Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Peggy--Welcome to Teddy-Talk!

I use Mink Oil, a natural lubricant that actually comes from mink. It's sold in flat tins for reconditioning leather shoes. I haven't had any problem at all with seepage or mess.

I also clean fur with alcohol--this strikes horror into the hearts of some, but many experiments over the last year have proved to me (at least) that it does a great job of removing guck without drying the pelt or fur. I use only wood alcohol, which isn't cut with water, and treat both pelt and fur with a touch of mink oil once dry. I tried soaking a scrap of mink in water once, just to see what would happen--not recommended, because it dried hard and brittle.

If your pelts are too dry, they might not hold up very well. I'd recommend trying a few gentle tugs, then a few less gentle tugs, to make sure they won't split!

Yikes, Judi--keep it up, girl! Think of all the poor baby mice you're saving when the cats don't eat their mommies.

I have to keep an eye on the composter all winter--there are always mice nesting at the warm center of it, and the cats patrot constantly, waiting for the mom-mouse to come out!

Me too, Penny--and the graphic is wonderful. I can't wait to see the whole site . . . no pressure or anything

Paula, all your bears are beautiful, but I LOVE the face on Hickory

Vicki, you lucky lucky girl!! I am green with envy!

Hey, Shantell,

Neat KittyKondo--I use an old covered litter box to feed the cats in--it keeps the dogs out of their food!

Wow, Karen--it certainly does work, judging by your wonderful creations! Thanks! :dance:

:crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

WONDERFUL!!

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Aaaaack. Where's mine?

Does anyone have any experience needlefelting Alpaca fiber?

I have a ton of these fleeces, beautiful and washed and silky, and it just occurred to me that I don't even know :doh:  if they're good for needlefelting.

So somebody tell me that they are.

Wendy, get yourself a new computer and come back to us!!  :pray:

What a great thread, Daphne!

Congratulations to Everybody!!

Paula, this is the only way to buy something as important as a house. If you don't love it, who cares what's right with it. If you do love it, anything wonky can be fixed.

Good news . . . well, my dear little mice didn't sell on eBay after 2 weeks (aaack!), but I'll just pull them back for a bit. The good news is that I'm not upset, because I know they're great!

The other good news is that one of my students, a plumber who flunked high school seven years ago, has made real progress in his online English course--I'm really proud of this young 'un.

And I've started another rabbit, this one a commission for an in-law's baby. I love making critters for kids!

And I deposited a huge payment on the Visa account from my own earnings, which makes my Hubs happy!

It didn't hurt that I bought a package of 4 O'Henry bars along with the groceries, and ate two.

I think Buffalo is the snow capital of the World! My Dad grew up there, I've been stuck in the airport a gazillion times, and it always seems to have snow at Christmas when Toronto (great white north phooey) doesn't.

I'm sorry you were powerless for so long, Kathleen, but your pix are so beautiful!

When our power goes out, usually in the summer, I make coffee on the barbeque! Any port in a storm . . .

Ah, Shantell, cats know a good thing when they see it . . . the word's out!

Jenny,

When I've used safety eyes on childsafe bears/bunnies (only twice), I 've done  a trial stuffing of the head (not too firmly) to figure out where the eyes should go. Otherwise, I'd be clueless!

:crackup: Me too, Daphne--love books, hate libraries, librarians loathe me on sight . . .

I don't know what it is, but I'm always at odds with the system, and finally gave up trying. The public library claims I owe $200 for four books I actually paid for when I lost them. No way will I fork it over. Now I buy, mostly used and audio, or go without. Or send my Hubs or daughter to borrow for me.

Bobbie, luv, I hope your second knee comes out as well as your first!

I love audiobooks--it takes some practice to follow them whilst working on something else, but the brain eventually adapts.

I subscribe to www.audible.com, which has gazillions of titles of all kinds, and allows me to stream books online or download and burn them to CD. The cost is quite reasonable.

Since I tutor English essay writing, I often need to review a novel or play to prepare for a student's project. As an ex English prof, I've already read most of the high school and university curriculum, but audiobooks allow me to 'reread' Hamlet or Great Expectations whilst working on a bear or cleaning the oven (as if!). It's been a major timesaver.

Sandy, is that a cheeky little ferret face in your avatar? Love it, whatever it is.

I'm very glad you posted, Sandy. We need more input from collectors and eBay buyers on Teddy Talk.

I've been an official Bear Artist, self described, for about 15 months, and I'm still struggling with the issue of pricing. I have to admit that I'm  also still struggling with the art of photography!!

On my website, I've been pricing my creations at about $10 per inch of height, which is the minimum I'm willing to accept. I feel that I need to build a name and a following before I can fairly charge more. Rather than charge less, I'd prefer to keep my critters, or at least hold on to them and hope for another opportunity.

I've been advertising in TeddyBears&Friends, which is expensive, but it's brought me more than enough sales to pay for the ads. So far my TB&F ads and website have been much more profitable for me than eBay, but I want to keep trying for the eBay market.

I find eBay sales very difficult to strategize. After my mice didn't sell in a 7-day auction, I relisted them--it hurt, but I forced myself to try again. I've set their opening bids slightly below what I'd ask on the website, with no reserve, but maybe this is too high to attract bids. Or maybe it's too low to attract experienced collectors. Or maybe I need to keep slogging until buyers recognize me. Or maybe my photos are unappealing. I don't know. 

Maybe it's none of the above, and I just need to keep at it!

Michelle,

I keep my collection in a cold cellar--dehumidified in the summer. They definitely need to breathe!

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:crackup:

What? What? Get out of here! You're telling me that bashing blondes is MEAN? Who knew?

Have you noticed that she actually breathes? Neat!

No bogus lotteries yet, but . . .

I keep getting messages from someone in Norway who's seen my name on www.findatutor.ca, wanting a month's intensive tutoring for his son.

I couldn't understand what he was saying about a colleague's nanny's sister looking after the boy in Canada, blah blah, so I queried.

WELL--this dude didn't answer my questions, but announced that he intended to send about $5000 to my bank account to cover his son's flight expenses. :crackup:

You can guess where it would have gone from there  . . .

Why are they picking on poor impoverished tutors?

:dance: Woohoo, Penny, is that ever fun!! :crackup:

Wow, what a great little program--thanks, Patti :hug:

Tami, I

LOVE

these pictures--that little squirrel has made my day. Maybe my week!

I love squirrels too. I used to foster babies for the Humane Society, but the last litter ate all the knobs off my washer and dryer, and pooed in Hubby's basket of hair-trimmer stuff.

All the squirrels here are fat and fluffy, what with all the seeds available. We have the grey ones, including a black variety. I'm told that there are white squirrels in western Ontario.

Great advice!

I like to readjust the seam allowances with a darning needle before my head is fully stuffed--at the firm but not hard stage. It's much easier than trying to manoevre seam allowances through rock-hard stuffing!

I've been afraid to try glue, but it's a tempting idea. If I weren't so rushed, I'd take the time to tack down the seam allowances where I want them.