Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I love both Intercal and Edinburgh Imports ...I buy equally from both...I buy lots of my mohair from Intercal....but most of my synthetics from Edinburgh. They are both very efficient and even with the shipping to the UK much cheaper than our UK equivalents for the quantities I buy in.

I'm always on the look-out for a good supplier of faux fur...I have tried a few but as yet ..apart from Edinburgh ...haven't found a good regular supplier...

Jenny

I went to a well established fair yesterday...and I while I don't want to drone on interminably about why the industry is going down the pan...I just wanted to say that the show I went to was busy with customers...(I went to buy bits and pieces)...but yet there were only a handful of artists there.

I have shown at this fair in the past and done very well....but decided not to do it again because artists were dropping out year on year ...being replaced by more and more vintage bears and dolls.  I think when customers have lots of bears to choose from they spend longer at the fair and feel that they have more choice and they are then more likely to buy as a result.

I don't know if anyone on this list was at the National Motorcycle Museum yesterday and thinks the same.....but I was sadly disappointed that there were so few artists there. The folks I talked to had noticed it too...( a couple were collectors)....

It's sad when shows end up like this. When I first started bear making I used to go to this fair to buy fabric and it was magical....but the supplier I normally buy from wasn't even there yesterday....so it's a 'knock-on' effect...

I know that this venue has had problems and the fair spent a couple of years in temporary accomodation...but what used to be one of the most vibrant, bustling shows...is still bustling with collectors....but very few teddy bears for them to buy.

What a sad state of affairs...

Jenny

Amanda, he's lovely.....great face

Jenny

So sweet , Danni...I made a pink bear once..I wasn't keen on it ..but your bear is a lovely subtle pink and goes great with the pearls!!!

Jenny

Wow...what a sweet bear!!

Without seeing it, it's hard to say what you could do....but my advice is, in the future, get one of those really thin bendy barbers combs...they are easily available and you can  use it as a barrier between the scissors and your bear...that way...you don't get bald spots...and you get an even length cut!!!! I use a little eyelash comb for really tiny bears...the type you get at beauty counters...

Jenny

I think probably because if you were sneaky you could...if someone contacted you via your website and offered to buy the bear that way instead... you could pull the auction yourself and that way avoid fees. I guess that might be what they mean?

I think it's normal eBay rules.....they don't want you diverting business elsewhere...fair enough I suppose...they're in it to make money.

Can't you just put it back on wthout the notice?

Jenny

I think I am being totally thick here...but if I list on eBay UK....doesn't my listing automatically come up when anyone does a worldwide search no matter where in the world they are searching?

I had a bear go to Australia...and a couple to the USA....both from a UK listing... I have always thought that language would be the only thing to stop a listing being shown when a someone does a search for worldwide items .

I am starting to wonder if I should also be listing on eBay .com

Jenny

At last...I FOUND it....it's a great site that does all kinds of eyes ..including frogs very probably!!

http://www.kl-glasaugen.de/

Hope it helps....

Jenny

Well the way I do mouths...again it's probably wrong...but after I've embroidered the first layer of my nose...I put in 3 pins in the shape that I want my bears mouth to be...it's usually a triangle but you could easily create a smile by positioning the pins in different positions. Then I wrap the remaining thread from the nose around the pins ...this gives me an idea of how the mouth will look quickly and easily without sewing...when I've found the shape that I feel is right for the bear I then sew the mouth using the pins as a marker.

After I've created the mouth I trim the pile back ..then do one or two more layers of embroidery on the nose itself...it works for me...I think this way is pretty standard..

Jenny

Sue Ann...Really thinking about you..we keep getting up-dates on the hurricane...even though we're in the UK...unfortunately it's news we'd rather not hear...ie ....If only it wasn't happening....

Jenny

I am pretty sure there's a German company that does all kinds of glass eyes....I try to find the address...

Jenny

Hi Hayley...it's simple.....

1   Switch on computer
2   Fill bucket
3   Get husband to mop floor
4   Type email

Easy peasy.......................

Jenny

Yes....unlike floor mopping which is what I am doing now.......!!!

Jenny

Hi Gina....I am definitely an earlier riser...I am always up by 5.30....but this morning I had things on my mind....we have problems at work and it's bugging me...and I find the best way to deal with it is to stuff heads...the bigger the problem the firmer the stuffing!!!!

Jenny

Hi-ya Nancy!!!!....I got up at 4.30 am this morning coz I couldn't sleep.....it's now 7.00 am...and I have stuffed 2 heads.. and put in the neck joints. Now if feel really pleased with myself because I got that done!!!

So pleased that I am now going to make a cup of tea....

Want one?

Jenny

My goodness...how tiny is he? Where did I put my specs..............

Jenny

I think all your work is superb...and I admit wouldn't know where to start with needle-felting....(maybe I should do the course!!)....and I just love Opie....he's stolen my heart!!

Jenny

I am delighted that everything is going so well now. The baby is beautiful...so peaceful...and so untouched by all the worry.

All's well that ends well.........

Jenny

I am just making an apple and strawberry crumble...with custard...

Good idea!!!!
Funny thing that a lot of ex-smokers can relate too...( I have never smoked so I can't) but my husband, who, when we started dating used to have a crafty one ..(and I always used to catch him out)...gave up because I used to nag him relentlessly...is so intolerent of smokers now that he is worse than me. Even in bars and places where smoking is allowed he detests it.

I think this is a quite a common thing...that when smokers do give up there is this challenge then to rid the world of the evil weed.

Jenny

I don't know what you properly call these ..but you can buy leather (or similar )finger protector things which you wear on your finger or thumb to cover a bandage etc....would something like that work?
You can also get leather thimbles....don't ask me where though I have never bought one...I must have tough fingers. The only thing I get is sore wrists sometimes from stuffing...but never so bad I can't work.

Jenny

Most of the people I work with smoke...hairdressers are notorious smokers...one girl in particular nips outside between every client...and comes back stinking....it's disgusting...but it's a free world and she doesn't work near me ...and her clients have never complained...but, when I pick up the telephone after she's used it it makes me feel sick...or she speaks to me when she's just come back from her 'fag-break' I have to look away. She isn't 30 yet and she has a terrible smokers cough...her father died at a young age through a smoking related  lung disease...she smoked through her entire pregnancy...and berated everyone who criticised her as being ridiculous.

You know what I think about smoking....for what it's worth...from a non-smokers point of view ...it's selfish...

Jenny

What a lovely piece ...must have taken ages!!!

Jenny

I agree with Millie...it's total scam...don't correspond with them.... just report 'em to eBay.

They don't deserve the courtesy of a response.

GOOD LUCK!!

Jenny