Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Oh My, yes!!!  She's terrific, even barefoot!

One of a kind items like that are such treasures.... because it's made of you so to speak and for you but someone obviously very talented and very appreciative of you!!!!

You had better get a picture up quick!! And learn never to tell us about such marvelous things unless you have a picture to go with the telling, right off! :lol:

Bear Hugs to you, Marion!
Daphne

:lol::lol:

Are BB's steel???

I'm about to order a LOT of stainless steel shot for $7.00/lb... I know it sounds like a lot of money but I'm ordering it directly from the manuf. and it's about 1/16" in diameter so good for 8+ inch bears. I'm getting it at cost and would happily share some with all of you.... 1 lb. container $7.00 plus shipping.

Pretty soon we can just buy supplies from each other!

Yes, thank you!!! Jane & Hayley.... your bears are wonderful and inspirational!!!

I'll certainly give this a try. How again?

Just add half the gusset piece to the side head piece?????
(Hold my hand here.....pweese!!)Daphne

Aww, Jill, my grandpa was famous for taking 'long cuts' instead of short cuts to get some place... it was then that I was some of the most beautiful countryside and mountains as a kid. Now my dad does the same thing. I hadn't tied those memories to my business name... not consciously anyway!

Heather

That is the sweetest interpretation of Back Road Bears. I'll always think of that now. Thank you!

Hayley & Danni, thank you also.

I'll keep it now that you've all given me a new perspective on it. I guess when I came up with the name 5 years ago I was appreciating the back roads more as I was new to living on them. Now I'm finding them a major inconvenience since buying a house even further into no where... it is beautiful and peaceful but it's 45 minutes to anyplace from here!!! I'll just have to remember to take a Back Road Bear with me! :D

Hugs to you all for giving me a happy heart!
Daphne

Hmmm.....
while on the subject.....
Any good books out there, or software you 'business' artists recommend for doing the tax side of things?

I'm not ready to pay an accountant for advice and honestly have yet to claim... oh, I'd better not say it in case the IRS meanies are reading and report me!

I know I won't have much of a profit and it's my understanding that one has to have a profit to make it necessary to file taxes. Or is that just a certain amount of sales, not profit? See, I'm trying to find excuses....

Anyway, any directions you can point an artist with no interest or knowledge in the financial side of things would be appreciated!!

Daphne .... no, Ursula Undercover

OK, here goes....

Plastic Pellets, Glass Pellets & Jelly Pellets can be bought at:

www.crscraft.com
www.edinburghimports.com
www.dollstuffing.com
www.sparebear.com/052319/thread-stuffings.html

Steel Shot is available at:

www.sparebear.com/052319/thread-stuffings.html
www.lulubears.com (Her's is very tiny... great for little bears!!

Compare prices... CRSCrafts's jelly pellets are the cheapest around. Spare Bear's steel shot is cheap too... but I don't know if it's STAINLESS... be sure you use STAINLESS STEEL SHOT - any other will rust over time....YUCK!

Hope that helps!
Daphne

Jane, You made that sound so darn easy!!! Why didn't I think of that?
I wondered about darts too....
Guess I won't' know the end result until I try it!

However, after designing a new muzzle that looks more like Pinochio's nose than anything else I think I'll hold off a few days before attempting another design!! I'm off to go see what Pinochio's costume looks like... if it's simple I'll finish this poor bear..he'll be a conversation piece if nothing else... then I'm going to destroy that pattern!!!

Hugs,
Daphne

Oh, Marie,
Here's hugs from me too!!!
Some good advice here.
Please let us know how things are going.
We'll always be here for you!

Marion - Welcome!!
Irene - Welcome!!

So glad you've joined us!

Hugs,
Daphne

I like him too!!

My only thought... perhaps if you were to do a bit of soft scultping near his eyes, bringing them in toward the middle a bit or creating more of bridge across his nose like your avatar bear it'd give the appearance of a wee bit smaller face. But I don't do much soft scultping so that could end up having the wrong effect.

I like him just the way he is!!

Shelli,
I was thinking it'd be two pieces.... easy for kids (pre-teen) to assemble... and me too! FOUR PIECES! Eeeks! Forget it!!!

Wanda, where's Wanda Carson? It's her Tyler bear that got me thinking on this to begin with. (I'm SO in love with that bear.... if only.....) Wanda is your head really in four pieces??? :lol::lol::lol:

Daphne

I'd like to do a center seam bear but haven't a clue how to design it... I learn best by using an artist pattern first so as to get the hang of the pieces and assembly process. Anyone have a suggestion for a good, great center seam pattern to try??? Nothing less than 10" please!!

Thanks!
Daphne

Shantell,
That bible verse was read at my wedding.... as it is read at many so not original but I treasure it. Glad you do too!

More ideas:

Green Acre Bears
         (Well, that gets the theme song to Green Acres going through my head.... so maybe not a good thing!!)
Rolling Bears (like rolling pastures... though maybe it's flat there!?)
Greenland Bears
Bears in the Pasture  (NOW there's bears there!!!)

You'll figure out something!! I just know it!

Daphne

Shell - You just made the back roads sound so, oh, I don't know, romantic in a sense. Thank you! I do tend to think back WOODS because that's exactly where we live, with a black bear who doesn't seem to get it that the feeders are gone (cause he destroyed them) so he comes around EVERY day to scope things out! I'm wishing he'd chase off the mountain lion rumored to be in the area, killing deer and taking them up in the trees. See why I'm not finding the Back Roads very glamorous????? :(

I shall think of wineries, beaches, and such while making bears.... they'll be hav...err...drinking Sex on the Beaches if I'm not careful! Hee Hee!

Anyway, you put things in a different light and I neede that!!

Hugs to ya!!
Daphne

Shelli - Did you know I was just having an identity crisis last night?????? Seriously.... I was thinking that my bears didn't really fit the image I'd imagine for a Back Road Bear... they should be more scruffy looking or something.  So thank you for all you said about my 'identity'. Guess I'll keep it! :D

What kind of feelings or emotions does BROWN (the main color in my website) evoke? Seems to tell folks "Move on, don't buy from her!" as my website sales are almost zero! Maybe I should go for green, or autumn colors.... maybe I should just focus on getting bears made for the shows I have coming up!

Daphne

I have yet to add up my expenses for this year.... now I really don't want to! Think I'll wait til January!!

Oh Shelli, I love it when you get on your soap box because you always have so much to share that is SO helpful to newbies and oldies alike! Thank you so much!!!

Kim, We've talked about websites a few times here and not that it's a problem to repeat but you might want to do a search on the board here first and see if your questions are answered. I think they will be. You'll find there are a lot of companies that will register and host your website, all with different packages and fees so there is no straight answer there. Then there is the design side which we've also talked about, loads of options there too. It's not cut and dry and I wish it were but see if you can weed through so of the things we've offered. We'll answer any questions you come up with from there!! Or try!

Shelli Belly you are super!! Thanks!

Daphne

I pin the pad in place first, giving me the ability to go back and readjust the positioning.
Also, try using a fine marking pen when tracing the paw pads onto the fabric, then cut on or just inside the line.
To be honest, when I first started out and was using other artist patterns I found the paw pads were often too big or too small. I have no idea why but it may not be just you!
Someone eles might have a better idea......

Daphne

You canadians..... TEACH TEACH TEACH!!!
I just started reading this post and as I did I was thinking 'teach a workshop' then Eileen said it and I cheered!

When you do this advertise anywhere inexpensively you can. Put fliers up at the grocery store, department stores, laundry mat, hair salons, library, church, crat shows, fabric stores, any and everywhere they'll let you!! Don't worry about having more people interested than you can fit into a class. You can always schedule another one. Some folks are willing to have a 'home party' and invite a few friends over to make a bear with you. I've done a number of these parties and it's a blast! Advertise in your local paper too if it's affordabe.

The first workshop I ever scheduled flopped - no one signed up. They'd never heard of doing such a thing. Then I scheduled another one a month or two later, advertised all the same places and then some and started getting phone calls. By my fourth one I had a waiting list. It takes folks a while to warm up to new ideas.

Do it Eileen!!!!

Maybe you can get our Tammy Wamboldt to take on Nova Scotia. I believe she's taught children's classes at her church. (Read that on her website.)

Go Canadians!!!!!

Daphne

Copy center, definitely.
I have a suggestion. If you copy/enlarge the pieces onto heavy paper like card stock paper you don't need to trace them onto cardboard or template plastic. Just cut 'em out and start using them! Of course template plastic or the like will last longer in the end but the card stock works great too!
Daphne

I'll let you know just as soon as he arrives.

I'm glad you are starting to feel better. I do hope the next trimester is much easier on you. You just might suddenly find yourself sewing bears like crazy!!!

Kirsten & Danni - I was thinking blue too! My last name is German for blue and it's my favorite color. Definitely navy. I've used green in the past and need a change. Burgand sounds good too.

I liked Donna's idea of sheer too though as light is important. So that got me thinking on gooseneck lights....

Decisions, decisions!

Hi Kirsten! How are you feeling?

I can't wait to meet Oliver! I'm sooo excited. Please let me know when you've sent him so I can keep a look out for him and be sure to lecture the other bears here on good behavior!

OK, that was my first thought but then thought perhaps there was some other meaning....

Olde Delartfuls
Olde Time Delartfuls

Ought to be able to come up with a name that uses another play on words type of word so its  "_______ Delartfuls"

Perhaps something will come to me in my sleep. Last night I designed a new ted in my dreams... can't wait to make him!!

Ya, be original there chicky!! Besides, that's too long.....
I have a question.... what does Delartful mean?
Perhaps when the question was posted about how we all came about our business names you gave the story, in which case I missed it. Could you humor me with the abreviated version. (I can't spell so forgive me.. spell check takes to long!)