New Moderator at Edinburgh Forum

The Edinburgh Forum is for Teddy Bear artists and anyone interested in making and or collecting bears & critters. It is a bunch of very nice, interesting, and fun people. We help each other with ideas, inspiration, and sometimes with a sympathetic shoulder. The forum is sponsored by Edinburgh Imports which has supplies and really great mohair. There is a bimonthly challenge on the forum and the winner gets a $25 certificate to use at Edinburgh Imports.

Recently, one of the moderators, Lisa Thoms of Twin Cubs Bears has decided to step down. She has 3 beautiful young girls and along with her bear making, they are requiring more of her time. I was honored to be asked to take her place as moderator. Difficult shoes to fill, as Lisa is knowledgeable in many areas I am not. I can guarantee the forum will still be fun and interesting. Please stop by! http://www.eii2.com/Community/index.php

Too Little Time

I need more hours in the day. I just start to feel like I am making headway listing the trailer load of books on Amazon and we get a call that another load is ready to be picked up.

I have a great idea for a new series of critters and there is NO TIME to start them. The idea is knocking around my head and I am really itching to get started. I have some Christmas critters cut out and need to get them done because the magazines need photos for Dec issue by July. I am also waiting for some things I ordered to finish them.

Everyday things seem to get in the way too - you know - grocery shopping, laundry, sleeping, even shaving your legs(a must here in Florida).

Now I need to quit complaining and get to work. The photo is my garage, which has become the warehouse for my Amazon listings.

Pool Day

On Sunday mornings hubby Bill and I like to listen to the trumpets that intro CBS Sunday Morning. It's kind of a ritual with us. CBS Sunday morning uses a sun as their symbol and we love the different suns that show up during the program too. I know it's kinda kooky but without some kooky life would be dull.
After the Sunday newspaper and breadfast it's time to clean the pool. I get on my swimsuit and vacuum and chlorinate the pool. THEN...it's pool time. I put on music-usually Enya or jazz or sometimes Bob Seger. We have outdoor speakers and so I put the music on loud enough to hear but not bother the neighbors. Then I get on my float and drift. I do some of my best thinking floating in the pool. I think about how to get that bear head to look like it does in my head and what fur to use for the new idea for a cat. Sometimes I come up with names for critters or a name for a series of critters. Sometimes I just zone out(doze off), which I try not to do too often because I don't want to be a "crispy critter".

Mellow Yellow

The Edinburgh Imports community forum has challenges about every other month. The current challenge is to use some mohair you bought and then didn't know what to do with it. In other words "Why did I buy that?". This is the third year for this challenge but this year there is a twist- to create the ultimate imaginary friend.

I had a piece of golden yellow mohair I purchased to make a yellow & black Panda. After making the Panda I didn't know what to do with the rest.

Along came the challenge and Mellow Yellow came to be. Mellow is the cure for the blues-meant to bring a smile to your face.

I am thinking of donating this happy guy to the Lemonade Bears Benefit scheduled for Sept 21 - 23. To find out more about this worthy cause visit http://www.lemonadebears.com/

Sparkle-a new pattern

I wanted a smaller bear with a different look soooo... Sparkle was born. A mere 6" tall she is made with white feather finish mohair. She has a blue needle felted nose with red metallic thread over it, blue star beads on her antenna and a red star belly button. I'm really happy with the dimensions and look of this pattern and may use the basics of it for some other critters.

I've opened and Etsy shop

Ebay just doesn't seem to be working for me right now. I know a few well known artists who are doing well on ebay. Although I feel that I am putting unique and well made critters up for auction, they are just not getting noticed.

Etsy is a website for selling hand made items. The fees are reasonable and the presentation is good. The search pages seem to load kinda slow but that might be because of all the great pics.

I have spent several hours today taking and editing photos. I wish I was better at it. If I get the lighting right - I'm not happy with the pose. If the pose is good - the lighting is off. I take dozens to get a couple of decent ones.

This is Tinker -a Dog Patch Puppy, who will be listed in my Etsy shop sometime tonight.

http://dogpatchcritters.etsy.com