Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

1.  YES or NO:  Have you ever participated in a random teddy bear swap?  By random teddy bear swap, I mean a swap where your name is placed among a pool of names of participating artists, and then you are paired up with another bear artist randomly by the swap coordinator.

Yes, I've been involved in almost a dozen!

2.  AGREE or DISAGREE:  All participants in random swaps must agree that they will accept, without public or private complaint, any bear that comes their way, as a condition of participation.

Agree

3.  YES or NO:  Do you think swaps should be sub-organized into categories?

depends

4.  If you answered YES to question (3.), which categories would you like to see used?  Mark all that apply:

I think it should be by theme and then the specifics should be discussed between the swappers - doing things too complicated takes the fun out of the swap 

(a)  Size (small, medium, large... or mini, medium, biggun.) (b)  Style (contemporary, traditional, distressed, anime)
(c)  Skill level of bearmaker (beginner, intermediate, advanced)
(d)  Medium (needlefelted, mohair, synthetic)

5.  If you marked "skill level of bearmaker" as a possible category, in question (4.), do you have any suggestions about the criteria a swap coordinator might use to determine the skill level of each participating artist?  Years making bears?  Price per bear?  Awards and honors?  Is this even a realistic option?
no clue!

6.  How long should swap participants be given to complete and ship their swap bear? 1 month

7.  What, if any, should the consequences be for those who commit to a swap, but never send a bear to their partner, even after receiving one themselves?

banned from TT LMAO

8.  AGREE or DISAGREE:  The swap coordinate should not have to police swap participants.  Any problems which arise are the responsibility of each swap pairing to resolve.

Agree

I was recently made aware that my shipping locations on my newest bear doesn't include Canada    which, of course, was a mistake! Can I change it? There is one bid so far and when I go into changing my shipping, it doesn't have the option to change my locations! YIKES! 

I also wanted to add Europe but I can't do that either! .... HELP!   

I saw your adorable bear on ebay!!! I would say to do a lower starting bid with a RESERVE of what you want to get in the end, at least it will bring attention to your bear if you don't reach reserve (at least you will have bidding)... That is what happened to my last bear, reached $31.30 without reaching resereve so I put it in my store and sold it a buy it now for my reserve and not only was he sold but he had other people who were disappointed that they didnt get there first!

I would say to keep doing what you are doing It is hard to get started on ebay and in order to keep prices going up, you need to constantly have new bears ... this is my new years resolution! LOL 

Good luck, girl! Love your bear (just can't afford it!)

I think he is gorgeous, even being green he is gorgeous!   

Here is the one from the pimp site...

Delicious K. Shmoove  :crackup:  :crackup:

LMAO!!! Here is mine from Captain Underpants...

Pinky Bubblefanny

I am starting to have this same problem and have only been creating bears for 2 yrs! ... The names of my bears have to be more "wacky" because my bears are sort of wacky so I can't really name a bear something ordinary... ok, I am probably not making sense! LOL

Thank you girls so much! I really appreciate your kind words and thoughts!  I decided to not say anything unless I see another bear that looks like mine!

Dilly, you have to be the sweetest person alive!  :hug:  :hug:  :hug: (you brought a tear to my eye!)

Starbucks is like potting soil in a cup LOL...   

I can't drink caffine anyway...   

Hmm... what else... PEOPLE WHO COPY MY BEARS DOWN TO THE D_____N COLLAR! LMAO... sorry, couldn't resist!  :crackup:  :crackup:

People who bid on ebay and wait until the last possible second to pay... darn it people, don't you know it is spent before I even make it LMAO...  :crackup:  :crackup:

People who let their dogs bark and bark and bark and bark!  My neighbors let their dogs bark nonstop!  i have two dogs and they don't bark in a year what theirs bark in a week!  Every time I close my cabinets a little too hard, yep, barking!!! ARRGH! 

EEWWW the bathroom handwashing thing! I have been in the br at work and know EXACTLY who doesnt and doesnt wash their hands.... YECH!

I don't mean to get "disgusting" but guys who are constantly "adjusting"  what is up with that???  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup: Sorry, it really grosses me out!

What else... ungreatful people... people who are handed everything in life...nothing is worth anything if you don't have to work and fight for what you have...

Ok, I'm done   

I have a lot of the same pet peeves as you all do... hmm... what can I add...

People who aren't genuine...

People who lie....

Starbucks Coffee, period (BLEECH!)

People not putting things back where they belong

People jamming the photocopier and not unjamming before walking away....

People using the last of something and not telling anyone

WHEEW! I feel better! he he he

OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! I want them both!!!      their eyes are so beautiful!

p.s. your mousie and kitty are too cute!

I trim and I have also used a "fuzzie shaver a/k/a a fabric shaver" to do it also that is a new trick I'm using LOL

Usually the firmer you felt, the less amount of stray fuzzers you have

Thank you girls... I have decided at the time being to "let it slide" and then if I see she makes a bear like Ozzie next week, THEN I will have to say something... so keep your eyes peeled for a German Ozzie twin LOL...

But, you know what, I was thinking of it this way, if she "tried" to copy me, maybe I am headed in the right direction!  I added new wording to my auction since this happened....

All of my needle felted critters come from my heart, soul and mind... I use no patterns and just let the critter be born from hours of "sculpting".  I take pride in the originality of my bears and have been needlefelting for years.  I am glad you took the time to take a peek at my creation.

So poo on her!       :crackup:  :crackup:

I am USUALLY  a very kind, gentle and loving person except when I get my toes stepped on or when someone infringes on my basic rights as a human being...

Although I do want to give a piece of my mind which is the  :twisted:  in me... I dont' want to make enemies which is the    in me.... My husband seems more  than I am though! LOL...

Well, good news, little Tutti will be living in a loving home - he was adopted just a few minutes ago!!!!  :dance:  :dance:

Ok, I think I am going to gently say something to her.. see how this sounds

I recently noticed that your bear, Pepino looks very similar to my bear Tutti.  Although I am thrilled that you were inspired by my work, I was hurt that Pepino looked very similar to Tutti. I work very hard on my bears and it has taken years to develop my own look.  I hope the similarities were merely coincidental.

What should I add, take out??

:crackup:  :crackup:   Oh Dilly, you really make me smile! 

What a pretty kitty!!! I love happy endings!   

oooohh they are gorgeous!!! I can see why you couldn't resist!   

ahhh!!! I'm dizzy now!   

Thank you so much girls... You have made a difficult situation easier...

I guess I am really frustrated because tutti came from my imagination and my soul... like you gals have said, Tutti was the original.... and the copy is just that, a copy... anyone can copy 

Aww thanks, girls, your words and kindness really make me feel better...  :hug:  :hug: what would I do without you gals!  :hug:  :hug:

like I said, I am not trying to start anything and am more hurt than mad but come on... I guess my bear has a German twin.... 

I am not saying anything to be "nasty" or "ugly" but I am really hurt right now (there is a lot of stuff going on in my life right now and this just adds to the evergrowing list!      )

I dont mind if I "inspire" people but I don't wish to be copied!

But I am kind of hurt and kind of angry.  I have Tutti on ebay right now and a person who had contact me about something in my online store (not bear-related) now has a bear that looks almost EXACTLY like Tutti on ebay!

Maybe I am just being senile but it really hurts to see something like this! I thought my felties were so original and now to see someone so obviously "copying" really hurts and makes me     

Take a look for yourself...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pepino-Needle-Felte … dZViewItem

Here is my bear...

And here is her bear...

Except for Tutti being purple and Pepino being green, they look very similar, don't they....   

Beautiful! You sure are a talented gal!  :clap:  :clap: