Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hey guys. Figured it's time to start making my website now. I have a whole bunch of bears that need showing off!!  :dance:
So I guess I need name for myself. Here's my questions

1) I started selling clay creations. Polymer clay dragons and the like. I called myself "mystic wing creations" I advertised on ebay as this etc. My last name is Wing, and I was making all things from a 'mystic' fantasy theme. I put my felted bears under that name as well. Not so in love with that name that I'm not open for change though.

2) I'm not sure if my website should be devoted to just my teddy bears, or if I could include my other art as well. Mostly as of about 8 months, I've just made teddy bears.

3) so now the name. I guess it's going to make a big difference if I just have a site with teddy bears, or with all my stuff.
Could I do
Mystic wing creations AND
Mystic wing bears??
Not sure if I like that.

I have lots of ideas for bear names though. Like, ______ bears, etc.

Please, please,please. Share any thoughts you have on this. At this stage of the game, it can make a big difference for my future as an artist. Bear, or otherwise. AND I'M SOO CONFUSED!! :doh:

Thanks!

Heather

That sucks. If only these people realized how much time, effort and heart goes into making our bears. Even if I asked for a green bear, and bluebell showed up at my door I would be happy. It's such a nice bear. How could she just not love it. I'm very curious to see what she does with your offer.
Yes, the customer is always right, but still. I don't think she's being very nice.
I don't like commisioned work, maybe only when I'm famous enough to charge a really good price.
Best if luck,
Heather

Shelli,
I like to fray check after I cut out my pieces, I find the fray check will bleed the pen I use, so I find it's better to put it on after I cut away the pen lines. But really, either way will work.
Also, I did say earlier that you could sew the pieces together BEFORE you cut them out. I've done 2 bears this way, because I don't trust my hand sewing so much. Works like a charm.
see the picture?
Heather

Thanks for the info Hayley. Makes sense to me!!  :clap:
Heather

Well Shelli, I feel I need to respond to your post. Even though I need to get off the computer. Don't want you to feel bad!!!!  :twisted: :pray: :dance: Just kidding!!
I love that you guys have said this. My best friend in the whole world is great, because we respect eachothers space. If she can't call me for a while. I understand etc. That's why you guys are so great too. No hard feelings here. We gotta be making bears sometime right?? LOL
Heatehr

I love seeing your guys dressed bears! I'm just at the stage where I'm going to try and dive into making some myself. I've never made any clothes before.
But I have to admit I'm torn on the dressed bears. I think on one hand, it's a shame to hid good mohair, but Judy, the way you can sew those clothes, why not dress them!!
Same with Shelli and LL. I love your bears naked, but now I see them with clothes, I also love them that way. Tough choice.
Heather

Shelli,
I think everyone has some great advice. I agree with Marion that sassy bears has the mini disks and cotter pins, and I would consult her as well. She'll help you. But if you're like me, I just got some of all her sizes!!
You'll really like mini making. Sure, you can sew them on the machine if you like. I use 1/8" seam allowance. But they are also  great to sew by hand. You can take them anywhere to work on. Keep one in your purse etc.
I don't have fancy tools, but I've done really small bears with a chop stick to turn the pieces, even the ears. You just use the chopstick like you were putting on a condom.  :redface: :redface:
I don't bother to baste, or use clips when I'm making a small bear 5" or under. I find it's very easy for me to hold it where I need it.
So, you can sew it by hand if you're taking it out of the house with very small backstiches, with a very small needle. Or you can sew by machine just as you would a large bear, or like you asked, buy doubling the fabric, sewing and then cutting. That's a good trick for tiny bears 3" or under. Just dont forget to leave stuffing holes!!  :D
Or you can buy a kit off ebay, and do it that way.
Just try it, you're going to amaze us all by your super cute mini's. I just know it.
Heather

hey guys. Was just looking around for some free clothes patterns. I want to try and sew clothes for my bears, and have no clue where to begin.
But... I came accross this site
http://www.clothdollconnection.com/FreePatterns.html
Soo cool. There are some really neat halloween patterns, clothes patterns, really cool doll patterns, bear patterns, and even some animal patterns that look really good.
Sure, some of it, well, leaves something to be desired, but look around. It's VERY cool!

Heather

I think for sure you should be using the term 'artist'
1) Because it's just good marketing
2) because we ARE artists!!
I know this one is a little different because almost anyone can make a bear. Although, it may not look very nice. But all people can paint, sculpt etc. It just depends on how often you practice your 'art' and how good you are.
Think of a painter, a very typical, acepted form of art. The painter could be copying another picture, or it could be his 1st painting ever, and his art teacher helped him with the design. Maybe he can't draw to save his life, but he is good with color, and splashes it well on his canvus. Or a colorist, the person who colors the already drawn imagines for a comic book. We don't even hesitate to call these people artists, but for ourselves it's different?
Think about it. Now sure, if you're using someone else's pattern, using nose templates and buying premade teddy clothes, than maybe it's more like a craft. But with the design of a pattern, shading, sculpting etc. That is sooo art and don't let anyone tell you any different. We're sculpters, just not with clay, but with fabric, poly fill and thread. I just think that we are that we're programmed to think of art only in certain ways.

And yes, I'm sensitive about this. I also sculpt, but it's in polymer clay. So lots of people call me 'crafty'. For some reason, it's what clay you sculpt in that makes it art? And polymer clay isn't one of them.  But have you guys seem some of that stuff on ebay? Sure looks like art to me.
Okay, I'm done ranting for now :twisted::redface: For now............
Heather

Good question, and I don't really have the answer. Although OOAK means, one-of-a-kind. So as we are seeing with Nancy's bear pattern being made by so many different people, they all look different.
So, in my humble opinion, I think that as long as we're not doing a series of bears and trying to make them all look the same, than they are ooak.
Heather

I want to respond, but I don't know what to say. People are starving, people just got their homes wiped out, and people are worrying about this?? HUH
Heather

Great story, I had never thought that with the success of build a bear, it's just growing a whole new generation of collectors. makes sense to me!!
Heather

You make some great bears! Thanks for showing
Heather

Ha ha ha, I know it as

No-body loves me
eveybody hates me
out in the garden eatin' worms

1st you bite the heads off
then you suck the guts out
Out in the garden eating worms.

Funny, how we each know a different version.

Heather

So... can I add a question to this tread???
What about colored wax?? I've seen it in different colors and not sure why you would use a colored wax. Doens't the clear beeswax work on any color nose? or am I missing something?
What would you use if you had a pink nose etc.
Thanks
Heather

Amazing, how we both speak english, use the same words, but they have such different meanings.
And I don't have any 'clean' ones to add. All my friends are guys, so you can imagine the terms I know!!
Heather

I love that color, bluebell is great!! I may have to pick up some of that mohair for myself. I love the poses you have them in, Soo cute!!
Heather

Soo sorry Carolyn.It's tough. I know I look at my dog, feel the strong bond we have, and just dread the day he passes.
My heart goes out to you.
Heather

Beautiful!! He should bring in some big bucks I'm thinking.
It really is amazing how different each bear looks from the same pattern.
Heather

Great bear!! Can you really make a couple of bears on a weekend? Amazing!!
Thanks for sharing, and oh!! We got the devil face!! Thanks Quy   :twisted::twisted::twisted:

Aww man, I love her!! What a face, and a great nose for sure!! Love the blue hair as well.
Heather

I heard about him somewhere as well. Nice to see bears getting the recognition they deserve, although, I have to admit. I thought it was a very silly idea. I would never pay for it. But hey, obviously, people will pay, so good for him
Heather

Shantell, What a great little guy!! I would never believe you couldn't see as you were making him. Is he your own pattern??
i love the orange, and his big head.
Thanks for sharing
Heather

Yay!! Daphine, I would LOVE a European partner!! I'm the only girl I know that doesn't shave her legs. We could start a club. ha ha ha ha
And Daphine, your hubby will get used to it. Mine did. He used to always ask me to shave my legs, for years and years. Then just the other day, he was rubiing my leg (hairy of course) and said " I love you hairy legs" YAY!! I win!!!! He didn't even realize what he was saying, but now, I have NO reason to shave them.
Heather

ooh Sue Ann, what eye candy. I've been staring at all your bears for a while now. How cool to have soo many at once. That's why I'm making lots before I start selling.
Wonderful, thanks for sharing