Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

My third year too! I'm looking forward to it.

It's official. We now have an Etsy team. http://team.etsy.com/viewteam.php?id=407 One of our goals it to get a catagory for Artist Bears. If anyone is interested in joining the team email shelley@ursaminorminiatures.com

Your post got me thinking Sandi so I went to my links page and clicked on everyone. They all worked but very few had done reciprocal links back to my site. Not sure what to do... a gentle reminder?

My mom crocheted wonderful things, including many vests for me when I was in high school. She tried to teach me but I just never caught on. I would love a source for crocheted bear sweaters & little dresses or jumpers. Check on etsy to see what similar items are listed for.

I have a really cute pair of sneakers I intend to put on a bear. They are new but I would like them to look a little worn, kinda broken in. Any ideas??? If they were a little bigger I'd put them on the dogs feet and let her break them in. :crackup:

He is amazing!!!

Through one of my photos posted somewhere I received a request to make a panda bear that is illustrated in a book. The request has come from the author. She has written a book to explain Parkinson's disease to children. The main character is Pee Dee the panda. I agree, partly because my mom had Parkinson's. I said I would make the first one for the cost of materials and he is to be childsafe. The author mentioned that many others might want them and I told her I am just one person and can't mass produce. My question is -What are my rights concerning the design? I am making a sew in label for Pee Dee. Should I put on the label copyright by me? My design is based on the illustration. The illustrator is a recent high school graduate. Since he drew the panda is the design his? What are my rights if a company comes along and wants to mass produce?(not really expecting this but just in case). She would like Pee Dee by the first week in August for the book signing.

I worked for a vet that practiced acupuncture and saw it do wonders. I used to be a Dachshund breeder and they are prone to back problems. I had one doxie that had a disc rupture and was paralyzed. After 6 weeks of 2x wkly treatments you would never know she ever had a problem.
We saw animals for skin problems, urinary incontinence, arthritis and even cancer. The needles are so fine you barely feel them. Most of the animals didn't even flinch.

There are several scenes in Return of the Jedi on the Death Star. That's where a battle between Luke and Darth Vader takes place.
Now you know, I am a big Star Wars fan. I recently watched all of them-again. Of course, I sewed the whole time too.

Lisa, of qDpaTooties told me about http://www.hostmonster.com/ . You can get your domain name and use them to host your site for $6.95 a month. Lots of space for that price.

Krista, I saw a really cute tri color last week. She was mostly white with a black head and tan on her feet and little tan spots over her eyes. Sounds complicated but that's what you do..isn''t it?

Lisa of qd Patooties has a nice tutorial on the other forum for needlefelted eyelids
Here is the link http://www.eii2.com/Community/viewtopic … ht=eyelids

I've had an etsy shop for about a year and have done ok. Sales seem to come in spurts. I understand right now is considered a slow time. Between Bid 4 Bears and etsy I have done well and managed to stay away from ebay.

Yes, I know I am going to do a lot of Christmas shopping on etsy. There are so many creative people and wonderfully unique things. I could shop all day!
BTW Your shop looks great Tami!

I am so sorry you are feeling this way but I have to say I have been there. In 98 I was doing the Timonium show and found myself just pacing the parking lot, wanting the day to be over. My break lasted a couple of years but I came back more juiced that ever. You just do what is best for you and your girls. What will be will be!
PS: Is the Thankgiving parade still on?

My dh had his last year. He will attest to everything in the description. I haven't had one yet because I don't have health insurance and it is not an inexpensive procedure. I don't have any family history but the test is recommended after the age of 50. There are organizations that help pay for mammograms, it would be nice if there was one to help with this potentially life saving test.

Thanks so much for the site with Featherweight info. I learned to sew on my mother's Featherweight. I know it was made around 1950 by the number AND the sales contract from Singer. My mom purchased the machine in Washington, DC  for twelve monthly payments of $11.82. I keep the sales contract in a protective sleeve next to the machine. The photo of me in my avatar shows the Featherweight.
I need to identify some accessory pieces and parts she kept in a Singer box. I have the original instruction manual and a buttonholer in it's case.

I used a hemostat for turning and stuffing for years. About 6 months ago my thumb started to go numb when using them or scissors. I purchased one of the small ultimate stuffing tools and it works great. I still use the hemostats for turning but try to keep from using my thumb.

I use card stock too. For dark fabric I use a white correction pen.

Would love to add your link to my blog. I think I already have your banner on my website Patty.
www.dogpatchcritters.blogspot.com
www.dogpatchcritters.com

I scrunch up my shoulders when sewing or on the computer and have to keep making them relax or they get sore.  My hubby does this strange humming. It actually sounds more like a growl. He has a very deep gravelly voice. Someone called it throat singing once. He has been doing it since he was a child and most of the time doesn't even realize he is doing it. Sometimes he says it gives him a headache. I can tell where he is in the house or the yard by following the sound. The kids used to hum Jingle Bells in July and before you knew it Bill was humming it too.

I've had a shop on etsy for about a year. I have sold 8 critters priced from $55 to $125, 3 of those in the last 4 weeks. Recently, instead of adding new items to the adopt page on my website I just added a link to my etsy shop. There are so many wonderfully creative things on etsy I think the important thing is the tags you put on your listing. There was another thread about which category to list our artist bears. I have been listing under toys because I saw that's what other bear artists were doing. The tags you add after the main category are just as important.
Flickr, the photo sharing site, has a number of etsy groups where you can sometimes get an advance preview of things that will be for sale. You just can't say the item is for sale in your shop in the description of the photo but there can be a link to your shop in your profile.
I love just shopping on etsy. With the high gas prices its the best way to "shop til you drop" around.

This thread is great reading!
Obviously my user name is my first name and initial of my last. I put the D on because of that other Nancy   that frequents the forums. My business name, Dog Patch Critters, is another story. When I was a stay at home mom in the late 80's & early 90's(was it that long ago???) I did craft shows with all kinds of critters-muslin bunnies, velour dogs, calico cats, and button jointed Teddies. I lived on a private road with 4 homes on it. Myself and one of my neighbors were dog breeders(me-mini doxies her-Borzois) so when the county named the roads for the 911 system our road was named Dog Patch Lane. I was using the name Dog Patch Critters at craft shows when someone came along, saw the little button jointed bear and said "You should make a mohair Teddy Bear". As they say"The rest is history".

I just finished listing these 3 little pups in my Etsy shop. Oscar the Dachshund, Pixie the Puglet, and Wally the Boston  Terrier
Oscar is sold so I removed his photo.

Love to swap links! www.dogpatchcritters.com