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Me again...not to beat a dead horse 
but if you mention the fees with ebay....how we're all paying $25+ for featured listings for __ days and getting ripped off an 8 hour chunk of that time. The live chat rep will inform you that your fees are not reflective of the time of your auction (1-3-5-7days) the fees are instead reflective of your "right to list" alone. If you loose view time it's not a thing to do with the fees you're paying, according to ebay. That's what I got last time.
Again, I'm not anti ebay. I just think they treat users like cattle and only fix what hits their own pockets. 
:hug:
~Chrissi
I typed in your name and the bunny appeared, but it's not appearing when I do the basic dolls/bears-artists-OOAK. It might be that "systems updating" thing. Live chat always says that listings can take up to 8 full hours to show fully in any category due to their systems updating or rotating or something like that. I have no other ideas... other than to say grab a cup of hot tea and try live chat. (as maddening as it can be)
Good Luck with it, the bunny is exactly what her name says! 
:hug:
~Chrissi
EDIT: Because this is such a huge thing now and it now seems that delays are the rule and not the exception....When this delay happens, supposedly, per Ebay live chat..the listing isn't suppose to be dropped to a 2nd or 3rd page. It's suppose to appear in a regular first listing and not all of a sudden show up 4 pages down. At least that's what they told me. Denise, if you saw otherwise get on live chat and try to see if they can offer an explanation or correct it. :hug:
I was hoping for a few opinions before I try to sell a few items. So here's the question..... Sock Monkey's.
I like Sock Monkeys. I've made and make Sock Monkeys. They've been around for ages, the socks even come with the basic patterns. There are entire web sites devoted to Sock Monkeys and the people who make and even sell. But there are a few, mainly one big artist that I can think of who sell Sock Monkeys;(that I can find with searches online). So if I or any other bear artist were to start selling Sock Monkeys would it seem as though I/we were running with someone elses' "thing"? Personally I'm not trying to imitate other artists style. I'm not going to distress or age sock monkeys to look like Peng Peng's Monkeys for example, but I was wondering what the thoughts are on this kind of thing.
I'm thinking it's like a Golly more or less...it's out there, been done already, it's just reproduced with the artists spin or take on. But I'm not sure if that's how it would be perceived by "the masses". What do you think??
:hug:
~Chrissi
Because 2 of our brands were affected (Science Diet and Nutro Natural Choice) we're feeding the cats and dogs plain dry food for now.
The latest update I see out there is that Purina is recalling as well: Purina to voluntarily withdraw Mighty Dog® 5.3 ounce pouch products in response to Menu Foods recall.
It seems that this Menu Foods is involved with well over 40 different brands of pet food.
:hug:
~Chrissi
I just added an update to the first post. The idea of one furball getting ill or worse because of a little can or pouch of food just makes me so.... <ugh>! Please check the post and your food brand again...often until they know all of the specifics.
:hug:
~Chrissi
Too adorable! I'm totally loving your work.....since I'm nowhere near Nevada City I'm glad you're showing pics 
Take lots of table pics at the show!
:hug:
~Chrissi
Hi Ilze!
Most of my recipes are just regular recipes that I tweaked to fit my diet. I'm wheat, dairy and pretty much preservative free. But most of the products I buy are gluten free because of the wheat free part. I always suggest for people to check out this site for pre-made items. They're the best I've tasted so far.
http://www.ener-g.com/
I've got a few favorites...the tapioca bread is great toasted (not thick styrofoam or crumbly like many rice breads are...and the pretzels taste just like regular pretzels.) Their packaging is specialized for extended shelf life so buying staple items is easy to do. Looks like they ship internationally too.
I'm always looking for good wheat (or gluten) free baking recipes (I can substitute any dairy items in a recipe). Especially cake/breads..like banana bread. Or a good homemade pizza crust recipe.
:hug:
~Chrissi
:dance: HAVE FUN with that order!!! :dance:
I get excited with every order still. I think the shipping is really fast...they never sit on an order, seems to go out same or next business day, everytime!
:hug:
~Chrissi
Hi!
We've got so many animal lovers here I wanted to post this. If you see your dog or cat food listed (toward the end of the article) go to the actual brand names web site for more detailed information on codes/dates/and reactions.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/17/petfoo … index.html
Hope no one here is affected :hug:
:hug:
~Chrissi
Over 90 brands of dog and cat foods are now invovled in the recall. The most accurate code information can be found here: http://menufoods.com/recall/
Please check your food, the results of the bad batch are not good.
I know it's a day early, but I'm sitting here stuck in a sleet storm and thought I'd share a couple recipes for St Pat's! I can't believe that 2 days ago it hit a warm and sunny 70 degrees and now we have 4 inches of icy snowy stuff on the ground and it's still coming down hard! 
Whacky Weather!!
Here's a dish I saw made on the food network a few years ago. It sounded weird to me at first, but I figured I'd give it a whirl. It's a St Pat's staple now and my hub requests it outside of St Patrick's day now too. You can totally cheat and save time by buying precooked ham if you like. It's actually a really hearty "meat and potatoes" (literally) meal.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes … 00,00.html
And a fast and easy candy recipe, that's super easy for kids to make too (let this stuff set up in the fridge before you try to roll it).
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Irish-Pota … etail.aspx
:hug:
~Chrissi
Shantell,
Tell your daughter congratulations from us!! That's such an awesome accomplishment...to be chosen by the school and then the chance to be on the cover of the magazine! Very cool!! She looks like a cover model already, so pretty! (really cute couple too!!) Keep us posted
:hug:
~Chrissi
Now how cute is that?! Love it, so creative!!
That's the perfect belly for a dragon too. Sarah..you and I visualize the cartoons right away , but I was getting Disney's Pete's Dragon 
:hug:
~Chrissi
Over the past month there have been large electronics and heavy equipment listings falling into artist bears. This is the second time I've seen this particular seller ID. I wonder if the listing codes are similar, or if it's just a person taking advantage of high traffic areas again (??)
:hug:
~Chrissi
If I'm giving out both measurements it's for informational purposes. Buying on description alone makes me think I should be supplying as many black and white details as I can. For me that's rising above any kind of deceptive selling practices. (The whole, if they don't ask don't tell them selling practices stink. Who hasn't bought something and said "well I guess I should have asked....but yah think they would have mentioned that")
For me personally it just seems to make sense that if a bear isn't going to stand freely on it's own, if it's a "seated" bear, that you would give out the "seated" measurement along with the "head to toe". Seems logical to me.
:hug:
~Chrissi
Whether I'm listing information on a mini or a larger bear I always give the "head to toe" measurement and the seated height "bottom to head" measurement. I figure the more information the buyer has the better and the more information I can supply for a happy transaction the better. Plus I don't know how the bear will be displayed or whatnot. I agree that giving inaccurate info or misleading info is wrong...but that's for anything sold. Auctions open up a "don't tell unless they ask" arena and that's unfortunate. I give as much info as possible and make it really clear that any and all questions are more than welcome. Building trust is all you have when you're selling by photos and a description alone.
:hug:
~Chrissi
Not at all Jane!! I don't think a single person here thought anything other than excitement for you! 
It's an awesome thing to have others acknowledge and appreciate your art. You shared that wonderful news and in turn opened up the idea for a really nice "piggy back" thread opportunity here! :hug:
:hug:
~Chrissi
I cook when I'm stressed. Bake specifically. When I'm handing out plates of cookies and it's not Christmas you know I'm a little "ugh" about something.
:hug:
~Chrissi
AH Paula! 
I can totally respect your opinion of what you do, but YOU are an artist in my book
:hug:
~Chrissi
What makes me feel like an artist.....
I think for a lot of creative people it's just the way they were born. I'll never ever be good with math, I just won't. I need a calculator, so I could never answer "what does it feel like to be a mathematician, or to be "good" at math" 'cause I haven't a clue what it's like to be able to see numbers like my husband can. But then he can't draw a box and color it in 
We all have our "gifts" in life. So for me it just feels like getting to be the most natural part of myself. I've done lots of things/jobs where it felt like I was losing bits of me ,but doing what I do now fits who I am in the most basic sense. I feel like an artist when I'm picking out ribbons from an online shop, I feel like an artist when I'm mixing paints for shading, and I feel like an artist when I'm stuffing and shaping the character and soul of a bear. Honestly, there isn't a single part of this process I don't like..ok well I still get most frustrated with the photography piece, but I'm working on that. I love this creative piece in my life.
Tami, I love your little quote from your childhood!! My folks have an audio tape where they ask..What are you going to do when you grow up? I quickly responded "I'm going to crayon". This is at age 3 I really should have listened to that 3 year old a long time ago!! (ps...HA's are the Help Advisors, I think that's what Dilu was referencing)
:hug:
~Chrissi
WOW! Susan's stuff is fantastic, I'm so glad this was posted! Her "running dog" is just about the coolest/cutest thing I've ever seen. I'm in love with it and how animated it is!!
:hug:
~Chrissi
If you don't want to use an eye for expense reasons, you can always just use wire alone. Create a loop that would stick out of the clay (just like the loop on the eye) but instead of the eye at the base make the wire into a "T" shape...so the bar of the "T" is in the clay and the stem/loop is sticking up out of the clay.
Hope that makes sense
:hug:
~Chrissi
Krista,
How wonderful that you gave this gorgeous loving cat love and peace when he needed it most. It's the hardest thing to say goodbye to our fur luvs. :hug: He looks so happy and content in the photos...you're a truly dear person and he knew it.
:hug:
~Chrissi
I think the same thing about bid4bears Tami and Sarah.....it's a specialized (showcase) selling place for collectible/artisan bears....not electronics, used shoes, antique blenders, or celebrity hair clippings!!
I love my eBay buying. Selling has it's ups and downs...technically speaking for me. But eBay, for me, has always been visualized as a big yard sale where some items (like the arts) are thrown in with everything else that's out on the lawn. Passers by and early risers are looking for a deal or a steal at a yard sale. Yes, there are "collectors" out there who value the materials, work and artistry. But foot traffic on eBay is mainly driven by good deals or grabbing the next "big thing collectible"..even if the big thing is a particular bear artist. People today think everything is going to be the next beanie baby or x box300, where they in turn can re-sell an item for 3-4 times what they paid and take a vacation with the profit!
Ebay's a good thing and a not so good thing all at the same time. Artists price their items and if they don't sell they drop their prices right away to make a sale. What retail shop does this? What shop would put an item out on a self and if it didn't sell in 7 days discount it or put it to the clearance rack?? None, they'd go belly up within a year. It stinks if a listed item doesn't sell right away, but maybe hold it back for a little while...list it on a website. Send photos to magazines so collectors will see that item and then look for it on your site or at auction. Having an eBay collector base is a great start 
, but branch out now to magazines, webzines, and other areas to keep that collector base fresh and growing. Bring new eyes to your lovely little ones!!
I hate to see and hear artists putting so much into ebay. Instead invest emotionally in your work and promoting it to everyone and every outlet you can. Use Ebay, but don't depend on it or invest your emotions into it to the point that you're questioning your work if items don't sell. Every market in business has ups and downs. Shows now are the hot topic for needing revival. At some point those same discussions will be about eBay (it's inevitable)....something else will replace it and you/we/I will need to have some eggs in other baskets to sell successfully.
Eliza, your bears are beyond adorable. There are at least 3 shops in my 30 minute driving radius here at home that would carry them in a snap. That's just off the top of my head.
Look at the links for the bid4bears campaign! Even if you're not in the committed groups you can still list. And keeping listings going after the campaign is key....the campaign is a building block for all of us to have a successful, safe, bear site....geared towards us and specifically what we sell and what our collectors want. That's how I see it anyhow (I talk to much )
:hug:
~Chrissi
I'll use anywhere from 1-3 strands of embroidery floss. And then I just stitch like I would a big nose...on a tiny scale
Hope that helps, can't wait to see your minis!
:hug:
~Chrissi
