Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

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!!

What a hoot!  Yes, I've been told my bears look like me - or - I look like my bears (whatever)!    My feeling is that after a bear maker starts designing his/her own patterns and develops a personal "look/style", the bears will certainly start revealing the individual artist's personality.  I think an artist bear expresses the life experiences of the artist somehow in a "magical" way.  Eeeekkk . . . I'm getting a bit esoteric here.   Anyway, I do believe bears can and do look like their creators - just like dogs can resemble their owners sometimes!    Judi, add some of your delightful bears to the "for sale" forum.  I don't want to be the only one.

WOOHOO!!  Glad to have you aboard, Judi and welcome!    Let's all have a bunch of fun here!