Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Awww Helena, what a day for you!!  then  /  I guess....

We're all with you though   

This is the smallest mohair bear I've made, 4", he did need fray checking!!   Looks huge in the pic, but really was 4"

Tee!  Hee!!   Don't be fooled I making bears out of sheer panic fo my up and coming (TOO QUICKLY) show  :pray:

Shelli,

I made these 3 this week, they're 3" from the same pattern...........

Working with miniature fabrics such as cashmere is really easy as it's got a grid back and it doesn't fray......you should try it, you'd be great!!   It's really surprisingly easy to work with, I've got to be honest, if I see something I want to try I try it until I can do it, may not be as good as others but I won't be beaten!!!

I have made a 4" bear from mohair and am making another at the moment, the one on my website is called Tims, and looks huge in his picture but is only 4"!!   I did fraycheck him, and I always fraycheck AFTER I cut out, and use a GEL PEN because they don't bleed into the fabric.

The rest's just as usual - but smaller, stitches etc............

It's fun, give it a try 

Are the light tents collapsable??   I live in a small, very small english box, and my bear making equipment already takes over most of the house, so it's not someting I would be able too keep out all of the time.   

My photos do need considerable work and I think this would help.

Yeah me too    And Laure and Wanda, haven't heard from them for a while too.....

Tee Hee!!

Shelli wrote:

Ahh but Shelli what a great name!!     no seriously she is beautiful, you shouldn't have designed her around me, NO NO REALLY SERIOUSLY THIS TIME, she IS beautiful   You never fail to amaze me and that hard work was worth it.

Judi, you too, I am in awe of your artistry, and I love your bear dressed and undressed!   I have a soft spot for dressed bears, NOT that I can make clothes at all, in fact it's amazing where my bears come from really, I've no sewing skills, I just get by :D

Jenny I can't wait to see that bear!!  And Laura those are so cute, what a great idea, Hallowe'en!!  FAB!!

  to all

Eeew Pipa, I know what you mean  , were they old bears Scott??  And do bears get mites a lot??  I've never heard of this before :redface:

Dilu, I love your posts, you're a wealth of information and fascination, I could listen to you for hours    Bless ya

:pray: :twisted: :redface:  Oooh look at the new smilies we've been given, I've been playing around already!!   That Quy's so clever    Even managed to solve my non smily problem - BRILLIANT!!

Yes I get those looks too!!     I am PROUD of what I do, and like to tell people I think will be interested :pray:  Some may take the mick, but most are really interested   (or humour me, one or the other!! )

Thinking about it, and as a UK buyer, you $ auction wouldn't put me off because ebay put the £ equivalent on the page, so UK bidders will know the amount they are bidding.   I may have to try this!!

Thanks for your help Helena, you're a gem

Helena I find it really hard to call myself an 'artist', well in fact I don't, ever, I 'make' bears, that's what I tell people:)   I know what you mean.   

Am I right in thinking you sell your bears in $ and not £'s??   I've noticed UK artists doing that, and just wondered why?   Do you find you get more attention from collectors in the US doing this??   Sorry I'm sooo inqusitive (sp?)!:D

Also, I notice that US artists use the ebay feature service far more than us Brits (it's quite expensive here if, like me, you don't get much for your bears), but it does get your bear 'in your face', maybe I'll try it in the future...........I'll try anything once:lol:

I always list my heading as (for example)

TOBY 14" ARTIST BEAR BY DAVIS-TEDDS OOAK!

and since I've been putting 'Davis-Tedds' in my title I've found it a bit more successful.   

What works for you in the eBay world??

I use my patterns again and again.   I use different fabrics and different accessories, no 2 bears are ever 'the same' (unless they are meant to be) and I know other artists who do this too.   I do perhaps change things as I go if I want, but mostly, no,  they are the same.

Ooooh Dilu - careful with that needle felting!!    This has in fact put me off needlefelting, well not just your story, but others I have read too.   I sit at the other end of the room from hubby(nothing personal, just all my clutter is at that end!), as he watches TV, I sew, and he chuckles when I 'OOOh' and 'Ooooow' when I've stuck the needle in my finger - it's not funny, it hurts, do the collectors realise what pain we go through:lol::lol::lol:

Fran, I've tried too, we're all so nosey here:redface:   There's no site there:(

The lady at Sassy bears is lovely, and I'm just bursting to try a miniature in her smokey fabric - Helena uses it and her bears are soooooo cute (and she's a lovely lady too!!)   I just haven't got round to it yet!!!:rolleyes:

Laura you're a genius!!!!!!    I can use my oil burner, I have a few collecting dust, what a fab idea - oooooh you're a gem;)

Now Janet, it's only fair to share with ALL OF US!!!!:twisted:

Tee Hee!!   I get it from my dad, he's always been a lorry driver and know his directions by cafes and chip shops!!:lol:

Bears and food - it's a wonderful life;)

Daphne - what a brilliant idea!!!

I used to ALWAYS want a Steiff - saved and 'got one', but like I said, so has everyone else, and the same one as I've got, it's not a ltd edition, but I do love him, don't get me wrong.

Since I hit the 'artist' world, wow my collection tastes have changed ENTIRELY!!    I've got very selfish in the fact that I want the 'only one like that'!!   Nobody else has one and it's so much more special!!

I also appreciate the work and time that goes into them like I wouldn't have done before.

One day, I'll own one OOAK by all of you, one day............................;)

Ooooh Catherine, you lucky thing, like Helena, it's one of my favourite places too.   We used to go on holiday a lot as kids but were too young then to appreciate the scenery (you MUST take some pics to show the other Teddy Talkers what I mean!!)   FANTASTIC!!!!

We went the year before last but I can't remember seeing a bear shop - shall we open one??:lol:

I always have to visit the fish and chip shop by the car park in Bowness though - Helena, we'll get along fine;)

Isn't it a sad sorry world??:(   I worry for our children growing up in it..............

Ooooh they're lovely!!:)   I don't know about you but I feel I've really achieved something when I crack something new on the computer - YAY FOR YOU!!!

Jane I read this on the BBC website earlier - what will they think of next??

Here Here Heather!!

For me it's

a) Everyone has one

and

b) Everyone wants one (by their favourite artist);)