Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Rin,
Thank you.
The little guy on the right is approx 1 3/4 inches standing ( 4cm) and the one on the left is 1 1/2 inches standing.
They are made from a golden brownish coloured upholstery velvet that I've had for approx 10 to 12 years. I bought a fair bit of it,as I really liked using it, and with a 2 inch bear , as you well know, you don't use a lot of it. Haha.
Not sure if they still make it. Back then there used to be a heap of upholstery velvets around. Great for the tiny bears. I've still got a heap of my old velvets left as I had a break from sewing tiny teds for a number of years.

I also like the sassy fabrics, works really well with my little bunnies, but haven't tried using it on a ted under 2 inches. Makes the limbs look too bulky, though maybe adjusting my patterns might work.

Thank you

Hi
Good for you. Haven't tried selling in the last 10 years or so, food for thought

Hi Conni,
They are tiny, BEARLY the size of the polar bears nose. Tried sitting them on his nose for the photo, but they kept jumping off. Haha.

Hi Becky,
Isn't he gorgeous. He's just under 3 ft tall and he's got the cutest face for such a large bear I was really pleased that I managed to get one, he's even cuter in real life.

Hi ,
Been a while since I made a mini, couldn't resist this shot of the latest Charlie Bear I've added to my collection, with a couple of mini's I made recently.

Hi Rin
Something that would have never occurred to me either except that they removed lead shot from teddy stores over here.
Even though collectible teds aren't for children, people sometimes don't listen. I gave a number of my early teds to family and pointed out they're not suitable for children because of the glass eyes and plastic /glass pellets.
Low and behold , I discovered some of them had been given to the kids. People plain don't listen.

Hi Rin ,
Over here there was a big hoo haa about lead in paints a few years back, just made me wonder.

Found this online, there are a heap of articles on it.

http://www.healthline.com/health/lead-p … #Overview1

Hi Rin,
that's great that you were able to do the little ones first. I literally had to work my way down, no way could my fingers have handled the turning etc of tiny limbs , all thumbs at first.haha
I persevered though, I so wanted to make mini's after coming across Debbie's book. I think I had the book for at least a year before I dared to try. Couldn't stand the thought that I might not be able to manage doing them.

Luv big bears too, though I buy those, not too good at making anything above  6 to 8 inches, so why bother.

Gorgeous, looks so real.

quote Hi everyone,

I've been making bears for a while now and realise that I love making miniatures the most. 

Kind regards

Rin

Me too, lovely to find someone like minded. I also bought Debbie's book many years ago, it was so helpful. Took me a while to work my way down to sewing the miniatures ( started off learning on larger bears) but once I'd sewn my first mini , I was hooked.
Been many years since I'd last sewn a mini, ( made the odd larger rabbit or bear ) but recently went to a reunion and I was showing the ladies some of my tiny teds ( beauty of tiny mini's is I can carry 3 of them , my favourites, in a box that's no bigger than 2x3x1 inches) and they were fascinated at the size of them. Anyway gave me the enthusiasm to try and see if I could still sew them. Might take a bit more practice till I get back to where I was, my eyes aren't what they used to be, but it's so much fun getting back into sewing them again.

It's great to find people are still making the little ones

Hi,
Just checking, are these weights made from lead or steel?
Don't know if it would apply to curtain weights, but, we stopped using lead shot years ago. Beleive the reason, might have been because of leads toxicity? Never actually used it, but lead shot was replaced with steel shot.
It was over 10 years ago, Too long ago to remember actual reason, one day you could buy it in the teddy stores then it was no longer stocked.

Hi Zorka

I couldn't resist that sweet little face. She's going to be my Christmas Angel. Not only that, my granddaughter is named Isabella, so very similar .haha.

Hi Rin,
Interesting idea, could be handy for my bunnies. I normally use something along the lines of a granual, not sure what it's called, far finer than glass beads and heavier.  also can be messy and I don't like the reddish brown color.
Your suggestion sounds very interesting.

Hi,
I pin mine also, but with my really teenie, weenie mini's ie under 2 inches, it's hard to put  2 pins in for each ear so Ido a stitch each end, gives me a bit of wriggle room before I complete the sewing on.

Sweetest little face.

Very creative.

So sweet,
I luv bunnies.

Hi Ivina,
Little Michael arrived this morning, he's beautiful, and thank you so much for the cute little key ring , luv the little photo inside it.

Hi Ivina
Sooo CUTE.

Best wishes
Rikki

Hi Ivina,
Love those beautiful eyes.

Looking forward to adding him to my collection.

He is so cute.
I received little Rain yesterday. Those adorable blue eyes. So sweet.
Best wishes
Rikki

Hi,
My little baby Rain arrived. What a cutie. Luv those baby blue eyes.
Best wishes
Rikki

Hi Emma,
Bit late, but, I also collect Charlie bears, I've probably got about 50 or so. Some mohairs, but mostly the large plush.  I just can't seem to make a cute large cuddly bear ( I'm ok at creating 2 to 6 inch mini's) but anything larger just doesn't work for me.
I came across my first charlie bear about 5 years ago, a cute little panda, and I've luved them ever since. They're such a contrast to what I make. It's so cute sitting one of my 2 inch mini's on my largest panda's nose, she's nearly 3 foot tall,looks like a little bug sitting on her nose haha.
I've slowed down a bit of late, running out of space to display them. We have a beautiful teddy bear shop that sells them about an hour away. For a treat , my husband takes me there every 3 to 4 weeks just to see if any new ones appeal to me. We have morning tea there and I get to check out the bears. Makes for a lovely morning.

Anyway, enjoy collecting.

Best wishes
Rikki

She's so cute. Luv the wings.