over the moon too if someone told me they loved one of my bears so much they took it to bed with them Unfortunately most people who do this don't want to own up to it, like they've done something wrong, and wouldn't tell me if they did anyway. That always makes me smile because they are talking to me, the one who made the bear, and they don't want to admit how much they love it as if I don't understand???? Of course I understand!!! All artists do I think

Lawrence is gorgeous well done Becky, your bears are very "real teds" if you know what I mean 

Synthetic should not stretch too much ~ that's really the main thing about it. If it's poor quality it will stretch to high heaven lol, and if it is nice and tight and knitted back it is good quality. This is determined by feel alone so you should be fine with finding good quality synthetic Jessie

OMG!!! Love him!!!! I saw him on Bear Pile and loved him to bits at first site. I am a HUGE Pirates of the Caribbean fan and watch those movies all the time. I am also working on a series of pirate bears right now as a custom order but none of them are that elaborate and well thought-out. I am quite proud of my pirate bears but they've got nothing on yours! Well done he's absolutely gorgeous. I'd adopt him in an instant if I could.