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Paula, what you are saying makes perfect sense to me, but then I'm left-handed too!!!
I can't really add to what's already been said Kim. Plus, I'm no expert on sewing noses since I use the clay ones a lot. I think it probably just takes practice to develop a techinique that's right for each of us.
Great thread! :dance:
Shantell, I admit I haven't read the whole thread (too much to do today!!!!) so this may already have been said....but please don't be too discouraged by eBay. It takes time, I've found, to build up a 'following' there. Can you advertise your bears in other places, to draw people to your auctions? Do you list them on Bearpile for instance? Your bears are lovely (I see one has a bid!!!) so there's no problem in that department! But in my experience you need as many people to visit your auction as possible....even the very best bears in the world can't appeal to everyone, so the best tactic is to gain as much exposure as you can. As for watchers, on a good auction I get about 1 in 10 people watching so there's a rough guideline for you. And while it feels good to have watchers it doesn't guarantee a good price. So although having watchers encourages me, I try to disregard it when thinking about potential bids....
Big Beary Hugs to you! :hug:
Aww, thanks Pipa :hug:. But my pain only sounds like a fraction of what poor Shari's going through. I just wanted her to know I can relate. And then you have your wrist to contend with... (how's it feeling now?).
Love your new avatar, by the way!!!!
Sorry to hear about your problems Shari - I really do hope you can find some relief from it one way or other. I have some idea of what you're going through because I have had intermittent back/hip/leg/shoulder pain for years and years. I'm pretty sure my hip pain is hormone related (it tends to be cyclical) but it's getting worse with age. I'm 41. Just last week I went shopping and hobbled around the shops looking for places to rest. The docs look at me blank when I ask them about it, suggesting pain killers and (more) exercise. One did say 'well, some might call it fibromyalgia' but that's not a diagnosis that's readily accepted here.....in my experience, anyway.
I think you've been given some excellent advice on this thread. It's always good to arm yourself with a little knowledge, and at least it may help you feel more in control of the situation. And of course there'll be plenty of friendly support here when you need it, too! :rose:
Daphne, I'm interested to hear that your chiropractor helped your sinus problem? I have sinus troubles myself, and this has made me think..... 
I haven't read the book but my husband has - he's more of a Potter fan than I am. So he'll no doubt notice the differences when we see the film. I think Harry Potter is pretty scary for most kids...well, at least it would have scared me when I was small! The fast pace of the films, fight scenes etc, and some of the characters could be very frightening, don't you think? It seems odd to me that the films are targeted at children, and I suspect it's the adults who enjoy them most!!!
Fantastic Estelle, what a great experience! Major and teddy both look very happy 
Kim, Shelli - yes it's such a nuisance having to undo all the threads and wires that the toys seem to come packaged with these days :mad:. I used to hate it. Birthdays and Christmas would always have those frantic wrestling matches with the packing - trying to tear out the Barbie doll without causing any damage and my daughter in the background saying 'can I play with it yet mummy, can I, can I, can I????!'. Well, my stress levels have been reduced since I found a use for those pesky wires!!! Now I don't mind half so much, and diligently collect them, straighten them and stash them in my work box 
Kim, your poor hubby! Ouch!!!
Yum yum - I love Ritter chocolate too...
Yoooohoooo, Diluuuuu....not wanting to put temptation in your path or anything, but have you seen this???
http://www.germandeli.com/rittersport.html
I got my last lot of eyes from Admiral bear supplies, and I like them a lot. In fact, I'm going to be stocking up again soon..... :dance: (I love shopping!)
Oh, what a sweetheart! His head shape and eye position are perfect for the innocent, baby bear look. I love him!!!
He's cute Amanda!!! Love his expression and sweet little feet.
Where did you buy your eyes from? I'm just interested because I don't have much problem matching mine....I usually buy in packs of 10 pairs too, and there is a little discrepency in the diameter so I do watch out for that. But generally I don't have too many problems. I wonder how much of it is just down to luck? (Did you buy the ones with the U-shaped loop?)
Oh, I should say that the idea of wrapping the wire with felt wasn't entirely original on my part! I got it from here: http://www.woodlandteddies.co.uk/armature.htm . I don't include the polyfil though - I just wrap the felt around the wire to the thickness I want
I think most of the points have been well covered, but just to add a little more....I have wrapped the wires with yarn/thread in the way that Kim does. And it does work very well! But at the moment I'm in the habit of wrapping the wires with felt instead. I use a little glue to hold it in place and then sew it in place to finish off, paying particular attention to the ends. This gives a nice amount of padding so that the wire can't be felt, and can still be stuffed around once placing in the arm.
My experience has taught me that the wire itself is important - not too thin that it can't hold the shape once the arm is stuffed, and not too thick that you need to use pliers to position the arms! I use plastic coated wire that I --- ahem, and here comes a confession/tip --- steal from my daughter's toys. It's used in the packaging that holds dolls and other plastics toys in their boxes, and you have to fight it to get the toy out!!! I really like that wire. I have used beading wire of various thickenesses too though, and that works well too.
Hope this helps - let us know how you get on!
Malissa, we used to make this as kids - I think Mars promoted the recipe, but I'm not sure (?). I imagine it did the trick and increased their sales of Mars Bars! This recipe is sticky and delicious and perfect for us chocoholics! Thanks for reminding me about it 
:lol:
Oh, and by the way, what we refer to as Mars Bars are called Milky Ways in the USA. Which is confusing, because Milky Ways are a quite different confectionary over here... (I wonder why they did that? Use the same name for different chocolates in different parts of the world?!?)
Catherine, I have used V and N bears to buy both eyes and fabric and love their service.
But I generally buy my U-shaped-loop eyes, sometimes called English glass eyes, from Christie Bears (http://www.christiebears.co.uk/acatalog … _Eyes.html) and Admiral Bears (http://www.admiral-bears.com/acatalog/O … k__11.html). Both are very reliable suppliers
It doesn't offend me Diane, and I respect each person's right to make their own decision. I was a vegetarian for 7 years and only went back to eating meat because I craved it during my pregnancy - I believed my body was telling me something. Prior to that I had no cravings for it whatsoever!
Here's an unpalatable story from our current UK news (please, if you have a weak stomach don't click this): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/a … ge_id=1773. It raises some interesting issues.....
These costs sound about the same as from the UK. I list my little bears on eBay at $15 airmail from the UK to the US (or anywhere else outside europe). This includes 'signed for' delivery. I also add extra compensation (insurance) depending on the price of the bear, but don't charge the buyer for this. I also bear (hoho!) the cost of the packaging itself. It just is expensive unfortunately, but a lot of people don't seem to realise that! I guess I could send them airmail, or even surface mail, without all the extras but I've had problems with lost parcels in the past and have found this to be the most reliable way.
I know this doesn't help those of you in the US, but hopefully it's good as a comparison!
Ooooh Deb, thankyou! :dance: :hug:
Hubby will wonder what's happening to me....I'm sure it's the cold weather and dark nights....I feel compelled to stuff calories down me! I will definitely be trying these cheesecake cupcakes sometime soon, and will keep you posted.
Sandi, don't worry, you're not alone. My brother-in-law detests chocolate. In fact he doesn't have a sweet tooth at all. It's a strange concept to me...but it leaves more for the rest of us!
Sophie, most of our chocolate powder in the UK has milk powder and sugar added. It's called drinking powder, whereas 'cocoa' has the better chocolate content and is what i usually buy for baking etc. Maybe that still not chocolate-y enough though. I have seen the higher chocolate content powder on sale in our local supermarket, so there is surely demand for it! Yum yum!
That's soooo funny Jenny! The things we do with a glass (or two!) of alcohol inside us! I hope your new hair-do grew out quickly...
Thankyou Deb! I'll look forward to that... :hug:
I LOVE cheesecake....please share, Deb!
This forum is not good for my waistline, that's for sure....
Don't do it Penny! You know what'll happen...one side will look longer than the other so you'll trim it up a bit...then the other will look longer still....and before you know where you are you've given yourself a puddin' basin hair cut!!! Eeeek!
There's always 'What not to wear' on the telly, which is usually good for a giggle... 
Cakes that make you go mmmmmmm.....
Mmm....double cream....now you're talking!!!! Or how about extra thick double cream! Even better :cool:. Of course, it's full of all that nasty FAT (blurrghhh) but we'll forget about that.... :whistle:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/glossary/d.shtml?double_cream
Well, I made up this recipe today and have to say...it's delicious! I didn't have a baking tray big enough so used paper cake cases instead and it worked a treat (about half the cooking time was needed). Topped them with a vanilla frosting and chocolate curls. I don't have a photo to show you though, 'cos i ate them already!!!
Noooo, not really, only joking!!!!
(Hubby will be delighted when he gets home. He has a really sweet tooth and always complains that I never bake anything!).
