Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I love her face - I think she is great just the way she is!

Jane P.

What a relief that is for you!
I have nearly been caught a couple of times with those fake sign ins.  Now, when I am not sure, and sometimes when I am sure, I type in a fake password - if it is ebay, then you will just get a message telling you that your password is not valid, and then you can type in your real password.  Also, if you double click on the ID box you should get your ID automatically come up - I don't know if the hackers have that on their fake sign ins, then you just put in your password in the next box - real or otherwise.

Jane P.

Wow, that's interesting - everyone's different methods of making and storing patterns.  I make them from different coloured bristol board and punch holes in them and then hang them on hooks hanging on a peg board.   One hook per pattern.  The name of the pattern, and the date of any changes are then written on the pieces.  And, yes the edges do wear down over time - in fact there are probably a couple that need to be redone.  The originals are all kept in a file folder, so my bears may look completely different if I go back to the original!

I do like the idea of a thinner paper such as cardstock and then laminating the pieces - hmmm, have to think about that.  I guess any changes could be written on lables and stuck on the appropriate piece.  I can see a trip to Staples coming up.

Jane P.

Hi Claire,  I don't have a commercial pattern available, however this is what my daughter and I did.  You just make the legs and arms shorter, with little round foot pads and paws.  For the head, think of peeling an orange in quarters.  You won't have a gusset or side head pieces, instead you will have 4 pieces more or less equal  with the top and bottom narrowing to a point and the middle fatter.  You can then "adjust" the pattern to allow for a bit of a bump where the nose will be, and cut off one of the points for the neck area.  You can also play around with the sizing - most of the anime bears seem to have a larger head in proportion to the body.  If you look at the Japanese anime cartoons like "Hello Kitty" you will see what I mean.  I hope all that makes sense - let me know if you need any more help.

Jane P.

Oh Aleta, I envy you - my daughter and her family moved to Saskatchewan (two provinces away) two years ago.  I really miss them.  We used to do a lot together.

This weekend my husband and I are getting ready for a garage sale in a weeks time.  We have to go through the whole house and figure out what we can part with, and what price we want for it.  Maybe if I put a really high price on things, they won't sell, and I will get to bring them home again. He he.

Have a great time,
Jane P.

Ditto here on the non smoking.  I can always tell when I get items from ebay that have come from a smoker, apart from the smell, as I start sneezing and sniffling.

Thanks,
Jane P.

I have previously sold both on consignment and wholesale, and I will never sell on consignment again.  When the store hasn't had to actually purchase the bear, they do not take care of it in the same way.  I have had bears on consignment and they have come back to me because they haven't sold, and I found that they had torn clothes, dirt marks on paws and faces, and in one case a big ball point pen mark down the paw.  If anybody here has a store, please don't be offended - this is just my personal experience.  I would much prefer to sell on a wholesale basis to a store - yes, you get less money, but you get it now, or on a net 30 basis.  The bear then belongs to the store, and you can move on to your next project.  I also made it a requirement that the store had to purchase at least 4 bears at one time.  You also have to set a percentage that you are willing to sell your bears for (to the store).  I don't know what other artists do, but I do it on a 60/40 basis, and of course the store pays all the shipping costs.  I get the 60% from the store.  I must be honest though, and say that I find it very hard to keep up with the demand from the stores, and also the monetary gain is very small. 
Last year I did a lot of wholesaling, and when the accountant did up my income tax I was definately "in the hole".  I have decided this year to try to limit my wholesaling to just two stores that I have dealt with for many years, and then the rest for individual orders, and some bears for ebay (which is a new venture for me).  I'm a very slow bear maker, so perhaps if I was faster I might think differently.

I would certainly do up a presentation of photos and prices, along with a bit about yourself, and send it out to stores that you are interested in selling to. 

Good luck,
Jane P.

This sounds like fun.  I'm in, with accessories for medium to large (12" - 24"), and would like to receive the same.
Thanks,
Jane P.

Well done, Connie - he/she is absolutely gorgeous!  The nose is perfect!!!

Jane P.

I agree with Heather, and would use the largest diameter disc possible.  Also it depends on what type of body you are making.  If it is a 4 piece body, you must make sure that the pattern isn't too convex just where the inside disc would be, it should be more concave.   If you are using a two piece body, then just the larger disc should work.  Hope that helps a bit.

Jane P.

I have tried to direct my collecting to things I use for the bears.  I just love collecting vintage lace.  I'm really happy now that garage sale and flea market season is here and I can go exploring to my hearts content.  Along with the lace, I like old skeleton type keys, old white cotton childrens dresses, ribbon, millinery flowers - well just about anything that the bears "may need" someday.  I figure that by steering the collecting to things I may need for the bears I can justify just about anything ;o)

Jane P.

She is just beautiful!  I love her pink hair - feminine and off beat all at the same time.  Personally, I wouldn't change it unless you can also change her eye colour.  I think she looks great.
I hope I don't get addicted - I have managed to control myself with bears for a few years now, as I need the income for my dogs and horse, ie. feed and vet.  The last thing I need is to get hooked on dolls.  However I won't be able to resist looking for them!  Oh well.

Jane P.

What great bears everyone!  Making Anime bears are a lot of fun - you can't really go wrong!

Sheila, sorry I didn't answer earlier, I didn't see your post as I haven't been on here too much lately.  I use mainly mohair scraps for these guys in a very short pile.  If the pile is too long, then I shave it before I cut out the pieces.  I have an old pair of pet clippers that I use for clipping the pile.

Jane P.

OK, so if I did my math correctly (I failed math in Gr. 12) I am a 5 - non conformist.  I can see part of it as true, although I have learnt over the years to look before I leap.  I can also see parts of myself in all the descriptions though - maybe that is part of being a non-conformist?

Good fun Shelli !

Jane P.

I have never tried loc-line, but I must have tried putting wire in limbs at least a dozen times, and always end up making a real mess of it.  What I can't figure out is how you stuff this wrapped wire parcel down the narrow arm.  I always end up with the batting pulling away, even when I wrap it with thread, and I have a bare wire at the bottom (paw) and lots of jammed up stuffing at the shoulder.  When I try to push stuffing down the side of the wire I get it all off centre and lumpy, and again end up with a bare wire being felt through the mohair.  So I have just given up - until next time, when I have forgotten all about the frustration and try again.

Jane P.

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY Teddy Talk - and I hope you have many more!

Jane P.

I didn't photograph mine either - but from the look of all the wonderful creations that are posted here, I'm just as glad that I didn't!  Mine was just too plain.

Jane P.

OK, let's try that again.

I had just finished two for a customer of mine - so here is my response to the challenge.  My customer saw the two that were in last years April issue of TB&F and wanted a couple the same.

RAZZA MATAZ & SUNNY JIM

She's beautiful Kim, as are all your bears.

Jane P.

Thanks for the report and the photos Mindy - they are very much appreciated.  It's great to be there vicariously through your camera and description! 
Sure wish there were shows here still.  I really miss the "Bear Fair" that Sandy Morrow used to put on in Calgary, Alberta.  I was hoping someone else would take it over, but I guess it is not to be.

Jane P.

As I got towards the end of your post I found it harder and harder to read, it got all blurry.  That is really nice that you have the bear Judi - just one of those meant to be things.
Now I have to go and wipe up all the splotches on my keyboard.
All the best,
Jane P.

PS. Where abouts in England were you born - I was born in Stockport, near Manchester, and came out here when I was about 9 years old.  A long time ago.

Take care Daphne, we will all be thinking of you and your family and sending our good wishes your way.

Jane P

I LOVE all chocolate - I'll eat anything as long as it has the word chocolate in the description!

Jane P.

Hi Judi,  I love your ATC's - but I agree with you, they take a long time to make.  Especially if you are like me and put way too much stuff on them, and have to start all over again.  I spent 2 whole days making about 6 of the little "bleep, bleep's".  Spent a small fortune on the right paper, etc., and I'm not sure if I like my end result anyway!  I think I will stick to bears.

Jane P.