Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

What do you use for shading your bears?

I use oil paints, using a VERY dry brush technique.  I load the tinest bit of paint onto a very stiff brush (the shape of the brush tip depends on where I'll be using it and varies from round to flat to fan) and then wipe, wipe, WIPE it dry on a paper towel until only the barest hint of color remains.  Only THEN it is ready to be brushed onto mohair and backing.

Use a very stiff, large brush afterward to comb through and remove any extra paint.  You get a soft finish that looks totally "unpainted" and instead, as if the color is a part of the fur itself!

I also recently discovered the artist quality Prismacolor pencils.  They work best on light to medium colors, and when used on the backing itself -- I haven't personally had much success getting pencils to color mohair, as in the "hair" part.

The pencils are great for use around noses, in corners and crevises, and circling eyes.  I find the "blender" pencil works well to smudge and blend the finest of lines to a softer finish, with ease.

I "harden" my floss noses with a 50/50 mixture of white glue (a.k.a. Elmer's, PVA, or school glue) and water.  This adds just enough finish to the nose that I believe my POTBELLY BEARS noses capable of passing the "cat" test.  That is, if my cat tries to pick at the nose with teeth or claw, it won't pull out! :P

How do you harden, wax, or otherwise "finish" off YOUR bear noses?

For those who make polymer clay, felted, or leather noses... share your tips & techniques, too!

I use 100% nylon upholstery thread for all my bearmaking... from machine stitching to gathering at the neck to inserting the eyes.  I find it nearly impossible to break and for larger bears the tiny bit that it "slips" on occasion is unnoticeable.

I have tried Heavy Duty and Quilting threads but have managed to break both types with ease, maybe because I use a lot of pulling force in my needle sculpting and eye setting.

I don't have any experience with sinew or artificial sinew, which have come recommended.  Anybody have a brand or source to recommend?

I use a Xyron hand-crank laminator to stiffen and preserve my cardstock pattern pieces.  It's easy to use and the cartridges are a snap to remove and re-install.

To store my patterns, I keep a plastic accordian file on hand.  I've got labelled sections for:

-- Side head
-- Gusset
-- Body
-- Ear
-- Arms
-- Pawpads
-- Legs
-- Footpads
-- Clothing

When I create a new pattern, I use a unique paper color and/or type.  Then I label the pattern.  I have a pattern, for example, that's called "PURPLE" -- because it is!  I store the PURPLE pieces individually, in the appropriate sections, of my accordian file.  And, because they are all the same color and "name," I can easily put them back together again if I want to re-use the pattern again.

With this system, though, it's also VERY easy to "assemble" a bear out of my stash of pieces... kinda like putting together a puzzle!  This way, I don't have to "reinvent the wheel" each time I make a bear.  But I can still have variety galore!

I use Micron 05 in a variety of colors -- black, light brown, even purple or green sometimes, depending on the color of the mohair backing.

The 05 tip is firm and fine and does not bleed, even when fray-checked.

Nope, TBAI, for the Classic Literature Challenge Gallery.  I would have loved to attend and host a table, too, but it just doesn't work for me this year.  I want to do Nancy's contests at some point but I'm overextended this year.  For 2006!

There's been so much first-person surgical stuff posted here that I'm not sure my story about my dad will add much, but for the sake of completeness, thought I'd add that my father had his gallbladder removed -- with a laproscopic procedure -- about eight years ago.  He had a blocked bile duct and got quite jaundiced, which led to complications such as pancreatitis... a more serious concern than gallstones per se might otherwise have been.  He was in hospital for about a week and we were a bit concerned as this was only a short few years after his bypass surgery and we were ready to be "all done" with health care scares for dad.  However, trooper that he is, he healed very quickly (the surgery part itself was quite easy to recover from) and after the doctors were convinced his jaundice was mostly resolved he came home and was back to himself in no time.

Jane, if you're having a more complicated surgery, of course there's more complicated healing involved.  But you're a firecracker, that much I can tell, and I'll bet there's not much that can keep you down.  So I'm sure you'll pull thru with flying colors.

As for those hospital borne infections; yes, they are a concern, but panic helps nothing.  Just make sure your visitors wash hands well upon entering and maybe keep some hand sanitizer next to your bed, for extra psychological reassurance.  Of course, bring lots of teddy bear magazines.

Rita.. you're already gone, but you're in my thoughts.  Get well soon!

Hi all!  Thanks for the wonderful compliments.  I haven't been just sitting here gloating and soaking them all in, though; I've been out of town for another few days with my family and just got back late last night.  I really appreciate your support and kindness and just hope he sells for TBAI.  It's a good cause.

You're appreciated.

Dilu, I can't WAIT to see how you're going to answer THIS one...

Okay, so considering all the options and possibilities, plus the limitations of time, materials, and skills (!), here's what I came up with for my TBAI piece.  The bear is WILLY WONKA and his cigar box purse display holds a POTBELLY BEARS mug filled with saltwater taffy, plus a copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, upon which the entire piece is based.

Thanks to all of you for your great ideas and suggestions; they helped land me at the solution I ultimately found!

Yes, and don't forget Micron is also very good for use on mohair.  I think someone else said that too.  My favorite thing about the Micron pens is that they come in lots of colors and have as fine a point as you can find.

PS  I can NOT tie my shoelaces without the bow being crooked.  Actually, come to think of it, I don't wear sneakers.  Like, ever.  Or socks, for that matter, except if I'm about to slide into ski boots or snow shoes.  I'm very much a barefoot-with-Born-sandals kind of girl.  Ya know, those earthy, chunky soled shoes.  And a nice pedicure, of course, for a touch of sophistication.  Totally off topic, isn't this??? 

Well Miss Daphne, we love Winney and want her inpu on bow-tying, but by all means if you have something to offer on the subject yourself, please don't be shy!  Despite appearances :D, we're all here to learn!

I got inspired to ask this question by a topic on The-Board-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named.  It was posed by our newest member Lisa (lbthoms) -- HI LISA!!! -- a bear artist, author, and mom to WAY TOO MANY TINY PEOPLE AT ONE TIME (including twins) who is clearly going to be a great asset to our learning here.  The original question was Lisa's; must give credit where credit is due...!

It presents opportunity for such meaty and worthy discussion I thought I'd bring it over here for TEDDY TALK members to learn from as well.

So the question is...

What tools do you use for WEB DESIGN / PHOTOGRAPHY / PHOTO EDITING?

For me, that looks like this:

WEB DESIGN SOFTWARE

I don't know HTML and didn't have Frontpage so I used a program by Coffee Cup called Visual Site Designer which I grabbed from the bargain bin one day while on my way to the register at Office Depot. It writes code using proprietary language (files are saved as .vnu, not .html) This is bad if you know anything about html and good if you don't. I was able to create my entire website using this program and it functions well for me and, I think anyway, looks very pretty and unique! There is a way to insert html code but it's awkward. I have a friend who was able to view the code behind the drag-and-drop appearance of the page (there isn't, as far as I can tell, a way to view the code from the program; you have to go to your site and "view source" to do so; eek!) She told me the program doesn't actually write in html per se, but rather, seems to use a lot of java script. Whatever THAT means. Anyway, just sharing for those reading the above...

I'm pretty happy with it and don't relish the idea of a new learning curve with Frontpage or Dreamweaver or whatever, but admit that just yesterday I was checking out prices and versions on Google. Frontpage appears to be at version 2003 and costs about $200US. I might go that direction next; it's definitely more flexible.

DIGITAL CAMERA

I use a Nikon CoolPix 5400. If you go to the Bears&Buds article I wrote on "Photographing Teddy: Part Two" you can also learn about the cameras and photo software used by some of the big names in bearmaking.

PHOTO EDITING SOFTWARE

I use Adobe PhotoShop 7.0. You can do amazing things with this program. Anything. I mean it.

I agree with Nina/Millie, that all the bears you showcase look realistic, but the last one really looks like a baby/cub.  That might be swaying opinion a little bit!

I think pulled toes are great in general, on ANY bear; they add detail and charm.  Who could resist those little tootsies peeking out?  I've tried them a few times myself, with varying degrees of success.  Someday I will discover or stumble across a "method" and then it will be something to do with confidence.  For now, it's a lot of extra work, and a super-lot of extra stress ("What if they're crooked?  What if they don't turn out?  What if I ruin three days' worth of work?") so I don't do them often.

Your pulled toes, in particular, look SUPERB.  I think you should consider them "added" to your repertoire of stylings and check that box off once and for all!

As for the double jointed neck... I can't see that joint, per se, but I do think the little cub has a more whimsical tilt of the head than the first bears you showcase, so that's probably worth hanging onto as well.

It IS extra work, so DO adjust your pricing accordingly.  When I have a new feature on a bear at auction I'm always sure to say, "This is a first" or "This is a new technique" so my collectors can understand why a particular bruin might have taken an especially long time to complete.

Wonderful, wonderful work in every case!  As if we'd expect anything else from you. 

What on earth are you guys talking about?  Give me a link so I can see... !

Love it!!!  :lol::lol: Thanks for sharing.

I'm such a lemming, but... me too.

Ah, but saccarine is sweet, and boy could the world use a bit of that stuff on occasion.  Sue Ann, you may be saccharine, but you're a gift to us all.

Danni, you're a fox.  Get over it.  You kinda remind me of my sister, who is a brunette with curls and perfect, peaches n cream skin.  Usually, I hate her for both.  :D

Shari -- HI!  I recognize your eBay ID.  Very nice bear in your avatar!  Welcome to the board

Rita -- You MUST start using capital letters for your important announcements, because I believe people are simply not SEEING them somehow.

CONGRATULATIONS on being the Artist of the Month at Planet Teddy Bear.  What a wonderful honor!  Our own Cindy Woodson was recently featured on the pages of their print magazine -- Teddy Bear Club International -- and so was Paula Carter.  Did I forget anyone?  I think, ladies, that we need to be pointing our submission energy (remember that pie analogy, now!) at Planet Teddy Bear/TBCI.  They seem very receptive!!!

Here is the link to Rita's star turn which I am sure you will all visit with interest and pride:  http://www.planet-teddybear.com/bearart … onth.shtml

Rita, I loved the way you spoke of hand-delivering your bears to Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnan.  "Mmmm..." ?????  Love it!

Yes, this thread is a meaty one, chock-full of useful ideas for working with real fur.  Thanks to those of you very knowledgeable sharers who are putting it all on the table.  I am very daunted to take to this one alone, and that fear begins before any tracing or cutting even begins; with the selection of the fur.  You've been an enormous help!

Sadly for me, Chico gets to be about 115 in the summertime, and is a college town and a metropolitan center in the middle of a lot of agricultural land, so it's probably NOT going to be the best place to shop secondhand stores for real fur.

But happily, I am a frequent visitor to the best city on earth -- San Francisco -- and even know some discount and second-hand stores by heart.  So guess where Tim, my husband, gets dragged to next time we go...?  :D

Thanks again...!

So, if furs are just little tiny bits of pelt all stitched together by a furrier, then aren't there special considerations in laying out and cutting a bear pattern?

I don't make little bears so this is new and interesting to me. 

So... you're saying that when making a really tiny bear, you trace your pattern onto fabric as usual and then run fray check around the trace line?  And  THEN you cut on that line?

Doesn't the fray check cause the trace line to bleed?

I've also read that some people sew their pieces together before cutting out at all.

I'm not in the market to make minis anytime soon -- I do NOT, unlike many of you, find hand-stitching to be therapeutic or soothing; I just feel inept at it -- but I would love to understand this better. 

Knowledge is power!

You guys are getting me all excited about trying fur bears.  I just ordered Nancy's book (the one I didn't yet have) for the foundation level stuff I know she's so great at supplying. 

Those of you with some experience in buying furs for use in bears... what kinds of price points do you see?  I'm curious about whether a "good price" for an old coat would be $20 or $200, as I really have no idea.  Please advise with whatever price ranges you can!  Thanks.

Excellent article; congratulations Danni.  I know you're worked hard, participated lots, and gotten to the bottom of all your questions with hard work and effort.  You deserve every bit of recognition you get for that, and for those darling, darling little cubs of yours. 

I agree wholeheartedly.  Lurkers are just as welcome as participants.  Someday, they may become (or re-become; is that a word? :P) participants, too!