Little Bears and Dogs from scraps

The last couple of weeks I decided I needed to use up most of my mohair stash before I ordered more. These 3 bears are from small pieces that were left over. Andy Panda is already on his way to a new home. The other two, Summer and Lola, will be available on Bear Pile . I also made a tiny string jointed dog. The plan is to make several of them before the Greater Orlando Doll Show on May 5th. The little dogs are the perfect pet for Barbie. As for the plan to use up my mohair stash before ordering more.....fail. Put in an order yesterday.

The show is on!

The Teddies Worldwide show started yesterday evening and last until 4pm NY time tomorrow(Sun 24th). Brownie has been adopted but as of now my other 4 bears are available. Patina and Seraphina are fairy princesses. Lillyann is all ready for Easter Sunday. Little Buddy comes with a wardrobe and a carrying case. Lots of other Teddies and critters available at the show www.teddiesworldwide.com

Show Time!

Pretty much packed and ready. I look forward to this show each year. Currently, it is the only in the fur "all Teddy Bear" show I participate in. The kitties, Parker and Petey and Shenanigan will all be available at the show. If you will be in the Tampa, Florida area....come on down! Show info here

Teddy Tea Party Preview

The preview has begun. There are many wonderful bears...all with a Tea Party theme.
Dolly is my preview bear. She is dressed for the party. You can vote on your favorite until March 22 and there will be a collector's choice awarded to the one that gets the most votes. The show starts March 23 at 4 pm est. I will have 6 bears in the show and there are almost 100 artists participating so there will be lots to look at it. Go to www.teddiesworldwide.com to vote.

Now in my Etsy shop

Toby and Ola, the Chihuahua, have made their way to my etsy shop. The two Halloween kitties, Scare D Cat & Fraid D Cat, have left my etsy shop and are on their way to New Mexico.
Artist Bears are now a subcategory of the new Dolls & Miniatures category on etsy. It's not really what the Artist Bears and Friends Etsy Team was hoping to achieve but it's a start.
I have finished a couple of bears for shows in Feb but don't want to reveal them yet. I will be revealing my Christmas creations next week including 3 critters that appear in the current issue of Teddy Bears and Friends.
In the meantime please visit Toby and Ola or Tessa, who is on Bid 4 Bears this week.

Artist Bears & Friends Etsy Team

It is now official! We have an Etsy team of 34 Teddy Bear Artists. One of our goals is to get an Etsy category for Artist Bears. The Art Doll makers are also working towards a separate category. Since Artist Bears are considered collectible and are not made for children we are kind of in limbo on Etsy-not belonging in any category. Hopefully, this will soon be resolved. We will be planning some promotions in the near future. Stay tuned. If you are an Artist with an Etsy shop and interested in joining contact shelley@ursaminorminiatures.com .
In other news.....I have won the Bid 4 Bears Survivor Challenge. I will be listing lots of bears and critters for sale there. Keep an eye on the right column of my blog for my current auction.

Teekee is ready for a luau

Just finished this little cutie last night. I took her photos today and put her on Bid 4 Bears tonight. I'm really pleased with the way she turned out. You wouldn't believe my inspiration though - that glass. Well, it's really plastic but I saw it and thought wouldn't a little tropical theme bear look cute sitting in it. The hardest thing to find was the little paper umbrella. I found a pack of those at good ol Walmart. Now I have 9 leftover paper umbrellas. I like Teekee's size too - 6".
I'm working on another summer theme bear. She's all done but I can't decide on her accessories. I might put together a new header for my blog using her.
Would you believe it's time to start thinking about Christmas?? The magazines want submissions for their Christmas issues by July and early August. Falalala la la la!!!!

Greta the Schnauzer

Just a quick post. Yesterday I added Greta the Schnauzer to my Etsy shop. She is a sweet little puppy and comes with her own bed.
I finally purchased a pair of spring action Fiskars today. Now I can cut out the critters I have drawn out on fabric without sending that nerve zing through my thumb. I have also contacted another Teddy Bear artist about purchasing one of her ultimate stuffing tools. I have been using hemostats for years and I'm pretty handy with them but they bother my thumb too. It's going to take me a little while to learn to stuff with the new tool. I guess I will still use the hemostats for turning unless I find something better.

Been Busy...

Despite my head feeling like it is going to split open I've gotten a lot accomplished this week. I think the pollen count is very high and my sinuses are throbbing. I have spent part of the week on paperwork for our new business but I have had some time for sewing. I finished another little dog and cut out 2 more. I have also partially finished a little dog that isn't turning out like I wanted so he might get set aside for awhile. I have an idea churning in my head for another bear but it's not ready to leave my head yet.
Rowdy did not sell on Bid 4 Bears so he is going in my Etsy shop. I did list Natalie Nitey Nite and Mimi a Kitty Kibbles kitten on Bid 4 Bears. Visit Natalie here and Mimi here.
I hope to get some sewing done tomorrow(hopefully my head won't hurt) and then Monday is beach day. We are trying to get in some beach time before we really get into this business I have been hinting about.

Bid 4 Bears Artist Power Campaign

Bid 4 Bears is an auction website specifically for Teddy Bears, other critters and dolls. The Bid 4 Bears Artist Power Campaign starts Sunday March 9. There are over 25 artists signed up. The idea is power in numbers. Artists have committed a bear or critter every week or every other week. They will tell everyone on their mailing lists. The idea is the generate a lot of traffic. Bid 4 Bears is a wonderful alternative to ebay. A lot of sellers are very unhappy with ebay because of changes they are making. It would be great to get collectors coming to Bid 4 Bears instead. Visit Bid 4 Bears

More Mohair

I had meant to post yesterday but a line of thunderstorms came through. We are 30 degrees cooler today than yesterday.

The Tampa bear show went well. I didn't sell any Teddy Bears but did sell several of my puppies and kittens. There were many great artists there and a fairly large crowd of collectors for most of the day. I did manage to get around to see some of the wonderful bears and other creations. I know of at least 2 artists that almost sold out.

Of course there were a couple of tables of mohair for sale from two suppliers. It is wonderful to be able to sort through and just feel the different types of mohair. I wanted it all! I took a list of the type of mohair I wanted. Because I had sold some critters, I managed to come home with the mohair I wanted plus a couple of other neat pieces. I can't wait to get to work on them. The ideas are already rolling around in my head.

I'm having fun!

Boy, I'm getting a lot of bears finished for the Tampa show. This sweet little bear is Lysbet and her dog is Bitsy. I love the retro look of the dots on her dress and ribbon. Bitsy needs a collar but I can't decide what kind. I might glue some small rhinestones on ribbon.

It's also a lot of fun thinking up names. Now, after going through my baby name and pet name books I have a list of names that I think go together.

The curly matted mohair is just right for this series and a box of mohair arrived yesterday. More bears to come.

The boys are done

Meet Bobby & Buzz and Charlie & Chip. Those heads now have bodies and clothes. The next in the "Me N My Best Friend" series, they each have a little dog. Bobby and Charlie are each 9 3/4" tall and their puppies are 4 3/4" tall. Buzz, Bobby's dog is made of short dense upholstery mohair. Charlie's pup, Chip, is made of dyed alpaca. His spots are applied with prisma markers. They are headed to Tampa with me, February 24. I hope to have a couple more in the series done by then. They are so much fun to make -I hope everyone likes them.

Ho Ho Oh Bearz Online Show

The online show is fast approaching. I have been working on photos and auction templates all day. The showroom opens Nov 21 and selling begins on Nov 23 at Bid4bears . I am also going to list several pieces as regular auctions on Bid4bears.

The web design class I am currently taking at ebearz university is coming in handy and I think I am getting the hang of html.

So, make sure you visit(and perhaps buy) the Ho Ho Oh Bearz Online Show! There will be a lot of great bears and critters.

Doll Bear & Collectible Show

I have spent several evenings this week preparing for a show which is Sat Oct 20 in Melbourne, Florida. It will be the second time I have done this show. I set up a table at the spring show in late March. This time I have rented 2 tables. One will be for the critters I have made. The other table will be for other "collectibles" I have picked up here and there. I have a very nice wooden doll high chair and some painted wooden children's chairs. Other things include teddy bears and critters by Russ, Dakin, Fur Real, and Boyds. I have several miniature(doll scale) Radio Flyers pieces-wagon, sled, tricycle. I have been pricing and packing everything in plastic tubs. Today I purchased a hand cart to get my containers from the car to my table.

Tomorrow I go through my check list - tablecloths, salesbook, business cards, candy to put on table, etc. Then I pack the car and set my alarm for early Sat morning. The show is a little less than an hour drive from home but I want to give myself plenty of time. They open for set up at 7 am and the show starts at 10. I'm hoping collectors are starting their Christmas shopping early.

I've opened and Etsy shop

Ebay just doesn't seem to be working for me right now. I know a few well known artists who are doing well on ebay. Although I feel that I am putting unique and well made critters up for auction, they are just not getting noticed.

Etsy is a website for selling hand made items. The fees are reasonable and the presentation is good. The search pages seem to load kinda slow but that might be because of all the great pics.

I have spent several hours today taking and editing photos. I wish I was better at it. If I get the lighting right - I'm not happy with the pose. If the pose is good - the lighting is off. I take dozens to get a couple of decent ones.

This is Tinker -a Dog Patch Puppy, who will be listed in my Etsy shop sometime tonight.

http://dogpatchcritters.etsy.com

Dog Patch Puppy on Bid4Bears

Bid 4 Bears is having an Artist Power Campaign from now until June. There are some really great artists with Bears and other critters up for auction. I didn't join the campaign but I thought I would list a Dog Patch Puppy to take advantage of the increased traffic. It would be great if Bid 4 Bears would become a powerhouse for Teddy Bear auctions.

My Dog Patch Puppy has 2 days left on it's auction-no bids yet but I keep checking.

http://www.bid4bears.com