Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Thank you Sue Ann...I will google it.  Altho it says no mohair, I would like to find something to dye synthetics as well.  Very interesting.
Nancy

I would love to be involved in the simple supplies etc., swap.  I think the bear swap is an opening for some possible problems and hurt feelings.  On that subject, however...since there are a some who would like to participate, we could just have a name list and let each individual person contact the person who has a bear to swap.
Sort of like:

Suzie.... I have a panda to swap
Janie .... I have a clown bear to swap
Martha....I have toasty bear to swap
Dilu........I have a closet full of Gollies to swap ( wouldn't we all love to have a Golly to add to our    collection)

well, you get the picture...then if Kim wanted a clown bear (hahaha) she could contact Janie personally.
Altho, I still see room for hurt feelings here.

On the other hand, I really think the supplies swap could be a great asset.
There was a time when I created a bear that was not the usual size I make and I didn't have any eyes that looked right...but I only needed eyes for this one time bear.  I didn't want to order a pack of 5 or 10 and I certainly didn't want to pay 5.95 shipping for 1 pair of eyes.  How nice it would be to look in the swap list and find a pair of eyes that I needed and know that I would only pay the $1.00 or actual shipping charges, rather than the inflated costs that companies ususally charge.

Along that line also...we could have a 'wanted list'...to list things that you are looking for, because someone may have just what you are looking for but not have it listed in the 'swap list'....i.e. "looking for a Bernina walking foot"    (which I am by the way...anyone have one they want to swap?)

My thoughts on the subject.......
Nancy

Judi, your work is absolutely gorgeous.  Wow, what detail!!
And your theme is wonderful...just a perfect auction.
I am sure it will skyrocket at the very end...gotta love those snipers!  :dance:
Beautiful, Judi...Just beautiful.

Nancy

Oh the colors sound marvelous.  I can't find all those colors in Rit Dye, here in the states.  I really like to dye my mohairs and mess around with color.
I just can't seem to find any interesting colors except Black, Tan and Brown....whoppee, that really gives me lots of options!  :dance:
Does anyone have an on-line supplier?
Nancy

Ok, let's really go back here,  'Happy Trails to you..........." Jenn !

Anyone with me? or have I left you all behind?
Nanc

I wish I could help Shel....I don't have one, but I have bought quite a few of them online ...if all else fails, but it sounds like all will be well.
TTers are really one of the best groups I have come across.
I am sure you will get your ten copies....and congratulations by the way.
Nancy

Where do you get Dylon?

nancy

I removed the nose on my Toby entry...re-made it and re-took all the pictures again.  Geez, this is getting to be a full time job!
With the nose being closest to the camera, it looked like a big honker....so I made it smaller to compensate.
You know...like when you are sitting on a sofa with your legs crossed and someone takes a picture...your size 7 shoe now looks like a 12.  :doh:

I sent them off to winkflash ... thanks again Sue Ann.
I should be getting my first batch of the wrong ones in a day or so. hahaha
Good thing they are cheap.

Nancy

They haven't answered my email yet.  I sent it this morning...so perhaps my order doesn't mean a whole lot to them.
I too, was not shown the discount at check out, that is another reason that I didn't continue on.

I will let you know.  Maybe the discount isn't worth the hassle!
nancy

Marion...I just sent an order in today and I said I wouldn't order again either.  My last order didn't come and didn't come and then when it did only 1/4 of the items came.  If I had known that the things I really wanted weren't coming and the things I could have done without, came...I would have cancelled the order.

So this time, before I completed the order, I wrote them with my order number and asked them if everything was in stock.  My last order had NO fabric...just needles and nuts and bolts, etc. 
This time I only ordered fabric.  So we shall see.
Nancy

I will Deb...I hope they have a fast turn around time.
They had some other very interesting products.  For only 13.99 you can order a calendar with all your pictures. I can just see my grandbabies on that.

Nanc.......

For anyone else having this problem....I just sent my pictures to Winkflash.
I am hopeful they will come back better because they use Fuji developing.  I have had wonderful luck with fuji film, their cameras...and now I will be trying their developing.
Will let you know how it turns out.

Oh, and it only costs .99 flat rate shipping, no matter how many your order.  That sure is better than almost 6.00 to drive to town and back.  Gotta love those SUV's  :dance:

To be continued..........................

Oh great Sue ann, thank you ... I will!
Nanc

Geez Kelly, You could have cried?  I am on the verge of tears just reading your tale of woe!! 

I can actually feel what you must have felt!!  That is just awful

No, by all means...you didn't hijack me, I loved reading your horror story...it actually lessened my anxiety!! hahaha

When I take photos for ebay, web site, emails etc...they all look great.  This is the first time I have ever had them printed.  A total nighmare! and to think our work will be judged on these?  What if someone does a wonderful job on their entry but doesn't have the capability of taking photos...I guess they would be up the creek.  I wonder how many people don't enter because of the photo issue...I mean not everyone can afford to go to a photographer...and these digital cameras are something to reckon with, as far as color is concerned.

I used to have my dolls professionally photographed and found I could do better at home.

I think I need to take up a new hobby...Photography!!!

Thank you for sharing your story...we could probably all put our experiences together and write a blammed book!

Nancy

Hope this makes sense...as I am writing, I am also chatting on line with 2 people...one being my little granddaughter (10)...she keeps sending me links to her Neopets shop and gallery.  She did all the HTML herself and it looks fantastic.  Dang, I could have had her design my website and saved Grandma a whole heck of a lot of money.  :dance:

Oh Dilu...I love you!
Such a funny little gal you are!  I can always count on you for a 'cup of cheer' !

I am so mad...this little gal almost went out the window today.  I mean, REALLY!  Why can't she be more photogenic?

If it keeps up like this, she WILL be on her way to Oregon!!
Nancy

Oh Deb...thank you, at least I do not feel like I am in the (proverbial) boat alone.

I am going to give it a couple of more trys and see if I cannot overcome this.  My daughter says that I need to put them on a CD and take them in for developement, rather than doing it online.
I wonder if that will make any difference.

I have over lightened them to the extent the poor little thing looks anemic and still it comes out awful.

If I can't get them to come out any better, I may start all over again ab ovo!!   :pray:  OR just forget the whole thing, because I certainly don't want to waste 70.00 with these pictures as representative of this little 'friend'.

Glad you enjoyed the quote...for me, that is so true.  Sometimes I go too far and should have stopped earlier.
I learned that the hard way.  :dance:

Nancy

   Is anyone else having problems getting their Toby pics to look good?
I think I would rather send the critter to them.

They keep coming back with too much contrast and just look awful!
Any suggestions?

I keep telling them to NOT do their Inteli-Imaging...but they seem to have just one way of doing them and that is THEIR way!
Has anyone ever used Eckerds?  We don't have a Walgreens here in Cartersville....just CVS and Eckerds and of course my favorite (NOT) good old Walmart!

Sorry, I am just getting so frustrated.  The little critter is so cute and her pictures don't look anything like her.
I think I will pin her to the form and send her in!!

Not to mention, everytime I drive to town in my gas sucking SUV...to pick up the terrible pictures...I have to drive 18 miles each way.

Any help at this time, would be greatly appreciated!
Nancy

Oh, forgot to mention...you can use parabolic (not sure of the spelling here) lighting.  That is flourescent with a grid over it that seems to block the brightness and make them more acceptable and a lot nicer to work under.
Nancy

Deb, I would look into the daylight bulbs, unless you have worked under flourescent bulbs before.  This is just a personal experience, but I don't do well under Flourescent lighting.  I don't know how to explain what it does to me, but I get terrible headaches and feel just plain yucky.  I also don't like the cast that flourescent puts on things, sort of a 'too bright blueish'.  I have a real aversion to those bulbs 

If you have worked under them before and don't have the same reaction that I do...then they are a very cost efficient way to light.  Many people do just fine with them.
I too, love the sky lights.  I would have a roof full of them, if given the choice.  My house would look like one giant bubble!!
Nancy

Sorry Jenn, for what happened to you...this sounds like kindergarten antics to me. 
Nanc.....

Oh Jane...how awful.
I was going to suggest cuticle remover...it works on ink, but I don't think I would use it on the ultra-suede

What about some sort of dry cleaning solution? 

You might even take it to your local dry cleaners and see what they think as far as having them do a spot removal.  They know fabrics better than most!
Nancy

Helena...I like your term desirability....I think that is the key word!

It is fun to enter a competition as long as it is fair competition.  I have heard the credibility of the Toby is pretty top notch....so I do look forward to the challenge.
Since I do not work outside the home...my 'friends' are my source of income.  Therefore, I not only enjoy doing what I do, but I tend to treat it like a business. 

I need to take my little business, to the next level...and for me that means to attend some shows and get involved in some good healthy competition.

When competition is fair, a person can not only derive invaluable knowledge but inspiration as well.
I love to study the work of artists that I feel are better than me (and there is a whole world of them out there, I could be up til midnight for a whole year)...I learn so much.

I think all of us whole truly take our craft seriously and enjoy it, want to continue to learn and strive to get better and better.

Then there are those few rare artists who don't offer critique but offer help (yes, Shelli..I am talking about you).
For a long time, I felt like my work was missing a certain something and could never put my finger on it...then Shel, generously offered her technique for eyelids to all of us.
  I tried it and I think that was just the zing I needed...what I was looking for but didn't actually know it.  It gave me the ability to incorporate the personalities I wanted for my bears and friends.  I see eyelids on so many artists work now and each one is so very different.

I think it would be a lot of fun to ship one of my bears to each and everyone of you ladies and ask for your honest opinion/ critique.

Sue Ann, you little 'whimp'...you would probably be one of the first ones, I would send it to .

But seriously, wouldn't you love to hear what Michelle Lamb, (I don't know this ladies name, but have heard some of you speak of her work...Pergala, Pergalli?) and other artist you admire, would say about your bears and offer advice as to how you could improve?  I think that would be so much fun and would be thrilled to have the critique...I would be at the front line!

I bet by the time my little bear got back to me, I would have the corner on the market for THE PERFECT BEAR !!  :dance:

Penny and Jenny (no I am not starting a rhyme here)...I just have to say, you both gave me a laugh  today!

I have to say I have a hard time with one person telling another person "I am the expert here and know how it is supposed to be done"
I am not saying that there are not true experts in every field but there are an awful lot of soi-disant judges out there too. As Daphne said,  I have seen many vituperate judges too and I personally feel that is uncalled for.

There are famous artists (lets  just use Van Gogh, for instance)...I am here to tell you, that his work would never pass a judge's critique (none of the juried shows that my paintings have been in anyway)  and YET...look at what his work is worth.  Look at the collectors!!! and what they pay.  I can't help but wonder what Van Gogh would say to the judge...perhaps..."How much do your paintings sell for and how many collectors do you have?"

I mean, what is perfection, who is an expert anyway?  Can you argue with success even if the item is not 'perfect'.

I know there are certain rules or guidelines to make something look correct...like perspective in a painting.

In order to have the pictures depth look correct, there is a linear way of doing it....but look at Charles Wysocki, he certainly doesn't follow the rules but look at his popularity.  He has a playful spontaneity to his work and scr-- the rules.  It works for him.

If you are not happy with your bears and they don't sell, then certainly...seek out the opinions of others!!!  You will learn alot and it could turn out to be your panacea.   The gathering of knowledge from knowledgeable people is alway a GREAT THING!

But please don't feel that because you are not making your bear or creations according to 'the rules' for judging, that your work is not as good as...that to me is just a pile of pucky!

I have been involved in so many juried, invitationals and competition events and seen so much 'political nonsense'...and so many talented, talented people made to feel insecure about their work because a judge has a friend of her sister who has entered a piece of work...well, I have seen a lot and it truly breaks my heart to see talent, many times put aside, for a different agenda.

That is not to say this happens all the time...but it happens alot. 
Look at the judges who got into trouble with the last Olympics, it is even there.

I even hesitate to enter the Toby from all that I have seen in my years...but I know that the buying public is swayed by if you have a Toby or not... and I would like to see what my work does in another arena besides ebay.  Will I be heartbroken if I don't get a Toby or even a nomination?  Absolutley NOT...will I be heartbroken if a bunch of collectors would write me and tell me my work is crap...Absolutely!!!

Getting down off the podium now...and like Shelli always does:  (disclaimer:  this has just been my opinion based on life experiences and I certainly do not mean to execrate the whole idea of judging and competion...that can be a very healthy experience if done properly...if not, it can be very destructive)

nancy

Wanda, the matte finish is not really 'mattey' as we remember it.  It is really very pretty...sort of light satin, I guess would describe it best.
I really don't know tho, if it has to be in a shiny format or not.
I would like to find someplace that just leaves the photos alone.  When did they start 'fixing' customers photos?
I didn't know about the CD, that is interesting.
I am fooling around with my Elements 3 trying to do different things, but I don't want to change the picture, just enhance it.
I wonder if that is ok with submitting or do they just want a raw picture?  Does anyone know?
Nancy

:doh:   I know Fran...everyone is young.  Where are all the oldies but goodies?
Am i the only one?  Yikes!!! 
Nancy