Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Kim..I don't rightly know...but I doubt it was for the taste sensation....eeeewww!!!     I think not....

Who knows, maybe it's just an urban myth....., I'll have to ask my father in law.

Sue Ann...my hearing or lack of gets me into trouble all the time and has made me rather scared of people in social situations, so I tend to be a bit of a hermit. I'm scared to death about doing my first show in May...what if someone speaks to me and I don't realise and they think I'm a snob?  I sometime wonder if I should put a little card at each end of my table saying that I'm hard of hearing. How do you cope in noisy show situations?

Ahhh Sue Ann dear heart...it happens to the best of us deafies ya know. The number of times I get into a predicament that is embarressing due to my hearing loss....ya just gotta laugh at yourself. T'would be worse if you had got the call to tell you that you missed out on a TOBY and you thought it was the opposite now wouldn't it! The wrong bear...well now that's a nice little mistake, not ghastly!

Just tonight...we had out of town visitors and were having a lovely summery walk along the beack in the twilight, after having enjoyed fish and chips on the beach. It had taken us a while to find a park as there were lots of people out and about with a similar idea to us. The conversation turned to our dairy farm and we chatted about that for a few minutes. Then the fella said to me. 'That marking can be a bit of a problem can't it!' I had a bit of a laugh and said "Well yes, it's not that pleasant, but at least we don't do it with our teeth like I've heard they did in the old days!"....My 14 year old son cracked up laughing. Mum! He said PARKING...not MARKING!!!... Boy was I embarressed. Hearing loss can be so annoying!!

For those of you who don't know what 'marking' is....it's the term used for removing the testicles of male calves so they become steers.

No need to apologize Sue Ann...I don't even have my age to blame.   :hug:
Looking forward to seeing Burleson!

Oh WOW...THANKS DILU!!!! Without this post I would have missed the news that Berta and Jared were nominated too!
Fantastic news and HUGE congratulations to you both too.. It just keeps getting better and better.
:clap:  :clap:

Contratulations Judi!!! All the more sweet 'cos they had ya goin' there for a minute! You are far more understanding than I am with the phone...if I had of been waiting for a call like that one....the phone would be banned to all!
I'm just so pleased for you and I agree with all that Scott said...you truly are a leader in the industry and one who inspires others above all else.
We love you to bits!   :hug:

She a real honey Jenny! I love how you have dressed her and the top knot of hair is very unique.
Your photos are always stunning too...what do you use for the backgroudn? It's always so crisp and clear.
I hope you'll get a chance to take a pic of your stand at the show before it begins....I love how you had the last one set out...so pretty!

Shelli and Sue Ann...words can't say just how thrilled I am for you both! Shelli....what a lovely consolation to missing out on a GT nomination.....if you had've missed out this time too there would be no justice in the world (no pun intended  ).

Good things come to those who wait (and are enormously deserving to boot!!) and I'm totally bowled over for you both.
In Hog Heaven was the ceeeyootest piggy I have ever laid eyes upon, with an imaginative concept and name all rolled into one neat package. And Sue Ann, your Dumplin' just oozes personality and skill...great choice on the judges behalf!

Sue Ann now you are a GT AND a TOBY nominee and a very humble one at that. Rap over the knuckes for both of you for not jumping on TT immediately and tooting those horns! Cripes...if you can't do a public song and dance over such honours..when can ya??? :dance:

Judi....we still have high hopes for you yet....the judges are clearly not blind ...but if per chance you don't get nominated....you still have your enormous honour of four GT nominees (and probably a winner or two as well  ) and like Shelli said...it's almost unheard of. If/when you get that call...one way or the other, please jump on and share.....we'll be here waiting with hugs for you either way. 'kay?   :hug:

Mindy,
I have so appreciated the wonderful pics and descriptions you have taken the time to present to us over the past week. It takes a long time to resize pics and upload them individually and I'm sure time is precious to you. But rest assured it has all been well received. :clap:
What gets me is...these wonderful designers that work for Hansa and the likes....they are so clever and yet no-one would know their names. Guess they do it 'cos they love it...

What wonderful news girls...how did you keep that under wraps! Don't ya know we LOVE horn blowing here??? Can't wait to read the article..hope someone can scan it!
Yay...Congratulations :clap: !!!!

Vicki,
I'm so sorry you're hurting, but glad you felt you could share with us. Grandma's are such precious people and that's why it hurts so much when they leave us. I know the feeling you have today, kinda disbeleif and unsettled all together.
Sending big hugs to you. :hug:

Jodi,
Welcome to TT.  :hug: Could we see your nominated piece too? Pretty please?? :pray:
A huge congrats to you too!

DAPHNE...GET OFF THIS PAGE AND BACK ONTO THE DIET PAGE GIRLIE!!!!! Huh? Why am I here? Well to make sure there aren't any dieting girls here of course~~

Thanks for such a great insight into how collectors connect with artists Chrissie. I really appreciate your thoughts on the matter. :hug:

Well, I suppose because I'm like Shantell, and a perfectionist! But having said that, if Shantell can allow herself to use eyes that don't match perfectly, then I guess I can TRY.

I just try so hard to get them looking the same and I always end up with thicker black lines showing through on one than the other.....and oh, I dunno...I guess I just thought they should match!

But hey....if you are telling me that yours don't necessarily match, I guess I'll loosen up.

Hmmm...okay, looks like I'll have to eat humble pie and acknowledge that there is another side to this coin to the one I see.
I guess technically you could say I am an Award Winning Artist, but I don't feel worthy to call myself that, especially when I know how many truely talented 'greats' there are out there. And Deb, I see your point...where is that line??
Daphne, I can see your point too, and if it sells bears and isn't leading people to believe something that isn't true, then I guess there's no harm done. But I'll have to get used to the idea before adopting that line in my own adverts.
I guess too, that I think along the lines that Glenys is pointing out...that just because one places 'Award Winning Artist' in ones adverts, doesn't necessarily mean they are wonderful artists and that their workmanship is worthy of such a title. But I guess also like she voiced, we need to give collectors the credit they are owed in judging the quality of a bear themselves.

In the Australian Bear world, there can be any number of First ribbons and seconds in the one section of the comp. So while I may have received a blue....seven other people in the same section may have received a blue as well. Blue simply means you have a score of more than 95 out of 100. Out of all those who get blue...the best is chosen to receive a medallion or rosette as the best in that category, an then again for the best in that whole section. I believe perhaps these awards have more merit towards allowing one to feel confident of calling oneself an 'Award winning Artist'. But once again,that's just my opinion and I certainly don't begrudge anyone who may feel different.
I actually came back to this thread thinking to amend my original post, as after thinking about it for a while, I decided there are possibly a few TT'ers who use these words in their ads, and I really didn't want/intend to offend anyone or raise tempers. But in the meantime you have all jumped in and replied..thanks! I do hope you see this as just a discussion and not me trying to cut anyone down. As I said, I can see the full flip side to the coin now, and I stand corrected, but not totally convinced. Gimme time to chew on it! 

I hope I don't get shot down for having an opinion about this....but if someone can convince me otherwise, I'll humbly stand corrected.  Reading Nettie's comment in another thread, bought up a 'pet hate' of mine too and I thought it would make an interesting discussion. BTW Nettie...your comment about mentioning the swimming awards etc had me in fits!

I feel idignant when I see some people claim to be an 'Award Winning Artist'. In my book, these words are very powerful and they should be reserved for those truely deserving of them. I suppose technically, anyone who has won an award could be called an "Award Winning Artist" but to me, it means far more than the odd blue ribbon.
To me, an award winning artist is someone who regularly wins 'Bear of Show' or has won or at least been nominated for a GT or TOBY or similar. I myself have a number of First place ribbons and awards from State and Country shows...but not for a minute would I claim myself to be an 'Award winning Artist'.
It seems to me that every unknown Tom, Dick and Harry on ebay claims to be an 'Award Winning Artists" and it really makes those words meaningless for those who are truely deserving.

However, I see nothing wrong with stating in an ad that a particular bear is an 'Award Winning Bear'....provided it at least got a Blue ribbon! I have seen people advertise an 'Award winning bear...and it only got a second.
What does everyone else think?
Someone told me once that unless someone selling bears on ebay had "Award winning Artist" written in their ad, Americans are not interested, so I wondered if people add that in..... provided they have won the smallest award?
To me...the Award Winning Artists are generally the ones whose names everyone recognises in the bear industry.
Chrissie...as a collector, what's your take on this??

Thanks for posting the pics Sonya...what wonderful creativity!!! 68 pieces??? That's insane! No wonder you fit in so well here at TT!!

I gave up on the painted eyes....can't get two to match for the life of me.

Thanks for all the ideas folks! I pretty much do the same as Winney does...but still find that there is just enough bulginess to stop the disk moving freely like an arm or a leg would. I think it's really just the 1/4 inch seam allowance as I always stuff the head really firmly and close to the neck edge before adding the disc and closing.

Judi and Paula...I added a dart at the neck edge on the last one...but then my neck hole was too small for the disc ( ) so I had to make another head...don't we all love doing that!!!    I guess you have to make the whole head wider when adding darts huh. My bodies always have darts at the shoulders so I have no body bulk at all.

I think I will try #1 like Matilda does and then ladder stitch closed like the majority of you seem to do. Bronwen, thanks for the pics...it is true that a pic is worth a thousand words. I use epoxied bolts which works with the same principle as grub screws...only easier IMHO....but that's another thread from the past.  

So no-one uses Jennifer's circle of fabric method??

I'm grateful for all your responses....have to close a head this morning so will let you know how I went.

I was wondering if some of you would share how you tie off your bear heads to best reduce the bulk at the joint?

I have always been a 'gatherer' and seeing as though my disks are usually a fairly snug fit, I rarely have a huge amount of gathers anyway so generally don't have much bulk. But despite this..on occasion I still have enough bulk that when the head is attached, it catches a little bit when I turn the head from side to side, which is incredibly annoying. It also sometimes prevents me from tightening the disks as close together as I would like to.
Some things I have thought to do as an alternative method are to:
1. Turn under a seam allowance around the neck edge and then gather on the fold of the seam allowance so that the bulk is inside the head.
2. Make a circle of mohair and stitch into the opening much like one would when making a double neck joint...therefore elmininating all bulk. I know Jennifer Laing does all her bear heads this way....but it is more fiddly and time consuming.

So what does everyone else do??I know some people's designs actually require the top of the body to be gathered in too, and would imagine that you'd get double the bulk at the neck doing it this way.

'kay Sonya...don't keep us in suspense! Hit us with 'em!!!  

Shelli,
I'm sure at first this must have had that same old feeling of 'not getting picked' that one sometimes experiences when teams are being chosen at Primary School, and your one of the last waiting. It's gotta hurt.   

But you my friend, are taking it like a true champion...and that is what you are in our eyes.  Smilin' on the outside' cryin' on the inside, but forever praising and being thrilled for your much loved friends who were successful nominees. You are a true winner, there's no doubt about that! :hug:
There's always next year...and there's still the TOBY's to come.   :hug:  Unfortunately life is full of disappointments, some worse than others, and I can imagine how deep yours is at the moment...whether you claim you are over it already or not!   :hug:
I'm confused now too...were your ballerina and piggy entries in this comp or are they TOBY entries..or both? I cannot see HOW it's possible that your piggy could have missed out...he's so darned CUTE!!!!

Congratulations once again to Sue Ann, Louise $ Garnet, and Judi. We are all enormously proud of you....and in this case it's not going to be 'let the best man or woman win' 'cos your all just the best!!!!

Jared, please pass on congrats to your mum too...most deserving! And thanks Kelly for picking that up....I missed it at first!

Kelly, I remember your beautiful winged horse too. Despite the fact that you were rushed etc, etc, you've gotta be disappointed too...so I'm sending you big hugs. :hug:  :hug:  :hug:
Brenda, your racoon was a real cutie...so sorry he missed out too. And Nance's adorable little mousie and Jenny's Bunny Wabbit....you're all so clever and you should be proud of yourselves even entering. Oooohhh I wish everyone could win! You're all winners here on TT!!!

Is there anyone else out there who entered but didn't share???? C'mon...let us commiserate with ya!!!!

Shelli.
This is probably obvious and I'm sure you would have done this already....but did you put a brand new leather needle in and try that?? I have found that nine times out of ten, if a machine is skipping stitches it's due to a blunt or bent needle. I would still use a leather one...just a new one for every bear. The other thing, which you have already dicovered is that you do need to use a much larger stich length when sewing leather as the feed dogs stick more to the leather and so don't feed it through as fast.
Thanks for the silicone idea Estelle...sound neater than using tissue paper which I normally use.
Best of Luck.

Jenny...they are the CUTEST wedding bears I have ever seen! You have captured such a load of personality in them both!
Well done you!! :clap:  :dance:

CONGRATULATIONS LOUISE AND GARNET!!!!

What wonderful news for you both!  :clap: I am thrilled for you...what an honour! I do hope that your nomination will bring a rise in sales and price for your wonderful creations guys...it is much deserved. What greater honour could there be in the teddy bear world than being nominated for such a sought after award. Maybe you and Garnet should have 'discussions' over your patterns more regularly Louise....it seems to have been a winning ingredient for you this time!

I'm just thrilled to bits for you both!!!!   :clap:  :clap:    :hug:

Sue Ann,
Your little Beezley is CUTE, CUTE, CUTE beyond words and I'm thrilled for you that you have been recognised with a Golden Teddy Nomination!  :hug:  :hug:  :hug: 
HUGE congrats to you....you should be so proud of yourself...we are!!! It's so wonderful to see so many of our 'mentors' getting International recognition....you really inspire those of us who are just beginning our journey.
I'm just so thrilled for you....couldn't have happened to a nicer person!