Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I think I need to rephrase the first question.  In the past when I have painted eyes for my lions or goats I always let them dry overnight or several days.  I want to use painted eyes in a workshop I will be teaching at the San Jose Convention in July.  Has anyone used their painted eyes after just a couple hours of drying?  I plan to use the white felt behind the eye to help protect the eye.  In the past I have not glued the felt or ultrasuede eye patch to the eye.  Jenny, what type of glue do you use?
Donna

I have a friend that uses a regular paper tri fold for her catalog.  It comes off the home computer and goes to the show with her.  She doesn't do up that many at a time and when it is time to replenish the flyer she just changes the bears in it.  I have always thought it was a good idea but just never got around to doing it.
Donna

Daphne,
My birthday wish for you, is to see some major improvement in Dad!  Happy Birthday little lady, you and Mom go do something fun today!
Bear Hugs,
Donna

First, how long do you let your painted eyes dry before you use them on your bears?
Second, I use the German eye setting method where you go in from where the eye is to the back neck of the bear take a small stitch and come back out the same hole you went in with the eye.  When I go to tie the knots behind the eye will that friction of the thread against the paint and nailpolish cause the paint to come off or hurt the eye in any way?  Or should I just tie the eyes off at the back of the neck?
Thanks for the help!
Donna

Aw Daphne,
This is not the way it is supposed to go.  Tell Dad he is not following the get better rules.  Have a good rest and prayers are still with your family.
Bear Hugs,
Donna

Prayers are headed your way.  Try to keep positive thoughts.  What an ordeal for your family.
Henry, please keep us posted.
Hugs,
Donna

On the smaller bears you might want to try sewing the gusset to the two side heads first.  Then finish with the nose to chin to neck seam.  By doing it this way, you end up with a nice little triangle for the nose.  Start say, with the left side head, stitch it from the tip of the nose to the neck.  Then stitch the right side head and stitch it to the gusset from the tip of the nose to the neck.  Then line up the two side head pieces at the tip of the nose with the two seams pinched in that seam and stitch that seam down to the neck.  I usually make the nose of my gusset a straight rectangle.  You don't want the curve since you aren't meeting at the center seam. 
I hope this has made some sense.
Donna

Hi Tania,
It will depend on if you have bent arms and legs.  I can get my 9" guy out of a fat 1/8.  If you are talking about a regular 1/8 which would be 4 1/2 inches by 54 inches, I can get my 8" bear out of it.  The legs on my 9" bear are longer than 4 1/2 inches.  I usually try to get the fat 1/8th or quarter so that you have an easier time fitting your pattern onto the piece of fabric.
Good Luck,
Donna

Scott and I are doing Nancy Jo's Doll show on Sat.  I will hopefully work on bears on Sunday after the car is unloaded and show stock put away.  I want to get some insulation put up on a couple of walls so I may try getting that done on Sunday before hubby leaves for work.  I don't like being on the ladder and doing stuff if there is no one home if I fall.  Have fun with your daughter, wish my son were closer so we could have play days.
Donna

Tracy,
It was the chiropractor that helped me.  I go see him after every dental visit.  At one point I was so bad that I had seen the chiropractor three times with no help then went for a massage and that did the trick.  My dentist says it is stress not his dentistry.  My husband begs me to find a new dentist.
Donna

Heather,
A fat quarter of mohair is 18" x 27".  I usually can get a 16" bear out of a fat quarter.  A regular quarter yard of mohair is 9" x 54".  Sometimes a body part will be too long to fit on a regular quarter yard. 
A fat 1/8 yard is 18" x 14".  Again the fat 1/8 yard gives you a little easier piece to lay out your pattern pieces.
Sounds like you will be buying some mohair?  Let me know if you need more help.
Donna

Daphne,
One of the shows out here has Dolly Dollars and Bear Bucks.  Same thing as your gift certificates.  They are in smaller denominations than the $25 gift certificate.   They use them at the different exhibitors throughout the day and at the end of the day the exhibior trades them in for real money.  It really seems to encourage spending.  This same promoter has tables that get special attention because they have won the best display for the show.  They get helium balloons at their table so the customers know to look for them.
Donna

The young man's family, you and your daughter will be in my thoughts and prayers. 
Donna

For those who have not done a restoration yet, here is a tidbit of info.  Many times the old guys were jointed using nails.  The nail would be put through the hole in the disc in the arm and then turned into a wierd shape inside the bear.  Over many years of moving arms and legs the nail head would wear down the center of the disc and the nail head would pull through the disc.  That is how many an old bear lost an arm or leg. 
That is why we now use metal washers to protect the disc from wearing away.  Those old guys have so much to teach us!
Donna

I have a friend that uses drip irrigation tubing around the wire.  Not too expensive.
Donna

Try putting the bear in a paper bag.  Then put the paper bag inside a plastic bag with charcoal.  Make sure that the bear inside the paperbag will not come in contact with the charcoal (you don't want him black) and seal up the plastic bag.  Let it sit for a few months and the charcoal will absorb the odor.
Donna

Heather,
You and the makeover had been on my mind for the last week.  I was ready to send you a message about how it was coming.  Has your co-worker seen the bear yet?  He looks like he will be ready to pass down to the next generation with no problem.  You should be proud of yourself.
Donna

Hi Connie,
I'll see you in Reno.  Last time I checked the weather was to have some showers on Sat. but it was to be between 75-80 degrees.
Glad to have you join the group here at TT.
Have you heard how Janet's hubby is doing from the Nevada City show?
Donna

Hi,
I was wondering if it is possible to leave the old avatars with the old posts and just change the avatars on the new posts.   I get so used to the avatars and when I am searching through the old threads many times I remember what I am looking for by the avatar.  I enjoy all the new bears and critters but I think it would be fun to leave the old ones with the original posts.  Plus we get to see how much we have grown and changed over time.  Is that something that is possible?  My cat is helping me, he posted before I was finished typing!
Donna

Brigitte,
Do you know who the manufacturer is for this product?  I have a few places I can check but it would help if I knew the name of the manufacturer.   How many yards would you need?
Donna

Erin,
I'll be there, contract is all sent in.  You should get a table!
Donna

Lisa,
She is such a humming bird.  Flitting from here to there, no time to talk!  Over 4 and under 6.
Donna

Lisa,
You are correct about Erin being a beauty. 
Erin,
Are you the one who does not put the picture up for safety reasons?  I thought I read that on another thread.
Donna

Bev,
How horrible about your car.  I always thought you came out here in a motorhome, is that correct?
Donna

Bev,
You missed Scott in the group picture!
Donna