Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

To be posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door - nose height.

Dear Dogs and Cats,
The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The
other dishes are mine and contain my food Please note, placing a paw print in
the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming
your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the
slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating
me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I
fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry
about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to
ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they
sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other
stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking
tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to
maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by
some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is
not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw
under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the
same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years
--canine or feline attendance is not required.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt.
I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our
front door:

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets:

1. They live here. You don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.
(That's why they call it "fur"niture.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who
is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

Remember: Dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
1. Eat less
2. Don't ask for money all the time
3 Are easier to train
4. Normally come when called
5. Never ask to drive the car
6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends
7. Don't smoke or drink
8. Don't have to buy the latest fashions
9. Don't want to wear your clothes
10. Don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and...
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.

I was going to do a feature for Australian Bear Creations on Selling bear at shows and on line later but after reading Karen"s post about how she may be stopped on Ebay becaus of a supposed "bad" rating I think it may be imperative that I do this story and bit soone.

I wasn't sure of how I was going to approach the story and I ned to do more research basically I think I will cover the various places collectors can look and the pros and cons from an artists poitn of view of each venue and then the collectors point of view for each venue.

Ie Show, on line shows, auctions site and speialist site such as Bid 4 Bears and Bear Patch. 

I haven't looked yet but is there an easy way to cotanct the organisers of the last 2 sites.

So guys and gals I will take any suggestios comments other recommended sites we want promoted to collecots etc on board. Post them here or PM me ot email me direct at sandra@bearhug.com.au.

Also cmments from a artists and a collectors viewpoint is just as important to me so those lurkers who are collectors only please don't be shy!! You are just as important as artists in this article.

Also I would like any comments on how important you feel Competitions are in promoting work.........do collectors note names to buy from and do you as artists feel that your sales improve after wining comps?

Just to revert to Ebay for a second..........even though I sell on ebay I never knew that rating was so important and I'm sure collectors don't either so I will be adding this into the article......so any other improtant ebay stuff you guys know don't be backward in reminding me to add it in.

thanks

Carolyn!!

11 flights in one months  ---- my ears would never be the same again!! I can never get them to pop despite being a scuba diver!

I thought I had to worry about terrorism - not people being downright stupid......I just loved the one about the plane breaking in 2 in another 15 min.......NOT!!! :doh:

I'm NEVER flying again unless I know the IQ results of all the other passengers and people who have put cargo on the plane!!!!!!

have a look at this site and read some of the stories!! These are true and from a governement site -

http://www.casa.gov.au/dg/incident.htm

Th gallery item can be any time through the year

We are running another special at the moment for overseas subscribers at this site

http://www.woodlandspublishing.com.au/s … cts_id=184

which works out at about 29 pounds ofr the UK people and $46USD.......there is no extra costs.

For the ABC Awards - this is the Australian Bear Creations equal to the Toby and Golden Globe Awards.

Every entrant will have the opportunity to place adverts in our bear gallery over the period of 2009 be it your entry in to the comp or a bear of your choice. You competition entry will receive exposure through our website over 2009. That's just for entering.

Nominees will receive exposure through the magazine, the website and as the bear must be sent in, through bear shows in Australia.

The peoples choice winner will receive not only the trophy but a beautiful individual painting of their bear.

I, as the editor, am also doing an Editors Choice Trophy, which will be judged on a very strict criteria.

All the winners will receive quite extensive exposure through the magazine.

For those that don't know the magazine is distributed in Australia, New Zealand, Sth Africa, Nth America, the UK and parts of Europe, soon hopefully also in Taiwan.

So please go to    http://www.woodlandspublishing.com.au/a … ds2009.pdf   and download the entry form.

You will receive so much for so little for entering.......apart from the satisfaction of supporting your industry!!!! :dance:  :dance:

I've tried different ones over my membership but as most epople seem to design their banners and avatars to match in with the teddy bear colour I tend to find a return to that in a very short time. Having said that I have used polar bear now for about 6 weeks.

I can only echo what all the others have said.......everyone has a vision in their head and unless you have access to that vision you will never know exactly what they want and what colour they see. I honestly don't think she meant to hurt you with those words but I actually think the opposite. I feel sorry for the bear itself as it will never get the cuddles a lovely beear deserves......it is a pity that she won't send her back!!

I have just attended a show in Victoria Australia where some New Zealander's complained about not being able to find the magainze in shops and then noticed that some UK people have lost their distributor over there. This ensured that I phoned our people here to find out the background of the issues are and this is what I was told.

1/ Most overseas companies who offer subscriptions and distributions are re-sellers they buy the magazines in bulk from us and then choose to sell subscriptions. The subscriptions are not owned by us nor do we ever have acccess to the details. 

2/ No company has exclusive rights and there may be more than one company offering distribution of the magazine in each area.

3/ Distribution will always be months behind Australia as the heavy bulk parcels are often sent by sea and takes months to get there.

So.........given that the Australian dollar is very low to most overseas currencies at the moment a direct subscription with us in Australia is a terriffic option and you will receive the mag within day of it being released here and your subscription will be guarenteed by us and not the whims of a re-seller. All the amounts quoted are in AUD due to the world currency fluctuations at the moment.

So please.......if you want to get your copy no problems, early and at a good price now is the time to subscribe.

https://www.woodlandspublishing.com.au/ … bc_sub.php

Hi

As the editor of Australian Bear Creations I just contacted our HO to find out about this situation. Basically Auscraft was a reseller.....they bought the magazine from us and on-sold it. We also have been caught out as creditors.

We have a special on at the moment on our website - https://www.woodlandspublishing.com.au/ … bc_sub.php - I know this is in AUD dollars but due the current fluctuations in the world currency we felt that was more honest and you can find a converter in the internet to check how much it will actually cost.

If you subscribe driect with us you will receive the currrent issue within a week of it being released in Australia!!

thanks to all who have responded ........the article is really shaping up.

if so please send me a hi res photo (300 dpi min) of him and also the details of the koala bear. I ma doing an article on koalas and those who have made tham in the mag.

Please email them to   sandra@bearhug.com.au 

thanks

I have a problem with my neck, a whiplash injury of 20 years ago and I find tilting me head forward for too long guarentees a trip to the physio but I love to do my work in a comfy lounge chair. I visted the rubber store and got a "hard" foam block that is quite big and sit that oin my lap with my feet up also. The foam block stops everything slipping off. I stick my needles and felting needles and pins into it and when lazy use it as a felting block too!! It's perfect and raises everything up that little bit higher without causing too many problems and nothing rolls away.

Yes Kerrilyn..........I really do think that is th issue and as many "old timers' like myslef who have been around for over 15 years are just so set in our ways. I must admit that when I go to buy fur (which isn't often often as I have such a stockpile after all these years) I tend to head straight for hte mohair and not even pause to look at other stuff. So I think some of us really have to stop and look at the new faux firs. Intelluctually I know they have changed and improved but I have this inbuilt resistance to even looking. Which is really bad in my position!!!

The comments Gemma received is the sort of thing I have encoutered before........I'm glad to say that I'm not that bad!!

Have any other faux fur users encountered fur snobbery.....???

As the editor of the mag I just received a letter from a maker asking me why she constantly gets comments from judges in compettions saying......"love your bear and geat work and design, would love ot see it in mohair!" . She tells me she uses top quality woven back synthetics and feels her work equals or exceeds some artists who use mohair.

"Why are the modern synthetics so dismissed?" she asks.

I started to answer her that mohair is the traditionally acepted fur..etc etc ....usual answer and then stopped and thought. She is right after all that many of the modern woven back synthetics offer excellent quality..........so I too ask her question........why do so many artists dismiss it as a lower quality fur??

And I know some of you do use synthetics.........how do many collectors react to those critters you make.......do you get comments from them asking for mohair or do they not notice??

This has really started me thinking!

Pleas eodn't forget that compeitins are another great way to support magazines, the industry and attract new collectors. Magazines such as ours in Australia (bear Creations) TB&F and other run competitions to do all those things. They might seem expensive to enter but the publicity and time spent promoting the nominees and entrants is extensive. So please don't dismiss the value of entering. For those nominated in the new competiiton in our mag this first year the kudo's will be enoumous and as we do require the critter in the fur the possibility of attracting collectors in Australia is also huge fro this overseas nominees.

So some competitons willoffer as great if not greater possibility of attracting collectors.

Any and all are welcome to send me photos .......the moe I think about this the more I can expand it. So any photos of bears you have bought that are special or that you have made and been unable to part with.......basically what has made you keep/collect this bear!!  Please don't be shy!!

HI Ed

I just went and had a look and I think the idea has merit but I was just wondering how you would accept payment from overseas buyers........say like myslef from Australia as I noted that you would not "request or accept" credit card information.  Also how would you verify is as bidders as we could provide any street address.

I can an enormous amount of work if any overseas person wants to bid........I found your site lovely and the idea interesting but the information seemed to imply that I woudl not be weloome to bid.

OOHH Brenda

I haven't had cystits for years but I well remmeber that BURNING need.  :hug:  :hug:

Yes please send through the photo's of your "kept" ones. We must have a very shy bunch out there at the moment as I have had very few answers!!  Come on artists........you all must have kept one or two of your own bears for special reasons......photos please and reasons please!!!

I am also loking ofr photos of bears that artists have kept of their own work and why they feel that they needed to "collect" this bear of all their work!! So don't be shy about saying you keep your own work. This is a great time to promote yourself.!!!

I'm trying to do an article for the magazine on displaying your collections..................would youlike to email me a photo (Hi res at least 300 dpi) of your favourite bear ..in-situ.......and tel me

1/ Who's bear it is, why you bought it and why  you have it sitting where it is?  Email to me     sandra@bearhug.com.au

I have had so many comments on favourite bears being behind glass and protected........looked at and not touched.  To the favourte being the bear on the bed and cuddled daily.

So where is yours and is it traitional or whacky, cuddly or not. 

I need lots of info for my article

thanks everyone

Can I join in............I need a deadline to work too as the mag is taking so much time my fur is gathring dust!!

I agree everyone has to start somewhere and there are still quite a lot doing so. E-bay has a reputation of not looking after buyers or sellers and so many people are and have been hesitant. I really don't think blocking zero feedback buyers is the answer as you could be blocking out a potential buyer/collector. I admit I would never think to email a buyer before they have won but it sounds lime a good idea. If they respond they are probably honest if not ....well.

I've actually had more problem with new sellers who don't understand the rules and then refuse to honour the transaction when the item sells for less than they expect!! They put on a low beginning price and high Buy it Now and think the Buy it Now is a Reserve! So when it goes for less they tell me it didn't reach the reserve and if I pay that I can have the item!!  This has happened twice now!!

bearhugs