Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Shelli, Chuancy is to die for.  I can't wait to order some mohair from Intercal.....I just want to use up some of what I have already.  I discovered Intercal right after I bougth a boat-load of mohair somewhere else.:/
Nancy should be home early next week and will post it then...I think you will like it. :D:D:D

I sculpt mine from Polymer clay and sometimes even insert a small nail beofre heat setting them in the oven.  Then I use a really good strong glue, like E600.  I also custom fit each claw to where I want it attahced so it sits at the correct angle and usually have more than one side where it is glued so it really will stay put.  Heres a picture but it is kind of hard to see the claws.

A belated Congratulations!  EVERYONE needs to visit the North Country Teddy Bear forum...Nancy Tillberg and I just spent the last week together and we took a special photo in honor of Shelli...it will be posted there when she returns to Thunder Bay........

By the way...she is an AMAZING person and we had a blast!!!!

Right on Shelli!

Just to add to your ketones.....these are a by product of fat metabolism and can turn a into metabolic acidosis.  This can cause the heart to stop.  Diabetics are at high risk(when blood sugars are very high for prolonged periods) for ketones which are detected in the urine by way of test strips.  Also at risk are people who crash diet.  I don't want to scare anyone...just want to point out to be smart...and like Shari said too, drink LOTS of water.

I love Glucerna, a slow release meal replacement drink designed for diabetics.  Anyone could benefit from these and they taste great...(they should pay me to say that!)  I have one every morning.

Hi Marion,
There is no class size limit and what is really neat about the classes on NCTB is there is a forum for daily conact with the insturctors for questions and comments.  I am not yet finished writing the class but just as soon as I am done ,I will be sending the pattern and all the info to Nancy Tillberg who owns and manages the site.   She also founded and runs the E-Bearz University.  The first class starts at the end of Sept.

Here's my two cents:
I am diabetic times 28 years.  I am now 40 and have never had a weight issue.  I believe that most of it is genetics but even so common sense overrides alomst anything else.

Portion size is one of the worst problems in our country.  They are just plain TOO BIG.  The American Diabetes Asscoiation and the American Heart Association recognizes the diabetic diet as the most complete and balanced way to eat.
This balances protien, fat, and carbs and you NEED all three for a healthy diet.

As much as I hate exercise , I have found a way to get it without feeling like  it is work.  Ballroom dancing.  Lets face it.  Our bodies need exercise for a healthy heart and all around healthy body.  My husband and I Ballroom dance once a week for about 2-3 hours.  We dance very hard and sweat like crazy but it is soooo fun and invigarrating we go home energized and full of energy.
I have showed this picture before, and I am showing it again.....just to show you that I do not "look like a diabetic"...which I have heard since I was 12.

ALSO...a HUGE mistake in dieting is snacking.  Very bad for blood sugars unless you eat,  let's say, ONE apple between breakfast and lunch.

Do not starve yourself.  You will throw your metabolism into "starvation mode" which means you will slow the rate at which you burn calories.

Remember that "sugar free" does not mean carb free.  You do need carbs but no more than about 25 to 60 grams of CHO (carbohydrates) per meal.

Also, when you eat sugar and are sedintary, or don't use it right away, your body converts the suger to fat and it goes straight to storage.  So 'fat free' claims are often misleading for weight control.

I see  a dietician regularly as part of my diabetes mangament and I always want to be educated and learn whatever I can about food and better health.  I just don't believe in fad diets...common sense...that is what works best.;)

phew!  okay I hope I have not bored you !!!

Thanks ladies for the very kind comments. 
Marion, I will be supplying a pattern designed for this course.  It will be approx a 10" bear....not exactly sure because I have only been working on the head so far,  but it will be right around there.

Shari, the class will be ongoing  and will run every about every six weeks. And thank you thank you for the kind kind words.  I have a needle felted faced bear in the works right now that is my favorite to date.  She is not ready for me to photograph just yet.

I have to say that needle felting is addicting......but I guess many aspects of bearmaking/designing/creating are, aren't they?!

Don't worry, ebay will pick up again.  It comes and goes in waves.  Everyone is winding down from the summer...getting kids ready for school...gas prices..ets.....
Eventually they will all find homes...the right homes. 

Here's another one:

Hi HI HI Ladies!  I have been on a whirlwind of summer activities and have not been able to post much..

Anyway,  I would love to write a book but until then I am writing an on line class for needle felting onto a mohair bear.  I am self taught and am eager to share this fun and super creative way of putting expression into a bear.

The class will cover creating the following parts of a bears face:  the cheeks, chin. mouth, brow, and very important:  the under eye area and over the eye area. 
I will also be demonstrating how to add shading.  Those of you who took my airbrushing course (or who already know how to airbrush) can use this method of color application.  Those who don't...not to worry, I will be showing how to shade with markers.

At this very moment I do not have the actual bear to show you that I will be teaching, but here is another  photo of one of my first felted faced bears.  It will be along these lines.

For more info on the class go to www.northcountryteddybears.com

I really like all the photos you are posting.  I LOVE needle felting....it is like a bear pallet!

Great photos ladies.  Here's my two cents:

Hi Danni and Shelli and everyone!  I have really missed this place.  The summer is so very busy here right now...even though it is almost gone:(

There are so many bears and other critters that are clawing inside of me to get out that there does not seem to be enough hours in a day anymore...but it sure gives one something to look forward to .....eh?

You guys are great!

Hi Guys!  I haven't  been posting much lately....very busy.

I have to say I love all your photos, and welcome to all the new people!

I thought I would add my newbies in here...well, here they are....

I do know CR's Crafts has them.  I have thier catalog. If you don't see them on line you may want to call them.

Cute panda Tammy!

Jane not all mink is peiced together.  If you use pelts you get it in all one peice.  If you only want recycled fur then go for mink collar.

Natural white mink is actually a cream color.  You can get "brightened " mink which is pure snow white .  This is a process which is done during the tanning of the fur.  I have a brigthened white mink pelt.  It cost me $125.  This fur is gorgeous.

The very best rabbit fur is REX rabbit.  It has the feel of Chinchilla which is like putting your hand in flour.  It stands straight up.  Unfortunately it can be difficult to find.

Go to www.hideandfur.com   they have to most complete inventory of furs.

We'd love to see some pics Jane!

I agree with many of you ladies about becoming bored and tired of repeating the same bear.
I fly by the seat of my pants and for a bear to truly emerge from my soul it has to be when a bear is ready to show him/her self.  HAVING to make abear does not flow with me well. so I usually stick with one-ofs.

Elieen, I have such a hard time pricing my bears...that's why I like ebay so much.

Really great job Chris!  Love his expression.

YEAH Danni!!!!  How thrilled you must have been to see your work published!  Laminate and keep it forever!

I too need to subscribe to that magazine..........anyone have the address?

SUper Shelli!  You are an asset to this indusrty.

May I also make another suggestion.  Write to your local newspaper.  You would be amazed at how many people close to you are so unaware of this type of wonderful art.  I have had articles written about me and my bears a few times in our local and county paper.  It is a human interest topic, one that reporters have been eager to offer the public...some happy news for a change. 

Jane , Hayle...really cute bears!

I am designing a center seam bear with two front-of-the-head side peices, and two back-of-the-head side peices.  This way I can create the bears cheek area fuller.  I am also doing a separate muzzle.  I also have a bear head dsign that has over 15 pieces.  Not one of my favorite bears to do anymore...extemely fiddley...it is the same design as my tiger head in a different post.

SHelli, my head is often in tohousands of pieces too...must be an artist thing....so many ideas always trying to get in!!!LOL

Hayley , you give such good advice, and Shelli, and all of you!

I have always said this too...A picture is worth a thousand words!  How true!

Your pictures are even more important than your description.  I have seen very lengthy descriptions for bears going into every detail and the pictures are very mediocre.  On the other hand I have seen wonderful bears with very little text added.  A happy medium would be great pictures with an accurate pleasant and not to lengthy description.

I have  people email me with questions that would be answered in my despription...but this only shows me the many people go straight to the pictures.  Vision is our strongest sense and your bear needs to speak to your audience through your photos.

My pictures got much better when I bought a light tent.   It made  HUGE difference.  I also like to go outside on an overcast day to get natural filtered light.  You never want direct sunlight it can cause unattractive shadows...and may make your bear squint!  Also, natural light shows true color.  I never need to tweek my outdoor pictures.

In this business you need to sell yourself.  Like Sue Ann said, advertising in magazines is a great way to show your bears.  It is expensive but worth it.  Not everyone goes on line and some people just plain don't "do" ebay.

Mee too...I am a mohair-fur-and-all sorts-of-supplies-aholic!!!  Dilu, I have quadrupled that amount in one year.  I hate doing taxes but the more you can add up the more you can write off.  Add everthing...including ebay fees.:D

Big Hugs Marie!  What a shock this must have been for you...especially when it is someone you deid not even know.  Glad to hear you are seeking leagal advice.  I just can't see how you would be responsible for someone else's debt.

Good luck sweetie.
Big hugs , Judi

Same here.  I think opening your doors to overseas buyers is a great thing to do.  I have bears in eleven countries through ebay, and have never lost a package yet. Although I have had one package get lost in the mail traveling to the next state over, Illionois.  Thank goodness I insured the package.

Some countries like England and New Zeland have what's called a VAT, Value Added Tax, like Shelli said, it can add quite a bit to the final cost for the buyer.  Some overseas buyers will ask you to declare the value to be much less than what they actaully paid......shady gray area there...risky too.

I am thrilled when I get to ship overseas.  It's neat knowing that my bears live all over the world.  The rules are different in each country.  I found that when shipping to Japan you cannot insure the package.  It normally takes seven to ten days for a bear to arrive to almost any country.  However there can be delays in customs.  I had a bear just this past Christmas, spend more than four weeks in customs in New Zealand.

  I have great faith in our postal system (gee I hope I didn't just jinx myself!).

I agree agree with what so many of you are saying.  SHelli and Sue Ann you hit the nail on the head.  I feel the more areas you can get your work out there the better.  DOn't sweat it.  Things often go in cycles and this is the time of year where I have often seen a slow down on ebay.

North Country Teddy Bears offers a free place to list bears for sale.  nancy Tillberg is such a creative and innovative talented person who really keeps up on how to get things noticed on the internet.  Check out that site and see for yourself. www.northcountryteddybears.com     

I know of someone who runs a co-op add page for Teddy Bear and Friends.  I know she is always looking for people to join in.  There is never an on going obligation to advertise.  You can run an 8th of a page for $250.  If youwant more info on how to contatc her please let me know.

Even though ebay has slowed donw, I am still listing my bears.  I have had to put lower reserves on some but I will not sell myself short.  Things will bounce back.  Think positive.