The Teddy Patch Blog

Internet Fraud and How to Protect Yourself

2010-01-18T23:57:00Z

In an earlier post today I mentioned some fraud that I had been trying to deal with at The Teddy Patch. As the owner of an internet auction site, I especially needed to know more about how to protect myself and my investment so I did some research and wrote a post about what I had learned. I've dusted off that article and included it below as it contains some good information for everyone.    Hopefully, armed with more knowledge we can all be more vigilant and better protect ourselves from this type of fraud.

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Internet auctions are one of the fastest growing commerce business segments ever. As a result, on-line auction fraud ranks at the top of all cyber fraud complaints to the FTC. Buyers and sellers are not the only victims, businesses are also victims.

There are many types of fraud: Non-delivery; misrepresentation of the item; stolen items placed at auction; non-payment; stolen identity and credit card fraud; multiple bidding (using different aliases and then withdrawing the high bid at the last minute to win with the low bid); and shill bidding (sham bidding by the seller to drive up the price of an item).

How do you protect yourself from these types of unscrupulous behaviors?

1. Be fully aware of auction site policies, fraud policies, or dispute resolution policies.

2. As a seller, whenever possible do not accept checks or money orders as payment. Such forms of payment represent 80% of all fraud reported. Use a secure payment service such as PayPal.

3. If you are a buyer, pay with a credit card - consumer protection laws give you the right to dispute credit card charges for non-receipt or misrepresentation if necessary.

4. Make sure that the auction site you are working with does not allow bid retraction or shill bidding.

4. Use common sense in assessing price of an item up for bid and ensure shipping charges appear reasonable.

5. Ask questions of the seller if you are unsure of something or have a question about the item or terms of the auction.

6. Pay attention to feedback ratings.  At The Teddy Patch we have a lot of new sellers and bidders with little or no feedback. A majority of these folks have eBay feedback which they are willing to share.  Don't be afraid to ask for references and get to know a little about the other party and be sure to get accurate contact information from the person you're dealing with. Who knows? You may even find a new friend in the process!

So, go ahead - have fun searching for those treasures on line! Enjoy yourself, but protect yourself as you do!

Internet Fraud and Changes in Membership Requirements at The Teddy Patch

2010-01-18T23:31:00Z

I haven't written a blog article for awhile and thought it was about time. Way too many irons in the fire...I think I have a touch of ADD because I just can't stick to one project at a time and find myself constantly jumping from one thing to another. I'm going to try and do better, starting here and now.

Today I want to vent about some very frustrating activities that have been occurring at The Teddy Patch lately as well as make an announcement about some changes I'm making to try and make The Teddy Patch a safer, more relevant venue for you and a much less frustrating place for me!

I have been in this business for 12 years in one form or another and have learned that overall, collectors and artists are an honest bunch. Until 2007 I had not experienced any type of internet fraud on The Teddy Patch or in any of my dealings with collectors at shows, or any other venue for that matter.  In just the past year, the problems with fraudulent and unwelcome Teddy Patch members has greatly increased.

I may or may not go into specific details in future posts, but for now I want all my members (and prospective members) to know that effective immediately, I will charge a $1.00 verification fee when a new member registers at The Teddy Patch or an existing member submits listings for the first time. New members will be required to pay this fee through PayPal upon registration before their account will be activated.  I am also blocking several free email addresses beginning with: gmail.com and hotmail.com.  If you are a prospective new member, please register using a "real" internet mail account such as comcast.net, cox.net, etc. For now, I'm still going to allow a couple of the free email services such as yahoo.com but reserve the right to block them at any time should the problems continue.

Awhile back, when I experienced my first lesson in internet fraud, I did some research to educate myself.  As the owner of an internet auction site, I especially needed to know more about how to protect myself and my investment. As an artist dealing with collectors from all over the world, it is also important to be armed with some information. I'll dust that article off and put it in a new, separate post.

In the meantime, I hope you'll bear with me as I make changes to keep The Teddy Patch a safer place for everyone! Take care.

Tip of the Week - How should you price your bears?

2009-10-04T20:19:00Z

How is the economy affecting the sale prices of your bears? Are you flexible with your auction and website pricing? How should you price your bear?

We have noticed that many artists, despite the economy, are holding strong with their pricing both on their websites and at auction sites. Because collectors are spooked and not making discretionary purchases as they did in the past, bear and other collectible sales have dropped off dramatically. What we do see, however, is that collectors are still buying - they are just buying less expensive items. How can you, as a bear artist, still make those sales without reducing your prices too much? We all know the many hard hours that go into making a bear and, honestly, if we charged by the hour for our work we would have to charge lots more than we do!

Consider auction pricing: Collectors don't like bidding against a reserve price.  A very low starting bid with a reserve might attract some attention and a bid or two, but most collectors won't bid against a reserve. But to list your bears without a reserve at a very low starting price is truly frightening! It could possibly turn out that you only get one bid! Can you possibly risk giving your bear away after all that work? I don't know about you dear reader, but my heart can't stand the absolute terror of watching the auction close with only a minimum bid!   But sometimes the risk is worth it, and if you can find a middle ground beginning price where you are more comfortable you may still come out with a reasonable price for your bear.

Try this:  List your bear with no reserve, using a starting price that is acceptable to you if the bear is sold. Make sure it is low enough to entice collectors to bid but not so low that you would be devastated if it sold at that price. Very often collectors watch an auction on an item they want and wait until just before it closes to place a bid - the final price usually goes up way beyond your minimum in the heat of the last minute bidding. It also pays to do some research before you start listing so you know what similar bears are bringing at auction so that you don't price your listings so high that they won't sell at all.

If your heart is weak and you must list with a reserve, we recommend setting as low a reserve as possible to protect your investment while at the same time enticing collectors to bid.  Be sure to keep in mind when setting your reserve that a large percentage of merchandise sold in internet auctions typically sells for less than so-called book value - especially in todays' market.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region

2009-09-16T00:27:00Z

Have you heard about the upcoming Teddy Bear Banquet and Auction for the Ronald McDonald House? This event has been held for over 18 years and is an integral part of the fund raising program of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region, Inc.

This year it will be held on Sunday, October 25, 2009. Thanks to bear artists from all over the world, hand-crafted teddy bears will be up for adoption, with all proceeds benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities. Donating to this event is a wonderful way to share your talents in support of a worthy cause.

For more information, or to donate - here are points of contact:

Jan Kurposka at jkurposka@nycap.rr.com

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region, Inc.
139 S. Lake Avenue
Albany NY 12208
(518)438-2655
www.rmhcofalbany.org

Do You Hear the New "Elephump" Calling?

2009-09-15T01:20:10Z

Credits: Cheryl Hutchinson, Friday, September 4, 2009, www.binglebears.com

Do You Hear the New "Elephump" Calling?

Right now my head feels like I have 100 little ping-pong balls bouncing around every which way. It's really rather exciting! All sorts of goodies have arrived in the mail and I'm just itching to start play with them--sparkling Angelina fibers, bouncy wool, hand-dyed felt, and, of course, luxurious mohair. And I've got a bear and an "elephump" who are rather impatient to come to life with stuffing and joints. I'm the impish little girl just waiting to get her hands on all of the candy!

Okay, now it's time to take a deep breath. Practicality must make itself known, bore that it is. It has to have its say and it WILL be heard. The little imp sighs and takes a seat in a straight-backed chair. Practicality says in its sternest voice, "School starts on Monday and you have not finalized your girls' daily homeschool schedule. How will they know how much to read in each book? You certainly don't want to make the same mistake as last year when they only read the minimum number of pages and, therefore, didn't finish all of their reading until well into the summer, now do you? And, don't forget, you still haven't filed away their work from last year. You have a lot of work to do, young lady, so get to it!"

The little girl, hands folded in her lap, sighs again while looking at her hands. Her feet swing back and forth under the oversized wooden chair. Suddenly her face brightens and a sly grin spreads across her face. "Yes, you are right, Practicality. I do have a lot of work to do and, as you said, it must get done. There's no two ways about it. I have much work that has waited much too long to be attended to. So, I shall start now." She slides off of the chair and walks determinedly towards the door.

"Wait a minute!" Practicality bellows, "What are you up to?"

The girl's pace quickens. "Why, I'm off to work, of course! The new "elephump" is calling and must be attended to! I mustn't be negligent. Work is work, you know. Monday is Labor Day. School doesn't start until Tuesday! I have a whole extra day to get things done," she sings as she is now in a full run, out of the reach of Practicality.

And that is the way of it.

Joyfully running,
Cheryl

The Soul of a Teddy Bear

2009-09-15T00:51:00Z

The following article was submitted by Michelle Nunnery for our September 2009 Newsletter. It is included here in its entirety. Michelle's little bears are lovely and can be viewed at her website: http://www.littlebittiebears.com/

Have you ever looked at a teddy bear and swore it was alive? You see it looking back at you with that little puppy dog stare wanting to be adopted? That's the soul of a teddy bear!!

The teddy bear industry is alive and booming mainly because, in the past decade, artists have been very victorious in creating "soul" in teddies.

How have these artists achieved creating a "soul" in the teddy bear? What is it about the teddy bear that captures us and makes us want to adopt them no matter what the cost?

Its in the eyes. The eyes of a teddy bear are very important when it comes to soul.

Its very impressive these days to see what artists are going with teddy bear eyes. You can find eyes with eyelashes, eyelids, unique hand painted colors, highlighting and shading around the eyes, sculpting, needle felting and even eyelids that open and close. With these new techniques, artists have a new world of opportunity open for creativity.

For the collector, this is very important. Not only do they look for quality in materials, stuffing, jointing, stitching on the noses and stitching of the body, but eye quality is very high on the list.

First and most important is the quality of the actual eye. The use of glass eyes is imperative, no plastic please. Glass brings about a reflection similar to that of an animal with "wet" eyes. Good quality glass eyes are just as important. If you buy cheap glass eyes, they will break in half, they don't have good shine, they pop off the wires, or have scratches. A good artist never goes cheap when making their teddy. They want the collector to have a bear that will last a lifetime.

Placement of eyes is critical. There is nothing worse than a teddy bear with crooked eyes. One technique used is to shine a light on the eyes and see of the light reflection is in the place same on both eyes. I have to tell you that even after making bears for 17 years, I still have to take eyes out and put them back in about 5-6 times before getting them just right. You have to make sure your eyes are not too far apart, or too close together.

Shading of eyes is very important. Blacks, greys and browns can really bring out the eyes of a teddy. Shading the eyes gives them depth. Many artists venture out into other colors like, greens, purples and blues to match their mohair and apparel. It sounds strange, but it really comes out very beautiful.

Sculpting the eyes adds character. Many artists needle sculpt around the eyes to give more expression. Sculpting the eyebrows, eye sockets and around the nose gives the teddy more depth. This is a practice that takes much time and lots of redo's to get just the right expression from the teddy.

Collectors can rest assured that if they see a bear with "soul" in their eyes, the techniques to making that teddy bear come "alive" are very extensive. Many artists have practiced these techniques for countless hours and it has taken years to achieve their own individual style.

Happy "soul" hunting.

New TV Show Unfair to Bears?

2009-01-08T01:26:00Z

Have you seen the Discovery Channels new TV series "Bear Feeding Frenzy?" This new show is filmed on location at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. It depicts what happens to hikers and campers who are attacked by bears in the wild. It is narrated by Chris Douglas who provides his commentary from the safety of a thick walled Plexiglas box and the attacks are staged using mannequins dressed like campers. Anybody watching would think that wild bears would just walk right up to them while they were sleeping and grab them by the foot and drag them off, which is not the case at all. Bear attacks are extremely rare and usually only occur when a bear feels it or its cub is threatened. Animal rights advocates are outraged and claim the show sheds a bad light on bears. As a bear lover, I wholeheartedly agree!

Source: MSNBC.com/Today/Pets/1/6/2009

Tricks of the Trade

2009-01-07T01:12:00Z

Promote yourself and your auctions at The Teddy Patch. Here are a few tips that should prove helpful:

Upgrade your basic listings using our Home Page Featured option as well as the Category Featured option. Use Highlight and Bold options to draw more attention.
Open an Artist Studio Store and stock it for increased visibility. List your items in both places - your store and the regular auction listings. New Stores are still free for a limited time only.
If you already have a Store - stock it with your work and advertise yourself and your website there!
Display a link to your Teddy Patch store on your website.
Email your customers and your friends and let them know where your listings are.
Consider offering free shipping or at least guarantee proof of delivery with insured postage.
Charge a reasonable postage or shipping charge. Don't inflate your shipping charge to include a handling charge - more buyers will be attracted if you are reasonable and only charge what's necessary.
Offer multiple payment options as well as safe payment methods such as PayPal. More buyers will be attracted and tempted to purchase if they can use a credit card or PayPal. The small fee you will pay is worth the increased business.
Use good descriptive titles with key words that people are likely to search for.
Be sure you post good, quality photographs. Regardless of how great your product is, people are turned off by fuzzy, dark or poor photographs. Include several - you can post up to 5 for no charge.
Include good, detailed descriptions of your items.
Increase the number of your listings - the more items you have listed, the more you will sell.

Tell your customers, it's good for business!

2009-01-07T00:56:00Z

Do you own a Teddy Patch Store? (aka Teddy Patch Artist Studio Store)? If you do own one, do you use it? If you owned a teddy bear shop (on the web or a brick and mortar store) and you opened another one, you're going to tell everyone about your new shop, right?

Selling your bears and collectibles in your Teddy Patch store will save you cash in overhead costs, so it makes sense to stock your store and tell your buyers to shop there first, doesn't it?

Build your shop, stock it, and they will come! Tell your buyers where you are!

Why Not Give the Teddy Patch a Try?

2008-12-29T00:23:00Z

We specialize in Teddy Bears and other collectibles. The Teddy Patch no longer charges any listing fees and only a small final value fee if your items sell. We are also currently offering free Artist Studio/Stores! I've been noticing all the complaints about eBay not only about their high fees but also their weird new rating system. Personally, I have not used eBay for quite some time. When you own your own auction site, it doesn't make much sense to the competitor's service - and frankly based on what I'm hearing I don't plan to list there anytime soon.

Yes, The Teddy Patch is one of the "little guys" but what is so bad about that? I firmly believe if folks would tear themselves away from the hype, they'd find that The Teddy Patch would fill the bill without bleeding you dry in fees. Let's face it, times are tough and getting tougher. Collectibles prices are falling and customers are getting harder and harder to find, as artists we all have to cut back somewhere.

The Teddy Patch offers free listings; free stores (for a limited time); free, worldwide advertising; free membership; no hassle, and less exposure to fraud. What other auction site offers you all that?

Why not bring your work and your customers to our site for a try?

Hope to see you at The Teddy Patch soon!

Nothing Lasts Forever

2008-12-09T02:48:00Z

In order to not have to repeat myself too much, please read my previous post - Confessions of a Collector Junkie.

I was able to purchase some wonderful bears and thoroughly enjoyed myself at this auction. I wanted to share two lessons I learned from this experience. As I mentioned in my first post, this collection belonged to a lovely lady who passed away several years ago. Her collection consisted of over 600 bears of all types and manufacture. This collection was obviously cherished and lovingly built over quite a period of time. It was really quite sad to see how these bears were just "disposed" of to the highest bidder for pennies on the dollar. If this were my treasured collection, I would be turning over in my grave!

I also mentioned earlier that very few of the artist bears sold. This was quite a surprise to me since I, too, am a bear artist and I know how many hours and how much effort goes into creating them. Blame it on the economy I guess - or not? Most all of the Steiff bears in the collection sold - but not the artist bears. Go figure.

I digress ... back to my lessons. I learned two things for sure:

1. If you collect artist bears, buy what you love because it speaks to you and not for any future prospect of increase in value.

2. Enjoy every bear in your collection. Relish each precious little face; don't miss the beauty and wonder of each special creation and the friendship and comfort that each one brings. The only true value of your collection is the joy it brings to YOU.

Confessions of a Collector Junkie

2008-12-09T02:27:00Z

I recently attended a public auction featuring the entire collection of a lady who passed away several years ago. Her collection consisted of over 600 bears including artist bears, Hermann, Steiff, Merrythought, Deans, VIBs and many, many more. This collection was amassed during the 1980s and very early 1990s. Some of the artist bears included some wonderful, very early examples of some of today's best-known artists.

For me, this auction turned out to be a bear collector's heaven! Two things about this auction were every collector's dream: Very low beginning bid prices and minimal bidder competition! I was thrilled to be able to purchase several wonderful pieces for my own collection (many more than I should have!) ... and I truly regret not purchasing more!

Even as this auction turned into every collector junkie's dream, I am very concerned about two things as a result. The fact that there was very little interest overall (a result of the bad economy?) and the fact that, with few exceptions, the artist bears did not sell (and some of them were wonderful!). The bears that did sell were the Steiff - my estimate is that about 80-90% of them sold. Contrast that with the fact that no more than 10% of the artist bears and other manufactured bears sold - what a difference!

The lessons I take from this experience as I analyze them now, will be the subject of another entry. Stay tuned!

The Teddy Patch is Growing!

2008-12-09T02:18:00Z

The Good News: The Teddy Patch membership is increasing daily and the number of auctions listed on a regular basis has more tham doubled. Also the number of hits at The Teddy Patch in the last 30 days have increased by 200%!

The Bad News: There are still very few buyers! The buyers we do have are looking but not bidding on the artist bears. However, other small collectibles and supplies have been selling well.

We're planning a final holiday sales flyer on December 15th with lots of Buy-Now items for last minute purchases.

Teddy Bears and the Credit Crunch

2008-10-05T14:06:00Z

I hear from so many teddy bear artists these days that tell me their business has slowed down tremendously or died altogether. How is the U.S. economic downturn affecting you? Whether you are a bear artist or a collector or both, you are most likely affected in one way or another. As collectors, how has the economy changed your collecting habits? Are you still collecting at the same pace as you were? Are you scaling back on your purchases ... perhaps buying less expensive bears or postponing that purchase all together?

Many collectors are in panic mode trying to sell their collections. I've heard from many collectors who are doing just that and selling out their collections entirely. If you are a collector or dealer, this is a great time to pick up some very fine pieces at bargain prices. Just like the stock market advice - always buy low and sell high. Some of you seem to be doing just the opposite - buying high and selling low! Perhaps it is time to "hold tight" and not give away those precious collections too quickly. Unless you are really desperate for money, I'd suggest you hold tight rather than giving your precious collections away! But if you must part with them, may I suggest listing them at The Teddy Patch? All our listings are free ... you won't go broke on listing fees and we only charge a small final value fee if your items sell. We will also advertise for you for free too! Yes, we are the 'little guy' but we have a large following and can get your items out there for collectors to see at least - for free.

If you are an artist, are you still producing those bears even though they are not selling? What about your prices? Have you reduced your prices to get your bears to sell or are you holding firm? With costs of everything going higher and money getting tighter, how are you adjusting your business to deal with this challenge? Where do you channel that creative need to make your bears? Do you just bottle it all up and hope it will go away, or are you still creating bears but at a more cautious pace? Has the price of mohair and the lack of collectors caused you to reduce your production or even stop it altogether?

Have you been to The Teddy Patch lately? Stop by today and check us out - we will help you sell your stuff! www.theteddypatch.com

Collecting or Accumulating?

2008-09-27T19:54:00Z

Teddy bear collecting can be a wonderful and satisfying hobby. Unfortunately, too many collectors approach the art of teddy bear collecting as a shopping spree. Compulsive buying addictions can be translated into collecting most anything. Do you have 20 pairs of the same shoes in different colors? Are there clothes in your closet that still have the tags on after several years that you've forgotten you even have? Are you still holding on to those outfits that you bought that don't fit but you're sure someday you be able to fit into? What about your collections? Do you collect teddy bears the same way? Are you truly collecting or are you just accumulating?

Collecting is a very careful selection process based on personal preferences, goals, and parameters which you set to define your collection. These may change or you may modify them from time to time, but a well thought out collection contains only the specific items that fit those parameters. In contrast, an accumulation is simply items purchased randomly and piled up, so to speak, without any specific goals or parameters.

The number of items you have in your collection should be totally unrelated to the type or characteristics of the particular bears you collect. An ideal collection should be the very best of whatever type of bear you chose to collect. Attempting to collect the very best of anything requires some research and discipline. Add to your collection only those bears that truly fit the criteria you've decided upon. Set a limit on size or particular type of bear for instance. Try not to acquire duplicates of any particular bear.

There are two types of collectors. The born collector and the latent collector. The born collector is deeply passionate and utterly addicted to his quest. The born collector is someone who generally prefers that the desired object be difficult to obtain, because if it's too easy to get it's a whole lot less interesting. The amount of items in the collection or the rationale for their purchases are of no issue. For all born collectors, there is never too much and the hunt is everything. The latent collector starts out as an heir of grandmother's dolls or grandfather's toy trains - things they loved from afar as a child but were forbidden to touch or play with. These types of collectors are not particularly interested in the history of their items or manufacture methods, nor are they more than simply curious about values. The true value to them is mainly sentimental. Should the latent collector discover that his treasures are truly valuable then he/she may become an educated, late blooming, full-blown collector. However, unlike born collectors, the latent collector isn't usually driven to own all or every item that exists in his area of interest. The latent collector, while now passionate, makes his choices based still more on love for the collection and interest in the particular thing as it relates to historical past - most frequently, his or her own past.

If you are a born collector you would probably keep it, but if you are a latent collector and you come across a particularly wonderful bear that captures your attention but is not suited to your own collection, donate it to a worthy cause or pass it on to a friend who would love it and give it a good home!

Talk to Your Teddy

2008-09-27T19:40:00Z

While it hasn't been scientifically proven, there's lots of experienced bear collectors out there who will swear that teddy bears are good for your health. Just like pet ownership (which has been proven to be good for you), teddy bear ownership has been linked to stress and anxiety relief - and stress and anxiety have been linked to heart disease.

When you've had a terrible day or are going through a stressful event, Teddy will be there for you. Talk your problems over with your favorite teddy bear! He will always listen with an open mind. He will not judge you or try to give you advice - he will just patiently listen. Friends are good for that too, but oftentimes well meaning friends can sometimes say the wrong things or make you feel worse. Teddy will provide a non-judgemental soundboard for you to express your toughts and feelings without giving potentially negative feedback.

The stress release you get from having a teddy bear to talk to can translate into savings in your pocket. Studies have shown that pet ownership results in fewer doctor visits and fewer medications. My bet is that teddy bears can do the same thing. Give it a try and see if it works for you!

Of course, if your teddy talks back to you it may be a good idea to seek professional help ...

Fall 2008 Show Calendar

2008-09-24T01:20:00Z

CALIFORNIA
September 27, Roseville CA, Crossroads Doll & Teddy Bear Show, Placer County Fairgrounds. Dorothy Drake, http://www.dolls4all.com

CONNECTICUT
October 12, Bristol CT, 24th Annual Bristol Bear and Doll Show, Clarion Hotel. Bruin Mischief, http://www.bruinmischief.com

KENTUCKY
October 19, Erlanger KY, Bright Star Greater Cincinnati Area Teddy Bear Show, Holiday Inn Cincinnati Airport. Valerie Rogers, http://www.bright-star-promotions.com

MASSACHUSETTS
November 8-9, Agawam MA, The Oaks Doll, Toy & Teddy Bear Show. http://www.mavencompany.com

NEVADA
October 18, Verdi NV, Reno Doll & Teddy Bear Show, Boomtown Casino. Melinda Natzel, 775-342-7629

NEW JERSEY
October 18-19, Atlantic City NJ, Atlantique City, Atlantic City Convention Center. http://www.atlantiquecity.com

OHIO
September 27, Waynesville OH, Country Joy's Annual Teddy Bear Brunch and Show. Joyce, 513-897-2569

SOUTH CAROLINA
October 24-26, Myrtle Beach SC, Southeastern Doll & Bear Exp. Knight Shows, http://www.knightshows.com

UTAH
October 25, Salt Lake City UT, Crossroads Doll & Teddy Bear Show, Utah Fairgrounds. Dorothy Drake, http://www.dolls4all.com

VERMONT
October 25-26, Chester VT, Vintage Teddy Bear Weekend, Hugging Bear Inn. Georgette, 1-800-325-0519

WASHINGTON
October 11-12, Puyallup WA, Crossroads Doll & Teddy Bear Show, Puyallup Fairgrounds. Dorothy Drake, http://www.dolls4all.com

CANADA
October 5, Edmonton AB, Doll Club of Edmonton's Doll, Teddy, and Toy Sale, Alberta Aviation Museum. Lorraine, 780-485-3025

Correction - Ronald McDonald House Teddy Bear Banquet and Auction

2008-07-14T00:11:00Z

I made a couple typos on last week's post announcing the Ronald McDonald House upcoming event. Since my typos were pretty important ... contact emails were wrong ... I'm correcting them here:

Lori's correct email address is teddybears@rmhcofalbany.org
Jan's correct address is: jkurposka@nycap.rr.com

My apologies!

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Have you heard about the upcoming Teddy Bear Banquet and Auction for the Ronald McDonald House? This event has been held for over 17 years and is an integral part of the fund raising program of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region, Inc.

This year it will be held on Sunday, October 26th. Thanks to bear artists from all over the world, over 100 hand-crafted teddy bears will be up for adoption, with all proceeds benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities. Donating to this event is a wonderful way to share your talents in support of a worthy cause.

For more information, or to donate - here are two points of contact:

Lori Emery (518)438-2655 or teddybears@rmhcofalbany.org
Jan Kurposka at jkurposka@nycap.rr.com

Gonna Be a Bear

2008-07-10T02:39:00Z

Gonna Be a Bear

In this life, I'm a woman. In my next life, I'd like to come back as a bear. When you're a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months. I could deal with that.

Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that too.

When you're a girl bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you are sleeping and awake to partially grown, cute, cuddly cubs. I could definitely deal with that.

If you are a mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that.

If you are a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling. He expects that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat.

Yup, gonna be a bear!

2008 Teddy Bear Banquet and Auction for Ronald McDonald House Charity

2008-07-04T18:13:00Z

Have you heard about the upcoming Teddy Bear Banquet and Auction for the Ronald McDonald House? This event has been held for over 17 years and is an integral part of the fund raising program of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region, Inc.

This year it will be held on Sunday, October 26th. Thanks to bear artists from all over the world, over 100 hand-crafted teddy bears will be up for adoption, with all proceeds benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities. Donating to this event is a wonderful way to share your talents in support of a worthy cause.

For more information, or to donate - here are two points of contact:

Lori Emery (518)438-2655 or teddy bears@rmhcofalbany.org
Jan Kurposka at jkurposka@mycap.rr.com