Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I love animals...they are the best companions.  My golden retriever and beagle went to live with my parents after my divorce...they are in doggy heaven.  I would never move home but if I should die I would want to come back as one of my parents dogs.  Sad isn't it...

I tried to move my beloved cat Oz to my temporary condo...but condo life did not suit him after being a country bumpkin.  He ran off the first night...I trapsed around the neighbors with photos of him and never found him.  But that very next day, the manager came over with another neighbor very late with a cat they thought was my Oz...the woman had a death grip on him...he was starving, hissing, spitting, clawing, growling, fur flying...and it actually looked like my Oz...until she tossed him into the condo I quickly shut the door and turned around and said...well crap...that's not Oz.  Oz had long hair and fluffly tail like skunk...this one had short hair but same coloring.  I still have the stray cat...who is a lovebug in himself...although he has a nasty habit of trying to walk between your legs at the same time you are walking.  We now live in the country and he thinks he should  share his food with everyone...raccoons, squirrels, mice, skunks...you name it.  Right now we are being harassed by a skunk who hasn't figured out that we don't have food for him and he isn't a pet.  Put water out last night for the flowers...set the timer for 30 minutes...2 hours later I still couldn't turn the water off because Pepe Le Pew was meandering around the deck...cute but way stinky...even without spraying.   AWWW...country living...

Now to get a dog...since my parents won't let me have mine back...how rude.  Oh well...they've spoiled them so rotten I'm not sure I would want them back.

Along the same line as another discussion thread about OOAK or series...how many of you do or take commission work?  Do you take it from anyone if you do...or only from those who have adopted from you before?

Just curious...okay...I'm just down right nosey...

Shantell

Thanks Winney...your a peach!!!  Can you tell me what page Jennifer Laing's ear directions are on...I still can't find them other than a small paragraph where she talked about leaving the thread hanging to be used to sew the open edges under and attached the ear to the head.  I'm trying to picture all of this and am probably making it more difficult than I need to...typical for me.  I'm printing out your instructions and putting them my book... :D ..so I can find them later.

Thanks so much....between these and Shelli's tacking suggestion I should have perfect ears... okay I'm laughing now...  I'm off to conquer the Ear Wars!!!

Shantell

Shelli, I completely agree with what Daphne and others have said.  You really should consider putting all your great advice into an easy to find place...whether it be your own website, a book or whatever works for you.  I don't have my own Shelli file but I think that's a fantastic idea and will start one soon.  How does that make you feel to know we all have a file with your name on it?   

Now to figure out your pull, push, pinch, nip, tuck...soft scultping tips I read about somewhere....I think I must be educationally disadvantaged...without pictures it takes me a bit to figure it out...:rolleyes:  I do all of that but then let go and well...I'm right back to where I started in about 2.5 seconds.  Poor little bear...

I'm gone...gotta migraine coming on...:mad:

PS.  Nancy, I may have to adopt one of those puppies of yours...way cute!!!

Nancy...thanks for the link but can someone send the photos that were discussed in the discussion thread...call me dense but I do better with pictures...perhaps I just don't follow directions well...:):)

Shantell

Here's a little bear I'm giving to my friend who starts her doctorate program soon...thought she needed a study buddy...and since she was coveting my other little bear...well...

Wisdom (still need to find him a little charm to wear around his neck) stands 4-1/2" tall...made from shortpile mohair...stuffed his little belly with copper bb's...etc.   He does so like to frolick...as you can see I couldn't keep him from standing on his head...so hopefully he's a good influence on my friend and doesn't distract her too much.  I'm not sure she could pass her dissertation if she wrote on the frolicking habits of bears...but who knows.:D

I know...I need a better camera if I'm going to get serious about the bear busines...all in due time.

Yes, Winney....please explain.  I have Jennifer Laing's book "The Art of Making Teddy Bears" and there really isn't much of a description on how you sew them in.   I've also have Nancy Tillberg's book and have used her method.  I was just wondering if there was any sneeky little tricks out there...

Shantell

my oh my...how clever are the two of you...and I just did the whole cut, fit, cut, refit...adjust...snip, nip, tuck...you get the picture. 

Thanks Shelli...yeah I am kinda curious...or perhaps it's just plain nosey   It's nice to be able to come here and find/get answers. Everyone is so helpful, friendly and encouraging.

Is there some secret technique for eliminating the "thick" corners after you turn your ears right side out.  It seems that the corners have alot of bulk from sewing them and I wonder if I'm missing something simple.

The tacking idea is wonderful...I'll try that on my next bear.  I've been pinning them but not tacking them down first before doing the ladder stitch which has taken some getting use to. 

Shantell

I did a search hoping to find some answer but found notta...

How does everyone sew on their bears ears?  I feel like mine aren't secure enough and will just pop off...no matter how I do them.  I feel like my stitching shows too much...although I've been told that my stitching doesn't show at all....HA...I can see it.    I've read several books and they all basically seem to say the same thing...but thought I'd get some insight from you.

Thanks!

He's gorgeous...I like the old look of your bears.  What color is his fur...it looks reddish on my monitor...he looks like a Cranbeary!!!  Cute cute cute!!!

Dilu...she's fabulous...purple is my favorite color...I love her.  It looks like she already has a little grin buried under all that grape fur...

Marie your little bear is darling.  I think that all first bears are cute...they have alot of love, frustration and character sewn right into them...what's not to love.  My friends little girl tried to convince me to let her have him...I told her that I'd make her a bear so she was a little happier but still tried to con him out of me....the little cutie pie.  See...I can't sell anything I just give them away... :):)

Shantell

Thanks everyone...I've managed to almost finish another one...different fur...so I think I will give it to my friend.  She's going back and get her doctorate...eegads...the little overachiever...perhaps he can help her study and work on her dissertation (is that how you spell that?)  Or at least keep an eye out on her.

Wow...that is wonderful...and I think I know how to do that myself...being a quilter and all....

Hmmm...the wheels are turning...

Beautiful!!!

Now that I have this  picture thing figured out...I thought I might as well post my very first  bear.  He was made from a kit and I was very disappointed with the fur because it goes in a bizillion directions...but he's since grown on me and now I really like him...with all his little cowlicks!!  Poor little bear has been in the green pastures getting cow smooches...and it shows!!!

Shantell

Here's my little creation...he's a whopping 4-1/2" tall...made from copper colored mohair and stuff with polyfill and copper coated bb's in his little bum and tummy.  He's already found himself a home...but one of my friends was very much coveting him this afternoon...so perhaps I shall make a little friend for her just because...

I know I know...I need better pictures...

I've been collecting "reborn" dolls for awhile and the doll artists use magnets inside their little babies mouths so they can take modified pacifiers.  They are actually glued in.  You might check some of the reborn doll supply places and see what they have.  The magnets are quite strong and you would want to put some kind of warning for individuals with pacemakers, etc.  Check out "reborn" in the dolls category on Ebay and you'll see what I mean. 

Shantell

Hello,

I have nothing of great importance to post...just wanted to say Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening...wherever you may be!!!  :D

Shantell

P.S.  I did finish a little bear last night...one of my own...yippee...I will try and take some photos of him today and post them later.  He already has a home...even better!!!

The ones I got at Walmart are 4.5 mm which was bigger than what I wanted but the guy said it was all they carried...and I wanted them NOW.  They are stainless steel copper coated.  It's 6000 bb's and weighs alot more than 1 pound and cost me $6.95.   

So anyway...I hope I did okay. 

Oh Dilu...you can't fool us...we know it's your Golly's the take care of your tools

Well...I just got back from Walmart to buy BB's....and they looked at me like I was a nutcase.  The guy wanted to know what I was using them for and I said "bears."  He gave me the strangest look and said "ma'am these won't harm bears..."  I said..."oh I'm not wanting to harm them"...smiled and said "thank you."  Turn..and walked out with my BB's in hand.  I wonder what he's telling his co-workers now.  :):)

Now...on to order pellets and such...

Shantell

Thanks...just what I was looking for...now where's my visa

Can any recommend a place to purchase weighting materials online?  Like the poly pellets, glass beads, bb's (or similar)...  My local craft supply places are well...lacking to say the least.  They don't carry any of these kinds of things...and look at me like I'm an oddball (well maybe I am) when I ask about them.  I guess the bear business isn't booming here... :)  But if I were a scrapbooker, floral arranger, seamstress (okay I quilt) then I'd be set.  :)

Thanks...I need to order some things and thought I'd cheat and ask you guys where you buy.

TTFN