Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Ok, I thought I'd add my photo's even though they are few

I set off from my home town at 9.30, clutching a slightly bewildered pal, Catherine, and toting a sloth in my bag, which earned me a few looks on the train I can tell you XD THREE AND A HALF HOURS LATER (the journey is about 1hr 15 usually) we slugged into Kings Cross, moving at about the speed of a turkey.  Heres the bunch of us, considering saddling up some pigs in the field outside the window in order to arrive on time:

So, after a hasty Burger King and what was actually an excellent journey on the tube, we arrived at Hugglets... wow it was big. And full of people! Shyly I extracted Sloth from my bag in the knowledge people would pick him out, not me   We wandered around for a bit, before I found Jac-q-lyns bears and I was entranced by the gorgeous sleepy-eyed elephant!  As this was the first person I'd actually spoken to before on the forums (albeit about cakes) I went up to the stall... and they were both sooo nice to me! Thanks guys, you set the bar for greetings really high!  I was amazed at how freely everyone shared tips at the fair, and my first bear conversation warmed me up for attacking a few others XD

So, next I launched myself at Ellen By the time we arrived (2pm?) she'd only got two bears left, and one of those sold whilst I was stood there chatting!  Eleen told me that in Dutch, Sloths are called lazy's, which is so right

There were a few people, and their bears that I recognised but didn't speak to: they were either there and I had a fit of shyness or I'd missed them, but here is all that was left of All Bear:

I also spoke to Chloe of Dusty Attic Bears, who had a piece of news that really impressed me   Didn't get a photo of her bears unfortunately, but it was such a good chat I forgot

Finally, there were a few people I didn't know whose bears took me in, firstly a squishy looking mini panda that was obviously weighted well: he just rested where you plonked him! I didn't get a photo, or the stall name... what a twit! There was also these ladies, one of whom put this TEENY bear called Bean into my hand, and he looked at me with his eyes... it was awful I had to put him down: heart wrenching!  He's at the far right of the picture.

Phew! Weary and beared out, Catherine (now very well educated), Sloth, a big bag of stuff and myself caught a much faster train home... what a brilliant fair!

A WARNING for all visitors coming into London at Kings Cross: the Circle tube line is down for engineering works (typical!) so there's no simple tube journey to Hugglets. Best thing to do is get the Piccadilly line, get off at Earls Court, and then the District line and get off at High Street Kensington.

I'll be coming in this way, and I'm dreading it!

I think Toffee will get used to her, to be honest Sherbert had to get used to Winnie, and he's definately still my baby: unfortunately my mum added complications to their initial meeting by spraying an aerosl can just as Sherbert leant forward to sniff Winnie... he thought the kitten could make that sound for weeks!  :crackup:

Some cats never get on, but I think if they're going to be living together they'll get used to it! Sherbert is tolerant now XD if in doubt, try and find some 'Feliway': it's a spary that mimics cat happy hormones, and it really mellows my three out Or there's always cat nip XD

See you on Sunday!

Just an idea Claudia, but could you tack the seam allowances to the correct sides using a nice obvious colour, stuff and then pull the threads out? Maybe you could pin them in place from the outside?  I have never tried either

Nuuu no, you're all wrong, it's white cats that are the kings! :D

Paula, she looks really cute!  Our last kitten, Winnie is about three now, and when we were given him (by a VET) we were told he was a girl... hence the name! He's a boy now, so we tried Winston, but not a chance: he doesn't answer to anything Must be coz he's grey... here's my baby, Sherbie (looking slightly obese)

I'm visiting, I'll see you all there! If a strange and excited looking 19 year old comes up to you, check to see if there's a sloth hidden about her person... if there is that'll be me! Do not be alarmed, I am a Zoologist!

Oooh nooo, no Cat? Nooo! What will I do without someone there I can count on being as mad as I am??? 

I know how you feel about the trains: I made the mistake of travelling to Leeds on Saturday to shop, only to get to the station and be told of a 'cable theivery' between there and wakefield westgate... just where I was travelling I mean come on... who steals a CABLE?!?

I will be there, so run away all stall holders! You'll know it's me by the sloth hanging round my neck, and the slightly bemused non-bear making friend trailing behind

Awww, I love them both!  Domino is especially beautiful, but Florence is my middle name so maybe I should be loyal to her XD  I can't wait to meet them (and you!) in person, if they're still on your stall by the time I arrive... I'll be the mad one with the sloth!

I'm having some trouble with the bigger (ish) bear I'm aking at the moment, especially with his head.  I always get dimples where I pull in the eyes, so i thought I'd try knotting at the ears instead: it's just as bad! The knot dimples inwards, and I can easily slip a nail beneath the eyes of my bear (I don't know what the accepted tightness with artist bears is, but there's no way I could do this to my Steiff! )

Is there anything else I can do to prevent this? I've stuffed as firmly as I think I could, but this new stuffing material I have is weird, it's like silken strands whereas my last stuff was more spongy... is that anything to do with it?

Thanks!

I think it depends which area you want your 'antique' bear to appear from: for example, the German Bing and Steiff style humped back, pointed snout bear is a WORLD away from the french stick style bears!  Looking at a few of the older bears around, stuffing tends to settle in the body, making the neck floppier, and there is usually a collapsed wrist where a child has held the bear and carried it around.  Also, the muzzle and paws are dirtied and frayed: those are the bits most likely to drag along the ground.

A fun thing (for me at least!) is to look at the antique section on Ebay: that'll show you lots of old, duffed up bears from every where and every time   I'm working on my first 'old style' bear at the moment.... it's a bit nerve-wracking! Have fun!

Definitely recommend the colourless blender: using the pens will be pretty much impossible until you have that with you! It lets you use the darker colours because then you can soften the edges out and make them less obvious...

Yup :)Here's the Ratinee page for bear basics:

http://shop.bearbasics.co.uk/cats/Ratinee_Finish/2549

Over here at my Uni our charity group is called DUCK (Durham University Charity Kommitee) and every year we have to Great DUCK race Here about 10,000 rubber duckies are chucked into the river by a giant digger, and the first one to make it to the second bride wins about £5000 i think (I didn't win XD)  I'll upload the piccys sometime... I think Ducks rock. 

I am pleased to announce that I am NOT pregnant XD  If it was it would be a miracle anyway, so I guess that's a good thing But congrats to all those who are that want to be, and good luck ta all those who are trying Rose quartz is said to be good for conception, if you're into that kind of thing Carry a piece in your pocket for a day, or pop it in a dish of saltwater in the moonlight overnight for an extra boost.

I think you're probably right there Bobbie: it sounds like cloth would be much easier, and cheaper!

I don't think you need the grey and back, the blue in your shots goes so well with your polars: like an iceberg!

Thanks Bobbie and Daphne I'm going to keep an eye out for some lamps: that set has two lamsp included which are 5100 K, which is not bad: the only problem is the teeny size of the lightbox at 40cm... but I guess if that's the cheapest option I can always get a set like that and incorporate your sheet-hanging stroke of genius!  I'd heard about buying a large sheet of card and slightly bending that to use as a back drop too... maybe that'd be an idea as well...

If I need any more advice I'll definately call you you two Thanks again!

Well done! I got your e-mail, but I thought I'd post my admiration publically too  :clap:  :clap:

Have a gold star!

Wow, thanks guys, what a wealth of information we have here! I think you've collectively filled in all the gaps that were left over from the library topics: now I know what K means XD.  Hopefully I can now buy a light tent that is big enough for my requirements, and still have the cash to purchase the lighting for it... I guess it's just knowing where to look :)

Thanks everyone!

Wow Judi, I've been following your holiday snaps and I am SO jealous... you got to meet Belle too! I want her fabulous dress... she is my favorite Disney Princess

Awww, that's a shame Cat... maybe you could whip up an attractive set of head feelers in time for the show? :P

Oooh, maybe you could make a jelly costume with wired supports to hold the organza out, and then laces and things danglying down... Oooo i want to make one now XD

Thanks Marion! And you're not OT, WE ARE!!

I wonder if there's a equivalant you can get here? can I ask you how bright and white your lamps are, and how many there are?

Lol!  My mum has a photo of her visit at the Journal which she showed me. She pointed at a girl on the far left and said 'you see her? I am...' *points along the row beyond the photo's edges* 'THERE.'  :crackup:  I'll check with my mum when I get home from work...

Entirely Possible, although I think she was a few years ahead of you... maybe she was leaving when you arrived at the school?  She was there in the late 70's You might have just missed each other... i know she was there when Maggie Thatcher visited: any recollection of that?

(PS, I do still want info on tents if anyone has any! lol)

Lol! If she comes to Student Tutors I will probably be there, first ugly mug as you step through the doors XD Or I might even be on Reception Or possibly even manning the phones for people ringing in for Results... haven't the A-Level ones been and gone?

Booo Rossetti... I think my mum was in Rossetti or possibly Elliot. Browning Roolz! XD  I'm a centre of Town girl, and I've lived in the same house all my life...

Wow, this is almost surreal... I feel WATCHED...

:crackup:

:O:O:O

NO WAY...

...

...

That is too weird I'm working at the College at the minute (don't say you're here too!) and i went to school and live here, appart from when I'm at University.  I can't believe there's another G-Town homie on here! (lol, a bit of Grantham chav coming out there XD)

Are you a fellow KG Girl?  Browning House I hope... Although KG's pretty rubbish at the minute, so i could forgive pretty much any other schooling past