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Well Magda. I think looking for free legal aid in your country could help. Here in America, one could contact one of the local TV stations to tell them your plight. They will put it on the news. This is how it works. The T.V news people love a good story and if some injustice is happening in the community, they will help you confront the insurance folks who in turn do not want bad publicity. They back down quick. In Florida, one the T.V. Station's local news called this "eight on your side" (channel eight). So during the new broadcast, they have the "eight on your side" segment about the issue that is not getting resolved and how they helped the person resolve it. It is very popular for there are many people who have tried to correct disputes and are not getting anywhere. "Eight on your side" will pick cases that may be happening to other people or of interest. If the TV news don't currently do this in your country, you can give them the idea and be the first. It is very popular here...... You would be surprised how many companis back down and the consumer got what needed to be done.
Best of Luck
Michelle
Hello: I know it is not Malden Mills but Sassy's has something simular. If you call or e-mail Stephanie at Sassy's she can guide you on what to buy to get as close to Malden Mill as possible. It really is great fur to work with.
Michelle
Well Wendy don't keep us waiting...post the picture. I want to see your "littleun" (love that phrase). ladder stich is a life saver with split seams. so glad it worked for you....
Michelle
Wow....you are a lucky duck....Have fun with it and do post pictures with your creations....
Michelle
Sophie: I hope you feel better real soon. You must eat good meals to keep up your strength.
As for you Claire: No heat? That is not good!! Clarire is there someplace else you can go until the heat is fixed. Oh I hope you will be o.k.....
Bear Hugs to both of you
Michelle
Ellen: what a happy looking family you have....And that cake of yours....It looks beautiful. Like Wendy, I too would like to know how to decorate cakes like that....what a talent you have....!
Michelle
Laure wrote: I'm curious how to check for fur quality that is suitable for bear making. Can you give us some guidelines on what to look for, avoid, etc?
Hello Laure: that is good question. If the fur feels dry and with a little tug hairs are in your hand, don't buy it. It is in bad condition. The leather needs to be supple not dry too. If the fur looks shiny and feels good to your hand that is a good sign. Hope this helps....
As for buying furs: Well for those who live in the south, yard sales are great. People moving from the north don't need fur coats anymore. My dad picks up furs for me all the time in Florida.
Also consigement shops are loaded with fur coats. Depending on the part of the country you live in, the price will be different. In Florida, I picked up a mink jacket for $10 a couple of months ago. In Minnesota, it would be priced in the hundreds...
Michelle
Well I love sewing with mink. It makes gorgeous bears. Everybody has great tips. The only thing I would add it this...Do NOT use iron on interfacing...very bad for the hide. Line your bear pieces with cotton or a good quality muslin and HAND baste it on to the bear pieces. This protects the hide when stuffing.
Also, the face is your most important feature, so pick a beautiful part of the fur that is a good color and condition. Remember to cut out the face and gusset pieces in the same area of each other so you don't have wild color differences in the face.
Now for the hairy part!!! I cut out my pieces and am careful NOT to shake them out. I sneeze and cough and it gets ugly. So I cut out the pieces. I take my handy dandy hand - held Dirt Devil vacuum (hose attachment connected), I hold on to each bear piece (firmly), turn on the Dirt Devil and let the vacuum hose suck in all that excess fur that would have flown in my face with a manual shake. Now I have lost a few pieces to the vacuum. I just turn it off and dig it out of the bag....start all over again.
Use leather needles for all hand and or machine sewing even for basting on the lining pieces. It makes it easier with the right needles.
Michelle
Hello Jennie: I am no expert here and I don't sell my bears (my family seem to glaum on to them before they are finished and.... I sew very slowly). So I may be off base with this advice. I got to thinking about your dilemma. I wonder if you could go to successful businesses in your area (high end places come to mind) and see if they will have your bears displayed in a window or on the counter. I'm thinking the classier the store the better because people who have money shop at the high-end stores. They will have the money to pay what you want. Select stores that are independently owned. This way you are dealing with the owner. Now you would have to work out a commission with the owner but you would have the traffic of buyers (who also have money). This is the holiday season and people are out buying so if you develop those relationships and sell on commission, everybody wins.
What kind of store you may ask? Well think like a man who is looking for his wife or girlfriend...clothing stores, candy stores or ice-cream stores (that’s right, get the crying kid who "wants that bear"), Flower shops or any kind of specialty store. ...as long as it is in and expensive part of the city and sells quality stuff....Oh another thought would be linking up with a catering business who does big events (big corperations hire them for the holidays). See if your bears might fit into one of their decorations for events they are doing. There may be somebody who sees the bear and want to buy it. Again work out a commission.
Just a thought here. I am sure others who sell can point you in the right direction....
Best of luck
Michelle
p.s. your bear is really cute. Can't imagine why he is not selling....
Sandi: What wonderful news!!!! Soooo.....what names are you thinking of?
Michelle
Wow Michelle Lamb is a wonderful and wise person. If you think about it, if we did not build on the ideas of others, we would still be back in the caveman days recreating the wheel!!! It's like Michelle said, taking ideas and tweaking them to make bears unique to you.
It is interesting though how much richer we are as people when we share ideas and help each other. The short time I've been with Teddy Talk, I've seen so many people sharing techniques and ideas and never once have I seen the same bear or critter. It is like what Michelle said, your individuality is in your work even though it is sewn or airbrushed the same way....We are all more creative when we bond together. I think that is why all of us are here feeling secure in our own abilities to create what is in our souls.
Just my two cents....
Michelle
awwwww...it's that sweet.
Andrea wrote: Being a cat person, I have 4 myself, all pains in the butts and all strays, I went out and purchaces a book called "The Cornell Book of Cats" It's been writted by the faculty of the Cornell Feline Health Center at Cronell University. It covers every inch of the cats body fron nose to tail and life span from kittenhood to old age, including emercency care and a great cross reference of illnesses and treatments.
Shantall: that is wonderful news about your kitty.
Andrea: That book you recommend looks great. I have three cats too and I will look for it on Amazon....thanks for posting it....
Michelle
Ellen wrote: h, you lucky girls....Like Penny, my husband comes home every night and loves me for who I am. He forgets about birthdays, never buys me presents or flowers. Breakfast in bed? No, not that either.
Anyway , that is all not important as he lets me act on my every whim. He has always been supportive of every new idea, has always been behind every decision I made for 100%. He is very proud of what I am doing and that to me is the most important thing. I buy my own presents now and my flowers as well, which can be a good thing as he can not give me the wrong things either or buy me anything too cheap bear_laugh
Ellen bear_flower
Ellen and Marion: I've been with Michael for 21 years....and he is the same as your husbands. I feel lucky because he supports everything I do. He never gets upset with me buying things. One night I came home and announced I got offered a promotion and it means moving to Minnesota (we lived in Florida). He said "I'll go anywhere you want, if it means being with you". This from an ex-Marine. He gave up his job to be with me in Minnesota. So he forgets birthdays and stuff. I don't care, I buy my own presents like Ellen. At least I get what I want and he is happy because he does not have to agonize over buying something I might hate.
Good men come in different packages....
Michelle
awwwww.....love the picture
Renae: I'm still laughing...antelope fur? I would not even know where to find it much less using it as a whisker. Though that is a wonderful idea. As for "moosie", I'm not sure if you are talking about a real moose or a pet!!! Though, if left up to me they would be one in the same if only my silly, uptight association board would let me have one in my back yard. I do love animals.....
Michelle
Renae: you are a hoot!!!
Whiskers: well if it is a mico mini I use clear sewing thread.
Michelle
Heather, congratulations on getting married. Your pictures are terrific and you all look like you had a great time....
Michelle
too cute!!
Love polar bears!! very sweet picture
Oh Jane, that sound painful....Hope you feel better soon. It is amazing what people can do to repair funiture. Since the table means so much to you, there is somebody out there who can fix it even if there are broken pieces. When I moved to Minnesota, I had a turn of the century tea cart. When it arrived, the leg was broken off and was a mess. I found a restorer- person to fix it and it is back to it's beautiful self....
take care
Michelle
