Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

:hug: I've done the needle shifting for my seam allowances before with my real fur bears with great success...soooo I decided to try it with this little tyke.....HA, not! He said.  So I ripped the stuffing out of his head ( :twisted: ) and redid it, moving the seam around to get the fur to lay the way I wanted....presto!  No bald spot    Yeah!!!!  :hug:

I eagerly put on his ears....and just love the shape of his head    Went to put the eyes in, and discovered I don't have any eyes small enough     Soooo, he's set aside, eyeballs are on order..and he'll have to wait.   I just hate when that happens, but I want his expression to be right...  and goo goo big girlie eyes were not it!

:dance:  :dance:  :clap:  :clap: Judi you definitely deserve such a lovely article  :clap:  :clap:  :dance:  :dance:

Jane, you are such a sweetie for scanning this so we all can see!  :hug:

Been there, got the shirt ~ and its why I got retired from dog grooming at age 29  .  Only mine's backwards to tunnel carpal...I think it was called tunnel gravois (involves the pinkie and ring finger) because I don't seem to use scissors like normal people 

Longer story short...went through the braces, yadda yadda yadda, refused point blank to do the surgery because the surgeons in my area had a reputation for making people lose 80% of their hand motion!  And instead went to a dear ole chiropractor.  He never even bothered to look at my wrist....said it was all from an impinged shoulder, and went to work.  Every week for about two months, I went in and Doc Marsh snicked my back in place.  At first the pain relief wasn't there....and I was quickly running out of pain med options having lived on Excedrins for years.  But within two weeks I was able to begin weaning myself from the excedrins.  Within two months I totally had my hand back.  And now years later I can still use my right hand without having the surgery.
 
Since I practice shiatsu (a form of acupressure) I also look for adhesions on the tendons at the wrist, elbow and between the shoulder blade and spine.  If you have access to a shiatsu massuer...take advantage of it!  I've also gone to a fellow who uses mostly cross fibre to break up the adhesions.  It hurts like the dickens, but it works.  I don't think I've moved that fluid, even when I was a child....and I felt like I floated, or glided for days afterwards.  Naughty me, I haven't kept up with the stretches he advised, so I need to go back....but he's clear across the state, down in West Plains, MO. 

Long n short: Ice, arnica (miracle stuffs!), emu oil also works great for pain control, and either look into surgery options, or look into chiropractic/physical therapy.  I always use my spring loaded Fiskars for cutting, and I swear if I'd had them for dog grooming, I probably would have lasted longer.  You can also do exercises to stengthen your hand going the other way (put all your fingers and thumb into a 'point', then slip a big broccoli rubber band over them.  Now try to open and close the thumb and fingers, being sure to spread them as you open.  This will help to strengthen the unused muscles on the opposite side of your hand, helping to pull the hand more open, and freeing it up).   

:hug: I do hope you get relief soon, because it just plain hurts!  :hug:

Just because he doesn't remember the date, doesn't mean he doesn't love you, nor respects your marriage.  Guys just DO this!  :doh:  I know, I get fed up with it too  :hug:

:bday: But Happy 44th anniversary!!!  :bday:  And I agree....make him take you out to a nice dinner, and then buy you something ~ and you tell him exactly what it is you want!  Sometimes guys just need a direction  :dance:

:hug: Vicky your comment on your socks made me giggle too    This little chappie is pretty tiny, though (roughly 9 or 10 inches) so I don't think a sock will work for him.     Unless I get disgusted and stuff the whole bear in!   

I've been working on his wee little head today, and have reached a point where I'm going to wet a side of his head and reposition the fur.  I like character as much as the next person, but the left side of his head looks like a two year old that's woken up from a bad nap!  So a little more redirection I think before attaching his second ear.  It shall be very interesting to see the little person that emerges. 

Thank you one and all for your kind tips! :hug: 

:doh: Fredbear...ironically I did lay my clear template on the mohair, just so I could see that fur was going the way I wanted!  I think what happened was that when I went to cut it out, the underlying fur, has a section, right next to the seam where I can see the 'tufty' bits did come through the backing.  In otherwords, I can see apricot coloured dots (the fur woven in I assume) but they don't fluff through from the backing.  ....okay, I don't think that made sense      I think I much prefer your idea of checking it first, then ripping it apart if I don't like the seam after I've made it.

Hayley... I did very carefully trim the seam allowance, as I wanted this to have every chance of being a nice and neat center seam.  Actually, I'm very proud of the seam, its nice and tight, and runs evenly....its just that one side of the seam is fluffy and the other side is not as fluffy. 

Vicky...I'm so very proud of my first attempt, and I think its all down to your wonderful instructions!  :hug:   Now its just a matter of finishing him, and seeing what comes to life.  I agree, I've had some *oh my!*    occasions with my real fur bears, that turned into a bonus with some camoflaging...or enhancing in some cases.   

:hug: I'd say this is going to be one well travelled little bear! 

My only question, being 6 inches tall, will he be hard to photograph as he travels to these interesting sites?  Will he get lost in the pictures?  (imagining him standing on tiptoes waving his litttle paws  )

:hug: Shantell I'm the same way, and have been over every piece of art I create, be it drawing, rock painting, sculpting teds....whatever!  There are very few pieces of my art that I can tolerate having about, because I always sit there and go..."the nose is wrong, or .....fill in whatever blanks your heart desires". 

I too think it stems from perfectionism as a child...always striving to be RIGHT for mummy n duddy.  I can't blame them, I brought it on board myself, but I realize what I do, and keep any remaining art objects strictly behind glass.     In fact I shall never forget a splendid drawing I did when I was around 10 of a horse.  It was gorgeous, but I couldn't get the ears just right.  So I erased, drew, erased, drew, and was in the process of erasing when the eraser went through the paper!!!     Oh I was gutted!

I can't remember who's quote it is on here, but one of our clever girlies has a quote on creationism, and art.... is knowing when to stop  !  No matter what you think, if a bear collector has bought your bear, they will only see it as absolutely beautiful and will adore it to the ends of the Earth.  They see it through totally different eyes than you  :hug: 

Just goes to show people will buy anything!!!  ...including thin air! 

  Too true 

:hug: Thank you all for the ideas.  I can see I'll just have to play around with this bloke and see who/what comes springing forward.  At this point, I'm not sure any amount of combing/taping will keep the fur where I want it.... it looks rather unruly, like its got a mind all its own.     Which means this should be an interesting fellow once he's come to life. 

I promise pics when he's finished!

  Okay, I've just managed to make my first centerseam head... (thank you Vkallum for the tips!  )

Although I like the overall shape of the head...very appley... I've got a 'bald spot' near the center seam.  This was despite my laying the pattern out to match the direction of the fur etc, etc.  I've posted a picture (I hope) to show what it looks like. 

Is there anything I can do to correct the bald spot??  I know I can wet the fur, come and then use tape.  Should I somehow use this technique to comb the fur??  I'm at a loss.

PS...sorry I've only got the nose in for reference right now...

  Oh Julia, I am so so sorry this has happened!     Thinking of you and the families  :hug: 

Now that is interesting, I only thought Newfies came in black and Landseer (white with black markings).  I learn so much on here!!!   :hug:

It simply amazes me that they can build so high on sand.    What a view!  I'm not a surfer, but I'm sure you had a great time as that beach looks simply fantastic!!!!   

How can you not like Cadbury??    Ha! Dilu, tell him if he didn't like it, he shouldn't have snarfed the lot 

Rita I know exactly what you mean.  The first week, I was oh so good about my eating, and I was exercising atop that...hopped on the scales and I hadn't lost anything!  Well, it did say 1% body fat...but talk about gutted.  At least you've lost the pound. 

Keep your chin up!   :hug: Its not a footrace, and I'm sure we'll all be much healthier if we just keep it up  :hug:

She's ADORABLE!!     I just love how you've given her the one floppy ear....very realistic!  I'll bet she's ooooh so cuddly too.

:dance: Someone will be truly lucky to get Poe....what a cutie, and a splendid idea 

Oooh, tough choices...I really like the top two, but I think my favorite is the top black and white pic.  I'm no help am I  :doh:

:pray: I'll certainly keep him in my thoughts for you  :pray:   Poor chap, hope he gets to come home soon, I'm sure his wife misses him.

I too was going to recommend looking at Edinburgh Imports.  I've seen some lovely synthetic on their site.

Something you might try if you don't want to go with the more spendy synthetics, but can't stand the super stretchiness...is to line your synthetics with muslin.  Its a very inexpensive fabric, and will keep the sythetics from stretching so much.

Well I've tried Schulte now, and Hemboldt...and I've got a serious respect for all you gals who sew with mohair!  Its so different from real fur...and I have to admit, I'm a bit of a wimp with it    I do have to wonder if my hands are allergic to it, much like the faux/synthetic furs     It would be a pity, as there's so much more needlesculpting that the fabric can take.... Ah well, perhaps facial inserts into real fur.... hmmmmmm...

I did manage to get the prepack of Hemboldt from Intercal...and have learned about Fray check       but I have yet to finish a full bear...I'm still in the process of sewing sewing sewing. 

I do want to thank each of you for taking the time to reply...  :hug: Its certainly been a learning experience! 

Leave?  Are we supposed to leave the computer???    

Just kidding, but I'm usually on here for my morning login..after exercise of course, because I'm working on being a healthier me 

First thing, I check through the General Discussions, and Tips n Techniques.  If I manage to wrangle some time after that, I'll cruise through the showcase and for Sale sections...but those are hard    I just LOVE the creations, and it makes a dent in the pennies pile for things like fur...sigh.   

Sometimes I check who's on, but mostly I'm busy just catching up with posts.  I think its such fun that we have TTers around the world, so there's almost always someone on here to chat with  :hug:

So yup, I'm addicted but in the nicest way possible!  :hug:

:clap:  This little girl looks like she's more than ready to get up and dance her solo  :clap:  What a beautiful little ballerina 

:clap:  :clap: Gosh she's beautiful....really takes the breathe away