Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

AMEN DILU!!!!!! and YAY!!! WE FINALLY GET TO SEE YOU>  I am so happy to be able to put a face to all these posts!

Eileen!  He looks sooooo cute !  But do you have a close up photo so we can see his details?  Don't be shy, he is adorable.  So glad to finally see a bear from you!!!  YAY!!

Hey, I just got my copy of Teddy Bear Review with the Golden Teddy Nominees......

Shelli and Sue Ann have thier BEAUTIFUL creations in the same category.....!!!!!!!!!

Can I vote twice?

Hello,
I just want everyone to know that airbrushing on real fur bears is safe and in no way harms real fur or even mohair for that matter.

I have been an airbrush artist for more than 20 years and I also add this wonderful appication to my bears, both on real fur and mohair.  It is permanent and has no adverse side affects to fur or mohair. 

I do not think it is very nice or for for people to put in thier listings that this is not something that should be done on fur.

We are all artists here and each of us is unique and have wonderful ways of making our bears uniquely our own.  No one should ever criticize anothers way of creating such warm and wonderful creatures!

Sorry if I sound prickly but this is upsetting to me when I work so hard, like the rest of you, to make my bears special.  We were all friends here.

Hey, The nonsense is what keeps it real!  We can pour our personalities out amongst fellow artist's  .....after all, artist's are a breed all thier own.  We have to goof off in the "classroom"  sometimes.   This is a great outlet to be ourselves and talk bears too.

YES< Shelli...I was refering to Steve's Crock-speak!  But I still think he is rather cute.

Danni, what do you think about the Wiggles?  They are an Aussie lot ! They sing songs about teddy bears too.

Marion, if you think you are a geek , then I am one too because I feel the same way you do.:|

Laure, you look just like your bears!!!  You too Paula!!!  I love all these pictures.  Keep 'em coming!!

Marie,   I use Loc-line in the arms of my bears without using the x or y joints.  What you do is this:

Take a nail and heat it up over a candle.  Hold the nail with pliers or vice grips so as to not burn your hands.  I prefer vice grips.

Press the heated nail into the end of the loc-line to create a hole. all the way through.

Use a long cotter pin and insert into the hole and then into the disc.  Wella!  It is very easy and then you can joint the arm as you would with a cotter pin.

Hope this helps!

Judi

Co Blimey Mate!  Look at the size of 'im!!!   He's Gor-jus!

Wow, how creative Dillywoo!  I may just have to try that.  Vanilla voda...hhmmm what would you call that?  Does it even have a name?  How about Dilly Bean?

Millie, I too, love the smell of a horse barn.  Here on our farm we only have Holstein cattle.  My hubby keeps the barn very clean and we have fans on one end which really keeps everything well ventilated.  It smells really nice...like the earth...grassy, earthy, and hayish (if that is even a word).  Hay smells really good.  The only time we smell maure is when our poop pit is being agitated to get ready for field spreading...I like to stay indoors at that time....only two days out of each year.

Dilu, can't wait to see your Willy Wonka chocolate stash bear....  if your hubby smells the chocolate just tell him it is perfume.  tee hee.

Daphne, I think often times the reason people put too much perfume on is because, they, thenselves want to smell it.  If you notice, after you put perfume on you don't smell it very strong yourself, even though others can smell it.  The reason is because your olfactory nerves (the nerves that sense smell) become overloaded and desensitized, if you will.  I find myself overloading on Happy Heart by Clinique and it chokes my husband.  LOL  But I love it so much!!!

I thought "wonky" was Dilu's word...she's our Wonky Girl!!!  Right?  Dillywonk!

oh my GOSH!  You guys are hilarious!!! I am laughing my a#* off right now!!!  I couldn't top those if I tried!!!:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Sue Ann, I just love the expression on your little teddy.  I do love that big head look too!

Winney, I myself LOVE scented things but I agree that maybe it is not a great idea to scent bears with floral smells . I think it bothers a lot of people.

Only Shelli could find such things!!!  Chocolate perfume....Dilu...what do you think...any chocolate bears in the future???hhhhhhmmmmmm. 

I am totally into aroma therapy!
BUT...I am having a hard time trying to imagine the "dirt" scented perfume.  Ya know...I live on a farm...I could come up with some interesting "scented things"   

Great poem Rita.  Thanks for sharing.  I don't know anyone who couldn't use words of wisdom at some time or another.

Penny you are so funny!  What part of the UK are you from?  I was born in Derbyshire Spondon.  My mom (mum) is from Liverpool and my dad, Melton Mowbray.  We immigrated to the USA when I was 7 months old.

Shelli, I would love to eat at that resturaunt.  They have one in Disney World, Orlando...I think we will have to try it...plus it is nice a cool inside the Pirates of the Caribbean.  It is going to be REALLY hot there next month (and they charge $2.50 for a bottle of H2O).

Dilu, I wish I had a lap top.  Maybe one day.  I wonder if our hotel will have computers for guests to use...hhhmmmm I know I should try to abstain from the computer for a few days...but.......I would love to have at least one peek while we're there.;)

Winney...wow, $6 to get in.  I think it is $65 a head in Orlando for the Magic Kingom.

Did you guys know that Mickey Mouse has his own bear?  It has an inset face in the shape of Mickey's head with his ears.  I think I am going to try to get a pink one when we go down there....anybody want one?  dare I ask?

Well so far I think you ladies look WONDERFUL!  And YES, Marion, you DO look like your beautiful bears.  I really love the one laying on his side:D

Sue Ann. YAY!!  I finally get to put a face to all your posts:D:D:D:D:P You look great!

I think our bears reflect our inner selves.

I am definitely hoping, and wanting, to see more of you out there.:D

Hi Ladies (and Gentlemen),

I posted this same thread on Nortrh Country Teddy Bears Forum (by the way you should all go a visit there too).

I thought it was too fun of a topic not to start here as well.

I have been told that I look like my bears.  I think that is  not neccessarily obvious features (ie big nose, big feet) but rather the overall essence the bear portrays of it's creator.  Being an artist I put my heart and soul into my work...a part of me is in them.  I am sure you can relate.

When some of you posted pictures on NCTB it was amazing to see that , YES, you do look like your bears!  EVen if YOU do not think so, I  bet we will see the similarities.

SOOOOO, lets see some pictures ladies.  Lots of pictures please!
Here's mine (taken on my 40th birthday :))

Laure, Ebay is fun and very easy to do.

I like paypal because it is convenient and easy for many of my buyers,,,especailly overseas.  I have a premeire busniess account with paypal so I can accept credit cards with unlimited amounts.  A basic paypal account limits you to only being able to accept $600 every three months.  Now, that may have changed...it has been a while since I upgraded my account.  There is a 4% fee ..that is the only downside.

An e-check means that someone is paying you with funds from their personal bank account so it takes three to four business days for the funds to clear.  Credit cards should work right away...HOWEVER...there is a risk of "charge backs".  I like to transfer my funds to my bank shortly after I recieve it...I too worry a bit that paypal or some one else may try to hack in a steal .   

WARNING:  there is A LOT of paypal SPAM out there with no-goods trying to "update" your paypal information.  You never want to respond to any email from "paypal"...just in case...instead, go to your paypal account.  If there are any "updates" needed it will be posted on your account.

I really think they do try to make it safe and fool proof but there always seems to be some people who try to outsmart computers and do wrong.

I have been using paypal for about 6 years with out any problems so far...hhhmmm maybe I shouldn't have said that!

It is good to hear all your thoughts and stories.

Hi Shelli...I thought it was  bit quiet without you here.  Happy anniversary!

YAY, Disney!!!  We are going next month for seven days down in Florida.  We don't get away from the farm much so it will be REALLY fun....but I am wondering how I will be ...being away from my computer for that many days.:(

YAY MARIE!!

ps...Dilu, I'll swim upstream with you any day...AND it will help to burn off the extra chocolate!:D

Great idea Dilu.  I would have to agree with you on colroing the darker thread...but like everything else in this forum...there doesn't seem to be a rule-of-thumb for anything.

That's what is so great about this place...so many ideas pooled together.:D

Okay guys, then I must be totally nutso...I have so many bears...I talk to them, and sleep with some of them and a few even travel in my car with me.  This is the norm around my house...if I leave the house without Bob and Sasse (two 10" bears)...my daughters will say ,"Wait , Mom!!!"...... and the run into the house to get them for me.:)

You get used to people thinking that we, bear artist's, make "toys"....ahhh but what expensive "toys" they are indeed!
I too, have often found myself explaining that what I do is a form of art...then I whip out the minin photo album...I like to let my bears do the talking.:D

Welcome Jossan...we have "met" already:D  and Kbonsal!

In Wisconsin we too have to register a Business name so we can pay taxes...BUT...at the same time everything I buy for my bears is a tax write-off too.  SO it works both ways.  It is wise to register because the LAST thing you want is a tax audit.   

AMEN, Jane!!!  We must all be alike:D

OOOOOOOOO right up my alley!  Thanks for the kind words too Shelli!:)

Crisw,
I have been airbrushing for more than 20 years (22 to be exact;)).  I learned on the Passhe H single action airbrush.  It is an external mix / bottom draw paint flow.  Single action means that to you only need one action to paint.  You push down on a button and the paint mixes with the air. 

Dual, or double, action means that to paint requires TWO movements.  One- to push down on the top button for airflow, and Two- pull back the button while pressing, for paint flow.

I have used the Passche VL and thought it was a very good airbrush ...HOWEVER...for a first time airbrusher I do not recommend dual action.  This airbrush did tend to clogg a bit more and the long needle of a dual action can bend very easily and then you cannot piant at all.

The Thayer and Chandler 'AA' I used for when I professionally did photo retouching.  This is a very fine airbrush  and quite expensive.  I paid $182.00 more than ten years ago.  You wouldn't need one like this for airbrushing on bears.

I have also used a Badger Airbrush which I also thought was very good.

The airbrush I use the most...which is tried and true times 22 years.... is my Passche H.  Below is a picture of what can be done entirely freehand.  You can get a lot of detail with this airbrush.  I love it.

I will also post a few pictures of airbrushing on bears.  These were all done with the Passche H:






Okay, I think that is enough pictures...sorry if I got a bit carried away.  It is hard to pick just one picture as an example of airbrushing on a bear.  There are so many different effects you can get that the possibilites are endless.

The reason I use the Passche H the most is because it is very reliable, easy to use, and cleans up quickly.  They retail for around $45.00.  On ebay you can often find them for less.  I would buy a brand new one, though, not used.  The tips of an airbrush are soft brass and can bend very easily if not carefully handled.

For more examples of airbrushed art and airbrushed bear visit my website  www.luxembears.com