Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Ok, I'm a workhorse 
My cats are VERy labor intensive and I create 2 or 3 a week. I try not to think about my schedule and I get lost in the design work. But I do work seven days a week and at least 6 hours a day. I think because my husband is out of work and I'm the sole income, I am motivated    But when I look at how much I love the work I'm not sure I would work any less if he were working. It's wonderful to get lost in something you love  :love:
Karen

I like this photo because it clearly shows the kitten's eye color. All kittens before 8 weeks of age have grey/blue colored eyes   I often have customers asking for different kitten eye colors, but for very young kittens it is always this eye color if you are creating realistic kittens.
Karen

Wow! Krista,
He's amazing! How in the WORLD did you get those wrinkles?! And his coloring is perfect. Congratulations!
Karen

Sue Ann,
I've just moved to Seattle and we have an amazing Dog Park/Magnusen Park. It's acres and acres, fenced with various entrance gates. THey have an agility course, trees, hills and it all leads down to a dog beach. All safe and fenced. I don't have a dog at the moment but I love to watch the dogs, there. There's usually at least 50 and as much as 100 on weekends. It's amazing to see about 20 dogs at once swimming out to fetch sticks and balls in the water, all SMIling broadly  Seattle has many great dog parks. Maybe this is a sign of things to come for other towns?
Karen

Ruth,
It's so hard   I get orders from the UK, but I do not list UK on my ebay sales. My first reason is that it takes SOO long for a package to arrive! Both I, and my customer "sweat-out" the UK customs. Now this! What is happening over there? I love UK collectors, but I fear the shipping/customs
Karen
KJ Lyons Design

Jane!
I hope you will be able to attend! I will have a table and Krista and I are planning to attend the Awards Show. Krista is coming just for the awards. I do think it is worth the trip. It's a grand hotel and the show is lots of fun. THis show is probably one of the few "grand old" shows and Awards ceremony's  :thumbsup:. If you are able to come, let us know and you can be at our table for the awards!
Karen

We didn't have lever doors back then in the US, but I lived in Germany for a year and my young German kitty would jump up, hang on the lever and push off from the door frame to open the heavy door. We'd wake up to find he and his cat buddies had a party in the kitchen, there was cat kibble everywhere
Karen
Yes, he came back to the US with us and lived to be 17 

It's full Spring, here, in Seattle, WA 
I had just finished digging and adding compost to a garden by my patio. I took a break and sat on a chair on the patio. THe scene began;  first a squirrel came running out, I had given the squirrel peanuts during the winter and he had buried them in this garden, he was panicked    he started frantically looking for his stash! Meanwhile, my Persian cat came out and spotted him. I didn't know what to do. I thought if I jumped up, my cat would get defensive and go for the squirrel so I just sat there and watched. THe squirrel was so preoccupied he didn't notice the cat. I though, OH no, it's going to be an awful fight My Persian walked right up to the squirrel, stopped inches from him, and smelled his backend/butt. That was it! I guess similar to what he would have done with a cat buddy    Then he backed off and watched the squirrel do his work from his patio vantage point. I guess that means they're friends, now?
KaRen

Daphne,
THANKS! I forgot all about that little guy 
Karen

NANCY! Kool-Aid!
I tried the most recommended dye and you used kool-aid  Wow! What is in Kool-aid and why is it such a  powerful dye? I'll try it!
Karen

DEb,
Do you think they'll tell us 
Karen

  I wanted to dye some ultrasuede a slight shade of pink from it's sand color. I dye quite a bit and I thought, I'll FINd a way! Now I have to say, as far as I know, it's not possible! I put it in a dye bath and simmered for 20 minutes, nothing! I got tough and decided to boil it in the dye bath. I boiled it for 15 minutes. Ultra Suede is bulletproof  Not dyeable. But in one way I guess that's good?! IT means anything you create using ultrasuede for probably last at least 100 years 
Karen

:dance:
I picked Strawberry Shortcake and I HOPE I am that nice! My husband picked Carrot Cake and it's exactly him!
Karen

Hi!
I'm just finishing up a new cat and want to list her on ebay BUT it would list on a Wednesday. I know auction advice says this is not a good day to list, but teddy bear art is different. Any opinions? Does it matter what day your piece is listed?
Karen

Judi!
Wonderful! Makes me think about airbrushing but then again    3 hours and so masterful. I think I'd better stick to my techniques.    Congrats!
Karen

Bobbie!
I do cats, probably the most numerous house pet  . Your work is amazing! I just love it! Can I send you some custom orders
Karen

:hug:  Thank you all!
It's amazing how many really intelligent artists are on this forum   I think I've got a plan. I am going to write a nice letter to the collectors from 2004 and 2005. It's embarassing and I really thought I could create these cats, but I have to own up to what's happened and apologize. I'm going to try to narrow the field down and get control of my schedule. If I can't handle even that, then I'll consider not taking any custom orders. I felt so much better hearing from all of you! At least I know I'm not alone with this problem.
Karen

Finally, Today
I faced my long list of custom orders and have to send back photos and tell customers I can't create their cat    Ok, I have to admit, I cried. I receive such wonderful letters and heartbreakingly beautiful photos of cats. I love cats and I know what these cats meant to each person. I have photos from 2004 and I have to face the fact that there's only one of me and I tend to take 3 times as much time with custom cats as with my own creations. I just don't have enough time. I don't want to give up custom orders. I get great inspiration from the cat photos I receive, but saying no is so hard for me. It feels like I'm rejecting someone's child. How do you handle custom orders? Especially, when it's someone's pet. How do you decide which orders to accept? As upset as I am today I'm beginning to think I'm not cutout to handle such personal requests
Karen

Daphne,
It could happen, it's Spring ! I guess it's a matter of talking to him/her. If it's through the ebay secure channel, it's worth a chance!
Karen

 
Thank you Tami! I needed that    So cute! Hugs back!
Karen

Megelles,
I'm 99% sure this is a scam. Did you go into your secure account and see if the message is there? Never respond to a message sent by email until you see if it is in your secure ebay account!
Karen

Kathleen,
Great job! It's always hard with computers, but it's SO worth it! I've just moved to Seattle, updated my computer and have to learn a whole new website program. I'm struggling, but it keeps you sharp  :D. Ebay is also a timing thing. It takes a while to amass a group of collectors who will fight to win you creations. Just keep at it. Show your best stuff. And be consistent with both your listings and how you treat the buyers.
Karen
KJ Lyons Design

Hazel,
To compare-
Here's my new 2008 cat:
http://tinyurl.com/3xs385

This is the resale 2002 cat:
http://tinyurl.com/28t39s

Karen

Laura,
Here's one of my cats with a round belly. This is a 3 piece body (I think for a wider bear you might want a fourth side). The trick is to put a belly curve in the side body pattern. The center piece will take that curve and show a belly. You can also enhance the roundness with darts, but I haven't had to do this with the cats.
Karen

Thank you, everybody  :hug:
I did it! I listed my new Himalayan on ebay (her photo is in TT Marketplace). IT wasn't as tough as I thought. First, the reseller has a rating of over 3,000    I'm sure they won't even notice my listing.  Second, I Can see a big difference in my style since 2000. It was kind of interesting to see  :photo:  I guess we don't really pay much attention over the years until we put our old designs and new designs side-by-side.
Karen