Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Good one! 

I definitely vote for the "wrong side of the glass" treatment. Works for me every time. That's not to say I don't end up wearing a good bit of the water, but when I get those horrible, whole-body hiccups, I really don't care as long as they go away! Just don't try it with a carbonated beverage. Let's just say, things can go very very wrong... 

Mindy

I thought I had about 100, but there are 72 in my office alone... The total is 160, counting everything: artist bears, manufactured bears, my childhood bear, two Hansa giraffes, various animals (lion, chicken, mouse, llama), miniatures, Christmas themed...

But not counting my latest acquisition, a complete set of the McDonald's/Madame Alexander Wizard of Oz Happy Meal dolls. Shirley Praytor deserves most of the credit; she heard I was collecting them and sent me the ones I had already missed. Am I'm allowed to unwrap and display them? I just wanted them because I love the W of O and Madame A dolls, not to fund Jack's college education 10 years hence. They're so cute!

Mindy

Thanks, everyone, for your swift and positive responses! I've got all of the volunteers for the patterns and the 12 Days. I am still looking for two bears for the auction. (Details at the TBF forum.) If you are able to donate, please let me know.

Again, thank you, thank you! I really appreciate all of your interest in the projects and willingness to jump on board.

Cheers!
Mindy

I've got a couple of new TBF opportunities available -- I'm actually looking for about 20 artists for various projects. I'm trying not to completely hijack TT for my nefarious purposes, so I've posted all of the details in the forum at the TBF web site (www.teddybearandfriends.com/forum) in the News & Announcements area. Please e-mail me at mkinsey@madavor.com (not TT mail) if you've got questions or are interested.

Thanks!
Mindy

Thanks for the invitation to Oz, Sandi! That would be a wonderful adventure. Maybe someday...

Mindy

I am hoping to lure all of you to Vegas, of course, but I'm doing an event at Schaumburg in the fall so we might be able to do a follow-up event there.

Keep in mind that the party will only be fun if people actually show up -- you can't all stay home and expect to get reports via computer, 'cause all there will be to report is me, Kellie, and Shelli hanging out in a big, empty room with snacks and a cardboard cutout of George!

If you need further enticement, I'll mention that we're planning to have, in addition to the TT party, John Lamb talking about his mystery books (and copies of his newest book); Debi McCarthy teaching a class on crocheting a bear; yours truly leading an artist panel discussion (artists needed); and, I think, Chris Herrington doing a lunch event. Chris is lots of fun, even if he is a manufacturer, and I think you'd all enjoy hanging out with him. Plus, of course, the TOBY Awards event. And the showroom. And the attractions of Vegas itself. So, you know, if you've thought of going to Vegas, this is a good time to try it out.

Mindy

You should certainly mention that when you send photo submissions. Those are the kind of details I like to include, even in the small Bruins 'n Buddies mentions, which is why I always ask for both a biography and the story/inspiration for each piece. The basic description for most bears is the same (mohair, glass eyes, Ultrasuede, polyfill...), but they're not all made at a cafe, or by a working farmer, or from hand-collected cat fur accented with organic squash blossoms and petrified wood. I want to know what makes you and your work different from the rest. You don't have to tell me something new every time -- you can work up a stock biographical paragraph. But if I publish your bio one time, the next time I'm going to need something about the bear itself -- inspired by your niece's ordination as a minister, or reminds you of a sunset in Maine, or the first time you dyed fur with crayons. Whatever makes it unique.

Someone -- Steven Clark, I think -- told me he sees bears as a souvenir of an experience. Great line. Giving collectors that extra little bit of information makes the bear more of an experience, even in print, and helps catch their attention. It also gives them something to talk about when they show off the bear to friends: "And this one, the artist lives in Hawaii so she includes a tiny bag of volcanic ash inside every bear." The bear's not just pretty, it has a story. It's like the talent and question sections of a pageant -- all the contestants are beautiful, so we need something to distinguish them from each other besides hair and swimsuit color. You might not remember "the pretty brunette," but you won't soon forget "the one who yodels the Marseillaise"!

You're absolutely welcome to cut and paste the submission form into an e-mail. You'll find mine at http://www.teddybearandfriends.com/foru … owtopic=13.

Three photos is good, and each photo can feature up to three bears. (I prefer one bear per photo, but sometimes a group is cute, too.)

When you get the new issue, check out John Port's "grassroots" tips for marketing. They're applicable to collectors and artists alike -- ways to introduce new collectors to teddies and get the word out about your work.

Thanks to the people who have already sent me photos this week!

The date: June 29, 2007
The place: Rio Hotel, Las Vegas
The event: Teddy Talk Live!

After seeing all the Teddy Talk "parties" posted online, I thought it would be cool to have a real one at IDEX Las Vegas. We'll have refreshments, activities, prizes (including TT gear and ads), and plenty of time to talk. Plus cameras to document the action, of course. I can't promise George Clooney, but I can promise lots of fun!

More info to come soon -- in the meantime, save the date and plan to come to Vegas.

Hope to see you there!
Mindy

Good catch, Maria. I just got the first copies of the new issue today and couldn't wait to upload it as a new avatar. I think it's a great picture, but I'm a bit prejudiced. (Bobbie, note the catchlights in the bear's and bunny's eyes!)

Mindy

Please don't wait for the editors to find you: there are at least 1,000 teddy bear artists worldwide and only a handful of editors; we need all the help we can get. I know it's romantic to be "discovered," but it's more realistic and effective to do a little PR for yourself. You're not being forward, you're proactively promoting your business!

Most magazines welcome submissions and give the necessary information in the publication and on the Web site. For Teddy Bear and Friends, send pictures and a letter that briefly describes your business, your background, and what makes your work different. Include captions for your pictures: piece name, size, materials, edition size, and story/inspiration. Remember to include your name (first and last), location, and contact information. If you're submitting to a specific project, mention that, too, of course!

You can send an e-mail with high or low resolution photos; I need high res (300 dpi) for publication but am willing to look at low res and request the specific high res images that interest me. You can also post a packet with photos on disk or prints. I prefer to receive 3-4 pictures, each featuring no more than 3 pieces. But if you've got one piece you're really excited about, send the one picture.

A few tips:
- Magazines work months in advance. I'm currently working on my July/August and September/October issues. You'll need to send me Christmas pictures in June or early July.
- Your pictures need to be good quality. They are all I, and my readers, have to go on. Make sure they're clearly focused, with plain backgrounds, and no shadows. Don't decorate them with text, clip art, frames, or effects.
- Don't give up. PR is not a once-and-done proposition. Don't send stuff every week, but once every month or two is perfectly reasonable. I might not have space for something this issue, but will be glad to have it for next time. (Plus, my new Web site is under development, so I'll need even more pictures once that's launched...)
- You may or may not get a response. (I try to at least reply with a "thanks" to e-mails, but that doesn't always happen.) It's OK to follow up with an e-mail or call to see if the info was received. Honestly, I generally don't know exactly what I'm going to use until I start typing an issue and see the entire body of material available to me, so I can't tell you whether or not your pictures will be used.
- If possible, send different pictures to each publication. We don't like to overlap if we can help it, and collectors like to see an assortment.
- Send "news" items, too. Charlotte Deadman just sent me a note that she's designing for a big hotel. That's an interesting tidbit to share and earns Charlotte a mention in a different part of the magazine (news vs. products).
- Remember your local PR, too. If you're attending a show or are included in a magazine, put together a similar letter packet and send it to the "local" editor of your nearest newspaper. They're always looking for news, too.

Hope this helps. Remember to check all the magazine sites for their specific guidelines, then plan your PR campaign!

Mindy Kinsey
Editor

Teddy Bear and Friends
PO Box 10545
Lancaster PA 17605-0545
mkinsey@madavor.com

:crackup:

Not sure what's funnier; the "dark porcelain" technology or Shelli taking it seriously...

I'm still wiping the tears from my eyes. Loved the diagrams about "GFlushing" the wire. And if you check the forum, there's even commentary from "users." Very clever!

How funny, Amy, I love "True Lies," too!

My all-time favorite movie and musical is "My Fair Lady." Seen it dozens of times. And I've been told that, for better or for worse, I AM Sally in "When Harry Met Sally."

Otherwise, I'm all about the romantic comedy, including all the Hugh Grant and Meg Ryan flicks previously mentioned. You might also try:

While You Were Sleeping
Shakespeare In Love
Much Ado About Nothing (with Emma Thompson)
Never Been Kissed
Ever After
Hitch
How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days
Chocolat (mmm, Johnny Depp)
LA Story
50 First Dates
Somewhere in Time

Hugh Grant fans, in addition to those previously mentioned:
Two Weeks' Notice
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Sense & Sensibility

Holy cow, Laura Lynn!! You must be a heck of a wife!!
(Can I give your husband my husband's phone number?) 
Happy Birthday! :cake:

THAT was really cool! And oddly timely, too -- I just quoted that song in the edit note for the May/June issue. It's one of my all-time favorites.

Mindy

Actually, Susan just moved back to the US last year. She's living in ... Wyoming, I think. Susan is a diverse artist -- paints, sculpts, AND makes great bears and animals -- who knows a ton about the marketing and business end of the bear industry. Plus, she lived on an island off the coast of France for a couple decades -- how cool is that? You'd all enjoy her. I'll pop her an e-mail with a link and see if she wants to join TT.

Mindy

Edie - Your issue appears to be lost. Our office is sending a replacement copy ASAP.

Steven - Your subscription ended with the Jan/Feb issue. You can order the Mar/Apr issue (and renew your subscription) by contacting Corey Hughes (see below).

Anyone else still missing the Mar/Apr issue, please contact Corey via e-mail (chughes@madavor.com), phone (617-536-0100 x105), or fax (617-536-0102). He can check the status of your subscription or process an order for the Face Book.

Sorry, everyone -- heaven knows why everything went wrong with this issue. I appreciate your notifications about missing and incorrect issues and your patience as we sort it out!

Mindy

Daphne -- All the kids around here are eager to see the movie, and I've told every one of 'em that I know the artist who made Mimzy -- so the under 14 crowd in Lancaster PA is well aware of your accomplishment, even if the general public isn't! 

Congratulations!
Mindy

Thanks, everyone, for your kind words. I'm glad you're enjoying the Face Book or eagerly awaiting it.

You can order it from us by contacting our customer sales at chughes@madavor.com or calling 617-536-0100 x105. The cost is $6 plus shipping to your location (about $6 to the UK, for example). Corey can take credit card numbers or you can send a check, but we don't currently accept Paypal.

We're talking about doing a poster or puzzle or something with the mosaic picture. I'll let you know if anything comes from the discussion. (By the way, the mosaic database included all of the Face Book pictures plus all the digital we've shot for the past five years plus a couple years' worth of TOBY pictures -- but the software tended to repeat some images and not use others, due to their color values. Which is why some are in there many times and others not at all. In case you wondered.)

Again, thanks for the kind words. You've made all the work very worthwhile!

Mindy

Not the least bit, Aleta. That's part of what made me mad, too -- that someone would try to take away from your accomplishment by accusing me -- and it's most of the reason that I almost didn't say anything on this topic. I even got up this morning thinking I would ask to take the thread down, because it's not fair for a few people's ... jealousy or sour grapes or misinformed imaginations ... to distract from your wonderful artistry. But I was, admittedly, selfish enough to be worried there might be more disgruntled people who needed to hear what a few asked privately.

Your bear won because it is fabulous, Aleta -- no other reason. Some great bears didn't win, because that is the nature of contests, but some great bears did win, and I'm happy to hang out in a place where we can celebrate with the winners, console those who didn't win, and vow to enter or try harder next year. It's like "Cheers" with comfy chairs and coffee instead of barstools and beer. :)

Mindy

Thank you, everyone, for your kind words and your encouragement. You're really the best -- I hereby award all of you Teddy Hug Awards for Niceness in Time of Need.

In the clear light of day today, I am less upset and more incredulous. I guess my sense of humor has gotten a good night's sleep, so I see the ridiculous side of the whole discussion more clearly. Had you seen me hauling all the entries to Florida, inviting judges, feeding ballots into the computer program... And here I could have just charged bribes and picked my favorites. Silly me. Remind me to add "chocolate, wine, & flowers" to the entry fee page for 2008! 

Anyway, I am sorry to have shared my woe during a time of celebration. Let's turn the focus back to congratulating our friends and anticipating the Golden Teddy list. Though, of course, none of you can win GTs because they don't hang out here...  :crackup:

Thanks, friends.
Mindy

I've had a couple of messages saying that the reason so many Teddy Talkers have won TOBYs is that I've somehow rigged the contest. I'm really sorry to put a damper on the celebrations of the artists who won and the friends who are happy for them. However, in case there are more people thinking these thoughts than expressing them to me, I wanted to be sure everyone understands clearly that the integrity of the contest is irrefutable. I'd like to share what I wrote to the accusers:

"I am insulted that you would say such a thing. I am not a judge, and I would never "fix" the TOBY competition. There is nothing for me to gain and everything to lose.

"I believe in what the people at Teddy Talk are doing, and I enjoy chatting the same as everyone else. I have personally encouraged many artists to join TT, and I will continue to promote the site and to visit myself. It's nice to connect with people in an informal way. But I would never let my visits to the board, or time spent with people at shows, or any personal preferences, influence the integrity of the contest. At most, I take joy in notifying people they have won -- whether I know them or not, and whether I, personally, like their work or not.

"The reason so many TT members won is that so many of them entered. There are more than 800 members on this board, and many of them are very, very good artists. Perhaps my active participation in TT encouraged them to enter, but it had nothing to do with their winning -- they did that on the merit of their art.  It's insulting to them and to me to suggest anything else."

If you have any doubts about the integrity of the contest, I hope this lays them to rest. These artists won because they submitted great work. The panel of judges was all new, they are experienced in the industry, they took their judging responsibilities very seriously, and they couldn't care less who I hang out with in cyberspace.

Congratulations to the winners. A sincere thanks to all of the friends who are celebrating with them. Many of you are showing grace in the face of your own disappointment, and that is truly lovely. And to the many, many members of Teddy Talk who entered -- you took the leap, and I appreciate it. Thank you.

Mindy

A note from Sue McCart of IDEX regarding the charity auction next Saturday. If you're interested, you can watch the auction over the internet and participate via phone bidding -- pretty cool! -Mindy

***************

We are working with Theriault's and Proxibid to cover the Arte Sofisiticado charity auction, during IDEX. It will be LIVE on the internet, and collectors can call in Phone Bids in advance, or watch the auction as it happens.

We need you to help us let any collectors know that this incredible service is available, and that all proceeds from the auction will go to benefit children that have been diagnosed with HIV+ or are infected with AIDS.

Please tell them to register in advance, with Theriualts, and they will call them when the doll or bear that interests them comes up for bid.  Tell them to call & register today with Theriaults at 410-224-3655.

Make sure they tell the Theriault's receptionist that they are calling to register a phone bid for the IDEX auction. They will handle all the details.

Here is the link to the page on our Arte Sofisticado page on our website. People can click on your name, and see your donation, if we have received your photo.   http://www.idexshows.com/orl.arte.htm

Thanks so much for your wonderful participation, and we will see you very soon.
Sue McCart, IDEX

Thanks, everyone. I'm in a seriously cranky mood this week -- nothing major, just too much to do and not enough time -- so I especially appreciate your kind words.

Mindy