Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Dawn,

I'm in the arts sector, it's a textile organisation - I would say the name but I'd be worried it'd create a link on google or something and she'd be able to see what I'd written! Haha! If you google contemporary textile festival it will be the first entry :P

It's a bit of a complicated story as to how she got to where she is.
She began by being a volunteer for another textile organisation and decided to do a festival once a year. However, the organisation started to feel increasingly unhappy with her being there, things got a bit heated and she split off from them and decided to run the festival as an organisation itself.
I'm not sure whether or not that makes her elected. There's a board of trustees and advisors, though as far as I can tell they maintain more of a back seat role and are not really involved - just names really that can be spewed out to potential sponsors and trusts.

Emma
xxx

I think I'd like to, athough I've never done a bear swap before, what does it entail exactly?

Emma
xxx

Aww! I love goats :)
Goat fact: the lactose molecules in goats milk are smaller than those in cows milk, so it's easier to digest - so if you're lactose intolerant, give goats a go 

Emma
xxx

Thank you so much for all your advice, I really do appreciate it.
I've started my list of "incidents" now, it may take a while for me to write everything down! :P

It's made even more difficult because there is noone above her, she's at the top. I got a job through a government scheme where they created jobs in charities and non-profit organisations to get people back into work (no thanks to the recession!) I've contacted the company that handles the money that I get paid with, but they're not really interested because they just want to be able to tick me off on their government checklist.

It's so difficult in this financial climate because I know that I am at a disadvantage if I wanted to get a new job because so many more experienced and better trained people are applying for the same jobs as me.

I'm definitely going to keep a record of everything, keeping a diary is a good idea too - I have a ridiculously poor memory so I often forget important details like tone of voice and little things like that.

I'm also considering filing a complaint to Job Centre Plus (I'm not sure whether they have these in other countries, it's a government funded organisation that advertises jobs and also gives people enough money to get by while they're unemployed and looking for work) - they were the people who advertised the job and were directly involved in getting me this job, do you think it's a good idea?

Thank you for all the hugs and kindness, when stuff like this happens i find it so easy to end up blaming myself so it's nice to have support from other people and know it's not just me! 

Emma
xxxx

Does anyone have any tips or experiences of dealing with a difficult boss?

She rather enjoys putting me down and bullying me basically, and there's only two of us in the office so I have no support from any coworkers.
The other day she told me I wouldn't amount to anything in life except being a wife, which I found extraordinarily rude, but being young and afraid of conflict I kept my mouth shut.
She also constantly makes comments about how much money I earn - I work 30 hours on minimum wage, but she's a "volunteer" taking a £50 a week wage, so she likes to make me feel guilty about it.
She also tells people that I'm lazy at my job - despite the fact I go above and beyond the call of duty which includes doing her shopping!
I always get the blame for mistakes that she makes. She tells me to do things, I do them, but then it's my fault that I've done them, or it's not how she wanted despite the fact she gave me those instructions.

Any ideas of how to deal with the situation would be so greatly appreciated, I literally am at the end of my tether!

I need a nice big bear hug 

He's gorgeous!
Great work 

Emma
xxx

Finished sewing all the body parts and started turning them, all going perfectly well and then -
oops! forceps straight through the mohair on the foot leaving a massive messy hole, brilliant! 
Feeling very annoyed and have to start that leg over again.

Anyone got any tips to avoid locking forcep bear injury?! 

Emma
xxxx

Great ideas! I hadn't thought of that 

Emma
xxxx

Aww that's an adorable little scene, I love it 

Emma
xxx

Aww thank you, it's so nice to hear it's not just me that likes her :P

Thank you for all your lovely comments :)

Emma
xxx

Yeah I did wonder about that, I thought maybe something innovative might have been invented recently but I'm guessing not from the lack of replies :P

A squeaker might be fun, I might get some for my mice teddies :)

Thanks for your help Becky.

Emma
xxx

Do they exist? And if so, where can I get them?

I haven't been able to find any and I love the childhood memories of bears with growlers, so I'd love to include them in my work :)

Emma
xxx

Hahaha brilliant!
I was having a very dull day at work and your story of wishful thinking has put a smile on my face.
I'm forever doing daft things like that too :P

Emma
xxx

Thank you Sarah, I'm glad you like the skirt, I really enjoyed making it :D

Emma
xxx

Thank you for all the lovely comments, they're very much appreciated

Emma
xxx

Thank you :D

Emma
xxx

Hehe thank you, that was the look I was trying to achieve so I'm glad you picked up on it :)

Emma
xxx

My most recent creation and the one I'm the most pleased with!

She's 4.5 inches tall, has a heart hand embroidered pink skirt and a heart embroidered on her chest.

Please let me know what you think :)

Emma
xxx

Ahh that's also a good idea, thanks :)

What a lovely clear picture, brilliant help, thanks 

Emma
xxx

I'm in - though that was probably obvious 

Emma
xxx

Good plan Becky, equinox it is and let's say that's the 23rd 
As for rules, Sherroy, I'm not sure, I'm happy for there to be no rules, I'd love to see what people come up with!

Emma
xxx

Haha that's okay then, thanks for the tip.
Abigail looks gorgeous! The horse hair really does work well, how do you attach it?

Emma
xxx

Becky - Seasons of the year, that's a brilliant idea, i'll edit the first post in a bit.

How does September as a deadline sound to everyone? Or beginning of October?

Emma
xxx

Thanks, I'll go for the fishing line i think - I'm allergic to horses, so not sure that'd be such a good idea for me! 

Emma
xxx

Please see the Four Seasons Post - it's the same with all the information in one place!

Hi everyone,

I'm new here and I fancied having a go at a wee challenge, but there aren't any!
So I thought I'd create my own if anyone's game?

I thought the theme could be simply the summer, inspired by the lovely weather we've been having here in the UK.

Any other ideas for themes are welcome if anyone has a better idea?
:)

Theme - Seasons of the Year

Deadline - Equinox (23rd September)

Emma
xxx