Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Anne!  Actually, I wasn't even aware of the whole eBay pulse thing until just a couple of days ago either!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

I really like was several of the bear supply companies have been doing with the pre-pac specials..... I've bought some that way from Intercal and one through DiscoJoints and Teddies.  Even if I am only really interested in two of the selections theey have chosen, having the other two forces me to be a bit more adventurous with my color choices in the bears themselves.... I've been very pleasantly surprised with the bears I've created using a color, or a pile length that I ordinarily would NOT have chosen but for the great pricing.  I also LOVE the end cuts section on Intercal!!!!! That's where I get most of my fabrics.

Beary truly,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

If I am not mistaken, this link should take you right to the eBay UK pulse listings for artist bears....

http://pulse.ebay.co.uk/Artist_W0QQsacatZ389

And this for e Bay USA

http://pulse.ebay.com/Artist_W0QQsacatZ3902

WOW!  Fabulous bears!  I have so much resept and admiration for those who can teach!  Teaching is an art form all by itself in my book!  I am a lousy "teacher!"

Beray trul yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Wow... I had no idea that this was the case either... I've seen the "other" category, and passed it by numerous times.... heading straight for the OOAK section... OMG.... I bet I've missed seeing some lovely little bears!  :(
If this truly is the case, I bet that hits as well as bids would greatly increase by being USA e Bay in the OOAK section....!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

I swear, I always seem to forget that it's Springtime, somewhere in the world..... So I guess in a few more months, when I am complaining about my Ohio blizzards, you'll be basking in the warm glow of the summer sunshine!????

How 'bout all us Northern Hemisphere gals plan a midwinter trip to Matilda's house!?

Beray truly yours,
Kim basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Someone was just kind enough to remind me that Shelli mentioned on the board that her mother was having a lung biopsy .....  She must be feeling so anxious.... Shelli... my best thought and prayers are going out to you and your family!

Beary truly
Kim basta
Wild Thyme Originals

I realized that we haven't heard much from her... Is everything alright!?

It's amazing just how fragile life is.... how awful to have to learn this at such a young age.  Big Hugs and prayers...
Kim Basta

Hi Rita!  Wow, he looks great to me!  I'm certainly no expert on traditional bears.... maybe a bit thinner through the shoulder area?  That's about all I can think of...... of course, it's tough, all the traditional bears I've ever seen are so old and "well loved" (I LOVE that description, so much better than beat up old thing!) I think all that lovin' & squeezin' kinda squishes them up a lot more than they were originally designed to be... they kinda end up looking a bit more skinny than they might otherwise have been born to be!  Of course I guess it depends then, on whether you are going for what a traditional bruin would have looked like when he was born, or what he would have looked like after a long, hard life of being someone's soulmate..... 
He's lookin' mighty fine to me though!
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Wanna hear something REALLY wierd Eileen???? I did the exact same thing a couple of weeks ago... I have a charity bear due mid-November, and I'm thinking that Cara would have to be my last mini bear before I start working on the big mohair bear for charity.... then several days later, I realized that I had completely skipped over the month of October in my mind!  Now I have 31 extra days that I didn't know I had before!  Absolutely a case of stealing time! I don't know if it's cause by stress or not.... but to me it felt like finding a $20.00 bill in your winter coat the first time you wear it!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Hi Heather! You do make a lovely little smiling mouth!
Kim... I'd love to help you out on this one... but my bears don't really smile!  Seriously... they always seem a bit wistful!

Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

I gotta agree with Nancy on this one for sure... all the other stuff comes in time.... there's still so much I have to do too!  But that little face... that's what speaks, that's what says it all!  You are well on your way love!  Your bears are so sweet!
Smile!

Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

I also immediately thought of you (and a couple other of my bear friends) that live in the Texas area when I heard it on the news. 
I love the internet and how it makes our world ever so much smaller... the only drawback.... every time you hear about bad weather, natural disasters, etc... you are bound to know someone living smack in the middle of it!  Well, I guess it's not exactly BAD... the worrying is bad!  Stay safe Sue Ann... know we are thinking of you!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Hi Sarah,
  Too many choices can be a bit overwhelming for a customer at times!

I'd ask her whether she is primarily concerned with
       choice of color
       or whether she's primarily concerned with the "look" of the fur
           (which ends up being pile length thing for most customers).

I find that if you explain that using a fur that is much longer (or shorter) than the bear that stole her heart, it will completely change the over all look of the bear... she'll probably be reined back into the pile length that works best for you.... then just ask her to choose between pastels, jewel tones, or natural type colors.... or just give her a list of the color choice available in that pile length.  It is definitely a difficult balance between scaring her off by offering TOO many choices, and seeming like you might be "bossing her around" by offering her little choice at all.

The custom orders that are the easiest are the ones where someone just says ... "Make me something orange!"

Help any?

Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Wow!  That's three TIMES as many children as I have... if I am doing the math correctly!  How wonderful!  I am always shocked when we go through a 6 pack of juice boxes a day.... that same six pack won't even cover all the bases there!  Congratulations to you and all of them!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Hi!  I still haven't gotten up the nerve to enter a bear in one of the big contests, so mind you, I am NOT speaking from experience here.... But if it were me, I'd keep a bear that I was planning on entering in the contest.  If he ended up being nominated, I'd probably want to hang onto him forever!  The flip side of the coin is.... if you aren't hopelessly attached to him, & you wait to sell him until after the nominations go out, and you happen to garner one.... I'm sure he's instantly more valuable to many a collector.
In 2004, I did enter a bear into one of the European contests for minis (Teddy Bear Club International-- I was able to enter in the novice category!)  It was free, so I just took a deep breath and did it.... well, I kept the bear for a week or so after I entered the contest... then decided there would be no way I would ever win, so I sold her on e Bay.  Well, many moons later, wouldn't you know it... my bear won... Flat out Won!!!  Now, she went for a nice price to a very sweet lady who makes bears herself as well.... someone whom I consider a true friend at this point. 
From an eligibility point of view.... Isn't there some kind of language that deals with when the bear must have been made and whether/when it was offered to sale for the public?

Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

That's a good idea Shelli!  And one that's right in front of our noses (literally!).  Thanks for reminding me that I should have that in my signature!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Wow Judi... that DID all work out... Chalk one up for the good guys!  How fortuitous that he had not changed his shipping info!  That certainly put the proverbial "ball" (well bear) back in your court!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

I prick myself constantly!!!!! Generally in the same couple of spots... if you sew enough you'll eventually develop a "nice" little callous there and the the problem ceases to exist!  That's my experience at least!  :(

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Isn't he beautiful.....!  Great little chin dimple too... That is my absolute favorite part of newborns... once the lower jaw really begins to develop, it's all over.  But for a few years they have that sweet little pronounced dimple!!!!!! AWWWW.
Congratulations to you, to your daughter, and her family..... Glad to hear that Stephanie is in good spirits! 

Newborns are always a miracle, no matter how many times it happens the world over in any given minute... each one that is born changes the world FOREVER simply by his or her very presence.  All my best!

Beary truly,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Just adorable!  I love the idea of people making bears out of a loved ones clothes.  What a loving tribute!

Beary truly yours,
Kim basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Dear Kim.... One thing... I know that the one you have listed is not a mini, but I know you had a mini recently on eBay.... You HAVE to put 'mini" in there!  Seriously.... a whole lot of people just collect miniatures, and when they do an eBay search... most of them just go to the Artist Bears section and type in 'mini.'  You'll never be seen by a ton of the mini collectors if you don't have that word in your title.  Though.... of course, there are a couple of well known mini artists who don't use mini and do get a whole lot of action... There's always an exception, isn't there!?  If your little ones are less than 6 inches tall.... 'mini' is the key word!

Beray truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Wow... Shelli... you and I are RIGHT on the same wavelength as far as the "grown up" mature movie list goes!  Those are all some of my favs as well.  Quills was great!  Anything that features beautifully made corsets makes me very happy!  I'd have to add "In the Company of Wolves" to my list though.... I love anything with a Red Riding Hood theme & there's corsets there too!!!

I'm a big fan of Morgan Freeman as well.... that man knows how to pick the movies he's in doesn't he?  One kinda weird Morgan Freeman thing... as a child of the 70's my most fond memories of Morgan seem to revolve around the show that probably gave the man his start in show business.... THE ELECTRIC COMPANY!!!!! I just loved that show!  I am pretty sure that I saw them in reruns... I think it started in '71 or so.... I just know that I couldn't wait until it came on everyday on PBS.  When he started to appear in a lot of movies in the 1980's I knew I recognized that man from somewhere, but WHERE?  He just seemed so familiar, like I had known him ALL my life.... Of course, the Electric Company!   

Beary truly,
Kim Basta
Wild  Thyme Originals

Oh, definitely, the bigger you go, the more "canvas" you have for needlesculpting, shading etc.....  For about the past year or so I've been needle sculpting even the tiny wee ones.... I do it the same as in my larger mohair teds.... "the push, pull, squeeze, dent it in, take a tiny stitch, figure to where to anchor it" method!  I just use a much smaller needle and take much smaller stitches!  Making full sized bears, and experimenting with adding detail to them has really improved my ability to be able to do it on the tiny side. 

Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals