Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Deb,

Just a thought.  What about a cute hat (maybe with some netting draped down over her forehead), or a big bow around her head?  Sometimes when things go wrong -- that's the time to get really creative.  I once had a quilting instructor say she looked forward to things going wrong, as that's when her creative juices get flowing -- trying to solve the "problem".  (They're not mistakes, they're opportunities).

Hugs,   Donna

Hi Millie,   

Yes, you can sell the bear before entering the Golden Teddy or Toby contests.  I have done this several times and I know that the information on the Toby entry specifically says that you can sell it and am certain that the Golden Teddy is the same.  Since the contests are judged strictly by photos, you don't need to have the bear in your possession -- just make sure you have fantastic photos before you let it go!

The only other thing is, you might actually win a nomination and then wish you had the bear back (it would certainly sell for a higher price as an award winner :D!)  That happened to me a few years ago -- so I'm trying to hold on to a few of my "possibility" bears this year -- just in case.

Good luck with your entry!
Donna

Shelli, I was just at the Teddy Bear Review website, and noticed that they had the winners of the Golden Teddy Awards posted.  Congratulations to you and "Chauncey" on a well-earned award.  I wish I had some champagne to toast your win!!

Diane,

Please take care.  Just know you have my best wishes -- hope you feel much better soon. 
((((((((HUGS)))))))))

Donna

Daphne,

After a year or so of going to shows and using a variety of cloths, I finally broke down and bought a professional table cover.  The reason was that some of the show promoters of the larger shows require that table covers be fire retardant.  I have enjoyed using this cover, as it has been made to fit the usual 3' x 8' show table and, as you said, makes a neat and professional look.  It came with a certificate to show fire marshals, which I do take to all my shows -- but have never had to show it in the five years I've had the cover.   I also bought a can of spray that I use on my table toppers to make them fire retardant also.  Am I being way to cautious?  Probably,  but I figure I have enough to worry about at a show -- the last thing I want is to be sent home because my table cloth won't pass muster.  :D:D   

That said -- these things ARE pricy.  Maybe someone else knows where we can get a better deal.  I wouldn't mind finding another source, as mine is starting to show a little wear.

Hugs,  Donna

Hi all,

I too make mostly larger bears.  My 5 inch bears are the absolute smallest that I will tackle and they are few and far between!  Most of my bears are in the 12-22 inch range, and I find that the larger ones usually do sell the fastest.  (Probably because they are the ones I enjoy making best, so I invest a bit more time and creative thought into making them.) 

I also from time to time make a VERY large bear (around 30 inches) because they tend to be great "attention getters" at a show.  The first one I made I assumed that he would be mine and just brought him to the show as a space filler, as I had a small inventory of bears to bring.  I put what I thought was a prohibitive price on him, as I really didn't think he would sell anyway.  Wouldn't you know, someone wanted him right away.  So now, about once a year I try to make a "big guy" and they sell well.   I must admit  -- they take a full yard of mohair and a TON of stuffing, so I don't do them more often.

Hugs,  Donna

Shelli, 

I hope "Summer" has lots of that pixie dust handy  -  have her toss some toward Oakhurst.  We could all invade Japan together and Marie could be our guide!

Marie,

How fun that you know of my bears!  I was really tempted to go to Japan last year for the TITA Awards Banquet, but it just didn't work out -- maybe someday!  I didn't enter the TITA contest this year either. I'm taking a year off from entering contests.  Next year we should all give it a try -- then we could have a meeting in Japan!  I would love to see a Japanese teddy bear show.  I love the bears by Japanese artists.  I have a bear and a cat made by Harumi Isiguro.  Do you know of her work?

Hugs,
Donna

Hi all,

I think it is because we put so much of ourselves into our creations that we just hate to give up on them. I know I do.  My approach is very much like Laure's.  When I have a bear that has gone to several shows and doesn't "catch on" for some reason, I will often redo it in someway.  And very often it will be the first to go at my next show!  Because a lot of my bears are dressed -- I might redress them or "tweak" them in some way.  This year I did my most extreme "tweaking" ever on one poor bear -- I beheaded him!  I had tried a new style and it just didn't seem to be working.  A new head worked well and the bear sold right away.  Now the strangest thing -- I just fished the old head out of my odd-parts box and I think I know what was wrong.  I had the head on one of my very slim fashion-type bodies and I think he needed to be on a chunky, short body --it was a case of miss-matched body parts.  I have enough mohair to try again and maybe the poor head will like his new body.  Do I sound a little like "Dr. Frankenstein"?

Hugs, Donna

Laure,

Audie Sison was probably talking about the TITA (Japan's Tokyo International Teddy Awards) competition.  He has been a judge for that award several times and is a big promoter of the TITA and very much  encourages American artists to enter.  For that award entries are first judged from photos, then if your piece is nominated you send it to Japan where it is judged by a panel of experts and put on exhibit at several Japanese shows for public voting, plus it will appear in the Japan Teddy Bear Fan Club Magazine with a ballot for public voting, much as the TB&F and TB Review do for the TOBY and Golden Teddy Awards.  I have gone through this process several times (and was lucky enough to have my entry win a TITA last year!) and can say that you have to be patient -- the piece is in Japan about five or six months.  For anyone that is interested in the TITA, the deadline for entry is soon.  (Applications must be received in Japan by June 20th)   
Information about the award is at: http://www.teddybear.co.jp/download/pdf … ations.pdf 

If anyone wants to enter and has any questions, feel free to ask and I'll be happy to help if I can.

Hugs,  Donna

I tend to make more girls than boys, but every once in a while a bear comes along that has a mind of it's own.  Right now I have a large bear sitting on a shelf dressed to the nines in a smashing hat with feathers, flowers, and a big poof of netting.  She has a beautiful rhinestone brooch with matching earrings and a black fur stole.  And you know what -- everytime I pass by I hear the message "I'm a guy, silly - get me out of these earrings!  Ditch the hat!  Sigh, I love the outfit, but if I don't change it, that's going to be one unhappy bear.

Donna

Great idea!  I always love to find a new tool for my bearmaking.  I have been using a compass to measure eye distances, and for ear placement -- but it looks like I may have to get a set of calipers, too. 

I can see that these would be super to measure eye size.  I always have a hard time deciding if I have an exact match in eyes and hate it when one ends up slightly larger than the other.  Thanks for the tip!

Donna

Judi,

I read your story this morning, but was too choked up to respond, and I have been thinking of you and your family all day.  Thanks so much for sharing this with us.  I knew when I first saw the photo of your bear "Hayden" that he was very special -- but I had no idea just how special he is.  Steiff couldn't have made a better choice.  You have done a marvelous job of portraying Hayden's sweet spirit through this very special bear.

The power of the teddy bear -- they can celebrate joyful moments in our lives, and also be a force for healing from great sorrows.

My sister went to hear Dr. Dyer speak in San Diego earlier this year, and was very moved by his message, also.

((((((((HUGS)))))))))    ((((((((((HUGS))))))))))

Donna

Winney,

I'd be glad to email the article to you.  I may have to wait until this evening, though.  My scanner is disconnected and I think I will need my husband's help to get it up and running again.  I'll shoot it off to you as soon as I can.

Donna

Winney,

I have that issue.  On the cover is a needle felted ted by Debbi Henretty. It is made of blue and aqua wool and has white eyebrows. I checked inside and there is a pattern for a crocheted bear by Berta Hesen-Minten.  If you don't find your copy, let me know and I can send you a photo-copy of the pattern you need. (or just remove the pages and send them to you, since I'm not a crocheter and will have no need for the pattern.)

Hugs,

Donna

Well, according to a book I have: "Selling Your Dolls & Teddy Bears" by Barb Lawrence Giguere and Carol-Lynn Rossel Waugh:  "Teddy bears sold in one of the four states requiring stuffing licenses (Maine, Massachusetts, Ohio and Pennsylvania) must be identified with the corresponding stuffing license number.....These laws and regulations are intended to ensure and protect against fire and health hazards."  So, if you sell in any of those states you should probably check out about what you need to do to get a license.  Now, this book is several years old (1996), so things could very well have changed from state to state.

All that said, my practice has always been to include stuffing info on the back of my hang tags. I have a simple check list as to: fabric type, eye type, paw pad material, etc. that takes seconds to fill out.

Hope this helps,
Donna

Dilu,

Your package just arrived -- and the bear pin is just too cute!!!  He's such a sweet little guy, and the doily makes a great frame for him.  And the photos of your Gollys are a scream, Santa Golly, what fun! If you haven't thought of selling these little guys - you should.  If you don't want to do shows, I may have some other thoughts on what you could do.  In any event, you are so kind to send it to me.  Too bad you are so far away or I'd give you a big hug!

How do you like your Igloo house?  With all the pine trees around you - you must get quite a bit of snow in winter.

Thanks a bunch!! (The exclamation-point key on my keyboard is wearing down after this email -- but I needed every one):lol::lol::lol:

Donna

Diane,

"Carmen the Cockatoo" ?  You know, I'm not really sure.  I don't go into Oakhurst Feed very often (just for doggie treats).  I do remember seeing a large bird there recently that had on one of those cone thingies on its head (you know, to keep it from bothering a wound or something) and thinking "Oh, poor thing!".  But for the life of me, I'm not sure if it was a cockatoo or parrot, that's how observant I am.

I still haven't gotten your package -- I'm hoping today.  They really mean it when they call it "snail mail", don't they? This waiting is killing me.

Hugs, 
Donna

Diane, 
 
I have never used hair conditioner on mohair, so can't give you much help there.  However, I have used something similar.  Don't laugh, but another bearmaker told me some time ago that he sometimes used a product called "ShowSheen" on his bears.  "ShowSheen" is meant to be used on horses to condition their coats.  At the time, I had a piece of mohair that felt very harsh and rough -- so thinking "nothing ventured, nothing gained" I went down to Oakhurst Feed (remember them?) and got some.  It says it is a hair polish and detangler, and comes in a big spray bottle.  And it really made the mohair feel soft and smooth.  The only caution is that don't -- repeat don't -- get any on the floor, or you will end up on your rear!  It makes it verrrrry slippery.  I learned later that it is also used by dog groomers on show dogs.  By the way -- it does have a nice refreshing scent, and I have used it often on my dogs when they were a little too "doggie" if you know what I mean.

Hope this helps,

Donna

Judi,

I can't think of anything more fun than to have a "Judi's Gallery"!!  These beauties are great!!!  Thanks for sharing them with us.  Could you tell us how big the bears are?  The mink stole I have is the same color as the first bear you posted, made from the caramel-colored mink.  If I know about how big your bear is - I can get an idea what size pattern to use for mine.

Donna

Wow!!   I'm away for the day and come back to a mountain of great info.  I'm going to have to go over all the great responses again 'cuz I have just returned home from a Mother's Day visit with my hubbys family -- but just wanted to say thanks!  First on my agenda is to order Nancy's book.  And then go back and drool over Judi's gorgeous bear for inspiration.  He is something else!!  More later, but just know I appreciate the time you've spent to help.:D

Hugs, Donna

Hi everyone,

Although I loooooove real fur bears (one of my most prized possessions is a panda by Lori Leeper), I have never made one myself.  I just was given a beautiful mink stole that is too nice to use just for jacket trims, etc. -- so I'm tempted to try making a bear (or two) from it.  Before I started, I thought I'd better ask for some of your good advice. I have heard that one of the main things that is different in using real fur vs. mohair is that fur must be lined -- do you use muslin or something thinner?  What other pitfalls do I need to be aware of?  What about stitch length?  Do you trim the seam allowances ?  My biggest worry is trimming the muzzle -- any tricks there?  I worry I won't get a 'smooth' trim.  Winney, or anyone else with advice would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Donna

Diane,

I too manage about 50 bears a year.  I tend to work in cycles.  When I have a show coming -- I push harder and get more done.  After a show, I tend to grind to a halt for a while.  This time is not entirely wasted, though, as bears are never far from my mind.  It is during this after-show down time when most of my planning happens for my next wave of bearmaking.  I make sketches, lists, and look for accessories that will be needed for my next bunch of bears.  Then "whammo" the gears start whirring and I'm off again.  If I would work consistantly I could get much more done -- but that's not the way that things work for me, I guess.

I love your avatar, by the way, it's such a happy group!  And I love the concept of "Golly and the Three Bears"  Darn!  Why didn't I think of that?  Great job. :)

Hugs,  Donna

Diane, (Dilu)

Who knew we were so close for so long and had so much in common?  I am also a long-time quilter. I have two cupbords filled with quilting fabric that is used almost exclusively for bear clothes nowadays.

I regret to say that music is not one thing we have in common.  When I had to take a piano class in college I was so bad I'm sure the instructor gave me a "pity-pass" I guess I was at the end of the line when musical ability was being passed out. 

Laura,  unfortunately I won't be in Schaumberg this year.  I hope to make it again, as I had a great time there last Oct.  (Maybe next year!)  I am really scaling back my shows this year and the only other show I'm doing for the rest of the year is Linda's in San Diego.  (My sis lives near there -- so it makes a great excuse to visit.)

Hugs,  Donna

Diane (Dilu)

I would love to have one of your pins.  I'm not sure of all the rules about posting addresses here on the forum, but if you go to my website by clicking below you can get my P.O. box from the contact page. 

It sounds like you have a nice quiet environment to work in.  If you're near Lincoln City I really envy you!.  I love that area.  Unfortunately I am not going to be able to do that show this year.  Pooh!  I missed it last year, too, as I was going to the Schaumberg, Il. show a week or so before.  This year I am only doing a few shows, so I will have to miss it again.  I think you will really like it.  It is a very friendly show with a great group -- hope you can hook up with Winny and have a blast!

By the way, I would love to see your Gollys -- they're a favorite of mine.  I have made a few, mostly as companion pieces for bears.  One of my most fun pieces was a bear wearing Golly slippers and also holding a Golly.

Hugs, Donna