Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Thanks so much Lisa.   I'm excited  :dance:  to be back!

Thanks gals!   

I'm having a really hard time concentrating on "work" right now when I want to be ..... you guessed it .... making little critters!   Never enough time!

Penny

It has been close to 4 full years since I have been able to truly "create".   Many moves, most "crafty" stuff in storage until now.   I really can't believe it has been that long.   So very very sad.

But.........just about finished this little guy and eventually hope to adopt him out on eBay.   

Looking for kind words/constructive criticism/just plain old comments on how he turned out.   Sometimes being the "mommy" your views of your "babies" can be a little skewed - does he even look like a bear?    One of my co-workers asked what exactly it was.   I think bear but to be honest I started out with "raccoon" and she said he kind of looks "cat" like.

Just curious about what you folks think!

Just a quick note - I had bought some fabric from Kansas - I expected it to take 3 weeks to a month to show - nothing, nothing - I contacted the seller and even though I hadn't purchased insurance she was very obliging and sent me a new batch as long as I paid the shipping charges - yipee - about 3 weeks later that box shows and no word of a lie - a "second" box showed up on my doorstep just 3 days later - it was the first shipment of fabric - 3 months after the fact!  It hadn't been openend, damaged, stickered, nothing - who knows where it had been!  I contacted this gal and paid her in full for the second batch of fabric and all was well. 

I guess if you do refund your buyer you can just hope that she would oblige and at least let you know if your little bear shows up.  I truly do believe that "what goes around, comes around".

Or maybe she will be patient and give it a little more time - especially if she got a card in the mail!

I hope you track your baby down.

Penny

Hi Louise.

I saw the news this morning - the amount of water up there is absolutely unbelievable.  My hubby and I snowmobile just north of Smoky Lake so not too far from where you live.

I really do hope things improve for you over the next few days - I can't possibly imagine!  And my farmers think they have it bad here around Red Deer!  I don't think so!

Take care and my thoughts are with you!

Penny

Well folks - I am partial to . . .. . . . .. . .  sweet little guinea pigs - the sweet little furballs that they are!

The brown fuzzy guy is Boo Boo and the little white guy is Sweetpea - RIP - I was able to raise them up to 6 1/2 years and do miss them dearly BUT ........

I now have Mickey, the wee black guy who is about 1 1/2 years old and a wee, wee new guy - his name is Rusty - geez I wonder why!?

That's great to know Wendy!

I have been working my way through all of the "types" on her website - I'd better be ready for this bill when I get ready to order!   :crackup:

There are a few of the polyplush and imported synthetics that have caught my eye  so many different choices - my brain is full!   

Not that I don't already have enough "mini bear fabric" to make a thousand already - I do the "happy dance"  :dance: everytime I get a package in the mail!  Just like Christmas!

Take care and I'll be back!

Penny

Oh Jody - and how!

I started making mini's just over a year ago now and am in LLOOOVVVVEEEE!

I have had an absolute ball making and selling my minis though I must say it has been hard to part with a few!

The satisfaction that one gets from bringing a critter "to life" is hard to describe - so much better than my boring, ho-hum job  :twisted:  - good thing I have the bears & friends!

Take care gals - going to surf the Sassy site now!  Got my credit card out already - that's a sure sign isn't it!

Penny

Oooohhh gals!

You don't know what you have started!

Being a relative "newbie" to TT I just stumbled upon this thread about the "sassy" fabrics and didn't quite understand!

Welllll - I just checked out the "site" - you have gotten me into alot of trouble!   I can hardly wait to place an order!

I have ordered from Intercal, Edinburgh and Emily Farmer but can't wait to try out this selection!

Bad, bad girls!  LOL  

Penny

Hi Wendy!

I ALWAYS photograph close-ups of the eyes (or anything) with the macro and more often, super macro mode on my digital.

As well - good lighting is a must - I usually tilt the critters head up toward the light until I can see them shine!

I also use - when handpainted the back of clear eyes - a shimmery/metallic paint - this seems to give that "sparkle"!

Hope this helps!

Penny

Hi Heather (& everyone else too!),

Thanks so much for the link on the HTML tutorial - I have a basic understanding when setting up my auction templates but someday would like to have my own web page - even just a simple one would be nice.

I see you're from Calgary - I'm in Red Deer.

I was hoping that I would be able to attend the show in August but my husband's uncle is being inducted into the SK Agriculture Hall of Fame - a pretty big achievement and we are very close but I will still wonder what it would've been like !   

Take care gals and thanks for the great info!

Penny

Hi Kim!

Thanks so much for your reply and the links  - soooooo much information!   

I think I will remain "out in the open" - I am trying to build my reputation as being "creative & original" and hopefully entertaining at the least!  Shill bidding is just such a scam - if my bears go for the minimum so-be-it - someone will be tickled pink that they got it and if & when I'm not willing to let them go for that price I will handle the auctions differently.

I might dig around in eBay on the possibility of bidders being able to hide their feedback so the choice will be left up the bidder.

Your advice and communication is GREATLY APPRECIATED!   

I have to remember that I can use the SEARCH function for stuff like this as it has likely been covered (over and over) already! 

Take care Kim and talk to you again sometime!

Penny

Quick question to all buyers and sellers out there.

What is your opinion of auctions that have the  bidder's User ID Kept Private?   

I have been posed the question of whether I would consider it (from one of my buyers) as they are concerned with some nosy people  :twisted:  rooting around in their feedback - re: how much their spending???? is my guess. 

As a fairly new seller I would like to know what others think - from both aspects.

Thanks folks.

Looking forward to your comments!

Penny

I'm with Brenda, Edie, Kim & Danni on this one - for the time being anyways.   I hadn't really thought about it a whole lot up until now.  Way to go ladies!     

I leave feedback only once I know that their baby is safe in their hands and they are happy with their purchase.  I feel that this is just about the end of the transaction - both people leaving feedback would be the absolute resolution of a sale - regardless of a positive or negative.

Part of this has to do with me being a relatively new seller but I also feel that if you are very upfront about the process that you are going to use there shouldn't be an issue.

I have had nothing but positive experiences on eBay and if you "treat others like you want to be treated"  all will be OK - the majority of the time anyways.

I think that anyone who sells into this "community" of people are dealing with some of the nicest folks out there compared to mass retail sales - we are specialists and so are the collectors!

I would rather be able to solve my customers issues before posting feedback as that is part of the process as well.

Just my two cents!