Archive for the ‘Teddy Bear Stuff’ Category
Big Teddy|Jumbo Brown Teddy Bear|Melissa & Doug
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The Melissa & Doug Jumbo Brown Teddy Bear is another top rated bear buddy. This is a hefty one for folks looking to get someone special a big teddy bear. Soft and snuggly, but still sturdy enough to act as a pillow. This jumbo brown teddy bear would make a great gift for a little one who has been begging for a giant teddy bear or as a special present for someone you care about. If you know someone who has the "bigger is better" mentality, this might be what you need.
It is important to know how much your teddy bears are worth before buying or selling them. Some have been known to go up in price over the years while others stayed the same or went down. If you aren’t sure how to figure out how much your teddy bears are worth you can ask a dealer or go out and get a book. Collecting teddy bears can be very profitable if you know what you are doing.
Examine your teddy bears thoroughly before ever taking them for a show or auction. Before buying them look them over and ask as many questions as you can think of. Find out where the bear came from and who had him last. By examining your teddy bears you should be able to tell how much they are worth and know if you want to sell them or buy any new ones.
If you have inherited a teddy bear collection, or if you have started looking for bears when you go out to estate sales and the like, you may be wondering if you actually own a collectible teddy bear or not. Although any teddy bear is certainly collectible if it makes you happy, there are some bears that are worth more to collectors than others. With a bit of practice, you can learn to look for signs that one bear is more collectible than another. For starters, there are several different things to look at on teddy bears to determine their value. This article is a basic primer to get you started. Labels, joints and pads on their feet can tell you just how old they are. Their face can give you a round about guess on which decade they were distributed. Fur is another issue, depending on what type of fur, the condition it is in and everything to that nature.
photo credit: San Sharma
If the joints that are stiff hard like a bear you’d find in a craft store, remember in the beginning these were what the teddy bears looked like. The pads on the teddy bear will indicate if he is good quality or not. In the early years of teddy bears, many companies would make them with really long noses because it was suppose to represent the real thing, not something cute and cuddly. If your teddy bears have glass or button eyes they might be worth something. Last, if you have a hand-sewn teddy bear with no flaws or very minimal flaws.
Here is another Teddy Bear story. This one comes from India...
I have liked Teddy Bears very much from my childhood onwards I used to play with them. One of my favorite Teddy Bears was the one given to me by my sister when we were both little. I had other Teddy bears, but that is the only one I could fall asleep with at night. My father gave me a huge Teddy bear on my next birthday, but I still loved the one from my sister the best. Those two bears were also the start of my collection. It isn't the biggest Teddy bear collection in the world, but they cover my bed and I move them every night before going to bed.
I had 23 Teddy bears in my collection. I only lost one Teddy bear from my collection. That bear was given to me by an uncle when I went to visit him. I was carrying the bear with me as I rode home after the visit on a train. I can still remember the feel of that bear's fur as I listened to the chugging of the train. I dozed off and awoke as my parents hustled me off of the train. Somehow I managed to lose the bear as we got off and picked up our bags. I only realized that he was gone when we were already on our way home in the car. My parents tried to call to see if anyone ever turned in that missing bear, but he never turned up. I was upset, but got over it. If it had been the bear from my sister though, I don't know what I would have done.
This is a story from a lady who lives in the Philippines. Her tale of "Jack" and how she shared him with another is quite touching...
I can still remember how I got my very first teddy bear, It was 29 years ago when I was still in grade school.
I think that my teddy bear was the cutest and the best one in the world. Why? Because this was the biggest for me that time, and has the most sentimental value compared to the most dolls I have had.
First, it had eyes that would melt your heart. He seemed to say "please hug me" when you looked at him. He was chestnut brown and had a checkered scarf wrapped around his neck. I named him Jack.
Jack was given to my by my Auntie, and that Aunt of mine is not very privileged. She was very special to me growing up. She worked hard but never had much money. No matter what, she always managed to give me something special every once in a while though. I never dreamed she would ever give something as special as Jack.
That's why I treasured Jack so much. A few years ago I gave Jack to a friend who was going through a very tough time. It was hard to do, but she really needed him and I think my Auntie would have liked seeing him end up where he is now.
Ivy
from Manila. Philippines
photo credit: evelynishere
Artist bears are a great way to go for people who enjoy collecting one of a kind bears (ooak bears). Artist bears are specially made bears that many times are unique because they are created individually by a person with a gift for designing and sewing/making Teddy bears. Teddy bear artists are often quite talented at giving unique expressions and features to the bears they create. In my opinion, it is the eyes filled with expression and the custom features that are sometimes offered that make these toys irresistible.
One of the reasons people decide to collect these wonderful bears is the often amazing detail work that is evident in the craftsmanship. Special touches like arms that hug smaller plush animals or facial expressions that are amazingly lifelike can win Teddy bear collectors over in short order. Some artists are even willing to work within specific guidelines for individual buyers looking for just the right bear.
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 Handsewn Mini 2 1 4 Bear PURSE by Artist L Wright  US $109.50
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 OOAK ARTIST BEAR ELEPHANT MY TEDDY TALES US $26.51
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 OOAK Miniature artist teddy bear by Katy Nissen US $30.00
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 WADE RARE TEDDY BEARS x2 WHIMSIES ARTIST PILOT US $3.65
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Of course not all artist bears are created equal. Some people are more talented than others when it comes to not only using their imagination to dream up a bear design, but also doing the work of physically creating the bear. The highest quality bears sometimes can go for high prices, but buyers know that they have added something truly special to their collection when a purchase is made. Since these bears are generally not mass produced, many artist bears are unique. Unlike collecting bears from well known makers, building a collection of artist bears can really make a display unique.
If you decide to start collecting artist bears, you can look for individual bear artists in your area or online. Contacting them should not be difficult if they are online and they might be willing to listen to your ideas about building a very special bear. If you are looking to purchase on eBay, be sure to check out the completed listings and feedback of sellers. If the seller is serious about their business, they will include plenty of details besides just taking one lonely photo. Be sure to ask questions until your curiosity had been satisfied.
Here is a video showing the creation of a very unorthodox bear being made. I think if I owned him, his name would have to be Doodle.
Some people collect things. Other people wonder why some people collect things. I don’t think there is any one reason why people build collections. Many collections start completely by accident. I’m sure that many teddy bear collections were begun after someone received a couple of bears that they really liked and then put them out on display. Maybe they talked about them a lot or played with them constantly. That caught the eye of someone who cared about them who thought a new bear might make a nice gift. THAT bear got added to the collection, and so on and so on…
photo credit: riptheskull
I’m sure there is probably some deep psychological reason why we collect things. I’m not really into looking at any deep seated motivations. I just like teddy bears!
Some people starting a collection want to know exactly which bears they should “focus” on as they build their collections. I guess maybe I’m the wrong person to ask if you want an answer based purely on financial investment opportunities. My reply would simply be a question. What do you like?
If you enjoy searching out the oldest and rarest of bears, then by all means, feel free to save your money and buy some old antique bears. Some Steiff bears from the early 1900s will sell for over a thousand dollars. I’m sure if you keep them in good shape, there is probably a good chance they will appreciate in value as they get older. There is absolutely nothing wrong however, with wanting to collect Build A Bears or some other type of bear. Want to collect all white or dark brown bears? Go for it! Who is to say you are wrong for liking what you do?
photo credit: Rennett Stowe
Personally, I like to actually pick up and handle my bears. To me, each one is tied to some special memories that I can soak up and savor each time I give it a squeeze. I’m sure that some people cringe at that, but I don’t like to just watch my bears collecting dust on a shelf. I’m not recommending that anyone do anything with their bears that may damage them. I’m just stating my own collecting technique. Another reason I like to actually pick up my bears is that they don’t collect dust nearly as much when I do that. A dust collection looks pretty bad and once they get dusty, it can be a real pain trying to get them clean. Hey, but that’s just me!
Another of the big names in popular collectible bears is Gebruder Bing. Bing bears date back to the early twentieth century. The Bing toy company itself dates back to the 1890s but they made their first “Teddy Bear in 1907, amidst the explosion of the bears’ popularity. There were some issues with charges of copying between Steiff and Bing, but both made wonderful, beautifully detailed bears that are prized by collectors today.
Bing bears are often prized and recognized for their mechanical capabilities. Before bears became the popular collectible to own, the Bing company was known for its superior mechanical toys. The company did a great job of translating their mechanical expertise to the bear market. Depending on the particular bear, they could skate, look around, walk and even do acrobatics! That seems quite advanced looking back one hundred years.
Not all of the bears made by Bing were mechanical however. They were a quality brand in competition with other big bear names like Steiff. The quality of Bing bears was top shelf and the non-mechanical bears could hold their own based on the merits of cuteness and quality.
Bing used button eyes (black) up until World War 1. After that time, glass eyes became standard on the bears. Many of their early bears are quite collectible and very valuable. The Bing company ran into financial trouble in the 1930s and was gone from the scene until a rebirth later brought them back in to the stuffed teddy bear arena.
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 RARE POLAR BEARS 1974 BING GRONDAHL VAL $50 COPENHAGEN US $19.99
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 1974 Bing Grondahl Mothers Day Plate Polar Bears US $14.99
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 CHRISTIES Teddy Bears Steiff Schuco Bing Merrythought US $34.95
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 Bing Grondahl 1974 Mothers Day Plate Polar Bear US $3.50
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 BING CROSBY SINGS FOR CHILDREN LP TEDDY BEARS PICNIC US $15.08
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If you have somehow managed to have a vintage Bing bear in your possession, you may be holding on to something quite valuable. One of the best ways to get a feel for the approximate value of your bear is to check out the eBay “completed” listings for similar items. A completed listing is simply an auction or “buy it now” transaction that has already run its course and has either ended in a sale or without any offers from buyers. You can get a great look at not only what is out there that is similar to your bear, but also the condition of what is being sold. There are very few “mint” teddy bears of vintage age floating around out there.
There are plenty of serious bear collectors out there today who purchase their new bears and only touch them to keep them from collecting dust. These early bears were not bought to be shelved however. Most of the vintage teddy bears you will find spent the early parts of their existence being regularly hugged and loved by little arms. All of that squeezing is exactly what they were built for, but it isn’t very conducive to keeping the bears looking pristine. You will find as you check out listings, that there are a lot of well loved bears being bid on without any hesitation though.
I admit it. I love Build A Bear Clothes. One trip to Build A Bear a few years ago saw me purchasing ten outfits without a single bear. That cost me a little more than I would have liked, so I started looking for ways to get cheap Build A Bear clothes. Teddy bear collecting is a wonderful and very popular hobby. Whether you collect classic antique Steiff bears or you just like to admire the more common bears you have accumulated over the years, looking at your collection and doing fun things like photographing them can be a lot of fun.
Build A Bear Clothes
One great thing about collecting bears is that you can change up their looks so easily just by giving them a quick wardrobe change. Accessories for teddy bears are available from the makers of the bears themselves, but some people like to make their own clothing or purchase baby sized clothing for their collections.
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 Large Lot Build A Bear BAB Boy Clothes Shoes 60 Items US $45.00
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 Huge Lot BUILD A BEAR Clothes Castle Shoes Pet Carrier US $18.50
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 Build A Bear Clothes Lot 7 Outfits Costumes US $10.60
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 LARGE LOT OF BUILD A BEAR CLOTHES ACCESSORIES US $10.45
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 LOT of Build A Bear Clothes US $37.00
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Even though the bear clothes are available from the companies that make the bears, the cost of individual outfits can get quite expensive after a short while. Many towns have seen Build a Bear workshops spring up over recent years. These places are a fun way to build up a collection if you are not strictly focused on antique bears or if you are just looking for a fun activity for a rainy day. When you visit one of these shops, one of the first things you will notice is that they have tons of adorable outfits available for your bears. If you are like me, you probably can pick out at least five or ten right away that you would like to buy. The problem is that this can get very expensive in a big hurry.
There is a great solution available for those people who want more teddy bear clothes, but just can’t afford a major splurge. I have found that there are almost always some great lots of Build a Bear clothes for sale on eBay. I would guess that these end up getting listed because not everyone holds on to their love of teddy bears as they get older. Many young children are given outfit after outfit as gifts to go with their bears and then lose interest in them. These bundles of outfits get put up for sale online and the ending bids for these auctions are usually a fraction of what they would cost to purchase new. Buying these teddy bear clothes in lots is one of my favorite ways to build my collection while not having to spend much money at all.
Bear Naked
Another great thing I’ve found about looking for Build a Bear clothes online, is that you can get outfits from other places that simply are not available where you happen to live. This is true especially of favorite sports team outfits. Compared to the prices often found at the end of doll clothing auctions, Build a Bear clothing lots are usually very reasonable. If you are looking for a great way to build up your bears’ wardrobe, checking out the lots available on eBay can be one of your best bets!
Russ Bears are one of the more searched for teddy bears on eBay. They part of the Russ Berrie line of dolls, trolls and bears that have become so popular because of their great designs and attention to detail. Many people collect these bears exclusively. eBay is a popular place to look for Russ Berrie Bears because the hard to find ones can still be found there and the prices on very gently "used" bears are often quite reasonable. Of course, there are Russ dogs and cats too, so if you have any special people in your life who love those animals, they've got you covered!
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 VINTAGE SNUGGLE BEAR RELEASED BY RUSS 10 US $8.99
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 Russ With Love Bears name keychain lot of 24 US $9.99
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 VINTAGE BEARS FROM THE PAST RUSS 1995 TEDDY BEAR 17 US $9.99
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 Russ Bears From the Past Brambles US $10.00
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 SNUGGLES 1986 PLUSH 15 SNUGGLE BEAR DOLL W TAG RUSS US $24.99
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The oldest of the Russ Bears are now in their mid forties. Mere babies compared to some of the older classics like Steiff and Bing, but still old enough that some of the original owners are feeling some nostalgia as they look back at the special teddy bears they grew up with.
Here are a few quick tips to help you as you check for deal on Russ Bears on ebay:
1. The site has been making a move toward showing a lot of "buy it now" items. That is great for people who want to get what they want and go, but don't forget to check out the auctions. It seems that lately, many great bears are slipping by without a single bid even though they are priced outrageously low (like $5). This may just be something that was happening when I checked, but it is worth checking out.
2. Be sure to ask any questions you have about a bear you like before bidding. Most sellers are happy to answer questions or provide extra photos to potential buyers.
3. Check completed listings (auctions that have ended) to see what similar bears have been selling for on eBay. Doing this can help you to recognize a steal when you see it.
Russ bears are one of the more commonly seen collectible bears on eBay. While the company does have its own site, people concerned with saving some money might want to compare prices there with those available on eBay. There are many bears in excellent condition being sold at very low prices. This may just be an effect from the economy which is currently down, but it is definitely something worth checking out if you are a collector of Russ bears or any collectible.
