Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Oui!!!!!

I'm going to run out of naming ideas here......

Have you come up with anything at all? I'm good at giving my opinion! :lol::lol:

If you ever do move to the coast folks will think twice about your Green Pastures name, then it will stick with them!!!

Danni - Your bears have HUGE personality but they really don't take up much space! A couple would be great. But get some up on your website first.... you can send me bears anytime (well, by the October show if not Sept!!!)

Shelli - I think Kim was wondering about real fur bears in 'our area' (northeast coast) which is why I didn't volunteer the names of all those other great artists! Although it would be wonderful to have Judi and Nancy come do a show with us!!!

Dilu,

For taking the time to help
And offer words of encouragement...

For helping to sort through struggles
And expressing a different point of view...

For putting a smile on my face
and lightening my heart...

For being there when I needed it most...

Thank you!!!

Daphne

PS. I know a poet I am not but so thankful and grateful I most definitely am for Diane's time and advice and encouragement while trying to cope with my father's illness. God brings the right people into our lives at just the right times.... and our lives are all the richer for it. I just had to thank her from the bottom of my weary heart!!

And thanks to all of you... for being the loving, caring folks you are!!! Don't ever change!!

Love & Hugs,
Daphne

Shelli -
I used to get TB&F at Borders... I have a subscription now. I was there the other day and only saw TBR, however. I find it still thinner than TB&F, Laura, but maybe that was just this issue. TB&F always seems to have more 'eye candy'. Could just be me. I'll have to do some snooping at bookstore for both mags.
Are the advertising rate similar for both, Shelli?

Do you do any advertising locally or in other craft mags?
Daphne

Clare,
Scrunchies!!! What a fantastic idea!!!

Winney,
We should have a challenge... to make a bear from unique fabric of one's own design.... bear with the most unique fabric and best over all appearance wins. Something like that.. I don't know... would be fun to challenge ourselves to do something out of our comfort zone!!

Kim - I've seen a few artists, though not many, who sell real fur bears at shows. Ok, I can only think of 3 amongst all the shows I've been to! I will be bringing Tammy Wamboldt's real fur bears with me this fall. She has the avatar of Sue-Mei, the panda, that is just adorable.

Have you done any searches for shows in your area? Is there not one show in PA?  Hmmmm.... well, I just went and looked in some of my old TB&F issues and didn't see any. Bummer!

I have taken on all I am going to for other artist bears this year. My intent for this year is to offer artist bears from other countries, keep it small and see what happens. I'll be representing 4 artists. Depending on how that goes I will expand to give artists state side opportunity as well for next year.  I'll know in January what I'm going to be able to do and will post something here. I'd love to be able to bring EVERYONE's bears with me... what fun that would be!! Maybe one day.....

Hugs,
Daphne

I have yet to run an ad.... but am considering the Who's Who issues of TB&F.
It's been my experience, from collectors and my workshop students as well as my personal choice, that most folks pick up TB&F over TBR.
Hmmmm..... perhaps someone else feels differently???

Perhaps she'll do a few for the US collectors that will be ooh-ing and aah-ing over her bears at shows this fall???????

(Hint, hint! )
Daphne

Bear Stitches

Catherine,
I love your avatar!!!
There is a formular to know what % to in/decrease the pattern by. It's real simple. I read it in an old bear making book. I've looked through all my books and can't find where I read it. Nor do I remember the formular! I have to admit I haven't read that part of Nancy's book.... guess I ought to. Does she give a formular?
Daphne

He's so sweet.... he looks like he needs a hug... would you give him one for me please?
I love him! He definitely looks like a Delartful bear!
Awesome job, Danni!!!

I like him.
Perhaps it's his nose? Maybe it should be bigger to balance the eyes? Or perhaps a few strands of black to add depth to it? I like his eyes very much.
Someone will love him. I was just talking to another bear artist today about how the bear we dislike the most but take to a show is always one of the first to sell.

I'm trying to decide on a color of fabric to use for table covering and 'walls' in my booth at shows.
Does anyone have a suggestion? The bears are all different colors and as I'm bringing other artist bears with me that each have different styles I won't be going with a theme. It needs to just be a solid color. Green isn't the color to go with... been there! Brown is too close to the color of some of the bears. Cream or white gets dirty too easily. See why I'm having trouble?? 

I've done shows in the past and never used the same color twice.... mainly cause I have yet to find the right color. HELP!!!

I vote for Bears of Green Pastures! I can just see your logo now... the green pastures are actual different fabrics in shades of green with a teddy bear off to one side standing on an old wooden fence... I can smell that earthy smell and feel the breeze on my face.... ahhhhhh.............. I'll be having sweet dreams tonight! Gotta go grab my sketch book first before I loose the image....

Ooooo me!!!!
Gotta get my act together and pics and bio and I'll email you, Jane!
Site looks great! What fun!!

Eileen - HA! Wet mohair most definitely smells like the animal upon which it once resided!!!

Loretta - Glad you bounce!! :)

Hugs,
Daphne

Hayley, Thanks for passing on the info about Teddy Patch... I'm on my way to check it out!!! Seeing as how my bear show for August has been cancelled I might as well put a couple of bears up for auction!!!

Shantell, you do have a point.

Aww, Gina, what a wonderful new mommy those bears will have!!

Dilu, be careful or you'll be next. :lol:

They have an email list and will send you a weekly email if you join their Plum Club.... tells you of the latest bears up for adoption.

So far I've had will power..... so far......

Hugs,
Daphne

I used to put something to the effect of: "If you have any questions please don't hesitate to email me at info@backroadbears.com." Sneaky way of getting my website on there but I haven't technically stated a website address. Wonder if I'd get in trouble for that now. I honeslty think, as Judi said, that it takes someone calling the error to eBay's attention before most things like this are caught. Is someone reeeeeeally sitting there checking all new auction listings? There must be hundreds of new ones posted every hour.

Thanks for letting us know about this, Judi. I'm sorry they singled you out!

I've been struggling with the problem of bear shows cancelling and the whole bear scene dying off. So, I've been thinking and wondering what is necessary to get artists & collectors to a show.

I have questions for artists:

1. What would a REASONABLE booth fee be for say an 8 x 10 space or two 8' tables?

2. How far from home would you travel if show fees were affordable? Within driving distance, no over night; drive & overnight; fly; etc.

3. If you DON'T DO SHOWS, briefly tell why.

4. Where do you currently sell a majority of your bears.... friends/family, internet (state whether website or auction), shows?

5. Name one thing you'd like to see done differently with any shows you've participated in.

And for those who also collect:

6. Where do you buy a majority of your bears..... internet (state whether auction or websites); shows; speciality shops, etc.

******************************

Please number your answers and try to brief (yah, like I'm one to talk!!) :lol:
I'll go first:

1. $75-100  ($25 would be nice!!)

2. Drive/maybe overnight. If a really big & promissing show I'd overnight, maybe fly.

3. n/a

4. Most of my bears sell at shows.

5. More advertising.... gee do I only get to name ONE thing???? :rolleyes:

6. I usually buy artist bears from their websites.... (guilty... doesn't help shows much!)

Laura,
You are being so well disciplined!!! You go girl!!!
Thanks for taking the time to read & respond to all of us.
I appreciate it tons!
Hugs,
Daphne
xo

Yes, I was hopping (get it :lol:!) that Judi would put up that pic with that handsome frog!! I thought of her's just after I posted mine and almost retracted it!!! Judi's is a work of art... mine is just a 'I hate this but have to make him and want to get it over with fast' piece of work!!

Hucklebeary is just the sweetest, Judi!

www.bearpaths.com
Cleveland, Ohio

XO
Daphne

Oh, Kim, that white furry guy is amazing. Love the nose, great idea!!!