Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Kim, I know exactly how you feel...so I've taken the Ebay attitude that "if it sells, GREAT!!!...if it doesn't then it's just advertising."  Just think of all the people who see your bear...see your name...after awhile they begin to associate them with you. 

So...patience, patience, patience...a virtue I struggle with constantly (spoiled only child in me still rearing it's ugly head).

Shantell

Here's our dear  Shelli's original post...it's under Teddy Tips & Techniques...

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

Now to write down what colors to buy...any particular brand I should look for?

Shantell

Hi Gail,

There is a whole discussion thread about this...here's link...

http://www.teddy-talk.com/viewtopic.php?id=203

I hope this helps!!!   

Shantell

Hi Rita,

I attempted that very thing just this morning.  I first did a search on how others did and read a posting by Shelli where she says how she uses oil paints.  I didn't want to invest in oils yet so I bought these little pots of fabric paints and three varying size VERY stiff brushes.  I then dabbed a little paint on the brush and then wiped and wiped and wiped in on a napkin until almost all the paint was off the brush....then I carefully applied it to the area on my bear I wanted to highlight.  This gave me alot of control over the amount of color I put on....if I wanted more I started over and repeated the process.  I got too much on once and took a clean brush and just kept brushing carefully over the same area and it took away some of the paint until I got the look I wanted.   By the time I was done the areas I painted just looked like it was naturally part of the fur.

Worked great...now I'll try some oils and see how that goes...it was really easy.

Good Luck

Shantell

He's wonderful Dilu....you are the Golly Queen aren't you?  Exactly how tall is Bosley? 

Shantell

Okay ladies...what in the heck are you doing with hair gel...and bears!!!   I have obviously missed a VERY important discussion somewhere...

Shantell

Dilu....they are wonderful...I love sunflowers...in fact my kitchen has a sunflower motif...sorta.  Mine didn't do well this year...too much rain and then too hot...oh and the birds and raccoons decided to dig up the seeds...the brats!!!

Lovely....

So...I just played with the freebie from Nancy's site and updated my avatar...took me a whopping 2.5 second...okay maybe not quite that fast...but less then 5 minutes...I think it took longer to log into Teddy Talk and upload...simple, fast, easy as mud pie...

So if you don't want anything fancy...it's FREE!!!

But, I'm still considering Photoshop...

Dilu, yes, Nancy is wonderful.  I emailed her previously about my limited computer time because of my eye problems and she said I could just print out or save the information on my computer and use it as I needed....she did warn me however it takes alot of ink :)   I think she also has that information on her website.  She is so sweet!!!  How she does it all is beyond me...

Get out of my head, Laura Lynn...I did just that not long after I registered for the class.  I decided to try a pre-pak and see what I thought.  I've also order the samples...which may only makes things worse...   There goes my wad...didn't someone suggest rice and beans for the rest of the month...how about lentils? 

Shantell

I finally broke down and registered for one of Nancy's Tillberg's classes....Extreme Sculpting!!!!  I know I know...I kept saying I was going to...and just never did...now I have...registered, paid...now I need to buy some more fur :)  I just can't decide what I want...there is just way too much to choose from.  I think they should have an option of paying so much per month and they just send you stuff...no choosing...you just get it and go...:D

I also downloaded the freebie from Nancy's site...thanks for the recommendation Laura Lynn.  I have yet to really play with it.   I checked out the "gimp" recommendation but got overwhelmed just reading their site... so I need to go back to it when I can take the time to actually digest the information.  Just having too many vision problems lately...AUGH!!!

Thanks for all the great responses.  I instinctively knew really creating comes from within...you just know when it's right.  My problem is I like to second guess myself...and I know that I should always go with what I feel or think first and not look back.  I think each and everyone of you has your own look.  I'm sure in time I will find mine as well...but for now I, like Rita, I feel like mine look like every other bear you see on a store shelf.  Sigh...

At some point I hope to adopt at least one little darling from each of you...I love them all for very different reasons.

Shantell

Congrats Ladies...

Paula I had to check out your website...very nice.  I love all your bears...they are wonderful.  I love the fur you choose...not the typical honey brown...and those huggable arms...AWWWWWW!!!  Of course I had to read about the artist behind the bears...lovely lady you are...and I love that you shared so much of yourself.   Your garden is beautiful...you must be very busy with grown children still at home, bear creations, gardening...I think I need a nap now after reading.  :)

Shantell

Kirsten,  it's under "Kapok as stuffing"...about 5 or so posts down...I think Shelli started it and Daphne added photos.

We are a bit punchy at times!!!

I'm cracking up here Shelli with your "Poo Bathroom" story.  I went to a private high school and lived in a dorm my Jr & Sr year.  We didn't have an official "poo bathroom" but it was always quite obvious what was going on when you'd see a girl leaving a bathroom that was NOT on her floor or her hall.

Dorm life...friendships built for life...two of my closest friends are from my dorm days.  I have the best memories from those days!!!

Shantell

Thanks...I'll check them out too...free is a very good thing!!!

Daphne,

I figured there was...just seems logical that paying $20/yd vs $110/yd there would be quality differences.  I have not bought any from Edinburgh yet...I just plain get overwhelmed with what I want...that and I'm trying to be realistic and try out a pattern a time or two before I actually invest in more expensive fur and risk ruining a nice quality piece of synthetic or mohair.    My little pink bear turned out nice...I'm happy with her....after all I did chop up her first head

Now...my mom tells me she wants me to make her a panda!!!  Not sure how to do the whole eye patch thing...I may cheat and paint in on ;)

Shantell

Thank Laura Lynn, Shelli...I'll go check out Nancy's site and see what she has.

I'm actually a very quick study...show me once and I usually have it.  I'm just lazy I use to do alot of graphic design stuff with Pagemaker when I was still working...designing brochures, flyers, workshop materials, etc.  I actually enjoyed it alot...but since I can't spend much time on the computer anymore I am just very hesitant to spend a lot of money on something I really won't use very much even if I wanted to.

That, Nancy Tillberg, she's thought of everything hasn't she? 

Hey Heather...I never thought of that...gonna try using one of my longer needles... :)

I'm considering buying a photoediting software...looking at Photoshop...there seems to be alot of versions and I don't want anything too fancy...I mean it's not like I'm going to be doing any digital imaging graphic design or anything.  For those of you who use or are familiar with this program, can you recommend a version that will give me some basic tools and not overwhelm my little mind.

I'm currently running on Windows 98SE and don't want to have to upgrade to like XP or 2000 in order to run a new program.

Thanks!!!

So...at what point in your bear making/designing did you know you found "your look".  Now that I've been watching bears for awhile I can definitely pick out who made what bear by just looking at the bear.   

Did you stumble upon it...did you know what you were wanting and just keeping trying until you reached it...what did you do?   How long did it take you?  Or...are you still looking? 

Curious George!!!

Thanks for the info.  I was just curious because of my childhood memory of my mom's coat stinking...or at least I thought it did.  Now off to find a bear to buy...or something!!

Shantell

Julia....I love Mathilda...she's darling...she looks like she's ready to go to the Kentucky Derby for a little horse racing. 

Shana...you fellow SH'er...I love your little bear.  What kind of fur is that?  Looks like she's had the crimper takin to her fur...is marvelous.  I wish my noses looked so perfect...and I know how...I think I need to stuff my head tighter...oh no...I just realized that my bears must be a bunch of airheads...:D

Shantell

I've been told I'm full of SH before...now I get to be in a club...yeah!!!

Shantell