Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

My issue just arrived today & my ballot is included - and the Nominees are laid out beautifully.

In fact, the images AND LAYOUT are the best I've seen in several years!!

I may just decide to enter again!!

KUDOS, Aubrey!!!

I don't see any links but here are some that were posted on Ted & Lucky's chat list:

http://www.bearstudy.org/website/resear … dies-.html

Explains a lot - - -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS3rTK2Ut4I

On that same first page, under Research, you can find Daily Links / Updates to see what's happened to the family since they've left the den.
It's interesting to read now the concern the team has expressed since the day they left, over Jason's size and strength....it was almost inevitable now as to this conclusion.

Lucky lucky you, Aaron! While I know nothing about manufactured teddies,, this one has some very discernible features (paw pads/body/head shapes, short arms, ear placement etc...)

I'm sure someone in this forum will weigh in sooner or later with a lead or two for you.

It sure looks well-loved; I'm sorry that there was no one in his former family to appreciate him to want to pass him on down....

:crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

Yeah! They've been spotted in a clump of trees!

Now... I know it's getting near bedtime, and I've had a very long and stress-filled day, but I know my eyes are not playing tricks on me. This image was NOT there earlier!
LMK if anyone else cam 'imagine' that they cam]n make out these ghost images in that den!

It looks like a nicely rounded head, facing forward, cone-shaped muzzle, lighter nose.., bobbing like it's nodding off to sleep, slumping down towards the chest. Even a littler cubblet over on the right side. (Perhaps a squirrel come to call!)

PIcture one

Picture two (outlined for effect)

Even could 'imagine' little things set out on a tea table, in front of the cub - cups & things... all ready for visitors.. I'm off to Slumberland now.

Don't call me Pixilated, just tired. but those gray-on-black shapes/shadings ARE there!

http://www.bear.org/livecams/lily-hope-cam.html

Aw shucks - you didn't have to admit that - you shoulda' let me 'Believe In Miracles' a little longer!!
Remember I'm just a year behind you!!!     

I definitely kept my mouth shut - and moved to the back of the room, though I did go into the Q&A line at the mic when they opened them up. Don't remember my question now, but I stumped them (in public!) and they didn't have a definitive answer - I made my point and that was the important thing!!!

Hmm.. did she have a calendar tacked to that back wall somewhere that we didn't see from the camera angle?? LOL
Amazing that it didn't get knocked down - - - in their tussles.
"April 1 -
Take the kids outside
Find new bigger shelter
Find the local food shops in new neighborhood..."

It's amazing that their biological clock could be that precise.
Mine sure isn't as good as yours, SueAnn, that you can remember that.
A bit of stress right now but I can't remember what I ate yesterday!

And other sites; their own blogs, other sales sites and lists too numerous to mention - - - I'd say Yes!
eBay® was a pioneer but they've peaked and have done themselves in for the one-off/one-of-a-kind listers.
The wave has passed us by for all but the most intrepid. They are looking for those who list in the masses of items—i could se that when I attended eBay® University, a free seminar put on in major cities several years ago. Don't know if they continue those...
But it was definitely geared toward the Power Sellers in the room: I felt like I was attending a good old Bible revival meeting, even an Amway convention from its early days! (Get out there and SeLL!  Y O U  C A N   D O  I T !!!!!!!!!!)

I think they're imploding and are desperately trying to recapture their income of past Glory Days! I don't sell and hardly buy there anymore.

And other sites, I'd say Yes - - -

And that is why artists have left eBay® as a market tool - in DROVES over the past 2 years....

Oh no - Lynn & crew posted this 2 hours ago:

No new footprints...

Faith and Jason looked pretty wobbly and unsteady on their feet whenever they ventured out of the den last week, when Lily and Hope were outside. I'm sure they'll be spotted in the area soon. It just looks like miserable day to have left that little cave now! Perhaps they've found something slightly larger though, as it was getting a bit tooooo crowded!

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http://www.bear.org/livecams/ted-lucky-cam.html
But here are Ted & Lucky - inside their (leaky) shelter but staying inside, watching the snow melt
("You think I'm going outside in THIS weather? I'm a Guy!!)

That white stripe is a drop of water streaking past the camera lens.

LOL - hey, I figure that anyone who can afford one- - - - can afford another one!

I tuned in about noon, when they seem to be most active - to see the most amazing sight: claws scratching toward the camera.  For several minutes I couldn't figure out what was happening - - - so I took a few screen shots. Then a few muzzles appeared, and a cub paw pushing a muzzle and 2 mouths and several more paw swipes then the claws came toward the camera again.

(Pix aren't Uploading - I'll try in a post to follow.)

I ended up sitting there almost 20 mins; until I was almost late for a class. By that time the cameras had changed and an outdoor shot was panning around the area and ended up on the long PVC tube that extends into the opening of the den and then it just stayed there and there was no more action so I left.

Tonight there is an explanation posted on their site - LOL!! Leave it to the kids!!!

"Hope managed to push the camera far back into the tube. It was fun to watch, but now we have a view of the inside of the tube. Darn!"
9 hours ago ·

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I did see Lily sitting outside yesterday with her back to the camera; Hope was sporadically nursing/facing the camera and the motor-thrumming cubs were out-of-sight but nursing too.
Happy Family! Happy Spring!

I started a new venture this week - a blog.

I miss the writing I used to do. I cannot get into my manuscript for a number of reasons so in the meantime this fills the gap.

Please feel free to view it from the beginning, while I'm still making so many mistakes and you can all feel that you can help a poor senior citizen along and lend a helping hand!

There're a lot of bells & whistles to be added yet - but I feel as tho I've made great strides this past month in learning about PayPal buttons, posting (some) images, creating 2 new Headers-Winter & Spring (finally teaching myself Photoshop's Layers to do this!! along with Randy & Daphne's excellent help!) and a bunch of other things, along with losing my drafts any number of times and starting over countless times... grrrrrr...

But each time it became a little easier and I am remembering to hit SAVE before moving on - if nothing else!! LOL

So this ole dog has learned a few new tricks and I invite you on my journey -

http://woolgatherings-rkr4cds.blogspot.com/

If there are any experienced Blogspot members out there who can answer a few questions for me - PLEASE contact me offlist next week.
I would love to ask you a few things that I cannot find the answers to in their Help pages!
Ta - Bobbie

Fabulous Linda, isn't it amazing what happens sometimes when we're either just falling asleep or just waking up?
If only we can remember them all.
I haunt resale shop for old leather gloves and have found some wonderful old pairs, even an electric blue shade which I couldn't pass up but knew I'd not use in that color.
But with dyeing or staining - - - it's the quality of the leather that you have to first be aware of; color is secondary. Fortunately the predominant colors that the finest gloves are made in is black or brown!

Hi Linda,

I have been wondering if this thread would ever get revisited! And I should have known that it would have been by a technician such as yourself!

Yes, what you describe—the very supple fabric centered over the wire as the edge of each eyelid, with the wire ends bound together and entering the corners of the eye together—is exactly what I had in my mind back in 08. The true trick is in hiding the excess when the eye is open! I read about the open/close technique in an old book about the molded felt faces of Steiff's puppet/dolls sometime in the 80s (in a book store—I couldn't afford the actual book!) and tucked that bit of info away.

They also actually sometimes designed a bit of a crimp in certain parts of the top lid wires as well, to define the different characters, instead of just smooth curves going across the eyeballs - - much like one's eyebrows give away mood emphasis. A little bit of a eyebrow lift or crinkle here or there on a 'human-like' face denotes much about one's disposition or personality w/o saying one word!

Has it been established then that Hope always picks the male cub to pull away from Lily?
Nutzzz, I was hoping she was special-bonding all this while with her little sister.

Dale Junker of Bear Street attends all of the bear shows that he can - he travels almost every week of the year and has been doing this for the over-20-years that I've been involved in bear making.
He carries every type of eye; Dale is an Intercal rep.
Allowing that Dale is constantly on the road, he's also an extremely fast shipper!
I normally purchase the small 1.6 mm and 2 mm size but was looking for larger eyes for a class and of course needed these fast.
I wrote him several times last year about supplying me with the #500 eyes with the straightened wires instead of rounded wires, here's his reply:

Hi Bobbie,
The eyes come in bags of 10 pair.  With the narrow loop I have style 500 in stock in:
10 mm -- They are about 1/32" larger than 3/8" and are $20.39 for 10 pair.
12 mm -- They are about 1/32" smaller than 1/2" and are $25.89 for 10 pair.

With normal loops I have style 218 in stock in:
11 mm -- They are just under 7/16" and are $15.99 for 10 pair
12 mm -- They are $17.99 for 10 pair.

The ones with narrow loops are thinner and much more consistent.
1 cm is 10 mm, if that helps any.
Postage for first class should be around $2.50,  For Priority mail, it is $5.00.

Thanks,
Dale
PS: I leave Thursday morning for the Nevada City show and will be back sometime Sunday.

Write to Dale at - bearst@pixelgate.net
I googled Bear Street and got this - sounds about right but I'd contact Dale through the e addy - that's how he writes back to me.
http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/ … 9-625-2995
Bear Street

415 W Foothill Blvd
Claremont, CA 91711
909-625-2995

Tell him Bobbie or Teddy Talk sent you!

:redface:  :redface:  :redface:
I SO apologize and hope I didn't hurt any tender feelings!
NOT my intention  - which was to tell you that we think your use of our written and spoken language (sometimes 2 very different things!) is charming and very brave to even attempt to use this very strange language.
I'm going to stop posting now because I'm just going to get myself into more trouble the more I try to explain myself!
But please know that we totally understand what you mean, misspellings and all, and do admire you because most people in other countries usually know several languages while we expect everyone else to know English and too many of us know only this one. Too many of us in the US also are terrible spellers and we have no excuse for it!

And we would welcome you if you come! Any TT member should announce their visits here, to whatever part of the States you're visiting. It's a very large country: 1000 miles x 3000 miles - but I'm sure I speak for many here: we'd love to get together to meet in person, even if it's only for a quick cup of coffee!

Lily has  been trying to retrieve the girl cub from Hope for the past 5 minutes; her one paw and head are no match for Hope, who is upside-down on her neck and can use all 4 paws and her mouth to deflect Mom's mouth & one paw.  Comical but Lily never forces the issue - she unfailingly persistent but gentle.

Ah, now after an all out tussle with Lily, in which the cub was apparently way off out-of-sight to the right corner of the den, Hope was tired and quit, allowing the cub to come crawling over Hope back to Mom. They're trying to get settled down again, which leads me to this thought: if the den is this crowded with a yearling & 2 cubs, what will it be like next winter with Lily and 2 yearlings? I can't see 3 of them fitting into this space. Poor Lily just can't seem to find a comfortable position.

Hmmmm..... some low light growling-type sound now, along with the thrumming from nursing cubs. I wonder if it's Hope or Lily? and is it discomfort?  or chagrin? or what?
The sound is magnified today. I know they were working on Ted & Lucky's microphone's yesterday; I wonder if this one also had some work done too... a little more difficult in that they're not in an enclosure.

And we in turn have all learned a little bit more about the world now - just in the past 10 years - because of the ease in reaching all of the rest of you through the internet; learning some of your language, your customs, foods, holidays, clothing.... many many things about your daily lives that we would never have known otherwise, and found that people are more alike around the globe than different! At least in our common goals, even if we get there in different ways.

So Thank You for your understanding of our being too brash sometimes (Dictionary: brash - self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overbearing way: "He could be brash, cocky, and arrogant.") as some of us in the States are sometimes accused of being. There are some that are just plain stupid: every culture has those! 
Usually we are courteous but in other cultures our style of courteousness may still be seen as being too open or too forward. We are usually just curious and don't feel that it's discourteous to ask about something in a non-confrontational way.

But we are very glad that Teddy Talk exists: while we 'talk bears' - we also learn so much about each other and the world!

Here's another thought - it's a 'thread joint' - but we are doing 'thread joining' while we are in the act of doing the work.
Thread joining is a little smoother to say than thread jointing, although either is still correct.

Isabelle, I am going to be the 'awkward American' here - we have all smiled fondly at your word munch - because one extra letter again can so easily change a word. English speakers can easily get the gist of what's being said from the written and spoken word, though the written words definitely make it more obvious when the extra letters make whole new meanings - - -

We love you for your PEP and ENTHUSIASM and pure JOYFULNESS you've brought into our presence; that's why I know that you won't feel badly that I use your word as an example (I'd never do this for a person who I feel would be very insulted!!), when you say 'munch', it means something like this: to eat (something) with a continuous and often audible action of the jaws: "He munched chicken wings."  or -  popcorn to munch on while watching the movie.
When we pronounce much & munch your ear probably hears about the same thing while they are different, depending on how sloppy the pronunciation of the speaker.

My friend Berta (sorry, Berta!!) recently had an auction with the words describing eyes with a 'soulfully bagging look' when she meant - begging.  I do Yank-speak for her and she didn't want to bother me so she posted w/o consulting me first.
I'm so sorry that English is so hard: it does make a big difference for non-native speakers!! My poor husband will be totally mis-understood if I go before he does, as he's already asked me 6 times today how to spell a word (vestige, renegade, etc..) so it's not just those outside our borders!