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For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
YEA DAPHNE! I am giddy with excitement, so I can only imagine that you must just be walking on air right now! How cool is that! Plus, my own Emma/Mimzy set arrived today... here's a quick snapshot of Ben and Miranda with them...
:hug: Oh that's just fabulous!!!!! I am a firm believer that teaching is one of the most meaningful occupations that someone can devote their lives too. Hope the decrease in pay doesn't pinch you guys too much... 
Why, oh why don't we pay our teachers MORE!? Seriously, look how much "we" pay baseball players, doctors, etc..... Sometimes it takes 1/2 a lifetime to develop the knowledge and skill that it REALLY takes to teach in one's area of expertise, and then we "dock" them in pay when they are willing to share those skills and knowledge with another generation!? 
That makes my blood boil! Sorry for the mini-rant Louise... I just wish that was different! Give Garnet a big congratulatory hug from me! :hug:
Kim Basta
OOOO... that's a good idea Denise! I must admit, I haven't worn anything but jeans and long sleeved T-shirts for like 4 years! And, I'm even MORE embarassed to admit that my husband usually picks out all my clothes! 
But.... when I do have to go somewhere, usually do have the ladies in the shop pick out something nice for me. I swear, I have no idea what looks good on me! 
That's a great idea!
Kim Basta
:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:
AHHHHH... This is SO exciting!!!!! :hug: 
:hug:
You know Daphne.... I though you looked really great in the photos from the signing! What about that?
Kim Basta
Oh Lynette... I am so sorry..... :hug: 
I'll keep them in my thoughts nad prayers...
Kim Basta
I really try to leave feedback for my buyers as soon as I receive payment in full.... that's when it's "due" in my mind at least. I sometimes forget though!
I dislike the "feedback hostage" thing immensely! I totally understand why people do it, often really without bad intention.... to me though, it really kind of gives the idea that if I as a Seller don't get positive feedback from a buyer... I will retaliate by leaving possibly undeserved negative feedback for the buyer. That's just WRONG.
Kim Basta
I like to weight my large mohair bears, simply because I feel that when you pick them up they should "feel" like there is "flesh and bone" in there... not just polyester fiberfill. They should feel as heavy as a small animal with slight build, that would be about the same size.
Even though I was pretty little, I do remember how disappointing it was to discover that my favorite stuffies were filled with "cotton." What a let down!
To me... a bit of extra weight gives the impression that there is a remote possibility that maybe, just maybe, when you are not looking.... 
I often weight my minis just a touch too... in the wrist, ankle area and/or in a tiny pouch that remains in the waist area, so that the string jointing doesn't become abraded.
Kim Basta
I'm so sorry Tami... just wanted you to know I'm thinking of you.... :hug:
Kim Basta
Kim's coming to my house next to paint my bare walls! :dance: :hug: :dance: 
I WISH!
TOO BEAUTIFUL!
Kim Basta
Hey... congratulations! :dance: :dance: :dance:
I find that the shipping is pretty fast from CA to Ohio, where I live. Though.... I must admit, the second that I put my order in, I am already longing for it to be HERE!
Kim Basta
Oh... I like those tiny flat backed black glass eyes too Amelia! I think I get the #500's...
http://www.intercaltg.com/catalog/eyes.html#200black
It IS hard to get onyx beads to really set IN there!
Melissa.... you might try waxing your thread so that it "grabs itself" just run it over a brick of beeswax (you can get it at a quilting store) I've even used the beeswax pellets that they sell for candlemaking. Makes it so much easier to get nice tight knots without loosing tension on the threads as you pull them.
For hand cutting problems..... I know that we've had a couple of threads here on TT that have addressed that painful issue. I use a very thin leather golf glove on my right hand to avoid the problem. Thin leather driving gloves could also work. Golf gloves are really thin, and fit VERY tight, so you can still get a bit of "feel" through them. They work great for me!
Kim Basta
This is one of those personal preference things.... I've done both ways, but now I almost always thread joint the limbs of my minis. My heads are cotter pin and disk though.
I use either a nice, strong beading thread or upholstery thread. I run the thread over a piece of beeswax first so that it's easier to tie a nice tight knot (the threads then kind of grab onto eachother rather than slipping).
Try both ways Catherine, and see what works best for you. 
Kim Basta
MMMMmmmm..... I may give that first dish a try without the ham..... sounds GOOD!
Kim Basta
She's so pretty Shantell! And how fantastic is that... that you LOVE her boyfriend!? Seriously.... I bet that cuts down on the typical mother/daughter arguments a WHOLE lot! 
Seriously... she's just a doll!
I remember when she was practicing on YOU!
Kim Basta
Hmmmm.... I don't know about me... I do tend to give my bears a wistful, slightly sad, shy smile... and that is often how I am photographed!
I think all my bears look like my cat, Maxie! Certainly the one that have a light muzzle with a darker face. Most of my bears are "all cat" in the chin area.
Kim Basta
Too funy girls! I am also a manic cleaner when stressed! Though I find sewing incredibly relaxing, when I am really stressed out over some kind of real problem... I scrub. I'm not the neatest housekeeper to begin with, so it's probably a good thing! When my husband comes home to freshly shampooed carpets and gleaming tile, she always sits me and down and says, "What wrong honey?!" :crackup:
Kim Basta
Hi there! Try a size 10 or 12 hand quilting needle. They are my favorite to use for little ones!
Kim Basta
Jane... How exciting!!!!! I love Lady Rose Sommersby.... she's just beautiful.... so nostalgic!
:hug: :hug:
Kim Basta
Tami & Pen... IT"S BEAUTIFUL! I'm truly jealous! :redface: Just gorgeous. Love the whole look of it, and REALLY shows off your bears and dolls to their fullest.
I MUST get around to getting a real website one of these days!
Kim Basta
I know that I usually see either a big drop (or sometimes a big rise) in my auction prices at this time of the year..... many of us (in the USA) are either getting ready to write out a nice fat check to the government, or better yet receiving a nice big fat from the government. April 15 is tax day. I never know what to expect this time of year.
I'd certainly consider giving Bid4Bears a whirl in a couple of weeks. I'll have some available there as well.
Kim Basta
Awww... my kitty is that way too... LOVES mohair! I usually don't let him in the studio, but ocassionally he finds a scrap or two in the hallway... plays with it and then curls up. I think cats love teddies as much as people!
Kim basta
Dito to what Chloe, Shantell, and Krista said. It happens, and it's no generally anything out of the ordinary at all. The bidder has just decided that they are willing to go higher than their initial bid.
Kim Basta
