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This pretty much sums up, in my opinion, why Michelle Lamb is not just a superb bear artist, but a superbly wise person of humanity and humility with "role model" written all over her.
Enjoy the clever read... and her jaw-droppingly gorgeous, detailed, pirate-y creation, too. Wowza!
Past Time BearsJiminy Crickets . . . that girl is awesome and so is her work!!! How inspired are her thoughts and how very cunningly and wittily she expresses them! 
Just Us BearsYes Shelli,
True talent both in word and artistry. I think the whole viewpoint sits very nicely from someone of her callibre....where someone just starting out, would possibly cop a heap of flack. 
I agree wholeheartedly with everything she says and more power to her for voicing it so beautifully. 
Man..how cool is that pirate! And the costume! Whew!
Bears by Jodi
Back Road BearsWOW!
WOW!
I must quote my favorite lines (What do you think of that Michelle, you are being quoted already!):
The trick is in finding a way to make your version unique.
I've paid my dues, that being the required amount of sweat and tears dripping into Davy Jones' Locker and I have the same expectations of all pirate artists, since bypassing these dues will only tarnish your compass.
Bravo, Michelle!
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsShelli,
I read that too and was thinking of posting it here. What a great person Michelle is. She is very talented and so giving! :clap: :clap:
Not only is Michele Lamb a true artist in every way..she's a very clever lady. As someone who has been on the receiving end of such stupid accusations it's a gratifying read, both perceptive and accurate.
There is not one of us ...unless they live on an island with no contact with the outside world who is not influenced in one way or another..and I for one have discovered lots of techniques from talking to artists and also reading books and of course on Teddy Talk. My mind and my work is definitely enriched by what I have learned. I have devised many of my own too and will go on thinking of new ones.
I hope Michelle will not cop any flak for this...I am sure that there will be grumbling folks out there in cyber-space ...but those will be the ones with small minds and little imagination..the one trick ponies.
I take my hat off to people like Michelle Lamb...she may admit to having plundered stolen treasure...but she also sails on uncharted waters more than most.
It's 4.30 am....and I got up to work on my bears..and what am I doing...tapping away on TT... typical!!!
BrisbaneFANTASTIC I love it , the way she has expressed herself and what she has said are all so true......All I can say is
I LOVE MICHELLE LAMB!!! And all her wonderful creations.
Drea's BearsDid anyone else read this and hear a real pirate voice?................was it just me again 
AndreaM
Back Road BearsIt made me want to go watch Pirates of the Carribean and drool over Johnny Depp! 
Swan Valley BearsAye maties, I heard the voice too. And I too was put to the mind of Johnnie Depp. Cravin' a bit of the rum, I am. Yo ho.
Bears by EdieWow! Absolutely incredible bear! And wonderfuly spoken (Really, I did hear a pirate talking too!) words of wisdom!
That is very eloquent....and as Daphne says, I suspect Michelle has the recognition to get away with it when others may not but Amen! t's all true!
What she says is sooooo right. When I was at high school we had a poster in the library of Garfield with a bunch of books strapped around him and the saying "i'm learning by osmosis"....well I make bears by osmosis. No one works in complete isolation - even those artists who like to say they aren't influenced by other bear artists ARE influenced by the things they see around them - be it conciously or subconciously.
My pet hate is those artists who claim that they created this or that thing in the teddy bear world. My favourite bit of Michelle's words?
Blowing others out of the water with accusatory snipes or unconstructive criticisms will only give you the cursed luck of the scurvy dog.
I've seen it happen and it'll happen again.
If you can take a hard look at your bears and know that they come from your heart and are designed with integrity then you have no need to worry if someone copies you or accuses you with copying. Your collectors aren't dumb and they will continue to support you.
oh...and yes I heard a pirate's voice to
Posts: 3,177Who said that Michelle Lamb was copying? Is that why she wrote this?
I don't know Michelle i'm afraid so don't know what's been going on. Is she a member here? Sorry but so many people have joined TT now so i don't know them all yet.
It was a very clever way of getting a point across...........loved the pirate bear! :dance:
Penny 
Beautifully expressed and so true. :clap: :clap: :clap:
Posts: 8,574Perhaps Michelle has a more global point too? That being this; the Big Names,
You know who you are, have a responsibility in the Teddy World, to encourage and exhort, but to also recognize what can happen when you become a BIG NAME and to let go of the stress, bitterness and heartache of being copied; understanding that yes, your ideas will be copied?
Hmmm just read that sentenace....you'd think I was Goethe with his 1 page long sentences.
They can steal your style but never your heart. And your heart is what we are buying when we buy one of your kritters....it is the heart that makes your work come alive for us.
little miss noname, loving all you Big, Middle and New Names, for the love you so generously put into your creations, so that we can share.
PottersHouse BearsA big AMEN to this post.
Back Road BearsI think she is going at both sides.... being the copy cat and being copied. I know she's been copied, had an artist riding on her coat tails at one point, but, just as it can happen to ANY of us, I'm sure she's likely been accused of copying as well. She's a big name.. that can be a good thing and can also make you a target for criticism. Personally, I haven't heard of her being accused of copying but I don't know ALL that goes on in the bear world! (Thank goodness! )
I think what she wrote verbalizes the feelings a majority (I didn't say ALL) of us feels. Good for her for getting it out there in the open!
Apple Dumpling DesignsI signed up for Michelle's mailing list many moons ago and actually saw this a few days ago when I was once again drooling over her wonderful creations and trying to justify putting my name into her "lottery" for buying a bear.
It's an interesting read, isn't it. I find it sad in some ways that she found it necessary to do that and very couragous in another because as Jenny stated...there will be some grumblers.
Any....I'm dying to see what that pirate goes for...he's a stunner. I'd be changing his name to Johnny in a heartbeat.
Hugs,
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsHave corresponded with Michelle in the past and had a chance to "talk" with her about this written piece. I think that she was at issue with folks accusing people she had mentored of copying her. She is a wonderfully giving person and has been very sharing with her techniques. Naturally, her students' work might resemble hers in the beginning, but they will develop their own style as they grow as an artist. I also think she speaks to the fact that we cannot help being influenced by everything we see, feel, hear, etc. because it becomes part of us. But no special technique taught or copied can give our work its soul. That can only come from each one of us and it's as unique as our fingerprints.
Posts: 1,836I personally adore Micelle as an artist and as a person. I think what she's said sums it up with such grace and humor. Each sentence rings with such good spirit.
Each of us look at works, study works, use past ideas to create just what is in our own heart and soul. She's looked at other designs, looked at others work then taken those elements into her heart to create her art. My interpretation of what she wrote is: lighten up already, it's all been done before and will be again... we're all pirates..."visonary piracy". I love that term now!! How can we condemn others for their fair share of these old seas..who are any of us to lay claim to well traveled waters?? I can't count the number of times I've seen an image or idea and stored it away for later tweaking into my own artistic style. Old postcards, illustrations, children's books, and antique shops are my personal pirates seas. I feel like setting sail this weekend now....cast out the anchors in my favorite shop and hope to find buried treasure (it'll be buried too...that's half the fun). I appreciate Michelle, not only is she fantastically talented..but she's so "real".
:hug:
~Chrissi
Apple Dumpling DesignsHere's a link to his auction so we can all watch with great AWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi … :IT&ih=009
I know I'll be checking him out a time or two...or more!!!
MerBear OriginalsThat has to be one of the most stunning bears I have ever every seen!
And her words of wisdom were so well done. I know for myself - looking at bears I made years ago before I started coming here are so different from what I'm making now! I look at all your bears and think how I like a particular feature and then try to emulate it. I think we all do that to a certain extent. I've grown as an artist :dance: although I would never aspire to do anything like Michelle does - I know in my heart that's way beyond me!
Marion
Amazing, I seen him on eBay last night and actually had hubby come running to look!!!! She is just superb!!!
Hugs,
Krista
Jane Perala Designs Ltd.Michelle's words mirror my sentiments exactly.
Many years ago I was a production potter, and I gave classes at the local Parks and Rec. When the kiln was opened there were all these little replicas of my pots, and that is how my students learned to be potters. Gradually, over time you would see their own styles emerging once they were out on their own.
After all, a teddy is just basically a body, head, two arms and two legs. I always find it amazing that there are just so many styles out there when we are all dealing with basically the same thing.
I love to see the pattern challenges that the magazines put on - the same pattern, and several different artists interpretation of this. They all end up so very different.
Happy sewing everyone,
Jane P.
