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Thanks Shari for the complement.
Funny though, I'm not sure who's cuter, my bear or the cat. he he he heh e
Heather
Ooooh, some of you girls are tall!! I'm no more that 5'4. Just a shorty.
Heather
I also have a folder of other bears. Most of them from you guys. Like Shelli, it inspires me to get better, or try something new. Or I'll just use them to show friends and family how good bears can really look!! LOL
Helena, by the way, I've saved a couple pics of your bears, way before I ever joined this list.
Heather
Thanks Kim. I did plan on posting a proper picture of that bear, just haven't gotten around to it yet.
Shelli, is it really a closet?? That's a great idea!! Cute bears also.
Pipa, really funny picture. Can't are soo weird, they just have to part of everything.
Heather
Sue Ann, that's brutal. Those are soo YOUR bears!! How dare they use them. The 1st thing I would do is contact the company. Tell them you know it's your bear, send them a link to your website or something. Amazing what people will do eh??
As for the whole ebay thing. Don't have too much to offer, but I can say that I used to sell these polymer clay dragons on ebay, you can check out my link if you want to see them. Well, one lady decided to copy me, so she made a poly clay dragon, not as good as mine though 
and copied my auction EXACTLY!! Down to the description, the font, the name of the dragon everything. So I sent her an email, saying I've noticed what she's done, and to please change it before I have to take any action. I am also part of a really big dollmakers list, and I told them. So about 100 of them sent her an angry email.
So guess what? She changed the auction, her dragon never sold and i never saw her again. Thank goodness.
So the moral of my story? We're all here for eachother, and if that auction is still going on, I'll be happy to send her an email. Very happy. Maybe someone else will also send her an email.
At least it's faster than asking ebay for help anyway,
Heather
Okay, contacted Daphine. I dont want to be left out either. But I really should get a pic of myself holding a bear. Those are my favorite ones. Well, Shelli's picture is prett cool too. Just shows her creativity.
Heather
Thought I would start a new thread on this.
Just reading another post and I've found out that I'm not the only one with a pesky animal.
Hope the pics aren't too big, I'm at work and can't resize them.
Silly cat.......
ANd yes, I REALLY need a light tent. Couldn't get one good picture that day. It was all the cats fault...........
Heather
Denise, You see sugar gliders??
Here we have them in pet store, and coming from someone who used to work in them, they are horrible pets. They just aren't domesticated enough, and really suffer being in a cage, and with an owner that doesn't take good care of them!!! They were one of the reasons I quit my job at te pet store. It just got too sad to deal with anymore.
But very cool that you see wild ones.
I've also got a good picture of my cat, somewhere....... 
Heather
Shelli, you are too funny. Sorry for being yonger than you?? LOL 
Danni, sounds like we are the same age. Very cool!!!
still laughing at the sausage bit,
Heather
Helena, you're soo pretty!! I'm not sure who's cuter in that picture, you or the bear!! LOL 
Heather
This will be fun!!!!!!!
Thanks for doing all the work Susan,
Heather
So Kim, how do WE become popular?? That is the million dollar question for the day!!
Heather
I have no ideas. I've been trying myself to come up with something good, something that speaks about my bears, and something that has the .com domain still available. NOT EASY!!!
Tammy, I think Beckoning Bears is perfect. What a great name!!!!
Shari, how about Sharebears???? That's what I would pick if I had your name.
Heather
Uhhh, Shari. Trying to improve your techinique?????????
You do great open mouths. Just as good as Judi's. Really. The teeth you do, the tonge, everything. You should be teaching us how to do it.
Amanda, thanks for all that info. Soo helpfull. I had no idea how to conquor open mouths. Now I have seen some not-so-good open mouth bears, where the inside of the mouth is almost stuffed too full and doens't look too good. Do you gals put cardboard or somthing on the inside of the mouth before you stuff? Or does the needsculpting take care of that??
Just curious, after seeing Shari's open mouthed bears, not only do I want one real bad, but I've been inspired to try it myself.
Soooo many things to try, soo slow at bearmaking. LOL
Heather
Well, I've only sold 3 felted bears, some felted pumpkins and a unicorn. Most of them have been sold on ebay and they go from $45 - $80. But, keep in mind at that price I only did get one bid. But I was happy anyway. Then one felted bear I even had to relist and drop the price, but the bear was bought by a very nice couple who later emailed me to say that they carry him all around the house. That was the bear that sold for $45.
I didn't think my bears were that great, but they were very different from the bears I saw being sold.
But don't get me started on this topic. I've seen some pretty horrible felted bears sell for over $100, just because of who was selling it. Then, like Dilu said, there were other bears, some alot better, not getting any bids at all. It's almost as if Ebay is a popularity contest or something. 
But, that's just my thoughts anyway.
Heather
Kelly, you are amazing!! How did you ever make that horse? All that planning, and then the pattern? I wish you taught work shops in pattern design. I would take one with you for sure!!!!
As for the glue, I'll have to try some of that magnatac. I have to admit I just use crazy glue for everything, but no-one else does. So there must be a better way.
Heather
That is cool. Thanks for the pics. And I agree, very nice hands.
I'm such a tomboy that my nails are always short as can be. Easier to sculpt with clay anyway.........
Thanks again
Heather
Julia, great job!!
Do you just insert the plasic eyes as you would for glass eyes??
Also, I'd like to see a picture of the whole bear!!!
Heather
Dilu, lovely bears. You should show us more!!!!!!! I know you have them in hiding somewhere.
My favorite is the Santa bear. Soooo cool!!! 
And don't forget to check ebay for cheap mini's.
Heather
Probably a good way to keep your car from being stolen in some areas too!! 
Very funny!
Heather
Well, this has been very interesting to read.
I really appreciate all your honest responses.
See, I've planned to try and sell my bears, poly clay sculptures etc, part - time.
I think I would need to keep my day job for sure, at least 20 - 30 hours a week. That way, if all goes wrong, I'll still be able to eat, and not give the boyfriend a reason to complain.
But it's going to be tough to get there. I have to think of my time in a hourly wage. I make $XX.xx an hour at work. So in order for me to live off bear making, I would have to make about that much. But man, as you guys know it's tough. Very few of us make a decent hourly wage, and you have to include, ebay auction time, research time, shopping time etc. It's all part of it. Plus, so far, I'm very slow at bearmaking, so I would have to sell my bears for tonnes of money.
So, I decided to try for part-time bearmaking. Still a good goal if you ask me. If not, it's good extra money, pays my hobbies and it's just cool to be able to say I make money selling my art. How cool is that?? 
I know lots of the fairy artists on ebay. Some of them make good money, and their works sells for hundreds of dollars. But the fact still remains, that I make more money and work less hours. It can take 4 hours just to make a pair of hands. If not longer!!!!
But a small few make it, and good for them. Gives the rest of us hope, because in the end, I would much rather sit at home making teddies, then sitting at an office building downtown.
Okay, my rant for the day.
Anyone want to buy a bear.......... LOL 
Heather
Deb. Checked out your website. I love the idea!! I wish I lived closer so I could be part of it to.
I love the colors and design. But found it a bit confusing at to what the site was all about. I would like to see pictures of the store, and maybe a different way to link to the different pages. I'm no expert though, just my honest opinion. Nice site, but a little confusing.
PM if you need more clarification.
Heather
