Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Folks! I love the browns for bears but since my two daughter have bought some bright coloured mohairs I have made pinks, blues reds and my latest (on the front page of my website) is bright orange. I can say that Sarah and Eve have really converted me to being more adventurous.
Dilu I have just visited your website and love your gollys. As you already Know I make golly-dollys and so I was looking forwards to seeing more of your little gollys. Is that your house in the photograph on the front page of your site?...It's a humdinger!
Jane.
http://www.doodlebears.co.uk
http://www.craftyfolksads.co.uk

Lovely animal stories so far, I will be back to read the postings that follow this one.
I love animals and have three adorable Cavalier King Charles spaniels, who have been a great inspiration to the expressions for my bears. My dogs are called Chunky, he is my boy dog and the most lovable little guy. Chunky is now blind owing to cataracts. He was called Chunky because he was a big puppy, the biggest in the litter. Then we have my beautiful Holly. Holly is a shy little girl and spends most of her time under the beanie bag that I bought for her to lay on. Then last of my dogs is Lucy, my baby, or should I say Chunky and Holly's baby. Lucy is a lively funny little dog and loves nothing better than to chase my husband round for a piece of chicken or to sit on my shoulder. I've never managed to get it through to her that she is indeed not a parrot. I actually delivered Lucy when Holly was having a problem. Lucy was a big puppy weighing nearly twice the average weight for the breed. We also have two Budgies called Sparky and Ozzie. Sparky is gray in colour and Ozzie is a Lutino so he is yellow and he has Red eyes, which I find somewhat freaky. Last but not least we have Nelson. Nelson is a regular garden pond fish. he was one of many until a Heron decided to feast from my pond. I named Nelson when I discovered he was the only survivor of the meal. I intend getting him some mates soon and fitting a mesh over the pond so dinner is not so free to the pesky Heron.
Below are three pictures of my beautiful doggie babies. The first is Chunky the second Holly and the last is Lucy.
Jane



http://www.doodlebears.co.uk

Penny I love the picture of Joshua, what a cutie! Thanks so much for sharing him with us. As for British drains they are a pain, well mine anyway, three times in the last month I have found nasty slugs lurking in the drain. I have a mesh over it plus a full drain cover but the nasty slippery little varmits still find their way in.
Jane
http://www.doodlebears.co.uk
http://www.craftyfolksads.co.uk

Wow! You girls and your stories, phew you really have had me glued to the screen reading your posts. I am so glad that I started this topic. I now can see just how wonderful our bears are. They have obviously helped us all out in many ways. BIG CHEER FOR THE BEARS!!!!!
Laure you sure your not really a closet novelist? With your word grasp you sure could make it. You remind me so much of my daughter Sarah. Sarah loves to write and she wrote a fan fiction for Diagnosis Murder. The story is really good so if anyone is a fan of Dignosis Murder let me know and I will let you know the web address so you can read the story.
SueAnn Thanks so much for sharing your story, it is so good that you have found something to help you through a dark period of your life, I too know how hard it is to fight back this devastating condition WELL DONE YOU!! pat yourself on the back and smile a huge big smile and keep making your lovely bears. I really love Sorbet what a cutie such a fantastic colour!
I too was a stay at home Mum and three of my five children had home schooling and know one of my home schooled kids has just finished his third film. He has always loved acting and hopes to be able to carry on in films. My daughter is just finishing her degree and is planning to be a doctor. My other son was home educated because of medical problems and will always be at home with us as he is autistic.
Jane
http://www.doodlebears.co.uk

http://www.craftyfolksads.co.uk

Hi all,
How did you start making bears? I got into making bears when I visited my local library and found some out of date Teddy bear magazines.  Although I had always like bears I wondered what on earth could be so interesting that there were magazines especially about teddy bears, so I bought two of these magazines for twenty pence each,  (which is about 36 cents) At home I found the magazines really interesting and that they both had free bear patterns inside. I decided to try and make a bear of my own and cut the patterns out. I used a really cheap, very stretchy fur fabric  which I could have kept on stuffing as it never seemed full. The first guy (Poor boy) looked somewhat like a squashed mouse. He is five inches tall and string jointed. My son said I should call him Juan as he was the first Juan (one) that I made. The second bear is ten inches tall very under-stuffed traditional type bear who I named Tony. Both of these bears are extremly sad looking efforts on my part but I wouldn't part with them and since I made them I haven't stopped making bears, thinking bears, dreaming bear, talking bears. I am so thankful to the library for having the old magazines for sale. Since my first bear I have learnt so many things, I have taught myself how to use a computer and built two websites for myself. One website is for Doodlebears and one to advertise all kinds of crafts, so if any of you would like a free link please feel free to   email me. The best part of being in the bear world is the lovely people that I have met either through shows or online on websites such as this one. I have bear penpals all around the world and love every minute of being part of this lovely society.
           
                     Jane   ;)

http://www.doodlebears.co.uk

http://www.craftyfolksads.co.uk

i

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My sister was given two teddy bears when she was born so when I made an appearance I was give one of the bears. I love this bear so much and kept him safe and wouldn't go anywhere without Teddy. He is made from real lamb's skin and he is all soft and curlew. I can't believe that toys were made the way my bear was made. He is jointed with thick wire and his eyes are on wire stems. I say eyes but it's the case of eye now as he lost one eye somewhere through the years. His jointing satem has loosened and one leg hangs loose. When my daughter Eve was very unwell as a small child she asked if she could hold Teddy...she is still holding onto Teddy! In her delirium she thought that I had given my treasured Teddy to her and I still to this day haven't got the heart to ask for him to be returned to me. Yep I daft but I love Teddy but I love my daughter more and she has often said that she can't believe I gave her my beloved Teddy when she was so ill. I now have a house full of bears but tucked away in my heart is a big space ready for Teddy if he should ever be returned to me. :)
             Jane.
http://www.doodlebears.co.uk
http://www.craftyfolksads.co.uk

Judi,
I just love your work! These are the cutest little bunnies and as for the bear WOW!!! She is beautiful, I am sure they will stand the highest chance of any award that you enter them for. I will look forwards to seeing any new attitions to your fantastic bear family.
BIG BEAR HUGS

Jane :)
my websites    http://www.doodlebears.co.uk

                      http://www.craftyfolksads.co.uk

Hi Shelli, I showed your designs to my son David and he was really impressed so I have just bought him Adobe Photo shop 7.0 from eBay. David loves to make web graphics so maybe he can teach me how to make my own avatar...not that it will be anything as good as the wonderful creations that you've made.

              Have a great day!

           Jane      http://www.doodlebears.co.uk

Hi to all of you and have a great day on Mother's day. In England we had Mother's day a while back so no special day for us today. I had a wonderful day on our Mother's day and  had lots of wonderful gifts, including some more mohair to add to my huge stash.   What special things are happening for all you all today?
           
                                Jane                          http://www.doodlebears.co.uk

Hi Winney,
     I have a book called Knitting for Teddies by Catherine Bouquerel
ISBN 1-870586-50-6 Let me know what you need and if it is in the book I can copy it and email it to you. The pattern fit bears 13 1/2...9 1/2...and also a child 3/6 months and are knitted in 4ply.
Jane

Hi everyone,
Thanks for the welcome and thanks so much for the help with the eyes. The customer asked me quite a while ago to make the bear for her and I explained that I didn’t have a clue how to use the eyes. Great for me that she is a patient lady and was willing to wait for me to find out how to use the eyes as she really wants my style of bear. I will try the suggestions that you have made …you really are a very talented group of helpful people…THANKS!

Jane.   

Dilu  I hope your eye is soon ok.

Hi everyone,
      I have noticed that some of you use realistic looking eyes on your bears. I have a customer that has bought and sent me some doll eyes to fit into a bear that she has ordered from me. The eyes do not have a looped wire on the back and I have no idea how to use them or even if it is possible to use them. Do any of you know how I can use the eyes or another way of getting the realistic look that this customer wants.
                   Thanks,
                            Jane.
http://www.doodlebears.co.uk