I work in a variety of fabrics. When I make a test bear I will work in something like calico. It helps me to see if the pattern is even on all sides and if a shape may be hard to sew. I have only recently started to use Mohair or Alpaca. It is so expensive and the gold standard is Schulte mohair. Developed in Germany since 1901. It can run for $300 a yard. I purchase my mohair from Intercal Trading in California.
http://www.intercaltg.com/
I also love to use good quality polyester faux fur or Tissavel woven back faux fur. The woven back is stronger so allows for the needle felting of a bear face without worrying about what the sharp barbs on the needle is doing to the fabric backing. I purchase most of my faux fur from these places:
www.fabric.com
http://www.fabricempire.com/
These places stipulate a minimum of a yard but the prices are excellent. I also use polyfill premium fiber fill for stuffing the body. I like to use the Morning Glory Fiberfill for the head as it can be packed in a lot tighter than other brands. It is also great to needle felt on as it does not pull through and being not so silky as the other brand I use it grabs the wool better.
The needles and wool I use to felt with I purchase from:
http://weirdollsandcrafts.com/
http://livingfelt.com/
Other things I use to make a bear are felt, ultrasuede or other fabrics for paw pads, all kinds of threads, jointing parts, clothing fabrics, nose thread or wool, ribbons and sew in tags.
That is just the bear making part! The business part adds a whole lot more to be considered.
I mostly purchase my bear making supplies such as eyes and joints from Intercal Trading or from CRS Crafts www.crscrafts.com.
Other things required for a business are a computer, internet access, a printer, and good lighting (Ott lights are great for a daylight type light). A good camera is essential for record keeping and for online listing. I take many photos of my bears as you never know when you want to make another one similar or a customer requests one. Without my notes and photos I would be lost as to what fabric I used, when I made it, what pattern variation I was on and what finishing details I used.
I also make hang tags for my bears as well as sew in tags. I design and make them by hand. I sell my bears online so there is a listing fee, a selling fee and a transaction fee before I even get any money out of the sale of a bear.
Other costs to consider are packaging and shipping supplies. Boxes, tissue paper for wrapping, ribbons, tape, labels, cellophane bags and special boxes also add to the costs incurred in the selling of a bear. Another way I sell bears is at an occasional show. To sell at a show you have to rent a both, and get there with good stock, and if it is out of town you will be incurring hotel fees and shipping costs to get your items there. There are also advertising fees, brochures, and business cards. Let us not forget the telephone...
When all of these things are considered, most collectors of bears will realize that when a bear that is One of a Kind or Artist Made, that there is a lot more to the bear's price that has to be considered. The price of a bear reflects many aspects of the running of the business as well as the art of making a bear.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Friday, July 18, 2014
Selling Artist Bears- why so expensive??
This is a question I get asked many times. "Why is your Bear/animal so expensive?"
I am going to try to answer this. The answer is a long one so I will do it in stages.
I found a wonderful article in Teddy Bear and Friends magazine. It explained many things I should have been telling people about, but was always a bit shy about or just too plain tongue tied!
To define what I mean by an Artist Bear: I found this quote from Irene Heckel: "It is totally made by an individual, from designing the pattern to the final details on the face and body". OOAK is also used a great deal and that means One of A Kind. That means exactly that- there is only one. One pattern produces one bear only. A true one of a kind will command a higher price.
Bringing an Artist Bear to life involves many things: one is being trained in the craft of bear making. I took online courses with EBearz: http://www.kranbearys.com/Ebearz/Teachers/NancyTillberg.htm
Nancy Tillberg taught me to needle sculpt, scissor sculpt and started me on the needle felting of the faces of my bears. I also have a huge library. Bear Makers also need specialized tools and materials. I purchase the inventory to make the bears and it stays inventory until I sell it. My tools often have to be replaced too- special scissors for cutting do not always stay sharp! Bear making involves skills such as sewing, patience and plenty of practice. Skills I have learned: how to lay out a pattern to cut minimizing the amount of fabric I use (Mohair is expensive- some runs at $350 a yard), stitching and turning parts and jointing methods. Sewing pieces together can be tricky and the first time I jointed a bear was a major exercise in reading, trying and panicking. Even stuffing the bear is an art- you have to know what stuffing to use and where. How much and how to place the stuffing so you do not end up with a strange face on your bear, after all that careful sewing. A finished bear involves developing a pattern, stitching, turning, stuffing, jointing, assembling and finishing.
As such Bear making takes a long time from start to finish. I find one bear can take up to 35 hours for me to make. That includes developing a sample pattern. I want to sell my bears so I have to be very thoughtful in how I can cover that time in terms of what I pay myself. I am still relatively unknown as a maker and the demand comes more from my commissions for something different or unusual rather than a bear I have already made. I cannot charge a premium for my time.
I work alone and I hand make all aspects of my bears. I develop my own patterns, but occasionally I find one I have to make on Etsy.com . A favorite place of mine to look for a pattern is Jennifer Carson at https://www.etsy.com/shop/jennifercarson
She does allow a certain number of the animals made to be sold, so long as you recognize her as the designer. Not having to design a pattern sure does reduce the amount of time involved in bringing a creation to market. I personalize the creations a bit, but the original pattern is hers so I will credit!
Designing your own pattern can take weeks: draughting the first one, making the animal, making changes to the pattern, redoing the sample until it is all just right. I make my first few samples out of inexpensive fabrics before I make the final in the "good stuff". I do reuse my current patterns by altering size, materials used, the finishes. The animals are all unique in their own way but you can see they are from the same pattern. I do limit the number I make from the pattern. I do not like to make more than 10 variations on that one pattern.
Next I will look at fabrics used and some of the costs of running a business.
I am going to try to answer this. The answer is a long one so I will do it in stages.
I found a wonderful article in Teddy Bear and Friends magazine. It explained many things I should have been telling people about, but was always a bit shy about or just too plain tongue tied!
To define what I mean by an Artist Bear: I found this quote from Irene Heckel: "It is totally made by an individual, from designing the pattern to the final details on the face and body". OOAK is also used a great deal and that means One of A Kind. That means exactly that- there is only one. One pattern produces one bear only. A true one of a kind will command a higher price.
Bringing an Artist Bear to life involves many things: one is being trained in the craft of bear making. I took online courses with EBearz: http://www.kranbearys.com/Ebearz/Teachers/NancyTillberg.htm
Nancy Tillberg taught me to needle sculpt, scissor sculpt and started me on the needle felting of the faces of my bears. I also have a huge library. Bear Makers also need specialized tools and materials. I purchase the inventory to make the bears and it stays inventory until I sell it. My tools often have to be replaced too- special scissors for cutting do not always stay sharp! Bear making involves skills such as sewing, patience and plenty of practice. Skills I have learned: how to lay out a pattern to cut minimizing the amount of fabric I use (Mohair is expensive- some runs at $350 a yard), stitching and turning parts and jointing methods. Sewing pieces together can be tricky and the first time I jointed a bear was a major exercise in reading, trying and panicking. Even stuffing the bear is an art- you have to know what stuffing to use and where. How much and how to place the stuffing so you do not end up with a strange face on your bear, after all that careful sewing. A finished bear involves developing a pattern, stitching, turning, stuffing, jointing, assembling and finishing.
 |
| Scissors sculpted trunk on Elephant |
 |
| Needle Felted face on Detective Bear |
I work alone and I hand make all aspects of my bears. I develop my own patterns, but occasionally I find one I have to make on Etsy.com . A favorite place of mine to look for a pattern is Jennifer Carson at https://www.etsy.com/shop/jennifercarson
She does allow a certain number of the animals made to be sold, so long as you recognize her as the designer. Not having to design a pattern sure does reduce the amount of time involved in bringing a creation to market. I personalize the creations a bit, but the original pattern is hers so I will credit!
 |
| Salty Sea Dog- Jennifer Carson Pattern made by myself |
Next I will look at fabrics used and some of the costs of running a business.
Monday, July 7, 2014
July 3, 2014
I lost one of my best friends. His company was always so welcome, his love unconditional and his ability to always be there for me- unparalleled. I will miss my Mushu greatly. Especially when I have to work in the studio and he is not there to let me know it is time to stop for lunch.
I lost one of my best friends. His company was always so welcome, his love unconditional and his ability to always be there for me- unparalleled. I will miss my Mushu greatly. Especially when I have to work in the studio and he is not there to let me know it is time to stop for lunch.
Best gift my husband ever bought me
E and Mushu were big buddies from the moment she came home
Those loving brown eyes
How he let us know he wants something
How he spent the summer
Skinny puppy!
How to stop a Pyrenese from eating the fence to see- cut a hole...
How E learned to walk
SNOW!!!!!
I have so many wonderful memories of my Fur Boy. I will always miss him and try to remember the good times and all the smiles and laughs he gave me over the 11 years of his life.
When I cross the rainbow bridge I will be looking for him.
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