Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi all.  I just finished air-brushing these two bears yesterday.  The larger bear is made from a gorgeous dense cream swirly mohair that I also hand-dyed a soft pink for the arms and legs.  I was going for a very light pink and it ended up being a little darker and more peachy than I expected but I still liked the color.  I also dyed the fiber for the nose to match. 

The smaller bear is made with a very VERY ratty mohair that has black fiber woven into it.  It was a little more golden initially and I over-dyed it in a burnt orange bath to bring out more orange.  He will be a Halloween bear when I come up with some accessories for him.  He is a new pattern for me - I have been wanting to switch to a 2-piece body pattern and I also changed the arms a little bit.  More of a bend and bigger upper arms for him. I don't think this mohair is available anymore and I like the finished effect but I have to say that it was difficult to work with on the face area.  After trimming the muzzle, the black hairs were very noticable and I really had to work and fuss to get the muzzle rattiness to match the rest of the bear.  Anyway........... 

So both bears are made from mohair I purchased from Jane Perala on eBay.  She is selling some of her stash and I really love the pieces I got from her.  Both bears still need accessories - AND NAMES!  The two parts of bear-making I struggle with the most!

OOPS!  Sizes...........  the bigger one is big!  About 22 inches.......  and the smaller one is about 14!

Wow!  I went to your website, Yvonne, and they are all really wonderful!  Love every one of them!!!!  (Especially Domino...........)  I really like your new paw treatment.  Great effect!!!!

I think she is wonderful, Sue Ann.  I love her proportions!

Congratulations and best wishes, Gemma!!!

I love her, Paula!  Grumpy expression and all!!!  The mohair looks wonderful.  Sorry to hear it was tough to work with.........

I wear Abercrombie's Classic.  It is very light and I just LOVE IT!!!!!

Paula,
He reminds me of a bumblebee.  Love him!!!

Paula, great looking bear.  One of my favorite "All Bears."  I love the face and how you did the chest also.  Great combination!!!!!!!!! :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

Paula, he is my absolute favorite of yours.  He's wonderful!!!!!!!!!  Congrats on a well-deserved nomination!!!!!   :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

Wow!  Fabulous entries!  You all deserve awards!!!!

Thanks everyone, for taking the time to post!  I did go ahead and airbrush last night - just very slightly on the face - and more on the pads.  Airbrushing does add such a nice dimension to teddy bears.......  Kim, thanks for posting your photos.  Funny that they are the same pattern and yet so different.  I think yours looks much more like a real bear and mine is more of a teddy bear look.  We should do a challenge here on TeddyTalk where everyone starts with the same pattern.  That would be fun to see all the creative differences!  Anyway, here's my newly airbrushed fellow!

Your rabbits are adorable and very original!!!

Hi all,
Just finished the only bear I have made this summer.  He is made with a 36-piece pattern I purchased from one of my favorite teddy artists.  Not sure she wants me to mention her name so I won't do that unless she tells me otherwise.............  I used my own limb patterns.  (Whoopie.)  I could never in my life have developed such an awesome pattern as this one is.  It incorporates some techniques I have never used before.  Double neck joint...... Armatures......  I also used Tami Eveslage's trapunto technique on the paw pads.  Another first.  Boy, is that ever time-consuming.  But its fun and I am happy with the end results.  I used actual photos of bear paws to create the outline.......... I learned something about armatures on this bear - don't stuff the limbs too firmly or the armatures won't work!!!  So I need to give credit here for the great tips and techniques shown on TeddyTalk by Tami Eveslage, Daphne and her wonderful trapunto photo tutorial, and Judi and her photos on using armatures!  Judi, I was clueless on armatures until I saw your photos.  Thank you!!!  Anyway, here's my bear. And now I am asking for opinions.  I would like to airbrush - especially the paw pads where the stitching shows...........  But!!  Of course I am afraid of ruining him since I am not the world's greatest airbrusher, and I am not sure he really needs it.  Does he need airbrushing?  Let me know your thoughts!

Just beautiful!  The hands on Goldilocks look perfect!  And I love her face, and the bear is really sweet too.  Awesome work, Tami!!!!

Daphne, thanks so much for taking the time to post this technique.  I really want to try this on my next bear............  These photos and instructions will help tremendously!!!!!

Caroline for me...........  Caroline or Clare.  After having 3 boys, I've given up on ever getting to use either.............

Beautiful work.  So generous of you to donate such a gorgeous bear!

Love the face, and of course the big feet too!!!

Just lovely!  A wonderful swap!

Great looking face and very original!  You have found a winning style!!!

Thank you all for taking the time to comment!

Soooooo Cute!!!!!!

I have three boys and have been wanting to create a "Mom and son" pair so I did just that and finished them this week.  The Mom is about 14 inches and the son is about 10 inches.  They are both stuffed with polyfil and mineral granules for a slumpy weight.  The jacket is made with a pattern by Lori Ann Baker from the Australian Homespun Magazine last year.  Happy Mother's Day, everyone!

What a perfect little bunny!  Adorable!!!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Katrina!