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Hi guys!
I've been busy sewnig and stuffing for the show this weekend... and I got an odd call. It did not start out odd though. Thought I'd post and see if anyone else got this....
She did not introduce herself (although I have her number thru my toll free service and then name, addy thru reverse directory... only looked it up because it was so odd)
First she asked if I made teddy bears... yes. Asked what size range and prices... I gave my size range and general price range for sizes.
Asked WHY I became a teddy artist. Gave her the very short 20 second story. I didn't think she wanted to hear the WHOLE thing :)
Then she said, I don't know how you do it, I tried to make a bear and it turned out horribly.... I asked a few questions, and I think she used a stretchy back fabric... which can be tough when stuffed (gets out of shape) and she mentioned she really had a hard time w/ the eyes.
I tried to encourage her by saying that it does take a lot of practice... my first bears are much different than my current ones.
Then switched to ask if I knew anyone who made smaller bears than I did....
I was about to tell her about the ABC show... where she could find lots of great minis.... then I remembered, she probably got my number from TB&F. I asked if she was from the Chicago area... she said no. I said I was about to recommend a show coming up this weekend in the Chic. area... and that I forgot she might not be local... I have teddy bear show on the brain ha ha!
I was outside with my dogs... but I did remember that Nancy does micro minis and went inside, got her web addy and email addy to her (sorry Nancy!)
Afterwards she spoke VERY quickly.... asked if she wanted to order a bear from she she could? I said yes... then she said something so fast I didn't quite get it.... but the jist of it was something like... "you show people never helped me before, I'm never attending another show again" and hung up on me. VERY strange!!!
Even stranger... when I found out WHO had called me I discovered that she DOES live in the Chicago area....
Anyone else get a call like this? She lives in Des Plaines, IL
Thanks!
'Bear' Bottoms OriginalsHmm, weird... I live in Lafayette IN and haven't gotten any calls like that one yet... 
What a weird phone call though.... 
Kimberly W.
LutonThat is weird!!! Hmmm - maybe a weirdo just having a vent!!!
Hugs
Claire
Back Road BearsWhat is it with people in IL??????? Maybe she's the picture lady's sister?????????!!!!! :crackup:
I'm sorry you got such a weird call. Maybe she WILL show up at Schaumburg?? She'll be sure to seek you out as the "helpful one" if she does!!!! (OK, I'll hope she doesn't come!)
LOL Daphne! After her cryptic remarks... I dont think she'll be there. I didn't get a chance to tell her about it cause she said she did NOT live in the Chicago area anyways....
Anywhoo.... I'm glad I have my toll free number for my biz. Can't do a reverse director with it. Also... with my website I have my main domain name registered as "private" so anyone who does a "who is" search for teddiesbylauralynn gets Yahoo's address and phone number - not my own.
Posts: 2,203 :hug:
Posts: 8,574Strange....I think it is something akin to celebrity status-where people try to get close to which ever is their favorite celeb.
yuck.....
Well you did fine....good for you....better than i would have for sure....
:crackup:
DoodlebearsSounds to me like there is a geneticly wonky gene in some folks in the Chicago area... the one's who make strange phone calls that is. 
I feel sorry for people like this that don't have anything better to use their time on.
I hope the show goes great for you Laura, good luck!
I'm still hoping that I can get to The London Bear fair (Ally Pally) on Sunday, the bears are all ready, just hoping Sarah is well enough...fingers crossed, again.
Hugs Jane. 
Sounds to me like there is a geneticly wonky gene in some folks in the Chicago area... the one's who make strange phone calls that is.
Must be the Lake Michigan water LOL!!! (We have our own well water though - so it doesn't affect US :crackup: )
Jane I hope ALL goes well, that you are able to go to Ally Pally and find new homes for LOTS of bears!
Bears by Jodi:crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:
Yep, that was the picture lady's name. I didn't post my recent caller's name because I don't see that there's been a "rash" of odd calls. Heck, now that I think of it... maybe she just got nervous? I know I sometimes do when I'm talking to someone I don't know....
Bears by JodiYea I have those days, and she felt you were famous soooooooooo it is all understandable. Except for getting mad at you. UMMMM frustration I guess. Who knows.
What a strange call!
Back Road BearsSo, dare I ask:
Has anyone heard from the picture lady?
Posts: 1,277Geez, that wasn't very nice at all. Very strange indeed. I hope it's nothing in the water though, eek, Des Plaines was my place of residence for a year. Hopefully my stay was brief enough! Although, if I still lived there I could go to Schaumburg this weekend. 
Back Road BearsMaybe it was the picture lady...on vacation!
:crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:
Lemmon BearsI had a message on my machine last week from the picture lady. My son said there was a phone call with someone asking about bears.....I listened and guess who. She has only called me about 3 times....so far.
Joan
LuxembearsWeird. You know though, people who are into bears can be very odd....look at us!!!:D
No , really, I know how wierd people can be. I had a lady call me to see if I could make her a bear to fit in her lip stick case. I said I don't make bears that small. Then she asked what would a bear like that cost. When I gave her a ball park figure of what I thought, and she hung up on me. Never heard from her again.
Back Road BearsThis woman in question called ME today.... 10 months later! Same basic conversation.... scary! She didn't introduce herself to me, just started right in with my sizes and prices. She seemed nice enough and praised us artists but asked me all the same questions she asked you, Laura and wanted me to give her names and numbers of mini artists. (Don't worry y'all... I didn't!)
She did say she used to go to Schaumburg years ago and plans to attend this year. It will be interesting to meet her.
Past Time BearsEEEEEEIIIIIIIII . . . she'll be at Schaumburg? It's been so long since I've heard from Margaret that I'd forgotten about telephone stalkers of bear artists. Wonder what's happened to ol' Margaret.
Who on EARTH is the Picture Lady?? Do I need to be worried?
:crackup:
Back Road BearsSue Ann.... She said ABC was sending her an invitation. That they'd given her their website address and she found me there. THough when she called here the first time yesterday hubby was home and she told him she found my bears in a magazine (um... it's been a long time since I've run an ad and there would have been ONE bear in that ad!). So, who knows what the truth is or if she'll really come to the show!
Chloe... read these threads to get the whole story!
http://www.teddy-talk.com/viewtopic.php?id=9349
http://www.teddy-talk.com/viewtopic.php … 98#p143498
Chaska, MinnesotaI too want to know who the "picture lady" is....
But Laura Lynn, it sounds like lady who called you may be mentally unbalanced. I hope she will leave you alone. By what she said to you, it may be she is trying to be a bear artist herself and some how she turned into a blame game of "it's all your fault for my bears are not turning out well....nobody is helping me". Twisted for sure but in her mind, it makes sense. Let's hope she gets help.
OMG I'm scared now... run for the hills!
She does sound pretty addled, poor thing, especially the 'it's not in your best interests to be rude to me' bit... she must have pretty good connections! I guess the best thing to do is be patient, tell her you now make a small charge to cover printing costs, and hope she won't bother you once she learns you're charging... if she's not allowed to make long distance calls fingers crossed I'll be ok! (Not that I'm advertising, but you get the picture :P)
Ooh, I had one man come into the Art Shop whilst I was running it in June, and he set me on edge... his head kept jerking and he was telling me to sit him in a chair and get him to spell words... he spelt 'garden' to me after staring at it on a leaflet for about eight years.... I was soooo worried he might not know what he was doing...
Back Road BearsMichelle - please refer to my post just above yours. And Laura's original post was almost a year ago, I brought this thread back up because, 10 months later (last night) she called me! THough she seemed to be much nicer as I mentioned in my post above. Both she and the picture lady are indeed a bit unbalanced. We do realize this with out a doubt. But if caught off guard, some will be put out by the phone calls, etc. so it's nice to let other's be forewarned!
