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Haus of Bears, Inc.I need some advise for my Bears, compared to everybody elses, mine always look so plain and unfinished, even when I dress them, give them Bows, airbrush them or whatever I can think of, they just dont seem to look ok!!
The last few I made, I just left them "bare".
Can anybody honestly tell me what I am doing wrong?
Thank you all for the advice, I sure can use any help I can get
Rita
I actually think your bears are really nice and you can see you're a great bear maker...but only you know in your heart what it is you are setting out to achieve. About a year ago I decided that I needed to evaluate my work and set about deciding what I liked and what I didn't like about my designs. I was hyper-critical and ended up becoming quite depressed about the fact that I had made some bears that I wasn't always 100% happy about.
I decided in the end that the self criticism was a good thing and constant evaluation was what was needed to keep my work exciting enough for me to want to continue making bears. So now I make less bears and I am happier and more fulfilled because each one excites me.
So don't let the self doubt get you down...in fact it's quite the opposite...complacency can be a huge pit-fall..and when you start thinking you've cracked it that's when you worry!!!!LOL
My bit of advice..and there is no point in me just saying ..'wow you're bears are great'.. because you wouldn't have asked if you didn't want a pointer or two..I'd say maybe look at your photos and try to develop a style that reflects your bears in a consistant and appealing way...a way that enhances your bears and creates an illusion and an impression that the bear has a 'life of its own'. Photography is just about our only shop window and so that's the route I'd go down if I were you....
Matilda Huggington-beareI dont know what you mean Rita? they have the cutest faces! I did notice though, that they are all missing big lovely ribbons about the neck. Lace, ribbon collars, they just need neck attire thats all. 
I think that one does tend to want to try all the techniques and experiment but eventually one does find one's own style . Jenny is right thou sometimes you have to sit back and take a good look at your work and see what direction you are heading in- sometimes your customers will also dictate what they want. I know some artists would love to change but because of their loyal customers they have to keep on with the same style, some have switched to making smaller versions thou.
At the moment I am also trying to pick and change and turn things inside out- grrrrrr
what I have seen on your website looks good.
Lynette
Rose Bear CottageRita, I've been thinking the same thing about my bears. Your bears are adorable. A couple of years ago I went out and purchased clay, cording and etc. to make a change to the eyes, noses, etc. and never got around to it with my busy schedule. After reading the other post, we are very critical of our own work. Again your bears are wonderful. 
I think you have to make what you like best.If you like contempory go down that road and if you like traditional styles take that route.I dont think adding fancy techniques makes for a better bear it has to be in the design.You obviously have the skill required you just need to hone in to your own style.I dont think added extras will make the difference you want as they are really just embelishments.Take your favourite bear so far work out what you like and what you dont like and take it from there.It doesnt matter if everyone says oh they are lovely its yourself you have to please.A good design stands alone without anything added.Shelli posted a pic of one of her early bears which was plain and had no eyelids etc but it was still outstanding design wise.You would also be bored if you thought your bears were as good as you could ever make so take heart.We all feel just the same.
bears by beesley TMOh Rita! Wow wow wow where have you been Dear Friend. We have missed you!
I am not sugar coating anything here because I have always felt that your bears are unique and so adorable. I can spot a Black Forest Bear the minute I see it without looking for the maker. So I really think you are being far to hard on yourself. I really don't have any suggestions for you because I love your bears just the way they are and you are a wonderful artist.
Hugs Louise
WienRita, hello...Andy- he´s my favorite 
Since the answers to your question were all sort of: I can see nothing wrong with your teddies I had a verrrry close look and really took them apart with my eyes, just to make sure, none of our friends have missed anything 
So I came to the conclusion: I agree with the above. What stroke my eye is, that your teddies are usually made from short mohair. Try a long and curly one, and you´ll see, that it looks idfferent, maybe this is what you are looking for at the moment.
But honestly: they are great the way they are!!!!
Gaby
Past Time BearsRita, your bears are really very cute and I would go with just a simple accessory . . . bow, necklace, etc. Also, I think maybe larger, clear/sharp photos would make them stand out more. In my opinion, photography is extremely important in showing the wonderful features of bears. So glad you're back with us. :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:
WienSue Ann, you´re right about the photographs! Deffinitely!
Gaby
Bears by Jodi
Hi Rita,
I took a look at your website also and I love your bears - my favourite was Little Ted.
I think that all they need is maybe a bow or some lace - your bears are unique and I would not change anything.
Neat to have you back here.
Hugs
Carolyn
Little Bear GuyHi Rita,
I agree with everyone else, you have to decide what to do with your bears. We almost always do bare bears, but then we made our skate board guy and we put a baseball cap on him and a long shirt (I hate covering up mohair) and everyone really liked him. He doesn't look the same without the hat, it changes him completely. I have started now trying little things on our bears, a vest, some hats, scarves. I think just doing that and then stepping back and looking at the bear and see what you like. Even if you add a bow, then put the bow on the bear and walk away and come back in an hour or so and see what you think. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't, sometimes bears just don't need anything.
You will work it out, your bears are very cute and I think for yours if you overdress them then it will take away from the bear itself.
big hugs
Shane
Storytime BearsHi Rita, everybody already wrote what I would have suggested, I was going to say the exact thing Diane said, find the bear you love and stick with it, tweak it, use different materials, I thought Benny was SO CUTE, he really did jump out at me. The main thing I see as any problems, is what the others said , your pictures, when I built my own light box the pictures are sooooo much better, here in Indiana you can not go outside much to take pictures and the light box is great, I didn't buy one, I made mine using a big paper towel box, 3 - 9 dollars walmart undersink lights and some really nice fabric for backdrops, A black faux suede is my favorite. I have a ton of them so I can change the look a lot. It does not look pretty but it is the best thing I have for my bears.
Hope this helps
Bear Hugs
Jodi
Burlison BearsRita,
I know exactly how you feel. I started this whole bear thing a year ago. I was very unhappy with my original bears although I was able to sell them all (for cheap, of course!) My advice to you is experiment, experiment, experiment! Can't stress that enough. In the beginning I made big teddies and modern looking at that...but they just didn't capture my heart. They didn't excite me in any way. They bored me. Eventually I switched to mini bears and loved it. Then I was unhappy with the design after a little while. If it wasn't one thing it was another cause I'm a perfectionist by nature. 
Then I started making new design after new design, staying up into the late hours each night...what am I talking about...I still do that! I finally designed some patterns that made me happy...but I am constantly tweaking them with each new bear...and maybe someday I will feel that they are perfect as they are, but I am always critical and I'm sure most of us artists are!
In the beginning I would never have dreamed of distressing my teddy bears like I do now, but I started to realize that those well-worn, well-loved teddies were the ones that I was really drawn to...and so now all my bears are primitive in some form.
Also, a bit of advice. Anytime I think one of my bears looks plain I add shading with a Prismacolor marker...to the inside of the ears and around the eyes or around the muzzle, around the pawpads...etc. It always wakes my bears up and gives them much more personality.
I visited your website and I think you make great bears...especially Little Ted...he captured my heart, those eyes gave him so much personality. If you feel that your bears are plain I would add some shading and add decoration to the bear. I barely ever clothe my bears. I almost always just have a jingle bell round the neck or a hat on the head or a bow around the neck or head. Keep it simple. Just a little something for decoration helps to give the bear more character.
And just keep experimenting until you find the style that you're drawn to. Gosh, you're already making beautiful bears! You just got to find the beauty in them...that everyone else sees. 
-Eliza
Hearts Ease Bearsi agree with all the great advice above and having looked at your website see nothing wrong with the bears..or really "missing"// i loved dooley and timmy..my gut reaction when i looked at them is that theyve"lost " something like small children with a balloon? they have exquisite little faces with such emotion! what are they thinking?! does timmy miss his fav blankey? did he just drop his cookie? does he have a suprise to give you? do you knowwhat i mean? hope that helps..they are great bears and dont be so hard on yourself! deb
Haus of Bears, Inc.Thank you sooo much for all your input and good advice, I really take it to heart.
I know I am too critical sometimes, but this comes from not selling any of my Bears on E=Bay, unless I almost give them away for a few pennies. ( which I wont do anymore either)
I just have to keep improving, and trying out different techniques til I have a Bear I even like a lot.
Thank you again and it was really nice of everybody to help me
Rita
