Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

You girls have brought up some really interesting points.

I did go ahead and send her two pictures and gently said...'for your personal use only'

I am sure, after listening to what you have had to say, especially the notes like Judi, where you have had buyers request pictures...that my buyer is probably doing it for her personal records.  She did say that.

I wouldn't dare ask, (altho your idea Shelli was grand) what format she would like them in....Lord, she might get techie on me and I couldn't perform!!!:lol:

And secondly, I am really a no body in the bear world...so it really doesn't make any difference, when you think about it.

Thanks so much girls for all your input...YOU"RE GGGGRRRRREEEAAATTT!!!
Nanc..

you gals are great....thank you so much for writing such detailed and good advice.
I am sure it is ok....just wondered if anyone else had had the same experience and why she would want a picture if she bought the bear.
I will send her a picture.
Thank you sooooo much, you gals are very therapeutic.
Nanc.......

Girls...I need your opinion.  I just sold a little panda bear and the lady who won wrote and asked me if I would email the pictures I had on the auction for her photo file. 
Have you ever had that?  This is a first for me....I don't understand it.
Any opinions are welcome.
I  have right click protection on the photos in the auction.
Nanc.........

ok back...my sweet son-in-law came by to help me figure out something.

What I meant to say was...' Shelli, thank you (not...that you).  Oh boy, I think I am going buggy here!! :lol:

Dilu, when you said using the bee wings was clever, how did it come out?...you didn't mean that literally, did you.   and by the way...great poems, now I know what will inspire you. hahahaha :lol::lol:

What a great bunch of gals you all are...luv each one!

Nanc.

Where do I start?  hmmmmm.  In defense of my ultimate decision to 'de-wing the thing'.....I have to tell you that there are many artist today that are now using real wings ( I was a little ahead of the game)...but with that said, had I known, I would have gone into the business.

There is this man who sells bug wings to fairy artists and a good set of cicada wings will cost you an arm and a leg...opps, no pun intended!!!!:lol::lol:

I wish I still had the fairy so I could show you, but with all the moving we have done, I am afraid she must have flown off somewhere. :/

Shelli...that you sweetie for all the wonderful things you said...but, I had to read it over a couple of times.  'Me thinks' you should be a great author some day.  What a command of the English launguage.
Opps gotta go

Penny...honey, you have to stay with the program here.  This is getting very involved.

Yes, Shelli, I put the real 'thang on my itty bitty fairy AND Daphne, I WAS the owner.  This was back in '96 and there was no craft shop where I was living at the time.   
I was experimenting and being the crafty gal that I am...well, you know, you have to get supplys where ever you can. :lol::lol:
  And how handy that it just   F- L -E -W right into my space!!

Ok...you want to really gross out here...how about super gluing a tiny paper plane made of tissue paper to the legs of a fly and watch your 'plane' fly around on it's own.
NO ! I am not the inventor of that and did not do it myself...I was a den mother and the boys were talking about how COOL that was.  Boys can think of anything! :rolleyes:

nanc.......

Well, Winney...David took it outside and put it out of it's misery and yes, Jane...my itsy bitsy fairy was sporting a great pair of wings....but everytime I looked at her, I gave a second thought about the ill gotten booty!!

Kind of reminds me of the story about the farmer who found his dog with a dead chicken in it's mouth.  He had heard that if you use the dead animal as a whipping stick on the dog, the dog will never kill another chicken.  So he scolded Fido and took the dead chicken from him and whacked him senseless with the chicken.  Then threw the chicken down and went into the house. 
A couple hours later he looked out the window and saw the chicken staggering down the road like an old drunk. :lol::lol:  It had been mauled by the dog and then used as a whipping stick...and kept on ticking!!

I don't know if it is true or not, I had heard that years ago...but your thought , Winney of the bee coming back for revenge gave that story a whole new meaning!!

Who would have thought Jane, that your spider episode would have brought this many responses.

Are we bored today...do we not have bears to make?
nanc.........

I am sitting here cracking up at all your 'bug stories'...you gals are a riot!!
I have one too.
One day I had sculpted this tiny itsy bitsy fairy and she needed wings.  I was working on a piece of antique furniture in the garage and one of those huge bumble bees flew in and landed on the top.
WOW, I spied those wings in a heart beat (now I am not one to hurt anything)...so I quickly put an open jar over him, to keep him there while I thought about my options here!!  I called my son-in-law (he is my savior in many of the situations I get myself into) and asked him how I could kill the bug  painlessly and without smashing it?
He told me to  put a cotton ball soaked with nail polish remover in the jar and it would knock the bee out.

Ok, great...so I put a soaked cotton ball on a piece of aluminum foil and slipped it in.
The bee buzzed and buzzed for quite a while and finally, there it laid...conked out!

I carried my dead bug upstairs to my ~~~~~laboratory~~~hehehehe
and with tweezers gently removed his prize wings, then thru the carcus in the waste basket beside my desk.

Two hours later, I was sitting at the computer and heard this horendous buzzing...to my horror, "my victim" was running around the bottom of the waste basket, fully recovered (not dead)...wondering, I am sure...."what happened to my wings?
WEll, as I said I really cannot physically hurt anything (hmmm, I guess I would have to rephrase that and say, nothing conscience that is) so I called my lovin husband to the rescue.
His immediate question was..."nancy, how did a bee with no wings get into your waste basket int he first place?" :rolleyes:
I sure couldn't say he just flew in there!! :lol:

Keep the stories coming girls, we all need a good laugh.
Nanc....

Thanks Wanda...that is a great idea...and thank you for taking the time to post a thread. 
Love your avatar by the way.  It is just beautiful...jealous here!!!
nanc.........

Oh girls...I need help here.  I have bought books, gone to web sites and no one seems to know how to get MY pictures into the darned thing, just to get started.

Speaking about Elements 3 here.

I have a Sony Mavica camera.  It records photos on either a floppy or a memory stick.  I didn't purchase the stick because it also takes something else to purchase, to make the stick thingy work. So floppies worked for me.

Elements only gives me the option of getting my pictures from a scanner or the camera...not pictures on floppies (if it does, I don't see that option)

Does anyone know how to at least get my pictures into the editing mode?

I have all this STUFF and keep going back to Microsofts Picture-It, because I can't even get out of the gate :(

At this particular juncture, I would be willing to listen to anything...even if you don't know what you're talking about.  :lol:
nanc.........

Hi Shelli....

I think she looks like a:

Dessa Rae.

Here are a few (well, more than that) to get your mind joggled a little.  It may help 'inspire' you... to get thinking.

Madeleine
Taylor
Sidney
Babbs
Savannah (they use that name for girls here in the south quite a bit)
Sierra
Kaitlyn
Heather
Anika
Miranda ( she looks like a Miranda to me too)
Emmie

She is very elegant and just absolutely encompassing...she definitely derserves a name that suits her.
I hope these names will help inspire.  I can think up more if you need any more suggestions. 
It is just a little early for me...but I am a big 'namer'...no problem. :D

Nanc........

Hi Kerren...One look at your 'rainbow baby' and you can see why she made the cover.  What a happy little bear and so beautifully done.  I can imagine how proud you are, I would feel the same if one of my little creations made such a status!!!  Congratulations and a big {{{{{{{{{{{ Hug}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Nanc.......

Oh good Dilu...I am so glad it helped someone.
I am thinking, that I will purchase Norton's spyware.  I have been very happy with everything they have altho it USED to have some issues with Windows.  That seems to be all resolved now. 
In 1999, I had a couple of problems but then Windows only 'liked' McAffee at that time.

You know Dilu, I hadn't thought about saving corrupted files.  Hummm....I think I am going to have to ask my HP gal about that.  Wouldn't that just be the frosting...to put it all back on. :rolleyes:

Thank you so much for bringing that to my attention...see, two minds are better than one. :D

In my case I think it will take 3 minds...I was on the phone with HP for over 2 hours yesterday and I got 'fuzzy'.  Too much concentration on something I didn't want to concentrate on in the first place.
If I could get my hands on the stinker that hijacked me...well, it wouldn't be pretty!!!

I'd slap a knot on his head for sure!!!

Thanks Dilu, you may have saved me from a disaster.
nanc........

oh no...well at least your undies didn't turn out purple, which happens alot of times with black.
I have to gussy the yorkie up a bit...you know add some glitz or something before I get her listed.
I can honestly say without reservation, that you will like Cushing dye.  It did a wonderful job.
Nanc...

There are so many things out there that can mess up your computer.  I used to have McAfee but switched over to Norton ... only because of my son-in-law.  No particular reason.
I am running everything Norton has, on my computer and was virtually free of the bad stuff, but Spysweeper DISABLED it and set me out there unprotected.  I am fuming!!!
I am getting afraid to download anything anymore.
I understand that Microsofts Service Pack 2 has caused a lot of problems.  I didn't download it because of all the horrors that have happened to friends of mine who did.  I discussed that with HP yesterday and she said it is not compatible with alot of the OEM's and she sent me the info on what I have to do BEFORE I download it on this new computer...or it will mess me up too.  I wonder why they don't put warnings on these things?
This spyware was free to me thru my MSN membership and I trusted it, I mean why wouldn't I...I was certain that it would not be offered if it wasn't ok....boy was I wrong.
Nanc........

I put this in General discussions because this really is not bear related, but computer related.
I downloaded MSN's (Microsoft, actually) Spysweeper.
It no only got rid of threats, put up shields...it disabled my Norton Internet Security system and removed files. that didn't need removing.  Because it disabled my security, I got a hijacker.  HP has run a full recovery on the computer (still under warranty) and the only way to remove the hacker is to completely remove all info on my hard drive.  Everything will have to be re-instlled including my ISP.  I have been burning back-up cd's like crazy as this is all scheduled to be done Thursday nite.
I just wanted to let you all know to be VERY careful when downloading spyware of any kind.  I understand this is very common with the spyware software and was told by HP that Spysubtract does not remove anything but spyware.  I do not know this personally...but I can (from experience now) warn you about Spysweeper.
Hope this helps just one keep from going thru this nightmare. :(
Nanc...........

Eileen...I just finished my largest yorkie yet and used the 308.00 a yard mohair you were talking about.  It IS beautiful and gets a little (pardon the pun) hairy to work with, but wow what a yorkie.  Now watch it will sell for my opening bid.  Ebay...who can figure it out.
I did dye it tho...mainly because I didn't want to buy two different colors (too expensive), so I made one color work by dying it.
I used Cushings Acid dye, bought here at Intercal and I have to say, it is the best dye I have used to date.  I usually don't have black take too well but this is BLACK !!!   I was a bit nervous about trying something new on such expensive fabric and it had to be boiled as well.  But the fabric came out beautiful and the dye was wonderful.
Two products to the test !!!
nanc...
P.S.  I did try to buy this fabric at Intercal but Johanna emailed me back and said they didn't carry it...had to get it at Edinburgh, which was fine but I was already placing an order with Intercal and hoped to get everything at one place.  Hope they can carry it soon as well.

I had mentioned in another thread that I was looking for a fine curved needle without paying the high postage charged for mail order ( 1.50 for the needles and 5.00 for shipping).  For those of you who might be looking for the same thing, for those tiny mini bears....I finally found them locally.
They are at Hobby Lobby in the section with the embroidery flosses, but they are actually curved BEADING needles.  They are not in the beading section where one might think they would be...that's too easy!!! :lol:
They are size 10, so very thin and just perfect for those tiny bears.  Yeh!!
nanc...

You are probably right Daphne...I just wanted to see what it could take, so I treated it just like everything else.  I think what really did it in was the dryer heat and the fabric softener.
I do like to experiment on things so it was fun to see what happened and I learned from it....'don't do this on a good piece of fabric!! ' ;)
You know Eileen...somewhere I picked up another interesting little piece of information, sort of like your gluing the muslin on (which is brilliant by the way).  I sew an awful lot of miniatures and on the really tiny little guys (actually could be done on larger ones too) say 1 to 3 inch range...I cut a small square of the paw pad material out and sew it to the inner arm.  Then I sew the arm as usual and use the outer arm as a guide as I sew around the paw pad.  When it is all sewn, I simply cut the pad material out along the shape of the outer arm and it is a perfect fit.  It works great everytime.  This is done instead of cutting out the tiny paw pad and trying to make it all line up.
Nanc.........

Hi Eileen,
I washed some expensive mohair because... when I rec'd it, it did not look like what I thought it would and I really didn't like it very much.  So I decided to put it to the test since I knew I wouldn't use it anyway. 
I did whip stitch the edges and just threw it in the washer with the rest of my laundry.  I usually wash with warm water and cold rinse.  Then I threw it in the dryer.  Oh, and I always put fabric softener in my wash load. With that said...after it was dry...it came out quite fluffy and the backing was a bit too 'stretchy' (for the lack of a better word)...but I have since dyed it. I am really getting my moneys worth out of this fat quarter. ;).  I have boiled it in cushing dye and they I saw this program on dyeing silk...so I tried spraying it with vinegar after a quick dip in the dye and threw some sea salt on that.  What fun.  It is amazing what it looks like now.  Well, I do have to add that I cut it into some small pieces so I could experiment on it.  I felt like Sid on Toy Story, for those of you have grandbabies and are familiar with the movie. :D
In summation...I don't know, Eileen if the fabric softener made it too soft or if the washing alone did it...but the backing was too soft for my taste . 
I think I would have to say that I prefer Nancy Tillbergs idea of lightly wetting the mohair and then I use a brass brush and brush it til it gets the look I want.
These are just notes from...{{{{{ MY LABORATORY}}}}}

Shelli, thank you so much...things are starting to make more sense.  I had a little time last night to study all the links and mostly what you put in this thread.
I was adjusting mine by pixels rather than inches, so I guess I was doing ok.  Up until now, I was using Picture IT and there was no resolution option (at least I never saw one...I will have to go back and check)...so that is probably why the pixel setting worked ok for me.
After reading the one link you sent, I can see what the cropping is used for.  Since I try to keep my backgrounds very plain, I couldn't imagine why I needed to eliminate something from the background...but I enjoyed your pictures showing the closer pictures and really tuned into the part where you said to place what you want to emphasis, down one third from the top of the picture.  That really makes it pop.
I am working on another yorkie right now (I designed a pattern to be life size) and I really want her pictures to be special.  I will try this cropping for sure.
I think I need to go to Staples and get a rubber stamp made that says...."Thank You Shelli"  :D
Nancy

Oh my gosh...I have really been doing things wrong.   Holy smokes!!!
I just set my pictures for ebay by pixels and didn't do anything about the "inches"....I thought they were ...one or the other.
I am going to try setting the pixels and then the size...right?
I got the pixel thing from right clicking on some auction pictures that I liked the size of.  Actually the one I clicked on used a pixel setting of 640...but when I tried that, the picture on my monitor got real tiny and I assumed that was what it was going to look like on ebay.

Are you following me on this Shelli?  Hahira!!!

Oh, I can see I am going to be up late tonight going to all these links.

Shelli, will you make me an avatar and let me see what you did?  Do you still have my pics?  If not I will send you a mouse pic. or yorkie. Please, Please, Please !!!
Fingers tapping on the desk...I am anxiously waiting for your reply.:D
Nanc....

Oh Amanda...I don't think you want to size your ebay photo to   72 pix's.  I put 530 in mine and it seems to do just fine.  I really don't know what I am doing there either...but you are welcome to check out one of my auctions and see if it is a size you might be interested in.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi … 5591034693

I know there are ladies who must use a higher pixel than I do because their pictures are larger on ebay.  But then I am not sure on this either because I read somewhere that  when pixels are viewed on a monitor, the amount of pixels does not change the size of the photo.
Shelli.......is this in the info links that you just posted?  have not had a free moment to go study with any amount of concentration.
nanc.............

Kirsten, I like to work on two or more projects at one time.  That way, when I don't feel like something as intricate as the face...I can just simply work on an arm.  My little friends are all pretty small, so much of my work is done by hand.
I keep a steady supply of all sizes of eyes , even if it is not a size I normally use, just in case I MIGHT someday and I don't want to spend the hefty shipping charges to order some eyes.
I do however, like to spend a day doing nothing but dyeing and then another day doing nothing but cutting out.  I find this works wonders for me because it it the work that I really don't enjoy.  Then each cut out bear or bunny goes into a zip lock bag and I can work on as many as I want...always putting the newly sewn part back in the bag.
This also keeps my "Bootsie Boy" ( our very loved cat) out of my parts.  Whenever I hear him tearing around the house , I know he has 'stolen' a part.
That is as streamlined as I get...cutting and dyeing on certain days. :D
Nanc.....

Thank you so much girls for taking the time to give me such elaborate answers.  I will definitely look at the webzine as soon as I have a minute to myself and can concentrate!!
You are right Shelli, I DO want to go further with my little critters and I know that photography is so very important. 
I have looked thru my book "The Missing Manual" and it will take forever to learn all of this...so I am just going to concentrate on the things that I think are important and what you girls have mentioned in the past, that you do.
I am going to try to make an avatar and I remember you asking me, Shelli....about the resolution that I wanted.
I need to find out what resolution is and how to make the avatar the proper size. 
I understand that the DPI is different when you are making something to be printed than it is if it is to be viewed on a monitor.  I did get that far before I fell off into never, never land last night. :rolleyes:
Thanks again for all your help.
Nanc...........