Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I just sent that too all the girls working here. You can hear laughing from miles away!!!
Please Shelli, don't hold out on us. If you've got more, share 'em!!
Heather

Clare, I think she meant that she has a quilt on top of it, so she can use it as part of the counter. That way she can put stuff on her stove, without worrying about the glass.
At least that's how I understood it.
Heather

You guys are soo cool! Everyone here at work is wondering why I'm laughing at my computer. :lol:
This is the 1st place that I've admitted I don't shave my legs, and no-one has told me I'm gross. Gotta love bear makers. LOVE 'EM!!!

Shelli, I have a good friend that is a swimmer and I asked her one day about the whole shaving thing. They don't shave because the hair 'drags' but they shave so they can feel the water on their skin better. That way they can feel for any drag etc. That makes more sense eh? I've always wondered that myself.

Penny, you are WAY to funny. We shave in total opposites!!! LOL foo foo. LOL

I also don't wear pantyhose. Have to admit that with my leg hair, the hairs tend to stick out and if I have to pull them up, OUCH!!!!

We talk about the strangest things.........

Heather

Love him!! That nose is great!
Heather

I love that!! he he he he he e he he Just like me!
Kim, I know what you mean about stubble. When I was young, still too young to shave. I felt my mom's leg. It was full of hard bristles, and I hated it. I swore I would never shave my legs, and I don't. It's nice bec. I've never shaved and I'm a redhead, my leg hair is barely visable. I wear shorts and everything, and no-one notices. Most people think it's discusting, but I don't care. I just never saw a hygenic reason to shave the legs. Other parts, yes, just not legs.
But anyway.... thanks for the saying. That is also going up on my studio wall. For sure!!

Heather

Sorry to hear about your quilt Dilu!! Scary that your alarms didn't go off though.

So... you guys like the glass top stove?? I know my grandpa used to have one. Old though, and it was very hard to clean. You guys say these new ones are easy?? I've been looking into getting a new stove, and I'm famous for boiling over my pot, and I always make a HUGE mess. So a easy to clean stove would be great!

Shari, "burner dysletic", soo funny. You're just like my mom. She does the same thing!

Heather

wow, some of you wake up arely on your own?? I think that if I got to stay at home and make bears, I would be getting up at 10 or so.
Right now I go to bed around 12 am and I get up at 4:30. It's very silly I know.  One day that little sleep is going to catch up to me. I also do my best 'bear' work at night. The later the better. I find the quiet, lack of disturbance etc. really helps.
Heather

It's tough. I wish I had started bear making in the days where shows were the place to be. Even in Calgary where I live, there used to be one evey October. But not anymore. I guess the people that used to organize it, don't anymore, and no-one has stepped up to take their place. I guess it's just tough to make money doing this sort of thing. Plus, it's getting harder and harder to find any teddy magazines in my city now. I used to be able to go to chapters and find tonnes of teddy magazines. Even Austrailian bear creations. Now they only have two, and won't order anymore for me. It's sad.
Good think I can use a computer, because obviously, that's the way it has to be to sell your bears.
Heather

Awww shucks, I'm blushing. Thanks for all the complements. I feel so special!
It is very addicting to make your own patterns. And Now I can't stop all the ideas in my head. So many things I want to design now. Just too bad I can't draw!

Shantell, Funny. I named him Bluebeary. Great minds do think alike!!!!

Shari, no idea what flavor it was. My friend had a bunch of kool-aid and I just stole one. Didn't even look at the flavor.

Judi, After a very short time, the kool-aid smell went away. Too bad really.

And for everyone else, thanks again. It means soo much to get feedback. Makes me want to keep going.

Heather

Great job!! Soo very sweet!!
Heather

I agree with Shelli. What can I say.
You can also check ebay though. Sometimes you can get a good 'lot' for cheap, and collect lots of supplies at once. That's how I did it.
Heather

I could never be a critic either. I can maybe talk my way into being one, but as soon as I try and get it on paper, nothing smart comes out!! LOL
I'll have to go see The Constant Gardener, but I won't tell my boyfriend. It'll be a weird suprise. :P
And you're very right, it's sad and hard to watch someone go thru such a strong struggle with drugs. I didn't want to be a downer though, I'm soo used to it. It's just part of life to me. No sadness. I've learned from him though. I Don't have a taste for alcohol, and never got into drugs. Plus, my brother is doing good right now. I think he's been clean for like 6 months. It would be nice if this time was the last time.
But if you ever see any other good movies, let us know. Always nice to have a reconmendation.
Heather

Thanks a great point Gina! After all, if the fees weren't so high, we could possibly save money on a website, and still have the security of ebay sales.
Now much we can do though, too bad really.

Heather

Daphine, you're awsome! That's soo funny, I can just picture it. 

You should share how you organize your bear stuff.
I just finished my studio, I know, i'll share pics soon. I have everything in bins, all labeled etc. I love this!! I built some shelves in the closet and I can just stand there, looking at my bins, which are kinda clear, and get inspiration. But I do have trouble with a few things. Like full size sheets of paper, such as drawings, ideas, print outs. I have all this stuff just in one drawer.

And, your bed shouldn't be made, dirty laundry is meant for the floor, and what's a house without dog toys? LOL  :lol::D:P

Heather

I don't know if I could only save 3 pics of each bear!! But then again, I'm going to have a LOT of pics if I don't do it that way.
I love the idea of the months and years. Because, I think now I'll remember when I made them. But I won't. I love the idea of a spreadsheet. Don't know why I never thought of that one before. I would also like to keep track of where my bears end up living. All good things to look at down the road.
Daphine, is everything you do so organized LOL
Heather

Good point Shelli, although my brother has always had serious drug problems, so I knew what an addict can do. Geesh, even me smoking for all these years.
I'm going to show your reply to my boyfriend though. He insists that if a movie is going to disturb him, or make him sad, he won't watch it. I think, from an artistic point of view, it's great art when the move maker can really make you 'feel' something. Other than, "that's cool!".
Very intelligent thought on the movie though. You would be fun to talk 'movies' with.
Heather

Ebay seems to be getting more strict all the time. I know they have been pulling fairy auctions, because of nudity that has been fine for years. Seems like alot of artist catagories are getting targeted. At least that I've heard of anyway. I can understand their policy, but people selling stolen items or fakes seem to be getting along fine. Just doesn't seem fair to me.
I agree with Sarah though, at least they could've given you warning to change to problem.
Oh well, I'm sure if you re-list, you'll sell the bear just fine. Good luck!
Heather

i say make it look like it's supposed to be there. Put a bandage over it, or some stitches as if the bear had to be repaired at some point. Maybe a patch with a differnt fabric??? A bow?
That's what I would do anyway. Don't hide it, Flaunt it!!! No-one but us will ever know the difference
Heather

This is my newest bear, and the 1st pattern I've ever designed. I even dyed the mohair myself with Kool-ade!!
He's only about 5" tall. I didn't want to waste mohair just in case LOL
So, he's not perfect, and I can see lots of areas that I'm going to change and improve on, but still I'm proud.
Thanks for looking.

Heather

Hey guys. At home today, and I've finally decided to deal with all the pictures of my work that are stored on my computer.
I'd like to hear how you do it. I know we must all have tonnes of pictures of our past work, and of course we want to save it.
I tend to make a folder for each creation and then put that folder in a larger, more general folder such as 'felting'. My 2 problems are this,

1) I think I may save WAY too many pictures of each bear. Something like 15 or so

2) As most of my pictures are resized for some reason or another (posting here for one!) Do you save your origianl large picture, and save the smaller, resized/cropped picture??

It's these questions that have prevented me from getting down and organizing.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Heather

You could also try this,
http://www.bjcraftsupplies.com/dolls/eyes-animal01.asp

I agree with Sarah, about listing for what you would be happy to sell it for. Ebay is just isn't dependable enough to hope for a bidding war, unless you have a following.
I also HATE to see these beautiful, large bears made of shultz mohair, sell for $10. It's just not fair, and I picture that it was bought by someone with a retail store, will will turn around and sell that same bear for much more.
You may have to relist a couple of times, to get the money you want. I think it's okay that if the 1st week it doesn't sell, try again. Not everything can be sold in a week. Things sure don't in retail.
And, if all you're doing is recovering your materials at the start, don't feel bad. I like to think of ebay as a place to advertise. ANd if you think of it that way, it sure is cheap advertising.
I can't count how many sales I've made on my creations, after my auctions have ended. Either for a special order, or for something that didn't get any bids etc. I have't sold any poly clay stuff on ebay for a long time, but I'm still getting emails from people for more. And now with xmas on the way, the emails are really coming in and honestly, I haven't listed anything on ebay for at least 7months. And the listing fee's I've paid on ebay I'm sure are much cheaper than any magazine add.
There I go again, rambling away!!! It's this head cold..............honestly! :P
Heather

Nice to know the classes are good. I'm going to take the pattern design one on Oct.
Marie, wonderful bears!! You do some very nice open mouths. Oh, and your picures aren't too big at all.
Heather

One day, when I'm really great at making bears, I would love to swap with you. Who could resist that face??
Really though, you have a real talent for open mouth bears. You really do.
Thanks for sharing,
Heather

Oh Amanda, you did a great job!! I could never get safety eyes that symmetical.
This one won't be liked, it'll be loved!
Heather