Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

She's very sweet!

Thanks so much guys! I really like this new head pattern...only subtle changes but they have made enough difference to add a bit of new dimension to the profile.

I don't actually knit the sweaters myself...my mum used to knit for me and now since she died I struggled to find a knitter! But my mums friend has started knitting for me and she knits beautifully. That yarn is Rowan mohair...the fluffy one. It's very fine.

Very sweet!

I haven't made a really girlie bear for a while....so I thought it would be good to make one. Lola Rose found a home in just a couple of minutes...which cheered me up today!

Hi ,Vicki..you can line it. I use fusible cotton interface. It works!You just iron it on...the Super Sulky works great too though!

Wonderful work

Well...this bear is so beautiful...stylish, cleverly designed and adorable.

Utterly superb exacting workmanship...and loads of flair.  A winning combination!

I think you might find that there might be bear fairs nearby ....but that would depend on the dates.

I love all your bears!!!!

Thanks. It challenging not to go OTT !!

This is Toby. He's a new style bear for me ... With and old style look
Available on my website

I totally get what you mean here. I think its obvious when someone has taken the inspiration that we all get from other artists work and just tried to replicate it to make bears like someone elses. I think its hard not to notice what others do and be unaffected by it. I am not going to say that I never think ,' that's a great idea and maybe I can interpret that on my bears'  I'd be a liar if I said that.
I do think though that the demand for a certain genre of bears makes some people launch wholesale into creating that style purely out of driving their business. But, equally,  there are artists who go along making no changes to adapt to the demands of current trends and stick to their style whatever. Who is right? I don't know that its sensible flit from one style to another willy-nilly. I don't think that tactic helps to establish you as an artist, however if a style of bear was not selling for whatever reason, I would not continue with that design hoping it would catch on eventually.
So I tend to move along and go whatever way the wind blows me...doing whatever inspires me. I feel very grateful that I can do that.  I have been making bears for a relatively short time, 11 years, however, in that time I have seen fads come and go...everyone was doing anime bears, corded eyelids, needle-felted faces seem popular now. Is it copying? No, I don't think it is ..I think its just that artists feed off each others creativity and from that comes originality. If someone goes all out to replicate another artists work exactly , well that would be copying, but moving along with a trend is only the same as fashion designers do, creating their interpretation of a certain style.
I actually think that I would rather be flexible and experiment with new styles to keep my designs interesting, rather than putting blinkers on to avoid being influenced by popular trends in the market. I would think that would be very boring and the bears would soon reflect that.

Very clever ...they are superb!

Thanks so much 

This is Dewey...he's a sweet 10 inch baby bear I made....
He has a new mom already!

Thank you for your kind comment!

Lovely bear!

Superb work !

Hope it turns out well...  I think they are a joy to make !

Thanks guys!!!

Really great effort....and well done on the sewing. I was the same never sewed till I learned bear making...needs must!

Try to put the picture on this page...it's easy to do... Lets more people see your work!

Thanks so much ..it really means a lot!!

Thanks so much !! I am hoping to make more puppies. I am thoroughly enjoying thinking outside the box!!

Thanks Francesca...I really appreciate it!