Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Shantell,

Both bears are wonderful.  I tend to make more traditional bears, but it's fun to make something different every once in a while.

Go with what makes YOU happy.  If you are making a bear you enjoy, it shows through the eyes of the bear.   Wonderful "hug me" ..."take me home" type of gaze from those beautiful eyes.    Or make both ... they are great !!!

Hugs,

Wanda

Shelli

Here's another site with the words so you can sing along.  This is my FAVORITE silly song.

http://www.geoffellis.com/ebay.html

Hugs,

Wanda

Judi,

Seeing the cows and talking about the milk reminds me of my childhood when my father was a tenant farmer in the state of Tennessee.   We had one red and white cow for milking.     The only time I would drink it was just after Dad finished milking and straining the milk.  I would not drink it after being chilled in the ice box, so I guess I had milk only twice a day.

And the cow did not like children, so whenever Dad went out to milk, we had to stay inside or out of sight.  I remember once we did venture out and the cow kicked the bucket and spilled the milk.  Needless to say, Dad was not very happy.  He could have been the bucket that got kicked!!

Your animals are superb in conformation and I'm sure in the quality and quantity of milk.  You and Mark have done a great job in building such a fine herd of dairy cows.   It is no easy task I'm sure.

Also chuckled at the antics we must go through to get ears pointing forward during photo shoots.  We have shown horses for years and you should see some of the things they do to get the horse's attention and ears forward.    Everything from recoiling tape measures to opening and closing umbrellas.

Just wanted you to know I'm enjoying the dairy tour and appreciate all the extra work on your part to make this possible.

Hugs,

Wanda

Kelly,

One of the fellows I work with was telling me about this story.  I had not seen it myself until you posted it here.  I must say I choked back tears as I watched ... there really are good stories and wonderful people out there and this is a very good example of both. 

Thanks for sharing, so glad I got to see it.

Hugs,

Wanda

Eileen,

I have only made one ultrasuede tongue and it turned out great.  I used the thinner ultrasuede (there are at least two weights of ultrasuede).... I trimmed the seam close and clipped also and stitched down the center starting about 1/16 of inch from the front of the tongue stitching to the back end.

Otherwise, I guess I have no other suggestions.   Good luck!

Hugs,

Wanda

I guess not everyone is afraid of or "turned off" by clown bears ...did you see Michelle Lamb's clown bear brought $3650 on E-Bay this weekend.   Marvelous!!!!   A very talented lady.

Hugs,

Wanda

I love FRIDAY evenings.  After a full week of working away from home, it is so nice to just be at home.   I can breathe a sigh of relief and just relax.  Yeah, I'm showing my age.

Fridays are just about like any other weekday.  I come home from work, turn the chickens out for a little bit if the weather is nice.  They are like a bunch of little kids, they run and flap their wings and have a grand ole time scratching and pecking.  It's fun to just watch them.  Then I gather eggs and make sure they have fresh water and feed for the next day.

Clean the stall then feed and water the horse, feed and water the barn cats and then take a one-mile walk through the cornfield, so I don't get on the blacktop as hubby worries I might get hit by a car.  Then feed the inside cats and get supper ready for hubby and me.   Then their might be a load of laundry to do or fold and of course, the good ole dishes have to be washed.

By this time if I sit too long, (especially at the computer reading TT ) I don't get a whole lot done.   I use Friday's to get reved up for my weekend of bearmaking by checking notes I have made during the week as to what I want to accomplish.   Sometimes my plans get changed, but I usually get at least one whole day to "play" with the bears on the weekend.

I sure do envy those of you who can stay home during the week.  Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.

Hugs,

Wanda

Janet,

So good to hear you will be attending the TBAI also.  We were next to each other last year and I didn't realize you were the TT Janet until I got home.   Small world, huh?

And I met Kelly and her mother too while at the show.

If anyone has a chance to attend the show, it is well worth the trip.

Hugs,

Wanda

Dearest Deborah,

I will be attending the TBAI this August, Good Lord willing.   Last year was my first as an exhibitor and I must say it is the best show I have ever attended.   

Everyone is so friendly and helpful.  I enjoyed the Gala Event, the Friday Preview Show, the Wonderful Banquet, the picnic after the show, just everything about it.  I'm sure you will have a great time and your bears will be very well accepted by the collectors. 

Don't worry, you won't be the only Nervous Nellie.   I think we all get a little bit that way right before a big show.  The secret is to not let it show by enjoying the occasion and having fun.

Will be looking for you and your wonderful bears.

Hugs,

Wanda

I start at the bottom and work my way up.

Nose first and then mouth.   The eyes are aligned according to the nose and the ears are aligned by the eyes.

With the nose and mouth first, the bear can tell me when I have gotten the eyes and ears right.

Hugs,

Wanda

Okay!

I admit I'm a Fray Checkaholic . . . I Fray Check everything, don't want the seams to pull apart.     Can I join the FCA?    (Fray Check Anonymous).

Do you mix it up fresh each time or in a batch and keep stored  . . and what ratio  ... is it distilled water and PVA glue?

Help me break this affliction, those little bottles don't go very far.

Hugs,

Wanda

Daphne,

What a neat idea!  You can photograph your bears and raid the fridge at the same time!  By using your idea, I could be shooting and chewing in the time it takes to set up my light tent.

Necessity is the Mother of invention or discovery in this case.

Hugs,

Wanda

Thank you Shelli for posting the list of nominees and congratulations to all the Golden Teddy Nominees ... what a thrill!   It is so nice to see familiar names of talented teddy bear artists being recognized for outstanding creativity.

And Special Congrats to all who made the effort to get entries ready for these competitions.  It takes a lot of time and committment to excellence to just get an entry made, photographed and entered.   

Remember, there's always next year and you can't get nominated unless you enter.

Hugs,

Wanda

Trimming the seams has saved me lots of time and probably prevented carpal tunnel by having to hold the fur so tight while trying to comb it out of the seams, especially a thick, longer fur.

I trim all the seams and after a couple of bears, you will be able to "eyeball" the correct amount of seam allowance.  I lay the piece flat on the table holding it with my left hand, hold the clippers parallel to the seam with my right hand and move the clippers along the seam, making sure to pull the fur back away from the seam so I can see where I'm going.   

I push the clippers away from me and then when that edge of the clippers gets dull, I clip toward myself and use the other side of the clippers.  I also make sure to oil the clippers and wipe the excess off so it doesn't get on the mohair.   Amazing how easily it cuts when the blades are lubricated.  After clipping a couple of  bears, I take the clippers apart and clean out the excess fur that gets lodged inside the clippers. 

Works for me!

Hugs,

Wanda

Clare,

Thank you for the kind compliment on my bears.  So sweet of ya!

Deb,

When I lay out my center seam head pieces, I made sure the gusset pieces have the nap of the fur running away from the center seam toward the outside seam of the gusset.  And then to make sure the fur is heading the right way, I use a steam iron and steam the fur combing it away from the center seam.   Let it cool and then trim all the seams on the head pieces before stitching them together.   And as Judi stated, make sure you comb the hair out of the seam both on the inside and outside.

You should be able to steam the hair to coax it in the right direction even after it is stitched.  I have steamed finished heads in the past, but it is easier to do it before stitching.    With all the good remedies suggested here, you should have a very nice center seam when finished.

Hugs,

Wanda

Penny,

Okay, here's something you can show your hubby.

A few years ago, my husband surprised me at Christmas with an artist teddy bear from a very special artist friend of mine.

He had ordered it without my knowing anything about it, it had been delivered and he had wrapped it while I was at work.

Well, when I opened the present and saw the bear, I lost it.  The artist had written a note saying how lucky I was to have such a special husband who had gone to a lot of trouble to get this bear and on such short notice.  Yes, I cried, but they were tears of joy and pride knowing that he cared enough about me to surprise me with this special gift.

Sniff, sniff, I still get a little emotional when I remember that day.  The little bear is in a prominent shelf of my curio cabinet where I can see him.

Hugs,

Wanda

Nancy,

HUSBANDS!!! ....I know they are right sometimes, but not always.  You have got to learn to go with your gut feelings about these bear things.  After all, YOU are the one creating them.   Men are sometimes too logical without the "fuzzy, feely" intuition, if you know what I mean.

I think it is great that you did send in an entry.  You got your feet wet and next year will be a lot easier for you.  And, you never know, you might just be a contender this year.

Life is a continuous learning process, Lesson One on contest entries is now complete, so learn from this year as to what you would do differently, etc. for next year.

I wish you good luck.  There is no greater feeling than having your special piece chosen for nomination.

Hugs,

Wanda

Kim,

I used to do exactly that.  When I was using film photography I would take a swatch of the fur with me and ask the One Hour Photo Dept at Walmart to please match the color of the fur.  And they did!!!

Sometimes all you have to do is ask.    I haven't tried that with the digital photos, not sure they can do that, but it might not hurt to ask.

Hugs,

Wanda

Nancy & Shelli,

Gee girls ...thanks for the compliments.  No this bear is not being entered ... I just haven't gotten anything made for the awards competitions this year.  Was going to try, but don't want to rush around and then not make it.  Hopefully I'll have something for next year.

The little bear is "Macaroni" and he is bound for a shop as soon as I get three more ready to accompany him.

Nancy, the software is free!    Go to your Walmart photo center (I have a Super Walmart) and it should be on the counter.  Just pick it up and load onto our computer.  If you don't have it there, I'll send you one.  Just let me know.

Hugs,

Wanda

Jared and Nancy,

I loaded the free Walmart software for enhancing and sending photos via the internet for printing. 

By using the software, the Walmart pictures were printed as I had edited them  . . . no automatic image intelligence was used.   Now I know how to get a better quality print.  Even if I adjust them with my PS Elements, I will still use the software to send the photos so that my editing (brightness/contrast, etc) will not be changed.  I sent them from work on Friday at 9:15 and they were ready in an hour.

And Nancy, the glossy matte finish as the salesclerk called it, is a lot better than I remembered the old matte finish.  There's not that much difference between them.  I had been told a few years ago, that the glossy finish gave a much softer appearance for the fur.  That is why I was wanting the particular finish.  But I am very happy with this one and it was soooo easy.

Hugs,

Wanda

Jenn,

In my many years of living, I have discovered there are some people who enjoy complaining just to get attention.  If the truth be known, this is probably one of those people.

A true teddy bear artist/collector would never do anything like that and I'm almost positive Teddy Talk does not have those kind of members.  That is why this is the only forum I interact with and read.

It is this person's loss for not seeing the love, talent and kindness spilling from your teddy.  As my Dad always said, "It's no skin off your nose" if this person acts this way.  It is not your fault in any way, shape or form.  They are missing out! 

Keep making those adorable teddies and try to put this behind you. 

Hugs,

Wanda

Nancy,

I think making the quality of the picture is okay ... I would not try to adjust the subject in the photo.  In other words, adjusting the contrast/brightness, sharpness, etc. I think would be fine.    After all, these things can be done in the dark room when developing film.

Hugs,

Wanda

Jared,

I went to Macomb Walmart Photo Center and picked up a FREE CD to load "My Wal-Mart Digital Photo Center at Home". 

The CD enables you to organize photos, edit and order on line and pickup in-store in an hour.  I already have PS Elments 3.0 so I don't need the editing, but this might be something others can use on their photos.

There is an option to automatic adjust.  I'm wondering is I use this program and not use the auto adjust, if my prints will come out as I have set them on PS Elements.  I'm gonna do a sample run and see what happens.

Oh, I can't get glossy prints using the one-hour service.  Have to use the in-store or mailed to home option.  The one-hour is matte finish.

Hugs,

Wanda

Jared,

Thanks for the tip, but I'm not sure Macomb photo department prints glossy.  That's why I went to Walgreens.   I'm going to town today, so I'll stop and check it out.  There is always such a crowd around with people waiting their turn (another reason I went to Walgreens).

I have been burning the photos to a CD and taking it to work to send via the internet to Walgreens since I have slow dialup.

Thanks for enlightening me and I'll definitely check it out.   Your photos are GREAT!! ..Course the models are wonderful which makes for great pictures.

Hugs,

Wanda

Shelli,

I have been developing my photos at Walgreens one hour service by sending them to the store via the internet.  I have noticed they are usually a little darker than I had wanted them to be.  I didn't know Walgreens automatically adjusted them!!

I will mention that the next time I either take them or send them in to be developed.  Thank you so much.  I have been hitting my head against the wall trying to figure out why they look so good on my monitor and then too dark when developed.  In fact, the last ones I intentionally lightened and they still looked dark ... Duh ... no wonder!!!

Thanks for solving my headache, now I have to go patch the wall.

Hugs,

Wanda