For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
HI ok Penny (penny asked about the ribbon on my grand panda and the story behind it )
New tothe room I should pony up a good story to give yall an Idea who I am and some of the crazy and totaly clueless and silly things I can get myself into lol lol ...
OK ..so on my first trip to japan to show at the tokyo teddybear show my travel partner Kelly D.and I wanted to find interesting trims for our bears and was told about this fantastic store by one of the other artists at the show. After about 3 different trains and a great lil woman who took pity on us and just walked us to the place we found the store . well it was worth it... IT WAS TEDDYBEAR ARTIST HEAVEN ...floor to ceiling of custom ribbon and trims ... OK so I have a bit of a reputation of being FRUGAL boarding on CHEEP soooo standing in the store I turned to kelly D. and said "FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I AM GOING TO GET WHAT I LIKE AND NOT LOOK AT THE PRICE ".....words that will never come out of mouth ever again!!!! LOLLOL...It was heaven the greatest ribbon I have ever touched HAND DONE ENDLESS COLORS ENDLESS PATTERNS MY HEAD WAS DIZZY WITH THE CHOICE'S... and drunk with the possablity's for great bears that I would make with them ....After about 4-5 hours the lil lady took me too the counter to cut the ribbons and pay .....PLEASE remember that I only understand a very little japanese and just pointed and said 1 meter of this one and 2 meters of that one (like I was the queen of england) The ribbon cut and ready kelly and I went to pay (kelly was buying beads that day not ribbon) soo the li'l lady brings me my bill and I sign and as I looked down at the TOTAL (note it was in YEN and with the exchange rate the bill always freaks ya out a bit it's like a thousand yen to the dollar) KELLY started choking and for me the room started SPINNING as she handed me my purchase's "IN THE SMALLEST BAG IN THE WORLD" ......out side kelly did the math exchange rate...
!!! I HAD JUST SPENT $950.OO US DOLLARS !!! I thought I was gonna pass out kelly got some water for me (laughing mixed with true concern that I was gonna pass out in the middle of tokyo) Well to say the least that li'l bag of ribbon is and was the last time I ever through caution to the wind and not look at a price tag!!!
To this date I still have some left and when ever I do a bear with some of the ribbon my hand shake when I go to cut into it !!!! The "GRAND PANDA" that i placed up for all to look at was done with the famous JAPAN RIBBON and every millimeter of it was used!!!! that ribbon cost me over $100. a meter !!!
well that is the ribbon story !!! I have a few more but this one give ya a good idea how easily i can get myself into BIG trouble
BIG BEARHUG
SCOTT
GASP, CHOKE!! Scott - - - oh my!
Wow, Scott!
I'd be torn between just keeping it tucked away safely, putting it on a bear and selling the bear for double the price just because of the ribbon (yeah, explain that to a customer!) and kicking myself repeatedly. I'd say you've used the ribbon quite well.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who would do something silly and crazy like that! Hee! Hee! Thanks for sharing your human idiosyncracies with us!
We love you that much more! :hug:
Ouch !!!
...well Scott...it IS a tax write-off! ..and how often are you going to be back to that store....well worth it I hope.
$950!!!
Well, bravo to you, that you didn't actually pass out! I'm sure I would have been crying in the middle of Tokyo!
WEll all in all the ribbon has made some of the best bear I have done yess its was well worth it in the long run !!!!
COOL avatar Scott.!!! Hey , have you posted your self portrait in the photo gallery? If not, please do so we can see you. :hug:
WOWZA! :doh: Well, your bear is gorgeous so that is the good side :)
BY THE WAY.... WELCOME TO TEDDY TALK!! - I'm a little behind!
Holy moly!! Was that ribbon spun with 24kt gold thread? And I thought French ribbon was expensive!!
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
ALETA funny you should say that YES one did !!! It truely was a once in a lifetime experance....and I got a great story out if it hahahahLOL
What a wonderful story, Scott. Thanks for sharing with us.
I am like you can't go past beautiful ribbons in shops, but have never spent that much.
Your Avatar Bear is lovely.
I love ribbon, too, and will now NEVER buy it without price checking again. This was NEW ribbon? I didn't think anything but vintage could go that high. Criminies, man.
But you're right... great story.
Any chance Kelly D. is famous artist Kelly Dean?
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good grief Charlie Brown!!! what a story!!!
Kathy
oh my....I WOULD have had a heart attack!!!
but how much more satisfying than spending that money on mundane things like car tyres or bills!
The panda is stupendous.
Sorry but I had a good chuckle. I could just see myself in that situation and I would have passed out!!!
What a cute story!
Jane
Great story Scott but, yikes! $950 Whew! I'm breaking out in a sympathy sweat at the very thought! I'll bet you had a death grip on "THE SMALLEST BAG IN THE WORLD" the rest of the day!! lol
Good thing you've got a sense of humor and can laugh about it now! :clap:
I would die!
Funny how the one time you throw caution to the wind eh? LOL
Nice to meet you also, your aviator bear is awsome!
Bonnie Death Grip is soooooo right !!! I would NOT put it in my luggage on the flight back because I was fliped out that the airline would loose my luggage !!! darn bag did not leave my side for one second hahahah lololol
BearHug
SCOTT
Ha! I don't blame you!! I would have been the same way!
I would have hated to see the price in Yen, you would have fainted at that, come round, converted, then fainted once again.
Lynette
Ha Ha Ha Ha
I would'nt blame you if you never bought amother piece of ribbon Scott!! But i get the feeling that you're the kinda guy who just would'nt be able to resist.
Thanks for telling the story - blimey, it's not often you can ask a man to do something and he does it of his own free will. he he he he
The ribbon is gorgeous though Scott, and if it was all hand done then i think it was a bargain at a $100 metre - i embroider and it would take me forever to stitch a metre(mainly cos i'd get bored)!
It's great to have you on board here at TT Scott - another man to add to our collection
Penny :hug:
Hiya Scott, welcome to TT. Boy I would have run for the hills if I had been asked for $950 for ribbon. I could have a great holiday for that money.
Jane
What a great story, Scott! Welcome to TT--you're a great addition to the forum!
Eileen
Arrrrrrrrrg! $950 just for some ribbons!!!!!
that ribbons had to be great for such an incredible price!
A man spending such an amount for ribbon must not be very common!
For sure Scott, you will have great stories for your friends and famillies.
By the way, the bear you made using this ribbon is fantastic!
Beary hugs,
Sophie.