Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Working on the web site (the never ending story isn't just a movie!!), just finished business cards and a brochure....now moving onto the bear that's sitting deflated on the studio table!  Poor mister has a finished head and a big old flat body :crackup:
I can't take a picture...he's too embarrassed, being headless and all.  Says come back tomorrow..has to pull himself together first

:hug:
~Chrissi

Hi Michelle!
That does suck...big time..BUT the thing about teddy bears is they don't care what they're made of.  You now have the opportunity to create amazing patterns and define your style and then when you are able you can transfer that style into Mohair bears.  Right now you can use just about anything, in fact many books I've read suggest patterns be tried out with muslin or scraps first. Old Chenille Bedspreads and quilts make some really cute pattern testers....add a bow and call it a gift for someone (very primitive and trendy actually!!)   Keep chatting, it helps to keep the spirits up and make the time fly by :hug:

:hug:
~Chrissi

I've only ever done the heated wax with a candle and the batik tools for the minis.......

For my larger bears I've been sealing the noses, but not yet with wax.

How do you use the wax if not melting it first?  Are you warming it in your fingers before rubbing it on the thread...does it pull at the stitches??  Thanks for any additional how to tips!
:hug:
~Chrissi

Always go with your gut!!  No "shame on you" as it turns out.   :)
Such a good thing that Sue Ann came home and got to read this one...yah'll coulda had a teddy stalker  :crackup:

:hug:
~Chrissi

I wanted Teddy the moment I saw him on the challenge thread today......   LOVE HIM!!

:hug:
~Chrissi

Check out Target.com  search "nesting boxes".  They have a few patterns and the largest size in nice and long.
Hope this helps........  I'm still looking for those cool vintage styled doll boxes

:hug:
~Chrissi

Yes, I did get the same email.  I always check "my ebay" area for updates..just to be sure the emails are legit....and it was indeed an ebay email.  If it's not in the "my ebay" area, it's not legit.   
Turns out they're even tracking what you're watching (kinda freaky).

:hug:
~Chrissi

Daphne,
Are you looking for those stacking/nesting boxes that go from tiny to larger and usually come in a pattern or a theme (like americana, kitchen stuff, bears, etc) OR are you looking for those old fashioned/vintage doll boxes??  I'm looking for those longer doll boxes with lids if anyone knows where to find....I'm still looking.  I thought floral boxes might do it, but they might be too thin width wise. 

Do you want the bear to be able to sit up comfortably in or on the box?? 
:hug:
~Chrissi

Hi Tracy!! 
I hate it when home projects and remodeling take over!!  We're just finishing up a job that's gone on for 2 years now...that was way too long and it bummed me out big time when I thought about it too much.  But it is almost done and now we're onto another project....there's always something that needs tweaking or re-doing   :crackup:. 
I'll keep an eye out for your newest creation 
(How's Midget doing?? I hope she's feeling better.)
:hug:
~Chrissi

Melissa,
Glad my suggestion was a good one...I didn't want to sound to paranoid, but I know it's good to always protect your work.
You could always call her back "to confirm" the mailing address and let her know that the photos are on their way..then slip in the quick question of "I'm so happy you were able to contact me.  I'm always curious to know where collectors see my work, helps me with advertising and reaching new collectors" or something like that. (??)

She may in fact have a computer and not like photos being sent for fear of "viruses".  I know people like that...could be a possibility.  I'm sure it's all good and could be exciting...but I'm still curious

:hug:
~Chrissi

I'm new to selling my bears, but not to selling a product I created.  I love to bake and always had folks tell me to sell my cookies. So about 7 or 8 years ago I gave it a whirl just for fun. Just on the side, not a full time thing at all.  Food is a whole 'nother ball game and really wasn't fun for me in the end.  I still make these cookies for friends and family occasions now and then, but that's it.  The quality ingredients, the time it took me and the detailed work should have set a higher price, but I didn't value my own work and talent back then.  I saw what "big names" in catalogs and shops were making and pricing at ( ) and I tasted some of it too...   :crackup: ...and I should have valued my work more. 
Now I do and I won't underprice myself just to make a sale. If you're confident in your work and your finished product you should never underprice yourself.  We're not Walmart

Here's a shot of the cookies...this is way before digital so forgive the not so great quality of a disposable camera.  The cookie base is my great grandmothers shortbread recipe, much nicer than a hard sugar cookie. These cookies were always 1/4 inch thick, at least 3-5 inches in size and the secret recipe icing is to die for....not that hard stuff a lot of places use.  The moon pattern in the one shot was taken from a crib sheet set that the mommy to be was using in the nursery. Each cookie had a line from Hey diddle diddle (Cow Jumped over the Moon). (These folks got SUCH a bargain with the price...and I learned a really good lesson about myself and my work!)

:hug:
~Chrissi

:crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

Not to be a cynic, but with the ebay world and scammer world of today when I do a brochure or send out photos I'm going to do that "name" thing across the photo.  Just a quick copyright/property of type of thing so there can't be any confusion about what can happen with the photos.

Is that too "paranoia" (??) :crackup:  I haven't eaten breakfast yet...maybe my blood sugar's low  :crackup:

(I would definitely ask how she found you.....esp since you've all gotten recent calls...ok, I'm curious )
:hug:
~Chrissi

What I'm taking away from this goes back to what Mindy defined as well.  Using the same pattern is not the issue...it's the bear as a whole.  As she and lisa seem to be hinting at changing the mohair color and adding a bow are not creating a "totally different" bear.  It's an original but not a OOAK. 

Lisa states that with the same pattern must come great creativity to indeed create a true and sperate "OOAK".  If I can't do that with each bear then I'm just sticking with the "original" terminology, I think that's most fair to a buyer.  But that's just what sounds good to me

:hug:
~Chrissi

Hi Charlotte!
Maybe the doggies will let me slip by and into my studio to stuff a bear arm or 2...my latest bear is "deflated" and patiently waiting for his fluffin'stuffin!!  Poor little bear dude!
Thank God it's very nice weather today and we have a huge fenced back yard!  Time to burn off all that doggie energy!

I just took a peak at all of your baskets.....Amazing work, just lovely.  I will need to pass it along to my mom, she will fall in love!

Everyone have fun with their weekend projects and routines!! 

:hug:
~Chrissi

It's not quiet over here!
Like insane people my husband and I said yes to dog sitting!!  His cousin needed to travel to upstate NY for a wedding and a last minute kennel reservation didn't work out, SOoooooo we've added one more to our Zoo for the weekend        
5 medium to larger sized dogs trampling about my living room, it sounds like a stampede of wild buffalo!  :crackup:
At least Dakota is a very well mannered and happy doggie.  She's the same age as my Meadow (1 year) and they are now best friends.  Here are some shots (don't mind the fur speckled carpeting...it's pointless to vacuum today with these 2 playing !! Maybe later tonight I will reclaim my living room??!!)

Meadow and Dakota posing pretty

Playing like doggies do....(reminds me of the polar bear shots!)

Doggie snuggles....

So, this is where I am today!
:hug:
~Chrissi

Hi Sandra,

Yes you should continue and yes it's a phase, no worries.  We've all been there and done that..it's normal think the thoughts you're having now....but only let it happen this once     Then never compare your work to others in this way.  Admire the quality, admire the quantity and then get back to what makes you happy and content with your works.  Remember the first time you made a bear and it smiled back at you...that's all that matters.
I've found over the years that setting specific goals keeps me focused.  I'm only working to achieve my own set goals...I'm not working to emulate, compete with or compare myself to another.  Set the goals that you are to meet and over time meeting those goals will take you exactly where you want to be.

:hug:
~Chrissi

:clap:  :dance: HAVE A BLAST AND ENJOY IT ALL...YOU WORKED SO HARD AND DESERVE THE BEST SHOW!!! :clap:  :dance:

:hug:
~Chrissi

Hi Michelle!
Intercal has great deals in their "specials".  Mini bear fabrics from Sassy Bear (in vendor section) are very very nice.   Have fun with it..it IS addictive!!

:hug:
~Chris

Love the photo you purchased!  They're like giant puppies playing!
Thank you for sharing his link...the Fall and Winter in New England shots are so beautiful!  I can't wait for fall and winter

:hug:
~Chrissi

Chubby Hubby is the world's best flavor (in my opinion) and this is torture for me because I don't eat dairy anymore!!! I'm going to have to figure out my own version of this now using wheat and dairy free products...I'll do it!!

It's little pretzel nuggets that are filled with peanut butter then covered in fudge,in vanilla malt ice cream with fudge and peanut butter ripples. It's heaven in a pint sized container.  All worries were fixed with this stuff.....I need to go create my own version now before I go nuts with cravings  :crackup:

:hug:
~Chrissi

:crackup: That DARN Antiques Roadshow!!!  They've got everyone holding onto everything hoping someday it's going to pay off!!! That show (as well as trash in the attic and bargain hunt..I love the BBC shows) have created new generations of pack rats!!    (I'm such a doofus...i had to look up swizzle stick...I was picturing pixie sticks and wondering why in the heck someone would collect a pixie stick!! :crackup: )

I'm totally hearing what you're saying Mindy and I still like the OOAK and Original definitions and will personally continue that route when defining my stuff, it just seems to make sense to me.  It's a teddy bear; it's going to have a pattern with 4 limbs, a head and a body..it's the execution of design that is going to produce that OOAK that is separate form original works. Do you have any photos of the OOAKs you've seen at shows where you can see the total difference in each work, yet they're still by the same artist?  That might be cool to see that show table...to visualize it is always nice. I'm such a visual learner myself...hands on..imagine that

:hug:
~Chrissi

I will say many prayers and ask that St Gianna watch over your little one. She was a doctor and mother and watches over little ones with great love and protection.

:hug:
~Chrissi

:dance:  :clap: SUPER JOB Alison CONGRATULATIONS :clap:  :dance:
What a great teacher too!!!

:hug:
~Chrissi

Maybe the "kind" in it is the "bear".  Humankind...mankind...bearkind  "one of a (bear)kind" 
In science they say that all snowflakes are one of a kind, but that's because the pattern is never ever the same. Science and art sometimes do and don't blend, so it's just an example.  (You need the science to make the paints, but not to use them). 

Really cool discussion

:hug:
~Chrissi