Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Thank you all for your advice...I truly appreciate it.

awwww, Sooo cute!  I love her big bunny cheeks!  Great job on the felting!  Your fingers must be sore after a big felting project like her!  :clap:
Tomi

Here is her picture in her ruffle underpants  :photo:

I am just so excited to have finished designing my pattern that I had to post a couple of pictures of Saddie Bear.
I spent about 2 weeks on developing this bear, endless tweaking...I am so glad to have it done and be able to see the end result ;)

Let me know what you think.....I am very open to advice....you don't just have to say nice things  :hug:

I have been spending all of my time crocheting bears and I am really enjoying spreading my wings into sewn bears now.

Karen,
I appreciate your input.  Looking at my bear again, I do think I may have used too long of mohair for such a small bear, so I think that is the real problem  :doh:
Well, live and learn  :redface:
I adore your bears by the way!  I visited your website and it was such a delight to peek at your adorable creations.
Hugs,
Tomi

Thank you Joanne for your advice....I think it will just take me some time to get used to this new medium.  The more I think about it, the mohair is a sort of sparse and not very dense, so it just may be that factor as well and using it on a smaller bear.
Thank you for your input!

Tomi

Hi everyone.....boy, has it been a long time since I have visited here!  Good to be back......
I have decided to graduate myself from crocheted bears to sewn mohair bears, YAH!    I am very excited about this new venture....so, now onto my question....

I have been reading quite a lot on mohair.  Preparing it, conditioning it, brushing it etc.  I feel that my big problem with it is when I am turning.  The hair is so pretty prior to this step, but after I turn the bear right side out....wow, one big messy mohair bear!

I have tried spritzing it with water and brushing it and it goes in the direction I like, but never returns to its original glory of tuffed curly bliss.  It still just seems so messy (on the medium length mohair). 

Is this something that mohair conditioning would fix?  Does it restore the original curly look?  Perhaps it is the way I am turning the piece?  I try to leave a very large opening to turn it through.....

Thanks for your input and advice!  I look forward to getting to know you all.  I have seen some amazing and breathtaking creations here.....quite inspiring!

Hugs,
Tomi Delaney

Clare,
Thanks for your insight!  That is what I did on my last bear.  It turned out great, but I wasn't sure if there was a reason why people didn't normally do it that way.  Now I will feel more confident embroidering before closing knowing others do it also.  Thanks for your help!
Tomi

Catherine,
Thankyou for your instruction.  I will try what you described.  I think I do understand what you are saying   Your bears are adorable!
Thanks,
Tomi

Thanks to both of you!  I will try these.  I am sure it will help!  Once I get my pics on the computer I will post some pics of my bear.

Tomi

Thanks everyone for your help.  I think I am getting the idea....Sabine, you were saying that you do a few stitches under the embroidery.  What does that mean extactly?  Dont the new stiches show up on the nose?  Sorry, I'm a little dense :)
Tomi

Hey Sandi,
That works very well for my crochet bears as well, but I run into trouble when sewing the mouths on my fabric bears.  I always end up wondering what to do at the end of the embridered mouth or nose.  I can't figure out how to hide that darn knot :)
Tomi

Hi,
I am working on my second crochet bear ever!  My first turned out cute, but I'm not entirely happy with the ears.  They look kind of flat and thin.  In most of the other pics I see they tend to be more curved in and thick.  Does anyone want to share their bear ear pattern with me?  I would really appreciate your generosity and expertise!

Thanks,
Tomi

Kim,
Thanks so much for the great ideas!  I think I might try a combination of the strong coffee, colored pencils and acrilic paint.  I admire your bears...they are adorable...if you are still here, how do you hide the knots when you are embroidering your bears noses and mouths?
Thanks ,
Tomi
Willow Creek Bears

great idea, thanks so much.  Your bears are very cute!
Tomi

I am looking for a way to do some shading on my crochet bears (especially around the eyes).  Does anyone have any ideas on what to use to do some soft shading on mini croched bears?
Thanks so much!
Tomi
Willow Creek Bears

Hello, This is my first posting on this website.  I am very new to bear making and am having a blast.  I have so much to learn!  One of my big questions right now it how to hide the knots in the thread when working and finishing the mouth of the bear (and also when finishing the embrioidered nose).  So far my bears are turning out pretty well, but small details like this are detracting from my finished work.  Thanks for your help!

Tomi