Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Everyone again! I have seen that it varies between artists whether or not you can sell the bears made from their commercial patterns. Now I have friends and family who like some of the bears I have made from commercial patterns and want some for themselves. However mohair is not cheap! What is your opinion on asking for my friends and family to cover the costs of materials for the bear they want (e.g mohair, joints, eyes but not the pattern)? I would not be making any money from these bears, and of course the pattern designer will be clearly written on the tush tag.

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Therese

I don't know what I would do without TT. It has been an invaluable place for information for me as I have been learning, and everyone is so nice and cheery. I went to a workshop a little while ago and none of the other participants use computers that much. Boy, are they missing out! I love being able to come on here and simply have a chat with like minded souls. None of my close friends or family makes bears, so I really love TT.

From Therese

p.s. I think I should get back to work now. Teddy Talk distracts my several times a day. :crackup:  :crackup:

I agree! She is going to jump up any minute and start singing. Very beautiful. :clap:  :clap: 

Hi again everybody. I am back for another round of questions. So here goes...

1. General care of mohair bears - any tips? I haven't been making them for very long, and I just would like to know how to take care of them.

2. Sending bears overseas. I have read things here and there about sending bears overseas with steel pellets inside, and problems with customs. I am making one for a friend in germany at the moment, and haven't decided if I should weight it with anything. For all those who have sent things to germany, are there any issues with sending bears with pellets in them?

3. So far I have tried polyfil and wool noil for stuffing. But I have a beautiful rabbit I wish to try that uses excelsior wood wool. Now I have never tried this before, but I am trying a lot of ways to make bears until I find the best thing for me. Anyone got some tips for use of this as a stuffing material?

Well I can't recall anything else I want to ask, maybe I will add something later if I remember.

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Therese

He is great!  :clap:  :clap:  :clap: That fur looks very soft. I also have the pulled toes document. I did a workshop last week with a bear that has pulled toes. I learned a lot! Makes me want to sign up for more workshops.

I really like Nioka bears patterns. I have my eye on a few in particular, and one day soon I am walking into Gerry's in brisbane and will buy them. Hehehe

And finally, I just want to show off the bear I bought myself for my birthday. He is soooo cute. He was made by Danni Whatford of Delartful bears. I coudln't help posting his picture, I really like him.

Last week was a busy week for Bear makers in Queensland. We had a show on both weekends, one in Brisbane and one at the Gold Coast. I also went to one of the workshops suring the week with Silvia Durrer of Durrer bears. I had such a great time. We made Harrison, he has such big feet! The first picture shows Silvia's bear in the middle, mine on the right, and another workshop members on the left.

Wow. I have had a busy few weeks, and I though I was share with everyone what I have been up to. I thought It best to put it all in one post! Firstly I finished two bears that I have been working on for a while. They are both made from the same pattern by Lisa Dopking. Heres a picture of them both together. The one on the left is called Tai, after his owner. He will shortly be on his way to my young cousin. The bear on the right is James (he is for me hehe  :lol:). I had fun making both of these guys at the same time. I also included a picture of James in his big shoes.

I went for the first time this year! All those beautiful bears..... I even went to one of the workshops after the show. I had such a great time!

Hi all! Although I love mohair, I have seen some beautiful bears and critters made up in synthetic fur. I know some synthetics are well made and don't stretch, but some others do stretch a lot. What does everyone use to line synthetics with (I have seen people state that they do this) and how do you go about doing it?

--------------Therese

Having fun at the Gold Coast international teddy bear show, teddy bear workshop with Silvia Durrer , and the Winter Wonderland Doll and Teddy Bear Show this week! Wow what a week!

DOH! I haven't had the time to post until now. I have lost the photo I took, and had to take another. Here you go. I am still waiting to see your lovely felted critters!  :pray:

OHHHH! Go on your must have a try! I have only ever done one felting creation, but I had a lot of fun with it. I have a whole bunch of felting stuff at home waiting for me to use. I found it quite relaxing to do. I have seen some beautiful bears with felted pawpads and faces. I am hoping to try this soon.

So you must have a go. I want to see some Jodi Falk Felted creations!!! :photo:  :photo:

I will post a picture of my creation once I get home, to give you some inspiration! I have to replace my broken LCD monitor first though. :doh:

I watched it to. I felt like I was back at school watching a documentry.    Makes me want to take a trip to Germany and see the factory for myself. Perhaps I will go one day, and I can visit my german friend while im there.

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Therese

Ohh I love collecting! I still live with my parents (long story, house half mine...). Their stuff takes up most of the house so I have only my bedroom and office to keep things in.  

Anyway... I collect DRAGONS! I started with dragon statues and books.
Then I ran out of room on my bookcase. then I moved onto soft toy dragons.
Then I decided to make my own dragons so I collected patterns. I subsequently discovered teddy bear making and signed up for a class. Now I am starting to accumulate bear stuff. My poor floor, I don't see it often.

Ok, I am a bit of a hoarder. I just need a second and third bedroom to use as storage and a craft room and I would be all set! Yes Mum, I will clean my room today. :crackup:
(I will move out, I will move out!)

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Therese

These people sound like anoying busybodies with nothing better to do then grumble and complain. Reminds me of the time I got a visit from the council in regards to our dogs barking. Apparently somebody in our street had put a complaint in about all the dogs in the street, so the poor council man had to go around to all of them. I say delete the messages when you see them. People like that are not worth worrying about. Go make more beautiful cats, dogs, horses rodents or whatever you like!

Ohh those are great tips! Luckily for me I live reasonably close to Gerry's in Brisbane. Just a quick trip on the bus (or even quicker if I can manage to con someone into driving me!) and im in teddy bear making heaven. At the moment I just buy the joint sets, but im planning to buy myself some larger quantities of bolts ect. So maybe a trip to the local hardware store is on order.

They do look better with their hair flying in the wind.

Yes, English is a weird language. My german friend, whose english is actually pretty good, was always coming up with weird words. He was trying to use the rules to make up words. Unfortunately there are too many expections to the rules! I was forever correcting him, luckily he was good natured about it. :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

Edit: mind you he would show me up with some strange word occasionally, something that is technically correct but is rarely used.

Ohhh, I just got back from two weeks in Thailand last week. Wasn't it soooo hot!!    We spent most of our time in Phuket. I got quite sunburnt, but I had a  great time. The elephants were beautiful. Were you there for the Songkran festival? That was fun, seeing them run around and around throwing water on everyone and everything. Coming from level 4 water restrictions we thought it was quite hilarious.  :crackup: In fact let me find a picture for everyone.

Ohh and did  I mention this festival goes all day, in some areas days and days lol.

I just hope it doesn't trickle down to Australia, like many other things. Although for the last month or so I have not been able to eat chocolate due to stomach issues, I look forward to when I can. I don't want all that junk in there!

WoW! those are big feet. I want to make a bunny with feet like that! Hehehe. :crackup:

No snow for me. But I would not expect any in Brisbane, Australia. :crackup:

However, any donations of snow would be welcome. We are on level 5 water restrictions here, and every little bit helps.

I have been making bears since august last year. I am trying all different techniques at the moment and buying lots of patterns to try out. I actually didnt mean for his whole face to be shaded it kind of evolved to look like that. It looks a little more green on the photo then in natural light. I am still working on my technique. Since the bears I am making at the moment are for me I am going a little wild and having fun.

I do think however that a good pattern helps! I haven't tried designing my own yet, im trying to get the basics down and have found that there are so many wonderful patterns to choose from. I learn something new everytime I do another bear. And I always find that forums like TT are a great source of inspriation and guidance.  :thumbsup:

Ohh and Dougie has found his little niche already in my house. He has become the office teddy, and watches closely when I am on TT.

Here's Dougie a 32cm bear (pattern by Barb MacDonald). He is such a happy little guy that he is always smiling.        

Mock mohair is basically synthetic designed to look and feel like mohair (at least that is what I was told). I prefer mohair, as the mock mohair I used was a little stretchy. It came with the kit I bought for the teddy, so thats why I used it.

One bear is mine and the other is a gift for my sister. So these bears could also be called sisters.. Maybe thats why they look like they don't want to be separated. :hug:  :hug: