Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Wow - thank you for that Peter. I have had a lot of personal dealings with Eric, both as an Artist and as Editor of Teddy Bear Times.

Eric is a very charming man who also has very strong opinions on anything to do with bears. In my experience, he is passionate about bears and only wants what is best (in his opinion) for the bear industry. I have had one or two disagreements with Eric over the years but overall, I like him a lot and consider him a friend.

Although Eric has not been posting for a while, I would be surprised if he does not get to read this. So I am putting down a challenge to Eric: Come over here and put your head in the cage with the 'beasts' then you will find out that we are just a bunch of cute kittens, pups and ducklings after all.

:crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

Next year, it will be 25 years since I started Hugs Unlimited, and selling my bears. I was making a good few years before that. It is now, over ten years that I have worked at making bears full time.

I can honestly say that in all that time I have never made what I consider to be 'a perfect bear' I can always find something that I think could have been done better.

The strange thing is, that when I make a bear I can always see imperfections. However, if I leave them for a while and come back to them, or they just sit around for a while, then I see them in a totally different light.

Somewhere along the line they cease to be a 'project' and spring to life - at that point, the imperfections are completely irrelevant because I am looking at the bear as a 'whole'. 

If someone sees one of your bears and your bear gives them that 'take me home look' then, in my opinion, you are ready to sell.

Like most things in life, I like to think that I am learning something new all the time. The day that I feel I know everything there is to know about making bears and put out what I consider perfect bears time after time, is probably the day I will give up!

I have been talking to Wendy this morning and can reveal some exciting news about this fair and competition. Drum Roll............ There will be a Mystery Celebrity presenting the awards this year.

With the show being revatalised by the new venue, and lots of publicity in the local area, this promises to be a really great fair this year.

I have seen some fantastic work on this forum,  and on Facebook.

It would be brilliant to see some more of that great work entered into the BBAAs.

The judging criteria will be published on the website, and every short-listed entry will get publicity in Teddy Bear Times.

The guest judge this year will be Gregory Gyllenship.

Details of how to enter can be found on the website: www.britishbearfair.co.uk

Best Wishes

Dawn

Hi

I know it is only July and far too early to be thinking about Christmas. However, I am writing two features in the next two issues which will cover Christmas Shopping for bears. So, if you are attending a fair (not Hugglets, that has already been covered) in late September, October, November or December, please let me know with some photos of your work.

In particular, I will be showcasing three fairs, The Scottish Bear Fair in Troon, The Great Yorkshire Bear Fair in Sheffield, and The British Bear Fair in Brighton. Geographically that works really well, also two of them are new fairs and the other a new venue. All these events promise to be really well attended so if you haven't booked a place now might be the time to do so.

I'm not just talking about fairs either, if you have a signing, or shop event during the run up to Christmas please let me have details of that as well. I will be contacting bear shops as well, so I would expect to have some information directly from them.

The two issues are due to be published mid September and Mid November. For the Mid - Setpember one, which would include anything up to the end of November, please let me have the information by 26th July for the november one, covering December, please let me have the information by 1st September.

My email is tbteditor@btinternet.com

I am really looking forward to seeing what you are planning.

i am mainly looking for events within the UK, but if there is room I could give a little mention to fairs elsewhere as well.

Best Wishes

Dawn

Editor

Teddy Bear Times

Just a quick reminder that entries need to be in by the end of this month. Then the photos need to be sent by mid-September, so still plenty of time to enter these great awards. I have seen some amazing work on here and at Stratford, and it would be lovely to see some of it included in the BBAAs.

The categories have changed this year, and also there has been a late rule change: Categories 1 - 8 are now open to anyone who was either born in Great Britain or who lives in and trades from Great Britain.

Also, don't forget that entrants will get a substantial discount if they book a table at the British Bear Fair as well.

This is the only competition where all the short-listed finalists are guaranteed coverage in Teddy Bear Times magazine.

After the initial short-listing, all entries are judged 'in the fur', by three judges.  A copy of the judging criteria will soon appear on the website, but basically each entry will be judged on originality of design, workmanship, and overall appeal.

Entry forms can be downloaded from www.britishbearfair.co.uk

He is gorgeous Pauline, I love your little ones. x

Edwin is a 15 inch Panda from my Big Boy Collection - made to listen to your troubles and to give particularly big hugs!

http://www.bearpile.com/detail.cgi?id=1386&item=38094

Thanks for the lovely comments - he is off to live in Brighton.

Aww - thank you Peter - if only the world was full of collectors like you it would be a much happier place. 

Theodore is now on Bear Pile - this is the first time I have used Bear Pile.

http://www.bearpile.com/detail.cgi?id=1386&item=37995

I may do that one day.     

Awww, thank you Peter  :redface:  :redface:  :redface:

Hi Julia

You are not being a pain at all.  As far as I know, 'Tableau' means more than one bear. So a little setting should be fine.

I hope that helps.

Thanks Dawn

Quick reminder that entry forms are to be returned by the end of this month. You then have until the middle of September to make and photograph your entry.

The British Bear Fair has moved from Hove to Brighton this year, which should mean lots of new collectors attending the show. Brighton is well known for being an 'Arty' city and the thousands of free parking spaces at the racecourse should be a real draw as well.

If you want to exhibit at the fair, there is a substantial discount if you enter the BBAAs as well.

All short-listed entries will be featured in Teddy Bear Times before the event. The top three in each category will be featured after the event as well, and one lucky winner will have their entry on the front cover of Teddy Bear Times.

I have seen some amazing work on this forum and at other shows like Stratford. Don't hide your light under a bushel!  Forms can be printed off the website www.britishbearfair.co.uk

If you cannot attend in person, perhaps there is someone who can 'Bear Sit' for you for the weekend.

I look forward to seeing lots of you there.

Dawn

Hi Alison
As far as know you can say on the Ebay auction where the money is going to. When I was raising funds for WSPA last year I put a few bears up on Ebay that were going directly towards my fund-raising account. It was very clear in the auction description and Ebay never pulled them.

It just means that you will put the information in the description of the auction rather than posting it as a charity auction.

I know other people that have done similar things to support people who are doing treks etc., they normally say something like: I want to help my friend and have donated this bear plus all ebay and Paypal fees, the selling price will be given to ....

I hope this helps.

Dawn

Hi
I am in the middle of rewriting the questionniare that I use to write Artist profiles for Teddy Bear Times.

I would be very interested in hearing comments from you about what you would like to see included in the questionnaire i.e. what you want to know about artists.

Also, if you are an artist, what sort of questions you would like to be asked.

At the moment, my favourite question is: 'Name three things about yourself that may surprise readers?'

I look forward to reading your replies.

Best Wishes

Dawn

Aww - thank you everyone for your lovely comments about the pandas. I just knew that they would be happy with Peter. I like to make bears that are reminscent of childhood and love it when they are hugged and cuddled regularly rather than put in a cabinet.

I truly believe that the feel of a bear is as important as the look.

Hugs

Dawn

Hi Sophie

I have been making bears for almost 25 years. When I started I made bears for children. Then the toy regulations got much stricter and I was unable to continue. I know it is very harsh but if you use those joints in a bear and do not state that it is unsuitable for children under 14 years old then you are breaking the law. The only other alternative is to have bears tested and it costs a fortune and they do all sorts of unimaginable things with them! If you are confident that your bears are safe for children then you must put a 'CE' label on them along with your address.

To cover yourself my advice would be to put the not suitable for under 14 years warning on every bear. It is then up to the buyer whether they want to go ahead or not. I get a lot of people who want to buy bears for new babies and are quite happy that the bear will be kept as a keepsake away from the baby. However, I always tell them that the bears are not child safe, and make sure they are labelled as such.

It is a shame that the regulations have gone so far the other way, I know that a lot of 'craft' toy makers went out of business because they could not afford the testing prices.

This information is for the UK, but I would guess that it applies to the EC countries as well.

There is another company in the UK that sells plastic joints and they do say on their website that they are suitable for children:
http://www.fredaldous.co.uk/product_472900007.htm

I hope this helps

Dawn

It was lovely to meet you too Karon, and I really appreciate what you are doing for the bears. As you know, I am huge lover of real bears, and having seen the work of the sanctuary first hand I know just how much they appreciate any donations. As I think I said to you on Sunday, my website is currently being redesigned but it will be up in plenty of time for the auction.

Hugs

Dawn

Lovely to see you again Jane and to catch up with so many people, although I still came away with the feeling that there were people there that I wanted to talk to but never got the chance to.
There was a huge queue waiting to get in at the start of the show. I went out to photograph them and thought 'that's brilliant, everyone is giving me really big smiles' then I realised that I was standing under a hanging basket that had just been watered - I had thought the rain had started!

There will be a full report of the show and the competition in the next issue of Teddy Bear Times.

From an Artist point of view, I would say this show just gets better and better, and the presence of a big queue shows that seriousl collectors are coming to the show. I was very very pleased with the number of my bears that went to new homes, and my biggest hairiest bear found a new home within about ten minutes of opening!

Again, apologies to anyone that I didn't get to talk to on the day.

A huge congratulations to Samantha and her family who show such flair and imagination to make this a very unique event in the UK show calendar.

Thanks everyone, he is now settling into his new home and was the first bear to sell at Stratford.
xx

I had a really lovely day at Stratford - lots of bears going to new homes; lots of nice chats with T Talkers

Samantha and her family have created a brilliant fair that they should all be really proud of. The room looked spectaacular and the competition entries were amazing.

Please excuse spelling etc - my laptap only has some keys working- no comma!

Thanks Vicki

He is really soft, and a very solid 20 inches.  The mohair is beautiful but one of the hardest I have worked with. Stuffing the head took ages as the pile kept ging up inside. I had to put a headband on him to embroider the nose.  :crackup:

All ready for Stratford tomorrow, this bear is very hairy and very heavy - I have called him Big Fluff - sorry about the quality of the photograph it's the day before a fair and there is not a spot in the house that is clear of bear making stuff!

Hi

Just to let you know that the information and forms are now available for the British Bear Artist Awards. I shall have them with me at Stratford on Sunday.

This year, there is a dedicated website where all the shortlisted entries will be featured. Also, all shortlisted entries will be featured in Teddy Bear Times.

The forms will be available to print from the website early next week. They are available from Wendy now.

Exhibitors will be invited to submit photos for the website and links to their own website.

The competition has changed this year - different categories to reflect the changing times in bear making and to give the traditional artists and the not so traditional ones an equal chance. The British Bear Fair will be held in a new venue at Brighton Racecourse which is very close by to some of the best areas of Brighton so I think it will be very well attended.

Please note that the date for photos to be submitted is earlier this year 15th September to allow for full coverage in Teddy Bear Times.

If anyone wants to enter but cannot make the trip to Brighton, please let me know and I may be able to become a 'bear-sitter' for the weekend!

The web address is: www.britishbearfair.co.uk

I look forward to see you there.

Now back to the biggest, hairiest bear I have ever made.

Hugs

Dawn