Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Shelli...I hadn't heard anything even remotely close to you shutting down the Potbelly Bear Factory!!  Heaven forbid!
I haven't been on very much lately either...so if there was a rumor, I sure missed it.

I am sure you will get a good grip on everything that is currently going on, you are a strong gal...but if you need a grandma to babysit those darling children, just give me a call!     Gee, how far is Chico from Atlanta?
Well, I am sure you know the offer is sincere.

Just be sure to take good care of yourself and don't let your needs get put on the bottom of the pile.

hugs,
nancy

I received more off them...but I didn't want to over load the system.  Aren't they beautiful?  did you get the same email Bronwen?

nanc..

These came in an email to me today and I thought they were just wonderful and wanted to share.  Someone is very talented.
How about a driftwood bear?

Judi, I will write Pat and Denzel and tell them about HIRSP, right away.  Thank you so much for that bit of info.
It is terrible what happened to them and he still does not have diabetes after all these years. 
My father in law had diabetes and then had a massive heart attack.  After all of his surgeries, he was fine and the really strange thing was, the diabetes disappeared.  It had something to do with the heart attack.

:hug:
Nanc......

:clap:  :clap: I am just getting back on after I posted this and I have found each and everyone of your posts very informative.
First let me say, that the email I received and posted here...I feel is probably an exageration...but was meant in all honesty, to show the nonsense and abuse that goes on for people, especially seniors as far as health care.

The few of you who know me well, know that situation my son went thru...and is still going thru, after his beloved wife passed away.  It is a real burden and I felt and still feel it was a horrible injustice.

With that said...my husband and I have always had insurance...until a little under a year ago.  Now at 61 and 63, we have absolutely no protection and believe me, it is something that I worry about on a daily basis.  We are very healthy people...not a problem at all except for my husbands high blood pressure (thank the Lord for His blessings) and as Dilu said, we are very proactive as far as taking care of ourselves.  The only problem we have is my husbands high blood pressure and a year ago (while still under insurance) he went to an Internist and had it checked.  They tried this and that and finally found a drug that has it perfect.  I found out that Aetna paid 37,000.00 to the Dr. and the lab, just to find out he had high blood pressure and what drug to use.  Can you imagine?  37,000.00?  The Dr. was only allowed legally to write him a pres. for 1 year.  He said just to come back and he would just re-new it...only he has left Harbin Clinic (no one will say where he went and I cannot find him) and the new Dr. (of course wants to do all the tests over again).  Now what?  With no insurance, we cannot afford 37,000.00 to get his medicine he needs.  I have absolutely no idea what we are going to do.  Perhaps a 'Doc in the Box'?  I don't know.
Judi, my heart goes out to you...we have friends that are just a little older than us and about 5 years ago, the Dr. who saw Denzel made a note on his medical history, that he had diabetic 'possibilities'...just posibilites.  He does not have nor has ever had diabetes and yet his insurance company got a hold of that and he is now paying 1700.00 a month for medical insurance on one little notation that his Dr. put on his record.  His wife Patty, doesn't have any medical because they cannot afford it for her also.  That is just criminal!  I'm sorry, but this country is in a crisis!
Dilu, you are just a wealth of information on this subject...did you see the article that Date Line did on the subject of insurance companies paying a different amount than the rest who are paying cash?  That was VERY hard to watch.

This was a hard thing for me to write because we have never found ourselves in a position such as this.  I can sypathize with you Aleta...we are in the same boat! 
It is very frightening...I guess if something drastic happens, my little 'friends' will cease because I will not burden my family with bills to pay for the rest of their lives...I have already seen that happen...as some of you know, what my situation is there and why I cannot afford to pay the high costs for insurance for myself.

I wish there was a way for a group of people to get together and form a 'company', so we could get insurance.
I thought Ebay had that...but I will tell you that as a Power Seller, I did receive a card that allowed me to get a 20 % discount on my new glasses and I greatly appreciated that.

My ranting and raving is all done...sorry it took so long but thanks for hanging in there with me.

hugs,
nanc..

Thought I would pass on this 'thought provoking' message.   

American Health Care

Two patients limp into two different American Medical clinics with the same
complaint.
Both have trouble walking and appear
to require a hip replacement.

The first patient is examined within the hour, is x-rayed the same day and
has a time booked for surgery the following week.

The second sees the family doctor after waiting a week for an appointment,
then waits eighteen weeks to see a specialist, then gets an x-ray, which isn
t reviewed for another month and finally has his surgery scheduled for 6
months from then.

Why the different treatment for the two patients?

The first is a Golden Retriever.....

The second is a Senior Citizen.

How wonderful...thanks Shelli for your hard work to make these shirts possible.  I know they will be great.
Lve your new avatar too.

nanc.........

I loved your photos Dilu...I have only been to Portland and I loved the ride there, going along the river.  It was just gorgeous.
May I share some flowers here too?  these are not wild flowers, here in Georgia, they have come and gone and you can tell by the front Clemantis that we have had some pretty vicious Spring weather.  Hail and the likes.

Bev, i didn't design my site...I had it done, but I have the software to maintain it and I find that easy to do.  It is called Contribute.
I would love to learn how to do all this stuff...but my problem is TIME.  That's why I had someone design mine for me, so I could keep making bears while all the design work was being done at the same time...plus the lady who designed it did it very reasonably, within my budget.
Still I think it would be fun to learn.
Nancy...that would be a wonderful new class at the Bear University     Designing Bear Websites.    
Contribute comes with a tutorial to help out.
Nanc.....

Here is a great link to some hard to find 800 numbers.

http://www.hardtofind800numbers.com/

:crackup:   Got these in an email today...thought they were cute .  A good way to start the day, with a chuckle or two.

Thanks gals...I usually do what you do Jane, but in this case...I will tell you why this phrase was generated.

I am taking Linda Sattgast's classes for Elements 3 and when I tried to download this months 'brushes'...it put them in a PDF file as usual, but when I went to my Elements software to incorporate the brushes to a file there...I got this window about Rasterizing this generic PDF file.      I wasn't afraid of a virus but I was afraid of messing the file up.

I am notorious for downloading stuff...but my son in law always come to my rescue.  The only one that really gave me a serious problem was when I downloaded MSN's Spy Sweepr and it disabled my anti-virus program.  HP had to do a total destructive recovery for that one.  So I am more causious now...but thanks Jane for  the tip.

Judi, I saw your beautiful ATC in wood.  Where in the world do you find the time.  Do you ever sleep?

I will google the phrase tonight Erin...thank you for the that too.

I am off to the gardens with grandchildren right now, tho....I need a little 'fun time'.

nanc.....

:doh:  Roxanne...honestly, I didn't think it would be in the dictionary, otherwise I would have looked.  I just decided it was one of those NEW words 

thanks so  much, but you know...even reading the explanation doesn't mean a whole lot to me.  I still don't know what to do.  I guess just click OK and see what happens.
I get my poor computer into more trouble, clicking OK and DOWNLOAD NOW. 
thanks Roxanne...appreciate the help.

hugs,
nanc...

Hope you are getting lots done Pen...hurry back.
nanc...

I tried to pull up something today and a window popped up that said   "Rasterize generic PDF Format"  That is greek to me!  I hope someone can help.  I was afraid to click yes for fear Rasterize might me delete, destroy or worse yet...mix it all up.

nancy

WE are so lucky to have Shelli for lots of reasons.  She is just one talented young lady!
Love your banner Wanda.

And I still love my avatar Shelli made me.  I just can't think of ever changing it.

nanc...

The Giraffe is definitely a re-touch.  I know that McDonalds has taken the blame of alot of obesity...but here in Atlanta, the very sad part of all this, is that the children cannot run around outside and play freely because of the kids that have been kidnapped.  All the parents are afraid to let them out...so they stay inside...I won't tell you what I think should be done to these men who have robbed these children of life long memories of playing outside.
Anyway, I thought the giraffe was cute, a pudgy little guy!

Look what's happened to Africa since McDonalds arrived !!!

got this in an email and thought it was cute

We read so many times on forums...problems that we have...but I have to share a couple of fun stories that have come into my life because of collectors.  I would love to hear your happy collector stories as well.

I got an email today from a lady who just bought one of my larger bears...she also bought a mouse from my website and two other micro's.
She took the mouse with her on a trip to Sonoma, CA and sent me pics of the mouse at the vinyards. hahaha...geez, I wish I were a mouse!

I teased her about how 'spoiled' this little bear was and to be fore-warned before she arrrived.  She is sending pictures to me...as she took the bear shopping and bought her a new sun suit, hat and glasses (altho her nose sort of got in the way)...couldn't pass up some other cute clothes.  So it seems she is continuing to 'spoil' this little bear.  :crackup:

Another lady, a few years ago...for Christmas, sent me one of Jean and Jan Olsens bears.  I was overwhelmed!  I love that bear, not only because of who made it but because of her generosity.

I could go on and on about how wonderful bear collectors are and how, many times they turn into very good friends or just a stranger dropping a sweet note to me, telling me how much they love a certain 'friend' I might have on auction at that time (I cherish those little notes)............BUT,
I would love to hear some of your stories about your collectors.  What a great bunch they are...so thoughtful, so appreciative and such sweet natures.

hugs,
nancy

Amelia...I know what you are saying, but I honestly don't think people know that rule with ebay and no harm came of it.  It's no biggy to me!!  But thank you for the knowledge and your concern.

Sarah, I hope not too.  I got an email this morning from a collector and I froze!  but it was a question about doing a micro piece for her.  Too funny.

Kim, I understand what you mean...but I can remember back when my son-in-law was a boat captain (college money) at Stone Mountain here in Atlanta.  They had this huge billboard telling people the departure times of the boats...and people would stand right by the sign and ask when the next boat was leaving.   :crackup:

I get many questions from my auctions asking exactly what I have in the auction.  I don't mind at all anwering their questions, I have made a great many friends that way...but I think sometimes people don't take the time to read (everyone is so busy these days and my stories do get a little long  )   or they read what they THINK it might say.  Does that make any sense?

Well, I just hope 'mousie' went to a great mommy and I am sure she did.

hugs,
nanc.....

Shantell and Tami...I must have been typing at the same time you did, otherwise I would have commented on your posts...sorry!...BUT thank you too!

I laughed when I read what you said Kim...not that it was funny what you went thru, but about the fact that her pictures were so bad and you offered yours.  I don't care that she used mine at all, in fact in light of what you said Kim, I am glad she did.

I am just concerned, as I said...that the person who bought the mouse will be expecting one mouse and get another  :doh:

Yes, you girls are right, I am glad to see the secondary market value was in a good range.

My only concern, as I said...is I don't want anyone thinking that was my auction because she used my name in the listing title.

Geez, I think I will watch her auctions  ...there have been some great artists work being sold.

Thanks girls,

Nanc........

Oh, I know Kim !  I don't have a problem with her selling it at all.  I totally understand how circumstances in life can cause drastic changes to each of us...and I see collectors buy and sell all the time.

AND...she was very complimentary about my work in her wording, which was very nice.  I remember her and she is a very sweet lady.

I just hope that no one thinks I had anything to do with this auction because there are 2 different mice in the pictures...and I am thinking that perhaps the buyer will think she has a brown mouse coming, when in actuality she will be getting a white mouse.

The funny thing is I periodically will put a mouse on my website, that sells for nearly what this went off for on the secondary market.

Well, thank you Kim for your response and the PM"S I received as well.

Everything turned out fine...not a problem at all.
hugs,
nanc.......

I sold two mice on ebay and one of the ladies is reselling hers.

She copied  one of the pictures I had on my first auction (which is NOT the mouse she bought) and then took a photo of the one she bought  (minus alll the stuff that went with the mouse)and put it on also.

So there is a total of 2 photos in the auction.

The problem arises that, the mice were different.  The 1st mouse had brown ultra suede feet while the one she bought had the white...and it shows up in the photos.

I know that many artists will bid and buy back their work, for fear of someone buying it cheap and taking it apart to obtain their original pattern.

However...this mouse is already at 222.50 and I can't spend that kind of money right now. 

What do you think girls? I will take any advice right now or would LOVE to hear your experiences with this and how you feel.
hugs,
nanc

WOW...that was quick...thanks Quy!!!   

Hi Quy, I would like to change my user name from my current one.... to NancyAndFriends.

I tried Quy, but it just wouldn't work for me.  I know you will know how.

Thanks so much,
Nancy