Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Oh Sue Ann...how aweful!  I have heard how terrible a bite can be from those kinds of spiders.  Glad you're okay.

Most bugs don't bother me but I really HATE spiders.  I heard in your average lifetime you will eat something like 6 spiders a year.  Nice... NOT!

I was cutting out a bear while sitting outside on a quilt...just enjoying being with my children and in the sun.   WELL......a fastard ( fast ***tard spider) quickly crawled on to my leg just above my left foot.  My daughter shrieked, "MOM!!!!!! A SPIDER!!!!!"  and with scissors in hand I reacted with lightning speed to brush it away......scissors in hand, mind you.  I thought I was going to need stitches.  I gashed open my leg and it bled on and off for the rest of the day.  Boy , did I feel dumb!

Jean I love your story too.   Especially the part about the "fur"niture!!!;)

The reason I think I love animals so much is that they never criticize, they don't care if you are not all fixed up, and they love you back unconditionally (a lot like my husband).  He's a gem.

Sue Ann, I really like those fuzzy catterpillars too.  In fact, I have even stopped the car on our counrty road, to pick up a fuzzy bear caterpillar(you can see them crossing the road they are so big) for my kids to hold.  One time my daughter was holding a catepillar in the house and she lost him.  WELL...I was drying myself off after a shower and felt something prickley on my back...her caterpillar was on the towel!!!  I was excited to tell her we had found "fuzzy".

I can't tell you how many funerals we have had for lost loved critters...even birds that have flown into our windows and have died, and a stick bug that my daughter adored.  I always encourage my children to enjoy the creatures around us and let then be...except if a spider is in the house...sorry...that has to be squashed...arachnaphbioa here.  I leave them alone if they are outside though.

Boy I am re3ally playing catch up here.  What super ideas you all have with dyes.

I like the lighter colored mohairs and furs.  This way the airbrushing shows up really well.  My favorite colro has to be pink but I , like many of you, tend to be drawn towards natural colors for bears.

Like Danni said...variety is the spice of life.

It sure is fun to experiment too.

Golly Geepers!  I have been away from this board for a few days and now I have to play catch up!

I have to say I just LOVE all your Golly pictures!

When I was a young child we immigrated to the USA from England.  We had Golly toys and my parents told us later that they had to be careful not to take the golliwogs out in public as they were not seen as politically correct.

It is a shame that many black people get offended by them  I think they are charming dolls..especially the ones you ladies posted.  There are lots of white dolls that are quite silly and goofy looking but they have never offended anyone that I know of...how about any of you?

Dr. Wyane Dyer says that people need to "stop getting offended.  If you want to get offended you won't ever have to look far.  It is a choice."

Also, what talent is turning up on this board!  Pianists, opera singers...wow!

Dilu...I knew the seahores was preganant because it had over nine babies...but then they all died:(

Crisw:  I LOVE goats!!!  I had three and they were just like dogs...they came when they were called....and when I went outside they woud see me and call ''Ma-a-a-a-a".  They make wonderful pets!  I want more.

Nina:  love your horse pics.  They are lucky tohave you:)

Nancy is a super resource. 

Also you can look up the Library of Congress for copyright forms.  You can print them from the internet.   You need to submitt a copy of your design pattern and a photo of the finshed product.  It costs around $35.00 per submission.

I LOVE all your stories!!!

Okay here goes.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE animals.  When we would goto someones house when I was small..and even older...I seemed to always connect to the family pet.  Animals know when you like them.

Here is my list...that I can remeber off the top of my head:

As I was growing up I have had:
-Cats
-Dogs
-A seahorse (pregnant)
-various turltes , terrapins and land
-numerous reptiles including, skinks, anoles, a true chamelion, and several green and mexican igauanas
- frogs, toads
-numerous tropical fish
-water crabs
-hermits crabs
-newts
-hamsters-gerbils and guinea pigs
-two white mice
-cockatiel
-parakeets
-rabbit

Then when I got married:
-Nebian Goat named "Nellie"
-two pygmy goats "Laura" and "Djali"
-Two Llamas "Girlfriend" and "Dolly Llama"
-Two house cats
-malti-poo dog (smaller than our cats)
-ever changing numbers of barn cats
-over 170  registered Holstien cattle

I wanted a ferret but my husband said he would sleep in the barn if I got one ...he hates rodents and weasles in any shape or form!

When I was 14 we went to the ocean and I hunted for live crabs and starfish instead of boys.
  Instead of playing with Barbie Dolls I spent all my child hood years in a swamp next to our house scooping up tad poles, crayfish and brine shrimp.  It was some kind of heaven for me.

I dove into a river to grab a HUGE snapping turtle...got my pretty pink and white outfit full of mud.  I only wanted to have a closer look at him.

I brought home a baby bird, who had fallen from his nest.  Dug up worms and fed him.  Later I released him.

This year I drove a injured bird to a Wild Life Sanctuary in Green Bay,and tried to nurse some orphaned mice back to health (unsuccessfully)

In highschool I had summer jobs at a dog baording kennel and a pet shop.

As an artist, all my life  animals have always been my favorite subject to paint and draw.

YEAH...I'd say I am an animal person!!!

Daphne, I think your bear turned out great!  Especially for a first time piant brushing on a bear.  I like what you said about the wheels on your hubby's mustang!!!!:D  Keep up the good work!

Dilu,  Your hubby sounds like a very considerate guy!  The tiger I airbrushed requires quite a lot of hours and really good control of an airbrush.   "Funny " little story:  I entered this exact airbrushed jean jacket(pictured in earlier post) in our county fair several years ago.  It won first place and then one of the judges asked me if it was an iron-on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  WHAT???!!!  I could not believe it...I explained to her that this was an ORIGINAL free hand acrylic airbrushed one-of-a-kind pianting. Ie ie ie yi yi yi yi yi .!  I was pretty insulted.

I used to draw and piant tigers all through high school so I was really in tune with all the colors and details on a tigers face.  This particular tiger was my first attempt at airbrushing a tiger,  I had about four years of airbrushing experience before doing it.  On my website in the art gallery there are other examples of my airbrushed paintings.  The one called "Ghost Horse" I did when I was 18 years old and only airbrushing for about 6 months.

Airbrushing on bears is a cake walk by comparison to airbsuhing a painting.  The tiger painting took me a week to complete,......while I can airbrush an entire teddy bear in about ten minutes or less.  It is like the icing on a cake!...only it doesn't make you fat!!! hee hee hee.

In the class I walk you through everything step by step.....but the sky is the limit as to where you can take it.  The more you do, the better you will become and the more confidence you will gain to be able to try different things.  I can tell youthat I am having a blast with airbrushing on my bears...it is like watching them come alive right before my eyes.  I hope you will fell this way too about your bears!

HUGGIES
Judi

I can't remember exactly how long it was before I started making my bears enitrely from my own designs.  Like most of you, I too started from commercial patterns ...but they weren't "me".  I wanted my bears to reflect my inner self.  It can be tricky sitting down and drawing something two dimensional while picturing it three dimensional.  Trial and error.

I am sure that those of you who design your original patterns feel a huge sense of accomplishment.  I know I do.   If you are going to call yourself a "bear artist"  your bears should be your own original designs...other wise you are a bear maker.  There is nothing wrong with that but there is nothing like creating your own designs from scratch.  Almost like having a baby..without the pain. (just kidding!)

Bless you.  All of you. I can't tell you what all of your kinds words mean to me, but it runs very deep.  I really needed this.

When you think of your loved ones that have crossed over and you feel goose bumps (like I am right this moment) I believe it is those loved ones trying to show us that they are with us.  It is such a wonderful feeling.

A neighbor of ours lost her husband in a farming accident.  This was a few years ago when I first started making bears.  I did not know what to say.  It was aweful for her.  He was struck in the head by a hay bailer.  Anyway, I made her a little mink bear and took it over to her.

Another friend of ours lost thier 6 year old son two years ago.  His father was picking him up from a Saturday CCD class and was parked across the street.  His little boy saw him and excitedly ran across the road to hug his daddy.  A big red pick up truck slammed into him killing him in front of his father.   The teenage driver just kept going and did not return to the scene of the accident.  Aweful aweful aweful..... I made his mom a mink bear which she keeps in a curio cabinet with some of her son's treasured things.

What else can we do?  It feels so good to be able to give a tiny itty bit of love to someone in need by giving them a bear and showing them you care.  Using your talent to help others...no matter how big or small......well....doesn't it make it all worth while...being in this business?

Would love to hear any other stories.  I think they are very inspirational.

I want to copy all these posts by all of you lovely ladies so I can save them and read them when I am feeling down.  Thank you for all your hugs, Donna, Laura, Laure, Winney, Shelli, Eileen, Dilu, Nancy, Sue Ann, and EVERYONE else that has had a kind thought, word, and prayer.

Winney I think that is a wonderful idea to have a 'soft room' at police stations.  I know you are all familiar with Nancy Tillberg, bear artist, author, computer wiz (had to add that!) and a good friend of mine.  She has helped me a lot through this.  She is a police officer in Canada and she told me she carries teddy bears in her patrol car incase she needs to give one to a child in need..maybe frightened by an accident or any other reason where they may need some extra comfort.

  Eileen that is so interesting what you said about your experience when your father passed.  Amazing.  At exactly 5:45 CST I was wide awake on Aug 29th.  It was a Sunday.  I am NEVER up that early.  I told my husband as he was getting ready to go out and milk the cows, that I was so wide awake...and I wanted to sleep in.  I ended up just getting up and putsing around...I felt wierd.

ANYWAY, the police report stated my sister's time of death was 6:45 EST which is 5:45 our time .....exactly the time I looked at my clock.  My husband pointed that out to me.  Isn't is strange how things like this occur.  I guess we just don't know what goes on, on the other side.  I wonder if teddy bears are allowed there?

I am so glad I had the courage to share this with you.  I have been wanting to for a while ...but was a bit nervous how the reaction would be and I have to say I am over whlemed by your responses.  I know I am gushing a bit here but I think this subject is worthy of it.  I wish I had found out about this forum a long time ago.

(((((((HUGS!!!)))))))
Judi

Oh Ladies. Thanks you ever so much for your kind words.  I am deeply touched....and flattered beyond words that you think so kindly of me.

Have you heard of the song, Prayer of Saint Frances?  It is also a hymn at our church.  I heard Dr. Wayne Dyer's daughter sing it on Wisconisn Public Television and it stoped me cold.  The first line reads..." Let me be a channel for your peace"  Dr. Wayne Dyer pointed out that St. Frances was not asking God to bring him more peace...he was asking God to make him a channel for his peace.  I cannot even begin to tell you how I that has changed my life.  I say those words several times a day and I get chills.

EVERYONE:  I HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND Dr. Wayne Dyer's new book..."The Power of Intention"  I watched him on Wisconsin Public Television doing a talk about it.  His words changed my life in such a profound positive way, I wish everyone could see this.  I am looking for the DVD that was shown on TV. .  While I was wacthing , I was going to do my sewing....I was so gripped by his every word that I could not sew.  Instead I grabbed a pad and paper and started writing things down.

You never get over something like this.  You only learn to live with it.  Thank you very much for allowing me ot share this with you...it really does help.

big hugs! Judi

Wow what wonderful stories Winney.

I think I would like to share a special story with you...is is sad though.

August 29th 2004, 8:45am,  I got a call from my dad.  He sounded very sad.  He said, " I have some terrible news. There was a fire at Lorna's (my sister) house, and no one got out."......my heart sank to my toes. "no no no NO NO NO!"  I screamed.  My sister Lorna, her husband Mike, and thier 9 year old son, Hayden all died.  I was hysterical. ....... and I had to be to one to call my mom . 

Then 20 minutes later, my dad called me back.  He said, " Judi, It gets worse."....how can it possibley get worse!?  He said, " The police said it looks like a murder suicide."  Dear God! no no no no.  This was a happy , beautiful family...they had everything.

To make a very long story a bit shorter:  Mike Waleskowski, my sister's husband ,was a police officer for the City Of Waterford, Michigan.  He had been a highly respected police officer for 17 years.  Not one scratch on his record..ever.  In fact he was awarded the MADD (mothers against drunk drivers) award five years in a row.  He adored my sister and thier son.  The sun rose and set on his wife and child....which in a twisted way, his murdering them was a twisted act of love.  He could not let them feel his shame.  That is what he wrote in his suicide note.
Mike,stole $466.00 form a police lock up that belonged to a prisioner.  He neede to pay a tax bill, is what he said....and he was trying to figure out how to return the money.   He was caught on tape, confronted, and suspended.  They drove him home in mid shift which was 3am.  Loran and Hayden were asleep.  By 4am he has typed the murder suicide note.  His son was "camping" in a makeshift tent in the family room.  He shot him in the head while he slept.....carried his body upstairs and placed him next to my sister.  He shot her in the head, shot the dog and wraped the dog Ginger, in a blanket and placed her on the bed too.  He then torched the house and shot himself.  They were found all together.

Three fire fighters were hospitalized trying to save one of thier own.  One fell through the second flour to the basment.

The devastation this has brought to so many people is unbeliveable.  They were all so well liked in thier neighborhood and community.  When I got tho thier house, thier were stuffed animals lined upo along the garage door with notes from Hayden's classmates...he was to start 5th grade on Monday. The neighborhood held candle vigils outside the charred house two nights in a row.  The community was in shock....not to mention my family.

Many of you may have heard the story.  It was so horrendous it made national news, and headlines for more than a week in the Detroit area.  We even had to have police protection at the funeral home to keep the press out our faces.  My own doctor heard about it and personally came over to my house with a big basket of lavender scented goodies.

Mike was not a horrble person.  He loved his family very much.  We don't hate him.  He must have been in a very dark place at that very moment.

Needless to say my bears came to a screeching halt.  I had just started needle felting on wool and couldn't wait to tell my sister about it.  SHe and I were very close.  SHe was 15 months older than me.  We grew up together...my mom said we were like twins.  Hayden was my Godchild.  He was bright,  talented, smart, and just a gorgeous little boy. Mike was a doting father who did so much with his family.

I needed to start healing.  Writing and sharing my story really helps me to heal.  I designed a special bear in memory of my sweet Hayden.  I named the bear ,
"Hayden's Cub".    Then I heard about the Steiff contest.  I was not sure if I even wanted to enter.  There was no way I would make the top six...but what have I got to loose.  Well, I left it to the last possible minute to send him off.  In fact, I did not even think I would make the cut off deadline.  My mom did not want me to send him or ever sell him.  He was too special...and the bear even looked like Hayden.  I sent him.

A couple of months later I got a call from Steiff.  Hayden's Cub was chosen for First Place.  They said they loved his eyes.  I KNEW my nephew made my bears eyes twinkle for the judges.  oh, how I wish my sister could know this.  How proud she would be.

"Hayden's Cub was created in the loving memory of a little boy who will never grow old.  He represents the child in us all who will never outgrow the warmth of a teddy bear"

I have to say that at this moment I am the happiest I have been since the death of my family members.  A great deal of this has come through connecting with such nice peolpe as you all are in this forum....and of course my faith.

Teddy bears have saved my life.

Thanks so much for letting me share this with you.  It was not easy for me to type with tears in my eyes.

BIG HUGS to youall,
Judi

I HATE HOUSE CLEANING.  I have a cleaning lady who comes every other week to clean my bathrooms and do all our floors....we recently added a 900 sq ft to our house.....but I do do the laundry, and the vaccuuming and take care of three kids, one who is 2 1/2, and help with our cows when needed(cows!!!! now that is work..eeehhhh)...having someone come in to clean was my hubby's idea so I could have more time to work on my art/bears.  But I find myself cleaning ..a lot... just before she comes ....LOL LOL LOL!  Well, at least it gets our house cleaned.

I can't beleive how much cats can shed!!!!!  Our 9 pound dog  does not shed at all but the cats!!!!!  We have a short haired and a long haired cat, two of them.  They each are bigger than our dog.  I have not tried felting thier fur but I think I may give it go just to see what happens. 

Eileen , you don't need to cut up the fur fibers.  If youknow how to 'card' , that would remove the guard hairs.  I don't know how to do carding and don't even want to try.  What I would do is just have at it....just needle felt the brushings from my cat and if any guard hairs are sticking out , then cut them off flush with your work.  I have needle felted arctic fox fur and is was quite slippery to work with , unlike most wool.  It worked okay but I like wool more.

I bet that would work fine , Dilu, since the bear would not be boucning around.  Great idea!

HI Picobaby!

Welcome!

I have been airbrushing for more than 20 years.  Airbrushing works fabulous on mohair and fur bears.  I have airbushed bears both in mohair and real fur,  and have done airbrushed paintings on board, and clothing.  I have even machine washed sweat shirts I have painted, many many times and the paint stays true to color, soft , and flexible. 

I use acrylic, which are water based, paints.  This kind of paint goes on very well and stays very soft and flexible.   Airbrushing should look and feel soft to the touch, so you never want to paint heavily.  The key to making it permanent is to heat set the paint.  You can do this with a hair dryer, or if you are painting a length of mohair using your clothes dryer will work.  NEVER put a finished bear in the dryer...I don't think any bear would like that very much...and of course it could damage him/or her.

Hope this helps...and I hope you have fun here!

Thank you very much , Ladies!  Yes, Shelli, I want to enter her into the Toby/Golden Teddy for  next time.   

Does anyone know of any other contests out there that she and her bunnies would be right for?

Dilu, yes I corded around her eyes and needle felted the eye area closest to her eyes.  The white mohair you see is behind the felting.

:):):):D:D:D:D:cool:

Hello everyone!

I wanted to share a couple of photos with you.

This is "Snow Bear and the Seven Dwarf Hares"  She is my original design and the bunnies too.

I would have entered her in the ACE Awards but can't because I am an instructor at E-Bearz University.  That makes me ineligible.  I took the first photo and the second one was taken professionally.

I know the pics ar a bit large but they need to be so you can see the Dwarf hares. Thanks for letting me share!  Also,if you haven't noticed....snow bear is also in my avatar.;)

Hi Dawn,

I do lots of airbrushing with acrylics and it is totally washable once it is heat set.  As far as the copic markers go, I do know that they feel stiffer than acrylic airbrushed paints but I don't know if they are color fast.  I like Penny's idea.  You could also try cutting a small piece of your painted mohair and hand wash it to see what happens.  Heck, if the inks run it might even make a really nice effect...ya never know!

Hi Dilu,

Men can be short on words sometimes, can't they!?  LOL

You can sign up for the class , if you like, for May 15th, right on the NCTB website.  You won't be starting late.  You can read the material and print it out,  OR, you can sign up for the class after that.  They will keep running every 5 weeks, I think it is every 5 weeks...it may be 6.  I would have to check...my brain can't hold in everything. hee hee.  Anyway, the classes will continue to run.    If you ever have any questions, you know where to find me!

Gorgeous eyes ,Shelli!!!  And what a great close-up shot too!

Super Dilu.  We'll get you pianting in no time!  That's okay Dilu, not to have your airbrush this very minute.  You won't actually start painting until the third chapter.  The first two lay the ground work.  We'll have lots of fun!!!

I don't know whay you did not get my email...hhhmmmm....I always answer them...may it is lost in cyber space.

Hi Chris, Nice bear in your avatar.

There are several ways to paint the backsides of eyes.  To add to what Laura said, you can use acrylics, and paint in any pattern form you like.  The best thing to do is to experiment.  There are no rules here as to what order of colors to use, light to dark or dark to light...it doesn't matter when painting eyes.   Try different ways and see if you can come up with your own unique look.

I tend to paint the backside of my eyes a bit different each time.  It keeps things interesting.  Some times I use dots, or lines, streakes, or blended shades.  Some times even nail polish, like Laura said.  It can add some shimmer and dimension.

Play and have fun!

Hi Ladies...Thanks!  I appreciate the kind comments.  I wanted to show you all what can be done with airbrushing since there is not a lot of it out there.

Daphne,   Good visual for the CO2 tank!  Exactly what you said!

I have never used oils with an airbrush.  The problem I see with using oils is that they take longer to dry.  The beauty of using acrylics through an airbrush is that you can layer the paint in a very short time frame as the piant should dry almost on contact.  When prepared correctly, the paints run very smoothly.

Laure, I sure don't have a name for my style, but I think it sure would be neat to have one!  I do teach airbushing in the class also with the copic markers. I wanted to try it to see how it would work.  The copic markers are not for a serious artist.   I mean no disrespect, at all,  to Edinburgh as I know they carry the Copic system, but in all fairness to my art form and to other artists who wish to venture there I think they should hear from someone who has many years of experience in airbrush art.... let me explain:

The Copic system does not allow for you to work close to your surface.  The spray is wide and you are unable to adjust it (it's kind of like balancing your check book with sidewalk chalk... I  do LOVE sidewalk chalk but only for the right application...on my driveway)  It also has a bit of an upward directional spray which I found to be awkard.  You cannot control the pressure and the cannisters of compressed air are expensive and run out quickly. 

On the other hand. the Copic System works well for coloring/painting larger areas of your work.  I, personally, like to work up close with detail around the eye, nose, and mouth area of a bear, so this does not really work for me.     I do like the copic markers for adding detail on thier own.  I think they are very effective and come in a wide range of colors.  So in that sense, I like the markers, just not with the air gun.

If you really want to get into airbrushing a commercial airbrush is the best choice.  I have had fun with the copic markers, with the airgun, working on some art posters with my daughter...the great part was ...no clean up!  I have aslo had fun using the markers, without the airgun, to add detail around the eye area, layering the colors from lighter one, to darker.  It is great fun to experiment to see what works for you.

Sugar Babe, It sounds like you already have some experience.  Why not give it go on your bears.  Instead of getting your airbrush fixed, you can buy a nice one for under $50.00 on ebay.  Look up airbrush. or Paasche , or the specific type of airbrush you want to replace.:D  I was very nervoius the first few times I airbrushed on a bear as I was afriad to ruin it.  Once you get past that the results are very rewarding.:D:D

Elieen, to answer your question about what a CO2 tank is...it is a heavy cylinder shaped unit that containes liquid CO2 or carbon dioxide.  When it is released it turns into a gas, the same gas as you would exhale when you breathe.

When a pressure gauge is attached to this unit you can control the amount of pressure, or flow, that is released.  This creates a "air" flow suitable for using an airbrush....or for making beer like Dilu's hubby!!!!!!:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::cool:

The tiger pictured above is entirely an original design and I airbrushed him free hand style.  It took me about a week to do as very very fine layers and layers and layers of color( acrylic paints ) was needed to build up to get the depth I wanted.

Dilu.  I generally use only a single action Paasche "H" airbrush.  It has been tried and true for more than 20 years for me.  I have also used Thayer & Chandler, and Paasche VL, and Badger.  I thought the Badger was pretty good too.

I'll show you one more airbrushed painting.  I did this whenI was 18 years old.  I had been airbrushing for about 6 months.  This is acrylic paints on a piece of cold press art baord.:This too, is an original painting.