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Well Image Upload has sent a Fatal Error/Safe Mode restriction message etc... so I have to go w/the old way of one pic per post.
Sorry! I was really gonna get it this time, too!
Old bear
I owe a feind a HUGE favor and in exchange she'd like some vintage style bear patterns. Are there any of our talented folks here that could contact me offlistr? This is the style she likes - doesn't need kits just patts. Anyone?
These patts are from a website that hasn't been updated for 2 years and I suspect they may no longer be an active bear maker. Haven't responded the the couple of emails I've sent. TIA!
This sorta comes full circle back to ppl that have no given name on their own websites.
Do you think that's weird? Or just an overlooked detail? Sometimes just a first name...
because I do have my name right there in full in all my auction titles, as well numerous times in my description.
I like full disclosure in auctions & on websites, especially a business one! Why would one not give their name?
But as to thanking someone by first name in Feedback, does it give a false sense of camaraderie? I was just curious how many ppl thought it 'friendly' and others - 'invasive'.
Signatures! Great idea Daphne!
Mindy, will there possibly be a poster?? Even a smaller sized one, say 11" x 18" rather than a full blown 24" x 36"?
No, it's not tied to eBay. The Buyer/Seller might put something like this in in their Feedback for your purchase/sale:
"Thanks for the smooth transaction, Sabine! 5 Stars! Instant Payment! (etc...)"
I wanted to know if ppl feel better about being addressed personally like this or does it make them uncomfortable?
...make that 'Sell' format....
I'm glad I forced myself to use the new Seel Your Item format: an announcement from eBay last night that the (still available previous) format will be gone in May 07.)
And - do you like or dislike sellers/buyers to add your real name to the transaction's Feedback?
Another good reason to stick with my all-chocolate no-flour recipe!!
Do share Eileen! One of our kids is Celiac. And LVS Chocolate!!
When I travel on business I always take boxes of felting needles in checked luggage.
Guess what looks like a nail bomb.
Guess which (only) one of our 4 suitcases gets opened every time??
We have used the TSA locks since right after 9/11. And they're always tripped to Red , with the nice little form note inside the bag.
I once forgot the little postal scale in my tiny workbox in my purse. They looked at it on Xray 15 ways to Sunday. I couldn't explain as I didn't know what the hold-up was.
You know now that it was that little scimitar shaped one about 2" across that swings like a pendulum to register the weight. Sheeessh....
I can't tell you the number of times I unpicked a shirt cuff once,
Unpicked ... Once?? We had to 'turn' cuffs & collars. When wear made the outer edges begin to fray, we removed them completely and turn them over to expose the inside. I hate to admit the # of times I had to unpick and then reattach cuffs, forgetting that I should've sewn them to the opposite sleeve so that the button holes would be in the correct position!!
The one I use is a very high quality slightly textured
Ours are quite smooth and slick. I'm not familiar with any like that.
once you get used to it is much easier to sew with than regular cotton
Oh, not cotton! That's not supposed to be kept under the pressure that stuffing brings. I'd hate to think of the sts breaking later. Ever purchased vintage spools with cotton and silk threads on them? The threads'll pull apart in your fingers.
Using a "crowbar" as my friend likes to call them, will create bigger holes in your fabric and make the stitches easier to see.
My size 8 & 10 could be called crowbars but with careful placing of the sts, there aren't any holes to show after stuffing.
I've got a pic in my camera about puckered sts. I'll post this now and then upload it. It was from a Round Robin swap in which I made the heads, but I never finished the bear cuz I didn't feel like resewing this person's Body.
My themed gift boxes are at the most, 3" x 4". The largest dimension is sometimes 5" acrss.
The smalles boxes I use are 8" cubes; the USPS will supply these and others free, delivered right to your address. Sometimes I have to buy them at The Container Store if I haven't re-ordered online.
All are very well suspended in these outer boxes by those rectangular 3" x 6" 'bubbles' and bubble wrap.
I just shake my head when I get items shipped as I first described. Chicken me is too scared to leave negative FDBK so I just don't mention it though.......
Me again - forgot my ** notation in the last reply:
and they receive an item that's very softly done**
I've bought many items on eBay that had begun to separate/come apart before they even arrived here. Several were shipped in a regular businees envelope!!! I would not give names but if I'm in a different venue, like a foreign coutry, I may bring along an untagged piece to demonstrate.
There are as many degrees of firmness in NFing as there are NFing needlers.
Every single one of the styles (degrees of needling) is valid & has its place, depending upon what the item will be used for: clothing, home decor, a collectible art work.
The true artist is the one who knows the differences, knows how to produce all of these, and then creates designs that fit the purpose!!!
Quickly needling some fiber for a few hours and expecting it to last in a collectors' hands, where one has NO idea of how it will be treated, does a disservice to others who are honestly evaluating their work and accurately describing it. There is only ONE artist I know who plain-out says Soft Sculpture. I give her all laud for stating the style of work right up front.
Well, down off the soapbox for sure!! I took this far away from Shill Bidding (can you tell I'm passionate about this?????)
I don't know exactly what you mean by what wording I will use, Bobbie? It might be my English....
Nope - got the 'English' Have a Brit BIL! I should have quoted more of your reply:
I was happy I had it protected by a reserve then, but I thought that people just did not know what I wanted to have for it, so this is my new method.
Does anyone feel it necesasary to explain that this is the absolute minumum bottom price they're willing to accept? If this is your theory, would you feel the need to explain all of the previous bit to your private collector list? How work w/o a minimum bid Reserve price has sold for 1/10th of it's retail value/
Some eBayers are looking for only the bargains and others don't even consider the price: if they want it they'll pay whatever it takes. I'm lucky enough to have a collector like that: she likes only unique OOAK works - has even left Feedback to the effect of "cannot believe that the piece fetched only the $100 minimum."
In other words, if your work was going at $70, do you now feel you should explain to your bext customers why you've put into practice a new way of working?
I have had 2 bidders that can go to the-sky's-the-limit; I wrote to both of them before the new year to explain just this very thing. Both of them wrote back to say it made no difference, if the piece was truly meant to be for them they'd have it. None of us wants 50 bids - that top out at $70 - so sometimes, if the work is worthy of it, it's OK to ask for the same amount that the tag would read at a bear show. That's one reaon that I'm glad to have over 15 years of being on the show circuit under my belt: it makes pricing a whole lot easier for a dozen reasons.
I look at my EBay auction as great ways of advertising with which I can reach more people than though advertising in magazines.
My thoughts exactly! The show fees (and now eBay, which are a WHOLE LOT CHEAPER for more coverage, problems and all!!) *were* my advertising dollars at work. I think I've placed 3 or 4 ads in the major magazines in 17 years. Like eBay & websites, you have to become a regular long before you get nibbles, but I cannot afford the $500 invoices.
I pay over $25 for insertion fees , but as the US dollar is low against the Euro,
We traveled in Europe the first Euro year - it was *good* for us. I think we averaged about 75¢ to the Euro; last time I checked in 05 or 06 it was over $1.30, which means it takes alomst double our US currency to purchase the same things. The £ to $ is horrendous just now. $2 to 1£. No traveling for us....
I hope you will get the prices that you want for your work Bobbie,
I'm in a very small specialized niche market; the public's recognition of this art form isn't there yet. When others' work is being described the same as mne - very firmly needled - and they receive an item that's very softly done**, and/or misshapen or beginning to separate into layers, they could expect that all firmly needled work is going to be the same. When looking at my starting bid, they would naturally assume that mine is the same and think I'm crazy to be starting @ $100. Pictures can be deceiving! Someday they will rise when the quality improves - it behooves the 'pioneers' to keep pushing that edge.
To demonstrate the type of work that I do, I've begun to include in every needle & kit sale, a small twist of wool that I've needled the end of for about 15 - 20 minutes. It's only hal an inch by half an inch, and I do say that this is still not as firm mas my work is but it's a starting point. In that way I try to demonstrate why it takes 2 weeks to make my work instead of 4 - 6 hours.
Most times they still hit what the reserve price would have been but, sometimes they don't.
Aleta, you're fortunate to have built up that client base. I hope to be there in another year or 2, just about the time that the NFing work should start coming into its own in quality!!!
it's important, I think, to keep some price consistency across all sales venues.
Exactly Shelli - TY!
Also, I have to admit that for me personally, it's sometimes off-putting to see a full priced bear on eBay.
There are many auctions that have a start bid price of, say, $175 and the Reserve is $185. They don't have a clue about how, what & when to use the Reserves, BINs. etc...!!!
Ooops here it is 4PM and I have yet to do more about organizing & de-stashing than think about it!
Thx Shelli, that gave me ideas. I have PSHP CS ver. 8 and I Google EVERYTHING but I never thought to search for 'tutorial'. I subscribed to Photoshop Tips and they're new tips sent every week by email.
Off to figure out (again) the text additions. Jodi I liked the curved script. Anyobne have a few extra hours they can lend me??
Totally agree Jodi, my listing fees which I commented on in another thread, just jumped from about $5.60 to $10 for a listing to start on Tues. That about doubles the amount for listing I paid last time and it's right off the top of any profit.
My work is in a very small niche market and as high end pieces, they were all going for less than half of my retail price last year. I choose to start the listing high ($99 would,'ve even been a tinch cheaper than $100!!) as a reflection of what I think my work is worth.
That starting bid amount does not reflect what I would consider my lowest price, sometimes aka the price for shop owners. It would be higher then. There are fabric minis I'm watching right now that have started at $150 w/a BIN $250. (It's also the same basic pattern used each time in different fabrics and accessories but that's a whole other topic!!) Not many bids but they 'usually' get their bears sold. Someday I may be able to start higher/closer to actual retail price but I cannot continue to sell at -50% of retail so I've just started adding a Reserve and starting nearer what I'd like to be paid.
I think it is much more transparent then starting at 0.99 and have a reserve of say 750....
Often a lower Starting Price is chosen because one of the listing fees (Insertion Fee ??) is based on the starting price level.
I thought that people just did not know what I wanted to have for it, so this is my new method.
They won't know that unless you mention it someway. What wording will you use, Ellen?
Administration:
I'm totally behind Sarah's query about a Forum for Photography, manipulating editing software like Photoshop (I've got CS v.8), etc...
Any hope of a New Addition????
Pretty Please with sugar on top??????
I keep only nominated & award-winning bears. I recently auctioned an URSA from last year, because I knew the home it was going to end up in.
My grandkids might like a keepsake someday which is why I keep them with their awards but lately, with NFing, I like each new one better than the last so I'm not as attached to keeping them, only my first NFed mini winner - Stalking over there on my avatar. He's currently on loan to a museum but he'll be home again late this spring.
Sorry, I missed the part about being a mini - right, I'll go with Chrissi, but she should pay for shipping both ways and a bit for your time/trouble.
Especially in light of being a commissioned piece. We don't often get to change our minds at will in this Life!!
I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable about her removing the originals - and sewing the new ones on.
Remember that she's going to represent this bear as yours; if she does a crappy job - or cuts into the fabric backing - how will she fix that???
I'd be more comfortable charging the $20 PLUS telling her she has to pay to ship it to and from you because make the change ONLY if you do the actual work.
Ever since 9-11 they want pics official paperworks like these and passports with no smiles, just plain faces. A shame...
I always try to lift my chin to stretch out the wattles under there and am always told to lower my head. At 5' 8" it's hard to oblige them and still get that instant facelift look.
Last Nov at renewal time I found that we now have a chair to sit on - I sort of scrunched down so I could lift my chin - it's not bad this time either!
I will first attempt the sewn on patches.
Be sure to pluck every bit of mohair out of the backing, not just cutting it off, so that it gets a nice close fit.
And as that's an area that has a lot of curves in different directions going on in a very small area, besides even more tension added with sinking the eyes into the sockets there, cut your patches on the diagonal, not with the straight of the fabric's grain.
Thx Shane - I just spent 3 hrs trying to upload in the new Seller format.... The morning headache is a LOT bigger now!
Pix are hosted elsewhere so that didn't add into it but -
When I clicked OK to post the scheduled auction it brought me back to the fees listing for a second time: noting in red that 'Some fees had changed and had I noted the total?" They must be getting MAIL!!!
I Look again - what used to cost me about $5 now is $10!!! Baaaad news. The large fees I see different are now the insertion 3.60, pre-scheduled is 2.45 & Border is still $3.
I'm in the WRONG business!!!
across rocking the needle.
Is that like the stitch motion & placement used for quilting, Diane? That'd be a running sts, no?
