Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

ok... I didn't find them.  Some lady dumped them on my front lawn and took off.

A little boy and a little girl.

My ex wants the boy (on left) and I think my father is gonna want the little girl (on right).  ain't they cute! 

OK, my day wasn't a TOTAL loss... I finished my first commissioned piece!!  YEA!

This is the feller that spawned my new pincushion.  The pincushion was the 2nd attempt at a frog, this was my 4th!

A friend wanted a frog for his girlfriend for their anniversary.  A don't do frogs.  I hate frogs.  Frogs hate me.  (just kidding!)  I told him I only do bears, and he asked me to do a frog.  " I only do bears."  "I need a frog."  "I don't do frogs."  "I need a frog... have another beer."  "OK... when do you want the frog?"

Don't drink and sell, people!

I gave up on the frog and this is what I ended up with.  I wish I could get a better picture for ya'll, 'cuz this is the CUTEST THING I have ever made!!!   

He said not to worry if I couldn't do it... that made it a challenge.  If he doesn't like it, I guess I'll sell it later.

"HOP" you like it!   

yep.  14!!  The ex is wanting to seek legal action against whoever did it, but we can't get her to tell us where she got it done.

:hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Thanks guys!  I'm just beside myself.

First, she has disrepected me and her father. Not good.  Not good at all!!

Secondly... well... it's funny.  HE has to deal with her 85% of the time.  And he's done a FANTASTIC job with her, but he's a bit easy on her sometimes.  This should teach him not to be so easy on her.

Thirdly... OMG!!!  SHE LOOKS LIKE A BULL!!!

(I haven't seen her yet... )

My Katie BEFORE....

My Katie AFTER...

my pretty katie...   

so, this month must be pick on Ann Month.

my 14 yr old daughter lives with her dad...

he just called me...

she pierced her nose...

and not the dainty cool piercing on the top or side...

SHE PIERCED THE CARTILLIAGE IN BETWEEN HER NOSTRALS!!!  LIKE A BULL!!!!

i need a big hug

:crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

me too!!

:crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  that's great!!

I've got all sorts of ideas whirling around in my head!  I'm glad there's plenty of time.   

Alright.... this is just WEIRD!!  I just came from looking at The World of Froud website (http://www.worldoffroud.com/www/main.cfm) and clicked on this challenge!!

For anyone who doesn't know about the Frouds... from the website:  "Wendy Froud worked as sculptor and puppet builder for Jim Henson for many years, primarily on the films THE DARK CRYSTAL, LABYRINTH and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.  She sculpted "Jen" and "Kira" for THE DARK CRYSTAL and "Yoda" for THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK." 

Very cool site.  Check it out for inspiration!

Must be an omen that I must join in this challange.   

Dilu, I can't tell you about DrawPlus 8, but my mother and I have used other products from  Broaderbund for YEARS.  (When I say years, I mean probably over 10 years if I remember correctly.)  They usually have great software at a good price.  But I think the best thing about Broaderbund is that they have EXCELLENT customer service

Hope that helps just a bit!

LOVE 'EM!!

OH! and look at the little one! SWEET!

Thanks ya'll!

LOVED working with the mohair.  I actually bought 1/2 yard, so... I have enough for 2 more this size or some smaller ones... or 1 more this size and a couple of smaller ones...

but I definitely need to buy some more soon!!

Here's JIM!  After over 3 years of bears, he's my first bear made out of mohair.

I'm putting him here in the showcase, 'cuz I couldn't wait any longer to show him off.   

He's 10" tall and DOES stand on his own.  Yea.  He's got a little bit of a scruffy look, but once he gets his new clothes and accessories, he'll look perfect.  I have ordered a custom made accessory from a friend that will take a week or so to make. 

I've always wanted to dress a bear the way he'll end up and I'm soooo excited about it.  But I'm not gonna tell ya'll until he's finished.   

His little vest came out just a tad small, even though I measured and measured and measured.  So, he'll get a new one in a few days.

Hope ya'll like him!!

ok... here's a quick pic of "Jim", my FIRST mohair bear!!  I'm gonna post him over in the showcase, too.  He's waiting on a special accessory and a few more clothes before I put him up for sale.

Hope ya'll like him!!

umm... nope.

thought my father did, but he didn't.  I had worked on that thing for what seemed like hours before I posted that rant.  then poof!!  it turned!   

I talked to the little feller about having his picture taken, he's being shy 'cuz his legs and back are "exposed"...  :crackup:   I have to go get some weighing material before I close him up.  He's standing on his own though!!!  Shane, aren't you one of the ones who told me to get those joints as tight as possible to make my guys stand?  Well, using a nut and bolt joint REALLY tight on the legs seems to have done the trick!

Actually, my camera is still packed... I'll snap a shot soon, when he's not looking, so that he won't be embarassed about being "exposed" and nekkid.  I have a really cute idea for his outfit... one I've been thinking of doing for years.  My first mohair bear might as well be the one for it!!

my goodness!!!   I got it!!  I guess all it took was a rant!!    

only 5 minutes after I ranted, I got that feller to turn and I'm excited again.

my camera is packed up 'cuz I'm going out of town this weekend, I'm already late leaving... I had to finish that head!  Jennifer, I'll post a pic as soon as I get it out!!

I've finished his feet.  They are alittle different than I've made before, not much, just a little.

I've finished his arms.  Completely joined, stuffed and closed...

I finished the head.  Had a little trouble with my first glass eyes, but he looks great.... even plucked the muzzle!!   

SOOO... I go to connect the head to the body.  THIS STUPID COTTER PIN WON'T TURN!!!! I must need to work out or something.  I've tried and tried.  This cotter pin could hold a bridge up it's so strong. 

I'm so close to finishing him, except his clothes and this thing is making me madder and madder and madder...

AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

sorry... I feel better now.

sigh...

still no sign of Alex.  The sadness/tears is coming and going in waves now.  They're OK for a while, then they're not.

I think they were well prepared for the hamster not living long, I didn't realize they were not prepared for the hamster just getting up and leaving!!

I'll keep ya'll posted.

After looking at it and feeling it and looking at it...

I'm not scared any more.  It is the ultra-sparse curly-matted, so I shouldn't have a problem cutting.  I'm thinking if I can cut that extra dense plush that I used for my "yeti" without a problem, I should be able to slide those scissors in correctly for this.   

Just cross your fingers for my pattern!!!  I miscalculated the joint kit I bought... I wanted my first mohair to be as perfect in size as I could and was wanting an 8" bear first.  Instead of buying at the hardware store, I got a kit to make sure everything was the right size.

I bought a kit for a 12" bear!!  I'm an idiot.     Don't know what I was thinking. 

SOO... I enlarged my pattern, and as I was cutting (on card-stock, not the mohair!!).... as I was cutting, I made A LOT of "tweaks"!!  I even changed my 4-piece body to a 2-piece body, since I'm more comfortable with it.

Those couple of bears I made to test this pattern were sorta not needed.  Oh well, they're cute.   

Here I go!  Off to cut.   

hee-hee!!!

It's here!  It's here!!  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:

LOVE the mohair!!!   LOVE the eyes!!!

SCARED TO CUT INTO IT! 

I'm probably gonna just stare at it for a couple of days...  OR dive into it in the next few minutes!   

Jodi, the big adventure is a great idea.

I should have them each write a story about it, especially if he doesn't come back.  They both love to write (yea!) and both wish to publish someday... maybe we can get some college money out of the missing hamster!!!  (When I say "both", I mean that I have 3 girls, but the oldest lives with her dad)

I have had the most awful feeling of dread most of the day.  The girls are very happy girls (to the point of too much giggling during school),  and just one moment of sadness for them just kills me.   I sorta felt silly posting about it this morning, but I really had no one else to share with.  My boyfriend is out of town 'til Friday and my parents sorta went, "oh well"...

Everyone's escaping hamster stories definitely made me feel better today!! Thank you all so much!   

poor timothy!!!

well, the hamster search isn't yeilding an Alex yet...

the girls have been looking off and on since 7am!!  it's now 12:30... I told them to take a break (AND CALM DOWN!)  still alot of tears.

my biggest concern right now is that we live in the middle of a field... a couple of years ago we had a problem with field mice... sneaky little beasts...

I FOUND ONE A FEW MINUTES AGO!   Scared me to death.  I screamed, the girls screamed, we all screamed... I'm sure the mouse screamed.   

I'm worried that Alex found where the mice get in and he's outside!!!

not gonna tell the girls that...  AND  (I might get flamed for saying this, but...)  how are we gonna put out traps (for the mouse) with Alex still on the loose??

the search will continue after lunch...  but we've searched every inch of this house twice now.   

just what everyone needs!!!!

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

Thanks.  I had to leave the search for a bit 'cuz the tears were too much for me to listen to.  Mommie apparently can not fix the tears at this point, only Alex can.

I'm just hoping WE find him first and not the DOG or CAT.   

ohhhh... I know this is very trivial to anyone not in my family, but I was awaken by two very upset little girls this morning.   
   
The hamster has escaped.   
   
The hamster is no where to be found.   
   
The hamster is reeking havock on our house.   
   
The hamster is causing tears to flow freely and constantly.   
   
I'm not gonna make it through this day without finding that hamster...

Hunter, (my 11 yr old girl), got Alex (the houdini-hamster) for an early Christmas present.  Part of her science studies in October was a presentation on hamsters and she spent weeks studying and showed us she could care for one.  Her older sister, Katie, gave her the cage and her younger sister, Breeonna, gave her the hamster.  She was so good at the presentation and showed so much enthusiasm for them, we let her have the little feller on the First of November.  Even with all that, we weren't expecting him to live long, that's just what hamster do.  Well, live he did!!  And got big and fat. And all was right with the world... 

Until this morning.  UGH!!!!

I need a hug.