Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi. I'm fairly new to blogging and have a blog on blogger.com (http://www.lakelandteddies.blogspot.com).

I want to add a section to my blog like a Gallery to show my sold bears.  I know how to add a gadget and then name it as Gallery but how would I get this to be a new section to open up into another window.  Does it have to be linked to my website gallery page or is it possible to have multiple pages on a blog and keep adding pictures there.  I hope I have explained what I want and this makes sense.  If anyone can help, I would appreciate it.

Thanks
Peggy

Krista, that is the cutest thing ever!  Great job.

Peggy

Definitely, one bear from each of

Melisa Nichols
Brenda from Momanimallover
Three O'clock Bears
Terries Bears

Peggy

Hi Sandra.  Just a note that one of the other sites to be promoted is actually theteddypatch.com and not Bearpatch as you noted.  Just want to make sure it's right in the article.

Peggy

Congrats Jenny.  Just in time for Christmas.  What a great present!

Peggy

I also just created my own studio and listed a couple of items.  I e-mailed them about getting our own teddy bear category and within 15 minutes a girl from Artfire called me and said they are working on setting up the new category right now and it should be up and running very soon.  Wow - now that's great service!

Also, as I mentioned earlier, if you refer 10 people and they sign up under you, you can get a lifetime free membership.  That's fabulous!  If anyone is going to sign up, and you want to use me as your referral, I would be SO greatful!  Thanks.

My studio is www.lakelandteddies.artfire.com

Peggy

Thanks Christine.  I checked out Artfire.  So far, I like it.  Too bad the "Artist Bear" section is hidden in the Dolls & Minatures section.  It would be nice if it had its own category.  I think I'll e-mail them and ask for our own Teddy Bear section or at least ask if they can change the name of Dolls and Miniatures to "Dolls, Teddy Bears and Miniatures".  Might be a good idea if other people do the same and perhaps they will change it.

I have signed up for the free membership right now.  Do you know if the $7.00 per month applies each and every month or only the months that you list something?  I will need to check it out further soon, but thought you might know.

Also, did you know that if you refer 10 people, you get a free lifetime membership?  I listed you as the one that referred me so that's one referral you have for sure.

Peggy

Hi Lyn.  I'll swap blogs with you.  I'm new to blogging as well.  I just added your your blog address to my blog.  My blog address is:

lakelandteddies.blogspot.com

Peggy

Hi Melissa.  I love the site. What a fantastic idea.  I just signed up, but my name doesn't show up in Bear Artists.  Does it take some time?  Come on everyone - sign up!

Peggy

I'm with you Sandi.  As a group, we need to move to Bid4Bears and The Teddy Patch.  I have listed things on both sites, unfortunately, without collectors to buy our stuff, we still have nothing.  Somehow, we need the collectors to move as well.

Sandi, I like your blog and I tried to follow it, but got an error message - something about the "url not found".  I'll have to try again.  Maybe it's just a glitch.

Peggy

Hey Shantell.  Thanks for following my blog, now I have a total of ONE follower.  My blog is very boring right now.  I haven't spent much time on it and I'm not much of a writer.  I'll try to do better.  I checked out some of the blogs that you have listed on yours and some are very interesting.  Man, I could spent hours doing that, but then I wouldn't get anything else done.

Also, I tried changing my background with one on thecutestblogontheblock and it conflicted with my existing template.  Do I need to delete the standard template I am using first?

Peggy

Shantell, I'm now following your blog.  I figured out how to do that.  I also checked out your blog.  Very nice.  I will also check out the backgrounds you suggested.  Do you know how to search for blogs?

Peggy

Thanks Tammy.  That is totally what I needed.  Thanks for the great explanation! One more thing - how do you search for other blogs of interest?  For example, if I wanted to find other teddy bear blogs, how would I do that?

Peggy

Hi.  I just recently started a blog on Blogspot and need some help.  On the side of my blog I want to add my own features, not just links, but other stuff including pictures.  I have added certain gadgets already, but most of them are links and I want to add other stuff that do not require links.  If you are on Blogspot and can help, I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

Peggy

Carolynn, you're absolutely correct!  When I look in the mirror, I think "hey, not bad" and when I look at myself in a picture, YIKES, who is that?

I checked yours out Melanie.  Nice job.  Good for you.

Peggy

That's fantastic. :clap:   Way to go Nancy.

Peggy

That's great Irene and Krista.  :clap:   I just listed a bunch of stuff in my Teddy Patch store too!  It's very easy to do.  Now, we need some buyers!  Let's try to get some traffic there. (theteddypatch.com)

Also, don't forget to register for Bid4Bears' promotion that is happening November 20 - December 20th.  (www.bid4bears.com)  I'm hpping to list a bear on Bid4Bears this week.  I'm still suffering with a bad neck/shoulder so I can't do much - such bad timing!! 

Peggy

Even better.  Let's make the whole month of January The Teddy Patch Month and list as much as we can during January.  I like your suggestion too about a buyer incentive.  Perhaps Luralee of The Teddy Patch will come up with something.  That's up to her.

Sign up now on theteddypatch.com and open your own store. 

Also, as someone else mentioned in another post, in your profile, you can now add up to 3 retail outlets to sell your bears rather than just Ebay.  So update your profile now to add Bid4Bears and The Teddy Patch.  Yippee!!  Thanks to Quy for doing that!

Peggy

I'm so glad to read all of the positive responses to my thread.  :clap:  As previously mentioned, Bid4Bears is having a Xmas Promotion (Nov 20 - Dec 20) with 50% off fees.  That would be a perfect time to list a bear or two and direct your collectors to that site.  The more collectors we direct there, the more sales we will get.  If you haven't signed up already, take a few minutes now to do it  bid4bears.com.  It's very easy and user friendly.

I would also like to make a suggestion in regards to The Teddy Patch as they are also a great site that offers free listings and a free store.  I personally love the idea of a free store and the site is not limited to teddy bears.  There are several other categories including "crafts", "dolls", "books/magazines", "collectibles" and many more.  I've always wanted to have my own store and now I have it for free.  Take a minute now to sign up on theteddypatch.com.  It's also very easy and user friendly.

Since we have an incentive to list on Bid4Bears between Nov 20 & Dec 20, I'd like to suggest that we do the same for The Teddy Patch and all list as many items as we can on that site between January 9th and 18th, 2009 and direct our collectors to that site.

If we all work together, we can make it happen!!

Peggy   

I have been reading the posts on this site regarding the new rating system that Ebay has implemented.  I agree, it sucks!  I'm sure it's not the last of the changes that Ebay will be implementing and you can bet that any changes they make are to benefit Ebay and not the little guys (like many of us).

I have also read many comments about finding an alternative auction site(s).  I'm providing my two cents worth in regards to an alternative auction site called The Teddy Patch. www.theteddypatch.com.  Luralee (the owner/creator of The Teddy Patch) has done a great job on this site and made it very user friendly.  She is also a teddy bear artist and understands how tough it is to get started selling.  I truly believe that her goal in setting up the site was to make it easier for struggling artists to get their wonderful teddy bears out there without having to spend money. 

Unfortunately, there is one big problem.  The teddy bear collectors don't know about it so there is no one there to buy.  The only way to get them to visit the site and buy all of our wonderful teddy bears and friends is if we all list something and direct our collectors there. 

I'm just a little teddy bear artist; my teddy bears don't sell for a lot of money.  I haven't entered any contests, haven't won any awards, don't go to teddy bear shows and don't have a big collector list.  When I list items on Ebay, IF a bear sells, a big percentage of the money I receive goes into paying the listing fee and final fee.  There's not much left over.  If my bear doesn't sell, I'm still paying listing fees.  When I discovered The Teddy Patch, I was very excited.

I don't have a vested interest in the Teddy Patch; in fact I don't even know Luralee personally, but I have e-mailed her for information regarding her site.  However, I truly love the concept – IT'S FREE TO LIST AND YOU GET A FREE STORE! Ebay is certainly not offering that and never will.

Another good thing about The Teddy Patch is – the rules don't change every other day.  In my opinion, it is the way to go.  Please give it a chance and list something on The Teddy Patch and direct your collectors there.  If we all list just one thing, we will have our own "exclusive teddy bear auction site" FOR LESS and can get rid of all the drama that Ebay brings and also give them some competition.  As the saying goes, there is strength in numbers.

It is such a shame that we have this great site right under our noses and yet, we choose to ignore it and continue to look for alternative ways to sell.  Please visit www.theteddypatch.com today and list one item.  If it doesn't sell, you haven't lost any thing.

Thanks for listening. 

Peggy

Melisa, fantastic as always. 

Peggy

If you're like me and love the thrill of an auction, you can list on www.theteddypatch.com for free.

Love the Team Bear idea too!  Come on everyone, let's unite as a team.  My vote is to check out www.theteddypatch.com as IT'S FREE TO LIST.  If we let our collectors know where we are, they will follow.

Peggy

Ebay is definitely trying everything to get rid of the little guys like us.  Once again, I'm suggesting we list with The Teddy Patch (it's free) and take our collectors with us.  If we all direct our collectors there, we will get the buyers and save money too!  Gotta love that!

Peggy

Very good Brenda and so fast too!  I agree. It's fun.

Peggy