Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Shelli,
He's beautiful! Take it from a many times contest person. Your backdrop is fine, don't worry!
Karen

Ok, This is kind of funny,
I had placed an order online and it didn't go through. I called direct and a person answered. HE was a nice guy, reminded me of Eddy Murphy the comedian. I told him what happened and he asked me to identify the pieces I wanted to order. I gave him the ID numbers and he then asked me what their prices were? THese were small replica swords for some of my character pieces. First he said "come on, why don't you want the Real swords"  (which cost about $300). I told him that these were for customers. I asked why he had to ask me for their prices? I assumed he could just pull up the ID numbers? He said "look I trust you  "  He then started asking me all my personal information which this company already has on file! He was a nice guy so I said, thank you, but I think I'll go back to ordering online    He said "come on you have a real person here! A real person is better than a machine  " I heard later that companies are hiring prison inmates to take phone orders. I think this poor guy's computer line was down and he was trying to bluff his way through the order. Who knows, it might have worked out but my online order turned out smooth and reliable once the glitch was corrected.
Karen

OK,
I have to say I would contact her, privately, and I would show the two pieces side by side and ask "why is your piece so similar to the piece that I have created?" Not that she will acknowledge this but I think it serves two purposes; first it lets her know that you are aware and watching her, and most importantly it gives you a resolution. It will make you feel less like a victim. Even if she lashes out at you, you know the truth and so does she. Business is different than friendship. With friendships/acquaintances you have to keep the peace and overlook things. But in business you have to stand your ground (in a subtle way, no swords!)
Karen

Here I am in New England, the Berkshire mountains. We should be nice and snowy! We've had no snow at all so far. It is 7:30 am and it's 61 degrees! It's supposed to be about 65 today, we're planning a cookout    The weather forecast for my brother in Seattle is colder through the next 10 days than our 10 day forecast for Connecticut. Something is really wrong?!? I really wonder about Baffin and the Arctic that is Northeast? (Is there an east in the Arctic circle?)
Karen

Chrissi and Patsy,
Thank you! I'm sure she'll love the idea of cedar! Safe and great smell.
Karen

Kim,
That's so funny! I'm in the process of repairing one of my cats that was attacked by a puppy  I think he just wanted a friend. He chewed off an ear and the leather tag and it looks like he was licking the cat's nose    He could have done much worse damage. Anyway, I guess my cats are rugged, I can and will repair this guy to almost new. I think sometimes both cats and dogs need a friend!
Karen

I had a dear old collector call me and ask how she can prevent moths and other insects from attacking her older pieces? I work, primarily, with synthetics so I haven't researched this yet? Anyone have a solution that isn't too dangerous  ?
Thanks,
Karen

Ellen,
I haven't tested those dyes but I sure would! Bright colors are particularly prone to changing and fading. Have you asked the company if they have tested each color and how they test? Nevertheless, I would still do my own test. Your work is so beautiful it deserves the best!
Karen

Interesting Topic!
Since I hand color all my cats I have to be very careful. When I first started out I purchased various dyes and inks etc. that claimed to be colorfast. I found out from my artist sister that you can't trust even the best company when it comes to trustworthy colors. As an artist she has seen colors fade and some disappear completely! And the company claimed they we colorfast! Luckily I was just starting out so I did tests. I took a piece of cardboard and cut another piece half the size. I placed a piece of my normal fur onto the cardboard leaving a little edge to write notes. I then took each of my prospective colors and painted stripes across the fur. I took the half size cardboard and covered one half the length of the stripes, this was my control group that I could compare. I then placed the whole thing in a window for 6 months.
It was amazing! One of the reds I was going to use for tigers turned green! Several colors completely disappeared! Yes, many of the blacks turned purple. And these were all colors from the best art companies! I found there were only a few I could really rely on (One of the reasons I create a lot of grey tigers). It's now been 6 years and I still have the test. Only one of the darker colors has turned very slightly brown at the edges but it's hardly noticeable and I think adds a richness to the color.
I also have used some flowers but they are vintage from the 1940's and made out of silk. It wasn't that I'm so smart I just liked their look. I wonder why they can last so long and modern flowers fall apart? The elastic thing really threw me What the heck are they doing with elastic! I did use elastic on a few fairy kitten  skirts. Anyone have one? I'll replace it!  All my cats and bears are completely undressable and finished. I guess it's me, I'm always nosey and will undress any piece I purchase to see the bare real guy 
Karen

My work is my sole support so I'm very careful about how I sell. I have found that it's pretty evenly divided; shows/galleries/internet. I'm very careful about which designs I offer to each venue. For example; my galleries get exclusive designs sold only to them. Also, I usually introduce my newest designs at my shows so that collectors have a reason to venture out for a visit  It's a tricky balance but I feel it helps to have more than one way of selling especially in this economy. Besides, it keeps me on my toes  :doh:
Karen

Thanks,
No one can relax like cats! They just melt  Sheesch! they're sleeping in a steering wheel!
Karen

Mindy!
You better be ready for that Artist panel! I'm on it and I don't want to be left ALONE
I'm struggling to be ready for the IDEX, starting January 16th, and Disney/Epcot needs photos of pieces for their May show before I go to IDEX! I'm still catching up on Holiday orders! OHHH am I tired, this is by far my busiest time of year!
Karen

Kassie
Thank you soooo much!! Just took a break from my cookie baking and now I can smile the rest of this eve 
Karen and three very excited 'real' cats waiting for Santa and some homegrown catnip!

Happy Holidays!
Wishing everyone on the forum a Beautiful and Happy Holiday and a Magical New Year!
From Karen/KJ Lyons Design.....
"Jesper Catching Snowflakes"

Wow, Thanks Pam, Shelli, Carolyn, Judi, Sarah, Danni, Karen and Shari (yes, thanks for your email about the kitten!)-
Went on a short Christmas trip and came back to this  I feel as though I have a lot to live up to in 2007. I know I'll be on the forum a lot (usually about 7:00am) asking questions and helping when I can. It's a new world out there for teddy bear artists    
Karen

Thank you Debbie and Kassie!
Carie, managing editor/TBR, wrote that story. What a beautiful job she did with the writing of it and the use of photos! I was completely blown away by it.  It makes me a little nervous   Now I have to live up to her description! I really didn't know until just before the issue came out. Carie had seen my cats at the Washington D.C. Expo and especially liked the new character cats (that was my first showing of them). TBR asked me to send in about a dozen photos and I filled out a questionnaire. I didn't let myself believe there would be an article until I saw it listed on the TBR website! Christmas Wishes do come true    I can't wait to start designing for 2007!
Karen

I think I have one of the oldest? I use a Singer Industrial 31-15 with a great industrial table and I love the knee lift. Built in the early 1940's. (The army used them during the war to tailor uniforms!) The motor is the size of a Volkswagon's! I think this machine is used a lot for leather work but it's also great for heavy synthetic furs. It's the only machine I use. A friend in commercial sewing is trying to talk me into a Consew industrial but it looks rather aggressive, I'm a little afraid of it  I, also, do a lot of hand-sewing. Wish there was a machine for that 

Hmmm,
Is it just worry or is your unconscious preparing you for a big change? I have found that whenever I feel really uneasy and worried it's right before I'm about to do a major life change.
Karen
P.S. THe bigger the anxiety, usually, the better the results 

:bday:
9:00pm here in Connecticut. 40 degrees F and that's warm to me! OHHH, Johnny Depp with early Frank Sinatra    Viggo Mortensen would be incestuous. My maiden name is Mortensen and my three brothers are all the Viggo Viking type! Give me the sensitive, moody guy    Wait! I've already got one of those; difficult and complicated?!. OHHH I've had too much champagne.....
Karen

Sarah,
I'm not sure? But I have to be sure not to tell my sister    She has pet ducks!

oh, boy!
Just got a frozen muschovy duck from a neighbor! Does anyone have a good Christmas duck recipe?

Thanks! Tammy
My avatar cat is my auction donation piece for the charity auction at IDEX. I call him Gregorian, the Phantom Cat.
But, hey! Enough of work! Where's the Champagne!
Party.......
Karen

:bday: Wow!
Thanks for the party invite. Jodi, cleaning bathrooms is also my job today    Went out into my garden to dig up some horseradish root as a gift to a friend. (I should not be able to do this in New England this time of year, but it's been soo warm!) Like the Bear Guys, I'm doing the IDEX Show January 16th. Not much time for Holidays!
Karen
Yes! Champagne We made it through another year, 2007 here we come...

Ok,
One of everyone's    I could start a Teddy Talk gallery. I'm sad to say I pretty much don't shop, not clothes, or even some basics because I'm always working and have got out of the habit. The monks and I would get along very well! THere are two pieces I'd really like to find (I go for the unusal and I'm stretching the "bear artist" to mean more than bears) -
Art Rodger's stressed out rabbit, a beautifully made piece and so different (reminds me of myself and other bear artist friends)
A piece from my favorite artist when I was starting out; Charleen Kinser's Closet Beastie and maybe one of her toads as a companion 
Karen

Mindy,
Did your cat happen to look like this  Guilty as charged!