Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Cool! Black bears, I presume, not grizzlies? We have bears in Sweden too (smaller brown bears), but they live in the northern forested parts and I have never seen one (yet).

Thank you Marion!

Thank you everybody! I am glad you like him. The next anime is already under way.

Ok. I got a dragon, but it is crocheted. Guess I need to take a better pic without my hand too 

Yeaaaah! I was convinced he would come home and he really did!  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:

Thank you so much ladies! 

This is my second attempt at creating my own anime sewing pattern. It is a modified version of my cover girl Suzie. Aki is made from vintage rayon and he measures just under 3 in. sitting (7 cm) and 3.5 in. (8 cm) standing. Much of his height is of course due to his giant head. 

Oh no, Bubba is all alone in unknown places.  Have faith Lisa, statistics say that most lost luggage turns up again sooner or later. I hope it will be sooner. A domestic flight no less. How hard can it be to find? I hope Bubba will be back with you in a few hours.

That is a lovely idea Sue. I do design my own knitted clothes (for bears and people), but there have been questions for patterns before and it is always interesting to see how someone else does it.  Don't be shy, just post your explanations. I'm sure a lot of peopple will be grateful. Offering help and instructions here is never considered pushy and always applauded.  :hug:  :hug:

Really, this is your first? Wow. I like him. Is it synthetic or real fur? The pictures are a bit blurry so you may want to work on that. I love his sweet impression with the whites under the eyes and the little glass nose. The eyes don't look loose, but well set into the fur. Well done.  :clap:
By the way, we usually show our bears in another forum called Showcase.

What do you mean?

I might be interested, but only if I can make a mini. Whoever ends up with me would have to accept that.
Greatwon2: I love your avatar bear, so don't worry and join in. 
Cat: I'd take a rat, no problem. 
Julie: depends on how many of your lovely cards you'd be offering. 

Hmm, something like this perhaps? Punk penguin and alien Sproing

OMG what an adorable bear! The sweetest face and so symmetrical. I wish I could do that. Love him!  Looks like your swap went very well for both of you. 

Indeed, a unique bear. I like the head shape of Tracy's bears, very distinctive and unique. Lucky you Samantha. You say miniature? How big is he? Has the look of a big bear.

Thank you Sandy! Nancy's patterns do work out great.

Thanks Sophie! He is sososo soft, but his fur looks more golden brown in reality than in the photo.

Thank you ladies for taking the time to comment. Glad you like him.

Its been a while since I made a bear, apart from some ornaments and a wee crocheted one for Christmas. Bear   making comes and goes in waves with me and lately I had been bit by the knitting bug. But I had all these real fur pieces lying around, not getting any better, from a few years ago when I discovered real fur bears and Nancy Tillbergs book about them. So now I thought, I need to do something with them and made another blonde mink bear. I used Nancy's pattern for a modern bear from "101 bears..." I particularly like the head pattern. He's a big guy (for me) with bent legs, sitting at 31 cm (about 12 inches). I was going for puffy cheeks, but I think the fur was too short for that and I can't get it really smooth. Oh well, I love him anyway. He's heavy and so soft in fur.

Jodi this is fun. Please, count me in too. Overseas shipping may be a bit steep, so I'd happily contribute to it if I win.

Geez Daphne, so sorry to hear this. I keep hoping for you and your family to get a break, but noooo. Enough is enough, really. Hope your mother will be fine soon.  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

In Sweden we are supposed to pay 25% sales tax on all imports and they include the shipping costs in that  Customs on fabrics is 5%, don't know about toys. On top of it all, the post gets about $10 for handling the customs procedure. Gifts are free up to about $70 per sender and per recipient, so if the parcel is from your aunt and uncle you can get twice the amount for free and similar if it is addressed to several people. many parcels slip through though and if the fees are less than about $15 customs usually doesn't bother.

Laura, I never thought the US has many taxes at all. Try our 25% sales tax, much higher taxes on gas and alcohol, up to 54% income tax (depending on income) and some other nice fees and taxes they collect at different occasions.

Oh Lynette, I'm so sorry to hear this. Its always the innocent and good people who have to suffer. Life is so unfair. She is very fortunate to have you though and I hope, everything will get as good as possible  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Whoever you are I'm sending magic sprinkles and good thoughts. Hope times will get better soon.  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Great to hear you are on the mend Katrina. I can only imagine how painful it must be and hope it will all be a memory soon.   :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Oh so sweet. I love minis. Well done Catherine! :clap:  :clap: