Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

What a wonderful way to start the day.....with a smiling baby!!!  Thank you for posting such a delightful picture Jenny. 

Warmest bear hugs,   :hug:
Aleta

I'm so very sorry to hear of the loss of your Grandmother, Vicky.  Please accept my kind thoughts and warm hugs,   :hug:  :hug:
Aleta

Dear Penny, 
I'm so very sorry to hear about your Fanny girl.  As I sit here at the computer my little princess, Gracie, is purring her little heart out on my lap.  I can't even imagine your loss......  Around here we look at our kitties as our children in furry suits.  The thought of losing one of them would just shatter my heart.   

My heart breaks for you and your hubby and your other little furry children.  You know they will be missing Fanny too.   

Warmest and biggest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

I'm probably not going to make any friends on this one....but keep in mind, this is only MY opinion.  I don't care for "Buy it Now".  I think it defeats the purpose of an auction.  If you're willing to sell your item for a BIN price, why not put it on your web site and avoid the eBay fees?  Providing you have a web site, of course.  In an auction setting I prefer to duke it out with other collectors rather than have one person come along and steal the cookie.  I find that, for me, I tend to start looking at other bears if certain artists bears are always snapped up using BIN.  But hey, that's just me.   

I do understand that eBay reaches a wider audience than perhaps a web site.  If you're using eBay as a tool for advertising, BIN kind of defeats that purpose.  When I list on eBay (which admittedly hasn't been awhile!) I try to have listings on my web site at the same time.  The "Me"  icon has a link to my web site so I'm able to use eBay to reach their audience as well.  Just food for thought.   

Warmest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

Dear Worried in the Forest,
I couldn't possibly leave out Teddy's best friend!!     There would be mayhem across the land to be sure!   

I'll work on getting a date set for a first meeting and let everyone know.

Warmest and biggest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

Dear sweet Clare, 
Isn't it fun to get a surprise in the mail?!!  I just thought it was awfully sweet of you to say you were my number one fan on an earlier thread.  Kind words are carried in the heart.......

Warmest and biggest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

Sweet Melissa,
Honestly, no harm done.  I fly by the seat of my pants and sometimes I get all excited about an idea and then the magnitude of it hits me over the head and I see signs that say "Reality Check Ahead".  I AM excited with the prospect of starting an artists group.  I just know there are other wildly creative women and men out there who would love to get together with other wildly creative women and men who really "get" them.  I can't be the only one on the planet.  Could I?

Kelly,
TLC....I love it!!  Now see, you could rank right up there with wildly creative too!!  I'll keep the TBAGS though.  I think it fits me and my bears if it turns out that I'm the only member.      And you're right, guild and society is rather redundant so guild is out but the "G" still stands because TBAS really doesn't sound very nice.  (giggling here!)

Okay, that's it.  It's time for bed.  I'm getting a little rummy and the computer screen is beginning to swirl.  Before you know it my wordswillallstartrunningtogether.

Warmestbearhugs,  :hug:
Aleta

Looks like it may be a cut and paste weekend!  There's a big storm rolling in.....supposed to be REALLY windy and cause all sorts of power outages.  I'm getting the glue and paper ready!! 

Warmest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

P.S.  I was wondering that myself Sheila....snippets of posts.  I'm not so new here and I still haven't figured it out!   

Have you all seen the growing list of New Members?!!!!  And all those fabulous Bears For Sale that have been posted?!!!  I just can't keep up and follow all the threads too!!  So......

A BIG, WARM Welcome to all the newbies!!  And, hugs and praise for all the wonderful works of art proudly displayed in the For Sale section.  I'm seeing tremendous growth in a lot of the new artists.  Well done!!

Warmest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

Congratulations Sophie!!  That's wonderful news!  It's been a week full of great news and great spirit!   :dance:

Warmest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

Shelli, 
My dictionary says in part that a guild is an association of paying members.  I'm not quite comfortable with paying members at this point.  I'm still thinking through all the facets of this little brainstorm!   

Donna, 
I'd like some more information on how your club is run if you'd care to share it with me.  Thank you so much for your positive input!!   

To the whole TT audience, 
I'd really love to share this budding group with you.  If you're not West Coast but would like to keep informed on how things are going please let me know.  If you are willing to travel I'd sure love to have you join in!   

Warmest and biggest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

Dear Clueless in the Forest being led by Gollies,
You are not butting in!!  I appreciate your straight forward approach and your willingness to step up.  Thank you so very much!! 

To Deb,
Thank you for the postings.  You've opened my eyes a bit wider than I thought was possible!!      I think Peppermint Tea is in order.  It calms the stomach.....and boy do I have butterflies about now.  It also makes the breath sweeter which is always a good thing!   :thumbsup:

Oh!  One more thing.  There will be chocolate!!       

Warmest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

Oh my!!  I'm overwhelmed, literally, after reading the link Deb posted.  Yikes!!  Deep breath here.  Okay then.  I'm going to approach this with BABY STEPS.  I'm not looking to set up a world association.  Not yet anyway.  Charters and lawyers and such......whew!  Perhaps I should find another "g" word besides guild that would fill out TBAGS!!

I had no idea that there was such a need for a guild/club/society.  My thoughts were first for teaching and learning, as in artists teaching and learning, from each other.  A meeting of the minds, a let's get together over coffee and see what we can achieve kind of thing and then go from there.  You know.....the whole Artist's Lounge thing that Shelli mentioned in another thread.   

I am more than willing to open my home and my pocketbook to get a group started.  I'm a put your money where your mouth is kind of gal.  I don't think I'm quite ready to take over the world......just yet.  Maybe if I win the lottery!!!

BABY STEPS though.  Let me look at my calendar and see when I can squeeze a meeting in.  I'm thinking sometime in May perhaps.  If I can coordinate a meeting in October with the Lincoln City Show that would be great.  Also, I'm thinking of doing a show in San Jose in July so maybe I can eek out some time there as well.

In the meantime, please keep posting on this topic.  Ideas are most welcome!!  I'm not so much into making a bunch of rules.  Rules are not meant for art.....at least in my book.   

Warmest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

P.S.  Please keep in mind that I'm starting on the West Coast of the United States and Canada.....purely thinking of traveling distance to meetings and such and not meaning to shut anyone out. 

P.S.S.  Is there anyone on the East Coast, Midwest States or European countries willing to start something there?

Hi there Erin, 
I'm going to keep a list of names so if this idea goes somewhere (besides down the list on TT!) I'll let you know.  Thank you so very much for your interest!

Warmest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

Hi there Kassity, 
Bless your heart!  I'm actually already a member of Portland Paws.  It's a terrific fundraising organization!!  The first meeting of the year is tomorrow.  It's a fun group of gals.  More collectors than artists show up at the meetings though which is disappointing.  I seem to be the only artist at the meetings lately.  The artists show up for the big convention though.......hmmmmm. 

Warmest hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

I started this little idea on another thread and my mind has been whirring round and round ever since.  I'd really like some input as I think it's been kind of lost elsewhere.

Okay, here goes.  I would really like to start a Teddy Bear Artists Society here on the west coast.  Is anyone interested?  I would be happy to host meetings once or twice a year in my home.  Perhaps even an annual retreat kind of thing. 

You know, we talk, talk, talk about different ideas and methods of doing things but it would be really great if we could share things in the "real".  Ideas such as the ACEO cards.  Everyone could bring supplies with them and we could share and create and trade!!

Am I nuts to even suggest such a thing?      Maybe.  I have so much on my plate right now and a very special project at the end of the year but I'd really like to get something going.

Thinking longer term.....even advertising in some of the magazines as a group.  The possibilities of promoting teddy bear artistry are greater in a group.  Just look at what Teddy Talk is doing!!

Warmest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

PFATT is Primitve Folk Art Tea and Talk.  SSODS is the Secret Society of Dirty Sisters (Dirty, as in primitive!)

I've just noticed that the PFATT artists are listing ACEO cards on eBay!

I'm signing out for the rest of the morning.  My house is a pig pit and I'm designated housekeeper.   

Warmest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

Funny you should mention an artist guild, community, group, club......Have you noticed the PFATT and SSODS attached to eBay listings?  Basically, artists grouping together.  They've certainly caught my attention.  I have both groups on my favorites list. 

Annnnnyway,  my thought was (and this is as far as I've been) was TBAGS.  Teddy Bear Artist Guild and Society.  It's rather catchy dontcha think?

Input please......good and bad.  Come on, I can take it!!!

Warmest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

Sonya, your entries are fabulous!!!     68 pieces to make Libearty....not counting the stars?!!!  WOWZER!   

Seeing all the entries makes me realize I really have to get my act together!!

Warmest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

OMG!!!  It's me!  Pink pajamas, pink slippers, coffee, computer.....Is there a spy in my house?!

Warmest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

I'm never bored when it comes to bears!  I do, however, go through times when I only want to design or I only want to sew.  I'm going through one of those times now.  I've been sewing bear parts like a mad woman!!  Have I finished anything?  No.      Pinning, sewing, pinning, sewing, first stuffing, jointing......then hanging on a peg......seven of them so far.      This started about the time all the nominations for the Golden Teddy were coming out.   I'm wondering what sort of bizarre behavior will come around the time the TOBY's are announced!! 

Warmest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

Wowie, zowie!!!  You did a fabulous job!  He's simply adorable.   

Warmest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

Oh, my, my, my!      You're all going to get me into trouble!! 

That's quite the 'lil number Scott!!!  Is it warm in here?  All of a sudden I feel a little warm.   

I appreciate the thought Deb.  Really I do.  I'll keep my poolboy though.  One less distraction on Thursdays!   

Warmest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

Sonya and Marion,
If you're going to lead the imagination astray.....please give a more detailed description!!      

Warmest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta

The "Artists Lounge" was a marvelous vision until Marion mentioned a topless poolboy.  I have a poolboy.....the thought of him topless.....uh, NO!  Cripes!  I nearly spit my coffee all over the desk.       

Warmest bear hugs,  :hug:
Aleta