Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Lots of good advice...seems that these kinds of medical  problems come with using the hands/wrists repetatively at any kind of work....and women use their hands A LOT in any case as we do the mom things ( hands on ) cook, clean,sew, wssh dry, dishes, split wood if necessary ! Then we make bears or dolls or sculpt for pleasure.

I have a aunt that has artheritius so bad in her jands the best relief she can get is to do the hot wax treatments .

Roxanne..look into getting some electric scissors, I use to have some . When it comes to stuffing ... why not design a bear to use soft stuffing . use that silky stuffing that " " boings " back up ( coated stuffing ) ...and use plastic pellets. for weight...THen alternate tasks and alternate when you  make difrent types of bears. Another tip may be to mark out your bears on the fabric then hire one of your kids to cut them out.....Hope you get better, HUgs, Winney

I am interested but...need to get some bears on my web site. I do real fur bears..thanks for the kind offer,. I will have to get the lead out...LOL, no really I just have been ill a lot this past year...my goal is to get up and running this year so.....I will keep in touch... Winney

Me too. I just signed up....Winney

I found by using the electric trimmer instead of hand trimming with scissors I save A LOT of time..probably 45 min. on each larger bear... say a 16" bear.....I always use the elec. trimmers on real fur seams..and soon follow along with the small vacume....works great !  Winney

Eileen...I have that " flipped seam " problem all the time..I never saw a remedy on any board and really wondered if I was the only one that had the problem !!! that can drive you nuts.

I dont even bother to unstuff my bear..I just use a hefty needle to enter at one side of  the offending seam and sort of flip it over to the other side...works great...altho I was thinking about gluing the seam before hand I did not think that would work because how can I tell how the fur will lay later before its stuffed ?..

Oh wook at his wittle face....awwww hes a doll Judi. I love that fluffy look too...Winney

Hi Stephanie ! I was just going to mention I'm Stuffed..LOL... Winney

Jane, Janet, Marion...I can use patterns for bears about 8 to 10", 12" ...love the Nowegin sweater... I would love for you gals to e-mail me with patterns...

Kim Bee...I think I did look at Lion Yarns site..got some kids hat patterns off there and googles for some Premi patterns which may fit my small bears.
I have tons of yarn so want to start using that up...It is sooo hard to find any crochet patterns for bears...I have a few, Chrochet uses up more yarn that knitting and works up twice as fast..he, he....Winney

Beautiful and precious baby...LOve it....Winney

THat sure explaines it to me....do the basic shape then ADD the sides ( will be more width to the nose ) then the center...ORRRRRRRRRRRRRRR maybe Id rather....

Do the center ( septum)  then ADD the width onto the septum (makes a  wider nose )  then do the last sides...it looks like to me all this can  be broken down into small steps ...OK now go give it a try...there is nothing to loose ....Winney

Clever idea...Winney

Thanks all you gals for the offers... I since have found a few patterns...now I will need to make some samples for the different sizes and go from there....Winey

Wee ones are darling...great detail you get...Winney

I have found some good quality synthetics at Hancocks..to make cost effective bears for local sales...like your neighbors.
Inspect the furs tho. for flaws which often you can work around ..I found a very good fur that I know retails for $60 Yd...problem was that piece narrowed down to 1/3 less in width of the yardage...that happened when wound off the machine..no problem, I got 30% more off that one. Another piece of lovely stuff ...the direction of the nap suddenly changed from nort and south the east and west...LOL...no problem, Ill just cut my bears which ever direction the nap goes in...as long as the pattern is layed either on the straight or crosswise...will not make much of a diffrence...I paid $20 yd...Winney

Estelle and Marion... Yes I believe thats the stuff. Each brand seems to make their own but its all basically the same clear stuff you  mix with acrylic paint....to extend ( stretch, thin ) the color out....
You CAN mix water with your acrylics to  make a stain or watercolor effect but the extender medium has polymers in it so it keeps the integrity of the " bonding " ability of acrylics.
You may be able to find more of a description on-line for acrylics brands that you may find in your neck of the woods... or go to you rlocal raft store and pick a brand then read the back of the bottle , or maybe the store has a flyer by the product you can read...Winney

Id try the white glue.mixed 50/ 50 maybe or less glue ....and do 2 coats ?

Fray check can be removed with alcohol (will also remove permanant ink pen ) .

If you dont like paint....I   know that you can add fabric extender in acrylic paint to turn it into more of a stain and make it thin so it dosnt act like paint...so it is not stiff or stiff feeling.  It dosnt come off later because acrylics are so tough but if you get too much color on...before it drys you can get most of it off with water...When dry it is nearly impossible to remove...
I know..I paint with acrylics.. I did an experiment once where I left the globs of paint onto a tupperware  lid I used for a pallett...I left it dry  for a year ! Then I soaked  in hot water and scraped til the cows came home and it just adheared like whatever... I never did get all of it off....
There are some artists that age their bears with all kinds of stuff...like sooty fireplace ashes to make him look real worn...so whatever you want that works for the effect you want to get is worth exploring.... Winney

Amazing Marion !... I have one question tho.... If the collector decides to spot wash her bear , will that ruin the effects ? If so...is there any way to "set" your artists touches ...like with a spray fixative ?...Winney

Jenny Johnson...I saw your adorable bunny Clover in the  sharing showcase here...what a fabulous job you did in creating him. I remember reading when you were designing him you were looking for the right fur, you say its mohair ...did you finally get it at Sasseys?It looks so soft and dense , more like a synthetic or alpaca...

I have been on there most of the day planning on what kind of furs I want for my next designs and just love your soft bunny fur.... I sure wish she had a sample pkg...its hard to pick out stuff off the internet.... Winney

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!...Winney

Does the post office give the envelopes away free?....if not, what do they cost?

Oh yes..what about fabric dryer sheets...anyone ever use those ? You know I think they are the same material as "Pellon" type interfacing for sewing clothes...  I have used it for doll clothes when needed and I suppose you could use it to make  clothes patterns for you bears... Anyway...I could see them being used for wing material is it was stiffened and colored........Winney

Fab Shelli...wh created the horse ? He is very regal...Winney

Hey Dilu !..Are you there ?..Can you share with us how this might best be done,...any tips ?...
I think I will cut the sweater in" parts " first..like sleeves, back and front...then do each piece one at a time....I dont know if Dilu rinses the softner out later or not...Winney

Kim...she sure looks wet...the Sassy nose varnish works wonderfully..we are going to have to watch your Ebay for those georgous dolls!

Wax paper, wire armature , elmers glue and glitter..thats an amazing combination for wings.especially the wax paper......Isnt it great , many of these materials tips can be use for creating unusual bears too... THen what did you seal it with ?..I am so enthralled with all these wings...love the feathers ones too... they look so soft for bears...Winney

Oh no Dilu...I know a mexican lady that makes home made tamales....she comes by every friday....they are $1. each and worth it...

Hmmm, I hope I didnt say anything to hurtanyones  feelings...if I did I certainly apologize ....thats the last thing Id ever do in any case...yes, people remember our manners all the time , you never know when someone who is not here will be here one day then read your post and  that may hurt...we need to be the very fuzziest of persons on this board so we can welcome everyone....Winney

KIMBERLY...what a fabulous fairy..the wings are awsome !!!!...did you use organdy ?
I read in one tutorial you can use organdy, organza, silk. Sometimes the fabric can be stiffened with white fabric glue and water...to stiffen it as needed.

Your sculpting is beautifully done..she is exquisite....Winney