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For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
Baby Fuzz is THE cutest little thing!! 
It's such fun to see the swap bears and to hear how happy the recipients are with their new babies. 
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
For me.....ears, set eyes with testers, stitch nose, airbrush, and then set the eyes in permanently. Why? Hmmmmm. Never thought about why. I don't know why! This is a "things that make you go hmmmmm" thread. 
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Wow, Mindy! What a day!! No wonder you had little time to eat. I do hope you find a vegetable soon.
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Hi Clare, 
Oooooh! This is an easy question. I go to my favorite antique mall!! They have a deli and coffee shop there too so I'll go for lunch or enjoy a latte and then browse the aisles. It's a great way to clear the cobwebs and get those creative juices flowing. Sometimes you just need to get out and look at four walls besides your own!
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Mindy,
You're giving us all a wonderful walking tour through pictures. What a gift! Thank you.
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Wowie, zowie!! Look at the cards that have been created over the weekend!! Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous!!! Isn't it wonderful that each card created is as individual as we are as artists?!! I love it!!
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Lyn and Brenda,
Kind words touch my heart. Thank you so very much for thinking of me. I am deeply honored to have been mentioned. Golly darn gee whiz you've gone and made me blush. :redface:
Artistically speaking, my inspiration doesn't come from other artists. Of course, there are artists whose work I greatly admire and collect! But, as far as inspiration goes, I'm inspired by lovely old timeworn things like antique children's wear, silk ribbon, lace, velvet flowers, old books, toys and trinkets. These are things I surround myself with in my studio. They inspire me everyday. Perhaps I'll post a picture sometime and you'll see what I mean.
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Hi Debbie,
My suggestion would be to try Kool Aid Berry Blue and Kool Aid Lemonade mixed together. I've done samples of each separately and they're vibrant and beautiful. Since yellow and blue make green......hopefully it will work for you. The best thing to do is to take a 2x2 square and test it. The longer you leave the mohair in the Kool Aid the more vibrant the color becomes. And I do mean vibrant.
Good Luck!!
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Gee whiz. Miss a thread....miss the swerving, out of control car! And it looks as if there were injuries. 
Warmest hugs all around, :hug:
Aleta
It sounds like a marvelous time to me! I'm sure I can safely say for everyone here, we look forward to hearing all about your trip.
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Dilu and Kassity,
Isn't it glorious to see the sun?!! Now if only the East wind would quit blowing.
I'm getting my TT in now because we have guests coming for the weekend and I know I'll be the busy hostess the whole time. It will be the first chance I've had to see if I'm addicted to TT. Can I truly stay away all weekend? We shall see!! Until then though, I'll happily sit here and try to catch up on everything that's been posted since 7am. I have a time limit though......afterall, the house does need to be clean when guests arrive! 
Warmest hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Shelli,
Well it's about time! Just like your bears, your cards are simply divine! I couldn't even pick a favorite. They all have wonderful detail.....like the beads for bubbles!
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Hi Sandi,
You can use old (or new!) photographs of your bears or you can print them yourself onto regular paper or a heavier paper from your computer. I'm experimenting with black and white photos printed from my computer onto regular paper that I can hand color. Just let your imagination run!! You can do it!
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Oh Dear!
Too many peas and carrots on MY plate!! Now I have to decide......eat the peas, or eat the carrots. Why are there sooooo many of each? 
I'd love to contribute......and I'll try. Like you Shelli, my plate is full. I've tried moving the peas and carrots around but someone just handed me another helping today. On the one hand, quite tasty......on the other hand....I'm sooooo full. 
I think I need an Alka Seltzer! 
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Nancy,
I was just logging off for the day and those three little letters (ATC) caught my eye. What a FABULOUS card!!!! I love, love, love it!
I really have to dash out now but I just had to say.....Yippee! Another paper and paste queen!
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Well now! That's certainly an interesting look. I'm sure it looks even more interesting in person. That doggie looks to me like he/she is saying, "What did I do to deserve such art?"
Warmest hugs, :hug:
Aleta
You're right, Dilu. After living in the Pacific Northwest for 18 years I know the rain isn't over yet either. It really makes you appreciate when we do have lovely sunny days though.
I have partly sunny skies here in the East Hills and the crocus are blooming in my garden. My neighbor two acres over has daffodils blooming though. It always makes me smile when I pass them on my way down to get a latte. :)
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
I hate to even admit this......I haven't even peeked in on any of the birthday wishes threads until today. :redface: My reason is this: If YOU don't have birthdays then I don't have birthdays and I stopped having birthdays when I turned 40. That means, in my manner of thinking, that you're not getting any older and neither am I.
Jane, your cards are a wonderful treat!! You are obviously one of earths angels taking your time to create such pretties to make another person feel special. :bday:
Warmest and biggest bears hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Sweet Melissa,
I have seven bears to finish! 
Yet, I still have paper ephemera and glitter tubes all over my desk and a couple of Valentine cards to make and pop in the mail. There's not much time for TT today.
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Nancy,
Thank you for that thought! You made me smile.....BIG!! You're a doll! I look forward to seeing your ATC.
Carolyn, Gina and Sue Ann,
FABULOUS cards!!! Now we're starting to really get going on this! Isn't it fun? :dance:
Shelli? Girlfriend, where are your cards? I know. Like you don't already have a million things on your plate. Shove the peas and carrots aside and glop on some paper and paste!!
Warmest and biggest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Dearest Danni,
I sent you a private e-mail when I learned of your decision. I can't say that I'm shocked that this has happenend. There always seem to be one or two out there that just have to spoil the pie for everyone. I'm only sorry that it has happened to such a giving spirit. I have learned that giving spirits are usually the one's who are hurt the most. The takers just keep on taking and are never satisfied.
Like I said in my e-mail to you, the silver lining is that perhaps we'll see more of your wonderful bears!!
Warmest and biggest hugs, :hug:
Aleta
After seeing Sue Ann's lovely card I'm beginning to wonder......perhaps I'm thinking TOO far out of the box!! Hmmmmm. Maybe some sort of guidelines are in order. Are these cards supposed to be more like a business trading card? The more I look at the cards I've produced the more I think I'm too far out there. I've never really been a straight line thinker. I'm more of a zig zag!!
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
P.S. Thank you everyone for your kind words about my funky cards!!
Just to show you how simple and fun these ACEO/ATC cards are, I'm posting a new one! Scrapbooking papers, a photograph of one of my bears, scissors, glue and glitter.....and a chocolate wrapper too! I made the Valentine candy box actually stand up from the base by using a strip of paper glued down just an 1/8" from the edge and then placed a scalloped edge heart on top. Easy, easy, easy. No need to cut up your magazines or books for words either. I just used my computer by typing words in different font styles and sizes, printed them out and cut 'em up!
Come on everyone, this is fun!! Remember in Kindergarten when it was time for art? There were crayons and paper and paste! It's basically the same stuff!!!
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
