Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Sue Ann...that is exactly what made me wonder if others just order thread at the same time.  I was perusing around Intercal earlier today during my big day of doing absolutely nothing productive and invisioning how I could spend my childrens inheritance on things like mohair, glass eyes, etc.    

I've tried that...however, my local craft store carries lots of cotton thread in a fairly decent array of colors which is great for my quilting habit...but not so good my for newly acquired bear habit.  They have about 6 colors of upholstery thread and some polyester thread...some all purpose thread.  I've become somewhat disillusions with them in the recent months...they aren't meeting my "bear" expectations.       Or perhaps I'm just being too fussy and the thread doesn't have to match "perfect."

Shall I complain?  Kidding...

Do you order matching thread when you order your fur?  I seem to be unable to find matching thread...maybe I should just use translucent or "invisible" thread instead.  I wonder if my color distinction has gone wacky!!!

What about foot pad material?

It what I call a da-lem-la

Helena...I too am drooling over the pre-pak this week and trying very hard to talk myself out of it.  So far I think I'm losing 

I don't even know what I'm doing in the next 5 minutes let alone the whole day...

Several artists are using a dry oil paint technique...I tried it with both acrylics and oils and it works great.

Here's a discussion thread link where Shelli shares how she does it...

http://www.teddy-talk.com/viewtopic.php?id=611

I feel like I'm playing traffic director today :)  Perhaps it's from being caught on the freeway yesterday for 3 HOURS...and be redirected off the freeway and headed back to where I just came from...AUGH!!!

Hi...welcome to the Teddy Talk.

There is a current discussion on mini-making in the Tips & Techniques section.   Here's a link...  http://www.teddy-talk.com/viewtopic.php?id=1818

Several people recommended http://www.sassybearsandfabrics.com for mini fabrics.  I just myself ordered some and they were very reasonably priced.  I can't speak personally for the quality but feel confident they will be great based on the recommendation.  There are some other links within that discussion thread also (I think).

Take a peek!!!

Shantell

Heather,

Awhile back Shelli started a discussion on this very subject...since I for one was beating it to death.  You might read over the whole thread because it's full of great information and ideas on choosing your business name.

Good luck...it's hard.

http://www.teddy-talk.com/viewtopic.php?id=987

Even though I registered a domain name for Apple Dumpling Bears...I keep wondering if that what I really want to be called.  So see I'm still struggling with it.

Shantell

Out of curiosity more than anything...how do you ladies get your bears photographs on the Intercal flyers that come in our email...and in their gallery pages.  Sue Ann...you are just about every other bear I see...I think I could pick your bears out of a haystack  :)

Compliments to you all!!!

Got that mini made yet Shelli?   

Having had both long and short nails...I can't imagine trying to work with the little pieces of fabric with long nails.

Rikki...your little bears are adorable.  Someone...and again I can't remember...said that you have to reduce the head a bit more when reducing your patterns because the head looks too big...did you find that to be true?  I'm having a hard time with that concept of proportion...mathematically speaking.

Your first posting is very helpful...even for me who just dove in...I'm a bit dangerous that way...dive in...ask questions later... HA

Shantell

The washers I bought are 3/8" x 1/8" (9mm)...it looks like they have some that are 7.5mm also.  I guess it really depends on your joint size how small you want to go.  I also read somewhere and I can't remember where that you can use small bead between the body and the arms or legs when doing thread joints...but maybe I dreamt that.   :doh:

Eyes...I didn't like the beads as well...but that was me so I ordered some from Intercal...they are 4 mm...but again that's all individual preference.

Hey, I do everything the same way I do on a bigger bear only in a much scaled down version.

The tiny tiny bear that I just did...the orange blob...I thread jointed him rather than using cotterpins.  Since I've yet to try the whole nut and bolt technique yet I have no advice. 

A.)  What size disk joints for what size mini?  I'm working with 1.5" and 2" disks right now for bears ranging from 9" - 20".  How small do I need to go to get down to 5-8"?

I don't use the hardboard disks but just the washer...I purchased item W-2 from Edinburgh...and the mini-cotterpins also from Edinburgh.  But I think it depends on how big your shoulder and hip size are.

B.)  Alligator clips, pins, or fingers, to hold pieces together while sewing?

I use my tiny tiny applique pins...it only take one or two maybe.

C.)  Do you sew AT ALL using the machine, or is it all by hand?

All by hand...

D.)  If by hand, is it always backstitch?  How big is each

backstitch?

Backstitch...as small as I can...I also use an applique needle which has a very small eye.  Do you really want me to measure my stitches

E.)  How large is your seam allowance?

Nancy Tillberg talks about that in her book...101 Bears...page 161 is the start.  General guidelines...5-6" use 1/8 seam allowance...4" or smaller 1/16" seam allowance.  Seems to work for me.

I hope that helped!!!

P.S.  For turning AND stuffing, I use my fancy schmancy chopsticks which my ex brought back from Asia...they work great...and since I never could get the hang of eating with them...

Judy dear, I think your bears could be furless and they'd still be absolutely spectacular.

I lover her both ways...

I just wanted to tell everyone who has posted photo's of their darling little creations that I am so amazed at everyone's creativity, uniqueness and special talent they have.  I've looked at them all but it's just too hard to post something on each one.  I've really been trying to behave myself and choose where I spend my computer time...guess where that is... ... more than about 15 minutes at a time and I start getting having visual problems and warnings of a migraine. 

So...congratuations to each and everyone...you all inspire me to work harder and find my innerbear :) 

Love to you...

Shantell

PS... Now stop making those darn cute bears...I can't afford them all!!!

Thanks Shelli...but I think I'll wait until after a few more eye surgeries    NOT!!!

I forgot to mention a little long haired white ferral cat that we've been feeding for the past 18 months.  He appears to be old and very beaten up...would run anytime he saw or heard us but now he will stay in the yard waiting to be fed.  We've named him Surrender and just this morning for the first time he meowed at us when we were bringing him food...as if to say Thank You.

Now...if he'd just let me clean up his weepy looking eyes...poor boy!!!

I just could not pass up posting that photo.  There are actually two of the little "stinkers"...a momma (photo) and a baby which is a feisty little thing.  Just the other night it must have seen it's reflection in the glass and attacked it...I about wet my pants laughing as it's recovering from a concussion.  These two don't seem to get the idea that the food isn't for them and just keep showing up earlier and earlier.  AUGH...  I should say they seem to be very polite in that they rarely lift their tails to spray...well the baby seems to have his raised all the time but he's young   Gotta show momma he's ready I guess.

We have raccoons which I can't seem to get a good photo of.  They play peek a boo with us through the window.   A bobcat in the pasture in front of our house.  The cat chased a fox last fall...seriously.  Deer almost daily...right now there is a momma and her speckled fawn which I'm trying to keep out of the roses.  Oh...and 20 cows, 1 bull and a zillion calfs who I know refer to me as the "apple lady" because I'm always feeding them apples.  They actually stand by the fence and moo until I come out...brats!!!

Who needs TV?

Shantell

See how good I'm getting...they are becoming so lifelike

Because...

that's what I tell my children!!!!

I've gone and done it again...

NO...not head chopping...but feeling the NEED to make another tiny bear...gotta get it done before all the flowers are gone for the winter 

Oh no...wait until I tell my friend "the other meaning" of foo foo...I think she's still getting over "fanny."  :redface:

I too am a shaver...I've also got dark hair...not alot of it (Indian blood) but it's there and you can see if from afar.  I have another dear friend I use to work with who only shaves once a year...around the same time the sheep are being sheared...so she refers to it as her annual shearing!!!

No...you can't resist when a child asks you for one of your creations...that just happened to me.  I made my first mohair bear and my son asked me if he could have it...he's 21.

Bluebell and friend (looks like a lemon drop on my monitor) are absolutely precious.

He's adorable and so cuddly looking...I want him!!!  :redface: