Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

you need to make sure the polyfil wrapping is NOT too big to fit into the arm, wrap it around the END of the wire too, and tie it more firmly with the artificial sinew
S

Jenny,  I agree! I have many times run a wire down the center of the locline. You do want to pad it with batting before inserting it in the ar, . In fact, you put a little polyfil in the paw area first (about half of the paw) then make sure your lovline goes to that point. I take polyfil and wrap it aroud the locline and secure it by wrapping that with a piece of artificail sinew to make it stay in place. Then insert it in the arm and secure it to the disc and fill in any spots with more polyfil. Don't stuff it too hard or the arm will not bend easily.
Sonya 

PS.. I will try to make a pic.
BRB

Running to get the electrical wire! Good thing in my other job I am an electronic technician. I will build it so he doesn't even have to make it to the door knob. It will just automatically zap him as he zips up his zipper. INSTANT reminder.
Sonya

AMAZING!!

it is funny, but it seems like whenever I am trying to get ready for a show, meaning I have to get some NEW bears made, no matter how slow sales have been, all of a sudden, I make one and sell two. So I keep getting further and further behind. arrrgh... but then again, I can't really complain because the idea is to sell them.. but still.....
lol

Sonya

AWWWWWW! Now I can see where your bears sweet chubby cheeks come from!
Sonya

I have made it a habit for over a year now to send everything I get saying it is from ebay to the spoof@ebay.com address. If it IS legit, they will respond and let you know.
Sonya

lol winney
I stayed up late and made a pattern, and started my first anime bear. boy does she look funny!!     

I will show her when done.

maybe

Sonya

Here is the card I sent to Intercal

Happy Birthday Teddy Talk!!

This is the card closed

This is with the first flap opened

This is with BOTH flaps opened

Here is the back

Sonya

I am so so excited to get her! Kassie.. get ahold of me so I can pay for her.. neeed to know shipping.. Thanks
Sonya

I would love to make one too! I am also stumped where to start.
Sonya

wow! whodathought? what a great idea. They look amazing!
Sonya

Wow! Tami I didn't know you did Barbies! She is fantastic! Congratulations!
Sonya

If I remember right, I believe Paypal explained once that International buyers will usually show up as unverified. But they have always been okay with me
Sonya

maybe this will help. notice that the muzzle has a much more pointed shape and also that at the nose end, it goes down much lower on the side head pattern near the mouth. it should go down to about where the bottom of a stitched nose on a bear would be. On the side head, the muzzle is much rounder and you need to make the muzzle kind of large to give it the "jowls"
Sonya

Gorgeous Gorgeous! Love her Kim!
Sonya

What a beautiful story Judi. I know that everytime you see and hold Luna, you will have comforting thoughts of your sister.
Sonya

Man, I just got home from Albuquerque 2 weeks ago. Looked and looked for a bear shop or almost anything bear.. Knew there was a show coming up, just wished it could have coincided with my triup.
Sonya
PS I would love to hear how the show goes. I may be interested in doing this show in the future

Man, I didn't have any cravings before I read this thread. now I AM SCREAMING FOR CHOCOLATE! MILK chocolate! I love the new Herseys kisses with caramel inside.
YUM!
Sonya

I bought recently from them and had no problems.
Sonya

I wANT ONE!! i CAN'T BELIEVE i AM NUMBER TWO. wHERE DO i SEND TTHE MONEY TO?
sONYA

You guys are all welcome. Paulie was such a cutie, I couldn't resist letting him play.
Sonya

Penny, I promised pics of Paulie. What a sweet little guy! He was reather indignant from being in a box, but once he saw all the girl bears, he was jumping for joy. He had to sit on their laps to decide who he wants as a girlfriend.. sooooooooooo... here he is

1st he decided he needed someone to mother him so he hopped up into Maddy's lap

Then he saw my sailor girl from Janet Podell

Now he was getting his confidence up and looked for someone more his size

Oh he just LOVED this little girl..... untilllll

he saw the toys!

Wheee! he was having a blast... but he still had to try one more

So you can see Penny, Paulie is going to be so happy here! Now if I can ever slow him down for a nap
Hugs
Sonya

If I had a bucket to catch all the tears I have cried because a bear I felt was REALLY good didn't sell, we could all go swimming! I consider myself somewhat established.... I have only been making bears for a little over 4 years, but I suppose that could be called established. Yet, I listed my Scottish bear, MacBeth on ebay TWICE and both times it didn't reach the reserve. And my reserve was very low for a 29 inch bear. Michelle Lamb emailed me when I first listed him and told me how wonderful he was. I got numerous emails saying the same thing. The first listing went to $221.00. And it had 32 people "watching" it. Yet it didn't sell. I relisted it and lowered the reserve. Right after I relisted it Michelle wrote me again and said she couldn't believe that he didn't seel. She told me NOT to lower the reserve. to take him to my next show. And you know what, she is RIGHT! I can't tell you how many bears I have put on my website or on ebay or bearpile and they haven't generated any interest. Then I take it to a show and someone snatches it up right away. And I have had people see a bear and rave about it, yet it had been on my website all along and they had been overlooking it. A picture will never take the place of the real thing. I think I take pretty good pictures, but beleive me, Almost EVERY bear I sell, the buyer has written back to me and said that the bear was SO much nicer than they thought.  We all have our downtimes right now.. It has been slow for so many people. You would have thought that after I won a TOBY that my sales would increase. NOT! Actually they dropped off. I was having a hard time keeping up with orders and my website before. Things have really declined the last year, for almost every bear artist I know. I still get hurt feelings and think, "What is wrong with my bears?" But I do realize that it is nothing personal. It is just the market right now. I was just talking to an artist this weekend who had 3 TOBY nominations last year. She said she has not had a bear reach it's reserve in 6 months.
You gotta just hang it there. Believe me, it is NOT your bears!

Hugs
Sonya

I have used it both mixed with polyfil and by itself. I prefer it by itself. I think it gives a truer vintage feel. it is true that it helps to dampen it before using. I use a spray bottle and just mist it lightly. It is really messy to work with so it is best to stuff outside or use a plastic shower curtain underneath where you will be stuffing. Misting it with water really tames it down some and makes it more flexible and easier to get into place. You have to use small pieces at a time. . It is a pain to stuff with it and a wood wool stuffing tool is invaluable. (hint: at the hardware store, ask for a nail puller) it is about the size of a screwdriver and has a bent end with a split in it.  Hope that helps.
Sonya