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For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
He's so cute!
I'm hoping to be able to get him on his auction on ebay, he would be my very first artist bear#
Wish me luck
Hugs, Ariane
PS: I was wondering..do you make commissions, too?
That's so great for you, Karon, I'm glad you have found a swap partner who has the right mohair color for you
Wanted to bring this great topic up again as I love reading your stories, so I'll tell you mine as well.
I have never been very attracted to bears in my childhood. In fact, I had some bear toys, but they were just part of the huge lot of other stuffed animals I had - my most loved one was and is a monkey btw. I have been a very creative person from my early childhood on, drawing, working with paper, stuff like that, and was encouraged by my lovely mother who bought me supplies and crafty books - but sewing has not been anything I did in my childhood although my mother made dolls when she was younger. It was in elementary school that I made my first stuffed toy, a creature from the German children's book "Das kleine ich bin ich" where instucrtions were provided to make the main character, the "Ich bin Ich". Well, it came out rather crappy, but it didn't even feature sewing - and I was 7 or something like that.....
As others, I came to bear making across the path of doll making. I think it was three years ago when one of our local bookstores closed and sold their books for lower prices - I, as a real book-lover, had to go and see what they had. It was there that I discovered a book about doll making, featuring around 20-30 doll projects from beginner's to advanced level. The dolls were an inspiration for me and I had to buy it.
When my mother had to go to hospital for an operation, I decided to start by making her a little guardian angel - found this pattern on the internet, it was pretty simple, the perfect start for somebody who had never sewn before. Looking back at it now, it seems very basic to me, I can see all the imperfections - but nevertheless it was my very first sewn doll. And my mother still loves it and doesn't see the faults I made (I must admit: I'm a perfectionist...)
Other dolls followed, inspired by japanese anime characters, but also ones that were a bit more realistic.....
As I said before, I never was a very beary person. One day, looking through the crafts section at my local library, I found a little book about bear making - nothing special, in fact, the bears look rather common to me, and mine are so much better today - and I thought "Hey, I should be able to make a bear, shouldn't I?"
By this time, I had reproduced the "Ich bin Ich" with a pinkish fabric with blue flowers that my mother had bought for me - so hard to sew with, fraying all the time and you can't pull the thread as it makes holes in the fabric - and had plenty of this fabric left that I didn't want to use for anything in particular.
It was then that my very first bear was born, with embroidered eyes (I didn't know where to buy eyes for him) and button jointed although he is about 25cm high. I embroidered his name (César) on the pink bow I had made for him, and also embroidered my name and the date of his birth on his feet - I would look them up if he were not packed into a carton as we're moving atm. I also accentuated the flowers on the fabric by embroidering their outlines with a matching thread.
He is absolutely a keeper. I doubt that anybody would want to buy him, but even if I don't like the color pink normally - I love him so much!
Since then, I have never regretted starting bears and want to continue this hobby in the future
Hugs, Ariane
Hello Jen,
I don't know the bear you are talking about (I'm probably too young), but I think it would surely help the others to see if they know him if you could find a picture of him..
Hugs and good luck for finding him, Ariane
eehm..
I really don't want to be importunate, but... is there any chance that somebody of you has a few mohair scraps left over for me, too? :redface: 
Hugs, Ariane
Karon,
I think you are referring to "Gantaeno" (business name Je Suis Lugly!).
Here's her profile:
http://www.teddy-talk.com/profile.php?id=1029
Hugs, Ariane
So, Karon, I'll have to pass on this swap although I would have loved to do it...
I mean, I know that it would cheer me up a bit to get a bear made especially for me, but I don't feel like having the strength to make one myself - I think I would mess it up completely and I don't want to make my swap partner sad.....
Ariane
Oh, super cute!
How much do you sell him for? (I'm sure I can't afford him, but I can dream, can't I?)
Ariane
Oh my gosh, what a little sweetheart *_*
I just got my order from Sassy Bears and Fabrics with some of the leather cording (and some fabrics of course) and am eager to try it out with another wee one, but at the moment I don't have the time, the room and the mind to create something new - I think I would mess it up completely although there are about 10 or more ideas waiting to be done....
I wanted to try out an open-mouthed bear as they look so sweet, and have already read about the different possibilities in the library, but I was wondering if anybody could tell me which method would work best for a miniature?
Hugs, Ariane
Gosh, every time I stumble upon TT, I'm so overwhelmed by the fact that all of you are so generous to share your knowledge and to part with the expensive mohair.
I mean, I have experienced this myself, I have wanted to buy some mohair for my bears for months now but having given that I'm just a student, I can obviousely not afford it - and then I met Karon who donated me some mohair she had no use for. I was like "wow" and couldn't believe it, she didn't even want me to pay the shipping costs or something like this - and those are pieces big enough to make several (smaller) bears out of it.
It is just so good to see that there are still people out there who are willing to help others! This character trait is remarkable nowadays
Big Hugs, Ariane
Me, maybe
Depends on what will haven with my gran....
Karon,
your are so lucky to be able to go on this cloth doll making course, you'll surely love what you create, it's so much fun to make a doll!
Hugs, Ariane
Yeah, plenty of time to come up with an idea first :crackup:
I keep on getting weird ideas for new bears - but nothing for this challenge. I hope to get some calm after this month so that I'll be able to concentrate on this one. Gosh, I'll have to limit myself, I wish I could make all seasons... Or maybe I can...let's see what I come up with 
Oh..yeah, the 4 seasons bear - I wanted to participate in this challenge, too.. Gosh, I have too much plans! lol
Pat,
the idea of making a bear out of a pair of jeans is interesting... I hadn't thought of this, although I have some old jeans here, I think the natural texture of a jeans would fit a teddy bear very well... Would you mind if I tried it out?
Very cute *_*
I haven't even started yet, mainly because of the problems my gran is having - and also because we're moving at the moment. Plus, I have about 5 unfinished ones that are awaiting their eyes and stuff like that..so I probably should finish them first, shouldn't I?
Personally, I think it is very appealing to see a bear made out of a very different Fabric. For example, my very first bear was made out of a pink fabric with little blue flowers on it - just because I wanted to try out if I could make a bear at that time but didn't want to buy other materials for it. I haven't done something like this again yet, because most of my fabrics are of one color without a motive on them, but I will probably try it again soon if I find some cute fabric...^^
Pat,
I'm just wondering - how big are those eyes? Maybe they'd suit the projects I have in mind....
Hugs, Ariane
