Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

The eyes look awesome!

You can translate any website quickly and easily by going to http://babelfish.altavista.com/

Type in the web address and it will translate the site for you from the original language to any you choose!   

:hug:
~Chrissi

Hi Amelia,

Here's a picture of a cotter key.  The leg of the pin slides into the slot pictured here and you simply turn.  For mini's it's a breeze, you'll love them!

<ugh> I'd hate to use pliers for this!  I'm so use to mini pins..these big pins are a really such a pain!

Kat, that's really so sweet of you.  Let's see if a shop has one, if not I'll gladly purchase from Rob!

:hug:
~Chrissi

Hi Laura,
You're a new member and could be the next generation of bear maker, don't get upset at the feedback you might get from posting this topic...it's a hot one!!  I respect your opinions and your assertation of what the doll represents.  There are many opinions, websites, and organizations devoted to this topic on the net, for both sides of the debate. I would suggest to anyone to read the beginnings of it all, read the books themselves, read the definitions behind the words and phrases, read the various sites, form an opinion, create and buy based on that. Each of us makes the call if we feel comfortable with it or not.  No one else's opinion matters at that point.

:hug:
~Chrissi

I think those pictures ARE Wendy's..and she's very much still an active bear maker.  Send her an email Bobbie! 

edit:  oppps, just saw that you have sent emails....hmmm....she's in the TB&F Facebook, you could use the phone number she gave.  I just PM'd you the #

:hug:
~Chrissi

I need to be pointed to a cotter key that will work with Intercal's Cotter Pins Size 7/64 x 1-1/2" (the big ones!). I don't see that Intercal sells them (??)

I have a larger cotter key from a few years back...I think I got it from edinburgh...and it's just not working.  I'm just able to barely get the key over the leg at one angle and it never holds..getting it back on is near impossible and I'm about to chuck this key out the window!! :twisted: 

Help if you can please....Where to buy a cotter key that will glide over these pins without wd40 (no, I haven't used wd40 on a bear!! not yet  )!! 

:hug:
~Chrissi

I think given what we do that kind of feedback is "friendly" and done with respect from a good place.  Most of us have our first and last names in our listings.  Most want buyers/collectors to associate names with sites, work, awards, etc.  And given that most teddy bear sites are warm and fuzzy with talks of hugs and collectors being cherished over the years I think it's all good.   
:hug:
~Chrissi

No BLUSHING!!!  I was going to list General, but didn't want to get labeled a soap head (I'm such a wuss!! Ohhhhh the shame of daytime soaps :crackup:  ) I'll keep the ABC soaps on in the background, even on the radio....but General is the one I'll sit down for if it's a good story going on.  

:hug:
~Chrissi

A Few Things you may not have known about me.....

Four jobs I have had in my life:

1)Team Lead
2)Retail Store Mgr
3)Framer/Gallery Assistant
4)sales in various trendy retail stores..Gap, Victorias, etc
 

Four Movies I have watched over and over...

1) Goonies
2) You've Got Mail
3) Truman Show
4) Tied between Big Fish & National Treasure

Four Places I have lived......

1)Bucks County, PA (that's it folks!)
2)
3)
4)

Four TV Shows I love to watch.....

1) Grey's Anatomy
2) What About Brian
3) Food Network Challenges with sugar art, chocolate, gingerbread, cakes, etc...intense edible artworks!!
4) Food Network's UnWrapped

Four Places I have been on vacation....

1) Virginia
2) Las Vegas
3) Jersey Shore (all the time..our folks have a place)
4)

Four of my favorite foods.......

1) Baby Greens topped with grilled eggplant and grilled chicken drizzled with Balsamic (mmmmmmm)
2) Homemade French Onion Soup
3) Homemade Turkey Pot Pie
4) Homemade Taco Salads...loaded with refried beans and salsa

Four Places I would rather be right now.......

1) Nowhere..I really like where I am!
2) shore house
3) one of those HUGE outdoor flea markets/antique markets they always have in the movies....
4)

:hug:
~Chrissi

Now, here's what you're supposed to do.....

Copy & paste this into a post.  Delete my answers, and replace them with your own answers and submit!
Can't wait to hear about you all!

I've gotten 3 cards so far!!  Thank you Debra, Denise and Aleta...they're lovely

:hug:
~Chrissi

I'll be 34 in May (good bunch of Tauruses out here!  ) 
I don't care about the numbers or any of that stuff.  When I was 21 my 14 year old sister (who is still taller than all of us!) was served champagne at a champagne breakfast as the waiter passed me by.  I hated that back then, but now I LOVE that people think I'm younger than I am based on looks....good genes (thanks mom & dad).   

:hug:
~Chrissi

Thank guys!!  I just added a photo of one of the bears..the others will have to wait for April! 
:hug:
~Chrissi

I just took pictures (finally!) of a few bears made over the past few months for friends and family..holidays birthdays, babies, and all. 
The first here is Honey Rose.  I've just finished her for my sister's baby shower this coming Sunday. She's having a little girl. The collar is made from the same fabrics used in the nursery.  I'm not sure if it's showing up as well in the photos but the creamy paw pads and her face were lightly shaded with pinks.

This next bear, Sammy, was for my mom this Christmas. She was talking about the corduroy snowsuits we wore as kids and I happened to find a set on eBay.  The bear is the largest I've ever made..I took the measurements from an 18 month old toddler! It's also probably one of the more modern looking bears with his eye style and big round head He's found permanent residence on a child's rocker in her living room...he's really huge!

The last guy's full body shot didn't turn out, so I'll have to get some more to post..but the best part of this bear are his feet.  These 2 pics are special ones for my mom and her family so I took the shots and created a "memory bear" of sorts for her.  The bear has a holiday feel because the photos are from Christmas and New Years with her parents (both no longer here).  In person the photos are quite clear and not at all grainy. 

Mom has plenty of bears!!!  But these 2 were special and well worth the time :)
:hug:
~Chrissi

Never EVER under estimate the snowglobe...some are even.....musical <gasp>! 

Be sure to stock up on aerosol cheese wiz...that's OK!     

Have FUN and STAY WARM!!!

:hug:
~Chrissi

Very cool photo Debbie, Thank you! 

(Thank God for "Auto Solve" over to the left!!! Someone was thinking of the "me's" :crackup:  :crackup: )

:hug:
~Chrissi

I've done something like this already & I'm thinking along the same lines as Bobbie on this one.  I'd be afraid of the end result and your name being attached to it.  What if they're not sewn to your standards and the bear winds up on ebay in 3 years
I'd ask that she pay for shipping charges and then do the ears for free as a one time service. 
:hug:
~Chrissi

Thank you Jodi!  It's really sweet of you to say and it means a lot to hear, honestly  

My reply to Janet was totally geared towards actually having your account suspended or locked out for reasons that make no sense at all.  It's what happened to me, that was where the letter piece was coming from.  I still get the bogus emails left and right, but always check out my account first for any kind of messages in the "my ebay" area.  If you've actually had your account locked or listings cancelled and you can't get a legitimate reason from eBay I do suggest contacting their legal department.  The thing that cracks me up is the buyers and sellers are expected to be accountable for their actions, but there seems to be very little accountability on eBay's part.  It's very sad because it does hold a very valuable service and I LIKE being able to shop for anything and everything 24/7....I've furnished my house pretty much from ebay and met some wicked cool artists and sellers out there! (About 3 or 4 years ago I bought the coolest recycled barnwood furniture for our finished basement from the guy who use to make for Sundance catalog (redford's sundance)...how would I have ever found that guy without the service eBay provides?!)  But I don't like the idea that when your "store" is broken into or vandalized the ebay police tell you nothing and protect themselves and the bad guys.  That part stinks...for seller and buyers across the board.

:hug:
~Chrissi

Per eBay they have the right to do as they see fit and not supply you any details or specifics as to why.  I've read the user agreement and security pages over and over and can't find an explanation as to what happened to myself months ago either. 
I've decided to write a notarized letter to their legal department requesting all noted information and system notes pertaining to my account and the block they had put on me.  I personally want to know if it was indeed the unfamiliar IP address that concerned them and caused my account to be pulled, or if someone had my listings pulled for other reasons. Frankly I want to know..and I will.  (stay tuned)

Ebay is not a kingdom within itself, they do not create their own laws...policies yes, but those policies seem to be built on thin ice.  During live chats  they will try to convince you that you have no rights and that they owe you nothing...this is not the case at all. 

Janet,
I would suggest writing a clear, professional and bullet pointed letter containing only the facts, requesting an explanation from eBay in writing.  Have it notarized and sent registered mail if you have to.  Ebay is becoming a sanctuary for criminals and scam artists as lawful persons are being abused.

:hug:
~Chrissi

When using ebay my photos were always part of the code I pasted in for my listing in the "HTML Description" area, so I only ever needed to use the one free gallery shot.  The price for photos was .15 the last time I sold.  It does add up.

:hug:
~Chrissi

Hi Eliza!
I've been dying Mohair for a few weeks now and it's so cool.  I wish I'd done it sooner! I've been using the RIT dyes too and haven't had any issues at all. 
Let's see if I can help at all with a panda....I've only done a few so I'm no expert at all . The "biggest mystery". Most mini's with the black eye patches are done via shading and not pieced fabrics like some larger bears. There are tons of threads in the library on what people use to shade with from pencils, to pens, to paints.  Most mini books I've seen use the Pigma Micron Markers with the really fine points.  I'd test on a scrap of the mohair to see what medium works for you. I'm sure you could piece in black eye patches, but for a 4 inch mini that could be tricky..not impossible, but tricky.
The cutting part of the pattern: you could take a body pattern you're using now and cut that top chest part off for the black pieces.  Add a seam allowance back in to where you cut across and you've got the body pieces.  Sewing is just the same as any other piece, your seams shouldn't be an issue.
I hope that helps and if I've missed something or given whacky info someone else please correct it!! 

:hug:
~Chrissi

Kim we're working just about the same way, maybe even with the pinky flick! :crackup:   I use a quilting size 10 and I do use doubled gutermann thread instead of the single strand. 2 squares forward one back using a backstitch always.  I do think mini's are a bit different in that they don't have to be stuffed rock hard, doing so can alter those wee seams.  I stuff firmly and weight, but don't go for rock hard.  It's a teddy, not a marble sculpture 

:hug:
~Chrissi

Personally I've not had a mini bear hit the $200 mark and I'm only now going back to using ebay occasionally. As a buyer and a seller I don't like the new system...not at all. Not a well thought out plan on eBay's part in forcing everyone to become a private auction based on dollar amount alone.  I can understand the concept of protecting buyers from scams and unsolicited inquiries, but this was probably  the fasted and easiest fix for eBay....not the sellers that support eBay's survival.  If we're unhappy with it the only way for them to address is to hear it.  Are other sellers unhappy as well (furniture, antiques, collectibles, etc)?  Are there forums to find out?

:hug:
~Chrissi

This is exactly the point I was making. Please dont' take offense at the quoting, it's out here so I'm making reference to for the discussion and not at all thinking that these quotes are wrong in any way. Opinions are great!   "less desirable" "what tha" "I just can't see why" .....all perfectly fine personal feelings on art.  I personally find a giant white canvases with a single red dot in the middle amateur, but one is hanging in the Phila Museum of art right now and it's valued at more than my car. I wouldn't pay it, I don't get it, but that's art.  It can't be about the personal visual feelings, when assuming fraud or value of art.  Even appraisals don't mean anything in auction settings. 

I worked for a good while with a Quality Assurance area.  It was the coolest thing I've ever done..very thorough, very detailed, very fact oriented.  You can take red flags and investigate..but the red flags need to be for anyone and everyone..not just the lower income single mom with bad credit..the upper income father with 4 houses is just as worthy of investigation if the standard flags are present.  Otherwise fraud isn't the only illegal thing going on..personal feelings, discrimination, and a boat load of other things are coming into play. Random samplings across the board is how most big corps operate. I"m sure eBay has those practices in place.
One other point...by calling for investigations and having other artists worked investigated I just hope we don't inadvertently create a hostile environment out on eBay where anyone can cry wolf <bear> and see anothers work pulled.  That would be horrid.

I have to go now...a green st patty bear leg just walked out of the studio...the large beast carrying it is trying to tell me to get to work.  (the leg is inside out still and not harmed in any way..at all!! not even a drop of drool <whew>)
:hug:
~Chrissi

Oh no I agree, no blind eyes..report it all to ebay for investigation. It should be investigated by eBay and stopped if/when happening. But isn't "something" making one look for patterns before that bids link is clicked for further research. (??)
Are/were we noting patterns for all artists..even those who's work is accredited and who are considered established?  I guess I'd like to see that all are treated the same regardless of what is perceived as a worthy price fetcher.  And with the new system wouldn't that have to happen?  If there's questioning of the one bear/seller wouldn't you have to question the other...even though it may appeal to you and make sense?  Fraud is criminal. The standards in addressing need to be the same across the board, assumptions either way can't be made.

:hug:
~Chrissi

EDIT: we were typing at the same time when you posted your new question.  Well, if it went private maybe the same thing that happened as with your $75-$750 bear. Luck, different day, different traffic pattern for buyers ....who knows without a factual investigation.  Otherwise it's all just assumptions and those can be wrong.  If it's fraud get them outta there. But if it's still happening and it's been investigated it's not be proven fraud then it is what it is....ebay.

Shill Bidding: It's wrong. It IS fraud. 

But I'd like to ask...how does anyone know it's happening over and over and over?  Is it an assumption based on what we're seeing artistically..that the item couldn't see that many bids or that kind of price? Or were there bidding patterns that were being followed prior to this invisible system?  I guess I'm curious as to why we're assuming that its happening over and over. (no, I'm not naive I know there are people who will try to play the system) But Ebay's pretty much an open book..there are the featured listing and there are not.  If you're going to want to create a "buzz" you're going to list on featured.  So we're talking about featured listings here, correct...otherwise it's not worth it to shill (who's seeing it..there's no buzz).  It would have to be those that are listed regularly, with constant high bidding to be obvious. We're talking our industry so it's artist bears and not an ebay concern in general.  So....we've got artist bears, consistent featured listings, and constant high bids.  Are we going to look at all of the artist that fit this description and say who deserves it and who doesn't? Who's standards are we using?  I hope not mine because even the most accredited artists in the book wouldn't pull $1000 from me... BUT from someone out there in the global economy they do in fact.
I guess my point is this....Who's the judge? What's fueling the concerns?  If eBay is used to grab at international markets that are huge and vast and unmeasurable than we couldn't possibly understand the buying wants of each and every buyer.  What tickles a buyers fancy might not tickle ours and might lead to assumptions. Serious and legitimate concerns should most definitely be reported to eBay so that they can investigate and address all cases of fraud.  But if that's not the case we could be stepping on toes right now that don't deserve the squashing. 

:hug:
~Chrissi

Kim you've got me beat with the kids....but my husband is one HUGE kid if that counts for anything.
I've got xbox, playstations and the rest to trip over too :crackup:  :crackup:   I felt bad creating my "circus" 'cause my biggest doggie was left out.  We've got 3 dogs and 3 cats.  We're the Brady bunch of furkids!!! 
And my user name is me+my doggie Brinkley...she's the black and tan dog disguised as the elephant above.  

I really can't wait to see who wins, this has been a terrific event and thread!!    :clap:

:hug:
~Chrissi