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Holy cow, Clare!!! That sounds like quite painful. Glad you found the needle point. Ouch!!!
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Tracy
How beautifully said, Aleta. I feel the same, but could not put it into words as you have! Thank you! :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:
Tracy
Oh, what a brave, dear girl! I am so glad that Magic has improved. You still have my prayers.....
:hug:
Tracy
:hug: :hug: :hug: Thanks gals for all the great ideas you had for helping my parents in other ways as well. I can easily sneak things into the cupboards and fridge as I usually see Mom every day. Dad too now since he's unemployed. I am praying he will find something soon. We live in a small town in a rural area though....makes it a bit tougher. Dad is working on getting his CDL (commercial driver's license). He's almost done with the testing and that will open a few more doors for him in the job market. I know he won't take a trucking job where he'd be gone overnights as he and Mom have never been apart that way. I think there are quite a few companies though that only run during the day so the guys are home at night and on weekends. He was a mechanic specializing in electronics, but has decided he wants to do something else until he can really retire.
Unfortunately, he didn't get any benefits after he was laid off. His boss even 'pro-rated' his vacation from the first of the year until now instead of paying him the full two weeks he was due this year. Mom and Dad were hoping for a decent check in a couple of weeks from the vacation time, but that's not to be either. They are waiting on the unemployment to start...a few weeks or so.
Wow, it sounds like their situation is really pretty common. It's just not right. I think it's so rotten that someone can devote themselves to their job for so long--which my Dad did---and then just get booted out the door. Can you believe they had a little going away party for him on his last day(with a meat and cheese tray 
)? Like this was a planned retirement or something? What a slap in the face!! Sorry, I guess I'm still angry about the whole thing....
Sue Ann--I'm so sorry that this has happened to you and your hubby also. Hope you guys will be okay! and Sophie--Sorry to hear you are also unemployed. Good luck with the job search. Hope something turns up soon!
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Tracy
I second what Brenda said.....And why are some people--even some vets-- so cold hearted about animals anyway? Every living creature has the right to live and fight for survival. A rabbit may seem an unusual pet to some, especially that you care so much, but those people are missing out on the love you have in your life with Peter. They just don't get it! You keep on fighting to pull that little guy through. He is certainly worthy of your love and the work required to save him! You and Peter are in my prayers, Kassie!
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Tracy
:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:
Mission accomplished!!!................At least half way anyway. I got a call from Mom, and did get 'chewed' a bit, but only because we made her cry. I could tell she had been. She said she read our letters and just started bawling like a baby. Dad thought something was really wrong with her! Anyway, she did thank me for what we did, but said the money was going in their safe box at home and they weren't touching it unless they absolutely had to...and that we would get it back if they don't spend it. I just know they will try like mad to not use any of it, but at least they didn't try to give it back or something.
What a relief! The waiting for their reaction was just killing me as this is so important to me for so many reasons. Thanks everyone for the wonderful support and encouragement and prayers. It means a lot to me!
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Tracy
Thanks so much for the kind support and prayers. I really needed to share this with someone today! I know we did the right thing, but I don't want to upset my parents either. I told them in my letter that I wouldn't be much of a daughter if I stood back and did nothing to help when I know that things are so bad right now. I really believe that, and I can be just as stubborn as they are if need be!!
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Tracy
My sister and I did something for our parents today, and I am scared to answer my phone not knowing what their reaction will be. To make a long story short, my Dad was just "laid off" (a nice way of saying gotten rid of.. 
) his job of 38 years. Funny how he was the only one laid off when so many of the young guys have been there for such a short time. He has been considered antiquated and behind the young guys in training, etc for a while now. Experience doesn't count for as much as it should! Anyway, he's 58 years old with no higher education and finding another job is so hard for him. Unemployment takes 3 weeks to start and my Mom is disabled. They are in a serious financial situation right now as they were barely making it as it was. My sister and I have been trying for a couple of weeks to get them to accept some help from us and of course, they refused adamantly. They are both so proud and don't take help from anyone. They don't think it's right to take money from their kids. Well........Laurie and I got together and each came up with $500, and each wrote a letter to our parents, and then put it all in a mushy card. This afternoon I smuggled the lot of it into their house and put it next to Mom's pain medication in the medicine cabinet--where I know she'll find it soon. It's killing me waiting to see if they're mad or not!! I love them both so much!
My parents could sure use any extra prayers that can be sent their way. I can't stand seeing them like this! My Dad is so depressed and I think feeling like he's been thrown away, and Mom is worrying herself sick about the finances. Dad's looking for another job, but so far no luck. I am so worried.....
,
Tracy
Funnies........ 
Thanks Kim! I have so much fun making the open mouth bears with teeth! 
I will look for both products on my next shopping trip..........can't wait!
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Tracy
I have never made a bunny, but all the bonnie bunnies I have seen here have certainly inspired me! One of these days...........
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Tracy
Eileen--How stiff it ends up depends on how thick the glaze is applied. I put it on pretty thick (it soaks in quite a bit) and end up with a tongue that is stiffened, but still semi flexible too. The finish really isn't brittle--I can pinch together the tongue on my last bear and the finish doesn't crack. It seems more stiff and rubbery at the same time......does that make sense? 
Something you might try is to experiment with the glaze on a couple of sample tongues or seperate scraps of ultrasuede. 
:hug:
Tracy
Heather--Yep, that was me!
Those wings are too cool! Ooh, I can't wait to get some liquid sculpey now!! Wasn't planning on making the trip to Hobby Lobby for awhile (it's an hour drive and I always end up buying half the store! ), but I just might have to this weekend. I've been thinking on making some angel or fairy bears sometime and don't really want to mess with feathers (been there, done that, found it a pain!), and you just totally inspired me! I wouldn't copy your wings or anything, but the possibilites...... Could probably use it too to make various accessories for bears? Ideas, ideas, ideas......................
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Tracy
:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:
Hope you are well soon, Penny. Lots of hugs coming your way!
Tracy
Hey, gals! The sculpey glaze is what I use. The gloss version. I had bought it for teeth and gave it a try on the tongue as well. I really love the results. Works for me! The liquid sculpey sounds intriguing as well...I had not heard of that! I will have to look for it next time I get to Hobby Lobby.
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Tracy
I have to say that Michelle is my idol! Truly! I have been in love with her bears from the first time I saw one.......I sure wish I could afford to have one I met her at the Teddy Bear Reunion in Clarion last summer.....(the very first time I had been to a bear show--it was so awesome!).....and I thought, Wow! She makes the most perfect bears, and she seems like such a sweet person too. ...... If only I could have taken a bear home that day ...........
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Tracy
Oh Sandy, your and Magic's suffering hurts my heart! I am praying that she will pull through okay. Our pets are our children, and it is a horrible thing when one is sick like this. I too went the surgery route with our English mastiff a couple of years ago. He had injured a hind leg and had a resulting growth deformity in the femur that would eventually cripple him, so I took him in to have it corrected. The vet hospital bills are so expensive! I sucked it up and paid it anyway----Golly's my baby!
:pray: Praying for you,
:hug:
Tracy
Fran's dresses really are just gorgeous! I'm sure she puts a ton of time into each one. I used to sew prom dresses and such, so know how difficult some of the fabrics can be to work with. I so admire your talent (and patience ), Fran! 
I wonder if Fran takes commissions for her dresses? My mom has been after me for forever to make a couple of dresses for two nekked composition dolls ......and maybe one porcelain one, too.........that she has, and I am just avoiding it like the plague! That would take too much of my time away from making bears....and I have a serious addiction to mohair.....like if I don't work with it at least a little every day I have withdrawal. There should be a mohair anonymous chapter for those of us needing help! Really though, I think Mom would just love Fran's dresses. Hmm.....a gift idea.....
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Tracy
Laurie--The eyes are handpainted. I haven't done too many of these, but this pair has turned out the best of all of them.
Matilda and DebbieD--Mr Nekked is nekked no more! I made some bib overalls out of a pair of my hubby's jeans he 'grew' out of . He does look so cute in them!(the bear I mean! )
The teeth are hand made out of polymer clay--the front ones are actually one piece with each tooth sculpted into it. I put a coat of gloss sculpey varnish on them for the shine. I was brave when installing them this time and actually cut a slit into the mouth where each tooth was to go and then stitched and glued them in. This is covered by a line of fabric paint for gums. That method really worked well, and I have no doubts at all about the security of the teeth. The tongue is a pillow type--made from ultrasuede and then shaded. I also put some of the gloss sculpey varnish on it. It tends to soak into the fabric, leaving a little shine and also stiffening the tongue a bit into a nice permanent shape that I think looks realistic.
Thanks gals for all your compliments! And don't worry about being 'cheeky', I don't mind at all as I can be cheeky too!
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Tracy
Jeeesh!........okay, if you really think I need it. I'm sure the rest of the model contenders have had work done, too........... Now, I'm off to feed my model thin frame (only in my dreams! )with some frozen pizza for supper. Hmmm, just picture what that mouth looks like eating pizza!!!
Tracy
Lisa--I don't have any problems with my teeth.........because I don't have any! And why would you want to mess with such perfection as my beauty? No plastic surgery for me, thanks! Oh, the boys didn't like me in Kindergarten---I could beat them up!
Tracy
Daphne, both bunnies are just perfect!! They look just like the illustrations. I can only imagine how hard it would be to work from something like that, but to make such a perfect likeness...............WOW!
Tracy
