a good thing and. . . uhm, maybe not so much

I am down to ten bears.

I had to go buy more tags and I used the last receipt from the book, so I need to go grab another one of those. Means the bears are selling.

That's good.

Five more days of the Market before this buying season comes to a close.

I've only got ten bears.

That's not so good.

Quote for 11-27-10

The Teddy Bear is the last toy that we part with. He is all that is left of that lost world where solutions seemed possible and a friend who saw no fault and made no reproach, waited forever in the old armchair.


--Pam Brown

I made these two bears that were really cute but I forgot to get a picture of either before I sold them :(

Sew it and sell it

On a mission to get rid of all the fur and material I have. I have a deadline of Valentine's 2011 'cause between Christmas and Valentine's, there is a much greater demand for bears.

A problem, however, is that I loooooooooooooooooove miniature bears and have a lot of material for miniature bears and they take so much longer to create. But I'm gonna have to do what I have to do.

Had not been able to get around to the little bears with football helmets until this past week. A sample out today at the Farmer's Market netted four orders. So I know what I am really pushing and making a priority this week.

Quote for 11-12-10

A Teddy bear will always care. When all else fails hug your teddy. A teddy's heart is as big as his smile.

--Tess

Found a disc from last year with some photos on it. I was working at Vanderbilt and I was featured in a university publication-- me and the bears.

That yellow one is a cutie, if I say so myself .

We were all photographed in the Civil Rights Room in the Nashville Public Library 'cause the story was also about my writing about the Civil Rights Movement in Nashville.

(photo bySteve Green)

Farmer's Market

Last two weeks have been nice. Sold a giant bear today. Hope to make several more, especially child-proof ones. Other stuff as in 'my writing' needing my time and attention. But the bears make me cash, so, well . . .


Next Saturday is a special event day; I do need to get sewing 'cause I've not been as productive as I'd hoped to be.

Quote for 10-11-10

Long before I grew up, my teddy bear taught me what love really meant--being there when you're needed.

--Jim Nelson

Saturday-Farmer's Market

Bears flying off the table. Was thinking it would be a slow day because I hadn't been there for awhile but, nope, it was a very good day.

I was asked to make a dog (Sandy) for this little girl who loved the musical "Annie." Met her on Saturday and she sang "Tomorrow." It was so delightful; she's three and uninhibited. Made my day.

back to the Farmer's Market Saturday

can't wait.

Teddy bear quote for 9-28-10

You really don't have to be young to find a friend in a teddy bear.

--Rachel Newman.

Business equipment

I'm getting a serger and possibly a small silk screen machine. Would love to get the embroidery machine as well (while shipping on sewing items is free) but no go.

Teddy quote for 9-17-10

Teddy bears don’t need hearts as they are already stuffed with love.

- -Unknown

bears bears and more bears

have a basketful that need to be stuffed and another basket that are "in-process."

Haven't been to the Farmer's Market on a regular basis. Hope to rectify that and make every Saturday in October, November and December.

Not much else going on; all quiet on the bear front.

Quote for 9-12-10

Bears sleep by day. At night they stay awake to chase away bad dreams.

-Jesse O'Neil

TODAY!

is National Teddy Bear Day.


Hug your teddy.

Teddy bear quote for 8-24-10

Love me. Love my teddy bear.

-- Samantha Armstrong

Moving this along

Wrote Etsy to see about closing the current shop and reopening. Have bears now to sell.

Hopefully by the end of the month, I will have a STOCKED online teddy bear store.

Teddy Bear Quote for 8-22-10

A bear remains a bear –even when most of him has fallen off or worn away.

–Charlotte Gray

becoming a wholesaler

Have opened two accounts to be a wholesaler for some products that are bear-related. An online store? Sell through this blog?

There was a time when I wanted to open a teddy bear gift shop and I bought all kinds of bear merchandise. Had an acct with a teddy bear magazine and with the stuffed toy manufacturer Russ Berrie, and I was talking to some teddy bears artists about carrying their bears.

I never was able to find a place so I gave up the idea. Incorporated a lot of the merchandise into my personal bear collection, sold some things, gave some away.

I really need to decide what I want to do with this business. Make/set some boundaries and stick to them so I don't get all carried away.

Teddy quote for 8-18-10

Age simply doesn't enter into it! The older the friend, the more he is valued, particularly when he shows so visibly the characteristics that we all look for in friends. You have only to look at a genuine teddy's face to see at once the loyalty, common sense, and above all, dependability behind it.

--Peter Bull

bears bears bears and more bears

been sewing like crazy. Several I want to keep but alas, I am running a business here and so they are for sale.

Photos to follow but this time I will use a camera and not a camera phone. Makes a difference, I'm sure.

Teddy quote for 8-17-10

Everything in life I share, except of course my teddy bear!

- -Unknown

Teddy bear quote for Sunday, August 8th

Once a bear has been loved by a human being, its expression is forever marked.

--Jama Kim Rattigan

clear plastic bottles shaped like bears -- fill with lotion, liquid soap, bath beads-- and I've got another product to offer.

saturday sales

my best day yet being back at the Farmer's Market. Two little girls whose mother bought them bears last week came by my table to tell me how much they're enjoying their bears. Their mother said they dress them up and play with them all the time. Way cool. I used to dress some of my bears, maybe it's time again.

I really worked at production this week-- my shoulder and wrist ache but I got 40 new bears done and I had to take another table and I'm probably going to buy a larger table altogether this week 'cause yeah I've got stock. Deciding to use up the fur I have was a great idea.

Sat next to a man selling stuff with football logos. This coming week it is the Steeler material ('cause there are a heck of a lot of Steelers fans in this town evidently) and the tiny bears and the football helmets. Also pandas and koalas, for something new.

Got the dog done. And I made a bunny. Two people asked for lambs and maybe I should expand my repertoire a little more 'cause the business is "Teddy Hugs & Things."

More pics will follow but I realize I suck at photographing my work which is not good 'cause if I ever get stuff on Etsy, the photography has to be good.

Got the application for the holiday bazaar. Definitely. I can easily make the vendor fee back.

Had some material that made some gorgeous bears. I got my daughter (read: paid her to) name all the bears I had for sale and she fell in love with one she named Willie. She wanted him (I was thinking of keeping him for my collection) but I gave him to her. For awhile, he'll still be in the same house so I can enjoy him that way.

guess what I named this bear

a woman with a baby in a stroller

wanted to know if I made bears with the eyes sewn in.

I do those, I told her. I use fur for the nose and embroidery the eyes.

Do you have any here, she asked, looking over the bears at my table.

I shook my head. I don't.

Uhm, lost sale. So something else I need to work on this week -- childproof bears.

Used to make a gift basket with such for newborn babies, added a bottle, diapers, a blanket, etc. Even got Gerber, Parent's Magazine and some other companies to send me information to put in. Gonna do two-- a boy and girl-- and take them Saturday. Went to Walmart and priced baby stuff and it's still profitable so that means it's doable.

goals for the next week

order hang tags


check to see if I can get into this holiday bazaar that's coming up in December

cut up one container of fur-- don't necessarily have to start the bears though that would be nice --the goal is to use up the fur I have so, yes, I can get more;-)

hmmm, I think I can do that

Went to the Farmer's Market. Great weather though there was a 50% chance of rain; not hot and that's all that mattered.

Another good day for sales. Actually the best I've had since I've been going back but that's because today is Saturday and there's more people out.

I was asked to make a dog== actually the dog from "Annie." Found a picture of Sandy that I'm going to work from. Seems doable.

I just gotta do it.

closing up shop

I have an account at Etsy but I'm going to have to close it so I can reopen it. I named the shop with a moniker I use often and in reading tips on opening, managing, and growing one's shop, I realized that I needed to rename it.

Do that and I think I'm almost ready to reopen. Found a place to buy boxes for mailing, have thought out what "freebies" I want to include with a bear sale and I've got merchandise!

the solution becomes the problem

It's important to me that the bear's muzzle holds its shape. Fiberfill shifts and the nose can sometimes collapse. I'd found a solution by mistake and it works well except for some material.

There's something I do to insure that the eyes stay put but I'm finding that solution is turning into a problem that affects the way the bears eyes appear when it's ready to be stuffed.

Argh.

there will be no bear castle for me

I ran into someone I went to school with and she works for the arts council. She invited me to consider being in the Renaissance Craftfaire and I considered it until I got the application.

Gulp.

I could probably make up the fees and costs associated ( participants have to create a medival themed sales area) but upfront, uhm no 'cause I've got to do the graduation bears loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong before graduation.

bucket o' bears

bear doodle

discovery leads to inventory

Unearthed a box of hats and flowers and wooden toys/spools and music boxes that I plan to use in the bearmaking.

Today is going to be a bearmaking day but after I complete an inventory of what I have. I was just in Hobby Lobby this morning buying doll glasses when I evidently already had some. . .

Been at the Farmer's Market. Some nice sells, considering I go on Wednesdays. Saturdays, well I'm just too lazy to get up, but I plan to at some point this summer.

A few bears I wished I'd taken pictures of before they were sold, but alas, no other choice had I. My niece is going to take pictures of the remaining and I'll post soon as I can.

Am possibly ordering an embroidering machine. It's on sale and shipping is free, and I can pay it in 4 payments. That would be a boast to the graduation line--

Went to Joanne's and discovered some product ideas. Don't want to get overwhelmed and stress the bear business 'cause the writing career is more important, but still it's nice to be creative with some fur and plastic eyes and noses. It's wonderful, the smiles they bring.

Uhm, and the cash;-)

Regrouping

I've got over a hundred bears to show you. Yes, I've been busy.

Photos to follow.