Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Ooooh, Shelli . . . I really needed some company in the bear slammin' department . . . thanks much for joining me!  I DO like filling the feet with beads for standing, but the fact is - I just can't get the bear to stand alone unless I get a little firm with my determination to make it behave!   Really looking forward to seeing your pencil shaded bear . . . I KNOW that it will be a honey! 

Dilu . . . yes, you can buy Ezy-wax from Beary Cheap.  I've never tried it, but I think another way to use it is just rub it on your completed embroidered nose.  As it comes in colors, you won't have to add color as I do sometimes using the melted beeswax.  When I put several layers on, "white" places show up; then I need to add whatever color I want the nose to be with permanent markers . . . or whatever paint or coloring agent you prefer.  Anyway, think it's worth a try and may use it myself one of these days!

Thanks, Guys . . . Yep, I've been making bears only since 1997, but I've seen a LOT of trends come into our business.  One can only guess at predicting what is going to come in the future.  I just totally marvel at the creativity and imagination that is displayed at bear shows!!  Human ingenuity is awesome!

HA, Dilu . . . am glad to meet another artist that has more than she needs!  Bet I'm going to win, though, because I have - who only knows how much - a gazillion yards of mohair stashed in every corner of space in my house.  And boxes and boxes of ribbons and accessories; and waaaaayyy too many pair of eyes - and the supply list goes on, on, on, on!!    You know that "Whoever dies with the most (insert fabric, mohair, toys, whatever), WINS"!!

Hi, Everybody.  I'm assuming most of us posters are bearmakers.  I think we need to do what we can to lure collectors to our board, also.  I think, besides buying our bears (thank goodness!!), collectors can give us ideas, suggestions, and just "talk" in general that can be of real value to us as artists.  We need to stay on top of what the trend is, what the important things are that a collector looks for in a bear, and what they think will happen to bear collecting in the future.  All of this really interests me and I would be very excited if we could get a few collectors on here to give us their perspective.  So . . . one of the things I am going to do in the next few days is contact some of my buyers - by postcard or e-mail - and let them know that Intercal is hosting Teddy Talk AND has bears for sale!!   Maybe if several of us do this, we could entice some collectors to join us on this forum.  Sound good to you all?

Hi, Cindy . . . what an adorable avatar!!   Welcome to Teddy Talk . . .  so glad to have you aboard!  I've found that this is a GREAT place to spend a LOT of time!   Already we're helping each other out with suggestions, so feel free to join the fray!!  I'll be looking forward to seeing some of your creations on Bears for Sale!

Hey, Laura, thanks for the input on free standing bears . . . it will help! 

Danni . . . I also use the markers on ultrasuede foot pads.  A suggestion would be to try out the markers or pencils on a scrap piece of whatever fabric you're using - saves a ton of woe if you don't like the results!!

Shelli, have you ever used acrylic paints to do your shading?  In my opinion, they are much more user friendly than oil paints and you clean up with water rather than turpentine.

Danni, just wanted to show you examples of shading on wool felt.  The brown is using a permanent pen/marker and the blue is using Prismacolor brand colored pencils.  With the marker, I used a blender to fade out the edge.  On the pencil, I just used a gradual lighter touch on the faded edge.  Actually, I use the markers on felt ALL the time . . . with no evidence of a problem!!   Thanks for your kind words, but don't think you need to be starstruck . . . I'm far, far from that!!!

Ginger . . . thanks so much for your input.  Those suggestions will help.  And thank you for your compliment - you're very thoughtful!  Yes, to echo Shelli, your bears were some of the first ones I connected to when I started reading the bear magazines . . . always with SUCH sweet faces!  It's a pleasure and honor to have you on the board - welcome! 

Ditto, Shelli . . . very well said! 

Hi, Danni . . . welcome to the Intercal board . . . it's great to have you.  I don't have an airbrush, either.  I do my shading with a permanent pen/marker, as Judi suggested.  In order to get rid of the sharp edge of color, I use a blender marker to blend the color into the fabric.  You can use more than one color . . . I've used as many as 3 - 4 to achieve the color I'm after.  Happy shading!

You know, I'd like to know how collectors got started.  WHY do people collect things??
If one collects dolls or teddies, I guess it might be an attempt at going back to a simpler time . . . childhood.  If it's stamps, matchbook covers, coins, etc. - I don't know.  Anybody want to comment??

Welcome from me, too, Gail.  Yep, I think the Bears For Sale Forum is a wonderful addition to this board! 

VERY good suggestions, Winney . . . I really appreciate them.  As I am working on a standing bear right now, I will try them out! 

Hello everybody . . . and welcome, welcome to all the new members!  It's wonderful to have you join us.  I just want to throw this subject into the discussion pot.  When I first started making "stand-up" bears, I cut a piece of heavy cardboard slightly smaller than the foot pad.  After the pad was sewn to the leg, I inserted the cardboard, then started stuffing the foot, leg, etc.  I discovered that, while it flattened out the bottom of the foot, the hard edges of the cardboard showed when the bear was positioned to sit.  Didn't care for that, so I have started filling the foot (about up to the ankle) with either the tiny steel beads or tiny glass beads.  That works, but I really have to  . . . . .  uh, for lack of a gentler way to put it . . . . "slam" my bear down (standing position) so that the beads redistribute for a flatter paw.  Hoo boy . . . that sounds downright violent!!  Anybody have a better way to make a bear stand on its own?  Thanks for suggestions.

Hiya, Shelli . . . Nancy Tillberg's book 101 Bears To Make has a good section on how to make that kind of paw.  I hope I spelled Nancy's name right and got the correct name of the book . . . I'm pulling that info up out of my old, old brain.  WAY to much crawling around up there!

Oh boy, Shelli . . . you may regret offering.  You could get so many takers that you end up forsaking the bears for graphic design!

Hey, Shelli . . . just noticed your new avatar!  Wonderful! 

Oh definitely, Judi . . . I give my discovery of teddy bears in 1996 LARGE credit for literally saving my life!  They are tremendously therapeutic and comforting - I can't imagine life now without them.  We REALLY need to work hard at preserving and promoting the teddy bear (the stated goal of The Theodore Society) so that the generations coming after us aren't deprived of teddy comfort! 

You know, Judi, I don't think someone with diabetes looks any different from someone who doesn't have it!!  I can't think of why ANYONE would say that to a person . . . grrr . . . bad manners!   In my opinion, you are a gorgeous, talented lady who happens to have a disease that doesn't hold her back.  Hooray for you!!

Well . . . it can't get more eloquently explained than that, Shelli and Judi!  Very well said! 

I have a real problem participating in more than 4 or so shows a year.  If I sell a lot at a one show (:D), then I have a hard time replacing inventory by the time the next show comes around (:().  So, it's difficult for me to sign up for some shows waaaaaaayy in advance because I have no idea if I'll have enough bears to take.  I create VERY slowly, so it takes awhile for me to get a good stock of bears made.  Sigh.  Any thoughts??

ME, ME . . . I'll go first!!!  For me it HAS to be creating the facial expression!!   It's the part of the bear/friend that first catches the interest of potential adopters.  There seems to be an immediate "connection" or "bonding" that happens when one looks into the face of a particular bear.  The bear "speaks".  As artists, most of us have observed this phenomenon at shows and it's a huge thrill if it's your bear they are connecting with.  It's what got me hooked on teddy bears back in 1996 . . . a major turning point in my life!!