Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Thanks to ALL for your sweet comments about our little darling....we sure love him! :D
I thought it would be fun to share him...don't we all love these tiny wee ones?

Nanc.........

Introducing our new precious little Matthew David.
I tried to take a picture of him last night, with no light and no flash, so it is a little grainy...but here he is 4 days old.
Thank you to all who prayed for Matthew and Stephanie.  There are just no words that can tell you how much I appreciate it. 
Stephanie is doing well, she is weak but of good spirit and a strong desire to get everything back to normal.
In the last chat, it was discussed the importance of giving blood and I would like to add a big hooray to those who do.
Stef ended up needing 4 units of B-Negative and it was there for her.
She is not the least bit concerned about the hysterectomy.  She has all the children she wanted as she has two older girls 10 and 12 and then little Jessica 2 1/2.  She wanted to have one more child, so Jessie would not grow up alone and so Matthew completed the family.
Anyway, all the prayers did wonders, I just wanted you to know that and to see the little one you so faithfully prayed for.

Nanc.......

I wish I had the time to address each of you individually and thank you for your prayers and your thoughts.
I cannot ever express what it has meant to me...I have even seen some names I am not even familiar with.

An update on Stephanie  (Matthew is doing just fine and had his little surgery yesterday to prepare him for society).

  Another Dr. has been brought in and he gave her another 2 units of blood last night.  He was concerned about her red blood cell count.  After checking it again this morning, it is still quite a bit lower than he wants it to be...but he feels certain she can bring it up herself now.  They are going to get her up for a short while today and try walking.  He said she can walk about the house but for 6 to 8 weeks she is to do nothing...so I imagine I will be here quite a lot.

Anyway, talking with her this morning she said the extra units of blood last night have made her feel better...she can tell the difference.  She is so thankful that Matthew is doing fine and there are such wonderful nurses there to care for him.
She said Pete has got a 3 days growth of face fur...poor guy, I know he has got to be getting exhausted and she keeps trying to get him to come home to clean up and rest just a bit, but he won't leave her or Matthew.
I heard Matthew on the phone and I started to cry...such a tiny little voice.
This has been a real trial for me and I thank you so much (again) for your prayers.  It is such a comfort to me to know that so many people are holding my Stephanie up to the Lord in prayer.  It is obvious we have got His attention.
Blessings,
Nancy
We may be able to go see them both today.

Oh girls...I want to thank you all so much!
I am a most emphatic believer in the power of prayer.  Because I have seen it work soooo many times.

I spoke with her just a little while ago and her voice almost sounds like her.
She wanted me to speak (not firm) but matter of factly to her because she is crying easy.
She has only seen Matthew for about 40 minutes and that was after he was born, then it started to go down hill from there.
The really spooky thing is that she had premonition and even talked with the dr. about it.
This is her 4th baby.
The really fortunate thing is that the hospital she is in is a trauma hospital, so she has had the best care possible.
As we were talking the were bringing in two more units of blood.  One of her drs. said he really wanted her to have that because her red blood count was still very low.
But she wanted us to all hear her voice, she knew that was important and it sure was.
The baby is in the nursery being taken care of by some wonderful nurses.  He had his little surgery that prepared him for society today, and is doing well.
My son in law is stuck by her side.  I offered to come relieve him but he said that would not be a relief.  He would be a wreck not being with her.  He is a gem.
Deb, her name is Stephanie, thank you for asking.
I cannot tell you what it means to me, to have her being prayed for by as many people as I can get.
Thank you, thank you, thank you,
nanc........

I would like to ask everyone to please include my daughter in your prayers.
She went into labor yesterday  morning (induced)and it did not go well.
She delivered the baby just fine but they could not get the bleeding to stop.
She was taken into surgery to do a D&C which was not successful, so the Dr. did a partial hysterectomy.
She lost so much blood, they had to give her 2 units of blood...which we were not thrilled about, but thankful to have it.
and she did not know what was done until she came back around.  Her husband had to make the decision and he said ok to the hysterectomy but did not want her ovaries removed. 
She is very weak but stable...hooked up to many tubes including something in her legs to keep the circulation in her legs moving.
I will be here at their home with my other darling grandchildern, until Monday, when she will be able to come home.
So I ask that everyone who believes in the power of pray, to please include her in your prayers.
Love to you all,
Nanc.....

Louise, it is so nice to hear from you...and doubly nice to know everything turned out fine and you are doing well.
Thanks for letting us know...there were a few threads flying around wanting to know if anyone heard from you.
Nanc......

That Shelli...she is truly amazing and one of the most generous ladies I have known.
Your Avatar bear is just adorable Sandy.  It always helps to have a cutie in the avatar.:D
Nanc.........

I think it is wonderful that the bear shows allow you to display other artists bears.
I have never exhibited in a doll show that would allow anyones work, other than the attending artist, to be displayed and some promoters get pretty huffy is anyone trys.
If this is allowed in their rules,  I think it would enhance the shows greatly.  Here is an idea:

A group of us gals could decide on a good show...all go together and split the cost of the table so that the 'foster' exhibitor would not have any table expense.  She would have all the work of setting up and spending time plus talking to everyone, so she should be relieved of the table expense...that would only be fair.

This is probably why most art shows and definetely doll shows will not allow you to display anything but your work...if 5 women went together, they are only getting 1 table rent. 
But on the flip side of that coin...I think it was Jenny who said she was accepted into a show that is booked for years.  If they would allow more than one person at a table they could bring in a lot more inventory and interest to the show.

Any thoughts on my suggestion?
Nanc....

Shantell...so very glad your surgery went so well and you are in the bear den.
I think that is adorable that your son wants your bear...how can you refuse?
Nanc....

Hi Jane...by the time I just got on, it is probably all over with and you are on your way to recovery.
Hurry back, our little circle has a broken link!
Take good care of yourself,
Nanc.........

A great big {{{{{{{ Congratulations Matilda }}}}}}}}}

I can hardly wait to see the pictures.  To have won so many ribbons, they must be fabalatosa!!  Is that close to anything Auzzie?

Shelli, you can't become an Australian...everyone knows that Californians NEVER move from their perfect climate. :cool:
  But us Georgians, now that is a cat of a different color!  I could be an Austrailian.  :D:D

nanc........

too cute JoAnne!  thanks for sharing that one too.
nanc......

What a happy ending!

Louise, you are definitely on my prayer list and will remain there until I hear that you are recovering and back with us.
Please take  REALLY good care of yourself.
Many hugs coming your way,
Nanc.......

I am just going to address everyone who has written since my post and to those who have emailed me personally.
I do appreciate all the wonderful suggestions and the time it has taken to share them.

It is wonderful to bring 'brilliant minds' together, to garner so many wonderful ideas.
My reason for sharing my thoughts, was two fold actually.

First I was feeling very frustrated and wanted to  hear the comments from dear friends such as yourselves.  Sometimes, my 'ole mind plays tricks on me and I don't see things in the proper perspective, so it is a good thing to hear varying opinions on a subject.
Second, from another chat group and other friends outside of TT...I keep hearing the same things about ebay that I was discussing...the confusion about the what and whys the bidding seems to be so one sided in many instances.
I wanted others who may be of like mind, to know they are not alone.   Ebay can be very frustrating and it is very easy to take it personal, when in actuality it may be many many things that make it APPEAR to be what we think we are feeling or seeing.
I  was not trying to execrate ebay in any way...just trying to understand the mindset of the inner workings and to hear other opinions of other ways to market our work.
I have purchased a beautiful new digital camera in order take it a step farther than I have (which so far has only been ebay).  I now have the camera that can give me the resolutions needed to place an ad in a magazine, or submit work...in other words, start to market myself. 
The one thing I realized from this chat is to get yourself out there!!! 
I think it was Sue Ann who said she decided to get into the business aspect of it. 
Well, I am going to treat myself and my little 'friends' as a business and see what I can accomplish from that standpoint.
A huge heartfelt THANK YOU for all the suggestions and support.  This thread has turned out to be a true panacea for me.
Nanc.......

:lol: Amanda :  Yu Sinc So ?

Learn Chinese in 5 minutes
>(You MUST read them out loud)
>
>1) That's not right .................... Sum Ting Wong
>2) Are you harboring a fugitive?..........Hu Yu Hai Ding
>3) See me ASAP................................ Kum Hia Nao
>4) Stupid Man .................................... Dum  Yi
>5) Small Horse ................................. Tai Ni Po Ni
>6) Did you go to the beach? .............Wai Yu So Tan
>7) I bumped into a coffee table ........Ai Bang Mai Ni
>8) I think you need a face lift ..............Chin Tu Fat
>9) It's very dark in here .......................Wai So Dim
>10) I thought you were on a diet ........Wai Yu Mun Ching?
>11) This is a tow away zone ..............No Pah King
>12) Our meeting is scheduled for next week .. Wai Yu Kum Nao?
>13) Staying out of sight .......................Lei Ying Lo
>14) He's cleaning his automobile .......Wa Shing Ka
>15) Your body odor is offensive .........Yu Stin Ki Pu
>16) Great ................................. Su Pah
>

Thought you would enjoy this picture.

Subject:    The new American language

The European Union commissioners have announced that an agreement has been
reached to adopt English as the preferred language for European
communications, rather than German, which was the other possibility.

As part of the negotiations, the British government conceded that English
spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5-year phased plan
for what will be known as EuroEnglish (Euro for short).

In the first year, "s" will be used instead of the soft "c". Sertainly, sivil
servants will resieve this news with joy. Also, the hard "c" will be replased
with "k". Not only will this klear up konfusion, but typewriters kan have one
less letter.

There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year, when the
troublesome "ph" will be replaced by f". This will make words like "fotograf"
20 per sent shorter.

In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to
reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible. Governments will
enkorage the removal of double letters, which have always ben a deterent to
akurate speling. Also, al wil agre that the horible mes of silent "e"s in the
languag is disgrasful, and they would go.

By the 4th year, peopl wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" by "z"
and "w" by "v".

During yer 5, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords containing "ou", and
similar changes vud of kors be aplid to ozer kombinations of leters. Und
efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze forst
plas.

Lynn, we are all feeling your excitement!   It is great when one in our group gets such a wonderful recognition...we can all say, "I know HER" !!!
Congratulations 10 times over,
Nanc.....

Hhahah...Deb, my son-in-law has to communicate with people all over the world with his job.  He was working with some people in India and they were goofing things all up, which he had to fix and jokingly he said, "I think you guys are slaphappy"...the communication came to an immediate standstill, finally one brave soul wrote back..."What is slaphappy?"  We Americans have some of the darnest sayings.......:lol::lol:

Mark, I admire your 'marketing ideas' and your website is wonderful...my fav's are Benjamin and Buddy.
You have a lot of great ideas but I am unable to do what you are doing.  I am new to the area, so I know very few people...bears ARE my work, I do not work outside of my home and I do not know of any good shows here in the Atlanta area.  I am afraid the internet is my 'contact' at the present time...altho, I would love to do some shows.  It is just too expensive for me to travel at this time.
I purchased a new camera today so I can get the proper dimension photos to submit to the magazines, have you done that yet?
I honestly think Ebay is frustrating me, when I sit down and really rationalize things.  Perhaps I need to get away from that and start thinking outside the ebay circle.
I don't know you Mark, but thank you for stopping in and writing such a nice post...it is always nice to hear from the male prospective...and I think your bears are lovely, especially those lap 'slappin huge paws.  I am a big tummy, big paws lover.

Nanc............

I have to tell you gals, that you have given me a whole new outlook.
I am going to concentrate on 'marketing'...I know from past experience with  the dolls, you are right. 
I remember when the first article came out about my dolls, at 7:00 at night my phone started ringing...it was the strangest thing.  After that article hit the stands, I was an over night success story. 
The newspapers were...ummmm, iffy at best.  The shows were wonderful, in fact that is where I had so many shop owners ask me if I would sell to them.  It was amazing, but the contacts really came from the shows.

Atlanta does not have any good bear shows that I am aware of.
If anyone could suggest a really great show (in the US) that would be a good start...I would greatly appreciate any feedback on that....and if bear shows are anything like doll shows, you just have the time of your life.
I really miss doing shows, I enjoyed the people so much.

I am going out tonight to look at a new camera that will take the resolutions needed for the magazines and I am going to try to look into advertising...altho that may be too costly at this point.

At any rate...your suggestions have certainly given me a new platform in which to devote some of my energy and work off my frustrations.
I know you are all right...thank you, thank you, thank you.
Nanc.......

Kim, I know exactly how you feel...I have the same feeling.  I keep trying and trying.

I notice that ebay can be quite 'cliquey'...certain people will collect only certain artists work and no one elses.
That is strange to me because as a collector of MANY things...I always want different styles of what I am collecting....for instance, when I collected artist dolls...I wanted all different types.

I have noticed that on ebay that is not the case.

One bear artist that does very good (no, not in our group)...uses the same pattern over and over and has for years...the bears all look exactly the same, just a different outfit and a different story line.  She has collectors who probably have 50 or 60 of the same bear in different clothes...and gets new buyers all the time, who when reading their feedback have never bought a bear at all.

I was perplexed, as you are...so a year ago, I tried to study the 'ebay pattern' and see why some did well and some did not...when I thought the 'did nots' did gorgeous work.

What I found (or at least it appeared to me) was what reminded me of a very old show I once saw on Candid Camera. 
This showed an elevator opening on the 1st floor and everyone was standing backwards, facing the rear of the elevator.  When the door opened and the new person getting on saw everyone facing backwards, they would get a puzzled look on their face and step in...but would face forward, glancing side to side at the other occupants, as the door closed.  Here is the catcher.
When the door opened on the 4th floor, the person facing forward would always be turned around facing backwards.  There was never one ,who would not go with the flow.

My point is that some  people (certainly not everyone tho), do collect 'artists' rather than the item.  I see this alot on ebay.

By cliquey, I mean there are groups that seem to stay together...if Mary Jane is bidding on Smoochie Woochie Bears...then Suzie Q and Polly run right over and bid too.

I had a strange thing happen a couple of years ago.  One of my best buyers, and by the way, she bought from MANY bear artists (well actually she WAS my best buyer) wrote me and said she was only going to bid on Private Auctions from now on, because she had 'followers', that as soon as she bid they would all bid and she even got hateful emails stating that she made ebay un-fun because she always outbid everyone...so she didn't want her name associated with any auctions.  So see, people would bid because SHE was bidding, not because they wanted that particular item.
Ebay is just so different that the 'real world'.

I see it in a lot of different areas of ebay, not just bears.  Miniatures is a prime example.  One artist will have museum quality work and sell for 9.99 ... another person will have poor craft style work and sell for 75.00 and everyone is bidding like crazy.

I agree with others that I think shows are a good thing...at least doll shows were wonderful.
Here is another prime example.  I am not bragging here, just stating a fact.  When I did original dolls, I was highly publicized, magazines ( one was a full 4 page article in Contemporary Doll) newspapers (full color page in the Atlanta Journal...plus papers in other states and was invited to be on a TV program in Mobile, Al., shops carried my dolls.
Here's the catcher...I decided to put a doll on ebay...and guess what, it barely went off. 
Why?...my work was quality, judging by the Doll Collecting world...but on ebay, dolls that would not even get a second look at a doll show, were getting $100.00s of dollars on ebay.

Art of course in any realm art is a very personal thing.
When you can get it figured out...let me know.

I want to add also that, there are many artists who make big money and RIGHTLY SO because their work is gorgeous...many in our own group... and that is the way it should be.  The bidding should be based on what you produce, but in many cases it is not.

I was talking with another friend who sells handmade things on ebay and she said it is as if THEY put out the WORD...don't bid on her work!???? and when the right people don't bid on your work, the others who follow will not bid either.

I don't know what to tell you to keep you from getting discouraged Kim.  I do too!
The bear that I have on right now, Skippy.  I cannot tell you the hours I have in him.  I know in my heart that Skippy is a good looking little guy and yet look at the auction.  $76.00?
Honestly, I told David this morning...I feel like pulling the auction and quitting bears....I feel that discouraged!

I am venting here this morning...please forgive me everyone...I am sure there are many who would disagree with me, this is just my opinion based on MY PERSOANL EXPERIENCES and what I see, thru my eyes.

nanc.......

Hahaha...Marion, the street gang is so funny.
Here is a deal for you...on your way to Florida (all Northeners go to Florida )  I am just a hop skitch off I75...just drop those little cuties off here and I will baby sit!!
I would love to have a lap full of Bostons!!

Oh, yeh...Kim you are right!  Bailey is a real handful.  She only comes out to tinky, but the other day this huge dog came trapsing down the middle of the road and Bailey ( I am guessing) has never seen herself in the mirror...because she went after that dog like she was a Dane.  I figured for sure, Baileys days of 'tinkeying' were over.  You guess it, the big dog ran.

Ok, Marion, just let me know when to expect my 'company' :lol:

nanc.....