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Jenny -
I know how horrid people can be over the phone. I was going to post this on TT anyway as a seperate thread, but after reading yours I decided to put it here.
It was in an e-mail in titled "Fast Thinking". Enjoy!
The phone rang as I was setting down to my anticipated evening meal, and as I answered it I was greeted with "Is this Karl Brummer". Not sounding anything like my name, I asked " who is calling? " The telemarketer said he was with The Rubber band Powered Freezer company or something like that.
Then I asked him if he knew Karl personally and why was he calling this number.
I then said off to the side, "get really good pictures of the body and all the blood", then turned back to the phone and advised the caller that he had entered a murder scene and must stay on the line because we had already traced this call and he would be receiving a summons to appear in the local courthouse to testify in a murder case.
I then questioned the caller at great length as to his name, address, phone number at home, at work, who he worked for, how he knew the dead guy and could he prove where he had been about one hour before he made this call. The telemarketer was getting very concerned and his answers were gi ven in a shaky voice.
I then told him we had located his position and the police were entering the building to take him into custody, at that point I heard the phone fall and the scurrying of his running away.
My wife asked me as I returned to our table why I had tears streaming down my face and so help me, I couldn't tell her for about fifteen minutes. My meal was cold, but after what I had pulled, it was the best meal in a long, long time.
We have caller ID. So if it shows up unknown number or no information at all, we just don't answer it. If they really need to get ahold of us they can leave a message on teh machine. The people that we don't mind getting calls from have our cell phone numbers. Family and friends know to call those numbers. Maybe that will help.
I'm with Jenny. Just 'cause you can, doesn't mean you should.
Jennyn - I just got Teddy Bear Review and guess which little pretty rabbit I saw? That wonderful little guy you shared with us a couple of months ago. They did a feature on Shoppes and Sue Pearson's shoppe was one of the shoppes. I still think he is a smashing bunny.
Sue Ann -
We are always at Schaumburg. We will see you in October.
Gee I don't know the time that Sue Ann was at Schaumburg all she did was talk to people from what I saw. I wouldn't think she is timid. She isn't a loud mouth, in-your-face, at the top of her lungs kinda gal. But timid? nah! I thought you were very friendly Sue Ann. BTW are you coming to Scahumburg in April? I never did tell you how much mum loves her rooster? Well she does. And little MaeLynn would haul him all around the house if we let her play with him. He sit next to the TV in the sewing room guarding our DVDs and Videos. Right now he has a cluster of stone quarry critter kittens and abear at his feet. MaeLynn artfully arranged them. Such a little girl she is. 
Shelli -
Mum and I have to 2 rooms to work from. But there still isn't enough room.
I saw the ad for Teddy Talk. WOW! You did a wonderful job. They look fab!
I think there are a couple of other ads out there that have your finger prints all over them.
And they all look great.
Mum wraps every bear in tissue then places them in a plastic bag just in case the box get wet. That way the bear is protected.
Here's what mum does. She does all of the packing.
1. I ask the girls back in our receiving department to save the air pillow for me. Wal*Mart just throws them away. All of the DVDs, videos, and cds are packed with them. They can fill up a 45 gal trash bag within a couple of hours. I get these for about 6 to 8 weeks, then we have enough to get us through for a year. Our pantry is almost full of air pillows right at the moment.
2. She carefully places tissue in the bows to keep the shape.
3, Each piece is carefully wrapped in tissue.
4. Then they are placed in a clear plastic bag. (Our excelsior comes in bags of six, so we just reuse the bags that hold the excelsior packages)
5. The plastic bag is tied shut and a tag identifing the piece is attached.
6. This is then packaged in a clean new/recycled box. With air pillows carefully packed around the bear to keep the bear from tumbling around the box.
7. Then we place an invoice in an envelope, along with a thank you, and bag of goodies.
8, Seal the box and place a shipping label and off to the Post Office or UPS.
Our tissue comes from nashville wraps www.nashvillewraps.com You can get tissue, bags, boxes, and ribbons at really good prices.
I get my plastic pattern bags from www.gtbag.com You can get a thousand for about $50.00.
I am sure that this just what we all need one more thing to do. 
You can get baseball card protectors at Wally World last I knew in the stationary department.
Thanks SueAnn, I will pass them on. I know that she is excited, she just won't show it.
She called my aunt, Jean, in MN. Jean just about jumped out of her skin with excitement.
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Shelli -
Thanks for posting the information from Laura. I know that will help people understand the process.
When I was asked to judge, it was hard. There were some well made pieces but very little creativity and some poorly made pieces with great creativity. It is hard to say which one you liked the best. Ideally, the piece would be well made and different. I don't envy the judges.
To everyone else -
Don't be discouraged! You can't win all the time. Are your pieces selling? Are your collectors buying more from you? I think that can say more about you than any award. I have known several artists over the years that won awards, and in the next year quit making because the collectors weren't buying from them. I would rather be the artist that didn't win but is still selling and creating pieces that I love to make. There were several factors that came into play. Many of those artist priced themselves out of the market. They would win and a bear that the normally would sell for $150 was now $400. Be realistic! Even though you win you might be able to raise your prices a bit, but keep it within what is normal for your bears. I really like many of the winners from last year, but I don't think I am going to pay $1000 for a $200 bear.
We all need to do like Jodi did and ask ourselves, "Why are we doing this?" And when you get the answer to this question focus on that. If you are planning on getting rich, well don't. I have been at this for 15 years now and I am nowhere near being rich. I do it because I love it. The awards are not the "end-all, be-all" of the teddy bear world, they are a nice way for us as artist to gain recognition. I would love to win one every year for 10 years in a row, but that ain't gonna happen. I encourage everyone to enter every year, you just never know. But don't quit because you don't get nominated. Find your passion for making bears/animals and make that your focus. A Golden Teddy and/or a TOBY are just icing on the cake.
A huge thanks are due to both Teddy Bear Review and Teddy Bear & Friends for putting on these contests.
Just my thoughts
Well I think this is going to be fab when we all get going on this.
I am sure that Miss Judi will have fun airbrushing cards. I will be using mostly digital files to create my cards, but I do have some ideas for embellishents.
I can't wait to see what people make.
What to go Sandi!
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Judi, SueAnn, and Louise -
Big Congrats!
I have great news too!
Both of mum's bears were nominated! I am so happy for her! Now I am :pray: that she wins!
(I didn't enter the Golden Teddies)
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Good Luck and again congrats!
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Daphne - will you be at Toy Fair? Do come by and say hi. Booth #3079 (I think)
Shelli & All -
I think that this is a fablous idea. And when i get a moment I wil create some that can be traded. That will be teh 6th Tuesday after never.
I am thinking that I might have a moment after Toy Fair to breath and think about other things.
I didn't even attempt to read all that was posted but I really like this idea.
I am going to try to cut back my portions. That means I'll have a ton of doggie bags in New York.
Daphne -
I have a treadmill that you would be welcome to come over and use but I think the drive kinda kills that idea. he he.
I am not sure what my sister is doing but she has lost about 5#. I think she is just cutting back on how much she eats. She is so happy that her clothes are getting looser. That and she is doing pilates (sp?). I can imagine that is interesting with my niece. Jess said that MaeLynn was trying to help her the other day. I just chuckled to myself.
:clap: :clap: I'm really impressed reading about everyone's progress :clap: :clap: I think I chose an easy one by just wanting to eat healthier...you gals tackling quitting smoking and giving up chocolate have my utmost respect :pray:
A week ago I braved my scales and was elated to have lost a whole 3 lbs. I couldn't wait to share the news, so I blurted it to hubby. His response? "Is that all?"
So I vowed to let him come to his own conclusions and not bother telling him about any progress. I've been plinking along steadily, and this morningheld my breath to hop on the scales this morning (telling myself the whole while not to get bummed. I was happy to see I've lost another 2lbs (so five total) and even better, I've dropped another 2% bodyfat. :dance: I know its incredibly slow progress.....but I'm getting there!
I just feel like the tortoise sometimes!
Well I think you are making wonderful progress. Let's see him drop 50# in one week, it ain't gonna happen.
I am reminded of every diet program I have ever tried... Healthy weight loss is no more than 2# a week.
just my 2 cents
Wowwie! That is some story. That is why I always ask how much something is.
Someday it would be nice to go the fashion district in New York and find the ribbon and trim shoppes and not have to worry about the price tags.
Mum bought some Victorian trim there last year and I think that it was $105 a yard.
I am hoping that when we go to Toy Fair that we might get a chance to walk around on Saturday. The show starts Sunday.
I know that I could beat you all out for ugliest bear. The first one that I designed looked like a monkey that forgot to take his meds.
I'll post a pic as soon as I can.
Ah, my dear friends, i would like you to have a look at my first and third bears.
I like very much Bonjour, my first one: i made it using a kit from a french artist (Laurence Veron) and added some features like mouth, paw pads feet pads, claws, clothes...
The third one is very .... hummm: well just see by yourlseves. I named him Ugly.http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/2742 … ar28so.jpg
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/707/ … ar11et.jpg
Beary hugs,
Sophie.
Kinda looks like a cat,
Tami -
He is wonderful! What a sweet face he has. The shading is very well done. He just stares you in the face, you'd have to pick him up. I am glad that I am not viewing him in person I would have to own him. Anyway the purse strings are really tight right now. ouch!
I could see him with a few simple changes made into a fab mouse. Add A Tail, Bigger Ears, and some Whiskers and viloa! You would have a very sweet mouse.
Good Luck with your ebay auction,
Jared
Been there done that, won't be doing that again, kapok that is.
I liked the way it felt in finished pieces, but it end up in my mouth, nose, ears, eyes, and anywhere else it could get. It really irrated my contacts, my eyes turned red
I used one bale up and never again.
I thought for a moment there that you were going to offer to bury them for us.
Wow am I pleased the artists I respect so much have calamities too. Awful thing to say I know. But you know what I mean, dont you?
Yes , I also have to do the salvage thingy. I feel so sad though. I mean when you salvage you have really given up on the poor wee blighter.
Matilda -
We could get together once a year and have a mass funeral service for all the teddies that didn't quite make it.
I don't think a mass teddy grave would go over well.
Yes all,
Mum has ordered twice from Stephanie. And the eyes are fab.
I just used my first pair of amber with the backs painted brown yesterday on a yellow bunny and they look great. When I get a sec I will post a piture, but that might take awhile.
And in reading one of the magazines I passed on a wonderful tip to mum, it was one of Miss Shelli's. She paints the eyes and then before the paint drys she drags a needle through, let's it dry and then applies a second colour to get that "star burst" effect. Mum did a pair and they look stunning!
I know that I wll be ordering more. I am glad that I didn't need to camp out as I don't really have the time for it. ha ha.
Stephanie -
They don't happen to have cats eyes do they?
Just asking.
Sue Ann -
I have some glover needles that you would be welcomed to.
Another artist gave them to me years ago. I use to use them all the time, but started using other needles that I like better.
But they are desgined to work on leather and hides. They have a triangle shape to them.
Anyway, if you would like them just let me know.
Now I just need to go find them, but I know I have them in one of my organized containers on my sewing table.
For everyone who has ever made piece that you can't salvage -
Mom and I have a morgue, for a long time it was a big black trash bag now it is a small pile of bodies on the floor. After a while we take them apart and salvage the innards, luck nuts, dics, and such. That way we recover something.
As for new designs I haven't had the time to work on them. I have some great ideas, but with getting ready for Toy Fair it is a matter of modifing exsisting designs.
Maybe after I get back I will post some pics in the gallery section. I can't believe how close it is.
