So you've looked at my web site, and probably a few others. Unless you are a bear collector and have spent many happy hours in bear shops discovering the differences, you probably wonder what a Bear Artist is. A bear maker buys a bear pattern or kit to make up. As a Bear Artist I design the bears and make up my own patterns. So a Bear Artist produces a unique bear made for you. Steiff etc. There are some excellent manufactured bears. But they are long production runs. Even limited editions go into the thousands. They are anything but unique and there are a lot of overhead costs included in the price. A bear artist has limited overheads and puts all of the money in to the best quality materials with no need to cut corners with the quality of the finished bear. Many of the best known names are now being made in China where the reputation for making toys is not the best. see Steiff article July 2008
If a hand made mohair bears sounds expensive, that's because mohair is expensive. Priced according to how thick and long the pile is, it can cost up to £150 per metre. (Better not to make mistakes with the best). It takes many hours to make a bear from drawing to finished article. The price doesn't really reflect this, charging by the hour would make them unaffordable. We bear makers make bears because we like doing it. When I say 'made and designed with love' on my bear tag, I mean it. I use mohair because it is the most durable, soft, huggable fabric. With none of the harshness you can get from man made materials. The vintage bears of 100 years ago were made with it and they stood the test of time. Alpaca and the cashmere plush I sometimes use for tiny bears has the same qualities. If you are buying for a child and want a bear that will stay with them as they grow up, choose one made from these materials. The inexpensive ones are very soft and cuddly, but within a short time the material will wear out and the bear will have to be thrown away. But as an ornament, a bear made to match your furnishings, or made from a favourite old dress, would be just as precious to you.
New bear artists experiment with crazy designs, fillings and fabrics. Long legs, cute faces, some not resembling bears at all. Absolutely lovely bears, but not the old teddy bear you had as a child. A traditional bear looks like a teddy bear and is made in the traditional way with wood or hardboard joints held by long cotter pins. The filling is wood shavings and the eyes glass. Making one of these bears hurts! This is why we have to sell them for collectors only. Modern regulations mean they can not be sold for children to play with, even though you and I (are you that old?) may have happily played with one as babies. I can get the same look with a bear made for children, by replacing the joints and eyes with plastic ones, then filling with a softer acrylic fibre and/or acrylic 'beans'. ................................................................................................................ Caring for your bears. I love restoring an old or damaged bear, but I'd much rather not have to. Fabrics deteriorate in sunlight and dust. The ideal place to keep an old bear, or even a new one, is to display them in a glass fronted cupboard. That way you can see them and take them out from time to time, but they will be well protected. If you can't do that, try to protect your old bear's fur with soft clothing and dust them occasionally. Please don't keep them in the window, it's the worst place for them. If you have a huge collection and have to store some of them, wrap them in acid free tissue paper or old cotton pillow case first and put them in a box with a moth deterrent. Don't forget to check them over occasionally, look for wear and damage from unwanted visitors. Keep them dry, change them over for the ones on display on a regular basis and they should be fine. You would be amazed how may enquiries I get about repairs because the dog got hold of a bear. Keep them out of the dog's reach. I know they look cute on the floor or the bed, but they don't look too cute once the dog gets hold of them. You could try giving the dog a soft toy of it's own? ................................................................................................................. Feel free to contact me if you have suggestions for things to add to this page, or with any questions , I'll help any way I can. |
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