Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I stuff as much as I can. The head mostly. So far, using mohair, the seams haven't ripped, and I'm always suprised to see exactly how much stuffing can fit into one little head.
I like my bears to feel heavy, so I also put alot of glass beads in the bear as well.
Heather

Very sad story, but glad he did some good. You are so brave to make such large bear.
Heather

oooh, I want to share my pets to.
Fugee is the dog, he's 5lbs soaking wet.
The cat is Zuess, a very sweet cat, unless he's beating up the dog :)
The bunny was rescued from a very horrible home, she was stuck in a cage she could barely turn around in. So now she lives free in our basement, or out in the back yard. She's a very happy bunny, 100% litter trained and will sit on your lap for hours and hours. and she is the queen of the house. She beats up on all the other animals. It's very funny to see.
And the spider, well his name is spider. LOL

Thanks you guys!!! Great tips.
So what I've learned is that I'm gonna mark my machine at 1/4", but still draw out my seam allowances on the head and footpads (the parts I sew by hand)
And Marion, I'm soo gonna go to Out Of Hand and look for that tool. Any excuse to go there is a good one!!!
ANd thanks Nanc. I can totally picture what you are trying to tell me. Makes sense and I have no idea why I haven't thought of that before.
Off to teddy making now
Heather

Marion, too funny. I'll have to remember that one!
Heather

I'll be sending LOTS of good energy your way, hope to see you back here soon
Heather

Gee, what a great way to make friends (Marion) LOL
Terrie, they do have a wire backing, so they should be easy to use.
Julia, I promise to show any bears I make with these eyes, if I can get the courage to use them!!
Shelli, you're too funny. You're right though, they do just scream out of lids. I figure these eyes are perfect to try using eye lids with. I think they would look strange without lids really. Wish me luck trying your technique for lids, or maybe I'll felt lids on, we'll see.
Ellen, the wires don't look worn, they are very strong and sturdy, So maybe they're not vintage, but they sure are cool!
You guys are so cute, thanks for sharing my excitment. My guys friends somehow just don't appreciate them LOL :D
Heather

That was nice, thanks Nanc
Heather

Hey guys, Just had to share this with someone who could appreciate it.
I just got these in the mail today. I bought them off some guy on ebay for $15.00 canadian. I guess he found them at an estate sale and had no idea what they were. He called them googlie eyes. LOL They are pure glass and very well made. The smallest size is about 4 or 5mm and up from there. I'm sooo excited to use them, although it's like getting a really nice candle, you hate to burn it, and I hate to waste these on any bear that isn't super cute.
Any of you guys know anything about these??I wonder if they're vintage or not.
Thanks for looking,
Heather

Welcome to the board!! I'm assuming here that you collect, but don't make bears yet. Am I right??
As for your questions.....
1. I got started by seeing bears on ebay. I couldn't afford to buy a bear myself, so I bought a kit. I was already sell polymer clay sculptures and felted bears on ebay. Always dabbled in art of some sort.

2.how long did it take me? Not too sure what you mean, but my 1st teddy took me almost a month to make. I was hard to get the courage to trim the fur etc.

3. I get my idea's from everything around me. But mostly my pets, who have the cutest faces. I also get inspiration from other bear artists. It does NOT get harder to think of ideas. Just the opposite. The more bears I make, the more ideas I get.

4. I dont collect bears.........yet. But being on this board, there are several artists who I would die to have one of their bears.

Heather

Nanc, I am able to move my needle side to side on my machine. I always just have in right in the middle.

Shelli, thanks for you advice. I thought the slightest deviation would show up on the bear. Glad to know it doesn't. I just find myself obsessing about making everything 100% perfect. And I WILL continue to draw the seam allowance on the parts I sew by hand and the head.

Heather

Hey guys, here's my question for the day.
How do you guys deal with seam allowances??
Here's my problem. I have to draw the seam allowance on my bear pieces. Helps me sew straight on the machine and by hand. Otherwise, I get all out of control. But this takes alot of time, to measure out my 1/4 inch of whatever. Almost as much time as trimming the seams take.
So what do you guys do about this?? Or are you just really good at sewing a straight line?? I was thinking, to NOT include a seam allowance on my patten pieces so when I trace it out, that would be my sewing line. Then I could just add the seam when I was cutting it out. I imagine then I wouldnt have to cut out so carefully that way either.
Am I making sense?? I hope so.
But I thought I would ask you guys 1st, I'm sure you have some wisdom to share.
Thank you
Heather

I would also like to add a question if I may to you die experts.
Doesn't it change the look of the mohair?? I like to buy curly mohair, and I've tried to wash a few test pieces and I find the curls come out, and the whole look changes. Am i doing something wrong? Or do you guys like that look?
I would love to dye my own colors, but I'm scared of not liking the mohair after.
Thanks
Heather

Kim, and anyone else. If you want to make an easy 'about me' or an easy auction page for ebay go here;
http://robshelp.com/
it's all free and soo simple. That's what I use when I have an auction going. All you do is, in plain language, type in what you want, and it converts it to HTML for you. Including your 'about me' page. Plus, this way, you can have a million pictures in you auctions and not pay ebay for them.
If you guys have any questions about using it, let me know. I'll be happy to help, as I've used it soo many times.
Funny though, I still don't have an 'about me' page. I just wouldn't know what to put in there
Heather

Gee, I thought the best advertising was to be good to your customer, and word of mouth. Looks like in this case they do neither. I can't imagine them being around too much longer if they're relying on advertisments.
Sounds like a bunch of high school kids runing a paper.
Weird
Heather

I also think the 2" mohair is nice, but I would never use it. I just don't want to make bears that big. But depending on the price, I just may want to try.
I don't like the viscose blend at all. Just not my thing.
But I LOVE the tipped mohair. I find interesting tipping mohair is tough to find, and i would for sure order some of that, and some different colors would be nice as well.
Thanks for getting our feedback,
Heather

what sad stories, but happy because at least we can make a small difference.
Now I'm very glad that I have sculpted alot for my grandma, her favorite art form of mine. It makes her so very proud to show off an auction I may have on ebay, or when anyone comes to their house, they are forced to look all my work.
She also finds old stuffed animals, rips them apart and saves me the stuffing. I don't like to use it, but how can I tell her no??
So now, I'm really glad I do that for her. You just never know what is going to happen.
And Marion, to loose your mom soo fast!! Scary.
Heather

WONDERFULL! You are very lucky to own one of her dogs. Good purchase
Heather

Awsome job marion. I just love your bears. The faces are soo sweet.  You do the noses very well.
I also like the green and brown bear in the 1st picture. Cool color combo!!
PS, that IS some awsome mohair!! So soft looking
Heather

Well, I am also on the computer tonnes! But at home I tend to leave the thing alone.
I work 10 hr days, ( but only 4 of them ) and have all the time in the world at my job to play on the computer. So I get my fix there. I find even on my days off, I don't touch the computer.
the only real problem I see with being on the computer so much, is that I spend lots. I was always so proud of myself that I'm not much of a shopper, therefor I don't spend lots of money. But get into bear making and you start shopping on-line.DANGEROUS!!!! All the pretty mohair, all those cute bears and don't forget those 'great' deals on ebay!!
Just me rambling today, it's still 6 am. YUCK!
Heather

Dilu, what an amazing creation! So tiny and yet soo detailed. And those clothes!! I can't even imagine sewing small clothes for a 10" bear, let alone that!!!! You are the golly QUEEN!!
Heather

I'm glad that you have done that Rita. I would love to take a family in, but being in Canada, it's just not going to happen. THank you for having a big heart.
Heather

some of us are crazy,
and some are just insane.
But that's what's makes are teds soo cute,
and anything but mundane

soo sweet, and a great idea that she has those magnets in her paws!! I love her treat bucket.
Great job!
Heather

Daphine, just regular old window screen. And I thought at 1st it would ruin the needle, but it seems to slide right into the screen holes. No trouble there. Give it a try it really works well for me.
Heather