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For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
Aren't dogs THE BEST! I just love this picture because you can see that the baby has his tiny fists clenched in the dogs fur. The dog is obviously looking at his master for a command. Dogs are such loyal an obedient pets, and then there's my Darra. I think she must be part cat!
Hugs,
Alison
Hugs,
Alison
Really great work, as usual!Hugs,
Alison
Thanks everyone! Peter, I was at my sister's rental house all day helping her clean and paint and came home to this email from The Toy Shoppe. I was so excited, especially since they just got pictures of the bear today and decided to use him in their advertisement. The owners there have been really nice to me. It's such an honor to sell through their shop.
Hugs,
Alison
Hugs,
Alison
Hugs,
Alison
Julie,
There have been a bazillion bears named Pumpkin Pie. But, I only know of 2 with actual mohair pies. And, it's no surprise you named a bear Butternut. The bear I made with that name was made from mohair in a color called butternut. I was just weird enough to make a squash with a goofy face to go with it. Ideas come from all over the place. You can't copyright an idea. I made a Frankenstein bear one year, I"m sure it had been done a million times before. How many angel bears, etc. are out there. These are ideas and there are many ways in which to interpret them in the fur. Who was the first person to needle felt a face onto a bear? I'm certain it wasn't you or the other artist in question. People need to be realistic. We are all making the same thing, teddy bears. While this is my job and I take it seriously, I try not to be too serious about it.
Hugs,
Alison
Julia,
I would ask those who contacted you if they sell their patterns. If they answer is no, then how could you have possibly infringed on any copyright? Also, you stated that you make bears as a hobby. I would assure them that bear making is a hobby for you and they should in no way feel threatened if your work seems similar to theirs.
I'll tell you a little story. Years ago, I made a set called Pumpkin & Pie. Pumpkin was a bear and Pie was a pumpkin pie. Pie was indeed, a mohair pumpkin pie, complete with felt crust. I was pretty darn proud of such a strange idea and NO ONE had ever done it before. But you know what, someone sure did after. Pumpkin and Pie was an idea, it was my idea but it wasn't copyrighted. Did I contact the other artist who made a Pumpkin & Pie? Heck no! She didn't copy my pattern, she made her own version of Pumpkin & Pie using her own pattern. For all I know, a collector who liked her work said, I saw this set, can you make one for me in your style? I felt sorry that she wasn't imaginative enough to come up with her own thing but that's her problem, not mine. I still have one thing I can call my own, Butternut & Squash. I don't think anyone's been weird enough to attempt their own version of that one! I still have collectors ask me about those 2 every now and then. Boy, I must have been trippin' on something that year. I had some crazy ones!
Keep enjoying yourself!
Alison
Thanks,
I'll have to read up on the tags more. I only put one item in my shop so far and used some tags. Once I get everything going, I will do a featured item. And, I'll check out art fire, too!
Hugs,
Alison
Hello,
I just started an ETSY shop tonight. I do shop on etsy sometimes but have never sold. There's so much stuff on there that when I do a search I'll often get over 100 pages of items that match the search. Is there too much on there? Is it too big? Does everything just get buried? Maybe these are things I should have asked before I started the store. What do you etsy users think and do you have any advice for not getting burried in the mass of items?
Hugs,
Alison
Pat,
I just stuff my lower jaws like Paula. I've heard of putting in a thin piece of cardboard before you stuff but have never found the need to do it.
Hugs,
Alison
Lori,
Great job. I'm glad to see you aren't afraid to try more advanced techniques like doll eyes from the get go. Most people work up to such things but you jumped right in!
Hugs,
Alison
Shannon,
I have shipped many bears overseas and have NEVER had one ripped open by customs. I've also heard of this happening but wonder if it isn't an "urban myth" of the teddy bear world.
Hugs,
Alison
Hugs,
Alison
Bobbie,
Thanks for the info, these are so cute! I love Daphne's idea of sending something that is from her local area. Being the practical woman that I am, I send mini lint rollers! I make special labels for them and call them "Hairy Hug Removers."
Hugs,
Alison
Michelle,
I saw your post today and decided to answer although it over a week old. When I make my wire antennae, I create a loop in the bottom. I attach each antenna, using the loop, just as I would an eye. I also do this for fairy wings.
Hugs,
Alison
Just google for an online converter. You can find many that will convert centimeters to inches. Here's a good one.
http://bluefive.pair.com/inches_to_cm_to_inches.htm
I hope this helps.
Hugs,
Alison
Clare,
Do you use a 4 piece of 2 piece body? If you use a 2 piece a dart at the top would be the way to create more of a shoulder. However, be sure to adjust the length of the body to accommodate.
Good luck. I look forward to seeing the finished bear.
Hugs,
Alison
I haven't sold any of my patterns but I have designed a couple of patterns for magazines. Again, like most said, these are not patterns for bears I would create to sell. I designed the pattern specifically for the magazine and I think it's best as an artist to keep it that way. If you think your monkey pattern is special and you worked hard on it, keep it for yourself.
Hugs,
Alison
I just sent in a couple of submissions to the GTA Contest and it was SO EASY! You just go to the form, fill it out and upload your pics from your computer. Click submit, it takes you to a paypal page to pay and you're done. Entries are $50 for the first and $35 thereafter. I think the price has gone down from the past. You can enter 2 bears for less than $100! I was very pleased to see things simplified.
Hugs,
Alison
I finally made it out to the workshop where my 400+ yards of mohair is stored. We had some flooding in there. 
Thank goodness all of the mohair was stacked properly off the floor. The floors are epoxy so it's of no consequence other than mopping up. I'm off to get to it. More rain looks like it's on the way so we'll have to come up with a plan for the shop.
Hugs,
Alison
Hugs,
Alison
