Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Oh that stinks...With all of the bid4bears stuff going on I just last night went to the NCTB site and the Ace page! I was thinking of giving it a try.  I guess I'll keep my eyes peeled for next years theme. 

Penney,  I hope you'll post a picture of your polar bear soon

:hug:
~Chrissi

Looks awesome Tami!   Your dolls are gorgeous!!  I've told you before...I love those little floppies, they're so darn cute! 

:hug:
~Chrissi

Oh my gosh these are toooo precious!  I want them to waddle right over to my house! (do Puddles waddle??? I have no idea! )  The bid4bears creations are all fantastic
:hug:
~Chrissi

Very sweet!! Not surprised at all that someone grabbed her up before the show!! 

:hug:
~Chrissi

Very interesting! I read a couple of things online about this guy... it's almost like an online version of Catch Me if you Can.   Brenda you're so right, just imagine if these folks used their talents for good!

:hug:
~Chrissi

UGH me too!!  My sinuses are sooo sensitive to weather changes..I can predict snow and a thunderstorm before the weather man  :crackup: .  I was walking around in sinus misery earlier until the lightbulb went off..duh, it went from snowing and 20 degrees to 63 and sunny in 3 days! Whacky weather!
Hope you're feeling better...I am already.

I'm now working on a teddy bear repair.  I'm taking before and after shots, so we'll see how it goes!  My family doctor has a Zotty teddy that was her mom's.  My Doc's dog got hold of poor ted and ripped his lower lip clear off..actually the whole felt/mohair mouth is gone.  So as much as I asked  "are you sure you don't want a "repair pro" to fix him" she insisted I take him home.  She even wrote out a script for facial surgery How cute is that?! I found a perfect match for the felt and then aged a mini mohair to an almost exact match of the muzzle fur.  So far so good...just made the pattern for the repair.  He's an adorable bear with a working growler and the coolest curly Mohair.  Very nice condition too...except for the doggie injuries.  Wish me luck! 

:hug:
~Chrissi

Tracy this little one is beyond adorable!!  I LOVE your mini's...they still hold all of the details of your larger bears.  Cecily is awesome   

:hug:
~Chrissi

Looking good with the few extra banner placements!  Still in balance with the rest of the site, not overwhelming. Thanks Quy and those behind the scenes who always keep things flowing while promoting the artists here!!   

:hug:
~Chrissi

Hi Marion!

I really missed you and those Acid Attic Bears!!  Just took a peek at your web site and they're as lovely as ever. Post some as soon as you can!  Congrats on all of your exciting news

:hug:
~Chrissi

Hi Patsy,
Thinking of you and hoping that your recovery is the quickest on record!  As someone with myalgia issues (fibro) I can tell you that allowing yourself to rest when you need to and do what you love when you can is the best mental medicine.  Don't push yourself to do it all.

Take care of you and keep that positive attitude (it does help so much!)...you WILL beat it, and quickly!!
:hug:
~Chrissi

Thank you Pauline, Carolyn, Aeri, Tammy, and Tracy!  Your feedback really does mean so much  :hug:
I won't have that "oh no, should I" feeling while taking clippers to the next well loved bear to be!!

:hug:
~Chrissi

Edie, I totally missed your bear postings!!  This little one is adorable, your friend is going to be thrilled!

:hug:
~Chrissi

That's what I was thinking, but they don't/won't disclose anything. I wasn't looking for secrets or insider info...just something that could make me an educated seller and honestly avoid in the future.  Oh well...lessons learned, experience gained!

Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment on Forest.   :hug: He's a lot of firsts for me..first bigger bear listed, first time dying mohair for a color combo bear, and he has armatures in his arms (I skipped that in the listing! :doh: )  Again, thanks so much

:hug:
~Chrissi

Thank you guys...yes it's for Forest's listing.  It's out there, but it was blocked from all activity until just now. I finally got back into live chat and pasted the original live chat for the 3rd rep to review. What a waste of time today     

I don't list every week, I just don't.  And after the last issue, which was really bad, I finally felt like giving it another whirl.  And I went into it with high hopes...again

After getting disconnected at 45 minutes I did try to call eBay, but was transferred to a recording that prompts you to use live chat.  The operators will transfer or hang up on you, no matter how patient or friendly you are with them. 

This is all that I know, right here.  I can't prevent this from happening again if it's something that I'm doing because they won't disclose it.  I can't say that it's something on their end that's causing, I can't say that it's tampering.  This is all I have:
David J.:  I am going to put a note on your account to stop this from happening in the future.

David J.:  Do you have any other concerns at this time ?

ctcatherwoods: Thank you, but  a note to stop what exactly from happening in the future...is it the infrequency of my listings causing the problem?

ctcatherwoods:  That's the concern, for me to be an educated seller so that I can avoid this happening again in the future, thank you.

David J.:  As I stated above your account is able to receive bid, I am putting a note on your account to say that you listed this item.

ctcatherwoods:  but, if I can ask: what caused this again?

ctcatherwoods:  how do I prevent in the future?

David J.:  I am not able to go into detail with you what caused this to happen, but know that the note that I am put on your account will stop this from happening in the future.

ctcatherwoods:  the note that is being added to my selling account, is it due to the infrequency at which I list, the items I list, a listing issue with wording or timing?  How can I prevent, if it's not a security issue with hacking or tampering? Thank you.

David J.:  Do to eBay policy I am not able to disclose that information at this time, just know that it is a note stating that you list these kinds of items.

"these kinds of items".  That's all I got.   I'm a labeled bear seller now I guess.  (??)

Anyway....I'm still at a loss and just hoping that poor Forest will find a loving home despite his rough entry into the world of eBay!!

:hug:
~Chrissi

PS----Has this EVER happened to any of you guys??  You don't list all the time, so they lock you out when you do??  Jeez, I'm starting to get a complex over here

Forgive my venting...but I'm at a loss   :doh: 

So I listed a bear on eBay last night....first time since Nov.  Back in Nov I had a terrible experience with a supposed account "take over".  Ebay was vague and would not disclose what prompted them to cancel out three listings and lock out my account.  We had guesses going back and forth, but they withheld any and all specific information to "protect" their security features. SO I have no idea what really happened that day.  Ok, so we move on. 
Last night I listed the first bear since that incident and now...here I sit, once again..on live chat after my account is again locked out for a supposed "TKO" or takeover.
I've changed passwords 3 times since Nov, again this month.  Passwords on my email and eBay.  My home PC has all the security updates, protection devices and whatnot available.  I'm at a total loss at this point.  I've been on live chat of 43 minutes now...just transferred to another security department that is now asking me for the exact information already supplied in the transcripts in front of us in live chat      <sigh>  I patiently give up.

as I ist here now....The live chat that I have been sitting on for 43 MINUTES was just ended...disconnected...  

I'm spent and so over eBay right now 

:hug:
~Chrissi

#1 that picture totally gives me the creepy crawlies...I just hate the way stitches look...all knotted and sticking out like that....<uggghh-shivers> I'm getting all goose-bumpily just thinking about it.  But seriously (and this is where the voice of my mother comes in) thank God it didn't snap up and hit your face, neck, or eye..... you're very lucky the blade tip hit your hand, I guess.  As much as even that stinks!  Take it easy and let that hand heal  :hug:

(#2..call Wusthof and get a replacement knife sent out to you asap!   )

:hug:
~Chrissi

Hi Sophie,

Don't take it personally!  You simply can't. :hug:  It doesn't make or break your creativity or personal success, not at all.  Although it's hard sometimes to see posts on any page see 1-3-or 4 replies while others have 9-14-or 22, it's not a rating scale to judge yourself by.
Sometimes being on the other end isn't all its cracked up to be either.

Be happy and confident with yourself and your creations and please continue to share.

:hug:
~Chrissi

Cute, cute cute....really cute retro feel to all of your stuff!

:hug:
~Chrissi

Hi Tami, thanks!  I did dye the lighter "kelly" green from the stone colored mohair.  The darker green was the green offered by intercal for the challenge.  I just started to dye mohair and it's tons of fun!  I'm buying more basic colors now, just so I can dye it

:hug:
~Chrissi

The challenge bears all look so sweet!! 

I had lots of fun making this guy!  I've never done a multi toned bear before.  The darker green and stone colored mohair were original colors, the lighter green I dyed. 
I'm lisitng him on ebay tomorrow...hopefully! I haven't done a listing in a while...here's hoping it goes smoothly!!  

I'm not set on his name yet... (???)

:hug:
~Chrissi

Thank you Shelli, Sarah and Shantell!   I wasn't sure about the whole thing as I was clipping over this piece of perfect mohair (after the first buzz and snip there's no turning back!), but I do honestly love the way he turned out.

I never did cut my own hair, only the poor dollies.....my one sister did do the old bangs chop once    Oh my gosh Shantell...5 inches of hair cut right at the root!!

:hug:
~Chrissi

Soooo pretty Sarah!  I really like the background for the photo too, very cute!

:hug:
~Chrissi

I gained weight when my thyroid went.  Once it was leveled out with meds I found the weight watchers point system helped me.  I didn't join or attend meetings.  A friend who joined gave me her slider thing for figuring out point values of foods...after a little while I just found that you're avoiding high fat/high calorie items and looking for good fiber filled foods.  Knowing what a portion is helped greatly.  I avoid all "processed" foods at this point.  I do buy packaged foods...but I can pronounce all of the ingredients and I know what each ingredient is.

I agree with veronica in that the word "diet" is abused today by those who will make money off us.  But diet isn't the bad thing they've made it into..your daily diet is just what you decide to eat.  It's "the foods eaten". The tips, tricks and fads are scams, not a life long diet for good health. 

I personally don't like the idea of the prepackaged plans only because they're not teaching you to feed yourself.  In my last job every single person who lost weight on LA, Jenny, and nutri gained it back when they stopped eating the packets of food.  They simply were lost without the premades...and it gets expensive!  I eat probably 70-80% organics (maybe more) and it's still not as much $$ wise as the prepackaged diet stuff. If you're able to succeed off of the processed packets then it's great, but I never saw it first hand so I wouldn't tell a friend to try it.

I do light gentle motion exercises and stretching because my joints and muscles can not take heavy poundings at this point.  I also walk when I can..even if it means taking a few parking spaces back from the "good spots".... the little extra bits like that count.

AND I ALWAYS gain a few extra pounds in the winter too. (call me Pooh!)..to the point that I'm making vats of homemade vegetable soups right now to help me loose a few! My mom always called it the "winter chubbies".  It is an actual physical thing for humans and animals to gain a little in hibernation months.  But since I'm not a hibernating bear I think I'll eat soup and cut out the unnecessary things so I can fit into my jeans!!     

:hug:
~Chrissi

I love this series theme Laura!!  Oh my gosh what we brought home!!  From tadpoles, baby birds to stray cats & dogs..it was always a zoo at my house growing up     Danny is toooo cute!

:hug:
~Chrissi

Hi all 

This teddy will be available for sale during the Bid4Bears Artist Campaign in April.  He's the first in a series of teddy bears that I'm calling "Clippers".  I can't count the number of dolls and stuffed animals that saw haircuts when I was a kid and I know I'm not alone.  These teddies are made to capture those memories. The Clippers Bear will come with a specially made tag containing a poem I created for the series.  The poem will only be updated to match the color of hair/fur of the bear and the gender of "Little One" (him or her depending on the bear and my mood! ).  Each bear will be randomly clipped, cut and very lightly distressed to give a well loved appearance.  No holes or grungy looks for right now...just a well loved texture to the fur, as if cuddled by a loving little one.

This is the first Clippers Bear.....hope you like him.   
(the chair is just for display)

Hugs,
~Chrissi