Joy of a new Teddy Bear?

[elize]

Buying a new Teddy Bear for a collection is always very exciting. What is the most enjoyable part of "the deal" and how long does the enjoyment last? Is it looking at a catalogue, searching on ebay, receiving the parcel, tearing it open or displaying the bear?

[elize]

Looking at catalogues and searching on ebay is a very big part of the enjoyment of collecting for me. Sometimes I'll wait for months until I spot the "perfect bear" or collectable for my collection. The joy of the new bear lasts until I have displayed him.

[kitty]

Having a special bear in mind, hunting for him/her for months, finally finding him, saving up and buying - these are really enjoyable! And so is finding a special spot for the new comer in my hug. I also have a kind of induction ceremony for each new bear. I have a small teddy bear picnic and introduce the new bear to all the bears in the hug. Then I put them all back on display, and set my mind on a new target. :D

[TushTeds]

:new:

i love the thrill of the hunt - getting up early on a saturday morning and then off to an enormous fleamarket. when i find a bear (sometimes in an old box, or lying in a corner of the stall) the next thrill starts... inspecting the bear, talking to the seller, getting infos about the bears background, etc... and then the gaggling starts.

buying the bear is a thrill - but the next steps are "work related". the rest of my w/end is spent going thru all my bear books, trying to identify my "newcomer" - getting the important infos i need to restore my bear: soft brush, the gentle faom wash, darning and repairing paw pads, little holes, nose, claw and mouth stitching (only when necessary) etc.. this can obviously take up my whole next week.

when i'm satisfied with the results i take some pics, then pop him in his "de-infestation" bag. the days where my new bear is in solitary confinement are the hardest, because i can't wait to find the right spot for him in one of my display vitrines. when the quarantine is over, i fluff him up again, add an old ribbon, or vintage outfit and then find him a good spot.

i also make notes of where i bought him, what i paid for him and the info i received from the seller. although there are still a lot of old teds raoming around austria, there are only very few good quality bears to be bought for reasonable prices on these antique markets. sellers have a lot more know-how than they did years ago, so it's not always easy finding a bargain on a fleamarket. but that's part of the thrill... not giving up, hoping that the next stall will have an old, dirty, decrepit looking little bear that wants to come home with me.... and so the hunt goes on ... :Winking:

[lovenshire]

I love it when one just appears when unexpected. Once I was looking for a gift in a baby shop when I saw the most beautiful bear as decoration on one of the racks...I fell in love! After I left the shop, hubby went back and ask the owner if he could buy the bear and she sold it to him for $26.00! WOW I love my bear....

[Romafree]

Oh, YES!! It's an exciting process!! The "falling in love bit", maybe the walking away bit, the walking back bit....:rolleye2:

Then there's the "enquiry" bit....with bated breath, trying not to sound too interested...:mamabear: Then there's the "money" bit...:juggle:

Then the real fun starts, the "close inspection", the cuddles, then you finally get him/her home....introduce him to the "others"!! :dance1: This takes a while!! I have "Osito", only born 2008 but it is "job" to meet and greet every new bear...:white flag:

I not only buy at car boots but ebay too...in fact, a bear can appear anywhere??!! :?: Great post!! Ana xx

[lovenshire]

I just bought a bear from the Good Will store. I don't know, he just spoke to me, he looked so lonely. He is 10" tall, has on tan pants, a tan hat and a white T-shirt that says Cotton Corp. I am sure he was an advertising bear from somewhere. Anyway, he was only $1.00 and he looked lonely...sooooooooooooooo

[elize]

I agree with Romafree - A good Bear can appear anywhere at anytime :rolleye2:

I just love this hobby :dance1: