Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Beary Pals,
OOOOOOH I love this subject, I did a talk about copy rights for a in the fur bear group I belong to and boy I think I upset a lot of people with what I had to say, that's okay I'm used to that .  I feel very strongly about this subject and took it upon myself to read as many books as I could about copyrights and trademarks etc...., though I found I came out just as confused as when I started, because the subject is not black and white but murky with many shades of grey.

My goal with the talk was to get new bear makers thinking and maybe some who have been in the business forever and are quite content with just borrowing from others and who are unwilling to get out of their comfort zone and try their hands at creating their own designs.  I know way to many bear makers who use other peoples patterns and think well I changed a few things, made arms longer muzzle shorter etc.... so there for it is now my designs.  This is where I think I ticked some people off, If you didn't design the pattern from scratch it ain't yours    Where this silly thought that all you need to do is make a few changes I think The magic number was 3 to an original design before you can call it yours came from I don't know where but it's so bogus it makes my blood boil.    These bear makers just pooh pooed this fact and said who is going to know the difference anyway.  I guess some people are quite happy being unoriginal and their will always be those who have no problem steeling from their bear siblings.

Here is a question I have it's along the same topic.  Do I have the right to speak up or is this an area that I should keep my mouth shut.  A hard thing for moi` to do.  Since I began my bearmaking I have always sewn a heart on my bears paw, so they will never forget where they came from.   I have participated in articles on artists signatures my work has been published in many magazines showed up on ebay all with the same comment ( like all Bearhaven bears so and so wears his heart on his foot so he will never forget where he came from) My goal right from the start was to set my bears apart, a heart on it's foot it must be a Bearhaven Bear.  Now I know this concept is not new and I'm not the one who designed  the heart shape.  However I have never seen a heart sewn on a bears foot like mine.  Of course I have only been is this business since 1998  maybe I just missed it if there is an artists out there who does this.   Here the question part if I see another artists us this signature the heart on the foot do I have the right to ask them to stop using this?  I never registered this signature but it is public knowledge that  every Bearhaven Bears has a heart on it's foot.  should I just sit back and say nothing and relax already, or should one stand up, Am I just being to rigid. The idea of someone else doing this pisses me off.  I did a show and another artists (used to call herself my friend did just that then had the nerve to ask me how I got mine to stay on so well) I just walked away never said a thing I was waytoo mad an might have caused some bodily harm,  it did make me think though do I even have the right to say anything.
Anyway I could ramble on til the cows come home on this subject, it is a very important  topic I'm glad that it is being discussed here.
Hugs to all deborah
PS I hope I haven't upset any apple carts, I know how this subjects gets people all rallied up, which isn't a bad thing gets us thinking.

Hey Beary Pals,
Thanks so much for stoping by to view my guy I hope I didn't leave the impression that I thought this fella was boring.  With the plane Jane comment I meant he is very simple no frills or fuss.  I actually really like this guy and I decided to call him Sweet Pea, every time I moved him around I kept calling him that so I thought heck why not....even though he is a boy. He is very secure with his man hood and isn't afraid to show his feminine side.  Thanks for all your name suggestions and all your lovely comments, he now is so full of himself he acts like he is to good for us low lifes here in the Bearhven Bear den.

Patsy I do think he is wearing a opel I collect trinkets and sparkly things I never know what I'm putting on my guys, It wouldn't surprise me If I have passed off a diamond thinking it was just a cheap rhinestone.  :redface:

Sueann I wish I could take credit with the bun he is just a mass produced add on I picked up I think it was Michaels, on one of my many shopping sprees.  I'm heading off to the art store today so I'm sure I will get myself into more trouble I might have to put this fella up for sale on eBay if I don't behave myself.

Anyway take call all and thanks for all your wonderful comments
Hugs Deborah

Him's makes me heart go a fluttering, perfection right down to his beary toes.
His new mom would have to be off her rocker not to fall in love with that face.
Hugs Deborah

hi All,
Just wanted to post one of my newest bears, a rather simple plane jane but I think kinda cute non the less.  So far this fella remains nameless poor guy is starting to get a complex, better find him a name before he has a break down.  Anyway hope everyones day is a beary great one.
hugs Deborah

Hey Beary pals,
thanks so much for all your info, I felt like a bit of a silly nilly asking, being quite new here I wasn't sure if this was a secret club and I just wasn't asked to join. For all that volunteered to swap... Ah shucks I'm honoured that you would be willing to trade with me, I'm on my way over to join the Easter swap thingy right now. I'm sooooo excited can't wait to see which one of you wonderful bear creators will be my swap partner. (ooooh this sounds kinda naughty ) Swap partner I thought they only did that in those dirty kinda movies no one admits they watch Okay time to get my mind out of the gutter and go join the SWAP :dance:
Hugs Deborah

Hi beary Pals,
I keep seeing bears flying off to new homes and this swap word attached to the process.  I'm jealous I want a bear to come to my house, I love getting surprises in the mail, all I seem to accumulate is bills, bills, and more bills. I went back and hit every subject on this board and no where did I find the rules of the swap thingy ( okay maybe not all the subjects if I did that I'd still be sluggin through all the posts till the cows come home  cause you beary ones sure like to chit chat ).  Is this a privet thing, too naughty to be spoken about aloud I wanna join in too I'm really a nice person   and my bears don't bite :twisted: , well maybe if you ask real nicely they might :redface: Do I have to exchange tons of bears or just one, I'm trying to get ready for a show so my hug is very small right now, but I wanna bear   so I'm willing to sacrifice one of my critters for the cause
Hoping someone out there in TT land can point me in the right direction, I WANT A BEAR
Hugs Deborah

Hey Brenda,
i'm here and would love to do a tea :dance:  I have been out scooping a winters worth or poop and now I'm now I'm soooo exhaused I think I'm gona keel over.  I'ts amazing how much two horses crap!!!! OPPPS I hope I can say Crap on TT. I've got a bear that I need your opion on I think I'm heading in the right direction with body but head is still way off, so your expert advise is much needed. TEA! TEA! TEA! can't wait, I'll email you to get the details.  i'm sad that you have your house up it realy means your going away and I'm not ready to say good bye.    I'm losing a dear friend here gals and I'm not happy, so please excuse me while I go sulk!!    
Very sad Deborah

Aleta, she is stunning, I dream of bears like her.  I would hang on to her if she where living with me too!!! Hint, hint.  I'm sure if you ever decided to let her go their would be a long line of TTers who would gladly take care of her for you. I would of course be the first person in that line, fists a flying if need be but by golly I'd be first, until someone bigger and meaner took me down. This could get real ugly :twisted:
She is truly lovely 
Hugs deborah

Oh My, what a face!!! Judi He is just sooooo darling.  I'm real bad at picking names so I have purchased several baby naming books and even with these I still have a hard time finding the right name to match the right bear. So I guess I'm no help, but I did see a few names on this list that I might borrow for future bears of my own. Did I type that out loud???
Hugs deborah

Thank you all for such wonderful comments on my bear your all so kind. 

Judi I will probably use this bear pattern again but the bear will be in different colours.  I never do the same guy twice, no matter if I wanted to I don't think I could get the same look again, :redface: My skills are very limited. :doh:  I'm envious of those who can do additions, actually I think I would get very bored doing the same bear over and over.

thanks again for all your lovely comments,
Hugs To All
Deborah

Hey Everyone,
Have you ever made a bear and just hated it, wanted to toss the fella in the dust bin before anyone could see him, and then for some reason he slowly grew on ya, and when I say slowly I mean SSLLOOWWWLLYY? Well this is my love/hate bear, I have been working on this fella for months.  He fought me every step of the way and I kept tucking him in the closet with the hopes that he would just disappear.  However he has a very important job to do so I could just not toss him aside.  I have been involved with a organization that raises money for Breast Cancer and this fella will be auctioned off at a very hoity toity fru- fru auction, where he will get to rub elbows with heaps of VIP's from the community.  My problem with him is I think he looks like a drunkard, that has been out on a week long drinking bing.  I'm not sure if he is the right bear for such a serious cause. Like everything I do I have left this bear to the last minute and now I don't have time to create a better offering. Hopefully the bidders will see past his wild ways, for this is such a worthy cause. Seeing my mom and best friend battle this disease makes me want to offer the best guy I can, a bear that will get bidders to open their hearts and wallets, crossing my fingers that this bear does just that.
HUGS TO ALL
Deborah

Hi All,
Well it is now Sat morning and I've managed to make it through Friday night without freezing to death.  I live way out in the middle of knowwhere and it is not uncommon to lose power for no other reason than just because :dance: .  Last night was no exception so at 5:30 when the lights began to flicker it's like dang there goes my plans of another evening of stuffing my face with god only knows what and experiencing the exciting challenge of watching the boob tube with the channel flipping hubby.

Now what am I suppose to do, haven't learnt to sew bears in the dark yet?  First of all dig out every candle we own, now that's better the house looks like a scene out the Fantom of the Opera, creepy and homey at the same time.  Temprature out side is minus a million zillion, (official temp according to the weather network) better get the wood stove up and running, hard task to do with your heavy mitts and snow suit on but where there's a will there's a way.  Ahhhh now that's better we can now stripped down to the long underwear .

Need to feed the troops , daughter is looking kinda pale from lack of nutrition or is that the Goth look I've been hearing so much about?  I pulled out all the food that doesn't required any cooking, chips, cookies, ice-cream.....etc it is time to have a feast. 
Now that dinner is taken care of the entertainment issue needs to be addressed. HMMM what kind of fun things can you do in the dark..... get your mind of the gutter gals my daughter is present :redface: Looks like a night of crazy 8's is ahead of us, Yahoo!!!! I just detest card games.

10:00pm still no lights and it's time for the horses last night feed. Task difficult in the best of times, (like to get a heads up on my poop scooping and horses don't take to me fiddling around their stalls with them still in them) Well pump is not running so must find water from other source, water trough is only means of water right now and the blasted thing is all the way on the other side of the pasture.  I'm bundled up like a 2 year old in my oversized snow suit flash light in one hand and bucket in another stumbling around in the dark on a mission to bring water to my thirsty beasts.  Get my water and a soaking mitt to boot now my hand is frozen to the metal bucket handle, yah this is soooo much fun.  Wind is whipping snow in my face and the barn looks miles away in the dark. Make my way towards it hoping to not lose my way, waters slushing over the sides of bucket  running down my now soaked snow pants.  I fear I may not make this journey before the wolves find my frozen carcass and have a feast.  Find the barn get the beasts their water, what's left of it.  Oh look a fresh poop I'll just scoop that out before horse drags it all over his stall and makes a real mess, (neat freak that I am) pitch fork, bucket and flashlight in hand poop in sight, so focused on task didn't see horses foot until it was to late.  I must of flashed the light in Clany's eyes scared the crap out of him and his method of showing fear is to kick!!!! ouch hoof landed smack dap on my big behind, no joke :redface: I have never been kicked  before bitten, tossed off the horse back Yes, but never kicked and in the butt of all places. You would think with all the padding of snow suit and butt flesh I wouldn't feel a thing wrong..... Ouch, ouch, ouch now I'm pissed.  No more nice gal you lousy stinken &^**#@ horses your only going to get three mints withyour feed tonight!!! That'll teach them buggers to mess with me.   :lola: Stomp out of barn in a lopsided butt swelling way and head back into the house frozen tears staining my rosy cheeks.  Slam the door and yell at the hubby YOU TAKE CARE OF THE DOGS I'M GOIN TO BED!!!!! and slink off into my cold bed pride wounded and butt cheek still stinging, I fall asleep dreaming of a better day to come.  AHHHH another typical Friday under my belt.

Now that power has been restored and another day is upon me I can see that I did have a great time with my hubby and daughter playing cards and sitting around just laughing and talking. Sometimes a little power outage is what is needed to make us relize how good we got things and that having a family to share those moments with is what life is all about.
Hugs Deborah

Awwww gee guys I'm blushing  :redface: all those nice comments are gonna go straight to my head and that folks is not a good thing it's way to big as it is. Thanks so much for stopping by to take a look see, now that I know how to work the picture thingy I'm going to wear ya all out with showing off all my bears,LOL!!!
Hugs Deborah

Hi All, OHHHHH this is soooo fantastic, I'm really excited now :dance: .  I've written everyones name down so I can pop by all the TT Members tables and formally introduce myself , theres nothing like being able to put a face to everyones name.  I've just changed my gallery choice so now I really need to get my butt in gear if I'm going to make the March 15th deadline for the photo shoot. I'm a indecisive procrastinator not a good combo.
Hugs to all Deborah

Yipeeee!!!! He came around and decided to show his sour puss face, what a grumpy boy he is.  I had the file in the wrong format, not being computer smart I was struggling on how to fix the problem.  Had to call in the smarty pants teenager to bail me out, now that is embarrassing, Help!!! MOM needs help!!!! :redface:
Hugs Deborah

Can't seem to get this guy up, I think he is realy ticked off that it took me so long to get him done that he won't show up for me, dang nabit  :doh: stubbern fella!!!
I'll try again
Hugs deborah

Hi All,
I have been taking it easy for the past 6 months not much coming out of the bear den of late.  I was suppose to have this bear done months ago for the UK teddy bear magazine Teddy Bear Scene.  well YAHOOOOO!!!! the silly bear is finally done. Now all I have to do is get him on his way and out of my hair.  Then it's time to buckle down and start creating for the TBAI show, Yikes that's when the real stress kicks in.
Take care
Hugs Deborah

Awwww  Penny,
That is so sweet of you to say, I'll save you a bear!!! it's not like I will ever sell out     I have done shows here in Canada and have done okay but being the insecure artists that I am, it is hard to take the next step and enter the big time. I'm sure when things are all over and done with I will look back and laugh at how silly I was being.
Thanks for your kind words
Hugs Deborah

Hi Eileen,
WOW what a stunning dog, such beautiful eyes, and a great picture how did you ever get Bear to sit still.  My two dogs would be all over the place.
It won't take long before you can't even remember what your life was like before Bear arrived, dogs add so much to our lives.
Hugs Deborah

Hi All,
Just thought I would see if anyone out there will have a table at the TBAI in New York in August?  This will be my first US show and I'm very nervous. I have never done a show of this magnatuded and I'm not sure what to expect. I've heard good things about TBAI (that's why I signed up ) but not knowing anyone and not being well known myself has me hoping some one from this list will be attending. You all seem so nice and caring it would makes things less scarry knowing that there will be some friendly faces in the crowd. I realize I have months to get ready but the stress has already kicked in, I knew there was a reason I didn't like doing shows, the getting ready part. :doh:
I'm a nervous nelly but excited too!!
Hugs Deborah

Oh Chrissie,
This is soooo funny I laughed my butt off, and boy do I need to lose some butt.  I have two boxers and the line about them is way too true.  I tried to take some photos of them but couldn't get them to stay still long enough, they are too busy playing and destroying my house. Here is what I was able to capture. The Brindle is my boy Chadd and the fawn is Dakota, the newest addition to the fuzzy critter population in the house.  She was a rescue and we have only had her since November she was nothing but a rack of bones but I remedied that real quick. She is a real ball of energy and tries our patience on many occasions, I think her saving grace is she makes Chadd soooo happy he has come out of his boxer shell since she arrived on the scene, Ahhh the powers of the female. He is one happy boy even though she takes his bones and won't let him have any of the toys, OH well who needs a toy when you got another dog to chew on.
Here are faces only a mom could love
Hugs Deborah
PS. I added a picture of part of my back yard just cause I think it's kinda pretty in a cold wintery kinda of way ohhhh and one of my horse Clancy, slim the other guy was to shy to have his photo taken, I'll have to get a snap shot when he least expects it.

Hi Mandy,
I have a bit of the vintage long pile left over from when I used to make mini's, haven't made one in years.  I sometimes sell it on ebay when I land a big piece but it's like finding gold, never happens that often.  If you email me your address I will send you a care package with a few samples and some other mini goodies.
Hugs Deborah

Hi Kimberly,
I was so obsessed with the need to aquire all the mohair ever produced that I started my own supply company , Beahaven Bears and Supplies.  Gave me the perfect excuse to spend, spend, spend!!!   All those wonderful yards of mohair, eyes and other beary stuff, mine to drool over until the next show.   You would think this would fulfil the hoarder in me but nooooooo,  :doh: I became possessive didn't want to sell my treasures, it just looked to darn good in my studio. So after a few years of suffering from mohair separation anxiety, I threw in the towel, closed the doors.  No one was going to get my mohair  mine all mine :dance: I think the whole starting my business was my way of getting my husband to jump on board and to prove that this bear thing could be profitable  Silly me what was I thinking!!!   It has been a few years since I have sold my goods, I still have a wonderful selection of mohair but one can never have to much.  I still purchase in large quantities after all there is just way to many types to chose from, might as well have a bit of everything.  My motto He who has the most mohair wins, and I'm trying  real hard to claim that prize. I love to hit second hand stores, craft stores, friends closets, abandoned houses ( found some wonderful antique buttons in a falling down shack once) etc.... looking for things that I think I might one day use on my bears.  No one is safe when I'm on the hunt.   I don't think it is a problem I know I can stop at any time I want    honest I realy can I just don't want to and no bear hoarder intervention can make me .... 
Hugs Deborah