Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hello,   Yes I will have a table at TBAI this year also.  This will be my Fifth time there and it is my favorite show because of the wonderful friendly atmosphere and all the fun events.  So, relax and plan on enjoying it.  I am in the midst of getting my gallery piece ready now as I don't like the last minute pressure.  See you all there.  Janet

Sue Ann....  I asked Greg if 39 meant anything to him  ... He said as long as she likes to ski that is all that would matter.

Janet

This is so much fun looking at everyone's photos!  Here are my THREE SONS of which I am terribly proud since they have turned out to be fine individuals.  I know what you mean about living in a house with men and I think it is a lot of fun.  My boys are grown now (32, 30, 28 all born in Aug) and I raised them alone since they were 11,9,7 years old when my husband died)  I deserve the purple heart!  But, really I feel very lucky I did not have any huge problems and they all adore me. They are all single yet......  (any of your daughters interested)

Photo 1:    Gregory, 32   He still lives with me and I would like him to find a lady and have his own life.  He has his own business building custom homes and has built many lovely million dollar homes here in Colorado

Photo 2:   Garret. 30   A scientist who just started working toward his PHD in medical research at the University of Minnesota. 

Photo 3:  Perry  An Artist living in New York City.  He went there to be a comedian (went the the American Comedy Institute and graduated but now decided against it)  He has a day job with computers and is doing his art on the side.  See his new web site  www.PerryAnderson.net  .  If you get a chance look at his profile as he has some interesting views on Art.  He also did my web site

Photo 4:  Me and my four boys (one is my nephew living in CO and close to his cousins and here all the time so I considered him a fourth son)  This was taken 4 years ago at Perry's graduation from college.  Left to right:   ME, Greg, Christopher,Perry, Garret.

Thanks Shelli.....   I think all is lost    as I already have two categories listed....   

  For the future.... what exactly is the category I should be listing in?   It was very confusing.   But I managed to set up a listing in the first place so I will keep plouging along. 
Janet

Yes, I did put a reserve on Hans...
 
Thanks,Shelli     I really appreciated any help you could give me

I have been studing and preparing for months for my first ever listing and still I made a big goof.  I could not find my listing and after a few days discovered it on a page with dolls and also on a page with minatures... only bear there.
    I contacted ebay (live help) and asked if it could be put in another category as I don't think it will be see there.  They said since there was one bid it could not be changed.  Also, right now they are having category issues. 
    So.... do I just wait out the days remaining and then list again...... hopefully in the right category?    It was very confusing ... choosing a category and I thought I did it correctly but aparently not.   
     One needs to  live and learn I guess. 
    My listing # is 5636323143 
   Janet

WOW     I better get cleaning as it looks like I am getting a lot of company.  Really Shelly are you coming Sat.?  Actually I would not mind having everyone come here ... it gets lonely and I could use some company.  I am thinking of hosting another open house like I had two years ago with a couple of other artists.  There are no bear shows in CO anymore  so it was a popular event as people like to come up to Evergreen.  Janet

I have made several set over the years... a boy and girl bear dressed in coordinating costumes.
My experience has been to offer them individually or together.  Collectors who have bought them individually usually at a later date find they want both and will order the other one or pick it up another show. A few times someone has wanted both right then and there so that is fine too.  It has not been my experince that it makes any difference if the number in the edition does not match if they buy a pair at one time.   Janet

Thanks Sue Ann!    Just so you don't think I am too lucky  .... here is a photo of my house (see me peaking out the door?)  a couple of years ago when we got this big snow...  8 feet!  I was not able to get out for two weeks.  But yes I feel lucky most of the time and got this house at the right time in 1989  when it was a bank repo.  I am going to try and sell it next summer for a profit as I need the money at this point in my life.  My oldest son who is a custom home builder is ging to build me a small log house .. don't know where yet.  Janet

I just love to look at houses.  This has been so great to see everyones in differnet parts of the world.
     Here is mine up in the mountains of Colorado at 8,500 feet.  It is on a two acre lot and is a la natural with lots of wildflowers growing in the summer.  I just took the first two so the golden aspen are done.  The first photo is taken from the road looking at the side.  the second photo I took on the deck looking out toward the front and my view of a mountain across the street.   The third photo was taken in Sept out on the front deck where I work on bears. 
Janet

I love both dressed and undressed bears and some times think a beautiful fur should not be covered up.  BUT, I do create mostly dressed bears as I love to tell a story as has been mentioned and also because of my background.  I have a BS in Textiles and Clothing and an MS in Historical Costume  so I have this tremedous love of fibers, fabrics, colors, clothing design, etc. Also, I started out as a cloth doll maker so of course dressed them.   I also love detail and all kinds of needlework and so naturally incorporate this in my bears.  For me becasue of all this ...  dressed bears are the only way to go.   I do make a rare undressed bear though. 
     This weekend for the Lincoln City, OR show I made 10 the convention bear and these guys have just a tye and an accessory.    Better get packing....... Janet

I am on my way to the bakery to buy a whole CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE and have the whole thing by myself for lunch!    Janet

Dear Deb and All.....
       I have just been reading all your posts with tears and being thankful for all your caring and supportive comments.  Deb, Iam in exactly the same situation right now with my mother and I know the agony of it.  I won't go into details but just know we all are in same  boat at times and I am glad you brought your feeling and thoughts forward to share.  I am more introverted but let things out in other ways than writing and talking.  I am oldest of 4 and my siblings are very close and supportive too.  It did cause me some pain Dilu, when you mentioned having men in your lives.   But,  I am very happy for you and do treasure it as I  know you do.    Janet

I am sharing a flower photo too.   Love flowers but I must plant them in pots on my deck as anything you plant in your yard here will be eaten by the Elk.  That is all right as I love having Elk wander freely in my yard.  In this photo I captured a hummingbird ( one of many ) having a great time in my pot of Nasturtiums ( A flower I have a passion for and grow every year) 
      Janet

Hello,    I am going to post my thoughts on TBAI this year but Kelly gave an excellent report already.  SO  I will just add a few things from my perceptive from attending for the fourth time.  TBAI is and still is a first class event and the most friendly, warm atmosphere of any show I have ever participated in.  The gallery this year was the best yet!    Every piece was outstanding and it seemed like more pieces than usual sold right away including my Alice.   Yes the public atendance for the show on Sat was way down from past years but the collectors  present were buying bears so most aritsts had sales.  I really had a great time and definitly plan to keep going back as they are planning with the help of a commitee to keep it going.
      An added plus for me is that I have family there and make it a big trip.  My sister lives in Dowingtown, PA and my mother close by.  Also, my youngest son lives in NYC and takes the train down to my sisters to see me while there.  This year was a downer as my mother was in the hospital in deep depression so it was not fun visiting her and I am feeling rather down from that experiece overshadowing the TBAI time. 
Janet

Hi Wanda......     It was fun to be next to you  at TBAI and I enjoyed talking with you and seeing all your photos of family.  Love the photo of the dessert!   Wish I had taken some photos there but like you decided to leave the camera at home as there was enough to take.  I also met Laure and did not realize there were others there from Teddy Talk.   I just got back and still unpacked and tired so will contribute more later.     Janet

Your words, Dilu, about good music are prefectly expressed and are my feelings too.
The description of your experiences in concerts is also right on.  Yes, I know what you mean.  I sit there (in the middle which is great with playing oboe) and everyone is playing their best and all is coming together and I think this must be Heaven.  But, speaking of tears I had a concert where after the A  I wiped my oboe and the swab got stuck!!!   No way would it budge and I sat there in tears the entire concert with the conductor looking at me in horror when I did not play when he cued me.  I now have one of those swabs that has a string a both ends.  That is my worst oboe story. 
    I had a guy in England do a special arrangement of Faure's Pavanne recently for oboe and harp which I love.  I practiced it last night and was in Heaven  almost  (needs some work yet)
   
    Well, I need to come back to earth and get going on getting ready for TBAI in a week.  I will be gone the 2 - 10th staying with my sister near Philly and driving up and back to Binghamton, NY for the show.  Last year the theme at TBAI was broadway musicals and I did Maria from Sound of Music teaching the kids DO RE MI  for my gallery piece.   Love that musical plus many others.  I have the opportunity to play in Fiddler on the Roof  twice playing both oboe and english horn . 

Janet

Dilu,    we must have been writing at the same time

      ( I do love Neil Diamond also )

I am definitly game too.... we could give a concert at a bear convention and be the entertainment.
     Wow,  Dilu,  you really blew me away!!   Another oboe player and yes it is a four letter word!   Thanks for sharing your experience and you are right ... only another oboe player would understand.   A psychologist would have a field day with how I started back in high school and why I play this particular instruement still today.   I played in college  and then nothing for almost 16 years.  When my husband died in 1985 I went crazy and took some of the insurance money to buy a Loree and started playing again on a professional horn that I had always wanted.  It has been my therapy along with bear making plus a way to be with people.  Music is very theraputic as an outlet for my feelings and emotions.   Also....  I have a passion for the oboe and it's poignant sound.    You are ahead of me if you could play that R S   concerto.    Iam loving playing the Poulenc oboe sonata with a pianist friend right now for fun. 
    It is great to hear from everyone and their experiences with  music and bears.  They go  very well together being  both art forms.   Janet

Hi,   I have made my bears for many years with an inset piece of a short mohair.  I started this because I hate shavng.  I do it like Judi .. all in one piece so there are no side seams on the nose.  Also, did a lot of trial and error  to get the shapes I want. 
    Janet

Music!!!   This is my other life besides bear making.  I too love all kinds of music and listen all the time I am working on bears.  It has been my therapy  for some tough times in my life and just a joy.  Iam a musician playing the Oboe with a community orchestra ( The Denver Pops ) and playing in a chamber music group in Denver.  I also play with a Harpist and we are starting a business together playing for weddings, upscale restaurants. parties, etc.  Music plays a big role with practicing a least  hour a day and enjoying listening.  I love classical and jazz the most but enjoy all types with the exception of heavy metal or hard rock.. 
     Just last night the orchestra played a concert in a outside park in Denver in the 108 degree heat  with no shade.  It was brutal but I survived it .... that was dedication!!!  We played one of my favorites.....  "My Funny Valentine" in which I had a solo  so I guess it was worth it. 
      Hope to hear more on this subject.      Janet

Yes,  there are so many wonderful bears showing up on this forum.  I too often take a look at each one  and admire all the creativity.  I wish I had the time to respond also more but want everyone to know I think there is a high quality of bear  making going on here.   Life has been very hectic lately with going and returning from the Clarion, Iowa show which was wonderful by the way and now getting ready to go to TBAI.   plus family times.   
        Janet Anderson

Hi everyone,      I too was very excited to get my TBF yesteday and see my bear photo
      published for the TBAI 2005 show. (p.16)  Because of a computer crash I was not able to send it  by email and had to rush to town to send it over night express (expensive) to meet the deadline and did not know if they would use it.  So it was a double surprise to see it. 
       But,   it is very sad too  since Millie Gage  the orginater and force behind this show passed away last week after a year long battle with lung cancer.  Don't know how many of you knew her and know about her death.  She was an inspiration to me.     
                              Janet Anderson

Hi  Winney.
    I have a book:  The Designer Collection (for Bears)  edited by Judith Shangold which was conceived with Vogue Knitting to raise funds for children's issues.  There are many unusual I would say projects in the book in addition to sweaters.  They are designed to fit 10 inch bears.
I could scan and send a photo of the projects to see if any are of interest to you.   
     Many of my bears wear hand knit sweaters and hats but I make up my own patterns.  They are also for small bears with very fine yarn  ( 4 &5 inches )  so I don't think you would be interested.  But I have found as an expert knitter than I can adapt many childrens knitting patterns to bears so this may be another way you can find free patterns.   

Janet