Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I agree with Penny and I do not spend a huge amount on advertising...don't forget though the Hugglets guide has a free advert in it and as I said earlier it has worked for me.

Jane

Hi kelly, A BIG NO, NO, NO to candy at a stand. Boy imagine all the hard work gone into making a bear to have sticky candy all over it! I was at a show last year and I pointed fairly close to a bears face to point out a feature to a friend when the bear artist said "don't touch if your hands are dirty". I was taken aback by this as I had never had a response like this before. I reassured her that my hands were very clean and that I was an artist myself and wouldn't dream of touching a bear with unclean hands. She said she was sorry but went on to tell me that someone had picked up a bear at her previous show and left melted chocolate from her hands all around the bears middle.
When I am exhibiting I have some small teddys at a lower price for those who want a bear but can't afford to buy the bigger bears. I also have patterns which I have made plus small boxes with bear pictures on, I sell hand knitted teddy bear clothing. One lady at a show last Autumn bought a hat that I had knitted for bears and promptly put it on her tiny baby. She looked really cute! I also have flyers with a couple of pictures of my bears my logo and contact information and business cards and a book for visitors to my stand to sign. Woops! I almost forgot, hand painted tee-shirts with bear pictures on them. The tee-shirts are painted by my daughter Sarah and are very popular.

Jane

YAY. Works for me. I think the heart and star shapes add even more personality to you little gollykins Di...go for it!

Jane

Hi Kirsten BIG CONGRATULATIONS to you and your husband. what wonderful news. I hope the pregnancy goes well without you feeling unwell too much. Now if there's one thing better than producing a bear it's producing a baby all of your own.

Jane.

Shari, Shari, Shari, I am in love with you beautiful bear. How on earth did you imagine that the material would make such a dilly-doozie of a bear. I think he is is ace!

Amanda Oliver is super I love his expression, I wonder just what he is going to say to us all!

Millie what a lovely big hug I could have from your beautiful girl, I wish I could see her eyes more clearly. Your real fur bear must be luxurious to cuddle he look so soft. I love his fancy necklace, so grand:)

Danni, little Neville is too cute. what a sweet little fella he is. He looks like he wants to raid the honey pot...ummmm! perhaps that answers the big tummy! :) 

i am looking forwards to seeing the new additions to the new creations page. I'll add mine as soon as I get the photograph done. i was going to take lots of pictures today but it's been far to hot. Phew!!!

Jane, in a state of semi-melt.

You studio is looking really good Di, Has the cat taken up permanent residence or have you use the space for yummy mohair etc. Well done to your husband!

Jane.

Well it's 9.36am here in the Uk and I'm already too hot and the temperature is still rising for the day. I'm sitting here typing this with my patio windows wide open plus all the other windows and I have a large fan blowing right at me. Phew I don't like it too hot. Last night we went out for a super meal, which I won, and then onto the  cinema to see War of the worlds. I really enjoyed both and both the restaurant and the cinema were air conditioned. It felt so clammy when we left the cinema, it was 10.15 pm and still far too hot!

Jane.

Hey how come everyone here is so beautiful...what happen to me!
Kim you and your husband are two beautiful people and don't tell anyone but I have a real soft spot for dimples!
I love the photograph so much that I intend to learn how to do that technique.

Jane

Marie Shanty is sooooooo cute! What a lovely mohair you have chosen for him. I love his big eyes he looks as if he wants to ask for a big cuddle so give him one from me...(((((((HUG FROM JANE)))))))

Jane

Sorry to differ Chris but I have had quite a few contacts through my free advert in the Hugglets Teddy Bear Guide and some sales. I don't pay out for 1/4 pages or anything at all, I just have the free advert of name, address, website details, phone number and just five discripive words. That is all I have ever done and seeing as it is such a small addition to the guide I am pleased to say it has bought traffic to my website and pennies to my pocket.
Hugglets also have two great shows each year in Kensington, London the next being on September 4th. These are shows I never miss and the guide is there on sale and can be found at all the good shows plus at some shops, even our little teddy shop in Aylesbury sells them. I don't see any reason not to take out the free advert  at least...it works for me!
Jane

Doodlebears came from two places. When I was a small child I was always drawing. I would draw all day every day if I could. I filled so many drawing books that my parents could not always afford new books for me all the time so I would draw anywhere there was spare paper, even in the blank edges of a newspaper. I went on to win a scholarship to an art college where I was in seventh heaven! I would doodle away my days (get it?) When I had my third son, David, I nick named him Dady-doodles, so the doodles reemerged. When I am making the designs for my bears I always make a doodle drawing of what I hope the bear to look like. As you can see doodles everywhere, so when it came to finding a name to sell my bears under Doodlebears was the most obvious.
I am loving to read all the stories about you bear names and Louise you are a real inspiration to us all...may I never moan again!
Marie I love the name Kiprie Bears sounds really good and it is so personal to you.

Jane.

Sue Ann your bears are adorable. I'm with everyone else, the 2" long golden tan mohair which you made the adorable Avalon out of is scrumptious. I would love to use this mohair, drooling now! The short black/white "frosted" look mohair/viscose blend has a nice look to it but I'm not sure about it. The bear you've made is really sweet, maybe holding the material and seeing it first hand would make me want to buy it but as I said I'm not sure. Now as for the last sample is tipped in two colors...beautiful! My mind just flowed with bear designs for this one. I love it! The bear is fabulous too! Now when can we expect to see these fabrics at Intercal?
I'm sure we all want to get our creative little mits on them and make some beautiful critters!

Jane.

Beautiful! Wow! How I wish I could experience a visit from a real bear like that. Although I would make sure I'm tucked up safely inside the house. What a wonderful experience for you and your husband Daphne. The pictures are great, what a handsome boy he is!
The most exciting animal to wander through my garden was a scraggy old fox. I felt so sorry for him as he looked like a good feed was just what he needed. I thought it best not to put food out and encourage him to come to feed as I dare not risk my dogs getting any illness that the fox may be carrying. I so wanted to help the poor thing but I had to be sensible. The main visitors are my neighborhood cats that like to pee on my flowers, my dog Lucy chases them away but as soon as she gets anywhere near them she comes in yelping...silly dog. I hate her chasing the cats as they are only doing what cats do, but I suppose Lucy chasing cats is only what dogs do.

Jane.

Here is my banner to Crafty Folks Ads if anyone would like to use it. Crafty Folks Ads is a website that I am building up to advertise lots of different craft sites including bear artists. To check it out just click in the link below.

Jane

Hi Every one. Here is my banner for anyone who would like to use it. I will use all of the banners posted here on my links pages on my two websites when I next update.
Two for one just like the super markets, ha, ha!

JANE.

I agree with Danni I too had a severe asthma attack using the excelsior. I recommend to stay away from excelsior if you have any lung problems. I have several old bears taht are completely stuffed with excelsior and they are wonderful to hold, very heavy and as Paula said crunchy! I stuff the noses of my bears with a dense polyfil and then fill the rest of the bear with a fluffy polyfil. I do stuff the whole bear quite firm but I find the dense polyfil enables me to keep the bear's nose firm and enables me to sew a good nose.

Jane

Great new site Shelli! I love all the pictures of your sweet faced bears, soooo cute! Great tips also, your really kind to help out, buy hey everyone here is really kind...my internet family is just wonderful.

Hip Hip Hurray for Teddy Talk!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jane

Hi Shelli, big hugs to you! Emme will always have a special place in your heart. Just remember the good times and hold on to the lovely memories of her.
Louise I hope that Michah will be OK and that the vet can make her well again.
Thank all of you for your kind thoughts for the people caught up in the London terrorist attack. Here in the UK we have all been glued to the TV praying that the attack is over and sadly hearing the reports of the injuries and even more sad the fatalities of the poor souls caught in the bombings.Let us all hope that these people soon are caught and brought to justice.

Jane

Thanks Di, we are all in shock here. These terrorists need to be stopped! All day the TV has been on and every station is covering London. So many people have died and been injured. The devastation these evil creatures cause around the world is unbelievable. We all knew that it would happen here one day but it was a shock when it did.  Yesterday we were all celebrating getting the 2012 olympics now we are grieving for all caught up in the terrorist attack.
We receive your prayers and add them to the thousands that we are receiving. We are a resilient lot and will see our way through this. In 2001 we all said God Bless America, today it is God Bless England.

Jane

It now seems that there have been multiple explossions in London. On the underground and on at least three buses. London has come to a standstill. I pray no other explossions happen. It's so dreadful!
Jane

It is at the moment unclear as to what has happened but the London underground network has been closed down due to explossions and now they are saying that a bus has had it's roof blown off in central London. People are injured so if you could take a moment to give prayers to all those caught up in this terrible event.
I'll let you know more when the news comes in.

Jane

Hi Dilu thanks for the poem! I agree what's not to love with gollygeewhizbears! I have just made a really tiny one for me just 2 1/2 inches tall. Crazy or what!

Jane

Yes Danni, the Sydney 2000 games were fantastic I was glued to the TV wishing I was there every minute. You Aussies sure know how to put on a good show! Not to say that we Brits will do our darndest to put on a better one, it's all part of the game you see. ha, ha!!!

Jane

Yah!!! We are all cheering here right now as it has just been announced that London Uk will be hosting the 2012 Olympics!
::D          

I have always wanted to go to the Olympics and now I can Whoopeee!!!!!

From a very smiley faced JANE

Nice one Shelli. Thanks for sharing!

Jane