Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Shantell, what a sweet bear!! Love the eyes, and i'm glad you've gotten the ears down. \
When I 1st started sculpting, I asked the same question about letting them go to this dollmakers list I'm on. I got the same response I'm going to give you.
IT FEELS GOOD!!! I also get really attached to my creations, but you know, when you see or hear aboub thow happy your buyer is, you get hooked. Even for me, to think that I have artwork all over the globe keeps me selling.
Now, I'm addicted to the feeling, and I find that if I take lots of pictures, I don't mind letting them go anymore.
Just try and sell one, maybe one that isn't your favorite. See what happens. I'm sure you'll love it.
Heather

Hello,
I have to start off by saying that I have never bought schultz mohair before, and I know it's the best, but I don't sell my bears yet so I can't justify buying some.
So here I am, working with some really pretty mohair from Intercal. I love it!! But it sheds. If I pull on the hair, some always comes off. Is this bec. it's a cheaper mohair? Or do they all do that. Or i guess, would it stop shedding after a while?
I hate to think of my bear being bald in a few years, or a few decades. I don't think they would be as cute anymore LOL
Thanks for any imput you may have,
Heather

Dilu, I agree with you. Gas prices are getting scary, and they never go down as much as they went up. Even in my 10 yrs of driving, the prices have over doubled what I used to pay.It's scary bec. gas effects just about all we do.
I do thank my lucky stars that I"m in Canada so health care is no worry to me.
I do have a theory on selling on ebay though. Thought this was a good place to share.

If you find that when your bears sell on ebay, you only get 1 or 2 bids then PUT YOUR PRICES HIGHER!!! I had to learn this the hard way. I would put something on ebay for a low price. hoping to get a bidding war. ( dont we all) It would turn out that I would get only 1 bid, but the buyer loved my stuff. I believe that they would have bought it for $10 or for $50. But since  I only had it listed for so cheap, they got it for a deal.
So after a few of those, I started to put the price MUCH higher and it worked!!!! I would still only get one bid but that's fine. I got the price I thought it deserved. You can really get yourself in trouble, if you show your buyers that your art is only worth so much. You need to show them what it's worth. Even myself, when I'm on ebay looking at other artist bears, if I see one listed for real cheap, I find myself thinking that they must be made by a newbie and/or not done very well. As if the artist knows there is no way their bear can compete with the others. Sometimes, I'm very suprised how great the bear is, and I hope for them they get lots of bids.
You gotta have the confidance in your work, and that shows in your pricing as well.
Now don't get me wrong, you can't go crazy with your prices, but it just kills me to see for example and 21" teddy, made of mohair, sell for $20. You just know the materials cost more than that.
And that's my take on that!!!!! LOL

--trying to save gas, Heather

Alright Dilu. I think I shared my pics before here, but very secretly !!! LOL
But now, I have the link at the bottom of my posts. YAY!!!!! Nothing TOO exciting, but maybe one day I can combine all the mediums into one super cute teddy. One day..........
Thanks for asking to see them
Heather

You re soo sweet Shari!! And BY FAR you are my favorite bear artist. Even since I saw you last aviator bear on ebay. the angel one.
We'll figure this out.
Heather

okay, so I'm wrong. It works for Edinburgh but not here. So i'll have to ask some of the techies here at work if no-one else knows.
And I was sooo excited that I knew the answer to something. Darnnit!!!
Heather
I'll keep trying though

hey guys, you can just copy this.
Let me know if it doesn't make sense.

<a href="http://this is.whereyoud.put/yourweb/address/information."> "This is the title of the link" </a>

Make sure only remove the parts in quotations, including the quotations. That is where your link will go. Then where I say "This is the title of the link" , that is where you will write down what we'll see to click on. Just dDON'T remove the </a> at the end, and you'll be fine.
Sorry I'm so bad at explaining things. Hope this helps
I guess I should do mine too!!
Heather

Ahhh man. I dream of a life where I have a tonne of animals, and my mornings consist of feeding all of them. I would love to have space for a couple of mini horses. Call me a sucker, but they're cool!!!
Chickens, ducks and turkeys!! I wish! Although as a vegitarian, they would only be pets. No bunny for easter dinner!!!!!!
Maybe one day, teddy making will allow me to spend more time at home, and more time to have more critters. One day...........
Heather

She's beautiful Shantell!!! Thanks for sharing. And I know what you mean about pictures being on the internet. But I'm glad I got to see it!
Heather

She turned out well!! I think the mouth has lots of character now. Good job!
Heather

Shelli, I love pet stories as well. My boyfriend and I could and do spend hours watching our dog, cat and bunny play together. I don't have kids ( yet maybe? ) but nothing has fufilled my life like my pets.

Oh, and if you think Marion is funny, ask her what the family would eat on Easter. Funniest thing I've ever heard!!!

Heather

And what's wrong with her???
I think she's adorable!! I love her big nose, and the shading is great. She is sooo hugable!!!
I had to learn that even if I dont like the bear I just made, someone out there will think it's the cutest thing they've ever seen.
Keep her if you like, but I'm sure she would sell. I don' t see a thing wrong with her!!
Heather

You're right Dilu. At least I would have no-one to blame but myself. Thinking maybe I'll take the course on-line. How to desgin your own teddies. That will at least give me some courage to start.
Still haven't started my gusset. I was hoping there was some magic that would fix the whole issue.

I have a little 5lb pomeranian. He's no trouble really, but when he has to wake me to pee in the morning, he sneezes. Drives me crazy. ANd when there is only 10 mins untill I have to get up, I get mad. Poor thing. The cat is smart, he son't wake up at 4:30 when I have to, so a clear path downstairs is for me.
Also have a rabbit, she lives free in the basement. Lucky bunny. If only I could create a pattern from my dog and bunny. That would be amazing.
Also, Marion forgot to tell you about her bunnies LOL ( sorry Marion had to )
My life would feel so empty without pets.
As for MP, I'm only 26 but already i get some hot flashes. I can only take this to mean my menopause is going to be real nasty when the time comes
Heather

Dilu, don't stress too much. I find this happens to me all the time. Sometimes it takes along time for the buyer to get back to me. Maybe they just don't use the computer much, or it broke on them. There could be thousands of reasons. But don't fret, if it didn't get there, you would definatly hear about that.
Also, some people, after chatting for a bit thru email, get their item and I never hear of them again. Although, I've never written them a peom Don't take it personally. if they didn't get it, or didn't like it, you ALWAYS here back from them.
Heather

Shantell, I have yet to get any  commision from my teddies, but with my clay sculptures I get lots of commisioned work, and I have to be honest. I only do it if I feel like it. Sometimes people look at my art and want me to make them one just like it. It depends on my mood if I say yes or no. Sometimes it's hard to make somthing you've already done, and if I feel my heart won't be in it, I say no.
But I guess it depends on if you need the money. Although, it's our work, and we don't have to do anything we don't want to.
Heather

Hey guys, at work here trying to sew my teddies gusset by hand. It's another artists pattern and the 1st time I've tried making it.
But I need help! The gusset seems too short. Funny bec. the footpads were too big. Urrrg!!!
So my issue is, I'm at work, can't cut another gusset right now and it just seems about 1/2 " too short. Am I doing something wrong?? Is there a trick you guys know to make it fit? Or could I just sew it on, and trim the side head bits to make it fit?? Although I'm not sure how that would alter the shape of the head.
Thanks for any tips you may have. I'm not even sure if I have enough mohair to cut another one, so I'm really worried.
Happy Monday though LOL
Heather

I was also wondering that, although looks like I guessed right.
Thanks for asking that question Shantell.
Heather

Boy am I glad I mentioned I couldn't get steel shot. I guess thats why I should ask you guys before I ask here at work eh?? LOL

Donna, I'm going to open the phone book when I get home, but try and get glass beads. Are they expensive??

Ellen and Tammy, you're prood I can get them here! Thanks. I also think I would have to justify why I was buying them though. I'ma bearmaker, not a hunter :D

Off to hunt down some supplies.

Heather

Dilu, I think she's sweet. All she needs is a mouth and she will be great.
You did the right thing, put her away and when you come back to her, you will like her much more. Even I'm starting to like my 'ugle' teddy.
Heather

Can't add any more than Shelli, and sure can't explain it any better. How do you explain things soo darn well?? Amazing
Heather

Jane, love those polars. Thanks for sharing!!!
Heather

Jelly pellets are plasic, but they kind of squish. They feel like rubber in a way, but maybe someone else can describe them better than I.
Heather

You guys mean it??? Wow, I'm soo happy you guys think he's cute. And 3 very's!! Thanks Shelli.
So what I've learned,
Just because he's not my favorite, doesn't mean someone won't love him!!
Also, after reading all your wonderfull honest feedback, maybe what looks funny, is that he has a big head like a baby, but small eyes like an adult. Maybe this is what confuses me. Plus, I agree his body could be bigger.  Also maybe I could've sculpted more. I did sculpt around his eyes alot, but maybe should've gone further.

Amanda, thanks for the tip. I knew I was using joints that were too small, but i didn't have any bigger ones and I wasn't sure what would happen. Now I know, thank you.

Marion, you're too funny. Even funnier, is that I say he's ugly and I don't like him. But I couldn't imagine getting rid of him. Strange how people work!!!!

Jane, he name is Oopsie!! And I never call him ugly when he's in the room. LOL

Heather

I get my glass beads from Edinburough. I find they are pretty cheap. I can find the poly pellets at any craft store, like Micheals.  Not sure if you have a Micheals though.
I've also gotten the squishy pellets from Edinburough as well. Those are very cool!!!
haven't had too much luck finding a good deal on ebay though. I nkow BB's can be found at a hunting store, gun shop etc.
That's where I get my stuff anyway. Should be interesting to see where everyone gets theirs as well.
Heather