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Burlison Bears.....And is this your one and only career? If so, how long did it take you to start earning a decent living with your bears?
I've been reading through the archives since I found this site days ago and I read most of the one called "Selling yourselves short." It made me sad because I too have to list my bears so cheaply on ebay. The times I've listed what I feel are decent prices I don't sell that bear at all. I've only gotten as high as $65 for some of my bears. Other's have sold for $35, $45, and $55. So I don't know if I'll ever make a decent living with this, but it's only been a year and my skills are still improving. So maybe someday... 
I hope!
Eliza
I do count my teddy income as a part of my total income..and it's become a bigger part of it..I certainly paid a good bit out in tax on it so I must have earned a decent sum....but my hairdressing brings in a good living on it's own to supplement it. But I do need to earn a living from it...and I would not do it if I didn't..well..I couldn't!! Not because I don't have enough passion for my art to do it for the hell of it...but because if I didn't earn from it I would have to work at something else...and make time for art in other ways.
Flying Fur StudiosNot a chance. I'm lucky to make 10 bears a year.
I dunno, I'd love to make a living from it, but I'm hooked on the money I make from my 'real' job. It would take a whole lot of well priced teddies to make up for what my paycheques are now. Plus, I just can't beat 3 weeks paid vacation, paid sick days, benifits etc. yeah, I hate my job, but just can't justify leaving the money behind. .
Jenny, I like what you do, and when I have a kid that's what i'm gonna do. Work part-time and make bears the other time. I think that is more realistic, but maybe I'm just a pesimist today.
Hi Eliza
For me it is building up so, so slowly but I feel I will get there. I have to do other bits too, I make and decorate celebration cakes which is also building up but rather slowly. I used to work as a Secretary full time but was meeting myself coming back as I wanted to create bears and cakes and it all got too much and I chose to quit the job. It was such a big step, more so because of the income I left behind and there are times when I think - oh no what have I done, especially when I need to buy (or should I say want!) clothes, shoes and holidays as I just can't do it now, not yet anyway. But most of the time I think the same as Ellen - the fun and freedom make up for the loss of income and I hope maybe a few years down the line I will be in a better position. I hope this is will be the same for you too.
Warm wishes
Pauline
Posts: 8,574Hi Eliza- Welcome BTW
Is this a trick question? :crackup: Making a living? Nope not even close. Paying for all my own supplies? Nope, not even close there either....
But quality of life? Well, that is what counts for me at this point in time, and it surpasses my hopes.
Would I give up gollydolly making? I jokingly said something along those lines and my hunny about had a coronary-asking if I had any idea what I had invested in supplies. (I know almost to the penny what I have invested, I'm just surprised he does! oops :redface: )
Don't get discouraged, refine your techniques and styles and keep learning everything new that you can to add to your "art" and above all remember it can take years to truly get established....
gollyhugs
dilu
Drea's BearsI would love for bears to be my one and only job. I was always told that "nobody goes into the arts to make money" and that statement couldn't be any truer! I have four jobs all of them in the arts and I still can't afford to live an my own! I am enjoying every one of them though!
Hugs,
AndreaM 
yeah, I hate my job, but just can't justify leaving the money behind.
what do you do?
I use my bear money strictly for savings. I have a very low overheard. My stuff is really labor intensive but my supply cost is very low. I just started selling but I've saved enough to buy a plane ticket to see my niece graduate high school. I am a stay-at-home-mom right now but will go back to work when my son goes to kindergarten in the fall. I will still make bears on my lunch break which is originally how i started needle felting in the first place!
Eight weeks after making my first bear I started doing it full time yikes.I scare myself when I think of it especially being a single parent.I have to work really long hours but now make a decent living .I cant imagine how nice it would be to make them for fun or extra money ,must be great.I am still on my own and now trying to earn extra as my daughter is off to uni this year.I have lots of late nights ahead.I wouldnt swap it for a normal job now though.I have had no holidays in ten years but I do get to walk on the beach every day with my dogs and be there if ever my daughter needs me so its all worth it.
fribbles, ltd.You full-time bear artists have my admiration---being your own employer is a huge responsibility. I belong to the group who has a full-time job [mostly because when I was at home with my son, I really sucked at being able to meet deadlines and goals for myself!], I work managing a law office...and do bears as fun endeavors on the side. I don't know if I'm cut out to be as independent and self-sufficient as a full-time artist---I too like my full time pay, with money for extras like sushi, clothes, vacation trips, retirement fund, etc.
Amelia
It was my sole source of employment for seven years, but I needed extra income to live ... fortunately both my kids are working and pay rent. I'm not on my own now, so am relieved it can settle back into being a second income, rather than life and death income! It's very hard work to make a reasonable profit selling your own bears and my advice would be, be realistic and don't expect too much!
Jane Perala Designs Ltd.Well, I certainly couldn't support myself. However it makes a nice secondary income. I use it mainly to purchase things that I want for the house, for myself, and to support the animals (although I lost my poor old horse last Saturday to colic). Mind you, a goodly portion of it goes back into the business itself.
I would LOVE to make a living out of bears, and one day it might happen.
I am very lucky that I am self-employed in my real job as an interpreter, which also pays a fairly good hourly rate, so I can afford to work part time, and make bears part time. As I control my own diary, it is great that I have a lot of flexibility (I currently have two weeks off before Hugglets, which I couldn't do in an 'employed' job). Most of my bear money goes on materials, and my own collection, as I earn enough in my interpreting to pay for necessities like the mortgage and bills. I do think I am lucky really.
.....(although I lost my poor old horse last Saturday to colic).
Oh my gosh Jane! I am SO sorry!!!!!!! 
:hug:
Get your hankies out, ladies...
Ok, when I first started making bears about fifteen years ago, I HAD to make it pay because I had just had a long spell in hospital having a knee replacement and my boss had made me redundant the day I returned to work, which was nice!! Facing unemployment and permanent disability concentrated my mind, somewhat! 
My husband's consultancy business had collapsed, partly due to the fact that he was having to drive 60 miles a day to visit me in hospital, but mostly due to the '90s recession. So he decided to go back to college and retrain as a journalist. I am proud to say the the bears kept us in those first difficult years and paid for the deposit on our house. Now he earns a decent wage (thank goodness!) and I don't have to work quite so hard. But I still pay my share of the bills and manage to put something away in savings each month. Like Ellen, I could probably earn more doing something else, but I am not prepared to sacrifice my freedom and autonomy. I know I am lucky to be in the position I am in now - but it took a long hard road to get here and I don't take it for granted!
I agree with Paula that it's very, very difficult to make a good living from bears these days and you have to work extremely hard and be prepared to live like a pauper until you get established. And probably even then too!
OH JANE I am so sorry about your horse!!!
I am actually a full time stay at home DOG mom, on a LTD pension, because I seriously injured my back in the NAVY...Hubby is still in the Navy, so we don't count on my bear money at all, but it makes a nice dent in bills!! I also only use bear money to purchase more bear supplies, so that none of the household income goes into my bear making....I usually spend about 6-8 hours a day, working on my bears when my health is good, but when it isn't I feel like I have accomplished something when I was feeling good!!! My health is so unpredictable I hate commiting to anything, so the arrangement works for me....You should have seen the look on hubby's face the first time he transferred the money from my Pay Pal savings account into the general chequing account, he really was blown away, and now he has no problem bragging about me at work!!!
Hugs,
Krista
Past Time BearsI didn't start making bears until after I was well retired from my career as a medical technologist. Hubby is retired, also, and we both get Social Security - plus he gets a pension from his company. So ANYTHING I make in my bear business helps with the bills. Realistically however, most of my bear money goes back into my bear making.
Kiprie BearsHmmmmm...I never thought that I could be a full time bear Artist. 
I have a full time job at Airlines company but I didn't get any raise in 7years (you know how Airlines company are doing these days...)
and I do bear making on my little free time. I have a deep passion for bears and I just wish to create bears for whole my life. rest of my life. 
to Full time bear artist is my dream..... 
Jane...I'm so sorry for your horse. 
:hug: :hug:
Ellen...I hope your flu will come down soon. I got one too now.
hugs
Marie
That was the trickiest part for me and the friends that do not understand at all that you have to work, well, that is still pretty hard, I have to admit.....
I totally AGREE!!!!
And Ellen, wishing you a speedy recovery
Teddybears SwedenJust like you Nettie, after about 6 month of making bears I did quit my job (which was nice becuase I hated my job!) and started my own teddybear company. Really stupid, I know, but at that time both my mum and dad got ill in cancer and I really thought that life is too short to not try!
I have had my company for 8 month now and it's sooo hard earning money! Besides selling my own bears I also sell pattern, material, fabric and so on in my Internet shop (for those who are curious: http://www.teddybears.se). Making bears is such a small and for many a unknown hobby here in Sweden. So I have reeeeally given myself a challenge!
Dolls N DreamsThe Doll & Bear business is my only job, but is just a small secondary income. Thanks to Hubby! Most of my money goes for things I want or need for the house and a lot goes back into the business. The doll business was my only job when I was single for 5 years and I had to work my butt off just to pay my bills. I started early in the morning and worked all day into the night. I don't work 1/2 that much now! thank goodness!!!
bears by beesley TMGreat topic.
Well we certainly will not become rich with bear making. But I must say it truly has brought great joy into our lives.
We have been fortunate enough that the bears pay for themselves. The business pays for materials and extras like a camera and a new computor and a new sewing machine and the odd bit of advertising. So far we have not taken a paycheck and I will not hold my breath! But we are in love with the art and feel very blessed to be able to do this.
Hugs Louise
Newcastle, OntarioI've been making bears for 11 years, but have done other crafts and sold at shows for almost 30 years. It is not a primary income for our family, but it definitely pays bills and helps us with the extras like holidays, and Christmas. I certainly make as much and more than I would working part time somewhere and it allows me to be at home doing what I love. I'm fortunate that I don't HAVE to make a living at it, but having said that, who knows what would be possible if I HAD to make my living this way.
hugs,
Brenda
