Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Big welcome to you, Teddygerda from South Africa!!  Glad to have you here and hope you have a good time.  Hopefully you will post more often so we can get to know you!! Thanks much for your contribution to the real fur topic!  Hugs,

Nancy, just want to say we're so glad you are posting again . . . welcome back - we've missed you a lot!

VERY well said, Kelly!  I agree wholeheartedly!

Kirsten, the bear is absolutely adorable!!!  My feeling is that the design is, in general, YOURS and that the ear placement came as a result of an idea from Ted's book.  There are a gazillion bear "how to" books out there with SO MANY tips, techniques, and ideas on bear making that I suspect a lot of legitimate professionals have been influenced by them.  Artists give workshops and write these books as helpful aids in getting beginners started in bear making.  Unltimately, the beginning artist finds his/her own style which evolves as a result of trying different things and experimenting.  As a beginning bear maker in 1997, I appreciated all the books I found on the subject and all the commercial patterns I tried.  It certainly made me understand better how to put a bear together and all the different tweaks that can be applied to a basic pattern that can turn into YOUR style.  All of this babble is to say that I am of the opinion that you CAN sell the bear as your own.  I don't know how many bears I've seen from artists at shows that have ears placed on the side . . . but a BUNCH!!  Carry on, my dear!

Hi, Ladies (and Gents) . . . I bought a wonderful book when I started participating in bear shows and it was invaluable for giving superb advice!  The title of it will tell you what I mean . . . Selling Your Dolls & Teddy Bears by Barb Lawrence Giguere and Carol-Lynn Rossel Waugh.  The copyright date is 1997, the year I started out in bearmaking.  I highly recommend it to any of you who are beginning to do shows.  Just to tempt you, I'm going to list some of the topics that are discussed at length:

Researching your field
Making your dolls and bears the best they can be
Pricing your dolls and teddy bears
Marketing yourself along with your dolls and bears
Photographing your dolls and bears
Media publicity
Advertising
Sales booths
Selling at shows (There is even a "recipe" for building your own display shelves!)
Selling wholesale
How to keep 'em coming back

I checked at Amazon.com and they DO have the book . . . new and used priced from $0.99.  YES, that's 99 cents, folks.  Can't get a much better price than that unless they want to give it to you!!    Really, this book answers a lot of questions that I had when I first started out.  It may be a tad dated by now, but it still has valuable information.  Hugs,

I would go with the Coats & Clarks upholstery thread.  It is definitely strong enough to close your bear head, and if you double the thread, it should work for setting the eyes, too!  Good, good, luck!

Sandy, a huge welcome to Teddy Talk!!  I have an unbelievable supply of mohair and would gladly share with you, except that's one quality I don't have.   I do have some gray fur, but not that precise one.  Anyway, we're glad you're here . . . come often! 

There's a wealth of information on this forum, Ladies . . . thanks for ALL your input.  And I want everyone to know that Shelli has been the moving and viable force behind the establishment of this particular forum "Teddy Tips and Techniques".  The knowledge and tips that are scattered all over this board will now be found in one place, making them so much easier to find.  Three cheers for Shelli and a standing "O"!

She did used to say as a little girl that there sure were a lot of people glad that she was born!!  Her grandaddy used to call her a little firecracker or sparkler.

Ha!!  Hayley, love that sign "Please don't pick my nose"!!!  I don't know what it is about finding out the noses are waxed, but I had the same thing happen at a show . . . I told a lady that they were waxed and she must not have believed me . . . she proceeded to run her fingernail across the nose to see if I were telling the truth!  AAAAAARRRGGHHH!!!  I just use the uncolored beeswax.  I like it that way 'cause I can put color on the nose that matches or blends with the color of the bear.  Sometimes I mix 2 or 3 colors!

Penny Piggy . . . my older daughter was also born on the 4th of July!!  So glad you haven't met up with any "Ugly Americans", and hope that continues to be the case!!

After.  Sometimes as you build up the layers, the wax produces a whitish "color".  To get rid of that, you can use the markers . . . although shining with the paper after adding color may take a little of it off.

I shade with permanent fabric markers and blender or with Berol Prismacolor colored pencils.

I have a large plastic file containing all my patterns.  I start with labeled pocket folders . . . very small (under 8"), small (8"- 10"), medium small (10"-12"), medium (12"-15"), medium large (16"-18"), large (18"-24"), huge (>24").  All the pieces for one pattern are stored in plastic bags and placed in the proper pocket folder.  I have the names of all the bears I've made from one particular pattern labled on the plastic bag that the pieces are in.  Whew . . . that all sounds like a lot of trouble, but it seems to work for me!!

For my waxed noses, I embroider over a felt template, then paint over that with melted beeswax.  You can add however many layers you wish . . . after each layer hardens . . . then shine with a piece of plain white paper.  If you want to add color, use permanent ink markers or fabric pens.

I don't think the necklace is too risky, Shari . . . I use them all the time on my girlie bears.  A devoted collector isn't going to do much with the bear that would endanger it or its accessories, in my opinion.

Like most everyone, I use upholstery thread (Coats and Clark brand) and it comes in many colors.  I have gotten some from Intercal, however, and it comes on a bigger spool . . . so lasts much longer and they have umpteen gillion colors!  For setting eyes, I also use the artificial sinew . . . nothing I've tried seems to work as well.  It's a little waxy, so won't slip and the thread can be separated into 2 or 3 strands - making it go a lot further.  The smaller strands are still very strong!  I have found the sinew at Hobby Lobby and Michael's.

Thanks, Danni!  And a very good holiday to all those who do celebrate the 4th!  Be careful, but have fun!!

One day at a time always gets it done, Cindy.  Glad you checked in with us . . . we miss you and hope your life takes a GOOD turn soon!!

Thanks, Johnna, for giving us that link.  I play with it all the time . . . 4th of July or not!

Congrats on having such clever children, Jane!  And Eileen, thanks for the funny link on how helpful our little kitty friends can be!  My cats just sit on the desk next to my computer and try to catch the cursor! 

Oh, Judi . . . you are SO VERY TALENTED!!!  What great little bears!!  I don't knit, so I'm waaaaayyy impressed!!

Rita . . . many positive thoughts heading your way!!

Thanks a bunch, Laura . . . it's about time TB&F did something about their website!!

Cindy, wherever you are, I hope you are okay.  I'm thinking of you and hope every day gets a little better for you.  Big hugs,  Sue Ann