Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Deb, I used the silk with my epson inkjet. I found the best way if you don't have the lever on the side that adjusts for thick or thin papers is to use a piece of cardstock as a backing. What I mean is, take all your paper out of the printer, place one sheet of cardstock paper where the paper goes in, then place your silk paper on top of it. It will feed the silk paper in better that way.
Hugs
Sonya

Aleta, It reminds me of yesterday when I looked out the kitchen window into the back yard to see the doves walking cross my pool, slipping and sliding. No snow but it is colder than .... well you know what I mean.
Sonya

1.  YES or NO:  Have you ever participated in a random teddy bear swap?  By random teddy bear swap, I mean a swap where your name is placed among a pool of names of participating artists, and then you are paired up with another bear artist randomly by the swap coordinator.

YES, 4 SWAPS NOW AND LOVED EVERY ONE

2.  AGREE or DISAGREE:  All participants in random swaps must agree that they will accept, without public or private complaint, any bear that comes their way, as a condition of participation.

AGREE 100%- ON ONE OF MY SWAPS, THE PERSON I WAS PAIRED WITH MADE MINIS. SHE SUGGESTED THAT SHE FELT SHE SHOULD MAKE A VINGETTE (A PAIR) BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T FEEL IT WOULD BE FAIR TO ME. EVEN THOUGH I TOLD HER NO, SHE MADE A PAIR ANYWAY. WE WERE BOTH THRILLED WITH THE RESULTS. I DON'T FEEL LIKE THIS SHOULD BE A CRITERIA, MY POINT IS THAT IT SHOULD BE WORKED OUT AMONG THE SWAP PARTNERS AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT YOU SHOULD ACCEPT WHATEVER YOU RECIEVE WITHOUT COMPLAINT. I DON'T EXPECT EVERYONE ELSES BEAR TO BE LIKE MINE, OTHERWISE, WHY SWAP? I COULD MAKE MY OWN. IT'S LIKE CHILDREN, THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT, SOME PRETTY, SOME NOT SO PRETTY, BUT ALL SPECIAL IN EVERY WAY.

3.  YES or NO:  Do you think swaps should be sub-organized into categories? NO, AS I SAID ABOVE, IF I WANTED A BEAR JUST LIKE MINE, I WOULD MAKE MY OWN.

4.  If swaps are sub-organized into categories, do you think, for example, that mini makers should swap with mini makers?

or....

Do you think each participant should be able to CHOOSE which category he/she wishes to trade with?  For example, should a mini maker be able to specify that he/she wants to trade for a "biggun" bear?  NO

4.  If you answered YES to question (3.), which categories would you like to see used?  Mark all that apply:

(a)  Size (small, medium, large... or mini, medium, biggun.)
(b)  Style (contemporary, traditional, distressed, anime)
(c)  Skill level of bearmaker (beginner, intermediate, advanced)
(d)  Medium (needlefelted, mohair, synthetic)

5.  If you marked "skill level of bearmaker" as a possible category, in question (4.), do you have any suggestions about the criteria a swap coordinator might use to determine the skill level of each participating artist?  Years making bears?  Price per bear?  Awards and honors?  Is this even a realistic option?
THIS IS ASKING FOR TROUBLE. A SWAP IN MY OPINION, REALLY TENDS TO MAKE ME STRIVE FOR PERFECTION. I DON'T WANT ANOTHER ARTIST TO GET ONE OF MY BEARS AND THINK I DO SHODDY WORK
6.  How long should swap participants be given to complete and ship their swap bear?  THERE SHOULD BE A DEADLINE SET. MAYBE EVEN HAVE ALL OF THE SWAP PARTICIPANTS HOLD ONTO THIER CREATIONS UNTIL A CERTAIN TIME AND ALL SEND AT ONCE.

7.  What, if any, should the consequences be for those who commit to a swap, but never send a bear to their partner, even after receiving one themselves? WELL I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT THIER CONCIENCE WOULD HAUNT THEM, BUT THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE AGAIN

8.  AGREE or DISAGREE:  The swap coordinate should not have to police swap participants.  Any problems which arise are the responsibility of each swap pairing to resolve.AGREE 100% UNLESS IT IS A SWAP WHERE YOU DON'T KNOW WHO IS SENDING YOUR'S LIKE WE DID ON TH EORNAMENT SWAP. THEN THE COORDINATOR MIGHT HAVE TO STEP IN TO AT LEAST CONTACT THE PERSON TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS

I guess it is never too late TO SAY THANKS! i RECEIVED MY final card from the swap from Jared (a while ago). Thanks Jared!
Sonya

Shelli and Gladys,
I thought I should clarify here. I don't know what Intercal is doing behind the scenes on this issue, but I did receive a phone call from them today regarding this. They have no objection whatsoever to us making or weariung pins with the teddy talk logo. In fact, they liked them. If they decide to invest in getting some made, great! But in the meantime they said that is is just fine to do what we are doing right now in making our own. In fact they asked me to stop by thier booth in San Deigo to show them the pins that I made. So Gladys, don't worry, I am bringing you a pin. Now you will have to come by my table to get it! :crackup: cause I probably won't know you until I see you wearing it    :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:
I think I am in space 62? or 63? ... it will be on the table map that Amber and Connie will have for us.
Hugs
Sonya

Sandra,
Are you using a router? Because if you are, there is a setting in it that you can turn off it's "broadcast" And you can specify which "mac addresses" can access the rouiter. A mac address is an identification on a specific computer. Once the computers at your house have accessed the router, thier mac addresses will show up in the router. After they show up, you can select only those addresses to access your network (your wireless) and then turn the broadcast OFF and no one else will be able to access it.
Sonya

I have to say that this was VERY hard to pin down just 2. 1st  would have to be Tequila, who was my URSA Prime winning bear

and second is one that was special to ME. I love the "black bear figurines" and Roger was my interpretation of them.

Sonya

Shelli
Hi there! I thought of the copyright thingy too. I kind of figured Intercal more than likely wouldn't mind if I made a few personal pins as it would be advertising for them. But that being said, I donm't want to step on any toes. If you could, when you talk to Intercal, would you find out if they mind if we did our own as an alternative? If they object, I have no problem destoying the 3 I made.
Sonya

Thanks everyone.

Lyn- it doesn't take much to get started. Just some cardstock, different scrapbooking papers, pictures of bears, tiny little embellishments. The only rules are that the finished card should be 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches. It can be larger if it is a folding type card, but the folded size should be 2 1/2 by 3 1/2. If you do a google search for artist trading cards, there is a wealth of information. And Nancy Tillberg has a free ATC class on her website.
Here is the link. http://www.kranbearys.com/EbearZ/ATC.htm
Sonya

tossing idiot stick to Aleta

I already had it because I didn't find it until I finished deleting tons of messages myself.
:crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:
Sonya

Hi Gaby
I create MOST of my ATC using scrapbooking techniques. Also a combination of computer printed pictures of my bears which I print on photo paper. I also use the computer if there is a quote I want to use that I cannot find already printed. Then I will print it on vellum paper and use it on the ATC. I find myself saving greetings card, colorful pictures from magazines, etc. The cards can be cut into ATC sized squares to use as a background, not neccessarily the whole photo, but offset bits and parts of it can be really interesting. I save small ribbon scraps and almost anything tiny to embellish them. I did a lot of swapping on bid4bears. I am hoping it catches on a bit more once the New Year gets going and all the excitement of the holidays is over. I know that I place the book on my table, usually opened and the collectors love coming by to see them. And the way I look at it, the longer a collector is standing in front of my table, the better chance one of my bears has of jumping out and saying, ME! ME PICK ME! :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:
Sonya

PS. Also the collector that is buying a bear love going through the book and finding their bear's ATC. It also keeps them busy while I am writing up the purchase and packaging thier bear.

A few more pictures of my personal collection so you can see how the backs are signed differently depending on the artists personal style

I would love to see how other ATC collectors display thiers.

Sonya

Hi Sandra, I promised I would send pics of how I display my ATC's at a show. I thought others might bwe interested also, so I gave it a seperate thread. I would love to see how others display thiers.
Anyway, I use an album that I bought in the school supplies. It has a see through cover so you can print a photo and slip it into the front and rear cover .

Album cover

Inside the front cover

I place printed deviders to seperate the available cards from the cards given to the purchaser of the bears, and the cards from my personal collection
Section 1- Available cards

Section 2-cards that go with the bear upon adoption

Section 3- My personal collection

Sonya

Jenn, I started kindergarten in Japan and was there until the end of 3rd grade. I used to know lots of Japanese, but I remember very little now. My 2 youngest brothers were 3 weeks and 1 year old when we moved there and came back to the states talking more Japanese than English, yet niether of them remember one word. I remeber a little bit of a song we learned in school, but couldn't begin to tell you what the words mean :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup: one other quick little known facts (at least  unknown outside of family) I am the only girl and have 4 brothers, all of us born within 6 years

I am game! Lets see.
1- I lived in Japan for 4 years as a child
2- I was the first civil service government employee to become an accredited fiber optic technician and I have a degree in electronics as well
3-I love Nascar races and once did the ride along program in a Nascar race car going 165 mph.
Sonya

They look great Gladys! I kept looking at mine and kept telling myself that I could do better than what I did. So I actually made some pinback buttons.... sort of.. What I did was took some pinback buttons I had setting around here, then painted the fronts with acrylic paint, then sprayed it with sealer. Then after I designed a pin in a round shape.. I printed several sizes on sticker paper. I cut each one out and stuck it on the front of the pin. Then I coated it with modge podge to seal it and give it a "primitive " look. Then after that was dry, I cut circle the correct size out of self laminate sheets and put that over the dried modge podge. It keeps it from getting sticky and it protects it. I did 3 of them. Donna and Gladys, I will bring you each one of them. My treat!
Hope you like them. I think they turned  out really cute.

Hugs, Sonya

OK.. now here is a picture of the finished pins I did.. I only put pins on a couple to show how they would go. After laminating, I used a punch to round the corners. They look a lot better printed than the image above does. :crackup:

Sonya

wELL i DIDN'T HAVE AS MUCH LUCK "DOING UP THE LOGO" AS i DIDN'T HAVE HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES OF THE LOGO TO WORK WITH. bUT i DID RESIZE ONE TO 2 1/2" wide that prints okay. I colorized part of it to make it a little more noticable without losing the "earthiness" of the original. Anyway. If you print it to scale it will be 2.5" x0.85". Then laminate it. If you leave the top border of the laminate about a quarter of an inch long after trimming it down averywhere else, you can punch two tiny holes in the top and use a pin to attach it. Anyway, it's not great but it works for this show coming up. Donna, I am printing about 10 of them if you want me to just bring one to you.
Also, this is scalled at 300 dpi and is 2.5 by .85 inches. That is why it doesn't look so great here, but it prints sorta kinda okay :crackup:

Sonya

Jenn, a vacuum cleaner hose with a nylon stocking over the end of the hose works great. If there is dirt or something spilled on it, I have used a mild dish detergent to clean. Just add a bit of detergent to a sink, or bucket while filling it with warm water to make lots of suds. Just use the suds and a clean cloth to wipe the dirt away. Don't get the fabric too wet and take extra care not to get the joints wet. Then wipe with a dry towel and let dry. Then brush and fluff with a pet brush.
Sonya

Well Gladys, just to make sure you don't miss me this time, I am going to make one and wear it as well. In fact, since the show is coming up really quick, if you want, I will steal TT's logo and open it in Photshop and make something up that will be small but noticable and post it here so anyone who wants can print and laminate it to use in the short term. Will have it done by morning.. Great idea!
Hugs
Sonya

A yorkie after my own heart! He is precious and looks so real! You have captured that yorkie attitude!
Love him
Sonya

I use artificial sinew and go first from eye to eye, pulling tighter each time, then from eye to the lower point of the mouth (the inverted Y) then pull tight, go back to the eye, then go to the other eye and down to the lower mouth on that side, back up to the eye, pull tight, then down to the joint area to hide the ends.

Eileen,
I feel for you so much! It is so hard to lose one of our beloved loyal family members. Keep remembering those sloppy klisses... they will get you through this.
Hugs
Sonya

Awww Kathy! I am so sorry! I will have your daughter and you in my prayers! Waiting for you to come back with good news.
Huge teddy hugs
Sonya

Sandra, I have sent 3 to you today. On the back of each is the edition (1 of 1) the name of the bear featured, the title of the card, the date it was made and my signature. Along with that is my full contact info. No need to send me 3 in return. One would be great! I display mine at a show in an album with pages that each hold 9 cards in clear plastic sleeves. I got an album that I could decorate myself. Collectors love coming by to look at them. I have 3 sections in the album. Some pages with cards available for purchase. Some pages with cards that will go with each bear as it is sold. And some pages with my collection. I am going out of town tomorrow to visit my daughter and grandkids, but will be back by the 1st and will take a few pictures of the album if you would like.
Hugs
Sonya