Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

No, but we wanted to!!  :crackup:  :crackup:  One Mischief Night my sister and I wanted SO BADLY to do something.  We were about 10 and 8 years old.  We ran outside with 2 eggs each...... BUT we were so afraid of doing something bad and getting caught we egged our own sliding board :crackup:  :crackup:

The person below me is the person everyone goes to for detailed driving directions.  Forget Mapquest...you're a human map!

:hug:
~Chrissi

Gorgeous Pics Paula!!  I just did an entry yesterday on my blog about our day at the Pumpkin Festival!!  There are a TON of pics.
I LOVE the fall   I feel so lucky to live in an area that really experiences all of the seasons, especially the fall change.

http://catherwoods.blogspot.com/

:hug:
~Chrissi

Here's one of my favorites....favorite quotes and movies

there's the usual things...flowers... chocolates...promises you don't intend to keep.

:hug:
~Chrissi

Ponyboy!!  C.Thomas Howell...where is he now?? huh. The Outsiders

:hug:
~Chrissi

:crackup:  :crackup: I had to run and look at my license!! I was thinking "Hey! What's that thing say? "Cause I don't remember providing that info!"  :crackup:   They don't use it here in PA.  Now, would I provide the real thing....  

The person below me is a master at practical jokes.

:hug:
~Chrissi

That is hysterical!!!  :crackup:  :crackup:   Even the little guy behind him is into it!!  TOO CUTE

:hug:
~Chrissi

5 favorite clothing items

a well broken in pair of gap jeans
[SPAM] (winter, spring, summer or fall)
a zipper hoodie sweatshirt (I don't collect shoes...I collect zipper hoodies!!! )
a light knit scarf..funky stripes preferably (I love scarves in the fall and winter!!!)
sunglasses (know it's not technically clothing, but I can't be without them in the sun and they hold my hair back all day to boot)

:hug:
~Chrissi

Oh, I wish!!  I'm still struggling with it.  (anyone know a really good book or video instructional???)

The person below me prefers cereal that turns the milk either chocolate or "fruity" flavored.

:hug:
~Chrissi

Cool beans!!

So glad to hear that this is all working out!!  I was a little concerned when I called the hotel myself on Thursday about my reservation and they said they were "closed indefinitely".  But they also said they were working to move all events and guests to new hotels, so looks like they all did great!

So the hotels are taking care of the reservation exchange and we don't need to make that call at this point?  Thanks a bunch!!

:hug:
~Chrissi

I LOVE this magazine.  My mom had a subscription from the get go, I still have a ton of them for reference.  One of the first valentine's present I made for my hub was from the magazine...they were decorated heart shaped sugar cookies cookies...I saved and lacquered 3 of them! I still have them in the studio...he ate the rest 

I'm with you on ME Home Companion Aleta!  I adore it and have most going back to '99....I love the artist's workshop.

Thank goodness for Ikea shelving and those cool plastic magazine holders they sell at Staples

:hug:
~Chrissi

5 favorite current TV shows

Unwrapped (Food Tv, how food items are made)
Shark  (James Woods is cool )
Antiques Roadshow
How I Met Your Mother
Boston Legal

:hug:
~Chrissi

Thank you Valerie for taking the time to address the concerns & worry regarding contest deceit or voting impropriety. You've reiterated the rules and expectations of the awards and if IP address duplications were eliminated other theories are now void as well.  It's good to have the facts, especially when business and artist reputations are called into question within a public arena.

Thank you again.
:hug:
~Chrissi

5 favorite random acts of kindness

People who hold a door for you
persons who pick up a piece of trash even if it's not theirs
letting someone into a line of traffic
bless you to a stranger's sneeze
paying a strangers toll

:hug:
~Chrissi

5 favorite food smells (some of these things I can't even eat anymore. But I still love the smell)

freshly boxed doughnuts
cinnamon raisin bagels
peanut butter when the lid is first peeled back
fresh grated nutmeg...
popcorn

:hug:
~Chrissi

Me neither!  But now I have a Kansas song stuck in my head    :crackup:

:hug:
~Chrissi

YES I do!  (And I make a wheat free/diary free version that is so good my hub ate an entire half tray once without questioning a thing!)

When finding a bug indoors the person below me catches and releases outdoors rather than squishing.

:hug:
~Chrissi

Nope, not me....but I did talk someone out of a tatoo once (our mom would have killed her and then me!!) :crackup: 

The person below me sings like a rock star, but only in the shower.

:hug:
~Chrissi

:dance:  :clap:  Woooo hooooo Jane and Tami!!!!!   :clap:  :dance:    Cool titles too

Thank you for all you do to make us smile!!   
 
:hug:  :hug:
~Chrissi

Thanks Lisa!!

This here is a local hunt valley newscast where you can see just how big that glass ceiling was that fell.  It's a miracle no one was seriously hurt or killed.  Plus a wedding was about to happen, they're all so lucky to have not been in that lobby.

http://wjz.com/topstories/local_story_283142353.html

:hug:
~Chrissi

My dad just called me with this sad and disturbing news. The one injury is said to be minor. I'm so thankful that this happened at an off time when there was not a breakfast or event crowd gathering.  My parents just stayed in this hotel a few weeks ago and were planning to stay again the weekend of the show. 
I'm anxious to hear what will happen with the show now...I'm stocked with bears and so excited about my first show      Waiting for word from the promoters.  What a total mess for them 

:hug:
~Chrissi

I've been reading along here for the past 24 hours, initially wanting to jump in and then backing off to regroup my thoughts.  I'm a sap, a real bleeding heart, so my initial gut reaction in most of these public "call outs" is to run to the defense of the person/persons who are being taken to task for one reason or another.  Let's be frank the thread is focusing on one individual, and whether right or wrong...cheating or simple "campaigning"... the person is being taken to task in a way that not a whole lot of us would personally appreciate.  Ok, so saying all of that...that's me, my personality. I rescue cats no one wants and I stuck up for the fat kid in grade school...that's me.

When the initial Ursa competition was presented and threads were created about the competition there was no indication that there were obvious winners or gaps in caliber of work.  No one posted or talked of this.  We cheered all of the entries, talked of the fantastic works, and cheered every entrant.  But now, after winners are announced the tides have changed. And that...when standing outside looking in...casts the subtle aroma of stinky grapes.

I voted in the Ursa awards (this year and last year).  I scanned the pics and noted each piece like I would GT & Toby.  My vision is 20/20 and I saw no pieces out there that were obviously poor construction, lacking in attention to detail, or overall poor workmanship.  Each piece out there was obviously created by an artist who put thought, time and care into each piece. To have all of those artists who won be cast in this light (not just the one this thread is about)...but all of the artists who won this year is such a shame.  Many many times we've seen newbies and others out here on TT post a pic of their work and ask whether they should enter into a contest.  These persons might not be top sellers, industry leaders, or person creating for years, but they wish to enter a piece they've put their time and heart into.  I've never seen a reply of No, you're not there yet hun.  Save your entry fee for next year.  You work obviously won't win.  Don't bother trying.  So what's the real story? 

If the overall goal is to suggest positive ways to improve upon the Ursa Awards we, as a community of artists and collectors, must collectively do this without the innuendos, anonymity, and references to anyone particular person(s).  That seems like fair competition and play, to me at least.

:hug:
~Chrissi

Oh,  I can't wait to see how 12 days came together!! I've been hitting the mailbox each day for a week hoping it would be there!    I only got my TBR today...maybe tomorrow....can't wait!!

:hug:
~Chrissi

Hi there,

I have 2 stuffed animals in my studio that I've had since I was an infant.  One is a dog with a tag that has what looks like circus tent tops.  The company on the tag is Animal Fair, Inc.  Not sure if that's who made your bear, but it can't hurt to try googling it or doing a few ebay searches.  Good luck

:hug:
~Chrissi

These are all wonderful!!  (Sueann....WOW, super WOW!!)

Robert Frost is one of my all time favorites, this one especially.  It brings all of my favorite senses to life...that smell and feeling of snow falling in total night time quiet......  just heavenly

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

THEN  on the flip side I grew up with Shel Silverstein.  Anything from Where The Sidewalk Ends is golden IMO!   http://www.shelsilverstein.com/play.asp

Here's a cute one from him.....
Bear In There
by Shel Silverstein

There's a Polar Bear
In our Frigidaire--
He likes it 'cause it's cold in there.
With his seat in the meat
And his face in the fish
And his big hairy paws
In the buttery dish,
He's nibbling the noodles,
He's munching the rice,
He's slurping the soda,
He's licking the ice.
And he lets out a roar
If you open the door.
And it gives me a scare
To know he's in there--
That Polary Bear
In our Fridgitydaire.

:hug:
~Chrissi

So far I've only done the BAO show and that was fantastic.....doing the upcoming Winter Warmer.  I'm very pleased to be an exhibitor in the Nov. Ho Ho OhBearz Show (NCTB) for the first time too.  I think the opportunity, exposure, and connections the online shows allow can't be beat.  If we're able to consider Ebay as advertising / an advertising cost....hoping that people will see you out there... why not be open to and thrilled to participate in well produced online shows that specifically cater to our art and artists? (not really a question, just me talking )  It can't hurt!

The collectors I've met and sold to probably won't be making the trip to the live and in person show I'm participating in.  (3 shows in Nov   ....one of the reasons my blog is totally stagnant and I'm not out here too much right now....making bears, making bears, making bears)  My collectors would need to fly in (over oceans even) to make that live show...so doing online shows is a nice thing to offer.  Well done graphics, features, and ease of shopping coupled with artists dedicated to quality appeals to collectors (from what I've heard). 
The past year has been such a learning experience for me.  I'm more and more inclined to sell via
website(s) & shows.

Back to the bears.... have 4 on the table waiting for paw pads

:hug:
~Chrissi