Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

That is kind of what I told the lady I work with.  I am just "giving more life" to that animal... and, like you said, it is sometimes a way for people to have a keepsake of their loved ones... I just like to make sure all my "i"s are dotted and "t"s are crossed... I probably won't run into problems that come into my head, I guess that is just what comes from working in a law firm!  I see it all, what can I say! Thank you all, you make me feel much better and more at ease!:D

I just discovered a cheap way to get cotter pins and mini washers!  I had to share!!!  I get my cotter pins at Home Depot (I forget what size they are) and I get my mini washers (#2 size) at a shop where they sell remote control cars, apparently they use the mini washers for the engines of the little race cars!  It is a hobby shop.  I just thought I would share this little tidbit

I work with someone that's brother is a furrier (is that how you spell it??) and she mentioned to me about possible problems with real fur teddies - what about activists?  Have any of you that sell real fur teddies encountered this?  I just use recycled fur but I dont think it makes a difference... Should all my bids be private or isn't this a big deal?  thanks gals!:)

When I was younger, there was a huge black bear (I think it was a black bear) in our back yard eating our apples!  My siblings and I stood on the roof of the house looking at it - and our neighbor went closer to it and was taking pictures!!! NUTS!!!  They are neat creatures, just scare me though! 

i dont have a website   I dont know where to begin, how much it costs, etc.....

What is "turkey stitch"??? GOBBLE GOBBLE???

Thank you for bringing this up!  I don't usually have problems with my asthema but it only takes one little thing to bring on an attack!!!

I use a tweezer or my hemostats to stuff and I use a teeny funnel to funnel my pellets in

OH!  my husband has one of those!!!! Geez, never thought of that!  Thanks Shelli!

Ok, you can come open a store in PA and I will work there with you and I can get an employee discount!!!!:lol:

Can someone give me some pointers on sculpting a mouth?  So far, all of my bears just have eyes and noses, may sound strange but I think I like them that way... but i would like to learn...

Shrinky dinks are plastic that you put in the oven - after you color, write on, stamp on, cut and they shrink to 1/3 of the original size.  They are at Michael's - not sure about ACMoore - Ask the girls that work there where to find them in teh store, they were in the scrapbooking isle at my local Michael's. 

Here is a website for Shrinky Dinks - http://shrinkydinks.goemerchant7.com/in … ndedDepts=

Makes sense... thank you!!!!  I just want to get it right the first time!

okee dokee... just checking - I dont want to have a bear all done and have it fall apart!  (even though I have never had that happen *knock on wood* with my other bears, but I am going into unknown territory now   Thanks for the advise!:D

I just got Nancy’s book yesterday but am still wondering what glue to use to adhere the muslin…. She has a glue stick but when I read the glue stick tube, even though it says it is permanent, it says “washes out of clothing.”  Should I be using a specific “type” of glue? I would be better off  being told “use this brand”.  Help!

your website is gorgeous!

I heard this morning about this - hope everyone is ok - there are a lot of evil people in the world.... it makes me angry that someone could hurt another person....

I wonder if mine are ink jet ones.... just got a printer finally so I will have to check it out!!!

I have my own "work station" on the coffee table and next to the couch, it kinda drives my husband nuts!!! I usually have one started and then I stop before the "fun" stuff (attaching ears, eyes, shaping the face, decorating) and cut another one out and put it in a ziplock - my motivation is to do the fun stuff after I cut out another one, sort of an incentive!  I wish sooo much that I had a teddy bear supply store in my area, I havent found a single place that has mohair (is this not directly available in the US???), glass eyes, etc. that I can simply go and pick them up - I like to be able to go and pay for something and get it right away, I am sooo impatient!!!!

I tried to find supplies at Michael's, ACMoore and JoAnne Fabrics but they dont really have "teddy bear making" items.... I have had to order EVERYTHING online, besides my polyfil, pvc pellets, colored pencils and decorations for my bears...

I stamp a bee on it and underneath it says Kim-Bee Bears 2005

I laminate my patterns - have used card stock (which is really thick paper) but they still had wear and tear so I laminate now

I use disappearing ink too!!! I used sharpies, that didnt work, i used blue ballpoint pen, that didnt work so i foudn the disappearing ink and will not use anything else, unless it wont work on something!!!

Thanks to Laura Lynn for the idea, i too make my tags with shrinky dinks.  I got mine at Michael's, they were in the scrap book isle (the girls helped me find them, believe me, i was lost!!!) I even used a 40% off coupon that was in their flier which made them even more affordable.  I bought a paper punch that was in the shape of a tag and punched the shrinky dinks before baking and voila, i had a tag!!! thanks again for the idea...

I have done both methods and found that the snail way is much, much easier (after many blisters, I might add!!!)

when I do my noses, It depends on the bear, sometimes I use three colors of emboridery floss (i use 3 strands of the one strand, if that makes sense) and sometimes I use embroidery floss and thread that is irridescent to give it a little sparkle!:)