Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Wow, that's great!!! 
We'd all love to see a picture!
Laura

Wow! Thanks, Joanne, for sending me to the library.  There is a ton of wonderful info under "Puffy Cheeks".  Gonna go experiment!
  Laura   

Thanks for the input, Joanne!  I'll do some library reading.
I also love the idea of using "test bears".  It's a great way to practice.  I've been picking them up at garage sales for 50 cents to a dollar.  I find them at virtually every garage sale I go to ..in abundance!
I've destroyed quite a few already. 
   Laura

I don't have any answers, but I'd like to add to the question. 
Joanne, you asked Susiray if she was referring to length of muzzle or fat cheeks. 
How do you make fat cheeks?  This one is really stumping me.
Thanks!!!
    Laura   

Good news, no...make that great news!!!! 
We took my computer, and my hubby's computer, to the local computer guru.  He, too, thought all was lost.  I fretted over this for 2 days, then accepted my fate.
But, after many  hours of doing whatever they do...our computers are not only clean but all our files were saved.  I can't believe it.  Mr. Computer Wizard made my day!!!
We somehow had gotten the same virus, maybe it attached itself to one of our emails, we'll never really know.  But guru guy said he thought it was hellzlittlespy.  It's a new virus, and a nasty one.  Being so new our AntiVirus protection had no way of identifying it.
Anyway, we learned a lot from this little adventure.  We'll both back our important files up regularly.
Laura Lynn, thanks for the info on that back up service.  I'll check it out. 
I'm so relieved I'm ecstatic and doing my happy dance!!!  :dance:
Thanks all, for your commiserations and suggestions!
          Laura 

Hi all!
A virus just ate my computer!!!  (I'm using an old laptop right now.)
What's weird is it ate my hubby's computer, as well, and it's at another location!
Destroyed everything I'd saved.  Gone gone gone!  Pictures, files, emails...everything.
I hadn't backed stuff up in a bit.  Should have should have should have.
We haven't a clue when or how this happened.  But both our computers went down yesterday.  And we have fire walls and virus protection!
So, please beware.  There are some nasty people out there with too much time on their hands.  I simply don't understand why they must do this.  It is so destructive. 
        Laura   

Aw, I was just kidding.  My one & only has great ideas and is much appreciated.  Been together now for 28 wonderful years.  He's my best friend.
      Laura

Thanks, Donna!!!
My hubby said "Well, just sew it on."  NOBODY tell him he had a good idea!!!!!!!   :doh:
  Laura   

Hey Maria
Lining the fabric with felt is a great idea!
Thanks!!!
   Laura   

Thanks Daphne and Narelle!
Narelle, I now see why I really need to use wool dyed to match embroidery thread.  Yup, buy it pre-dyed, I so agree!
Big Oh, "The fibers of the wool are actually fusing with the stuffing inside the nose... not the backing of the fur."  Thanks for explaining it, Daphne.  That really helped me understand the process more.
I've checked out Edinburgh, even see their needles are on sale. I'll look at the other links you suggested as well.  Gosh, never thought of Michael's.  There's one not too far away from me. 
I'm heading to the library now, via link you gave...
Thanks again!  This looks like fun!!!
  Laura   

Hi and Help-Help!
I want to try needle felting a nose.  I (think) I understand the process.  But I have a few questions maybe some of you can help me with. 

Do you dye the wool, or buy dyed wool?  I want a black or brown-black nose. 
I'm also thinking of embroidering over a needle felted nose.  Does the wool need to be dyed for that as well?  I would assume so.

Can I needle felt a nose onto synthetic fur?
I mainly use funky old faux fur coats.  They often have a knit backing and I line all my bears.  But will it hold, or take, needle felting?  Is there an alternate way of attaching a needle felted nose?

I looked through the library but couldn't find anything pertaining.  (May have missed it.)  So, help-help.
Thanks so much!
  Laura   

Shelli...and all who use the Ultimate Stuffer
Which size Ultimate Stuffer do you use, or which do you use the most (if you have more than one size)? 
I'm about to purchase the middle size, with red handle.  Do you think I should get the large one as well?  My bears usually range in size from 8 to 14 or 15 inches.
Thanks! 
     Laura 

That story was hilarious, Kelly.  I could picture all events described.  Thanks for a really good laugh!!!
You all have really creative stuffing tools. I especially like the pencil eraser, Eileen.  Great idea, think I'll try it.
I got in contact with Donna and her Ultimate Stuffer looks like one terrific invention.  Definitely gonna get one, or two, since they come in different sizes.
Thanks all!!!
   Laura   

PS: Where can I buy the ULTIMATE STUFFING TOOL?  Is it still available somewhere?
Thanks!!!
    Laura   

Thanks for all your input.  Sue Ann, I recently "discovered" Ted Menten's books and I love his bears, and his writing.  I have several of his books now,  with one on the way.  Good ol' eBay.  And Linda, that file you "borrowed" oh so long ago from hubby sounds great, you should patent it!
I found a large lot of chop sticks, new in package, at a garage sale this morning for 50 cents.  I'd been thinking about trying them for a while now.  My fingers do get tired and sore, but I can't seem to maneuver stuffers very well, so I'm eager to try chop sticks.  Maybe I'm doing it wrong.  I've never really seen how it's done, just photos in books.  The more bears I make the more I'll probably need a better set of stuffing tools than my poor fingers. 
Right now I'm struggling with embroidered noses.  I've tried every which way and most my noses turn out a scrunched up mess.  I know, practice, practice, practice.  I'm eager to learn and I rarely give up, so one of these days I'm bound to make a descent nose and then I'll say, "Oh, that's how you do it".
You all have helped me and so many others in so many ways.  You are appreciated beyond infinity!!!
  Hugs
    Laura   

Hi all!
I'm still pretty much a newbie at bearmaking and was wondering why stuffing tools are used.  This may be a strange (even dumb) question, sorry if it is.  I know there are large and small stuffing tools, I have some, but I've found using my fingers as stuffing tools works better.   My bears are usually 12 inches or under.   
What benefits are there for using bona-fide stuffing tools and do you all use them?  I seem to have more flexibility using my fingers than wooden stuffing tools.  I can stuff firmly this way. 
Again, sorry if this is a silly question, but I've really been wondering about it.
Thanks!
   Laura 

As the Girl Scouts say:
Make new friends
but keep the old
One is silver
the other gold.

Jenny..
Go for it and try new designs, but also keep making some of your wonderful wonderful trademark bears.
No, I'm not selling my bears (who would buy them!).  I'm an antique store owner who just loves bears, and hopefully will make some nice ones, someday.  So my input is more on the general side.  But it's the same no matter what we do and want to sell.  I made a niche for myself in one field of antiques, but got really bored with it and kinda changed paths.  I still sell my trademark, if you will, items but I've incorporated other, very far afield antiques.  It seems to be working and it's keeping me (somewhat) sane. 
I think it's basically the same as what you're going through, and many others.  We love new adventures and we love to grow and evolve.   
   Laura   

Eva, Shelli...
Thank you!!!

I'm glad to see this post, too.
I'm a newbie here and I've had a similar thought rolling around in my head, even though I don't sell my bears.
I've been using faux fur from vintage coats.  The fur is thick, lush, and gorgeous and I'm having fun using it, but I've been embarrassed to admit it because mohair seems to be the way to go.  I know how silly this must sound but I've opted out of putting my bears on the forum because they aren't made of mohair.  I'm self-conscious to the extreme and am surprised I'm even writing this. 
If I ever did want to sell my bears...do I need to switch to mohair?  They're jointed and I use either glass eyes or vintage shoe buttons.  (Of course that won't be for quite some time, as I'm still learning.)
Thanks for listening.
Laura   

Can't wait to see the finished product.
Strange is good!
actually...
Strange is great!!!
Laura

Thank you, Sandra!
That was brilliantly written and I agree with every word.
I am learning the art of bear making and am putting my all into it, whole- heartedly.  I love making pieces of fur and mohair "come to life" as a bear.  For me, that is my greatest pleasure.  Will I ever get good enough to sell one of my bears, I don't know.  And frankly, I don't care.  It just makes me feel good inside to be creating and making bears.
This may be well off the topic, but it's from the heart.
Laura

Wonderful pix, Sophie!
I love history and the wonders of ages gone by. 
Thanks so for sharing!  More more please!!!
  Laura

Thanks for all the responses!
I'm using poly fil right now, which is probably not the best stuffing to be using. 
It doesn't actually fall out, more like bulges out and I'm always poking it back in.  Maybe packing firmer would help, though I think I'm packing pretty firmly now.  Maybe not.  Or a better material.
What do you all use, and suggest, for stuffing material for the head?
Thanks so much!!!
  Laura

Hello all!
I'm learning a great deal from all of you and I (as well as many I'm sure) thank you. I hope to soon produce a descent looking bear.  I'm really really trying.
Okay, some of you have said you don't put the head joint in (the head) until you're done sculpting and such.  That way you can fine tune the stuffing placement, even add some if needed. 
So, how do you keep the stuffing from falling out of the head?  Sorry if it's a dumb question.  I too like to joint after the head is all done, but the stuffing wants to fall out.  Do you put a few temporary stitches in the neck?
Thanks!!!
      Laura   

Sophie
The photos are great!
Thanks to you..I'm finally getting to visit France.
Keep them coming!!!
Laura