Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

We're Sheilas!! Now there's a good Aussie term!  Thanks Danni, for contributing your hue to this colorful group. :lol::lol:  I like the thought of being a Sheila.  Not sure how it comes across in Aussie thought, but to me it sounds quite feminine and pleasant.

Eyes, ears, nose...just cuz!

My chocolate chip cookie perfume spray is on its way!!  I can justify this, as I am very reactive to sugar inside of my body...outside will be just fine, and I can bask in the wonderful aroma... Thanks, Shelli!!

I'm all for no hard and fast rules, too.  Usually, I sew all the parts and stuff the head and then attach it to the empty body, stuff and close all the parts, then set about making the facial features and add any extra coloring at the last.

Penny!!   Behave yourself!!!   Aww, nevermind...I'll let you get away with your shenanigans...'cause you crack me up!!!!! :lol::lol::P

How 'bout adding orange??

Judi,

You are so thoughtful to break it all down for me like this.  I have had a PayPal account for probably a couple of years now, but for some reason, people preferred to give me their cc#'s over the phone until recently. 

I have had an Ebay account for about the same amt of time, but have not gotten up the courage, or felt I had significant time to devote to learning how to do it.  I'm getting closer to feeling ready for it now, though.  I doubt that it would really take me as long to master it as I have envisioned.  I have seen some offerings that have really nice looking templates to display them in.  I think I would like to do mine that way.  There is always so much work waiting to get done, though. 

In the past few days I have completed a magazine article and 2 personal bios for ad deadlines, and now the only writing I have to do is an article for Teddy Bears on the Net.  It would appear that when that is completed I could then dedicate time to learning Ebay, but, alas, I have a website-building project that is sitting partially completed and a big show coming up in Julyn (no new bewars made yet), with a several day trip to Oregon planned in the interim--No complaints, mind you; I'm meeting Winney and Dilu along the way. 

See how it goes?  Busy, Busy, Busy.  Some people seem to thrive on this kind of activity, and really I find it rewarding too, but I'm not one of those admirable quick thinking, quick acting people like some of our esteemed friends are.

So...I'm working on not stressing about the pile I'm under.  Meanwhile, I appreciate having friends on this board who can relate to my plight, with similar ones of their own, who lighten my psychological load with their caring concern, useful advice and delightful humor and nonsense.

Appreciative Hugs,

Welcome Home Shelli,

We've missed you!  Happy anniversary, hope you had a great time.  Would love to hear some of the high points about Disneyland.  Are you all inspired now? :D

Hugs,

Daphne,

What a brilliant idea to use dark and light upper and bobbin threads, and match to dark and light fabrics as you sew!!  It should have been obvious.

The coloring of thread with a dark marker is good too, but let's remember (Shelli's?) admonition to avoid using a black 'Sharpie', as that black soon fades to purple.

Venerable Rita, you are full of wisdom...thanks for the encouraging poem.

I read somewhere recently (maybe here?), that a good rule of thumb is if you must choose, choose to match the darker fabric.  Your intuition serves you well, Danni.

Oh my Gosh!  Beezley is the cutest!!  Keep going... I wanna see the next one too.

Shoot!! I really need to get to making bears.  My next show is Kansas City in July, and that is a big one.  I'm thinking I need a lot of bears.  I have been catching up on some required writing, and I'm not all that fast with it at this point, although I like doing it.  Got 2 more pieces waiting to get written, and then hope I can get a new website up that is partly made...That is scary but it's another one of those that with effort I know I can do ....I can, I can...you know how it is.  And after those things  are taken care of, it will be me, cramming to make bears!

YeaH !!  I could get with a program like that!! :D

I am conducting a survey of my bear customers, in part asking where and what percentage they buy their bears from ( Stores, artist sites, shows, etc.).  Of my customers who have responded to the survey thus far, most say they buy at least some from BearPile, and several say they buy a significant percentage there.  I have made more than half of my sales from that site since I signed up there a couple of years ago.

I think it's pretty much set for Friday, June 24 at about noon in Cave Junction, in Southern Oregon.  Anyone else who wants to join us is enthusiastically invited.  Bring a surprise grab bag to exchange.  The name of the restaurant will be announced. :D:lol::cool:

Would that mean we would have to try to quit being addicted?

Sue Ann, fingers, toes arms and eyes crossed... and looking forward (actually a little to either side) to seeing your little anime entity.

Werner Is a wonderful guy.  I dislike driving long distances, and I'm absolutely terrified of the prospect of driving in heavy duty "urban" areas...not that Cave Junction scares me, but Werner is very accomodating about being my escort and chauffeur... I always feel totally safe and cared for when he's around, and not only that, but he LOVES talking to people.  What more could a lady ask??:D:D

KBonsall,

I keep track of my time spent in bearmaking, and charge a price per hour, plus materials cost and a little markup for unaccounted for costs, such as transportation to the fabric/craft store, office supplies, etc.

Others may do it differently.  Happy bearmaking!

KBonsall,

Hi, Welcome.  Do you have a seller's permit?  Here in California, there is no initial charge,  and then at the end of the year you send all the sales tax you collected to the State Board of Equalization.  I also had to file for a fictitious Business Name and advertise it in the newspaper because my business name didn't contain my own personal name.

Hope this helps.
Furry Bear Hugs,

Terrific new avatar bear, Paula! 

I've just started receiving paypal pmts, so it's good to be privy to this talk.  As for Ebay, haven't started that one yet, seems confusing and intimidating, but I can do it.  I can...I can...I can!

So glad to see we all know what's important in life ;):P:lol:

Hi Winney,

I guess it would make sense to bring extra. If You, Dilu and I all bring 2, that would cover the other ones we know are coming.  If anyone else decides to join us, they can bring 1 or 2.  If there are leftovers, we can draw straws for them.  Werner thinks we could make it to Cave junction in about 2 1/2 hrs., so how about we plan on trying for a window between noon and 12:30?  When he asked me how long I would be meeting, I said about 2 hrs.  Does that sound reasonable?  Dilu, is it you who has the phone book for Cave Junction?  Whichever one has it can pick a place, and maybe call the place to see if they are still in business, and can handle a group of rowdy arctophiles.

Lesley,

A warm welcome!  Your bears and gollis are SO darling...I specially like your mini bear [scenes].  There is an intelligent word for that, but I'm so sleepy at 1:10 AM, I can't think of it.

Bear Hugs,

Oh, Ladies!!  You all have me in stitches (so to speak) with your bear-self descriptions and antics.  I'm growling with laughter!!  I wanna see all of these made into actual bears.

What kind would I be??  Well.....kinda tall for a girl bear, about 18 inches, with long arms and legs, a long muzzle with a large heavily waxed (not brown!) ;) nose and great big feet with trapunto padding and sculpted toes... so I'll have a good understanding, and hard, rather long (but not sharp) claws that I can paint or not, depending on my mood....I'll be made of 1 inch GOLDEN TAN "antique" finish mohair with unique disk/ball-jointed shoulders, hips and neck, and ball-jointed knees, wrists, elbows and ankles.   Every fiber of my being will be evenly stuffed with polyfiber and glass beads and my forearms and paws will be wired for grasping.  Of course, I'll have paintable long claws on my trapuntoed paws to coordinate with my toes.  My head will be firmly packed with shreds of knowledge, which I will freely distribute through my special positionable hinged mouth (with teeth and tongue), and which will be replenished regularly.   My sparkly eyes will be hand-painted, of course, with swooshes of periwinkle, moss green and deep burgundy and lidded in tan ultrasuede with sweeping dark brown mohair eyelashes. I will have dry-brush oilpainted accents around my eyes, on my muzzle, inside my slightly larger than average ears, and on my paws and feet.  I will have a growler and a squeaker.  On my chest will be a large soft deep red heart.  My value will be "far above rubies" [Prov.31:10]. :D

When I find time make this bear its price will be about $3,000.