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Jare Hares & Bearsok well that's one way to do it.
I just use my shears, dye baths, and my imagination.
I know that some artist would bury their mohair in their back yard, let their dogs play with it, sand it with sand paper, tree bark , and/or the sidewalk. I have heard some horror stories...
I'll stick with dyes, shears, and imagination... Far safer and more santitary.
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsEvery now and then I get the urge to do an old bear look too. I usually don't have these to sell, 'cause my mom claims them first!
But I do the distressing with scissors, tweezers, dyes, and my airbrush like Jared. You can get really nice affects with those simple things and some patience. (Although no waiting for months is reqired!)
Here's an idea that isn't especially practical when you are making bears to sell, but it works! It wasn't mentioned yet in this thread but it's the oldest one in the book---real child-love! 
...When I was teaching first grade I had a classroom bear (Spencer) that I had made from curly tan mohair. For a writing assignment the kids took turns taking him to spend the night at their homes and wrote about their adventures with the bear. They adored him , and after just one year of visiting MANY first graders it showed! And I love that little bear because he reminds me of my teaching years!
I made this bear a few years ago for my hubby.
Hugs
Vicki
Just Us BearsI have a couple of questions about the more 'extreme' ageing methods of deborah and Pen-pen.
1st for Deb...don't you have problems of bugs and bacteria weakening the mohair and putting holes in it??
and for Pen-pen....how does one get rid of the smell of barbequed bear hair after singeing it on a hot plate??? Sounds like it would work a treat but..... do you then wash it after 'treating' it?
I really want to know.....
Bearhaven BearsSo far my MP aging method has not shown any signs of weakening the fabric ( I go over it with a fine tooth comb looking for damage), mohair is a very sturdy material it has been around for thousands of years it dates back to biblical times. It can take a lot of abuse and still come out lookin great.
As for the bugs nope didn't see any of those either, now I do was my buried piece several times after I dig it up. I don't burry it in the fresh horse crap I use the well composted stuff that has been around for ages by then it is really just soil. It is no different than dragging it through the mud just sound more dramatic. :crackup:
Who knows maybe 50 years from now my little bear will start to show some signs of bad aging methods, but then again who knows if plucking and tweezing and dying won't effect mohair in the long run either. I know that tea is bad for the fabric because there is a chemical in it that breaks the fibers down in the backing but how many of us have used that method, raise your hands I know I have. 
I just keep my fingers crossed that I haven't stepped over the line and gone too far with my aging methods. I know it's not for everyone and is hard to wrap ones head around the concept of using an unconventional method but it works for me and I don't expect to many people to jump on the MP aging method. All the better then I know my guys are truly one of a kind 
Hugs deborah
Bumpkin Bears
I've recently started making more aged bears but havn't yet gone to the lengths of driving over the mohair or putting it in my garden... not that brave yet 
I just finished this chap called Patch that I hand dyed the mohair and wool felt in soft faded shades of pale blue and creamy green and added embroidery stiches to look like old mended areas. I gave him a loosely stuffed saggy tum and slightly wobbly head ... I'll also add photos of a few of my other aged bears I've made recently....
Love to see more from others :)
Hugs
Catherine
I love the 'distressed' look, but have never been able to bring myself to desecrate a beautiful piece of new mohair! I think I'll be sticking with my brand spanking new look for the foreseeable future! :crackup: :crackup:
HOT OFF THE PRESS- this is my first attempt at distressing. I made him this weekend. Gee it was hard to torture this little fellow. But, once I started I loved it and I never thought I could ever rip out hair and discolor a bear. Thanks to Paula's challenge , I am now in love with these traditional style bears, just a little aged that's all.
I plucked hairs, stained his fur with oil paint and pigment pens. I tried Penny's burning idea- works well ! ,
I scraped him with a stiff wire brush and aged his ultrasuede paws to look like old leather. I think I am truly hooked !!!!
Bearhaven BearsTammy It's great fun isn't it :dance: seeing just how creative we can be to get the look we want. Nothing beats a well loved bear, no matter what aging process we choose to use, I think I'll give the singed hair one a try, better have the fire department on stand bye for this one
Hugs Deborah
Canna Bear PaintI feel rather embarrassed to say it, but I mostly like fat and fluffy bears... you know, with all their hair 
I think if I had to distress one of my bears, *I* would wind up being so distressed I would have to be committed somewhere.
I do remember a story of a bear artist that takes her bears for a ride to distress them. That is, she ties the bears to her bumper and drags them behind her car while she drives around the neighborhood! Can't remember which artist it is, but it may be Martha Burch?
Does anyone remember the commercial for the minivan where the mother buys a new teddy and abuses it until it looks like her daughter's lost bear? She washes the car with it, runs it over, slams the seat down on top of it and pulls out an eye. One of my all-time favorite commercials!
Best wishes,
Kelly
