Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

SOOOOOOOO ADORABLE!!!  :clap:  :clap:  :clap: Love this lil' Pom 

Hugs,
Heather

You have such talent Melisa!  :clap:  :clap:  :clap: Your creations are wonderful and this Panda is TO DIE FOR!!!         

Hugs,
Heather

Just when you think they can't get any cuter       LOVE this ADORABLE little kitty!!!

Hugs,
Heather

Totally ADORABLE !!!!!!!!!!          Well done! :clap: 

Hugs,
Heather

    Another total sweetie by such a talented artist!  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

Hugs,
Heather

        ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE, and in such a tiny little package!!!  :clap:          

Both Koalas are SO ADORABLE      Beautiful work as always Melisa  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

Hugs,
Heather

TOO ADORABLE FOR WORDS      Love your creations !!!  :clap:

OH MY, SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL !!!  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap: Very realistic AND adorable 

Hugs,
Heather

Hi,

Is your adorable kitten looking for a new home? Please let me know 

Sooooooooooo cute !!! 

Hugs,
Heather

aitris@pacbell.net

I think my favorite Panda of yours to date!  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  There is something about that face that warms the heart 

Hugs,
Heather

Hello Everyone 

Ma'Sal has asked me to post another message for them...
Please know it takes some time for them to compose such a message in English, and it's done with much thought and care.
I want to personally thank everyone for all their posts and PMs  There are so many wonderful people here! 

And now from Ma'Sal...

How nice of all of you to say what you have on the last thread.
I do want you to know it was not the first time there was negative posts for "Ma'Sal".
The first time was last summer, but I decided to keep silent at that time.
But I caught the sign that negative posts had been revived through my wildcat Zuccotto.
Therefore I asked Heather to post my message.
Heather (and some other members of Teddy Talk) knew the thread which was eliminated.
Most people don't know the matter of last summer because the thread was removed after half a day...
From the part of argument with heart up to deletion on Teddy Talk.
"Ma'Sal" suffered a lot of loss about my original open/closed eyelids I thought up, how to make a nose of Ma'Sal, and how to make accessories...
And even mention was made to my economic conditions (moreover most of all were incorrect) by an unbelievable and unfair way.
I won't go into the details of that thread now again.
However many artists have argued against it and I received many private mails for support of me at that time.
They helped and saved my mind very much.
I really want to tell my gratitude to all of them.
I am not going to criticize anyone by mentioning persons by name.
I hope all people can be happy through Bear making and through this Teddy Talk forum site.

Thank you, Ma'Sal ( Kumiko and Masaru )

Again I thank everyone deeply for all their support and kindness.   :hug:  :hug:  :hug:
And also for the congratulations on my beautiful Zuccotto kitten, which I love so much !!!
Heather

In light of a recent thread regarding the latest creation by Ma'Sal I am posting a message from Kumiko and Masaru.

But first let me introduce myself... I am a passionate collector of Ma'Sal's work and have been so for some time now. I think it's obvious that these two are exceptional artists but they are also gracious and sincere people with a great amount of integrity. They do not misrepresent their work in any way and try their best to give accurate descriptions of each piece. Of course English is not their first language but I think they do a pretty amazing job and I have never been disappointed! 

I have always enjoyed Teddy Talk for all the support and encouragement given by the members and fellow artists here. It was sad to read the critical remarks made by a few regarding Ma'Sal's most recent Wildcat Kitten Zuccotto. I felt they were undeserving and mean-spirited. Of course most comments were very flattering and thoughtful and Ma'Sal expresses their gratitude to those... Your support means a great deal to them  I happen to be the lucky new mom of this kitten, and like any new mom very proud indeed!  Words cannot describe how beautiful and realistic this kitty is in person!!... And his bed I think is very fitting, as even a wild stray kitten possesses an innocence and beauty that matches the most pampered kitten  These are my thoughts anyway.

Now for Ma'Sal's words...

I have two cats. Both of them were stray cats. One of them came to my house over ten years ago. She, a white and black japanese cat, was crawling in the engine room of my car. It was cold late fall. She was a very thin kitten. I named her "Kulu" which is from Kuluma, the Japanese word for car. Another one, a tiger cat kitten, came to my house early last fall. She was crawling under an etching press in a shed. Also she was very thin and hungry. I named her "Pure" which is from the word Puresuki, etching press in Japanese. I decided to make each kitten "family". I fed them foods, gave them safe and warm bed, in order for them to live. For several months even after they got cat food, each cat fed on small moths that they caught earnestly with their own small body or they fed on very small seeds of weed, each seed on the ground. They would survive by doing that, but small moth or small seeds never bring fullness. I am deeply moved with tears by scenes that come to mind. They are my beloved existence. They are not different from the pedigreed or expensive cats for me.
I created the wildcat Zuccotto with my thoughts as to both of my cats. Zuccotto is a name of a cake in Italian, it seems the origin is a priest hut. I gave the name Zuccotto to this wildcat kitten to suggest an animal which is sacred. In other words, it being a noble existence, living alone for oneself in the wild. Therefore he has a noble beauty. I captured it with a color "white" and beloved feeling to innocence of kitten with a frilly bed. Someone feels it looks like an angel in a white ribbon, or someone feels it is mismatching. I don't care whichever, it is a difference of sensibility.
I know I am not good at English, it is not my native language. But there is no solid base in the nose of my works, I do affirm. No more incorrect information about it, please.
Can you understand my thoughts? But I cannot tell in native English. I want to keep creating Ma'Sal's works in the calm of life. I do not spare myself to create better works more and more.

And my words again as a collector...

There is a lot of thought given to Ma'Sal's creations. Of course as with all art it may appeal to some and not to others, but I think most people here can appreciate the beauty, and also the time that goes into their creations. I believe sometimes things are said for the sake of discussion and without the intention of hurting anyone, but in this case it did. I hope in the future more sensitivity will be given. Thank you to those for taking the time to read this   
:hug:  :hug:  :hug: Heather (and of course) Ma'Sal

Thanks Krista and Tammy!  I thought Bear Pile was also only for artists selling their own work? I'll look into it! Bid 4 Bears I'm familiar with but wasn't sure how much attention they get... And without being able to post a link anywhere 

I really appreciate the suggestions, thanks!!  :hug:

Heather

Sue Ann, thanks so much for checking that out for me!  I'm disappointed that there's no place to post One-Of-A-Kind resale pieces  but of course I respect that decision. Maybe in the future there will be a forum for collectors to post there sales  :pray:

Does anyone know of another site where this is possible? It's nice to have an option other than eBay... And honestly I much prefer to sell directly to a collector. Once again I appreciate all the assistance.  :hug:

Heather

Thank you again for making me feel so welcome!   

Well I totally understand being upset or angry when someone resells your piece after making changes to it  Especially if they don't acknowledge it! I take extremely good care of my pieces and have only sold things in their original shape.  And like I said I've met some wonderful artists here and almost all without exception have let me use their pictures (sometimes I take my own), and in the case of one artist even let her collectors know the piece was available again... I won't say who that is but she's the BIGGEST SWEETHEART  :hug:

Yes I believe the economy is playing a HUGE part in the general slow down of eBay sales. As for resales, in my experience they have almost never gone as high as the original sale, often not even close.    I think active collectors enjoy the thrill of an original piece, newly made, and coming directly from the artist. If I were clever I would sit and wait and ONLY buy resales!  but I am like many other collectors... I fall in love with a piece and can't resist. It's an addictive hobby!

So.... Is it OK then to post here when I have items for sale? Keep in mind these are only OOAK works of art and not edition or manufactured pieces... But I don't want to step on any toes so if it's not OK I accept that.

Thanks again for all your comments and help!!! 

Hugs, Heather

WOW! Thanks so much for your view points and for all the information!... As well as your welcomes of course  :hug:  :hug:  :hug: I've gotten to know many of the artists here after years of collecting and have made some really good friends 

I can only speak as a collector. I am in fact an artist but not a teddy bear artist and I've never shown work on this site....
Reselling among collectors is not an unusual thing... In fact because of the high prices some pieces command reselling has become very common. In the art doll world it is quite common. Sometimes the reasons are financial (in order to continue collecting something has to go), other times it is a matter of just not bonding completely with the piece (the piece in person is always a different experience than in pictures) and sometimes ones tastes just change or develop over time. My worst fear is that the artist takes it personally, which I understand of course but which is never my intention    As an artist myself I am very sensitive to that issue. But in reality it just goes to show how many BEAUTIFUL and WONDERFUL works are being created!... The temptation is TOO MUCH some times!!  In all honesty I think the buying and selling has helped in commanding these higher prices which then benefits the artist. From my own personal experience I would not have bid as high on an item had it not been for a piece I just sold. It is very true however that resell items seem to always go for MUCH LESS than the original price, regardless of condition or how recent the piece is.  I am very proud of my collection but cringe at the money I've lost in resells    But it's a learning experience... I've become much more selective in what I buy even though the temptation is always there 

I really appreciate everyone's input and kindness in regards to these issues.

Thanks so much!!!  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:   

Heather

Hello all 

I am new to Teddy Talk and I was wondering if it's permitted to advertise resell items? I currently have some beautiful works on eBay, all in new condition, and from well known artists. I would love to get the word out!

I belong to a doll forum as well and we list OOAK resell items right along with the artist's works for sale.

Hope this is allowed here in one of the forums... Please help!

The link to my items is http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/aitrisdolls

Is this OK here?  :redface:

Hugs,
Heather