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Aleta - The Silly Bear The Silly Bear
Portland, Oregon
Posts: 3,119
Website

Three-Bears.jpgAfter posting a picture of my three newest bears on the Bears For Sale page I received questions regarding the clothing and accessories I use.  I hope you don't mind my answering here in General Discussion.   My thinking is that the answer would reach more of you here.   bear_original   

After designing bears for five years I have a pretty good sense of the bear to child size ratio.  I collect antique and vintage children's clothing.  Maybe collecting isn't quite the right word.....it's more like hoarding.  I also collect what I call "Bearaphernalia".  I have cabinets and drawers full of old silk and satin ribbons, old toys, marble bags, little books, silver cups......Oh gosh, the list goes on and on.  It's all child, baby and doll size and it's all, at the very least, vintage.  Thank heavens I have a large studio and a walk in closet!  Needless to say, my bears are quite spoiled indeed.  If I can't find an outfit for a bear then I'll make it out of vintage fabric.  Yes, I collect (hoard) that too.   bear_whistle   

Where do I find it all?  There are specific antique shows and shops I always frequent.  Dealers know me as the "Teddy Bear Lady".  They know what I like to buy so they hold things aside for me now.  They're so sweet!  I also buy occassionally on eBay....if the price is right.  The only way for that to be cost effective though is to buy multiple items from a seller to save on shipping.  I'm a bargain shopper.  I like to keep clothing and accessory costs to a minimum.  There is no mark-up on these items when I put a bear up for adoption.  Exactly what I pay is added to the cost of the bear.  So if two bears are the same size and one is a lot more expensive than the other it is due to the cost of clothing the bear......and some of my bears have very expensive taste!   bear_shocked

One more thing I'd like to say......Thank you for all the kind and generous compliments about my bears.  It really means the world to me.  I love what I do and I love to share what I do with others.  I'm very blessed in this life.   bear_original  bear_original  bear_original  bear_original  bear_original

Warmest hugs,   :hug:
Aleta

WildThyme Wild Thyme Originals
Hudson, Ohio
Posts: 3,115

Aleta,
  Oh, those are DARLING outfits on DARLING bears!

Beary Truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

patsylakebears Patsy Lake Bears
Sydney
Posts: 3,442

Beautiful bears and clothes ....... Aleta you are very talented

shantell Apple Dumpling Designs
Willamette Valley Oregon
Posts: 3,128

I have to completely agree with a few other comments made in another post...your site is absolutely wonderful.  It truly seems to reflect the inner soul of your bears...or at least what I intepret to be their inner soul.   They just cry out to be cuddled, snuggled and adopted.

Awwwwwwwwww...

Dilu Posts: 8,574

Beautifully done, Aleta, I wish I could dress up that nicely once in a while.....pampered little critters.....

bear_tongue

BearBottoms 'Bear' Bottoms Originals
Ft. Bragg, NC
Posts: 2,465

Aleta,

Your bears are simply wonderful!  They have sweet, warm faces!! 

I am seriously eyeing that blue jacket on the middle bear... Ooooo I likey!!!!!  I want!!!! lol bear_wub  bear_wub  bear_wub

Kimberly W.

melissa Honeythorpe Bears
Wellington, New Zealand
Posts: 1,789
Website

Aleta - well you know already that I love your vintage look   :redface:   but I want to thank you for sharing - I wish I could come and play in your studio for a day!!  Hmm...I wish that there had once been midget 4 inch children, then my bears could wear some vintage clothes too!

Jellybelly Bears Jellybelly Bears
Australia
Posts: 4,066

Aleta, beautiful, beautiful bears!!!  I love the pink one the best...simply stunning  bear_wub
xox sarah

Eileen Baird'sBears
Toronto
Posts: 3,873

bear_flower  Your bears are irresistable, Aleta--those faces  bear_wub

Thanks for the info on bearwear.

I've been collecting bits of vintage lace and the odd piece of children's clothing too. If you can find it on eBay, the lace is a real bargain, one of the few varieties of antique that you can buy for virtually nothing!

We've got a few very good-though-pricy resale shops here in Toronto, and the usual GoodWill outlets which require a lot of scrounging through junk. Sometimes you can find things that would cost a fortune to buy new, or older things that are far better quality than what's made now. Some of the children's clothing was never worn, because the little luvs outgrew it so fast!

Eileen

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