Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

:dance: I've finally sent mine in! Thanks for the opportunity, Mindy :hug:

:dance: Wonderful news, Daphne!  :dance:

:hug: For your Hubs :hug:

Do let us help you choose a new house! I love househunting, but {like you} hate moving. Too bad that one usually means the other!

Still nothing but rain and more rain in the Great White North

Judi, your snowy pix will keep me going!

Hayley--if it's any comfort, I think most of the snow you see in American Christmas movies is either chicken feathers or styrofoam!! :crackup:

Me too--I just sent my info. Thanks, Shelli!

Glad it was useful, Penners--don't worry, I'm in the same swamped and sinkin' boat. Midterms, aaarghh.

I've been tutoring nonstop for weeks, can't even remember how many, and barely touched a scrap of fur.

Forgive me while I

SCREEEEEEEAM!!!

That's better. The withdrawal symptoms are awful.

Yes, yes. Little kittens definitely have that wandered look. It's fascinating to see them change from wandered to wily! You just do all you can to stay at the top of the food chain.

He is Persian Perfection, Penny!!

I don't think Cornelius looks 'evil' so much as 'don't-mess-with-me-if-you-value-your-eyesight'. dangerous. 

He looks just past the confused/worried/kitteny stage(see illustration)--then the pupils go vertical,  the catitude takes over, and you've got some real felinity on your hands!

No whiskers? What about mane horsehair, which tapers to a point? Vision coming on, bear with me . . . sew horsehair to strip of cotton to keep it in line, tack ends of strip inside cheek, pull horsehair through with a tiny crochet hook. See why I get so little housework done?

What a sweet little starry bear, Susan!

We've had one miserable little flurry here in the Great White North--it only lasted for a few minutes, but I was THERE. Now, every time I go shopping, I look around for Christmas presents.

Otherwise it's been rain, rain, and more rain, but I love the crispy, slightly moldy autumn weather too. The oak and maple leaves in the park are ankle-deep, which reminds me that I ought to collect some oak leaves and pine needles for my evergreen bed.

It's usually the snow, or the post-Thanksgiving time that brings on Christmas for me, whichever comes first. I love the old and new Christmas movies and music. I'm setting up my own TV and DVD in my basement workshop, so I can watch and listen non-stop. My computer doesn't play DVDs--got snookered there.

You're absolutely right, Tracy!  :hug:

All any of us can do is the right thing. The rest will work out.

In the end, the only power we have is over our own actions for good or ill.

I would definitely consider Judi's suggestion about that videocam, however!!

I'm with you, Pennners--the Mad Hatter's Tea Party Version of Housekeeping!! :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

Good for you, Tracy!! :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

I think there must be a special place in Heaven for those who care for rejected creatures, human or otherwise.

My youngest daughter was 'gifted' with a pregnant cat by a rather nasy 'friend' some years back. The kittens didn't survive, nor did the mother. Need I suggest that there's a special circle of Hell for such irresponsible arseholes (pardon Penny's French)?

Great advice, Michelle

I cut out the fur pieces first, then use a bit of LeatherWeld to fix them to a piece of muslin. Once the glue is dry, I can cut out the muslin following the fur pieces--saves me a lot of time!

Glover's needles for handsewing leather and leather sewing machine needles are a must. Their tips are chisel-shaped, so that they penetrate without tearing.

Especially when using mink, it pays to spend a lot of time placing your pattern pieces on the pelts. This applies not only to color matching and direction of fur. If you intend to trim the muzzle area, for example, you want to place the muzzle pattern on a pelt with as few seams as possible. This results in a much smoother trimmed area.

Wow, Sarah--your website looks great, and it's lots of fun to browse. Good going, girl :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Huzza for the new meds. Onward and upward!

Thanks, Lanie and Jodi and Wendy :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

I'm still thinking of shading him, but he's so danged happy the way he is!! :crackup:

Hi Lisa,

I managed to sew the head and body pieces by machine, but what with all the fumbling and false starts, it really wasn't any faster than sewing by hand! I had to try, but I also think I need to practice.

It's not age--it's multitasking gone mad . . . 

It comes with having children and getting used to having 6 days worth of things to do in one, wishing you grew another arm with each child, getting used to the idea that the work has no beginning, middle or end.

Which is why I like making bears. It's done when it's done, and nobody takes it apart again!

I got one shortly after I resubscribed--What a nice surprise !

I've been swamped and sinking in midterm deadlines, but I had to check in to say how glad I am to hear that Surrender is doing alright.

Neutering is probably the best thing you could have done to prevent further health problems . . . though he did produce gorgeous kittens

Our orange tabby Oscar is fiv positive. He probably got it from his mother at birth. We didn't find out until he'd broken the same leg twice, and it had to be amputated. No immune system left to heal it. He's doing fine, very happy living with daughter & son-in-law in a third floor apt where he romps around on the roof--they tried, but couldn't stop him.

The fiv might shorten Surender's life a bit, but he's not so likely to fight and spread it around once he's neutered.

Yummy pictures, Jane, and don't be so hard on yourself! I loved them--such a treat to see these shows :hug:

Oh no, Marie--deepest sympathy to you and your family! :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

I'm so glad you shared with us. It's clear that you had a wonderful relationship with your dear Mom. She must have been very proud of you, and greatly comforted by your love.

Wonderful tip, Sonya--thank you! :hug:

I've been experimenting with gusset sizes and darts, but I'll definitely give this a try!

Absolutely beautiful, Jane--what a lucky lady her mom is!

Thanks, everone--this is great advice!

I've been wondering how to keep my bunny-ear linings from flopping away from my bunny ears!

Just beautiful, Paula! Your shading is really something special, and Bedazzle isn't going to be sitting on your table very long.

Claudia, you've really had a tough time lately! :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

It's a relief to know that your Hubs is feeling better, though--that's the main thing. I hope you can both keep your spirits up, because things DO turn around. 

I've been through so many ups and downs and arounds by now that I'm a little dizzy, but even the bad stuff has to change! :hug: