Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Sophie...you made my day....it's a fab idea but I would laugh too much to carry it through!!!!!!!

The thing is, these call centres don't show any number up when they ring you. It's always blank...and if you try to find them they don't exist...as the company that sells their advertising doesn't operate out of their premises....it's an outsider selling on behalf of the publication.

So you can't block their number...and I can't stop 'em calling me as I put my number on my website, cards etc...if I don't do that I won't get anyone phoning about bears.

All I know is that this sales technique sucks and should be illegal....it probably already is!!

Thanks Erin...I think it's one of these sales call centres...last time it was someone purporting to be the 'Milton Keynes Journal'....this time it the 'Northamptonshire Journal' ....whoever they are they are scum....

You might recall that a while back I posted a note about aggressive and abusive telephone sales of advertising for bear features in these free 'news' rags. I ended up calling the police because the calls were getting obscene.

I thought it had all died down...but now the same people under the guise of a 'new' publication has started to try to intimidate me into advertising  with them.

It's utterly disgraceful how they belittle and intimidate you. I was shaking from head to toe when I put the receiver down...and now I am near to tears....and I am no pussy-cat. It was scary. I tried to tell him several times that I did not wish to buy advertising...and that I wished to end the conversation...but he just kept on and on till I slammed down the receiver. Last time I did that they started calling me every 10 or 15 minutes till finally they made  obscene phonecalls which I reported to the police.

Do any of you UK ladies know if there is anyone other than the police that I can report them to because this type of aggressive selling is abhorent? I am sure there is an office that this can be reported to but off the top of my head I can't think straight. Or has anyone of you experienced this recently?

I want to get to the bottom of this and stop it happening.

I have just received a reply from the company that make Hi-tack...the glue I use and they say their tests do not indicate any negative effects on fabric long-term, but that this would require a long testing period to be conclusive. They do assure me that the glue should not in any way have a damaging effect on synthetic, wool or cotton fabric.

I am still waiting for the spray -glue people to reply....but I don't think it will be detrimental to fabric in the long-run.

Hope that helps!!!!!

Thanks everyone...Elizabeth is 8 months...she has 4 teeth (listen to me bragging!!!)...she can stand up now and crawls very fast ...she is so happy and fills my heart up with joy each time I see her. She has learned to clap and wave...but not both at the same time!!

Rosie, our other little baby is 11 weeks and is adorable too.

Nancy I know what you mean about the years flying by...it doesn't seem 5 minutes since I was feeding Elizabeths mummy in a high-chair.

I had a very grumpy day yesterday...probably because I am panicking about Hugglets and had to go running round paying bills and buying shopping...and I argued with my daughter who was on a low yesterday too...but all is well today!!

Here's little Rosie....

Here's a happy picture of my little grand-daughter Elizabeth....She cheered me up when I was having a grumpy old day yesterday.

I love her to pieces!!

Wow...you have been busy.....well done ...they're lovely :clap:

I use a permanent spray designed for fabric...I really don't think the one you have used will have any more detrimental effect than oil paint or any other thing we use on the fur. I wouldn't worry too much. These faux fur are pretty strong...I bought a faux fur coat made in the 70s which has some kind of spray substance and it is in superb order...I don't think there is any need to worry. If you are in doubt drop the glue makers a line and ask them....they'll know for sure!

I'll let you know what I think on Thursday...there's a programme called 'The Secrets of the Sphinx Revealed' on telly...I shall watch it and get back to you!!!!!

I just paid the taxman...the only good thing was that it made me realise that I actually made a good profit on my teddy bears....but that is the only good thing

Jodi...I just want to say thank you for your post...because these little creatures that all we make are part of our souls ..and who we are...and when we say 'Oh no...I am not bothered about not getting nominated'..well of course we are bothered...because we tried hard and didn't get picked...and that's always hard. It does affect us emotionally when our creativity is rejected...and though it isn't actual rejection...it feels like it.

But like the 'Little Train that could..' you just have to know you can...and you did...and that's fantastic.

I appreciate and admire your honesty and although I don't know you, I think that your kind of sensitivity is a rare quality....

I see both sides of this too...one one hand if I was lucky enough to be even nominated for a Golden Teddy or a Toby  I would want to shout about it...(though it's down to talent not luck)...and why not...and if  I won...I'd be impossible!! So I do think that what's the point of entering if you can't then use the fact that you won to gain something.

However, there are folks  that would tag on 'Award winning' if they won second prize in a raffle and that smacks of insecurity to me. If your work is worthy of an award then probably you may not need to say it...it's obvious.

Like I say though...on balance if you win then why not tell people...coz if you don't blow your own trumpet, no-one else will!!!

A-ha...must've missed that one!!!! I think I get it...I have some very fine hair pins which could be used to make loops that could be pre-sewn into to the paw...they are finer than regular pins and are plastic coated and very flexible so a loop could be made.......My brain is cranking into gear......thanks to Judi for that one!!!!

Hi...I did think there was a post but I couldn't find it!!!!!

Any ideas on attaching claws that's easier than the last way I did it which took forever and looked..in my opinion..very clumsy?

I did it the same way I put eyes in..ie made a hole in the fimo and then just sewed 'em in...they seemed a bit wobblier than I'd have liked and I wasn't happy.

Any ideas about how to make nice neat little claws that doesn't take an hour per claw would be fab too.....

I hope I get another 'duh' :doh: moment as one of you probably has the perfect common sense and totally logical way that is escaping me at 9.30am this cold sub-zero Thursday morning!!

Oh Yes...absolutely huge congratulations to the glorious nominees.

I did enter a couple of bears in the GTs..the ballerina and the Fisherman....It's actually no surprise to me  that I didn't get nominated...I still feel as though I have miles to go in terms of learning this art/craft and know that whatever happened I learned something.

I have made a mental note of what I need to do better. Noses are one thing...there is much room for improvement...though I do now know what I have to do to improve so that's a good thing...and PLAN....I didn't plan...I just went ahead and entered what I thought....next year I shall make my bears in the Summer...and with planning and extra care with the pictures....who knows.

But I ain't holding my breath!!!

No wonder you were nominated... what a fabulous piece!!

Fantastic news Sue Ann...well deserved!!

Naff? Tacky....Princess Anne used to go round telling photographers to" Naff orf"
I don't know what it really means.....I just know it's not good if someone says your bears are it!!!!!! :doh:

Thanks everyone...you know, when this lady asked me if I'd consider doing a wedding bear couple I initially thought....yuck...I hate wedding bears..they're so naff...the kind of thing you see in florists and card shops with balloons hanging off them...I told her I wasn't keen, but I'd have a think about it. It's only the second commission I've ever done...and I was very nervous about showing her in case they weren't what she'd envisaged..but ,sensibly, she left me to it....and she's bowled over which makes it all the nicer!!!

Fantastic news Judi...so pleased for you!!!!

What a sweet bear...I love the faces you give your bears!!

You've been busy too, Judi....lovely work....

Fantastic work....absolutely beautiful!!!! :clap:

Here are the two wedding bears I have been working on...finally finished. I was very unsure about wedding bears but I am really pleased with this pair..the Groom is a Scot hence the kilt.

The bride has sewn in hair extensions and has painted glass eyes, which I am pleased with too as the last pair I did made the bear look like a werewolf.

This is Intercals Alpaca and very nice it is too!!!