Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Jane,once again you have gone that extra mile ,                                                                           

Lynette

Good to meet up with you to Ann-Marie. I also sold out, although I did not take as many bears as in the past. This left space in my suitcase to bring back some bears for the shop who are all waiting to now be displayed.
I was very very fortunate, cannot beleive it, I had placed a lace order with a supplier, 10 cards in total. Supplier told me that she had added a little extra- well the extr was another 20 cards of lace at no charge. This is fine cotton lace still woven on the same machinery used from the 1800's.
Of course Jayne was a demon was racing around the show in her car!!!!!!!her excuse was to take pictures!!! Jane I think you need a hooter    

All in all, except for age and flying taking its toil I had a good time.

Lynette

Never mind all your problems, living in South Africa, EBAY/PAYPAL will not give you the option of receiving money into your bank account or Paypal account. Money can be sent with no problem and this I find confusing. Ask their helpdesk and they say they are working on this. This has nothing to do with the South African momentary? policies.

I have found a way via the back door and am paypal registered as I do have an off shore account, and can list a bear and accept paypal as a form of payment.

Lynette

 
Lynette

Thanks for the help.
As far as I could make out, no mechanism. The rods only allows for the arms and legs to move. The tummy does not have anything in it except for the original filler. I did not open the tummy as the bear is so fragile. If I was to try restoring, I would just place a little wood wool inside. One would have to be very careful thou.

The owner is in her 80's so would be born round 1929. She said the bear belonged to her grand mother ? who died young aged 65, about 1924, hence her saying the bear could be pre 1900.

Schuco did tin bears covered with mohair, as yet not found anything under them.

thanks again Lynette

I did a workshop with Gregory in Vienna a few years back , making a similar standing bear. I was supplied with the bear already sew, and no pattern was supplied.
I met with Gregory, took him to lunch and was hoping that if I gave him enough wine he would part with the pattern.  
The pattern remained a secret but he did draw off the pattern for the bear that appeared in this magazine- so let me know if I can help,
regards
Lynette

Can someone help?
Photos are not that good as I took them with my mobile.
An elderly lady( in her 80's) brought me her Grandmother's teddy bear.
The bear has a  tin/metal frame which was then covered with mohair. Very little of the pile is left, just the backing.
Eyes and nose are metal and the bear is jointed with a tiny metal rod. It measures approx 4-5".

We seem to date it back to the 1888.

In all the books I ahve I have never seen a picture of this little bear, and not much coming up on a web search.

On Line voting is in progress

To vote click on one of the following categories.

(A)Miniature Bear :
http://www.twtba.org.tw/2009_TTBCA/2009 … ?catalog=1
(B)Dressed Bear :
http://www.twtba.org.tw/2009_TTBCA/2009 … ?catalog=2
(C)Undressed Bear :
http://www.twtba.org.tw/2009_TTBCA/2009 … ?catalog=3
(D)Tableaux/group :
http://www.twtba.org.tw/2009_TTBCA/2009 … ?catalog=4
(E)Mix Materials :
http://www.twtba.org.tw/2009_TTBCA/2009 … ?catalog=5
(F)Animal :
http://www.twtba.org.tw/2009_TTBCA/2009 … ?catalog=6

Dancing in Argentina is popular and so are dogs. Took this picture while having some coffee. Little ones told me to get lost they were in dream land.

Lynette

Dear Jane,
Take care,      
Lynette

So far so good,
Its the week-end that I think will be the most busiest. Lots of people wanting to find out about workshops, and lots of excitement over all the antique christening gowns, laces, and 1:12th scale supplies.

2-3 things still to be done then I will post pictures,

Lynette

Still looking for artists, its FREE FREEEEEEEEEE

Please send your profiles, messy workrooms,

Lynette

Today is the day that I  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup: go back to being a shop keeper. Totally mad, but nothing ventured nothing gained.
The shop is about 85% completed, I have no idea where the time goes to.

Got laid up in bed totally shattered and having a tummy bug did not help. Some of my consignment bears have arrived, and they are stunning !!!!! thanks to those who have gone that extra mile to help me.     
Had a 3 week postal strike which delayed parcels, so they are now slowly coming in.

I have been taking pictures as we make progress and will try and get the final ones done today.

Stephanie from Sassy bears is a super STAR- she has gone and purchased things for me which are not freely available in South Africa- shared advice with me, and as per usual offered a 101% service.                   

I must also say a big thanks to all teddytalk
bear members who offer free advice in this forum, my bear making has improved tremendously ( not so sure about my spelling !!!!) and at times when the bear bug leaves me, I am sure to find something in one of the forums which gets me going again.

And while I am on the stand, also a big thanks to the members who have helped me on the emotional side. Being sick last week, all I wanted was my mom, sadly she is now in her place of rest. Railton a very good friend, also decided that it was time to call it quits and passed away in his sleep, aged 65. Grand children, especially my daughters two sons, have had many problems, and Tristan is deaf in his right ear.- I of course am about 80% deaf now, hearing aids are frustrating, and I often get funny looks when I am saying yes when it should be no-

Lynette

Just seeing all these pictures, makes me feel so good, knowing that there are people like us who care and love Gods creatures.

Right now, Samantha is sitting behind me, Kimmy is guarding her biscuit, not eating it, but growling when the other dogs look at her, and fat dog, has just swopped her sleeping place, from the bed, to her cushion at my feet.

Lynette

Oh Eileen,
Now that is another one of my favorite dogs, border collies. My sister adopted/kidnapped one that was neglected. Her name is Storm, but being married to an Italian - her name was going to be changed to Stormlina, thank heavens, she refused to answer to that name.

Those eyes, just look at them, they tell their own story- and dog names- I see you have a "Bear" well I have a "Teddy"   

Yes Daphne, she was yawning, but looking at the picture it does look like she is telling me off !!!!

Lynette

Remember pictures need not be of where you work- notice in my pictures- you do not even get a glimse of my workroom.
Anyway if I was to take a picture of my house, it would also not be a "picture perfect shot" not with 5 dogs who think their place is on beds and chairs.
I have my family, and scenery within South Africa on my review.

Its free,  freeeeeeee

Lynette

I have no idea who that work room belongs too- it for sure is not mine. I do start all  all neat and tidy, somehow it ends with a 1001 things all over.
Lynette

Wendy this is for you- now you know why I have to work so hard.

Samantha is the boss.  No time to even go and get dressed, still in pj's, hair not done, but hard at work.

This does start to get boring thou !!!!

Lynette

Behind the scenes at the Taiwan Teddy Bar Association, continual work is being done, to keep the focus on the teddy bear world. Not only has BAAT been born, but other challenges are taking place.

As all 2008TBOC participants are aware, WAG was in the pipeline, many very curious about what this was. WAG has been replaced by BAAT- Bear Artists at Home, of course it should read BAAH, however teddy bears have their own minds and we were not going to argue with them.

We are now requesting artists interested in being a BAAT participant to please contact us.
Requirements: Short profile, pictures of your work environment- home and town, pictures of your pets, family.
Cost: Free (We do ask that everyone continues to help us “keep the Bears in Focusâ€
To see and view what BAAT does view   http://www.twtba.org.tw/BAAT/index.htm

Wendy- not sure where your email is- its taking a world trip first before getting to me, perhaps send again please.

Bobby-Initially I would like 1-2 bears on a consignment basis. I would like to keep them till end of July 2010, if not sold by then, remember I am introcuding a new idea" bears are made around the world, do cost $$$$ and yes people do collect them,"
I know stetching that till July is long, but as SA is hosting the 2010 FIFA world CUP, we are expecting 5 million visitors during that period. With hosting the teddy bear show bears that have not sold will be displayed then.

However, I would want to buy and pay as I order- much easier for all parties involved this way, but the initial expesne of setting up, time frame I ahve till opening, means I must take whatever help I can get right now.

I would ask for a "wholesale price" otherwise with my mark up- it will for sure price the bear right out of the market.

Ideas of renting a shelf- something that help get me started in the bear selling market worked well
, I rent a shelf for a nominal fee in the UK, and then the bear was sold at my price, without the shop putting on their mark up- Ideas ??????????????

Paypal would be the best way to pay artists as most artists have this set up. Although i live in SA, I do have a pay pal account allowing funds in and out.

A brief idea- and here I have to see if it will work, is to somehow have a world globe setting, within a shelf scheme, the international bears would then be slotted into the country they originate from. At the same time, there will be an artist wall gallery, with info on each bear artist, contact details  etc.
By doing this not only do  I ahve added value and interest to the shop, but again the focus in on teddy bears, which at the end of the day means we are not letting teddy bears  disappear.

These are my thought, and I welcome any suggestions, ideas etc.

Again with hosting the 2010 show, I again ask for help, what works what does not work, helped with taiwan, but its the first time I am doing it in South Africa.

Thanks to all who ahve already contacted me.

Another point, being a bear maker- I know exactly the time it takes to make and create, once in my hands, I can assure you I will take full responsibily of your work, should it somehow go walk about or land up in hospital, it would be my risk and the artist will still be paid.

Lynette

Daphne, another thing, the saying the kettle calling the pot black !!!! mmm
You have also taken on "bear challenges" and dived in hosting teddy bear shows,when most people would not be so adventurist  

My keyboard cannot spell,

Lynette

Not much time to approach every one, so doing a post here.

Anyone interested in letting me have a bear or two for my shop can you please email me  lck@mweb.co.za.
I have a set amount that can be spent on various items, i.e. shop fitting, advertising, etc, and although I would love to have an Artist Bear from everyone, my budget will be limited.

I am thinking along the lines of having a display with "Artist Bears from around the world" (something like that- anyone with a better idea, please include in mail to me. This in a small way will bring attention to the "Collector Market", giving an artist some extra exposure.

Any ideas, thoughts , advice both good and bad, please let me know.

Puddles are welcome ( hint hint Wendy)

A few things, the collector bear market in South Africa is not a very big one, and people still need to be educated about "collector bears". With the 2010 Teddy Bear and Friends Event, this should open a new world to people who never even knew that there was something like a collector bear, and hopefully with all the International visitors to South Africa for the FIFA world cup, it should also give exposure to bears worldwide.

In my bear travels around the globe, I have seen the decline in many popular bear shows, of course this is due to present economy conditions, sales being made via other options, Ebay, home pages, however some shows tend to still do well.

Working closely with my colleague in Taiwan, I see continual growth in the "teddy bear market" in Taiwan. YZ works non stop on promoting the bears in Taiwan, and together we come up with ideas to keep the focus on the teddy bear world. Some new exciting ideas are in the pipeline, and post will be going out soon to inform all what we are working on.

I suppose the moral of the story is , if you sit back and do nothing, nothing will happen, do something and something will happen.

Lynette

Well, a little secret, if it was not for the support from you guys here, I would not be doing half the things I do.
While being a "chatter" on Teddy Talk, my bear making has improved in leaps and bounds with all the friendly advice,some secrets shared amongst all.

Daphne, I have a few days grace, I can take the shop from the 1st September with a set up period till the 14th, then open for trade on the 15th.

Please see my demand topic       

Lynette

As I sit typing we are having light hail, mmm looks like Sunny South Africa could even get some snow.

I went out on Friday to purchase some boxes for my shop. While at the centre, chatting to one or two shop owners I asked about shop rentals etc and then decided that maybe I should move my home based shop to a shopping centre. At the same time, in the same centre I was able to find a venue to host an International Teddy Bear show in 2010. Moral of the story dont send me out for something small.

I am going full circle as I orginally started off with my own business in 1986  in a shopping mall. This time thou I have learn't( or have I) that I will delegate!!!!

The mall, is a Garden Centre, and within the garden centre all under one roof, you have various craft shops, pet shops, coffee shops, kids play area and everything else that you can think of except teddy bears and dolls.
The shop is idealy situated, large enough for me to have a work area, and as it is privately owned, the land lords are willing to help you.
So not only are they all excited so am I.

I been there done it, got the T shirt to prove it, and I know that its hard work, however that does not scare me, it is having nothing to do that scares me silly.

Should be signing up for both "events" next week and then I can post more info on the shop and the 2010 teddy bear event.

Of course I have a trip to Argentina 23rd August, returning 2nd September, just to make life more intresting and with a shop to open 1st September and yes I am still learning to dance the Argentinian Tango.

Lynette

Daphne, you mention a group on Facebook- I have tried searching for it but nothing shows?

Lynette