Newly Designed Website and Blog!

Well here it is 2013.  Since I last posted here, I've gone through a divorce, moved from my hometown on Chicago to Lexington Kentucky and have been working a "normal" day job.  But "day" is a misnomer... it's retail so I work all kinds of crazy hours and days.

I've settled in very nicely by now, and have just completed a long overdue website design that I've been wanting to do for some time now. 

Including in that redesign is my new blog as well.  You can continue reading at the new place here:  http://freeteddybearpatternsnet.blogspot.com/

I hope you enjoy the new site!  Now that it is completed, I have tons of projects for the site, including a new little keychain teddy bear!

Happy Bear Making!
Laura Lynn

Tips to Fine Tune your Bear Making Business - Part 2

The second tip on the photographer's blog was to "Evaluate your Packages".  I've changed that to....


Evaluate What you Make
If you love or hate making certain sizes or type of bears (or other creations) change them!!  You do still want to be sure that your bears sell or it will just be a hobby (and nothing wrong with that) 


But if you are trying to make a living or supplement your living with bear making, it is important that you are able to sell what you make.  If you sell more of one type than another, consider making more of that type.  Make your collectors happy by creating more of what they like!  If you really don't like making certain types of bears .... stop if you can.  There's no point to hating what you do when you work for yourself!


Stay tuned & Happy Bearmaking!
Laura Lynn
www.TeddiesbyLauraLynn.com 
www.FreeTeddyBearPatterns.NET

Tips to Fine Tune your Bear Making Business - Part 1

First of all I'd like to apologize for my long absence.  That will change, however.  I promise this time!!

I thought I'd start a series of  posts for those who do bear making as a business.  I was reading a photographer's blog post on 18 Easy Ways to Fine Tune Your Photography Business.  I read this with interest as I used to be a professional photographer for 15 years.   I realized that with some changes to details, this was also an excellent post for bear artists.  I have a lot to learn from this post as well.

Price your Work to Match your Experience

Getting started in selling your bears?  Pricing is one of the hardest parts of the bear making business.  (or ANY business!).  Pricing "rules" can change even for established artists if the economy changes drastically (as it has recently) 

Sometimes new bear makers price their bears at the same price level as bears made from well established and experienced artists.  If the bears don't sell, they may wonder why.  We need to take an objective look at our work when trying to determine what to charge.  Be honest with yourself.  

When I first started selling my bears, my prices were lower than what they are now, as they matched my experience level.  As I slowly gained more experience, my prices slowly went up as well.  Sometimes eBay can be a way to allow the market to determine the price at which you should sell your bears.  My first bears were sold on eBay this way.

Stay tuned & Happy Bearmaking!
Laura Lynn
www.TeddiesbyLauraLynn.com 
www.FreeTeddyBearPatterns.NET