Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

It took me about 20 minutes to set up a storefront this afternoon, 10 of those minutes were tweaking my banner in photoshop!  I'm listing tomorrow and will honestly tell you if it's a pain or easy peasy

:hug:
~Chrissi

This idea would take a chunk of time, but may bring in more of the general public.  You could get involved with as many local events as possible, promoting your shows/the industry that way (??)  If having a table with display during local fairs is too expensive maybe just enjoy the day by walking around and handing out your informational flyer with coupon attached.  Make the coupon specific to where you're handing out and then track those coupons that come back to you at the door.  We've got tons of heavily trafficed outdoor fairs, festivals, concerts and all around here so this idea might work in those situations. Work it the whole year long whenever you're able, in addition to those weeks before the show.
(I'm not talking about heading into a car show and handing out your info  Just those casual events where you can chat it up with those who want to and simply hand out a coupon flyer to others.)

:hug:
~Chrissi

As a seller I'm avoiding ebay like the plague.  As a buyer I went out last night and had a giggle over the way they are advertising the changes...big baby blue blocks that boast the "No matter what, no negative feedback for you" idea.

Then this morning I went to leave feedback for an item I just rec'd....this popped up!!  In a nice big yellow "warning" styled pop up block:

[b]Important changes to Feedback
Buyers, you can no longer receive negative or neutral Feedback from sellers.

You should leave honest and accurate Feedback without the fear of receiving negative or neutral ratings. [/b]

Are you kidding me?  What, are they tempting people to say whatever they want because they can't get "retaliatory" feedback?  Ebay is NOT the place to be anymore, it just isn't.  I can't see a reason not to use Etsy at this point.  I've been out there all week (received 2 b-day presents from!) and it's just an amazing selling site for pure artistic creativity (it's not an online flea market.....my everyday feelings about ebay )

:hug:
~Chrissi

Paula, I'm really really loving Flora May's color combo!!  I saw her on your blog and had to check her out again here.  She's just yummy!!

:hug:
~Chrissi

Oh, now those are just TOO cute!!  Perfect individual expressions and all!  So sweet 
:hug:
~Chrissi

Go for it!!  You won't be disappointed!!    

I look for reasons to sew on my featherweight! (I have 2 now and will probably add a Freearm in the next year or 2).  I adore my first "everyday use" featherweight, but I was afraid to use it when it first arrived.  I did tons of research, wrote out to other artists who use them, but something about that vintage pedal with double wires and that little motor box just terrified me at first. After about a week of staring at it I finally sat down and read the instruction manual (easier than any manuals they write now!!) and just went for it.  I'd never go back to a modern machine...ever.  I love my featherweight    (Keeping it well cleaned, oiled (with the proper oils) and stored is key). 

Have fun!!

:hug:
~Chrissi

My original user name out here on TT was chrissibrinkley (a combo of me and my dog!)  It was a user name I used for a yahoo dog group, so I just used it again not really thinking.  Teddy bear folks started to think it was my real name, so Quy graciously changed it to alleviate the confusion 

CatherWoods.... woods, bears....I had a really convenient last name and just went with it! 

:hug:
~Chrissi

Totally adorable panda Catherine!! And for such a wonderful cause! :clap:
I've posted my name suggestion out on your blog

:hug:
~Chrissi

Scam....but I do like the added professionalism of "if you wanna"  & "anyway this is an urgent email"  :crackup:   Most corporations like to stress the critical nature of issues with phrases similar to those      :crackup:   Ignore it completely 

:hug:
~Chrissi

Super advice Shel, really good specifics!!  :clap:   

I think you'll find this funny. I think it's one of your all time favs too...I totally had flashes of a You've Got Mail scene while reading your post.

." And the answer to your question is "Go to the mattresses. It's from The Godfather. It means you have to go to war. It's not personal, it's business. It's not personal it's business.  Recite that to yourself every time you feel you're losing your nerve. I know you worry about being brave, this is your chance. Fight. Fight to the death."    
I love that movie

:hug:
~Chrissi

Kim,
I once had ebay pull a listing. When they knew they made the mistake (and not me) they in turn totally botched the "fix".  It was a nightmare and one of the main reasons I just don't like to use ebay. The inconsistencies out there are beyond ridiculous. Don't sweat it, the bidders will understand totally.

Now, about the "rules".  Ebay doesn't police anything folks, if they did the scammers, shill bidders, & bogus bidders would be taken seriously and stoped all together.  The police are the other users and well, there's something to be said about nailing someone for one slip up in a single photo.  It's most likely someone who frequents the category and likes to police everything    Too much time met up with the hands

Hugs to you Kim!
:hug:
~Chrissi

This is disgusting.  No mater how the guy(not an artist by any means) got the dog, in what state of health the dog was in on the street, the fact that we allow animals and humans to fall victim to this type of neglect in our world is just sickening.

Daph,
(My tea almost came out my nose!)  John Mayer made a really really sick joke at a concert one night about having to cut short due to dog fighting off stage. Then he made a spoof video apologizing (this was right around the Michael Vick true dog fighting news stories).  John Mayer doesn't have dog fights at his concerts -eek-, he's just a totally tacky jerk with a microphone. 

:hug:
~Chrissi

I love your stuff!  Happy to add you to my links...my info is right there under my avatar 

:hug:
~Chrissi

Thanks for you input guys! 
I wasn't thinking of etsy creating a new category (although wouldn't it be great if the powers that be at etsy recognized this art?!) but was speaking more about using the categories already out there. I'm seeing almost all of the bears listed with "toy" as the first tag.  (Tag is something I just learned about yesterday, thanks shantell!! I'm still looking over Etsy as a selling venue and not familiar with all of it yet.)  There is a category of Art, then sub category of sculpture, then fiber...would that be appropriate for teddy bear artists to use?  I'm struggling with calling what I do a "toy", but if I ventured out there I would (of course) want to be seen.  Anyone else thinking about this now? 

:hug:
~Chrissi

Ok, so I just did the "happy birthday to me" thing out on etsy, purchasing some of the coolest art pieces for my kitchen!  Can't wait to get them :dance:

Then I got to poking around, looking at all of the categories...the art, the jewelry, the (yummy) knitted items,  the this, the that.  And I thought I'd check out all of the bears.  Are most listing under "toy" and what's the general idea on that one??  I'd like to give etsy a try, but after spending so much time in past ebay listings, web site, blog, and general conversations with people unfamiliar with the artisan bear stressing that I don't make "toys" I'm not sure if I want to fall under the toy umbrella. 

What are your thoughts?  What other category is out there for us?  Art and (fiber) sculpture?

SO...whatcha think, cause I'm probably... typically   .. over thinking it (am I..... or not?) 

:hug:
~Chrissi

yeah, not a fan of the music.   Only because most are really bad tin xylophone versions of whatever the original song was. Bands.....Bands should have music, it's usually done super professionally and you're expecting it.  I'm usually playing a cd on the PC, so muting wouldn't work. 

Cracking up about the trailing cursor thingamabobs!!  I can get vertigo pretty easily when using the computer. Those things make me go all tilt-a-whirl 

:hug:
~Chrissi

Patty,
Sullivan is too cute! What a gorgeous happy boy (don'tcha love it when they hold their toes like that on the changing table...hey look what I can do!!)  We'll keep him in our prayers, so glad he's doing much better.

I'm adding you to my blog links

:hug:
~Chrissi

My hub grew up down the street from Philly race track and went all the time as a kid.  Barbaro was a terrible thing locally and I just can't agree with pushing these amazing animals like this.  They want to please and it winds up killing them, it's no better than dog racing or worse in my mind. I just can't watch it.  I'm sure we can find another sport to wear ridiculous hats to! 

:hug:
~Chrissi

Congratulations Clare!!!  Zack is so gorgeous, love those cheeks of his   Post more pics when you're able to.  Rest up, you deserve it!!

:hug:  :hug:
~Chrissi

This is silly, or maybe I'm just not seeing the real logic of "ebay's way". (the monetary thing, sure..but not the logic)  I list a brown bear on ebay, "the advertiser" as we often refer to it.  My bear sells or not and another person contacts me via ebay mail about doing a yellow bear instead of brown.  I'm not an ebay exclusive seller or artist. I'm now expected to list the bear, that in and of itself has nothing to do with ebay on ebay..so ebay gets a "finders fee". (sorry, what? I guess I owe TBR, TBF, TT and  a few fellow bloggers finder fees!  Line up gals, I'll go grab the old wallet  )

I'm all about following procedures and keeping things on the up and up in life (believe me, I am a nerdy goody at heart..just in case you never got that   ) but I'd just reply that I don't do "ebay exclusive commissions", they can find out more about my business policies via my web site. (easy enough to find without breaking any "link rules" to boot).  The thing that's funny about all of this is that Ebay is a business, but so are we.  We are allowed to have business policies as well.  An auction house sells a single lot of goods from one particular antiques dealer, the dealer then gets phone calls from folks who were at the auction. Must all of the dealers sales for these buyers now go through the auction house?  Maybe I'm just missing something (???)

Now that I'm thinking about it I actually had a woman see one of my very first ebay listings a few years back.  She wanted a replica of an older and well traveled bear she had lost.  This was NOT an easy commission, I can't imagine after weeks of working on this bear having to take the time and (all be it small) finances to list it on ebay!  She did in fact email me independently, but if she hadn't..if she had clicked on the ebay mail instead...... well, I still think it's silly.

:hug:

Good Grief that's insane.  Assault weapons, sure they're fine....little baggies, no.  It's like our society has morphed into the Mad Hatters Tea Party.  It's just totally insane anymore. 

:hug:
~Chrissi

It's a scam used in ever industry. I bet if you were to email this "shipping company" they only accept wire/bank transfers.    Total jerks these people!!

:hug:
~Chrissi

MSG is totally unnecessary.  The scary thing about this additive is that some schools of thought now consider it the "5th taste" after salty, sweet sour and bitter!!! It's nuts. 

I've known for at lest 16 years now that I can not have anything with MSG in it..or the things that "hide" MSG (Like H.VegProtein or especially Autolyzed Yeast Extract...I stay away from anything with "spices" not disclosed fully or things that say "no MSG added" the company's cheap way of saying it's in there, but we didn't do it).  These things are everywhere, so I pretty much cook all the time....BUT it's better than being in bed for 2 or more days with a whopper of a migraine.  I wish I'd known all of this back when I was in highschool.  I could never figure out why I got headaches so suddenly....Doritos, Fast Food, salty snacks kids always eat...all laced with MSG!!!

If anyone out there has really bad headaches and/or migraines I would say try avoiding MSG and all things associated with it and see if you improve at all.  It's amazing what one "little additive" can do and how much better you can feel by simply not eating it. 

:hug:
~Chrissi

Eeeek, don't get me started on computers, vista and it all!    I've been dealing with these issues for nearly 3 months now.  Our desktop died, was brought back from the dead (but works like a snail now).  We got me a new laptop in November, it was great for about 3-4 weeks then had a "fatal error" that killed it too.....(I swear it was installing AOL with Vista, happened nearly right after!!  honestly) 
Dell sent us a new laptop (different model...actually a free upgrade to the more expensive system) and I hate it, so Dean took that laptop and I use it when I absolutely "have too".  Now we're saving and building me a new desktop....and all you can get is Vista. Getting XP wouldn't even make sense at this point (as much as I'd like to stay with) becuase everything will soon be geared to Vista anyway. I've been using Dean's laptop with a few of the regular old microsoft office programs and I've never had to use the "help" index so much!!  Change is a pain, it's made a thousand times worse when the change involves things that are out of your control...like bug filled software (grumble-grumble).   OH!!  Almost forgot...my camera software isn't totally compatable with Vista (that's always fun).

Good luck Paula, I TOTALLY feel your pain and send you big hugs!!!

:hug:
~Chrissi

That's such great news, I hope it all works out for you!!  We adopted our male beagle from the Humane Society when he was 2.  He had been adopted out and brought back 3 times before we found him.  Each time it didn't work out for various reasons (allergies or he wasn't housetrained enough...poor thing had been in the pound for nearly 5 months, of course he needed a refresher on housetraining!!) But it all worked out for us in the end.  Like Laura Lynn suggested above, we used nuetral grounds for doggie introductions and supervised everything until we were sure that things were "normal everyday" again.
When it's a good match you'll just know    :hug:

:hug:
~Chrissi