Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

You also might give some thought to needlefelting wool onto the bear for all the hair.  A friend does Santa bears with this method and they come out very nice with long curls.
Donna

Sonya,
You are the best!  I have not had a minute to even think bears or the show. 
See you Sat.
Bear Hugs,
Donna

Edinburgh has carried the glass beads in two different size beads.  I get my glass beads from a sand blasting supplier.  They are a little finer than the ones from Edinburgh. 
Donna

Hi Richy,
You could make the bear to look old and distressed.  You could sew a patch over the hole as if it had worn through from being loved by a child.  Add some more patches one the tummy, arm and an ear.  Do the nose as if it has lost some threads.  Also rough them up a little so they have some fuzz to them.  If you really want to make it look worn you can take more of the fabric that has the hole in it, poke a hole through it, put some excelcer sticking out the hole the put a piece of muslin behind it to hold the stuffing in place and sew that whole piece to the bear.  Then where you can see where you drew the seam line, dirty it up with some staining.  Really water down some black acrylic paint or tea dye it in blotches.  On the old bears that I do repairs on, I will do tea staining then take them outside and rub them on the sidewalk.
Or for the seams you could just go back and ladder stitch over them and pull the seam in so the black does not show.  If the hole is on the foot pad you can just cut out new foot pads and ladder stitch them on over the first ones.  You will need to do both since you want them to look the same. 
Sorry you have been ill and things did not go well with this bear.
Donna

Hi Gladys,
I think it is a great idea.  I will be at the San Diego show.  I am in the middle of a remodle and don't have much time for anything but paint, lay flooring, hang drywall, you get the idea. 
Sonya,
That would be great if you could do up the logo.  I might have time to print it out and laminate before I leave on Thurs.
Thanks,
Donna

Put some arnica on it to help with the bruising.  Make sure you have not broken it or torn anything.  Then just keep putting the arinca on it and you will feel better.  But you should still avoid any exercise for at least six months to a year.  The only exercise that is exceptable is that which is required to make bears.

Check out www.christiebears.co.uk  They have jointing supplies and they are there in the UK.  If it is the metal washers you need you can do a cost comparision with christiebears and the local hardware store.  But if it is the disc that you are needing you will need to get those from a bear making supplier like Edinburgh, Intercal or Christiebears.
Good Luck,
Donna

I'm going to agree with Jane on this point!  I have not used them thanks to the advice of many old timers who had the same experience that Jane had.  I have done several repairs on bears that were done using pop rivets.  There is just not enough area around the joint involved and they do not hold as well over time. 
Donna

I have sculpted the safety eyes years ago.  Many times I would attach threads to the back of the eyes when I put the locking device on them.  I made the threads long enough to come out the back of the head then stuffed around them.  After the head was stuffed then I would pull the threads so that the eyes sunk down into eye sockets.  If I didn't remember to do that before I set the eyes then I would take small stitches at the edge of the eye and go to the base of the neck back and anchor the eye there.  Then I would do a stitch from the eye down to the front of the neck.  Do this on both sides of the eyes.  You can also drill a hole in the shaft of the safety eye and put thread through that.
Donna

Heather,
I was raised on a farm and have seen many animals put down.  It is never easy even for the farmers who have large numbers of animals to deal with on a daily basis.  My thoughts here are that it will be more humane to the rabbit to put it down now.  Without the use of it's legs there are going to become complications with organs and it's entire body.  My first thought was of acid burn from urine etc.  We had a cat that had a spinal injury.  There was no visible problem, just showed up dragging his back end.  The vet thought that there might be some feeling.  After four days of poking and prodding, I had him put down, which is why I took him to the vet in the first place.  I was amazed at how quickly he went downhill in just the four days.  And he was in pain those four days which I have a real problem dealing with.   I feel the kinder, loving thing to do is put the bunny down.  So sorry you are having to do this!
Bear Hugs,
Donna

Where is John Port when you need him? I would guess that John knows several artists that do collaborations.   I know many of the old timers (the ones in the business for around 20 years or more) have done them.  I know that Joan Woessner and Steve Schutt do it.  I don't have a clue as to how they work out the details.  There have been some collaborations with our group.  It pretty much comes down to what each person wants for their part of the collaboration and then a price gets worked out from there. 
Donna

Daphne,
I have G48 color 5561 1/2 yard.  You can have as much as you need.  Only problem is it is straight.
Donna

All those crossed fingers and prayers worked for you.  Way to go!  It really is a miracle that any bears get made by TTer's since they have so many body parts crossed.  Here's to smooth sailing with the sale of the house and the purchase of a new one.  I bet your parents are just bursting with anticipation of getting to see more of you!
Bear Hugs,
Donna

I checked with Quilters Resource.  They have Ipp Sheet Plastic in 14x20" sheets.  25 sheets to a package.  I am not sure if it is the same that Edinburgh used to carry.  Then I googled Inglis Publications Products who was listed at Quilters Resource as the maker.  They have several plastic sheets.  They also have the IPP Sheet Plastic in 50 sheets to a box.  Maybe you could send them a sample and see if they have the same thing.  Years ago I bought architect plastic and love it.  I am not sure what I am going to do when it is gone.
Donna

www.moharefarms.com have natural fibers straight from their goats.  They are here is CA if you wanted to go play with the babies.  Another source is www.chimerapygora.com
Bear Hugs,
Donna

Angie,
How do you think you messed up the neck?  You sew the two triangle pieces together to make kind of a diamond shape.  Then you sew the two small ends of the diamond shape together to make kind of a circle.  Then you sew the two end circles into the diamond circle.  Is that what you did?  It will look strange!
It sounds like you are handling this very well.  Your next bear will be a cakewalk.
Donna

I think you chose something out of the book that is a little confusing for a beginner, but you can do it.
First your head, you did fine.  The pattern for the head gusset should have had a mark across it like the side head did to cut it off.  You have cut length off your side heads but not the gusset so it will not fit correctly.  Just cut off the gusset now that you have the head sewn.
Second your body, it sounds like you did it correctly.  The left side of the body back pattern is sewn to the front tummy gusset.  You will have two of those seams.  Then you will have one back seam that you leave the opening in for stuffing and jointing.  Then you sew that dart in the bottom of the body.  Then you add the circle to the neck of the body.
Third your neck wedge, you will cut 2, reversing one of whichever body back you chose (polar, grizzly or black bear) and you will need to cut four of the circles on page 213.  Two of these circles will go in the ends of the neck wedge.  Then one circle will go in the top of the body and one circle will go in the bottom of the head.
The bottom of your head:  The realistic bear pattern head has you leave a portion of the chin seam open, if you have not done that you can just sew the circle into the bottom of the sewn head leaving an opening large enough to get the disc through.  If you use this method you will need to use a cotter pin or set screw jointing system.  You can then stuff your head and joint it and then just use a ladder stitch to close up the rest of the circle to the bottom of the head.  (That is how I do all of my double jointed bears.)  If you did leave an opening in the chin seam then you will sew the circle completely to the bottom of the head.
Good Luck and give a holler if you need more help.  Just stay calm and take one step at a time.  I had to go back a couple of times and read it through so that I knew what was being done and I have been making bears for 11 years so don't feel bad that you were confused.
Donna

All TTer's are invited up to the cottage on Fri. night.  Bring munchies and what ever you want to drink.  Scott is planning to be there.  He is working such long hours and such weird shifts that he does not have much energy on his days off.  He is in the same work mode my hubby was in for over five years.  It really takes a toll on the body when you work 12-14 hr. shifts.  He has to find some time to make some bears besides get some much needed sleep.  Thanks for asking about him.
Donna

I really like Scott's idea that he has presented to a few of the promoters to get ebay live at a bear show.  There are a couple of ways it could work.  For the shows that have auctions with them, they could do the charity auction live on ebay.  Just set the day and time and ebay will advertise it on their site.  The other way to do it would be to have each artist attending the show choose one piece that will go live.  I really think he hit on something that could really be a shot in the arm for bear shows.  It would take a lot of leg work and planning etc to make it work.
Donna

Wendy,
Paddy Panda by Jeanne Klein is a 16" pattern that could be modified to get you close to the look you want.  Edinburgh sells it for $6.50.  Years ago, I made it out of rabbit fur and it came out really nice.
Donna

Sonya,
Plan on coming up to the cottage for some munchies and lots of bear talk.  I really feel one of the important parts of doing shows is getting together with other bear artists.   For many of us this is a once a year chance to get caught up on what everyone is doing. 
Bear Hugs,
Donna

Melissa,
Keep your eyes out for advertising of the Reno doll and bear show put on by Melinda Natzel.  If you want to give me your address privately, I'll get it to Melinda so you will get a direct mailing for the show.  I usually do the show with bears, mohair and supplies.  You just missed the last one, it was Oct. 21.  I did not make it to that one, I was doing a local store trunk show and signing.  I should have gone to Reno!
Donna

Marie,
I am so sorry to hear the news about your mom.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.  Do consider making a memory bear.
Bear Hugs,
Donna

Melissa,
Where do you live?  There may be a show close by or someone may have mohair you could touch.  I agree with the need to touch the mohair when you are first learning the different qualities.
Donna

Hi Sonya,
Not Shelli, but I will give you an answer.  There are several of us that stay at The Outside Inn.  It is about three blocks from the show and many of us carpool or walk to the show.  We usually try to have a get together at the cottage there at the Inn on Friday night.  In the past when the weather has permitted we have taken over the picnic tables there also.  The only other one that many use is on the other side of the highway.  I can't think of it's name right now.  It doesn't have the same atmosphere as the Outside Inn.  Northern Queen is the name.  The old hotels have charm but many times not hot water etc.  There is the Miner's Inn that has been remodeled within the last few years.  It is a ways away.  There is one other one that is pretty charming and I will get the name of it for you.  If you want the Outside Inn you better call now.  Or let me know if you want a roommate because I know someone who stays there that would not mind sharing the expense if it will just be you.
Hope I have helped a little.  Oh, the Outside Inn has a good website with a virtual tour.
Donna