Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

So cute!  I love it!   

My favourite is the second one too!  They're all gorgeous though! 

I saw this 'guideline' on one of the bear competition sites.  To me, it is not black and white, but the guidelines suggested that if you make less than 1000 bears per year, you can call yourself a 'bear artist'.  If you make more than 1000 bears per year, you should use the 'bear maker' title.  So on that principle, I would say all of us on here are 'artists' as most of us are probably unable to roll out a production of more than 3 bears a day, every day of the year.  I also interpret it as a hand made thing too though.  I personally think there's a huge difference to say Steiff for example, or other well known and quality brands, which are somewhat mass produced by patterns and machines (perhaps hand finished, but not hand made entirely), to making the entire creation by hand.  That, to me qualifies as being called an artist bear. 

I really think it's an individual preference to be honest.  I personally like the 'artist' title.  I can appreciate others may prefer to call themselves 'makers'.  A hand made bear, whether fabric, felted, knitted, crocheted (or any other means!) cannot be found in the shops as a mass produced item, so it is up to the artist/maker, how they wish to describe themselves in my opinion.  Both 'maker' and 'artist' are both titles to be proud of, but in most our cases I think it comes down to a personal preference.  We're all artists in that we're creating individual designs, yet all makers in that we're making something.  As artists/makers, we can use whichever title we choose.  That's how I see it anyway 

Had such a busy week, but am back to 'normality' now, I think.  What is that anyway?!    We only moved house about 6 months ago, and being one of the most disorganised people you could imagine, we've only just managed to clear the boxes from our small room - which is now my craft den.  Father in law moved over a computer desk that they were storing for us, so the red carpet came out (although it wasn't needed as he didn't stay long, but between unpacking craft things that I forgot I even had, we spring cleaned about 3 times for the occasion!  Not that it really needed it!  To the Dutchies on here, I did get to practice my Dutch!  I'm very proud!  Father in law doesn't speak or even understand a word of English.  Our not so little furry friend (boxer cross bullmastif) almost knocked elderly father in law flying, so once safely seated, I handed him some small doggy treats, to which he asked if they were for him or the dog  ..... I understand a lot more than I can say in Dutch, so in my very poor vocab, I replied 'ja, lekker!' (yes, nice/yummy!'), but luckily before they reached his mouth, he who mustn't be obeyed saved the situation (grrr!).  I am impressed however that I managed to say it without an accent, or at least convincingly enough so it seemed!    All ended well, father in law ate some chocolate cookies, and the little furry friend got his treats!

So I have finally got around to taking some piccies of my collection.  The big Steiff bear belongs to he who mustn't be obeyed.  So does the one in the suitcase (I bought it for him as he also likes Teddies, and I just liked the suitcase!), the smaller golden Steiff is my QVC replica.  Off the top of my head, its a replica from the 1909 bear.  I could be wrong on that, but without digging the boxes and certificates out, that date springs to mind!  The larger one is the Theo bear replica (also I can't remember the year) - but he who mustn't be obeyed upon discovering that I have a passion for Steiffs, had to buy his own name bear.  My purchase was purely because I'd wanted a Steiff for so long, and it had very appealing payment options, no other reason than that.   The other photos are some of my Harrods and Hamleys bears (with others thrown in).  My photographic skills aren't very good I'm afraid, and they're up on high shelves that I can't reach to pull them down!.  The final picture is just a few miniature 'collectables' (all modern), union jack memorabilia, but also the most wonderful handmade Fimo bears.  I bought those from a lady at a Christmas fair last year.  She used all sorts of everyday but antique items, such as old irons etc, and stuck her fimo teddies onto them.  So unique, and all in individual poses.  Most were Christmas themed (we bought a beautiful wooden sleigh with these bears on, but he's packed away with the Christmas things still).  So although not a brand, or mohair, or even felted bear, the iron and fimo bears were so unique that they earnt a spot in my pride collection.  I've written an essay here   

I don't think we've met on here as I'm only a newbie.  But I am sorry to read of your accident, and sincerely hope you recover very soon 

Good question!  I was also wondering the same.  I used to sketch and paint, so have a lot of bits and pieces, but nothing I could use for detailing on bears.  Pastels weren't something I was keen on working with, so I don't have any!  So I'm looking out for some good quality but reasonably priced pastels.  In the shops here, I've only managed to find very basic ones, not what I'm after.  I'm not going to be painting Monet's, but just adding little details to bears faces/paws etc, so want the range of colours.

A trick I used to do with charcoal or pencil sketches, was to spray the picture afterwards with hairspray.  I found it worked MUCH better than the sealant artist sprays, only a fraction of the cost and no nasty fumes, just a mild perfumy scent.  I have lung problems, so I need to be careful what I use, and that was the safest option for me.  Whether that would work on fabric or not, I don't know.  I guess it would, but maybe try it out on a test piece of fabric first.  If all else fails, you can still use sealants, but spray it outside, and when you bring the finished piece in, then store it in a different room from your animals.  I do that myself, with any chemicals I need to avoid breathing in - for our animals sake as well as my own

sooo cute! 

Georgeous!     

Stunning!!! I'm drooling!  Such a pretty colour, and the crystal is just...wow! 

He's georgeous!  I absulutely love his little jeans and the charms on them!  He has such a cute face too! 

I'll have to take some piccies later (I'm still only on my second cup of coffee this morning, so creativity or even normality hasn't set in yet!)  My 'baby' in my collection is a limited edition Steiff replica bear.  I bought him a few years ago from QVC shopping channel.  I'd always, always wanted a Steiff bear but couldn't afford the nice ones (they're all nice, but I mean replicas or even originals - I wish!) and I didn't want one of the new style ones.  He was still above my budget but had a very appealing payment installment option.  I was married at the time, and my ex was out, so I whipped the credit card out.  He went beserk when I told him (and I didn't tell him how much I paid!) - to cut a long story short, the Steiff bear arrived, and is still with me now, unlike the ex! 

I'm also rather partial to the older Harrods year bears.  He who mustn't be obeyed, and I had a trip to London for last new year, so we bought this years bear.  But my favourites are the ones from the 90's.  They made a few real old style ones, very firmly stuffed with a mohair type fur (I don't think it's real mohair).  I also have few of the older style Hamleys bears.  Some newer ones to of course, but the older style ones are my firm favourites.  Have various other no brand and modern ones that just had cute 'buy me' faces too!  He who mustn't be obeyed also loves (and used to collect bears).  He's stopped since we got together because I had so many.  So now we tend to buy the odd bear that appeals to us both, or as a keepsake from a special holiday/trip somewhere.  A lot are permanently boxed up because we simply don't have room to put them all out on display.  When Beanie Babies came out, I also started collecting those, not with any particular love for them, I must admit, but with the intention of perhaps selling them on one day.  I could never do that, as they are now part of my hug.  When some of those were hard to find, I travelled the length of the country to go to beanie fairs! (I still lived in the U.K. then)  My friends all said I was mad! 

Since moving to the Netherlands I seem to have acquired a bit of a union jack bear collection too.  I'm not at all patriotic, but whenever I return to the U.K I seem to come back with at least one souvenir bear.  They do a very good job of impressing the in-laws who are now starting to accept that I will never become Dutch!  Integrate, yes, of course, but become.....never! 

Such a mischievous look...I love it! 

Beautiful! 

very cute! 

Theyre all really cute, but I especially love “Little Bitty John”.  He looks so old and loved, full of history and stories (which of course he isn't), but old bears really appeal to me.  I love the others too, they're all beautiful 

Stunning! He's a real beauty! 

Ah I thought it was something along those lines.  I don't fly often.  Only two things truly scare me - spiders and flying.  Given the choice, I think I'd rather be placed in a room full of tarantulas than fly!  It's a tough one though!  I opt to drive or get a train half way across Europe rather than fly, much to he who mustn't be obeyed's annoyance!

Such a cutie!  One problem.....I'm starting to WANT everything I see on here! 

Thank you 

Grayson is 7.5cm tall, needle felted sculpture.  He isn't jointed.  I need to work a little more on my pictures to get better lighting.  I'm on a huge learning curve at the moment!

I'm not sure what a TSA agent is, (customs?) but I'm sure he/she will be running for cover upon discovering that!

He's sooo cute!  I really love his nails and paw pads!