Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Well, I lost 1 pound this past week. It was a busy week and not the nicest weather, so I didn't get out walking as much as I had hoped, nor did I get ont he Total Gym everyday either.........I should do better this week since I only have 1 day to be out of the house by 6:15 AM!    UGH!

Congrats to you have stayed on schedule  :hug:  keep up the good work  :dance:
:hug:  :hug: 
Ellen

I don't work, I sew by machine, and I re-use patterns. In November, I finished 30 bears for an order plus about 3 'coat' bears for an order. My Mother helped me stuff them when I was in Florida on vacation. That is my maximum, unless I get someone to help me cut the bears out, and to stuff. I will cut out a bunch of bears (I have about 10 that I cut out for the workshop waiting) then sew the pieces together, at night I sit and put on the faces, stuff and put together.

Interesting subject. I think I will be sewing all day today since it is ice outside, don't think I want to go out.
Ellen

Wonderful shot!     :hug:

Lightning measures 3 feet tall.

OK, I started my eating healthier this morning with a bowl of Oatmeal.....yuck!  I don't care much for the oatmeal, but I know it is very good for you, so I add some fruit which makes it eatable......

Still have the fingernails, but did start nibbling on one last night, and I haven't had a smoke since Thursday night!

Off to a good start........... :hug:  :hug:  to all in the challenge.......Ellen

Finally got to take pictures of Sheriff Lightning today, and thought I would share. My Husband is addicted to old Westerns. He has a life-sized cardboard cutout of the Lone Ranger and Tonto at camp, and I thought this guy would fit in quite well. David loves his bear and named him Lightning (after a sheriff in an old Western)

The bear body is wood, feet are wood covered with fur. Arms and head are man-made fur, body is wrapped with quilt batting, with extra in the tummy to give him a pot belly like the sheriffs always had. The pants, chaps, hat are all purchased. The shirt was one that i made for my son (Hubbby had a matching one) when he was 4 years old (he's now 28!)

As I read more from everyone on this topic, and think about it more, I decided I had to write again and put in my 2 cents worth! So, here goes, 

What was your reason for starting your business? Did you start making and selling because you had nothing better to do? Did you want to make a profit? Do you feel that everyone needs to have a stuffed critter?

Your answer to that question should help you decide how to price your creations. Plus you have to consider your material cost and time spent to create.

I love stuffed animals of all types, but found that the prices of them were too expensive to keep buying. So I started a business with a goal of making a quality stuffed animal that was affordable to people. That is why I make mine from man-made fur, and why I do my workshops. 

Pricing your creations is a very difficult thing to do, but you have to be happy with the price you set......that is the bottom line. 

:hug:  :hug:  Hugs to all.....Keep them bears coming!
Ellen

very interesting topic as has already been said. I have placed things on ebay, but found that the costs were much higher than my sales, so I stopped. I think people on ebay are looking for a bargain, and I am not a bargain. 

Most of you make bears from mohair, I don't, I use man-made fur, or the occasional fur coat bear for someone, so my 'regular' bears are less expensive than the mohair ones, just because of material cost. I may get blacklisted for this  , I hope not,  :pray: but I re-use patterns and make the bears out of the same patterns, with different colors, faces, etc. I prefer bears naked, but do have outfits for some. And I am willing to make a bear or outfit for whatever the customer wants. 

I have critters at 4 local stores, and if I get a check 3 times a year, I feel blessed. The critters just don't sell, no matter what price! I thought I needed to get out of the North Country, a very economically depressed area, but even in New York City, I didn't sell what I thought I should! 

Local people are very interested in having their child come to a workshop for 1 1/2 hours and make their own bear and I have been very satisfied with that.    My web site has brought in some business, no where near what I hoped for, but it has helped for getting a large order this past year, and people looking for bears from coats. 

Bottom line is, each person needs to decide what their basic cost is, what their time is worth, put that price on the bear, and if you are not happy with the price, adjust it until you are and then pray, pray, pray that it sells. :pray:    :hug:

:hug:  :hug: Ellen

I have been thinking of 2 things I need to do in 2006. The first is to loose some weight. I have a Total Gym and was using it last year, but didn't feel like it was doing anything for me, so I stopped. I will TRY to work on it again. I enjoy walking my dog, except when it gets into the negative temperatures, which most of January will be.....I will join this challenge and try to eat healthier and get more exercise through the year, hopefully with all of your support, I will keep at it this time! 

The second is to quit smoking! I have tried before, and even though my hubby agreed to help me, we went to camp and he had the smokes there, so I started again. This Year, I WILL NOT SMOKE ANY MORE AT CAMP OR IN THE CAR OR AT HOME IN THE GARAGE (I have never smoked in the house, in the car but I do in the garage at home)  :redface:

The one thing I did quit this year (and I hope I can continue) is I stopped biting my fingernails......It all started when I had my right arm in a splint for 3 weeks....the nails are getting longer, bother me some, but I am DETERMINED to keep them!

Wow, 3 bad habits to break at once......I will be checking here for support! 

Have a Happy New Year everyone.....enjoy the last few bits of chocolate and other soon-to-be-off-limits-food............
Ellen

Merry Christmas Catherine......and to all at Teddy Talk

Merry Christmas! hmmmm...chocolate, to eat, or not to eat? What is the question?

:hug: Ellen

Nothing like being able to have your own sewing room! Congrats on the new place.
:hug: Ellen

Here is Colter, from Kathy in Nevada. He was very tired when he arrived yesterday, so he spent a nice cozy day resting and sat by the fireplace today to keep warm. He is absolutely adorable with his hat and mittens. (He wanted a couple of pictures without the mittens on) The mittens got in the way of eating his chocolate, so we took them off but he has them back on again.

Thanks Kathy.
:hug:  :hug: Ellen & Colter

Safe trip...Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.....
Ellen

I am so happy you like her, Kathy.....I got mine yesterday, no time for a picture yet though .....maybe tomorrow.  right now my little guy is sitting warming up by the fire because it is so cold here.....Ellen

Christmas over the past few years has been different for us. Our daughter moved across the country last year, so we didn't get to see her on her birthday (Dec. 10) and we won't see her on Christmas either. Our son is at a friends house today to go skiing, then coming up to see us tomorrow where we will take him shopping for his Christmas presents. He will be back at home with his girlfriend for Christmas day.

Christmas Eve, my husband & I will be at church for our candle-light Christmas Eve Service. It is at 7 PM, my former church did a family service at 7 and a Candlelight service at 11:00PM....but that is a past life. On Christmas morning, we will get up, attack the stockings, get some breakfast if there is time, we will open more gifts, but have Church service at 10. After church we will drive 2 1/2 hours to his parents home to celebrate with his family and have dinner. All of our kids are grown, so nothing real big and exciting there.

On Monday, we will leave my in-laws and travel about 6 hours south to my sister's in Delaware to celebrate with My parents, sister, her kids and 3 grand-kids.....much more exciting there. I plan to bring some bear skins for the 3 children to stuff themselves, should prove interesting, they range from 2 to 6 years old. We will spend 2 nights with my sister, then drive the almost 10 hours home so hubby can be at work on Thursday, and I can start making more critters.......

I enjoy reading about all the traditions you have from all over......Whatever your tradition, new or old, that you are doing this year.....enjoy your Christmas.

Ellen  :hug:  :hug:  :hug: to all.....

Off this morning to go into the woods and cut our tree....maybe I'll get pics posted later this week.....could be that we will wait until our son visits to put it up.....

All the pics are wonderful......love looking at them......
:hug: Ellen

Had I known.....I would have been there     Next time give me 5 hours notice and I'll be there........with a teddy to drive me back home..... :dance:
Ellen

I think she is cute, for a cat (not my favorite animal) I would get her for someone who likes cats.......
Ellen

I finally found this picture of my daughter, Tina, son-in-law, Francis, and my hubby David. It was taken last February at one of the wineries we toured in Spokane, Wa.

:hug:  :hug: back to you Roxanne  :hug:  :hug:  Ellen

Thanks Chrissie.......that is exciting  :hug:  Ellen

Have you tried calling eBay Jenny? When I was first listing things on eBay, I had problems and had a very helpful person when I called them.  I think they also have " live help" at times, that might be another avenue to persue.

Good luck,  :hug:  :hug: to you.
Ellen

Congrats Deb! When we got our dog 3 years ago, I had forg0tten how much work they are.....almost like having a baby in the house      Ours was fairly easy to train, sepecially since we got the electric fence and his own doggie door!    Those 2 things are lifesavers for us (at least for me who is home all day with him) He loves going for walks and the cold and the snow......best place for him......... :dance:  Enjoy your new pup and all the challeges that come with him.
Ellen

Very pretty flowers and a nice warm beach scene.....of course, you already know it is a lot different than here    We got another 2 inches of snow yesterday    I cannot imagine having Christmas where it is warm and no snow.....   I guess it is all what you are used to....   Enjoy your beautiful Pohutukawa Flower and summer...... :hug: Ellen