Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

The only time I've sewn ears into the head pieces was when I was specifically sewing ponies for my little nieces.  I wanted the ears to be extra extra sturdy because one of the girls was only 18 months at the time.  I could adjust a little while I was sewing the ear into the seam, but I did have to take care with the stuffing that the ears didn't become lopsided (of course this was with synthetic material)

All in all I much prefer to sew the ears on after the head is finished.  I think with mohair or real fur, you can get some serious character going, and part of changing the character comes from where the ears are situated "just right" for that particular expression.

It was a little hard to get him photod as the camera kept using too strong a flash.  I adore the center seam technique and the character you can create with it!!!!  The mohair certainly had a strong mind of its own as to where it wanted to go, despite wetting, taping, combing, but I don't care.  I wanted a more traditional look, but it still has the same contemporary style that I usually have with my bears.

Pics as promised of the little guy!

:hug: Sue Ann and Jare thank you  :hug:   Not only did I need the support, you both have made me laugh 

:clap:  :clap: I'm really impressed reading about everyone's progress  :clap:  :clap:   I think I chose an easy one by just wanting to eat healthier...you gals tackling quitting smoking and giving up chocolate have my utmost respect  :pray:   

A week ago I braved my scales and was elated to have lost a whole 3 lbs.  I couldn't wait to share the news, so I blurted it to hubby.  His response?  "Is that all?"     So I vowed to let him come to his own conclusions and not bother telling him about any progress.  I've been plinking along steadily, and this morningheld my breath to hop on the scales this morning (telling myself the whole while not to get bummed.  I was happy to see I've lost another 2lbs (so five total) and even better, I've dropped another 2% bodyfat.   :dance:   I know its incredibly slow progress.....but I'm getting there!    I just feel like the tortoise sometimes!

It is soooo intriguing to hear a bear artist that's actually been there, and so interesting to hear your thoughts on the Eastern bear shows, Lynette.   :hug: Thank you for sharing!!!  :hug:

:doh: Judi...isn't that typical!     I've never heard that about Kangaroos! 

I do hope the temps and brush fires will calm down for our Oz friends, though    Its so worrying to have fires atop high temperatures. 

I'm a bit late, but Happy Australia Day!!!  :hug:

Awwwhhhhh    I'll be amazed if he doesn't fly into the hands of a new owner within minutes of the show opening! 

What a cutie!!!

Awwwwhhhh...Karen your little avatar bear is cute!     I'm with you, once they're stuffed, I do just about anything to prevent yanking the stuffing out and redoing it...but it was much better with this one to just redo. 

Vicky...yes, I'll be posting his finished pics!     I promise! I'm just waiting on his eyes....and it seems to be taking ages for them to come.....    Ah well, they'll get here eventually...  Thank you again for the brilliant instructions!!  I never would have made him without them  :hug:

Daphne aren't Wanda's creations amazing!!!!  I just adore her center seam teds 

Vicky (vkallum) told me after you've split your head gusset (and added the seam allowance), to sew the head gusset pieces to the side first.  Then you sew up the head, from neck to nose, and then finally from nose to the neck.  I'm so glad she told me because I would have simply resewn the head gusset without even thinking of doing it this way.

Here's a pic of my bear...in waiting still for his eyes... I've restuffed the head, so the bald patch is no more

:hug: Thank you all so much for the kind words!   :hug:  Little Sally thinks she's the cat's meow all decked up in her 'finest' 

Heather because I can no longer embroider the noses (old hand injury) I compensate by taking a plastic nose, and covering it with ultrasuede.  I know many people that are clever and can glue the ultrasuede over the nose, but I'm not one of them  :doh:   Instead, I make a circle of the ultrasuede, do a running stitch around the edge, put the nose in the middle, and then pull tight.  Then I go around and make little stitches until I've got all the wrinkles smoothed out.  The nose is a safety version, so I just put it in and push like mad to get the back to lock in place.  Voila!  Insta-nose! 

Awwwwhhhh...pity there isn't two platypuses winging their way to the Marions    He's simply amazing, though!

:twisted: Jare people would think it was some sort of weird cult!  :twisted:

Aleta...you must post pics of your bunnies and flying pig when you're done!  I keep thinking of the Velveteen Rabbit sort....sigh, now there was a delightful story... and just in time for easter too! 

Estelle...with this particular bear, I've a feeling no one's going to be right, or wrong...he's just a guesser  :hug:   I was just hoping with his pics that someone out there might pop up and say "Hey, I've got one just like him!!!  And he's a ----- bear"  It was a longshot, granted, but I was hoping 

I did send his pictures off to Ken Yenke with 'Teddy Bear Review', but I suspect the magazines are deluged with photos of old bears that people would like identified.

I would love to join too!!!      Although I work mostly in real fur...I do have some mohair, so can turn out a little mohair bear for my swap partner. 

Oooh, this is going to be FUN!!!  :dance:

  Awwwwhhh!!!!  Sounds as though you are both still very much in love     I'm glad you've had a lovely day, and  :bday:  :cake: Happy 20th Anniversary  :cake:  :bday:

Laurie, her claws are actually made of ultrasuede.  It took a bit of fiddling to get them the way I liked, but the hardest part was painting those nails!     Reminds me of why I never bothered with my own! 

:hug: Thanks Heather  :hug:

I bought this old fellow last year at a toy show.  The gal at the show thought he might be English, but I've had another dear teddy bear friend identify him as early American (which is actually what I'd thought).  Its an absolute longshot, but I was wondering if any of you might be able to help me ID him further? 

To me, some of his most distinct features are the fact I can't find any claws, nor signs he's ever had them.  The wool felt pads I believe are original.  A little rugged, but still in fairly good shape.  He's got the remains of a cord on his left side, between arm and leg (I've placed a purple post it over the cord so you can see), and there are red remnants under the mouth embroidery, possibly leftovers of a tongue. 

The eyes are brown with black pupils, glass, and slightly scratched.  They slide easily, and the mohair is worn behind them, so they maybe replacement eyes. 

I've actually purchased several teddy bear books in an attempt to match him.  Although some of the early stick bears come close, none seem to match.  He's got fairly distinct pointy, small feet...oh yes, and I've discovered a non functional growler when I was patting his chest. 

He's not going anywhere.  I've named him "Happy" because he simply makes me happy when I look at him.      I'm just curious as to who his manufacturer might have been....

Kapok's very distinct isn't it?  I've got a very old bear that I think is partially stuffed with kapok.  I've never used it myself, so I've no idea how it would act over time.  But my bear's very firm where I think there's kapok...although some of the stuffing has shifted over time.

Perhaps one of the other girls can tell you?  I'm curious to know, as its always fun to use something new 

Shantell, you make me laugh!!    But that's a great thing  :hug:   I figure if the bear evokes a smile, that's what its meant to do....

Surgical gloves for me, I'll be trying the glove idea out later today.  I've been using my usual thimbles, but even the fingers under those seem to dry.  We'll see if the gloves provide better support 

So many clever people on here! But sometimes what comes out in fur doesn't quite match what was in mind  I've gone through that myself....and gutted the wee beasties, salvaged what I could and chucked the rest  :twisted:

I was rather bummed.  I was hoping it wouldn't be like the synthetics, I've known I'm allergic to those for ages...and there's so many pretty textures and colours! 

Ah well...I'll just have fun with it while I can  :dance:

Well I've just finished my first painted claw design  :dance: and my first mohair bear!  Unfortunately, I won't be able to make many mohair bears     My hands are allergic, but I want to use up the mohair I've got.

This is "Little Sally" playing dress up, and showing off those painted nails.... weren't they half fun to do! 

:hug: Thank you  :hug:   I think she's turned out cute, but then I'm a prejudiced mummy   

Beautiful pic of some happy horses    Nice to see their winter woolies are keeping them warm and insulated