Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Bulletin: Artificial sinew in 'natural' is now 50% off!!

http://www.tandyleather.com/prodinfo.asp?number=1120800Eileen

Ditto, Cindy ;)

One day at a time isn't half bad, and it's hard enough!

Eileen

Shelli, by 'cardstock' do you mean those large sheets of Bristol Board?

Eileen

Shelli,

I want to try oils. I had an antique set of my daughter's Reeves, but didn't like them.

I recently bought a selection of Old Holland colors on sale--have you ever heard of these? The art guy said this brand was one of the best for subtle effects, and that the white left behind more pigment than did other brands of white.

I also got boar's hair brushes, which seemed the stiffest. What do you use?

When you dry-brush, can you layer colors right away, or do you have to wait for each to dry?

Eileen

I 've only used the Artificial Sinew  for handsewing real fur bears. The best source for artificial sinew is probably TandyLeather, which also sells a variety of needles--my favorite for real fur being the glover's needle.

http://www.tandyleather.com/products.asp?dept=166

The AS comes in natural, black, white and brown.

Eileen

Jane, you're never alone on this forum! There's not much that's too wacko for us!My other favorite bit of Nemo is the pack of seagulls--Mine? Mine? Mine?

Eileen

Judi, your bears just get better and better! :D

I googled Peruvian Angora and got Guinea Pigs. Are we talking Guinea Pigs here?

Actually, it might be cheaper in the long run to raise and shear your own. Besides, I love the boinky sound they make whenever you open the refrigerator :lol:

Eileen

I'm just here to second Dilu's advice on the disappearing quilt marker.

Danni, you leave it on as long as you need it. I guess if you didn't want to leave the joint mark, you could make the hold and spritz any marker that's left. A damp cloth works just as well as spritzing. I've never tried spitting . . .

Eileen

It happens to me all the time, Dilu. I've been online looking for pix of Lady Liberty and Robert E. Lee and his horse Traveller for bears.

And here I am! :/

Eileen

I love love love that movie too--I adore the aquarium scenes. Many of my alltime favorites are animated!

What nice furniture stores you have in NH. If you stand too long watching a video in a Toronto video store, they turn it off. Not too good at customer relations!

Eileen

Speaking of staying young and silly, and organizing stuff and avoiding housework, and spending too much time on the computer, and all the other topics this thread is not about, here's an idea for putting all our hairy assistants to work:

http://www.legrady.hu/sc.html

Eileen

Dilu, you are a riot!! Keep it coming, girl . . .

Calculus? We didn't have it in high school back then, but I managed to get a D in HS Chemistry. I tried again at college, but the prof. very kindly advised me to drop the course.

I tried Calculus in college, where I also flunked gym one term, and didn't understand a word of it, though I'd been fairly good in high school math--dated the math teacher's son, actually. But I slogged on until we hit a proof that I couldn't even begin to do.

So I called old boyfriends from Harvard and MIT---in tears, of course--begging for help. The Harvard guy, same math teacher's son I'd dated in HS, came out and helped me through the proof, me still snivelling and dripping. :(

A few classes later, the prof announced that I was the only one who had got the proof right. She asked me to step up to the front and demonstrate it to the whole class, which of course I could not do to save my life.

I sat there in a paralysis of embarrassment and panic and shame until she moved on. Probably thought I was having an epileptic fit. Actually, I think she knew exactly what was going on.

Eileen

I'd love to see some Olde Englishe patterns Judi! And yours when you find it, Shari!  For some reason I didn't see your second and third pictures first time through, Judi--they're beautiful. Wow.

I'm working on a little knittie now-- too many interruptions lately, so he's not yet ready for prime time, but I'll post a picture when he is (and when I get a camera that works). I even made my own very thin knitting needles by sanding down bamboo sticks and waxing them.

In order to keep matching pattern pieces/sides even in case of memory failure, I've started drafting patterns on graph paper. There are ususally more rows to the inch than stitches, so you ususally need something like a 2/3 proportion. You can download any size/proportion of grid here:

http://www.incompetech.com/beta/plainGr … etric.html

I used to keep knitting notes, but couldn't read them later! Often couldn't find them. And my attempts at sweaters were disasters.

Peruvian Angora. I'm on it . . .

Eileen

Judi, that is THE best news!! :D

Two Hundred? Wow.

I love your little critter. What kind of yarn is that? Or is the furry stuff felted?

I was wondering why nobody seemed to be making knitties. Even the eyelash yarn, when crocheted, seems to me bulky and rather naked. Crocheters complain that it's the spawn of Satan.

But when knitted, the purl side is wonderfully furry, and the knit side is smooth, probably because when purled, the yarn is in front of the needle. The knit side can be the 'wrong' side, or become muzzles and pawpads.  Mohair can be brushed for a wonderful effect. It's like creating your own fur.

I so agree that knitting is therapeutic. During the 2000 election, and again during the Sept 11 coverage, I stayed glued to CNN and my knitting. I have no idea what I thought I was making. It's more or less a dusty pink 'scarf' about 16 feet long. I'll pick it up again next crisis.

Eileen

I've usually made my critters up as I went along--for the kids. It's just a matter of gauge, plus increasing and decreasing to shape.

I'd love to made a really nice knitted bear with traditional parts and joints. Some of the new imported eyelash yarns are amazingly beautiful. And I've got a small stash of mohair yarn. There's a Russian artist named Fadeeva who makes drop dead gorgeous knitted animals. She's into felting now, but have a look-see:

http://www.fadeeva.com/

I think her knitties are much nicer than crocheted specimens

Eileen

Congratulations on your new workroom, Dilu!! What a great husband you have :D

Actually, I can remember when TVs  didn't have remotes . . .

Eileen

I see a lot of crocheted bears on eBay and websites, but no knitted bears. :/

Anybody know why? Is there anyone out there who still knits critters besides me?

Eileen

Daphne's right about the 'coil'--and beat me to it!! :(

Judi, your Mom's Scrabble story is amazing and comforting! I didn't realize you'd lost your sister only last year! I hope all goes well and the pain subsides a bit.  BTW, my middle daughter is named Caroline!

As for stuff--naturally I plan to live long enough to use it all up, but you all inspire me to start organizing!

Eileen

Take care, Rita

We'll all be with you tomorrow!

Eileen

Me too, Cindy--

Hope you're going strong

Eileen

Hayley, m'dear, you have hit the proverbial nail on the proverbial head!! :D

Our forums are part of our workplace. So what if we take the odd coffee break and get silly!! :P

I'm a homebody too. I love nesting in my own little mess with my beasts, and I loved being at home with my kids--actually, come to think of it, I'm still at home with my kids.

My working friends call to share office gossip which I can't follow, but I listen more or less patiently, thanks to the wireless tech which allows me check my email at the same time!!

I'd much rather be here, which is actually a much bigger world. We must cover most of the globe!!

Without these forums, even with a load of really good bear books, I'd still be struggling alone in the dark, wondering (which I do now less and less) if I'd finally lost my mind.

"Knowing" the creators of these Breathtaking Bruins, and working toward their professional standards, makes it all a possibility for me, and a great pleasure. 

Eileen

Right on, Dilu :lol:

Much bigger brains! How really, really clever of you to figure that out--bear blood?

Eileen

Hayley,

I love the expession 'won't power'. That's exactly what I need. I'm at my computer working on a student's anthropology (yawn) paper, and the temptation to click on email alerts is overwhelming.

Eileen

I hope it's ok too, Jane. I've got a folder of 'artist bear' pictures that I put on 'slideshow' from time to time. Most inspirational and cheering. :D

Eileen

Congratulations, Laure! :D

The best possible excuse (nay, Reason) to let the housework slide. Or crash.

I'm working so hard to pay for supplies that my bear time has been severely limited this week. I've got 3 new students, one with MS, one dyslexic, and one with OCD!! They're all sweet and smart, but I really hoped for some bear time this Summer.

My husband, after showing amazed approval at my 2.75 bears (bless him) actually said (and I quote), "You could probably make more money from your bears than by tutoring"  I was so happy that I celebrated by placing an order with Intercal!! So (ironically), I have to keep tuturing . . . that doesn't make any sense, does it?

Eileen