Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Wonderful bear Matilda! Looks like I should take that class, but when will I find the time.

Cheers

Sabine

So cute Stephanie!
Thanks for sharing.

Sabine

Wow!!  :clap: :clap: :clap: :dance: :dance: :dance:
Congratulations Stephanie!  :thumbsup:
A lovely bear indeed!!!  :lol:

Cheers

Sabine

I'm astonished too to see so many highly educated people on this board, but why shouldn't there be? So I'll come out of hiding too and admit that I too hold a PhD in biology. I took it in animal ecology, but have since moved on to animal systematics, which means I get to discover and describe new species and study their evolutionary history. I work at Sweden's largest museum, one of the ten largest naturals history museums in the world. I don't work in my home country of Germany, because there are no jobs back home. I've lived in Sweden for ten years and the situation in Germany got worse all the time. Getting a permanent position in science today is like winning the lottery. I consider myself extremely lucky that way, although Swedish salaries are really embarrassing.

Sophie, hang in there. Look for jobs internationally. Science is a very tough profession and I really hope you will find a good job. Try to acquire some additional qualifications. For me, computer skills opened the doors. Without that I would have had to leave my scientific career as I couldn't get a postdoc grant and did not have enough experience for a senior science position. Find something which few people can do and which is in demand.

Best of luck

Sabine

Hi Jenn, sorry to hear you can't sleep. I rarely have this problem, but when I do it is usually because of some other problems. I tend to start thinking in bed when I'm upset about something and once my brain is all worked up, I can't fall asleep. The alternative is waking up way too early, which is just as bad. I have no real remedy, but sometimes a big glass of milk helps. (Calcium activates the sleeping center in the brain) I also try to relax and think of pleasant things. Physical workout during the day is great of course, but not always possible. Don't drink alcohol, because while it may make you sleepy in the beginning, it will keep you awake a few hours later. No caffein, but I guess you know all this. Perhaps you can lower the temperature in the bedroom? Definitely no tv in bed, because your brain will get the wrong associations about what kind of activity is ok in what place. Psychology plays a big roll in sleeping patterns.

I'm afraid I wasn't of much help, but you have my sympathies and I really hope you will find back to a healthy sleep.

Hugs

Sabine  :hug:

Speaking of Xmas and presents I notice some cultural differences. It seems, Americans, Canadians and Australians (anyone else?) put up their tree long before Xmas and have their presents under it. In Germany and Sweden (probably other European countries too?) we buy the tree on Christmas Eve or a fewdays before and take it in and decorate on Christmas Eve. We also celebrate that day in the evening (or afternoon) with a big dinner and gift opening. The presents are actually under the tree only for a very short time, between dinner and opening. Before that we hide them in the house.

As a child i tried to find the presents in my parent's closets and sometimes I found them. Didn't have to open any paper, because they wrapped them just before Christmas, but bought them a lot earlier.
Nowadays its just me and mu hubby and we usually know what we are giving each other (lots of books mainly), but we hide them until Xmas Eve. Even if we buy something for ourselves we out it away, so we ahev soemthing to play with on Xmas. One or other surprise we usually manage to give each other too, but most of the surprise gifts come form our siblings and parents.

The of course, we buy a lot of stuff during the year anyway, so Xmas is made special by holding off instead of buying.Kind of a reverse strategy if you know what I mean.  :P

We've had our first snow yesterday, just a thin coat, but still not melted.

Huggies

Sabine

Wow that's how to do it. I am (dark) blond and would never have figured this out on my own

I too have wondered why there is no indication of a new message. I only got one so far, but I expected either to get an email notification or to see an indicator next to the messages link.

Perhaps this can go on the wishlist to Quy?    :whistle:

Sabine

Winney, on ebay some people offer angora yarn, but when you look at the listing it says angora goat, which I believe is mohair. Don't fall for that.

I've used angora for accents on knitted sweaters, but I have never been able to unravel angora. The fluff just felts together when I pull on the thread. How are you unravelling a whole used sweater?

Sabine

Hi Kirsten, the coats would take a lot less room if you removed the lining and padding and kept just the pelts. That is a lot of work though. Just a thought. Its what I did when I got the "real fur bug" and bought lots of furs on ebay.

Sabine

She used angora and the bear is on ebay. I love him too.

Sorry, Sandi, perhaps I should have waited for you to answer this.  :redface:

Sabine

Daphne, I would swap with you. Just not before Christmas.  :love:

I love Danni's bears. Perhaps she'll swap with me some day. I'd love to swap with everyone else here too, but first I need to make special bear for Matilda.

Sabine

Matilda, no problem. I actually have quite a self-confidence.:angel:

Haha, I'll let him/her sit outside in the snow (if we get any).  Just kidding.:lol:

I like your avatar bear. He is cute. Just to give you an indication of what I find cute. He looks a little sad, which makes me wanna cuddle him.

This swap is fun. I think I just might sign up for the next one too.

Sabine   :hug:

That's strange. I have used mink with lock nuts and set screws and with lock nuts and bolts and both worked well for tight joints. Just a thought, though. Stupid me once forgot to add a disc to the joint inside the body and it took me a while to figure out why the joint was so loose. You didn't do that, did you? No, nobody is that stupid, but me.  :doh:
Try cutting the fur from the joint. We had a thread on that recently.

Hope you find out what's the problem.

Sabine

Do you mean your seams or the ones from the pieced original garment? I think it depends on the fur whether you can feel the seams from piecing or not. My seams don't feel bumby.
I only use set screws and hardboard disc joints on real fur bears, because they are stronger and I feel I need something strong for fur. I can make them so hard the limbs won't move at all.

Sabine

Oh my, Matilda, now I am nervous. What if my bear is less than perfect? Guess we call it character then ha?  I'll give it my best shot.
Take your time, no hurry. I'm still undecided. So many ideas, none perfect.....
Hugs

Sabine   :hug:

I would like to add that some countries never confirm addresses. I live in Sweden and Swedish banks refuse to confirm the address of a cardholder, no exceptions. So I have and always will have an unconfirmed address. Fortunately, no seller has ever refused to do business with me.

Sabine

I have made several real fur bears (mink, muskrat, persian lamb, rabbit, squirrel) and embroidered the noses on all except one, where I used a glass nose. I had no problem embroidering and don't think the fur will fall apart. The glass nose was a nice option for a change, but more expensive. Nancy Tillberg recommends embroidering the noses in her book on real fur bears, Teddy Bears with a Past. I always glue a piece of felt on and embroider over that.

So, don't worry, if the fur is in good enough condition to sew it will hold for nose embroidery.

Sabine

I am in contact with my swap partner Matilda and we have already agreed on how to do our swap.
Are we supposed to post pictures after the swap? I'd like that.

Sabine

Didn't see Dilu's message before i sent mine. If neither of you gets a response, the problem is solved, isn't it? You swap with each other? I'd do a second swap with Dilu if your partner doesn't show up, but Kim's does. How about a mini crochet golly for a mini sewn one?

Hugs

Sabine

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

Kim, have you sent her a private email? Perhaps she can't check here every day. Use the e-mail feature, not the PM. I'm sure you'll hear from her soon, but if not I'm also willing to do a second swap with you. I can do a mini crochet bear if you like. Preferably after Xmas though.

Hugs

Sabine  :hug: :hug:

Thank you Susan!

Whoohooa I'll be getting an aussie bear  :dance: :dance: :dance:

Are any two bears travelling farther than ours, between Sweden and Australia?

I'm so impatient to talk to matilda, but she's probably asleep. Matilda, I have emailed you. Love to talk to you soon.

Hugs

Sabine

Thanks gals, I needed a pat on the back after a horrible week.

Bedtime for me

Sabine 

My latest bear is a crocheted roly poly pumpkin.

Happy Halloween from Timmy and me

Sabine

Kim - my avatar bear has a home with my mother in Germany, but it is my own pattern and I can always make another. Thanks for wanting him.   :love:

Sabine

Penny - I am a big old German gal, just living in dark and cold Sweden, because Germany has no job opportunities for me. I'm dark blond nowadays, used to be lighter, but the grey hairs are making it lighter again in places :rolleyes:

Dilu - I like your gollies, but this being my first time of swapping I would prefer a bear. Perhaps, we can swap gollies another time? I've never made one, but would love to try. Or do you want a bear?

Just a thought. Can we try to avoid customs fees? Maybe if we all put zero as value and check the box for gift?  :teddybear:

I'll make a bear 3-8 inches, sewn or crocheted. To be discussed with my swap partner.

Sabine