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For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
Hi Shelli,
Quite a while ago Dilu mentioned a special hole punch that made BIG circles of whatever you use it on. You purchase this tool with several size "hole makers" in a kit in places where automotive stuff is sold - not at craft stores. I purchased one of these kits - very reasonable, and use it to make the absolutely perfectly round felt eye whites - It's just great, and comes in all those teddy sizes that we need.
When I want to put eye whites at just the inside and outside corners then I use your method of placing the eyelid cords, but leaving a space at the inside and outside of the eye. (I'll see if I can edit in a picture later). then I cut a very small piece of triangular shaped felt and just push it in the space to see if it fits - you want it to be a bit too big. If it is ok then I take it out and put a dab of glue (horrors) in the space and push the felt piece back in place. Then I take a fairly large needle (darning needle type) and keep poking it until it is quite glue saturated and in position and let it dry.
I'm off to try and find that photo.
Jane P.
OK hopefully I have it. I also use the needle to push the piece of felt under the edge of the eye and eyelid and to tuck in any bits that have come loose - this is just a very tiny piece of felt and it tends to come apart if you're not careful.
She is really cute Shari - I love her needle felted outfit - well done on the "face save"!
Jane P.
Sounds like we are all going to be "fighting" over TinTin - he is absolutely your best ever! He is wonderful! That Alpaca makes up into the most wonderful bears.
Good luck at Kensington.
Jane P.
Is anyone else getting emails supposedly from Ebay saying "Good News, Watched Items Now Relisted" or something like that? It looks very legit, but gives the impression that the items have been suspended and then relisted. In fact, they haven't been suspended at all, and are still listed just like they started out. I'm not sure if I should report it or not.
Jane P.
I have a couple of customers like that, and I just send them a few colour photos from my computer. They usually order, even though they know that the bears will not look exactly like the ones in the photo. When their bear is ready, I send them a note with a photo of the bear inside and all the particulars and the amount owing. No problems so far.
Jane P.
Sorry to be the odd man out, but in my humble opinion I think that a theme attracts more attention than otherwise. I found that when I started coordinating my show table, I got a lot more attention and as a result a lot more sales. I think that a lot of different style bears in all sorts of colours just gets the customer confused. I know that when I look around at a show, those tables that are coordinated are the ones that get my attention.
I don't think it is necessary to make all your bears look alike, or even be made in the same style or colour, but I do think it is important to have some sort of colour theme. My theme at a show is usually white/off white and cream. The bears themselves are all sizes and colours, but their clothing is usually made up of white and cream colours, and that gives it a coordinated look. The under cloth on the table is white or cream, and then I will have some pastel overcloths and on top of those I put some lace pieces and the bears sit on those. I usually take some broken down boxes that I tape up, and cover those in the same way, so that the bears at the back of the table are higher. If possible, a couple of crystal vases with fresh flowers would really finish it off.
All this has got me nostalgic for the days when we used to have shows here - how I miss them!
Jane P.
Hi Shantell,
I recently purchased my second digital camera. It is a Fujifilm E-900. It has 9.0 megapixels, and I know that is probably more than I need, but I would rather err on the side of having too much than too little. I just love this camera. Before this one I had another Fujifilm and really liked it too. I spent quite a bit of time researching different brands, and even went so far as to purchase an Olympus, but I had to return it, as I found it very hard to understand, plus the instructions were all on line - grrr. I find the Fujifilm instructions easy to understand, and I really like the program that comes with it for downloading the photos from the camera.
That's just my two cents worth! I sound like an ad for Fujifilm!
Jane P.
Words fail me Kim - she is stunning. So very pretty and so feminine. Your friend will be thrilled.
I love that mohair, and would like to purchase every colour they have - but I really must use the mountain of fur that I already have here. Or should I say mountains (plural).
Jane P.
Great bear - she looks like she is watching every move you are making!
Jane P.
Great bear Krista - perfect name for her, she makes my mouth water just looking at her!
Jane P.
Like you Jenny, I have several patterns that I use on a regular basis. If I were to make up a new pattern everytime I made a bear, my already slow production would grind to a screeching halt. I think discarding a pattern after one use is impractical for me. In my humble opinion, a OOAK bear is one that does not look exactly like another that I have already made. Whether that be the colour and style of mohair or the clothing and accessories. I tend to make "series" of bears - ie: as in my "Girls in White Dresses"; my "Young Ladies" ; or my "Linen Cupboard Ladies", etc. While they are a series of similar bears, I do consider each a OOAK bear. So far, nobody has complained that so and so's bear looks just like theirs. Having said all this, however, I don't generally mark my bears as OOAK.
In the end, I think we each have to do what we are comfortable with.
Jane P.
Some time ago I made the leap to purchase new white cardboard boxes. It really is nice to get a parcel - especially one as expensive as a bear - in a new box that doesn't have writing all over it advertising someone's "biscuits/cookies" or " tinned peaches" etc. It isn't too expensive when you consider the price of most of the bears. I then wrap the bear in tissue and surround the bear with more tissue to fill the box. The bear has her/his laminated hang tag and her sewn in tag. I enclose a card with the "paperwork" and greeting. The last few bears I have been adding a little lavender type sachet. I purchased some fabric things on ebay and they came with this lovely little scrap cloth sachet, and so I have adapted the idea and include something similar with my bears. It is nice to open a parcel to a lovely lavender scent. Sometimes instead of a sachet I will, if my printer is behaving itself, enclose a set of 4 note cards and envelopes with pictures of my bears on the front.
The parcel is then closed with clear packing tape sealing all the corners and edges - I sometimes think my customers must curse me trying to get into the parcels!
I have purchased a number of things on ebay, and the packaging ranges from beautifully wrapped in acid free tissue tied with ribbon and sachets enclosed to all jumbled up and thrown in a paper bag and sealed with tape. Guess which seller I go back to time and again? I truly believe that packaging is a very important part of the whole selling process.
Hope everyone has a good week. My husband and I are on holidays for two weeks - not going anywhere as it is hard with three dogs and a horse, but will probably take a few day trips here and there. Eat a lot of ice cream cones and gain a few pounds - ha ha!!
Bye,
Jane P.
Hi Kathleen,
I know some artists wash their mohair, but I never do. I believe it has a stabilizing backing on it that I don't want to lose. The only time I wash the mohair is when I am dyeing it, or if I want to "fluff" up a stringy piece. So I think it is a matter of preference. Hope that helps.
Jane P.
Hi, all you Canadian ladies - you should not be charged any duty on your parcels from Intercal. They are not in competition with any Canadian company, as they are one of only two places that import from the mills, and both are in the US. You may however, be charged the PST and the GST. If you have a PST number, then you can get that back by sending in a special form to customs, I believe it is a B2 form, but don't quote me on that number. Ditto with duty if you are charged any.
Hope that helps.
Jane P.
Thank you ladies for your suggestions - I will give Pat Moore an email and see if she has any space available for next year in Oregon. I don't think my husband wanted to go as far as California - more just Washington and Oregon, so the California shows are probably not possible right now.
Have a good weekend everyone.
Jane P.
My husband is planning to retire at the end of September, and we thought it would be nice to travel down the west coast this next year - sometime either in the spring, summer or fall. We would like to either purchase or rent a recreational vehicle and just see the coast at our leisure. It would be really nice to combine a show or two. I haven't done shows in the US so I don't have a clue as to what is available there. Do any of you west coast artists have any suggestions as to which shows are worth attending, and who I would contact.
Many thanks,
Jane P.
I'm with you Louise - I have been very remiss lately in posting, not just here but everywhere on TT. All the bears are fantastic, also on the bears for sale section too.
My humble apologies to everyone!
Jane P.
