Hello from Lancashire

[Melanie Jayne]

Hi there,

I am from Wigan in Lancashire. I hope to be able to chat with like minded people who love to create bears.

Melanie Jayne

[Charlesworth Creations]

Hi Melanie
I want to get into making bears and be able to sell them. I have tried several courses and have picked up some good advice. I will start to practice again now as it's been a while since I did any creations. I have just purchased 2 DVDs which are for beginners and intermediate bear makers. They are by Tilly Storr and a good starting point or good reminder if like me been out of practice. How did you learn to make bears and do you make bears to sell?
Regards
Paula

[Melanie Jayne]

Hi Paula.

I make one of a Kind artist bears and I am completely self taught. I do sell my bears from my website, occassionally on ebay and at bear shows too. You can visit my website at www.beartreasures.com.

Love
Melanie

[Chowlea Bears]

Hi Melanie - we Northerners have to stick together.

[Melanie Jayne]

Hello Sandra

I am so glad you decided to join :)

[shelly]

Hi,
I'm a fellow northerner and just getting into making rabbits again after a long delay!!
I'm near Southport so if anyone knows of any good suppliers in the area could you let me know . I use the internet, but it would be nice to go and actually see the items in the flesh, so to speak.
Thanks Shelly.

[Chowlea Bears]

Hi - nice to 'meet you'::)

I know what you mean about being able to see the fabric 'in the flesh' - its not quite the same on-line is it?

Its the fabric that initially starts me off. I just have to cross my fingers and hope for the best that I like it when it comes.

Saw your 'Rabbit' thread with Jenny. In my opinion she's one of the masters(mistress sounds naughty:D ) when it comes to scissor sculpting. Me - I just keep trying........................

[Jenny]

Shelly..I'd say your best bet is to find a fair near where you live so you can get to see the fabrics. I am not sure about the northern ones..I have done one at Pudsey but that's miles from you...Hmmm...I'll have a think!

[shelly]

Thanks for that . It all helps .
Shelly

[Vicky Allum]

Hi Melanie

I joined a day or so ago - thought I'd pop in and say "Hello" to everyone!

Vicky

[Melanie Jayne]

Hello Vicky, I am so glad you have joined and hopefully TBT will grow and become a wonderful place for us bear people

[Anji55]

:) Hi from Stockport.
Not many shops locally for fur n stuff, but "Sew What and Stuff it" (used to be Charlie's Fur and Features) are around a lot....
And even have mini bear stuff !:D Shame the Altrincham fair folded.
HUgs
Anji

[Chowlea Bears]

Hi Anji

So nice to 'meet you'. Things seem to be taking off on this forum - I think it will be a very positive experience. Lots of talented and very generous people have signed up. Isn't it nice to have something on 'this side of the pond' so to speak.

Look forward to getting to you you better.

[katiecountrymouse1]

Hi All,
Reading what you have all said.
I'm from Bolton-le-sands, 7miles from Morecambe.
:6045: Yes I agree we northerners do need to stick together.
Only 1 year ago, we had 3 teddy fair all in a radius of 30 miles, now we have only 1, and that will be in 2 years time as the house used is fully booked up with weddings.
I asked around and found that any Saturday would be fine but they had alot of people complaining that it had to be a Sunday. :6022:
If any one know of any that are in the region , please will you let me know.
Thanks Kayx.

[Jenny]

Hi Kay..I am not a northerner...but glad to see you're here...

Jennyxx

[shelly]

Hi Kay nice to meet you. Sorry I'm new to the whole teddy bear thing, I don't know of any fairs . Maybe we should start one of our own ?
Shelly:6086:

[katiecountrymouse1]

Hi Shelley,
Sorry it's taken this long to reply but work I'm afraid does come first at the present time. That is a fantastic idea!:6013:
Will have to work less and make more bears before I could show, but willing to help, if it was to happen.
Love Kayx. :6034:

[shelly]

Well if things take off if the future who knows what will happen ?
I'm like you , will have to make a few more yet !

:6086:

[Chris Russell]

Just a thought......rather than organise a fair, start a club of makers in your region first; see Artists and Makers Clubs in the Exhibitors section. Then, get together to exhibit at a Craft Fair - these can be 2 -3 day events but can usually be good value. Share the cost (including insurance - see Insurance section) and manning; organise between yourselves how to exhibit. Take a £20 advert in the Events section of Teddy Bear Fair (to get to your teddy bear public) and list who will be exhibiting (and on what days if appropriate) and Bob's your uncle. No major effort, no need to make vast quantities of bears before you do it, much less risk and more importantly for everyone's future you will be spreading the word to a much broader audience.

If you can sell your bears to work colleagues and friends then this is the type of audience you should get at these events.

For the established makers who attract higher prices you could apply the same principles but go the the country fairs and the likes of Burghley and Badminton etc etc. There are also some seriously expensive craft fairs around in London and the South East, where you might be able to share the cost by getting together.

Check out www.craftsman-magazine.com go to a few craft fairs in your area to check them out, talk to other craft exhibitors and ask how they do it.

Should be good fun.

Chris

[shelly]

Hi Chris
thanks for the information, I will definitely 'bear' it in mind.


:6087:

[Lorna Evett]

what would be good would be a meeting of bear makers in a central spot to bring their current bear project, have a chat, a laugh, make suggestions, offer advice, and maybe discuss a joint bear stall for a craft fair.

Lorna:6034:

[Steffi]

I am with Chris on this one, don't try and organise your own fair, unless you have unlimited supplies of Valium and oodles of time.

I run a monthly craft fair and as of next year there will be two of us with bears. Ok some months I get people in who think that mohair bears are expensive and won't look twice at them. However I have sold at them and know of a girl who has sold at another local craft fair. I also go to toy fairs, these can be quite disheartening as much of it tends to be boys and their toys. However the last two years I have found that the June fair in Carlisle has been extremely good for me.

Many of you will know that I ran a bear fair in Glasgow in October, that was when I needed the Valium. I have experience of running the craft fairs and am organised by nature but even I couldn't see in to the future and the fact that my venue would go in to administration. However we did manage to run the fair and I am looking to run one next year because in Scotland we are down to one other fair and that is shared with dolls and miniatures. In addition we have lost most of our bear shops, so our outlets. This year I had people attending from as far away as Somerset and had visitors from Inverness, so we reached a wide audience.

If you are just starting out then I can highly recommend craft fairs. Generally it is less expensive to have a table at them and you get a wider audience. You really don't need many bears, by the time you use a few props you can make your table look full. As an example I charge £20 for a 6' table at a craft fair and only £25 if vendors want two with electricity included. However I am having to pay £65 for a table at the Falkirk bear fair which I know is still lower than other fairs.

Just one last thing hello to all in Lancs, I am red rose by birth.

Hugs, Steffi

[vgarber]

Hi there,

I am from Wigan in Lancashire. I hope to be able to chat with like minded people who love to create bears.

Melanie Jayne

Hi,
Went to a great event today with children - a Teddy Bear Hunt in a 16th Century Hall - Croxteth Hall in Liverpool. Event runs daily until 2nd September (Many of the Teddys came from all around the world - noted both New York and Alcatraz) - great little event www.croxteth.co.uk
Van

[PollyKay]

Hi Shelly
I don't live near you now but I used to live in Ainsdale near Southport when my bear business started.
I don' know if the fairs are still on the go up there, but I used to go to Tatton Park, Horwich, Chester Racecourse, Altringham, most were run by Sylvia Wood of Brentwood Fairs.