Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Makeup hmmm...thinking way back to when my sisters and I loaded up the family dog with makeup, rollers, and braids   :crackup:

I did a little dabbling with ragdolls about 3-4 years ago, just something for myself, I never sold them.  I can tell you that I used regular old blush on their cheeks and it has over those years faded now that I'm looking at them.  I didn't heat set them, but I'm not sure that heat would work on makeup.  Can always try it though!!

I LOVE Shiva paint sticks for shading.  I have an airbrush system that was used only once when my sis was in college,
but I've yet to brave it.  One of my 2008-2009 goals
The sticks are used by fabric artists, quilt artists and many others. Pretty much zero clean up because of their solid form (a total bonus!!). For bears I've never used a blending stick like I did with copics.  It's all about building up the color and blending as you go with the brush of your choice. Here's a link if you've never seen them:  http://www.dickblick.com/zz004/09/

:hug:
~Chrissi

:clap: 'bout time someone made a stance like this! :clap:   

"The payment policy, which eBay is expected to enforce across its sites worldwide, required customers selling goods on eBay in Australia to offer PayPal as a form of payment from May 21 and PayPal or cash on delivery only from June 17.

Once the policy was in force, direct deposits, personal cheques and money orders would be forbidden."

I think ebay's officially jumped the shark

:hug:
~Chrissi

Jane,
I'm honored to have one of your bears, he's right here with me all the time.  If you do go FT with beads I hope maybe you'll be able to create a bear now and again, your attention to detail & designs are truly wonderful.  But that's carried over to lampworking and I'm sure you'll be super successful with it too (I've seen a few of your auctions....your beads are gorgeous!)   

I'll keep an eye out for your stash auctions!

:hug:
~Chrissi

Hi Sheryl,

It's ok to take a step back, regroup and wade back in when you're ready (a TON of us out here have done the same thing, myself included).  I personally hate to think that any person could lead a double life amongst "friends".  But when I really think about it it's probably just not true...if it is...well, then just say a prayer for the person and move forward.  It's no secret that the universe has a way of balancing itself out, man I have some really funny and good examples of it I could share

Hope to see you out here
:hug:
~Chrissi

Oh she's Gorgeous!!!  My cousin had sheep on his farm, they were like puppies!  These were big sheep too but they came to him when he called and followed him around the pasture.  They each knew their own name.

She looks so cute with her little sheepy model pose there!   

:hug:
~Chrissi

Very cool design Carol!

me too Tami     
I always feel a little bummed come picture taking time but as soon those pics are uploaded I'm excited that they'll be heading off to a new home that truly appreciates them

:hug:
~Chrissi

Huh, I never thought badly about it when asked about that info box at the end of an article.  I just figured that collectors could easily find me online anyway with all the info given in the article (my name, business name, etc) but the idea of having the info all neat and complete at the end was a bit of advertising, a benefit to me...with an advertising cost.  I'm not made of money but I just applied it to the "advertising budget" and did it.  I had 1-2 emails about it and that was pretty much it. I guess if I didn't want to do it I'd just say no thank you and not give it much thought. With the state of the industry if they need to pull in revenue that way I'm not going to take it personally, I'm thrilled they contacted me to begin with!!  Serious sticker shock came when I contacted several art/crafting/creative lifestyle magazines to see what they charge for advertising .....talk about us having it good with the bear industry mags!!  Wowza

:hug:
~Chrissi

1. Where is your cell phone?  charging
2. Your significant other?   doghouse 
3. Your hair?  overgrown 
4. Your mother?  giving
5. Your father?  Chuck
6. Your favorite thing?   family
7. Your dream last night?  vivid
8. Your favorite drink?    lemonade
9. Your dream/goal?  simplicity
10. The room you're in?  living
11. Your hobby?   yummy
12. Your fear?   silly
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years?   lunchmom
14. Where were you last night?  studio
15. What you're not?  mathematician
16. Muffins?  banananut
17. One of your wish list items?   Freearm
18. Where you grew up?  woods
19. The last thing you did? iron
20. What are you wearing?  sweats
21. Your TV?   on
22. Your pets?   chillin'
23. Your computer? "sybil"
24. Your life?   journey
25. Your mood? cheerful
26. Missing someone?  sadly
27. Your car?   transportation
28. Something you're not wearing? socks
29. Favorite store?  food
30. Your summer?   busy
31. Like someone?  WDyer
32. Your favorite color? sunset
33. When is the last time you laughed? now
34. Last time you cried?  sunday

:hug:
~Chrissi

Thank you , Thank you Jane & Paula the photos are SO FANTASTIC!! All of the bears and displays looked so perfect!  Fantastic!  :clap:

Wow, Samantha you did a truly wonderful job that you should be so very proud of!!     :hug:

:hug:
~Chrissi

Bobby,
For my future reference, as I'm hoping to enter these contests this coming year.  Are there more specific rules outside of what's listed here? http://www.jonespublishing.com/images/2 … ryForm.pdf   
I dont' see anything about the artists ID.  Maybe I'm missing it but if I'm going to try to enter I don't want to miss something critical (the ID part or something else).  I'm guessing you're concerned with the nominee /industry piece of the competitions (??), the artists are clearly named in the peoples choice area of the magazine. 

:hug:
~Chrissi

:crackup:Um.....me too.  I remember my mom taking the tape measure and starting at our feet and running it up to our heads to see how much we grew...so that's how I measure!!    (I'm blonde too, so maybe that's partially to blame  )

:hug:
~Chrissi

Tracy, he is so cute!!  cute cute ca-ute!  Love all the shading you've done

:hug:
~Chrissi

Wow, great photos!  I'm hoping they stay safe and maybe the wildlife office has some ideas to keep them that way. They're so tiny when they hatch...I've found several sea turtles on the beaches over the years...just too cute.

:hug:
~Chrissi

Looking at the showcase I can't wait to see pics from the show itself!!  Good luck everyone!!
I'm still in awe of you Samantha...30 some bears completed and the promoter!  You ROCK!

:hug:
~Chrissi

:clap:  :dance: Congrats Roxanne!! :dance:   :clap:
Toot toot away, that's a pretty darn good reason to

:hug:
~Chrissi

:clap: Very cool!

I've done the same with my general doc and dentist. 

:hug:
~Chrissi

:clap:  :dance: Congratulations Jenn!!  :dance:  :clap:  Can't wait to see pics!!

:hug:
~Chrissi

Samantha, your show will be fantastic!!  I'm in awe of your energy...27 bears!! AND organizing the event.  WOW! You rock :clap:

:hug:
~Chrissi

I adore your rabbits!!  I'm so wishing there wasn't an ocean between me and this show!! 
The gray fellow in the brown vest is just perfect

:hug:
~Chrissi

That there pretty much sums up a thought I had last night about all of this.  Every industry in the world has to take advantage of every means possible to promote itself.  Those moving forward in technology are just as committed as those moving forward within B&M events, neither one is better it's all about what works for the persons involved. Neither one needs to become extinct, but they do need to evolve.  And it seems they may need to embrace each other now more than ever. 

I've yet to see an artist from TT not promote to the fullest and not comment on how to reach out further.  The showcase here is full, blogs are buzzing, banners flying, web sites saluting, and mailing lists cheering on sales & events.  Artists in our industry (from what I've seen online and in person) are some of the hardest working people from creation to forward thinking.  Let's take advantage of that to merge the "old" with the "new"...without separating them out.  If some don't want to take on the online community that's fine, it's what works for them. If others can't afford the overall cost of a show then that's fine too.  This isn't a new concept in selling and promotion.  We can't ignore history, Sears knew in 1943 their new catalog "serves as a mirror of our times, recording for future historians today’s desires, habits, customs, and mode of living."  Sears is still B&M, online and in paper catalog and each promotes the other.

Would show promoters considered having "online stations" at shows for collectors to see the vast professional arena of local and international teddy bears right at their fingertips? Maybe a supplier or publication could sponsor the online "teddy station".  If collectors don't have a computer then share with them that local library's, schools, community centers, etc almost all have computers for the public to use.  If there are artists who can't make it to the show charge them a fee of some kind to be included in a professionally created "find us online brochure". Along with that advertising fee those artists must fully advertise online for the B&M show(s).  Merging, evolving and embracing to make it better for those working really hard on all levels. 

:hug:
~Chrissi

PS...just did a spell check and refresh, hope this doesn't fall into the "rant" category      Oh, and we need to get someone/something really important to once again publicly embrace the teddy bear.  History shows that each teddy surge has followed something like that occurring. :photo:

I don't think anyone would shoot you sweetie     It's a good idea, look what fans of Jericho were able to do over here in the states. (tv show that was cancelled and saw huge outcries from fans....granted it was cancelled again in the end, but that probably had more to do with a very long writers strike impacting viewers ...whole 'nother idea)  BUT you can try, can't hurt to try!   

Emails are good, but physical letters can really make so much more of an impact still...shows true intention and real passion to write, print and mail rather than type and click.

Here's a link with a postal address:
http://www.warnersgroup.co.uk/about/

Just looked over their publications.....huh, I wonder how many people subscribe to "air conditioning and refrigeration today"

Good Luck!!

:hug:
~Chrissi

Awesome link Marion!  Thanks for sharing!!
:hug:
~Chrissi

I used ultrasuede on a few mini's when I first started making bears, but I've never used it on larger bears.  I love the look and feel of wool felt too much.

:hug:
~Chrissi

WOW!  Totally reminds me of that Robin Williams movie, What Dreams May Come!! 

:hug:
~Chrissi

Ok, now wait just a minute...what's wrong with us Fishers???!  HUH??!!   

("technically" I'm Catherwood-Fisher :crackup: :crackup:  )  AND I had no idea there was a little weasely looking thing out there called a "Fisher"! I had to google it.  Yuck, they sound nasty!  I thought this was especially yucky: Fishers are also known for one of their calls, which is often said to sound like a child screaming, and can be mistaken for someone in dire need of help. Ewww...creepy! 

:hug:
~Chrissi