Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

:bday:  :bday: Lang may your Lum Reek Rita!!!   :hug:  Have a great New Year!!!   :bday:  :bday:

Judi, I usually get the xylitol at our Natural foods store.  Some grocers carry it in their natural/bulk food sections too.  The extra bonus with xylitol is that it helps prevent tooth decay!  They actually did studies and it showed the xylitol had an effect on the bacteria in your mouth that causes the cavities. 

For the light agave nectar... there's a link on the bottle...not sure if this will work  www.rawfood.com  Fingers crossed that makes a link!

Brenda, I've used the stevia in the past, and its wonderful as well for not impacting blood sugar....but get this ~ I found it to be TOO sweet!        Can't count the cups of coffee and tea I dumped down the sink because I'd added too many drops of stevia...and that's literally all it takes drops

I've been reading this thread with great interest, as I'd wanted LASIK done years ago.  I was a bit put off by friends saying it created nightblindness.  I do have to say, this was back in the early 90s in Oregon, so by now the proceedure MUST be improved. 

I'd say GO FOR IT!!!  It sounds like it really will work wonders for you  :hug:

When I first started making my fur bears, I mentally noted how many bears I could make from a certain coat, and how much stuffing, eyes etc would cost.  Usually I can get at least three large bears from a coat, and the first one sold would cover my "expenses".  I sold my fur bears for $150.00 each for a long time, but the lynx needed to be sold at $250.00 to cover the costs of the fur.

As my bear making has continued, and especially as coat prices have soared (thanks to several movies touting them!)  I've had to adjust my prices ...and that was after much goading by friends and family.  I don't want to undersell myself, but I don't want to get so pricey that I can't sell my bears either ~ every bearmaker's dilema. 

As for ebay, sooo many new artists are out there selling WAY too cheaply.  They'll eventually run themselves out of business because you can't buy mohair, or real fur, or any other quality supplies, and continue to sell the bears for ridiculously low prices.  If you want to 'give' away your bears, you should really do it to a charity of choice, not just flung out on ebay. 

I think ebay is still a good venue, but I also think a reserve is wise.  I've noticed many people won't bother to look if the starting price is too high, but if you start low with the reserve in place, you can get quite a few lookers.  With a link to your website, it is possible to generate more traffic to your page as well.  Perhaps they liked the little bear you're selling on ebay, but your webpage shows a larger bear that they fall in love with and have to have! 

Dilu, I'm the same way over some of my earliest bears!  I feel the urge to grab and redo, but their owners absolutely cherish them, just as they are 

:clap:  Lovely bears!!!  :clap:

I have to say, I adore that bear on the bottom...the sort of blue with pale blue ...white? The gal wearing the shawl     All of your bears are adorable though!

Ummm....rather low tech, but Nancy Tillberg recommends using plastic dinner mats to cut out your templates.  I should think they would come in a wide range of colours.  Would that help? 

I've just found the clear plastic myself, and am in love    as its easy for me to lay them on the backsides of my coats, and see if the pelts are good underneath.  Cannot tell you how frustrating it is to cut out that "perfect" head gusset, only to find it won't work because of a weak spot.

I know its a little trickier to find than sugar, but xylitol and light agave nectar are both WONDERFUL sweeteners that don't impact your blood sugars like regular sugar can. 

Hubby found the agave nectar, and I have to say, I held it at arm's length and thought "no way", but  I was wrong!  Its amazing, and tastes just like honey!  I love it for coffee and teas.

:pray: Thank you Shelli!!!!!  :clap:  :clap:   I honestly didn't mean for this to become some sort of warring tribal thing.... I just wanted to know what people's favorite mohairs were, and why since I'm totally new to mohair.

I've learned SO MUCH from this thread, though.  Especially from seeing the different curly/matted/dense/sparse bears made by so many here.  And the extra links that Dilu's given me on care and feeding  , and even reminding me of the article in the teddy magazine...they've all added up to my education. 

At the end of the day, I don't want to change anyone's preferences ...I just wanted to know what people favored   :hug:

Oooh, you've got ringers on yours Daphne!!!    I've only seen pictures of them.... I also love the ones that have the porcelain pictures on them. 

I can't seem to get pics of my two on here...    ah well....

:hug: Thanks for your kind replies!!   :hug: This is my first time really showcasing any of my work....I'm really kind of bashful, though I don't know why ... 

Oh, the picture doesn't show it very well, but "Giggle" has a sweet single purple flower that's draped over his arm.  It looks like he's presenting the flower.  Alison said when she was stressing, he would drop the flower right in front of her ... making her take a breather.  He really has been a lifesaver, as the day he arrived, her horse went into the hospital with a stomach impaction.      Its been pins n needles for days, but Merlin is finally clearing up and looks like he may be released before long.  Giggle's been a real help for Alison, someone soft n fuzzy to cling to for the past week....  Aren't bears wonderful?

That's "Cupful of Courage" on top...she's sheared beaver (dark) and blonde beaver .... yes, I've heard all the jokes   

The second bear is "Splash of Colour" made of bone and blue mist muskrat furs.

:clap: What gorgeous bears!!!!   :clap:  I can't say which are my favorites....

Here's a couple of my different coloured bears...

YES!!  I have two of the straps hanging in my bear room, a longer one to hang off the collar and a shorter one that would hang off the brow band.  I love mine dearly, and I'm thoroughly amazed at just how many designs there are ~ thousands of them!! 

You shouldn't have to worry about bad luck with them around! 

This little fellow has actually gone to live with a friend in Edinburgh.  He's all of 9 inches tall, fully jointed, and made from blue mist muskrat.  "Giggle" has all ready stolen Alison's heart, and she's never without him 

Hmmm.....if its supposed to be like human hair, I wonder if you could use one of those hair straighteners??   

Right...I'm off to go check out some doll making sites to see if there's anything I can use...  Thanks for the tips 

  When I read the title, I though that was the name of a new teddy bear! 

Mmmmm....good thing for my diet I CAN'T get to it, it looks YUMMY!!!!  ...drool, drool

:clap:  Ooooohhhh, Aaaaahhhhh, Ohhhhhhh!!!!   :clap:   They're LOVELY!!!    :hug: Thank you for sharing the fireworks Fran!!  :hug:

:clap:  :clap: Yeahhhhh!!!! for the offer on your house...I'll keep holding my breath for you too til the deal is done. 

When we moved here about a year ago, we got landed with DSL via Sprint.  Believe me, I moaned and whined, and tried everything under the sun NOT to have Sprint.  However, we had no choice as the cabling didn't run across the railroad track dividing the town ~ go figure!  I have to say I've been impressed with the DSL.  Its actually been more reliable than the cable and just as fast. 

I do have friends that live in seriously rural Missouri, and they have friends that swear by the satellite option.  For us, it was a bit spendy, so we thought it over, and in the end decided it would suit our needs.

  Ummm....well I'm obsessed with my scales, but the opposite of Judi.  They're wonderful little scales, in fact the best I've found so far because they measure your weight, and then give you a percentage of your body fat.  Its brilliant for losing weight because you'll know if your diet and exercise routines are truly working.  So many times the exercise (especially weight lifting) can make you gain weight...which is so depressing initially, but its from the dense muscling. 

:redface:   Anyhoo.....I'm afraid of climbing onto my scales to find out just how bad it is. :redface:   I know I'm overweight...I just want to forget the numbers until I can feel my clothes get looser, and then I'll be brave enough to hop on 

:clap:  :hug: Thank you everyone for showing me your bears!!!  I love getting to see what these different mohairs look like on real bears ....     I'm not sure I could leave the matted stuffs alone though!    ...too many years as a dog groomer. 

Shantell...why did you have to tell me that???!!!!  Aachhh!  My credit card is all maxed out from shopping over the holidays     So there's no way I can order it til next week at the earliest.      Ah well, that will give me even more time to play with the samples and decide which colours I want to play with.  Although I do love the traditional teddy colours, I'm eager to play with the pastels and 'non traditional' peaches, greens, and violet hues.  Afterall, very few coats come in those colours!   

  Yep here I am asking another annoying question.... But I was looking at possibly working with mohair for different animals, and I need especially long hair for some of them, like long haired dog breeds, or the mane and tail on horses/ponies. 

Are there mohairs made that have a much longer pile?  Say something like 3 - 4 inches, or longer??  I realize I'll have to pay an arm and a leg for something so specialized, but I'd really like to know if any even exists.   :pray:  please oh please let there be some somewhere!!!!  :pray:

Awwwwhhhhh.....what a picture!!!     You BOTH look wonderful, and very very happy 

   I had to laugh, because the little bear looks so much like Judi!!!  (and I mean that in a REALLY sweet way!) 

What's this one's name, Julia?  You lucky, lucky girl!

  Thanks Dilu!!!  I don't know what I would do without you guys to give such good advice!   :hug:   

The mohair sample suggestion has all ready paid for itself.  Last night I dumped each sample bag on the bed, and let my hands do the work.  I'd find samples that my hands just LOVED    and then looked each one up to see how much they cost.  Alpacas were a top of the list, but I laughed as I pulled card after card of 370 s/c mohair.  I just loved the texture, and the different colours were a treat!  At least its a reasonable price, too...    once I decide which colour to chose! 

I've all ready got ideas for making the fur softer too, I'll just have to try it out on a sample.  Oh yes, and why is some of the mohair matted??  I must confess, I keep picking at it with my fingers, and I'm itching to drag out my grooming brush and give it a good 'going over', but then I think ... No, that's the way its made, its supposed to look like that.  I'll have to snoop on Intercal, and see what the teddys look like when they're made from this type fur.

:hug: Thank you one and all for your valuable input!!!! :hug:

:doh:  I didn't mean to start any wars or anything, and I don't want anyone squished for saying their likes or dislikes....I just want people to say "I've had experience with X" or "this one performs better if you wash and set" or "be sure to watch for fraying/shedding with Z".  I don't mind having to look for things and compensating...its just nice to have a heads up. 

Yes, Daphne...I'm SURE I've got it much easier with my mohair ventures since I've got all you lovely ladies with experience to tell me what to look for!  :hug:

It must've been Shelli's idea that I saw of the samples hanging from the ring then, because it looked like each sample had a plastic 'hole' and it was threaded onto what looked like a shower curtain ring.  I must say it was very handy looking to have each and every sample right there at your fingertips.

I'm just now dabbling with mohair after working with real fur, and my most important criteria is TOUCH.  I've always been a real fur fanatic, so mohair has a lot to measure up to.  I will say, I've all ready stroked the alpaca samples from Intercal...and been mightily impressed!!     I think this is one fabric I will come to treasure. 

I do want to order samples from Edinburgh as well, but I've had a booger of a time on their website.  I keep trying to type in samples, mohair samples in their search engine, but I come up with mini kits and felt pieces???  I did look at the mohair sections, but its just too overwhelming.  Perhaps another day .... 

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and especially your pictures!!!     :hug:

Lovely pics of the gal and her doggie...they both look like they're old hands at this sorta thing 

Ooooh, you're up in the Pennines??  I've a friend that lives up near Appleby, and its beautiful up there.  Keep a sharp eye out, and you're bound to spot the gorgeous Fell ponies running round.