Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi all,
     Got this email to day and decided to share it as it made me chuckle!  How true it is.

Three Wise Women

Do you know what would have happened if it had been
Three Wise Women
instead of
Three Wise Men?

They would have asked directions.
Arrived on time.
Helped deliver the baby.
Cleaned the stable.
Made a casserole.
Brought practical gifts

and

THERE WOULD BE PEACE ON EARTH

                                                          Hugs,

                                                          Brenda

Hi Winney,
     The on-line condolence page for Laura does not appear to be there any longer.  It was put up on the weekend after her death, for artist to sign.  I knew Laura from perticipating in the two Auction Parades that were organized for Ebay, but never had the pleasure of meeting her personally.  The only information released was that Laura's death was a tragic accident.  There was also a link to send dontations in memoriam to the Canadian Mental Health Association on the North Country teddy site.  Hope this helps.

                                                              Hugs,

                                                              Brenda

Hi Kim,
     Glad to hear you will be giving it a try!  Good luck to you ant to everyone else that is planning on entering the Tobys or the Golden Teddy Awards.  We'll all be waiting to cheer if and of us succeed!  Take care,

                                                        Hugs,

                                                        Brenda

On the afternoon of Christmas eve, our son is flying into Toronto from Japan.  My daughter will pick him up, and we will travel from Kemptville to Newcastle, to join them.  We'll stay untl late Boxing day.  We are always up by 7:00 a.m. and we eat our Xmas breaky first - always fresh baked croissants with jams and lots of tea.  Then we undo our stockings first, (my hubby and our kids -30 and 32 - are still BIG kids at heart).  Then it's on to the tree - the youngest picks a gift first with their eyes closed, and then we all watch the recipient open it.  Then the next oldest picks etc, until we get to the oldest (ME -YUCK!) and then we repeat the cycle until the gifts are all opened.  It takes a long time, but my family did it when we were children, and hubby liked the idea.  Now our kids won't do it any other way.  It's hard on our grandson, who is two on Tuesday, but we make sure he gets one gift each round.  He'll learn soon enough.   Then we have our traditional meal around 6:00 p.m.  In our family the men are definitely the better cooks and hubby gets the turkey ready and makes the stuffing etc, so the gals do the clean up.  I'm a great baker, but I loathe cooking, and our daughter definitely takes after me LOL.  Their three cats will be perched near our grandson's chair, hoping he will drop some food!  The evening is usually filled with conversation or friends dropping in.   Diane and Kate, it's nice to hear how fondly you remember your grandads - since we are now grandparents, I hope we can create some really nice memories with our grandson.

Hi there,
     I'm sorry about your negative feedback, Jenny.  I hope you can get ebay to do something, but it's my experiece that they aren't helpful with much of anything.  They will probably ask you to go to Square trade. 
     I've been fortunate and have never received a negative.  I always check a person's feedback before bidding.  Then I send them a question about the item - any silly question will do.  I use this to see how fast they respond or even if they will respond, and to gage their tone.  If it takes too long or I don't like the response, I don't bid.  So far, it's paid off.  I havn't had a bad experience yet (touch wood). I think the only way to avoid getting a negative, is to never give one.  It doesn't seem fair, though. 
     My niece also has two accounts with ebay, but I think she had her husband open the second account.  She uses one for buying and one for selling as well.  She pays for her son's private school by selling antiques on ebay.  She sells a lot of linens and quilts, etc.  Anyway, good luck and bye for now.

                                                             Hugs,

                                                             Brenda

Hi Kim,
     I've been making miniature teddies for 10 years.  I was fortunate enough to to able to design nine pieces for Deb Canham, several years ago.  However, for some reason my pieces did not translate into Golden Teddy or Toby nominations until last year, even with many multiple tries, and I still have not been nominated for a "bear".   Last year I tried something new, and I managed to get a Golden Teddy nominaton in the "friends" category, along with Sue Ann and Shelli, and a few other talented artists.  I'm not saying this to discourage you - I think you should definitely try.  Your bear entries may have just that special something that catches the judges eye.   You will NEVER KNOW if you don't try.  You just  have to understand that they get thousands of entries and there are only a few nominations and be able to accept that.   I am going to enter both this year and will wait and see what happens.
      Yes, I have also heard the complaints that the same people get nominated every year, and as Shelli says, it is true to a certain extent.  But who knows how many entries they send.  I've also heard complaints that retail stores should not be allowed as judges, because they have a monetary stake in the results.  They want to make sure they nominate artists, if they sell their work.  Who knows what goes on, as Shelli says.  We all have the option of not entering, if we don't feel it's a fair competition.  I choose to be optimistic and besides, (and I think Shelli will agree) there is nothing like receiving that phone call to say you have received a nomination!  I was so stunned last year, I didn't know what to say - I must have sounded like an idiot!   Anyway - go for it!  You won't know if you don't try!  Good luck and bye for now.

                                                           Hugs,

                                                           Brenda

Hi t here,
     No Aleta, I think I win the crown for "Computer dummy of the year".  Up until recently, I was afraid to try anything - I didn't want to click a button and not be able to "undo" it.  The only thing I know how to so reasonably well is edit photos, as I also make photo ornaments and jewelry, so it was a case of learning by repetition.   I've had a webside set up for 18 months but have never used it cuz I don't know how to change pics etc.  I've just never given out the address, so there it sits.  A neighbour set it up, but is not longer living here, and I've lost contact.  I'm not even sure I remember the password.  Oh well!   Aleta, I also love your site - simple and easy to get around, and your bears are soooo wonderful, they speak for themselves.
     I snipe at auctions, but don't buy often.  I never thought about opening multiple windows.  I just go keep hitting "bid history" and use a stop watch.  I'll have to try your way, Penny. 

                                                           Hugs,

                                                           Brenda

Hi Daphne,
     Your post made my day - I haven't laughed so loud in ages!  I'm also on your side about surprises - I absolutely hate them.  I guess it was the practicality of growing up in a home without much money.  We didn't have money to waste on items that weren't wanted, so when it came to Christmas, we didn't get too much, but our parents made sure our gifts were something on our list.  Hence, when I hint for something at Christmas or birthday and it's ignored, I get upset.   It took my poor hubby a long time, but he finally caught on!
     Does your poor wee bear have holes to breathe?  It must be hot and stuffy in there.  You could poke a few tiny holes and sneak him a treat, for being such a good bear.  Can't wait to hear all about him - are you going to be able to hold out until Xmas?  Good luck!

                                                                   Hugs,

                                                                   Brenda

Hi again,
     Here's the second picture of Corson, which he shows his true colours!

                                                   Hugs,
           
                                                   Brenda

Hi,
     I keep having picture problems.  I thought I had edited it small enough.  I re-did it again, and hopefully it will go.  Can't figure out how to load more than one pic at a time? 

                                                    Hugs,

                                                     Brenda

Hi there,
     I love looking at all your children's photo's - what a beautiful lot!  I just can't believe how fast they grow up.  Mine sone is 32 and my daughter will be 30 in January and she's dreading the BIG 3-0 LOL!   I love it, because for years they have teased us about getting older, and I don't think they realized just how fast it happens. 
     I don't have a good picture of our son -he hates having his picture taken.  He lives is Japan and is teaching English there and he loves it.  I have posted a picture of our daughter, Sarah,  with our grandson, Corson, who will turn 2 years old on Dec. 20th.  He looks like a saint in the picutre with his mom, so I posted the "real" picture that shows his devilish personality!  We are re-locating to their area after Xmas, so we will be able to see him whenever we want. 
     Julia, I had to laugh when you said how much your daughter looks like your husband.  In my grandson's case, his dad is French/Lebanese and has beautiful dark curly hair and brown eyes.  We expected a grandson with those features, but my husband's Irish heritage came through.  He even looks more like my husband that anyone else!

                                                        Hugs,

                                                        Brenda

Hi Marie,
     Congratulations on your first Ebay sale - it really is quite a thrill, isn't it.  I still remember my first online sale 3 1/2 years ago!  The more you put up for sale, the more customers you will build up.

    I noticed that you live in Japan - our son moved to Seiyo-shi, Ehime on Shikoku last September.  He teaches English and had lived in South Korea for 5 years before that.  He absolutely loves Japan and had tried to get a job there for a long time.  He's really happy and I don't think he will ever move back to Canada.  He is near mountains and enjoys hiking and bike riding and he loves the children he is teaching.   We get to see him once a year for a couple of weeks and he'll be home for Christmas.  It was hard at first, with him so far away, but email makes it so much easier and all we ever really wanted was our kids to be happy, so how can we complain!   Take care,

                                                        Hugs,

                                                        Brenda