Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I'm pretty impaired when it comes to matching colors. Maybe I'm a little color blind. So, there is a sweet little sewing store in my area that I go to. The owner is a great lady and she always helps me pick out matching thread. I just bring in the mohair i want to use and she does the rest. I like this because I can get a collection of thread slowly, but now I'm wondering if I should be buying the larger spools. Maybe just in the basic colors like Jenny does.
it's a little bit of a pain, to buy thread for each bear, but it's nice to shop, and the store owner has become a fan of my bears ( she's never seen an artist bear before ) and she has just recently bought one after begging me to show her some of my bears.
Although, I have HUGE, HUGE spools of clear nylon thread. It's called philament. Got it from my grandparents after they closed doen their drapery shop. It was used in the huge quilting machines that quilts bed spreads. Great stuff, and really strong. But I still like to buy thread.
And that's my ramble for the day!!  :dance:
Heather

That funny Eileen. Watching the birds fly somewhere else. I remember a few years back I was in california over xmas and we went to a park and saw canadian geese. I was soo excited. Neat to see where they go, but also neat that they come back as well.
Not too many intersting birds here in the city either. But yes, those sparrows, always tonnes of them, once word of food gets out!!
Heather

You are amazing!! Such an inspiration.
Heather

Amazing, someone out there is surely watching, trying to improve this board. THANKSS!!! :clap:
Heather

I dont like the smell at all!!!
Sniffing glue LOL :clap:
Heather

I only use fray check on the openings, the nose and the ears. Seems to work fine for me. It's just that fray check is pretty expensive, so I try to be cheap about it.
Because you guys use so much fray check, anyone tried the method of 50% glue and 50% water?? haven't tried it myself yet, but I love to be cheap!!!
Ps, does fray check wash out??
Heather

If you are using glass eyes, you can bake them just fine. You bake poly clay at such a low temp, that I often sculpt on an index card and bake that. So, if you can bake an index card, the glass eyes will be fine. This way, you can experiment with all sorts of eye lids, without having to attach it to the bears head 1st.
Any issues, let me know. I'll be happy to help as best I can.
Heather

You guys are the best!!!
Thanks for all the help, I'm still not sure what I'm gonna call myself, but it's nice to know you guys like the word 'mystical' though.
And to think of some names for me!! I feel so honored.
Again, thank you very much  :clap: :hug:
Heather

Hey guys, just a quick question today.
Found out that there is going to be a Calgary Doll and bear show early in 2006. SOOOO EXCITED!! :clap: :dance: :bday: :cake:
I emailed about a table, and I guess they offer them to non-members in January.
I was wondering how I can go about this, assuming I would get a table and everything. How can I research the show and how many bear makers will be there??
Also, have any of you been to a doll and bear show?? Are these a good idea for us bear makers, or am I better off trying to find just a bear show??
Thanks, just wondering. I've hardly sold any bears being a newbie and all, and I'm not sure if I should take this risk, or just go to the show to shop around.
thanks guys,
Heather

Nice kitchen!! I hate you too!!!!  :twisted: In a good way of course.
I love the backspash in your kitchen, all that stone looks really good. You are very lucky.
Heather

Soo sorry to hear about your bunny. I have a rabbit, and I know how much you can fall in love with them.
My bunny lives in our basement, free of course. She is totally litter trained Shelli, so no issues there. Although, don't leave stuff lying around that you don't want chewed.
My bunny is soo sweet, she will sit on my lap for hours and hours. One time I even fell asleep on my couch, with the bunny on my lap. I woke up 3 hrs later, with the rabbit still on my lap.
Sorry again,
Heather

Don't forget, you can always make polymer clay eye lids. Take a ball of polyclay that's a little bigger than the eye, place the eye on top and press. The poly clay should squish out from under the eye and give you some good, simple eye lids. You can also play around with it the clay and sculpt a bit, or just do it the easy way, I mentioned above.
Heather

yeah, I used kool-aid because it's very cheap, non toxic and can be found anywhere. At least here in Canada.
You might want to try and drink mix powder that has color.
I wonder what interesting food you guys have in Australia. I love to see food from other countries. Soo interesting.
Heather

Matilda, you are sooooo lucky!!! That's one of the reasons I always thought I would like living in Australia. All the animals. Although, more bugs too. It's a toss up!!!!
I've always wanted a parrot, but after seeing them in the wild, I could never keep one in my house, or cage. Just me though.
Thanks for sharing though, We get birds in our yard, but just boring ones. Eileen siad they were sparrows?? I think those are the ones

Heather

How could you guys not have kool-aid?? Wow, I just assumed that it sold everywhere.
Same as Gina, I'll send you some in the mail as well if you like. Although, one article says you can use easter egg dyes, and maybe even food coloring. Lots of options.
Heather

Kim, good job with the fetling needle! you've done really well. Thanks for sharing.
Heather

Sabine, I'm just about done my panda. Just have to atttach the limbs and stuff the body.
I'll post a pic when I'm done, I'm really happy with the way the eye patches turned out.
A day or two, and I'll post. But I love to see your guys panda bears. Soo nice!! And Sabine, I can't imagine working with such long mohair.
Heather

Great job Marie!! love that mohair!! Such a sweet face!
Heather

Okay, I'd like to add on to this if I may.
What makes certain fabric long pile??? How can you tell what you have?
maybe I'm just missing something here?  :redface:
Heather

Oh man, Jenny, that sounds rough!!! not easy to have to fire people, although I've never had to do it. It just hurts when you are good to people and they do this kinda thing behind your back. I can' imagine someone cutting my hair when they are drunk. Very scarey!!
Shelli, good luck with the day. Remember everything happens for a reason, and that reason is always a good one!!!
Everyone else, have a great Saturday/weekend. Happy bear making!
Heather

Matlilda, I don't understand. Are those your birds? Do they get to fly free?? Very cool either way.

What am I doing today? I'm working. 6am - 5 pm. But it's slow at work on Saturdays, ( I work at a help desk ) So I brought in a few movies, and I have to sew ears on my 1st panda bear. Also have some felting to do.
So that's my day. Sounds not too bad, but I would be much happier if I could've slept in this morning  :doh:

Heather

Hey guys, have had these site bookmarked for a bit. I found them very usefull when I dyed some for my 1st time.

http://www.bearsandbuds.com/webzine/HandDyed.asp

http://www.woolworks.org/dyeing.html ( this one has a chart as to what flavor gives what color)

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall02/FEATdyedwool.html (this one does a great picture chart of what flavor turns what color

enjoy!!!!

Heather

You're right Shari. Great advice. I'm going to try and find some info on dying mohair for you guys. It's soo fun and easy, and I was very scared to try it.

Also, if anyone needs help with getting kool-aid, just drop me a PM or email and I'll see what i can do to buy you some.

Heather

I want him too! Love that face and mouth!
As if he won't sell.....................
Heather

Great job Laura!! Still has your look to it. AMAZING!!
Heather