Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Belgium

Big elephants like gum in

underwater

machines

How often do you guys do swaps? I would love to be in the next one... and if it's going to be a couple of months away... then I'll have time to improve my skill and try some new techniques!

I agree with your husband on skipping the reserve price.

As a buyer I've always been really baffled and annoyed by reserve prices.
I mean, I understand the idea of making it look like it's starting low to encourage bidding... but people are onto that schtick... and it's annoying to not just know what the reserve is so you can start there.

I've bid on several auctions with reserves... and I bid around market value, but I still hadn't met the reserve, and after two attempts to guess what it might possibly be, I give up bidding all together. I just hate playing that game... the seller *knows* what they want for it... and I want to know too, so I can bid appropriately and not have to enter six million different amounts.

Plus, at least in the past, a reserve price actually costs you additional fees... which stinks.

I've tried reserve prices on a few of my auctions as well... just to see if it encouraged bidding... and it didn't. I got fewer bids and had to field a ton of questions about "Well... what IS your reserve price, anyways?"

Wow, what an absolutely adorable bear... I love his little face!!

This guy is adorable, I love his hands and his dainty little footpads :)

I think antique looking bears are just extra bits of adorable. I love the 'loved' look... and what an expression!!!

Masha and Sasha remind me of Volks Dolls XD

I love the family idea... and I love this style of bear!

Oh wow, what a cutie! I love the different patches of color and the buttons!!!

Yeah, jennylovesbenny stuff is just too cute XD

I did a little shading to Fluff's face:

It's amazing the difference a little shading can make!

originating

Oh right, I gave it numbing agents to

incinerate

negative goobers

Well, I had cut this one out before I went on the adventure of making my own pattern, so this is the same jennylovesbenny pattern that my first ever bear was made from... his name is Fluff (like the marshmallow spread)

I *really* wanted to give him a needle felted muzzle, nose and paws, but the fur I used won't hold it :(

I'll just have to make another white bear from my own pattern and try it!

Oh yeah! And he's about 6 inches tall, and he doesn't have his shading yet... he gets that tonight (er, maybe)

I actually had to go look up Cheeky Bears... I'd never seen them before! Yup... big ears and big head is a style I love XD I had a feeling bear artists might be prone to perfectionism... the end product proves it.

Thanks for all the encouragement!

Yeah... my bears and necks don't quite get along yet... :)

and I *try* to take nice pictures... but... my next bear is white... on a white background... pics = not as great XD

Oh trust me... I've stared at the custom page for longer than I care to admit XD

I'm actually kind of partial to the long haired bear you just showcased (Little Biscuit)...

... but I think I still need to stare at the gallery more before making a choice... because I love the little black bears too!!!! GAH!

How adorable!

I love his little face, his new daddy is very lucky!

I have a question... what do you use for shading?
Its so delicate and lovely!

Ok! Good to know since I'm working on another bear for this challenge too... I also found some old, velvety seat pads that I thought might make a good looking old bear

Wow... I love his head shape... he is just soooo adorable!

I am in awe of his cute factor.

Pandas are my favorite. I aspire to sew one someday... you make me want to try right now! LOL!
(I'd just get mad though because it wouldn't look anywhere near as good as yours)

Ok... are we supposed to post pictures in these threads anymore? I'm confused by the challenge gallery...
I made this bear for this challenge from an old coat I bought in a garage sale... but I didn't see a gallery for this challenge yet, so forgive me if I'm doing this wrong!!!!!

She's 6 1/2 inches tall, fake fiber (UGLY coat), felted nose.

This one is a bit of a mess... I'm having trouble with head joint... I need to do more reading... although I LOVE cotter pin jointing!
It's nice to hear that you guys, who make amazing stuff, still have troubles too sometimes!

I'm in awe of the patterns you guys must come up with... this one, obviously, is stupidly simple... the open mouth bears, the pandas, the bears with eyes that open and close... most all of your guys bears... I am just in complete awe.

I have to admit though, her oversized head was on purpose XD (I love big heads on bears) ... but the poor thing barely has a neck... and I had messed up measurement on the foot pads and had to rework those a bit...

I am stupidly happy with the fact that it *looks* bear like, lol... but then I browse the gallery here and am quickly reminded of how far I have to go!

That is so sweet of you! He will definitely love it... hand made things always mean so much more than store bought... and to get something from a favorite artist! Plus... speaking from experience, having a stuffed something to snuggle on those long, miserable nights in the hospital is an absolute gift all on its own.

I love this little guy... and I love your needle felting!!! Do you use the same markers you'd use on fur fabric to color the felt? (or are these taboo questions that you aren't supposed to ask?) ... I'm just afraid to take the markers to the felt... I'm afraid it will absorb it way faster than the fur does!!!

Gah, I love the work you guys do so much... I really want to order one of your bears, but I can't decide what to ask for... I've been stalking your blog for months and everything you guys do is just so beautiful!

Thanks :)

She's made from an old coat I bought at a garage sale...

and I realized, in the picture her nose looks kinda crooked... but the fur just turns up a little funny on the one side and creates a shadow.

I needle felted her nose and really loved it... so I'll have to try doing more of that!
I really wanted to try little claws and paw pads too... but she just didn't seem like that kind of bear.

I LOOOOVE your bears though... you guys on here are my inspiration... your work is SO amazing!!!

Well, I bought several bear books and studied the dimensions of the patterns... drew my own pattern up and sewed it together... there was a little trial and error in the beginning... (I made the ears bigger... and I think I need to add more neck... and I *really* want to give the bear a wire armature) but overall... for the first  bear from the first pattern I ever drew... I'm kind of stupidly pleased :P

I know there's a long way to go... but dangit I think this little gal is cute. Her name is Toffee:

(please ignore her ugly, half arsed dress)