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For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
Minky Kinsey has said in the past that they agonize over picking them.
Is that the secret to all your success Judi? You have to call Mindy "Minky" ? Is it a secret pet name or something? :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:
Seriously, contests are judged by people and people have their own likes and dislikes. With the fabulous selection of contemporary and traditional and felted and crocheted and ..... 
it would be very hard to choose. Keep up the good work and who knows...maybe your day is coming!!!!
Cheryl :rose:
Hi Cheryl,
Still haven't rec'd an email from you.
Thanks,
Jane P.
Hi Jane
I sent one through your contact on your website - lets see if that works better!
No worries though, you're on the list and people have until the 28th to sign up so you haven't missed your swap partners!
Cheryl 
Cheryl, could you elaborate? What's a CLEAN SLATE SWAP?.[/color]
Honestly I just made that title up! :redface: I was thinking that it was a way to not have people bring 'baggage' from other swaps or message boards to TT. I think the swap issues that some people have (of which I have no personal knowledge), have occurred on other boards, not on TT.
So no PMs (or PMS for that matter :crackup: ) about the alleged sins of others will be tolerated - From this point on, everyone would be judged on their behavior on this board and on TT swaps for stuff that takes place on this board. I honestly don't know if this is possible or that anyone would take this on but I think it would prevent some of the things that Gina endured (again, something I don't have personal knowledge of)
If the advisors don't want to hold a 'list' then at the end of an organized swap, a list would be posted of completed and uncompleted transactions and the next swap organizer would be responsible to look at this.
I think Craftster's swap rules http://www.craftster.org/swapsinfo.html#anchor3
seem to work well and they have almost 85,000 members but they do rely on their moderators for assistance.
Just some random ideas made clear as mud 
Again, a great topic to serve the greater good Shelli!
Cheryl
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.[/color]
[b]yes
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?
Could be but only if this is laid out in clear and concise terms by the organizer
4. If swaps are sub-organized into categories, do you think, for example, that mini makers should swap with mini makers?
I think the organizer makes that decision and you choose to be involved based on what its right for you
or....
Do you think each participant should be able to CHOOSE which category he/she wishes to trade with? For example, should a mini maker be able to specify that he/she wants to trade for a "biggun" bear?
4. If you answered YES to question (3.), which categories would you like to see used? Mark all that apply:
(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?
6. How long should swap participants be given to complete and ship their swap bear?
If it takes you longer than 60 days to get it in the mail...you don't have time to do a swap!
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?
There should be a master list, held by one of the moderators (and not posted), and that person doesn't get to participate in any swap until their original swap obligation is met or the person who didn't receive grants them a pardon.
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 to a degree. The coordinator should have access to the 'banned' list when organizing things but after that, you are on your own.
I don't have the time to do a lot of this kind of thing but I know it can be a lot of fun and a great way to add to your collection. It can also lead to a lot of heartache when people don't play fair or someone can't keep their mouth shut!
If you are really really particular about what you do and don't like, maybe public swapping isn't for you.
Stick with private, there's nothing wrong with that!
Perhaps what we need is a CLEAN SLATE SWAP. Where everyone starts out on a level playing field and it goes from there.
Tomorrow however is supposed to be -15C and feel like -30C (-22F) with the wind !!!! YIKES, I'm not ready for that. That kind of temperature belongs in western canada not here in the east !!!!
So pleased we were able to share with you Tammy! Us westerners are a generous bunch. :crackup:
Its above freezing here in Edmonton today..go figure!
Take care
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl
I sent my info. off this morning.
Thanks, Jane P.
Hi Jane
Are you not getting my emails? I have replied twice but a couple of others didn't get their's either. You are on the list!
Cheryl
I din't say I agreed with all the storiies on aging fur I just have been told them. .
My apologies Sandra if you thought that (or it appeared that) I directed that comment at YOU as opposed to the folks in general that 'yuk' up their mohair and don't make sure that it is cleaned completed afterward. I shouldn't have used the quote thing, I was just too lazy to retype some of those techniques. I didn't mean it the way it may have sounded. :doh: :doh:
Cheryl
Happy Valentines Day!
Cheryl
I do know of some artists who have actually pegged the mohair on the line for a week. You can then use parisan essence ot tea to stain it. I have also heard of people who have driven their car over the fabric and another who actually put it in their dogs bed for a while.
Oh that's right another artist used hers to tie up a tree to a stake for 3 weeks so that it aged unevenly.
YIKES! and some people have an issue with the judicious use of an archival GLUE????? 
:crackup:
I love to distress fabric and leather as that is my main fabric of choice but lets keep in mind what all that dirt, dander, tannic acids (from tea), the nesting bugs from leaving fabric outside and oil etc. will do to the longevity of the fabric. Do you really want to snuggle up with a ted that someone ran over with their car?? 
I personally would stick with plucking, rubbing and a good quality paint or stain.
Again, just my 2 cents!
Cheryl :rose:
:hug: May you feel the love and support of your friends today! :hug:
Wow! I just can't imagine temps like -25 and I've never lived where it snows. It sure looks pretty!
I so hate to think of you being deprived Shelli! How about your family comes to stay here and we'll come to sunny California... Please..... 
Its not so bad, just need to be careful thats all!
My hubby says after all that shovelling, the snow sort of loses its 'Christmas card' appeal. 
MARION: I heard on the national news this morning that all of Canada is experiencing unusually warm weather
Cheryl
What a sweet little handful of bear! I absolutely adore his cloak...not too much, just right!
Best Wishes for a successful auction,
Cheryl
Hey, you're welcome Aleta! :crackup:
We are under a blizzard warning right now with a huge dump of snow coming, 70 km/hr winds and temps plunging to
-30C in the next 2 days.
Unfortunately we didn't escape - serves me right! 
Sure is cold though...-25C
BRRRRRRRRRR is right! :doh:
Cheryl
2006 was kind of a strange year for me as I spent most of it recovering from some extensive knee surgeries that I had and I just couldn't seem to get the 'bearmaking' mojo flowing so I apologize that most of you have seen these pics before :redface: but I'd still probably choose them. One was 'skillfully' challenging and the other was emotionally challenging.
The Goldfish Whisperer for the Ursa's
Rosemaris for the Lemonade Bears Auction (to remember 2 six yr. old boys that our family knew that lost their battle with cancer this past year). He looks simple enough I know but he gave me no end of stress!
Cheryl
ONLY: I dunno what you mean by:Let's exchange cards only with no enclosures other than paper or scrapbooking stuff like confetti :redface:
I have never participated in a card swap- so I guess it needs to be a card one made for somebody to swap, right? :teddybear:
Hi Gaby
Sorry, I'm not always the best at explaining things! All I meant was that please don't get carried away and decide to send your swap buddy or buddies a gift other than a card as part of the swap. I guess what has happened in the past is that one person would send a card and someone else would send a card and a bear or candy or something and so if we say 'cards only' nobody feels bad. You could include if you wanted...confetti or paper hearts or a recipe or nothing extra at all.
You can make a card if you want or send a purchased one its entirely up to you!
Cheryl
SIGN UP FOR THIS FUN SWAP IS STILL OPEN UNTIL THE 28TH!
Hi Everyone I know I could always use a little extra love!
If you are interested, I would be happy to organize things.
Please email me (there is a link under my avatar) with your:
Username
Real name and address
We'll give it a go using the same sort of guidelines that Shelli set up for the Christmas Card swap since it worked so well!
Let's exchange cards only with no enclosures other than paper or scrapbooking stuff like confetti.
I will update this post as we find out how many people are interested ok?
Hey, you're welcome Aleta! :crackup:
We are under a blizzard warning right now with a huge dump of snow coming, 70 km/hr winds and temps plunging to
-30C in the next 2 days. The news said that it will be our worst weather in a long time
Sounds like bearmaking weather to me (and maybe a nice fire and a hot rum or lemondrop martini....well okay maybe not all together! )
Cheryl
Business is different than friendship. With friendships/acquaintances you have to keep the peace and overlook things. But in business you have to stand your ground (in a subtle way, no swords!)
Karen
In thinking about this further, (typically me - type first/think later 
) I am with Karen on this. This is about your work and not about making friends.
I personally wouldn't say that I was "hurt" - why give her that power ? Friends hurt you, copycats hurt your business!
Tell her that she is infringing on your ability to make a living by her obvious, but not very successful, attempt to directly copy your work. Let her know in no uncertain terms that you are going to have an eye on her and will take it further to protect your creativity if she doesn't stop.
You don't have to be mean, but you can be direct. I guess I'm not a subtle gentle kind of person when it comes to stuff like this.
Let us know how it works out,
Cheryl
I'm sorry Kim....that just sucks doesn't it? Fortunately the copycats don't tend to have much of a shelf life. The intention isn't always malicious though, they just see something really cool to strive for and can't come up with their own ideas so they 'borrow' yours.
I know that doesn't make you feel better right now but in the end, maybe you can see it as a compliment! ( I know...it would take me a really really long time to see it that way too! )
:hug: :hug: Cheryl
