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'Bear' Bottoms OriginalsHi all!
I would first like to say that someone needs to take my debit card away from me. Hobby Lobby, JoAnne Fabrics, and Michaels are having WAY too many sales!!!!!!! 
Does anyone else here walk into a craft store and immediately start mulling over EVERY SINGLE ITEM that anyone could fathom incorporating into a bear idea? I now have about 30 million different colored pieces of material that I think I could possibly incorporate into a bear embellishment.... 50 million different colored strings, threads, perles, yarn, etc etc etc.... and about 80 million different colored beads.... ALL ferreted into our house (while my husband is at work, mind you!) and squirrelled away within the last, what, 3 months that I've been making bears. I now have embellishments to create roughly 4.9 bazillion wee bears.... I have, for the first time in my life an unhealthy obsession with glass seed beads.
I even caught myself tonight. There I was, in JoAnne fabrics, picking out yet another of 7 bolts of fabric that I already had piled overloading my bitty green cart. Why DO they offer teeny little shopping carts that, if you were to find a large bolt of beautifully luscious fur, it would be the ONLY thing you'd be able to wedge in there???? I will admit, I ended up making 3 separate trips to the cutting table tonight. How could anyone help it?! They are having this massive 70% off sale!!!!! Anywho, there I was, mulling over fabric when my husband called on his lunch break. He asked where I was.... I thought quick.... My eyes shot around the store, and I squeeked, "I'm at home........" Yeah, right.... that was so obvious my husband replied, "Hobby Lobby or JoAnne? and don't spend too much money." DANGIT! Busted. So what else could I do but rattle off about this wooooonderful fabric I found ad how it would make beeeeyooootiful ruffs for my bears and.... I'm only buying a little bit. 
He always gives up at that point... but, do I have a problem? 
They say, "You must put money into a business to make a business".... or something like that. But I never realized how FUN it could be to whittle away dollar bills on bear making supplies. Not to say I am a savvy bear business guru.... It's just fun altogether!
I have a dream.... A dream that some day.... I can walk into my supply room and it be like walking into Hobby Lobby, with everything imaginable to decorate my bear with at my disposal.... HA 
Meanwhile.... I'm going broke.
Thinking about joining Bead Obsessed Anonymous,
Kimberly W.
Newcastle, OntarioHi Kimberly,
I hear you - I'm not too bad with the bear stuff - I have scads of mohair of all different lengths and tons of fabric, although if I finish my almost 9 inch bear and decide I like it, I will have to buy "bigger" pieces LOL. I'm semi - obsessed with digital scrapbooking and manipulating photos etc. For Christmas my hubby gave me a chunk of cash, (gotta love him) and I bought everything I could find from Michaels. The sad part is that I can't use any of it until we move, as I can't be making all sorts of new messes. 
But I do understand that everytime I pass a craft store, my eyes lock on it until it's about 1/2 mile behind us. If I look pitiful enough, my hubby asks "was there something you needed at Michaels?" and that gives me enough time to come up with something, before we see the next Michaels! Take care.
Hugs.
Brenda
Posts: 8,574I feel your pain Kimberly
So, as the resident psych nurse I have a few questions;
1. Are the animals, kids, husband still getting fed at least once a day?
2. Are you able to sleep at night without dreaming about shopping or bears?
3. We already know your fibbing so #3 is yes.
4. Do you honestly, in your heart of hearts, in the very marrow of your bones, in the very cellular makeup of your body, believe you will use all the things you have purchesed to continue on the perfect bear quest, the search for the perfect pattern, the need to cut mohair, the smell of stuffing in the morning, do you Kimberly think teddy before you even have your morning coffee? Do you get so busy that you forget to eat, brush your hair, vacuume? Have ever not answered your phone because you couldn't be interrupted, you were at a crucial juncture and it had nothing to do with The Young and the Restless or Days of our Lives,( Insert your own favorite pre-teddy distraction) but everything to do with Teddies?
Now if you answered yes to #4 it negates any yes or no answers on the first three questions and we will let you continue to shop with glee.
However, if you answered no to #4 and you already had a yes for #3, then the other two questions are moot. You are in deep trouble and you need help. Perhaps which ever Teddy Talk member lives closest to you can get together with you and assist you in furthering you teddy-supply journery. If that doesn't work we will have to set up a hot line for you. But have no fear, as long as there is money in the bank and the debit card is good-to-go there are supplies waiting for you from all over the world!
We'll get you through this honey, don't worry. We are all here to help you!
dilu
Hi Kimberly,
Yes, I think that we are all in the same boat, that it is just too tempting when walking past a craft or
material shop to go by without spending some money.
Just maybe buying some ribbons or buttons and the list goes on!
Back Road BearsOh, Kimberly!!!! Dear, dear Kimberly! There is no going back now! :dance:
I just invested $500 in shelving systems for my studio closets because all those doo-dads were in heaps and piles and I couldn't find anything!!! So don't think the spending stops when you walk out of the craft shop unless you already have an organized space at home.
I've been using the "You've got to spend money to make money" theory for 6 years now........ and it is true!!!!
You are not crazy and hey, there are far worse things to be spending money on!!!
Hugs,
Daphne
PS. I was just at Michael's this afternoon and yup, went in for ONE thing, not even bear related, but walked out with a cart full of 'stuff'.... I have no idea what.... snuck the bags into my studio, shoved them in a closet (we haven't installed the shelving yet) and shut the door. It will be fun to see what I bought tomorrow!!! 
'Bear' Bottoms OriginalsHa, I am soooo glad that I have you all... understanding, consoling.... It's nice to know that Youa ll can sympathize with me! Well, I already knew that everyone would have to horde bear stuff to SOME extent! But it is good to know that I don't have a problem... yet..... ha
Dilu, Yes, I do try to feed the kids at least once a day, but I will admit that there have been times when my four year old has come to me, dewey eyed and said, "Momma, are we gonna eat? I'm starving." I get so wrapped up in piecing a bear together and getting those eyes 'just so' that my stomach goes unheard. (Yet, where is this gut coming from???)
And I will also fully admit that, when I am at work, kneading my 23rd ball of Peasant Loaf dough and my wrist starts to ache just so, I immediately think, "Oh no, how can I work on my bears if my wrist is hurt??" and will switch hands, even though my left is far more cumbersome and will inevitably begin to ache far sooner! I will stay up until midnight working on a bear even though I have to get up for work at 3:50. I rationalize by saying, "I can work on this... I'll still get more than 3 hours of sleep..." As a matter of fact, thank the Lord that my boss called me this evening and told me to take tomorrow off, because I wouldn't be here typing right now (I am, even though already I am falling asleep in the chair... call it sleep deprivation... I call it Bearly fixated)
And I think my bears have feelings.... I mean, not literally in a crazy sense.... I don't think they are going to jump up and start dancing. But I think each and every one has a personality, and each one is excited to go to his or her new home. They tell me what their personality is with their eyes, their expressions, their little whole selves. Look at me, I'm getting all windsome talking about my bears' personalities. When I am done with a bear and am ready to adorn him or her, I go to my little supply area and think, "Oooo she'd look soooo pretty in this... Oooo, he'd loooove to wear that!" I am bear crazy. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not a wacko that sits around and does nothing but talks to her bears all day long (disclaimer: if there is anyone out there that reads this and talks to their bears all day long, I mean no offense and didn't mean anything by it! It's OK! 
) , but maybe a little piece of me goes into each of those wee little boogers....
Kimberly W.
'Bear' Bottoms OriginalsOh yes, and.... Yes, I think that I could use each and every one of these little 'things' I buy for my bears.... I just loooooove variety more than.... well.... I love it!! lol!
Kimberly W.
Acid Attic BearsThanks for this topic ! :hug:
I do feel quite "normal" now ! And I feel a little less guilty :D...
I do spend waaaaay too much, telling myself the "You must put money into a business to make a business" thing... I buy any quilting fabric that pleases me on the net whereas I do not put scarfs on my bears for the moment... Not to speak about mohair... I've spent more money in this first year bearmaking than in my hole life...
I'm very proud of myself as I have not ordered any wool to make bear sweaters for the moment but there is a 20% off sale at the internet shop, you see ??...
I tell myselt I must not make any order for the next two months as a therapy but I've a commission from a collector and I do need a fabric or some dye... 
Oh girls, I DO feel really guilty...
Thinking about joining Bead Obsessed Anonymous,
Kimberly W.
I think this society would be over subscribed.
Hubby who has worked in the casino industry will never gamble, so never goes near the place, but happened to be with me one day in a casino, and overheard this woman telling her husband on her mobile that she was at the "nursery"- garden farm- well , my husband was shocked- he asked me if all woman got away with this, and if all men fell for these tricks.
Lynette
Fuzzbutt BearsBah, if it's only craft and fabric stores that have you obsessed I have no sympathy. 
I was at the mall shopping for work clothes and found myself imagining how the suede jackets would look as bear paws. To escape I went downstairs to the makeup section and discovered myself comparing nail polish shades for potential painted-glass-eye colors. The jewlery section was no better, bracelets are about the right size for teddy-bear necklaces. The children's clothing section has nifty, teddy-bear sized shoes. The Godiva chocolate store had lovely teddy-bear-useable ribbons around their boxes. The garden store had lovely furniture that could be nice backdrops for outdoor pictures of teddies.
So I went home and found myself contemplating disassembling some of the throw pillows on my couch because the fabric would make a lovely teddy bear . . .
-- Erika
Baird'sBears
So I went home and found myself contemplating disassembling some of the throw pillows on my couch because the fabric would make a lovely teddy bear . . .
Erika, this says it all!! I have to TRY to restrain myself from thinking about bears when I'm tending the cats and dogs, lest . . . well, it's just too awful to contemplate!
Eileen
Flying Fur StudiosYou guys are funny.
I have the same problem. Just yesterday, I went to my favorite place to buy disks, just disks. We'll, $90 later..........I got a bit more than 1" disks!!
I also look at everything around me, and think it would be great at some point for my bears.
I'm also bad at jumping into things. Like you should see al the sculpting supplies I have, and now knitting looks appealing. Once I get into something, I NEED everything I can think of, just in case.
But I think, I'm not buying cigarettes anymore, and I'm not buying junk food anymore........
At least that's what I tell myself.
Living where I do there are no shops and even in the city which is a long way away there are no decent craft stores.I am very guilty of going in to antique and junk shops and buying stuff that will supposedly go well with a bear but tends to go well with the other stuff in my room instead.I love looking at vintage lace and ribbon etc on ebay but before you know it you are bidding on loads and four hours have gone by!!!Not much profit working that way.I now limit myself to an hour a day and no more.
'Bear' Bottoms OriginalsYou guys!! You make me feel soooooo much better!!! I do the SAME things!! I walk into regular stores and start picking apart merchandise, thinking about how good stuff woulf look either on a bear or as a bear!
just the other day I saw these great pillows at a home store, all furry and beautiful and I thought, "Hmmm, I could make a 6' bear with this.... Wonder how much it costs?" It would have made a LOVELY bear, but also I could not afford the pillow! Maybe that was a good thing! lol
I haven't yet gone into an antique store, but every time I see one, my pulse quickens! I think about all the lovely antique jewelry and baby clothes they must have in there, just WAITING to be put on a bear! So to hear all of you say these things makes me feel more, accepted and belonging, ha! It's true! I feel now like I can proudly walk into any store, mull and mumble over bear stuff, scare other customers by picking something up and saying, "Oooo, this would make a lovely bear!!" and just have fun dreaming up these endless possibilties. You guys won't believe the fur I got at JoAnne's! They sometimes get in the most lovely fur!!! This fur will be on an upcoming bear.... soon!
Kimberly W.
'Bear' Bottoms OriginalsOh, and Nettie, I loooove that little bear in your avatar! He's got such a cute face! (Ha, in case you guys haven't noticed, I SO focus on bear's faces!!)
Kimberly W.
LuxembearsAAAAAWWW but it's all for the love of our art! :dance:
Tax write off.... Tax write off... Tax write off... :dance: :dance: :dance: save those receipts!
hhhmmm going crazy? All the time. It goes with the territory.
Actually , I am just glad that I don't live right next door Intercal.....then I would be broke ALL the time.
Upstate New YorkHmm ... isn't this what the WESPP was designed to help me manage? Yes the good ol' Worldwide Employee Share Purchase Plan ... I buy company stock at a very nice discount, sell at market value, pay taxes only on the profit ... presto ... BEAR MONEY!
:twisted:
Upstate New YorkErika ~ I'm still laughing! Glad you joined TT. I am packing for Ohio to go shopping w/ you!
Kim-Bee BearsKim, we already talked about this lmao.... I go almost every other week to Joannes, Michaels, AcMoore... I have TONS AND TONS of ribbon of every kind, color, width... I have TONS of mini bear fabric, synthetic and now I am starting on my mohair stash! I have so many wool "fuzz balls" for felting... I have TONS of embellishments, TONS of "accessories" I have TONS of "fibers", I have TONS of glass beads!!!! That is my newsest 'obsession' is glass beads!
I am the same way, I come home and I quick put everything away and hide the bags in the trash can... I try to go to the store when I know he wont call... LMAO... oh geez... I always tell him though within an hour or so of being home... I cant keep things like that... and then I will go into my story about how I got a whole bag full of stuff at Joanne's and it only cost me $30 LMAO....
I think I should become a lifetime member of bead obsessed annonymous!!!
Posts: 8,574Erin, Intercal's address is on their home page.....just pound on the door and tell them who you are! They might give you a tour. Take your camera though....we expect pictures! How fun would that be?!
Erika, giver her time.....she'll get there.
Erin, if you sell your synthetics on e-bay you will be able to have more money for mohair.
I live in the forest where the only commodities for sale in our miniscule town are gas, beer and meth.
None of which are any use to me at all.
I love on line shopping- but it would be blissful to wander the isles of a Michels....I am positive I would get ideas....
I think that looking at used household items and imagining other beary useful ways to use them is a healthy thing, it is stretching the mind. Definitely a talent to be cultivated.
dilu
Baird'sBears The WORST is when your husband beats you to the door, takes a huge Intecal box from the postman, and has to pay $40 in tax and duty. Ewwwwwwwwwwwww.
Eileen
Kim-Bee BearsAAAHH!!! tax and duty? Is that becuase it was a delivery from the US?
Baird'sBears Yes!
Kim-Bee BearsAWWW thats too bad
BIG :hug:
Oh, and Nettie, I loooove that little bear in your avatar! He's got such a cute face! (Ha, in case you guys haven't noticed, I SO focus on bear's faces!!)
Kimberly W.
Thanks Kimberly,
I just changed it minutes before reading that.
The one I had was a three inch velvet one.I must make another wee one soon or I will lose the knack!!!
Diane
p.s the new one was just under three inches .
