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BatFinchBears

Woah - I think you are selling yourself a little short there bear_original I would look at increasing your prices! Did you work out how much materials cost and things? (even if it's just a hobby, you don't want to be losing money!)

But massive congratulations - it took me a long time and a lot of courage to put mine on Etsy - the ones I put up did sell though! bear_laugh

BatFinchBears

I've only had three bears listed on Etsy... and well... I sold them all! It wasn't super rapid selling, maybe 1-2 months? But then I only had two listed to start with and then wasn't doing any renewing or "marketing" stuff. You have to be fairly sharp when it comes to the tags you use for the listings etc to get the views.

bear_original

If you start up a shop there, post a link I'll follow your shop bear_original

BatFinchBears

Awww, super cute bear_original The first one is my favourite bear_laugh

BatFinchBears

I bought a load from ebay. You should take a look! There's tonnes of different shapes and sizes. I've shipped three bears and they all got there safely bear_original

BatFinchBears

great first bear! and for a great reason too bear_original

Did you use a pattern? If you intend to make more bears I would take that pattern and try altering things on the next bear in places you want differences! (this is how I learnt anyway bear_original )

for example, shorter paws, smaller/bigger feet, longer arms, more curved arms, etc etc. wider head? rounder head? All sorts of things you could try bear_original

If that stuff is a little too scary to start with, then I would just try making the same bear from a different material, and see how much the bear is different!

Finally; Best wishes to your friend's health and well-being!

Sorry if these ramblings aren't what you intended to hear as answers bear_original

BatFinchBears

These are some excellent tips! I shall have to invest in some cotton gloves. I find it very frustrating when my bear ends up looking "well-loved"(aka, scruffy), before it's even fully finished!

I shall definitely test these on my next worse for wear looking bear.

BatFinchBears

I think these guys have already said everything I would have said, but I wanted to add that that doggie is very cute! Where did you get it/who sells it?

BatFinchBears

Awww, now she's really adorable. No wonder she found a home fast bear_original

Her dungarees are also adorable too!

Nice work! bear_original

BatFinchBears

Everyone seems to have given you wonderful wonderful advice!

I also think if you get stuck with a part (as I do frequently) is put it down, and do something else, or go to bed and try again with a fresh brain and eyes. Even then I still get "stuck" with bears for ages because I have high expectations and want them to all come out exactly as planned - but I guess the bears have their own thoughts on what they'll look like bear_happy

Ooooh I've never tried painting eyes... I think I will avoid that until I've got a handle on some of the other techniques I'm trying :)

Yes, I agree on the Pics thing! I'd love to see some of your bears !

BatFinchBears

Thank you bear_original

I always end up getting to the "making" of the bear, eg putting it's eyes/ears/ nose in place and suddenly get really unsure of myself and the decisions. I guess because it feels so permanent and I really want them to look nice etc.

You're so right, but it's so hard to remember that when you're working on a bear that everything you do is learning and it's OK to make mistakes - because then you can learn from them! Hopefully one day I'll learn that bear_original

And that is a great tip, if I ever end up with a bear "past saving" I will keep it, so that it can help with learning new techniques bear_original

BatFinchBears

I haven't really made any bears that stand completely properly(a little bit), but to my knowledge standing requires tight joints(to stop them just flopping) and well balanced stuffing & weighting.

I'm guessing a little weight in the feet helps, and then as you are stuffing you should stand the bear up and move the weight around until it's happily standing! Someone else can probably advise you much better!

BatFinchBears

ohhhh, this post just ended in me spending money on fur. Bad ladies for linking me to it! bad!  bear_angry

hehe.... I can't stay mad, I'M GETTING NEW FUR. bear_laugh bear_laugh

I got a piece of the tissavel faux fur(don't like the idea of knitted backing) and also some mini fur fabric as they're both furs I've never worked with. Let's see what challenges they bring bear_original

BatFinchBears

It's a very nice reminder of how lucky I am to live somewhere that *touch wood* never has that extreme weather other than occasionally too much rain.

I can only hope that none of you are affected too severely by the hurricane. It must be so scary to go through them!! ...I can only imagine what it's like.

Unfortunately wherever those things go they leave behind a trail of destruction. Scary scary

BatFinchBears

Thanks again guys bear_original bear_original

it's always lovely to see these comments bear_original

BatFinchBears

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Here is Koko! more about her on my blog ---> here and she is for sale ---> here

She is 4" tall. Made from crushed velvet. Sooooo hard to take photos of her!

bear_original

BatFinchBears

Oh Croissant is so handsome! He looks like a bear who should be hugged lots!

BatFinchBears

Gorgeous! I didn't notice she was a crocheted bear until I read the description bear_original

I love her little jacket. Every time I've tried to knit a hood for a bear I end up with a very gnome - like bear.

BatFinchBears

awww, he is ever so cute!

Loving everything about his little face :3

if only I had the spare money! Hope that his auction goes well for you bear_original

BatFinchBears

Thanks so much everyone! It's so lovely to hear all your kind words, it makes me look like this -->  bear_grin  !

BatFinchBears

I don't think I've ever found any good fur in a normal craft shop here in the UK. I've always ordered my fur off the internet, or bought it at bear fairs/shows/events (then you're seriously spoilt for choice though!) there's a few I buy from, bearbasics.co.uk, sewwhatandstuffit.co.uk being the main two online.

You probably don't need the fur to be as long as the one in the picture to still achieve a "moustache" look. Long fur can get expensive bear_original

BatFinchBears

for me looking at that picture it looks like he was made using a very long pile fur, and then just had his fur trimmed in the right places to give him a moustache!

I found trimming fur a bit challenging when I first started - because you obviously can't glue it back one once it's been cut! But best way to learn is to just try it bear_original

My advice would be to trim VERY small amounts at a time, then you can't make any big mistakes!

Hope that helped a little  bear_grin

BatFinchBears

il_570xN.389129567_gukn.jpg

I'm on a roll, here's my second bear up on etsy bear_original

BatFinchBears

Thanks a lot guys bear_original I'm gonna try and get a few more of my bears online soon as well bear_original It's still all very scary, even the idea of someone actually buying him is quite scary too!

BatFinchBears

george_seated.jpg?w=400

This is George! He is the first bear I've ever put up for sale! Here

So it's super scary/nerve-racking/exciting/and did I mention scary?

BatFinchBears

I made a blog post about trying the polymer nose out!

but here's a pic of the bear "trying on" his nose

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