Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

No!  Keep the Wynnstan photos coming!!  There's nothing like a lovey puppy to make a person smile all day!   
I loved the dishwasher pic!  My mom has a smaller shepherd mix who always wanted to curl up on the dishwasher door as a puppy.  It's the funniest thing...I wonder why they do that!?

:hug:
~Chrissi

Being a hand sewer of minis for years I do the test scraps before sewing on a machine. 

Could you take this guy apart and do another (double) stitching at the correct setting (??).  I think that could save him from being a bear that makes you unhappy.  I've never done it...but could that work??

:hug:
~Chrissi

uh Marie, that STINKS!!  
I hope an honest person turns it in or tries to locate you...if they don't try at all that would be hideous of them!  My mom would say "and no good will come of the mohair".  If they knowingly steal the mohair rather than return it: may their bear ears be as crooked as they are!

:hug:  :hug:
~Chrissi

Hi Roxanne!
I was just thinking about this the other night as I paged through tons and tons of "ooak artist bears" unable to sleep. I think your rabbit and anything else like it should be listed in the category "ooak artist bear" area.  But some of the other things I found then and today shouldn't be...magazines, books, fabrics, jewelry items, accessory items, porcelain knick knacks, manufactured toys and items, oil paintings, drawings, tapestries, items that use to list under primitives or crafts, snow globes and just recently removed heavy farm equipment ( ).   I think way too many sellers take advantage of high traffic areas rather than selling in the correct category....the stretch is too much for the items listed above.  Not everything related to a bear or felting should be in "ooak artist bear"...but your rabbit (IMO) should be.    

:hug:
~Chrissi

I know if you have a dog that table or counter surfs "they" suggest putting a small stack of cookie sheets  haphazardly stacked on the area, so that when they jump up the stack falls creating a noise.  The learned behavior is counter=noise I don't like..stay away.

Lots of books will suggest a simple water bottle for behavior modification in cats and some dogs.  One kind/color of bottle  that the cat will associate with.  Simple water and a stream setting, used by an adult only.  Never ever ever squirt a cat (or dog) in the face.  Of course it's mean, but it's also insulting to them to...they're are proud animals and you want his good nature to stay intact.  One little quick squirt to the hind leg with a solid and even toned command of "no" or "no no" should work over a short period of time. He'll begin to associate that one bottle visually with the "no no" and in a short time you won't even need to use the water in it..the sight of the bottle will be enough for him to move away from your counter or breakfast! I have friends with a siamese.  The cat would eat artificial flowers and that's not good for the stomach or their decor! Their cat is the happiest, coolest, & friendliest cat but when he sees the bottle he knows he should calmly walk away from the floral arrangement.

The playing....he's a young cat, it's really just his happy playful nature.  If the other animals really really hated it they would let him know immediately. I'd ignore that bit of his nature because it will settle down as he gets older...it's not mean spirited, he's just being a teenage cat.  He's such a cutie...look at him stretching out on the "royal" purple kings blanket!  He's a total CAT!

edit:  Tracy and I were typing at the same time..same ideas 
:hug:
~Chrissi

Thinking of you both :hug:     Take care of you and we'll be here :hug:

:hug:
~Chrissi

The hand dyed ribbons on this site are, well...YUMMY!!  They look like strands of pulled taffy.  Great site!!
I absolutely love the hand dyed "old english christmas" and the"chocolate rose" ribbon.

:hug:
~Chrissi

COOL!!  I never tried it.  I did read that nothing is perfect and scammers are always crafty in getting around things...but at least we're doing what we can to protect ourselves and our work. 

:hug:
~Chrissi

If I'm remembering correctly scheduled auctions are the way that this is being done.  You get a full listing # and auction listing that you alone can view prior to the listings set launch time. 

You really don't want to add the pictures back in as a "revision". Depending on the hang time of eBay's servers you could see up to an 8 hour delay on revisions. (just like when you place an immediate listing and you can't "see it"...they will tell you it can take up to 8 hours for any listing to show).

This is a site I found when researching months ago during web designing. I haven't attempted any of it, but thought it was a good thing to pass along.  Roll your cursor over the grizzly...that's a cool feature!  When you click and copy you get the words right over the image...pretty cool. 

http://www.wildlifephoto.net/articles/w … ction.html

:hug:
~Chrissi

I've been thinking about you so much Judi!! I'm so happy to hear this wonderful news.  Keep doing what you're doing and we'll keep praying and thinking the super positive thoughts for you.  :hug:  :hug:

:hug:
~Chrissi

Check out the American Heart Association pages..they give some pretty good breakdowns on vegetarian/vegan and other special diets.

Many of the premade veggie products take all of it into consideration and are created with balance in mind. I use a good deal of them with my diet, some I can't...but many of the items I can use and they're really good.

:hug:
~Chrissi

Jodi F,
They have a good number on Amazon.com

I've always had very good luck with Amazon as a first search for books, cds, etc.

It's a great book, very informative.
:hug:
~Chrissi

Hi Shantell!
I'm not up to speed on all of the past Skippy posts, but have you ever tried the traps used by the SPCA/Humane Society to catch and fix cats?  In my area you can use them for free with the trap, neuter, release programs.  You just lace it with yummy stuff like tuna or moist food and catch (the right, sometimes take a few tries with multiples) cat. If she's a smarty who can run away keep her in the trap and don't try to transfer her into a carrier in order to take to your vet.

:hug:
~Chrissi

Hi Shantell!
I think it's probably a dominance thing and that they only snipped the parts, not the overall instinctual drive.  Not to be too gross...but my mom has a huge nuetered orange tabby that tortures stuffed animals.  It's a sad sight to walk into bunnies, teddies (not mine!!!), and other little fluffy stuffies sprawled out.  Once the toy was a blue bear (dog toy) that played rock a bye baby....I was staying at my mom's and had to run downstairs to take the stupid toy away from the naughty cat, otherwise I would have heard that song all night.  He's grabbed sweaters from the dry cleaning pile as well <gross>   Naughty cats!!

:hug:
~Chrissi

Hello Alma and big hugs to you!!  Wishing all of the best for you and your recovery.  :hug:

:hug:  :hug:
~Chrissi

Bonnie,
I've used the same t pins and have a bag of the round head pins, same size.  Those are the "tiny delicate" pins I was referencing above.  They're tough, but look like they could just snap with air..they're so little!  Christie Bears is one of my favorites for mini stuff...and the only place that I can find with growlers so far.  I've never used a growler, but want to...and the only place that seems to sell online is Christie's.

:hug:
~Chrissi

Hi Jen,
I have a few mini books from over the years....just took a look and the head pin/plastic disk method is in Debbie Kesling's book "How to make enchanting miniature teddy bears".  Personally I think it's one of the better mini books, containing some really cute projects.  Her pictures are all close up and in color and she's very clear with instructions. You can find a used copy right now on amazon for $10.00 in very good condition.

:hug:
~Chrissi

I know there are a few of us out here with food allergies.  If you can't do gluten, wheat, dairy, nuts, soy or yeast then check out
http://www.ener-g.com/store/detail.aspx … d=46&cat=4

These are the first doughnuts I've had in 3 years and they are FANTASTIC!! They do taste like a doughnut!  My sister got me a pack for Christmas and I'm so happy to be having one right now! :dance:   They're specially vacuum packaged for a decent shelf life and freeze well too!

:dance: HAPPY DOUGHNUT & PANCAKE DAY!! :dance:
:hug:
~Chrissi

:bday: :dance:  Happy Fasnacht Day, Paczki Day, Doughnut Day, Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day), Fat Tuesday (did I miss any of the names for??)  :dance: :bday:

Happy day to you!!  An entire day that says "GO EAT DOUGHNUTS (or PANCAKES)....NOW!"

So happy eating to all who love doughnuts, pancakes and other goodies!

It's funny because in the comfort food thread folks were talking about lemon and sugar on "pancakes" and I thought huh, that's what I like on crepes......SAME THING, different names for! 
To me "pancakes" are these thick bready things, the light and airy ones called crepes.  YUM! Now I want a crepe/pancake too!!

HAPPY DAY OF EATING 

:hug:
~Chrissi

Donna, this set is adorable!!  I was thinking to myself "huh, that tootsie pop has a different texture to it..wonder where it's from" and now I'm reading you MADE the sweets!!  Too cute

:hug:
~Chrissi

That was toooo COOL!!  His Mario Bros and Sesame Street were awesome. Thanks for sharing this one!!

:hug:
~Chrissi

Jen,
That STINKS!!  Jeez, what would your friend say to you at that point..what a bad spot that other woman put her in as well.  Never fear though that old saying "what goes around comes around" is very very true.  It might take a day, a month, a year or a decade but the universe has a way of evening itself out with little help from us.  Do good...you get good.  Do bad...and it will smack you right back.
I guess watermarking or putting text over our work is the best way to protect from these kinds of people. 
:hug:
~Chrissi

Very cool Richy!!  I'm totally jazzed for you, this is really a great thing!! 

It's overwhelming at first, but take pride in that someone recommended your work. You've got promotors of your work out there!!  :clap: That's awesome!
Like everyone said, get an organized plan set down on paper for yourself, including a supply inventory to be sure you have what you need on hand. You're totally up for this my friend!! Give me a shout if you need anything at all  :hug:

:hug:
~Chrissi

The worst selling "scam" out there are the sellers who sell and promote products as best deals, no lower prices, blah blah blah when it's not.  Yes, the item's cheaper than what others are selling for, but the shipping and handling charge of $20+ makes up the sellers cost/profit. So in reality the seller is making out just the same as the other sellers profit wise....but doing it by pulling unaware buyers in with tricky shipping tactics.

If not listed I always ask what the shipping charge is.  I pretty much have a set text of things I ask each seller if it's not mentioned in the listing...shipping cost, any odors at all: animal, smoke, must, mildew, perfumes or fabreeze type products ( I always question the odors.... some items I bought years ago were just plain gross!!). Any water damage. Fabrics I now ask if there are any marks on the back. For clothing I question tears, holes or repairs. 
Most sellers are honest, but quite a few sell by a don't tell unless asked fashion...that can lead to stinky (literally) purchases!!

:hug:
~Chrissi

You can have it both ways within an industry. I agree that one person can't have it both ways.

I don't think anyone who is using papers and extras for their packaging is talking about charging for that.  I haven't seem that mentioned or even implied on either thread. Quite the opposite, it's something extra being done that doesn't affect the shipping quote already given to and paid by the consumer.  Personally, if I've quoted $6.00 for shipping (the exact cost to ship that item) and my "extras" push the price to $7.50, I'm covering that $1.50....not the buyer who has already paid me.

But if the shipping boxes in your area cost $1.50 and you know that ahead of time, you can include that in your shipping and handling cost if need be.  I reuse boxes (no..not the priority anymore ) so I wouldn't need to charge a handling fee.  Some might have to. Even a toaster from QVC will have a shipping and handling charge. Boxes, tape and bubble wrap cost QVC just like the cost Jane Doe the bear artist.  Jane Doe might be able to recycle supplies at her smaller level and not hit her consumer with the handling charge that QVC hits its customers with.  Consumers are aware that buying online means shipping (and maybe handling) will apply.   

:hug:
~Chrissi