Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi All,
I think the economy has hit the teddy bear world.  This year I am only doing 3 shows. Next year probably 4 (Clarion being one of them). I think there are less shows to participate in, however I feel the quality of the show is better.  I did the Spring show in Schaumburg & was expecting it to be slow.   I was surprized that it wasn't.  ALL of my customers however were repeat customers. I worry that we are not finding new customers.   

My online sales (which are not too many because I do not do eBay) are up this year. This is not my full time job so I am pretty much happy if I am at least making a profit.  Last year was a Best Year in Business for me.  We will have to see about this year but I am still looking to do well.  Besides that, I can't go out of business, I have too much mohair!

TTFN
Amy

I love the colors! Have fun at your show!
TTFN
Amy

Well that is why I came up with this system.  I AM a messy person too! I find out that it is so easy just to use a hole punch & string them on the (cheap) shower curtain rings, just to keep all the pieces & parts together.  I keep the hole punch right next to my chair in my tools basket.

Ok... & where are you getting the template material? An office supply store?

Hi All,
While I am being curious.  I am interested in making a banner ad.  Wondering if anyone had any suggestions for a site where you could upload a picture & create one or to find templates.  I am afraid the software I have is pretty old & I don't have anything on it to create one.

Thanks!
Amy

Hi All,
I was wondering what everyone else uses for their patterns.  I have had an abundance of file colored file forlders that I have used for mine. I tag each pattern & hang it on a metal shower hook. On the tag is the name of the bear or bud, the mohair, size eyes etc that I used, & the number of how many I have made of that pattern.  On the other side of the tag goes a thumbnail size picture ot the end product.  I keep them stored on racks in my workroom (some of the racks are at ceiling level). That way the patterns are easily acccessable & are out of the way.   

My free supply of colored file folders is gone now & I have been thinking I should look for something a little more durable to cut my patterns out of.  Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks!
Amy

Hi All,

I love doing bears with the center split center gusset & think they are really easy. I pin & the sew each 1/2 of the gusset to the appropriate head piece & then pin & sew the 2 head pieces together.  I think it actually proves to be easier than sewing a 1 piece gusset in!
TTFN
Amy

I know one bear artist (not me) who has actually tied a bear on the back of her car & dragged it up & down her street to achieve an older look.  I have rubbed a bear on the cement or on bricks to "antique" it.
I also shave & pluck......
Hope this helps.
TTFN
Amy

It took me a while but I have put pictures on my blog from the Schuamburg show.  Took me long enought to get them there without putting them here too, so see my link www.mutztoots.blogspot.com Lots of breat bears & some familiar faces!
TTFN
Amy

Hi Jodi,
I would be interesed in taking a look. Can you take a picture?
Thanks!
Amy

I am sooooo excited. I will be there too!
Amy

Great Point!
Actually that applys for reaching your favorite teddy bear artist too! I get approximately 100-300 SPAM emails a day. I am alwasy afraid I will miss a customer or friend that is not on my mailing list, so I try to  wade my way through them. Good way to get my attention is "TEDDY BEARS"!
TTFN
Amy

Just updated my other thread. Looks like we are still in for a long haul.  I can't promise I will be in Schaumburg for Spring, but am going to do my darnedest to get to TBAI. I may have to ship Scott up to his brother's for a week. August is a long way away.  Have missed Good Bears meetings due to doctors & just tring to keep up with "things", so I haven't seen Judy since before Christmas.  Afraid I am behind in my bear making too.   Gotta get going on those challenge items. Got tons of ideas & JUST NO TIME!
Amy

Thanks all for your kind thoughts & prayers!   :pray:  :pray:  :pray:

Went to the doctor yesterday & found out Scott is in for at least 2 more surgeries. We will be going to a knee-replacement doctor on Wednesday. Then will have to wait for other repairs.

Amy

I will be there!!!! Got my letter quite a long time ago. Just haven't been able to post.

It has been a little over 2 months & I thought it was about time to update everyone on our progress.  Scott continues to be a positive patient. Last week he went to the doctor and got good news & bad news.  The good news was he is now able to start putting a little weight on his injured leg.  He is absolutely bored silly & has been watching reruns of reruns. We both really look forward to the weekends. I get him in our van (quite a chore for him because he has to hop a flight of stairs).  We were very fortunate while the ground was frozen, out neighbor plowed our whole front yard so he could maneuver out the front door instead. Good thing he is a little further along in his recovery now because I can't drive on the lawn anymore.  I have already ruined it. Anyway, I am able to take him with me as long as I also haul along his wheelchair, & walker.

He took a spill trying to get up a step with his walker a few weeks ago & that's where the bad news comes in.  He may have torn his (shoulder) rotator cuff. I took him for an MRI on that last Monday.  We will be seeing the doctor for results on that next week.

We are usually up at 5am so I can get Scott washed & dressed before I shower & go to work.   I have been working longer hours on days that Scott doesn't have therapy so I can take Scott to therapy & still bring home a full paycheck.  He has started back to doing some of the cooking. I usually will get out all the pots & pans, utensils etc & make them "wheelchair accessible". I have been coming home on my lunch hours to help him with his exercises. I am feeling much better, but have been running so much I have been working on the same bunny since before the accident. I poop out at about 9 pm.

Thank you to everyone who has sent emails & cards.  Your prayers & well wishes are really appreciated. Sorry I haven't been able to respond to all of them. I haven't been on the computer all that much.

TTFN
Amy

PS One of these days I have got to get my Merry Christmas avitar off the forum LOL :crackup:

Thank you all for all your thoughts & paryers.  I am finding I need my computer friends as much as my real friends! 

Scott is doing very well.  We were expecting an update from out ortho team yesterday, but being Sunday it did not happen.  I was hoping to be there to talk to the team, but am going to go back to work today, to save my vacation days for when he comes home & for appointment dates. 

Scott says he is an "old war horse".  He is feeling soooo much better & did not have any pain pills (other than Tylanol) yesterday.  The thearpy team had him up & wilth a walker he walked part of the hallway.  They are shoing him how to put on his socks & pants w/o using his leg.  He is in super spirits!

Will keep you updated.

Amy

Hi All,
You may not be hearing from me in a while.  On Wednesday my husband & I were involved in an accident.  A young lady slid  her car into the ditch in front of our house.  Scott & I went to give her a had in getting in out and the car died.  Her boyfriend was there by then. She had called him & his mother drove him over to help.  Scott went and got out truck out of the garage & was starting to put jumper cables on the truck when another car hit the same ice patch and rear ended the car in the ditch.  Scott took the brunt of the hit and was pushed under his truck.  I was hit, and wound up in a snowbank.   To make a long story short Scott is in the hospital.  He had surgery yesterday because his knee was pretty well smashed up. (I was x-rayed at the hospital & am fine except for a big hematoma (swollen bruise) down the lower part of my leg.)  The doctors are going to be looking at him tomorrow and telling us what the next step is in his recovery.  They are saying that it may be up to two or more years until he is recovered. 

We have many things to be thankful for.  The boyfriend's mother is an ER nurse & took care of Scott when he was waiting for the ambulance.  I ran up to the house & called 911 and thought to bring blankets. It was -7 degrees that night.  Scott has 8 ft long jumper cables, so his truck was about 6 ft from the car when it was rear-ended.  He could have been pinned between the 2 vehicles. The paramedics realized how bad the injury & took us to Milwaukee's finest trauma hospital.  He has one of the state's top ortho teams caring at him & doing the surgery The staff at this hospital has been fantastic on every level. The nurses & aides are super & have fussed over me as well.

Please do me a favor and send good thoughts. prayers and bear hugs our way.

TTFN
Amy

Karen.

So glad to hear that your sewing machine made it through your move!  I have an old sewing machine too.  It is a Singer 401A that my Grandma bought on installments for $449.50 in 1958 (I still have the receipt). I have always loved the fact that I use the machine that my Grandma taught me to sew on  when I was a little girl. And I agree, I don't think that newer machines could cope with the use and abuse that older machines constantly perform under. 

I hope you machine continues on for another 100 years!

Amy

Would you please? Never know when I will want to use it for something else.
Thank you!

Hi Jane,
That turned out to be a great picture of the little guy.  Do you mind if I snag it for my blog?  By the time I was done I made 6 of those little guys for gifts. I always make an ornament for my mom, sister, & each of my 3 grandkids. I did them all in different mohairs & I didn't get a picture of any of them! Too much Christmas & not enough time!

Glad you like him!
Happy New Year!
Amy

He is all fluffy & white & he loves being the teddy tree topper!

Here is the picture of the delightful little bear I got from Julie from Wiggles Bears. He was a little flat when I got him but as you can see he fluffed out nicely & is enjoying the view from the very top of my teddy tree.

Thank you so much, Julie!
Amy

Hi All,
I stopped home from work because I forgot my camera, & guess what was in my Mailbox? The cutest little bear  and lovely card from Julie Wiggles Bears. I can't stop  to take a picture now but will do so before the end of the weekend.
Thank you, Julie!
May your days be Merry & Bright!
Amy

Hi Jane , You did a wonderful job. I didn't even know I could dance! What a party! I am exhausted!
Amy

I was disappointed today.  The package that I thought was going to be my ornament was actually my husband's check.  For some reason his direct deposit  didn't go through, so his boss first class mailed it. So I am back on the waiting list. I guess I'm happy we got his check though.
:pray:  :pray:  :pray:
Amy