December 2021

November 26, 2021: ♥ 2022 RELEASE ♥ Four bears are finished and they'll be available for purchase starting in January.  My final three selling platform contenders were: eBay (fixed price), Etsy, or Facebook Marketplace.  After doing a little research this morning, it's looking like Etsy will be the platform for the 2022 bears. It's funny because I was just explaining to a friend the other day that my bears are not Etsy-type bears-- but I guess I never gave that platform the consideration it deserved before now. The fees are HALF what eBay charges, they have a cute little shop setup for sellers, and they collect the state taxes and international taxes that were giving me heartburn. I'm in! 

In 2022 I'd also like to get back in the running for the BCA shows online. I'm planning to apply for a spot after I get caught up with the current show specifications.  

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So far I have one large bear (18 inches), one medium bear (9.5 inches), and two small bears (6.5 inches). In December I should be able to finish up another medium bear with cinnamon-tipped synthetic fur, and a couple of minis (3.5 inches or smaller). I'd also like to find some time to draft out an equine pattern. 

UPCOMING and IN PROGRESS: 

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October 5, 2021:  My trademark for The Peach Peddler is officially registered with the USPTO and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. It took ten months to complete all the steps and waiting periods. The Peach Peddler has been my company's name since 1999, so registering the trademark was long overdue. 

October 21, 2021: For today's episode of No One Asked:  creating a new pattern for my bears involves a whole lot more than sketching out a bear on a piece of paper. First, I-- well, yes, I do sketch him out on a piece of paper. Next, I sculpt the bear using monster clay, which is amazing stuff. I pin non-stretchy cloth onto the clay bear dummy and draw lines along the curviest places to indicate seams and darts with tons of tick marks to indicate where the sides should match to their counterparts. After I make a mess of the fabric with the marks, I carefully trim away the excess fabric, and snip along the lines I've drawn. The rough pattern has to sit as flat as possible on the paper. Then I trace around the pattern to transfer the lines to the paper.  I cut out the pattern in PAPER this time, and make sure all of the ticks and measurements match on corresponding sides, making adjustments as needed. FINALLY, I draw the near-final pattern onto cardstock paper. I use a lightpad to shine through the paper so that I can mark up the off-side of the pattern (because the sides of the bear are mirrored and need to match up). Finally, I make a few 6.5" bears, to test the pattern until it's just right. I make notes on the pattern pieces as I go, and eventually, when the pattern is perfect, I'll draw a final version and transfer all of my notes to paper. Then I scan in the pattern, archive it in my records, email it to myself, and print hard copies for my patterns notebook. After that's all done, I can make bears in every size based on that one pattern.

How is each bear still one of a kind if I use the same pattern over and over, just in different sizes? The pattern just creates the blank canvas before the real artistry can begin. It's like asking "How can two paintings be one of a kind if they were both created on the same blank canvas?" Someone else could use my pattern and end up with an entirely different bear. 

**AND SOME REALLY GOOD NEWS! Now that I've settled on which Marketplace Facilitator I want to use for my bears, I can sell worldwide again! ♥ Starting in 2022, my bears will be listed at The Peach Peddler (Etsy). Buyers are responsible for all taxes and fees levied by the destination country, and any fees that are paid in advance through Etsy can be discussed with Etsy and your country's Customs/Import office.

Feel free to stay tuned for updates here, or at The Peach Peddler page on Facebook.  I don't maintain an email notification list because I don't want to be a bother. 🤓
 

I understand that a lot of people avoid social media. I try not to share family photos or personal information anywhere online -- so trust me, I get it. While I keep my personal life offline for the most part, the bears are a different story. I'm plastering them all over the place.

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For the sake of fairness, I'll try to post information on upcoming bears here, prior to updating social media sites. 

I hope that you're all staying safe and healthy. Have a wonderful holiday season! 

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       Chris

Happy Holidays!

NEW BEAR TAGS

Teddy Bear Times & Friends  Issue #246 (April/May 2020) pages 18-22

The Peach Peddler offers one-of-a-kind artist bears from the highest quality materials available. Each bear is brought to life with lots of love, time, and attention to detail.

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Shown inPublications: 

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My bear, Pudding, was the Feature (Cover) model for the September 2014 digital issue of Bears & Buds magazine, with an article about our company.  The Peach Peddler creations have also been included in multiple issues of the print magazine Teddybear Times & Friends (formerly Teddy Bear and Friends), most recently in the April/May 2020 issue.

Awards Received: ​

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2019-  TOBY Industry's Choice - Large Undressed Bear "Nilla/Snowbear"

2019- TOBY Industry's Choice - Miniature Undressed Bear "Criswell/Peanut"

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2018 -URSA 1st Place Mini Bare Bear "Figaro"

2018- URSA 1st Place Medium Bare Bear " Rugby"
2018- URSA 3rd Place Realistic Bear "Yuri" Polar Bear

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2017 - TOBY Industry's Choice (Small Dressed Bear, "Stinkerbell")

2016 - TOBY Industry's Choice (Large Dressed Bear, "Beatrice")
2016 - TOBY People's Choice (Large Dressed Bear, "Beatrice")

2014 - TOBY Industry Choice (Miniature Category, "Moriarty")

2014 - URSA Award "Serenity II" Panda

2014 - URSA Award "Wuzzie" Miniature Category

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2011 - TBAAF (Teddy Bear Artist & Friends) "Mini Marshmallow" Small Undressed Bear

2011 - TBAAF (Teddy Bear Artist & Friends)  "Serenity" Novice Category

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