Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

.....ummmmm...shed??  Is this a problem with mohair? 

Do I have to fray check everything with mohair, or is it just something that I'll have to keep an eye out for?  How do I know if I have to fray check it?  See...I told you I know nothing about mohair   

BUT my package arrived from Intercal today ~ whoohooo!!!  And Johnna is sooooo nice, she's even included extra fabrics for me to play with     

One more question.. if you can tolerate it... somewhere on here, I saw someone's mohair samples hanging from a big ring attached to their desk.  I'd LOVE to do that too.  My pieces are, well pieces.  I know they sold three ring binders?? (is that right?) with the samples.  Is that some sort of ring to put into the mohair so you can place them on the big ring (like keys off a keyring?)??  I'd like to have them in some semblance of an order so I can see what's offered and to get my hands on it...

Okay, I'll quit my questions for now, and just listen...  :hug:

I'm totally new to mohair, and I've ordered Intercal's sample sets so I can have all the different types 'on hand' as it were to see what I like and don't like...and especially so I can get a grip on all these letters and numbers.   

But do any of you have favorite 'brands' of mohair?  Like a preference for Hembolt, or Schulte, or ???   

I have to say I'm a HUGE admirer of Mary Halstad's work...and Michelle Lamb, and Karen Lyons...and several others.  These ladies do such a tremendous job on their various bears, dogs and kitties.  The detail is incredible, and its as if the animal will blink, and move...in fact, I'm sure they do. 

I've noticed many of Mary's items go for high dollar prices...and I have to say, I'm thrilled with it.  Its truly gratifying for her bears and dogs to be noticed for the art they are.  Afterall, there are lots of people in the world to whom $1,000 is just play/pocket money.  There's nothing to be ashamed of if they fall in love with your work, and want to pay that much.

:clap:  Hear Hear!!!   :clap: Thank you Intercal for creating such a lovely forum!!!!   :clap:  :clap:

:bday:    And thank you Jane for bringing me laughter with your Intercal Christmas Party  :bday:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

  Even though I need to lose weight, I've decided to ditch the idea of actually focusing on it.  I've tried that ..repeatedly, and only set myself up for disappointment/guilt etc when I didn't/couldn't lose the weight.  Sooooooo...instead I've focused on eating healthier.  I got started last week on Dec 16th, after the last family dining out together.  Knock on wood, so far, so good.  I'm eating much healthier meals and snacks, getting more veggies, and different ones than I usually eat.  For my meats I'm having salmon, shrimp and lobster (yum!) and for breakfast, eggs from my very own buff orpington ladies.  Oh yes, and I do take vitamin/mineral supplements...but I do that no matter what I'm eating.

I KNOW I need to start in with my exercise routines again.  I LOVE my Balance Ball  , and have great fun with the workouts.   Plus the more advanced routines are  challenging to say the least.  I've got to take great care, and focus on what I'm doing, or I end up eating the carpet!!     Seriously, it is a lot of fun, and just sitting on the ball challenges a lot of smaller core muscles you usually don't use. 

Aside from my Balance Ball, I also have a Bowflex machine.  Its much like doing free weights without the worry of having them drop on you ... yes I'm a clutz     You'd think I'd look buff from all the exercise, but no....I usually don't.   

I will say last year's resolution worked very well for me.  I skipped the whole deny focus, and instead decided to work on my penmanship which had gotten lousy.  I can't say its where I want it to be, but I think its much prettier now.  I'll have to keep working on that one!   

Best of luck with the resolutions!!!   :hug:  Here comes 2006!!!  :hug:

Whoops!!  That sounds more like it was in the best interests of the family to have that puppy stripped and chucked out the door ASAP.  Having a fire hazard about the house is no way to start the New Year....  :bday:

Maybe next year you should go in for an artificial tree??   

  She sounds YUMMY!!!    I like that "Kool-aid Punch" name!  She's absolutely adorable!

I wish I was as clever as Shelli to be able to translate into Russian.... or even better to be able to SPEAK Russian!      Its a good thing teddy bears speak volumes of love in any language! 

      Thank you so much for the beautiful pictures from your homeland, and to fran and Marie for their lovely pics as well!  Its so neat to see the different places this time of year...such a contrast. 

  I'm another who would love to travel and see them firsthand.  Who knows, maybe someday I can meet my Teddy Talk friends in person!   :hug:

I know I'm really new to this board, but I've all ready learned so much, and made new friends 

Wishing everyone a wonderful, Christmas with lots of peace and joy .....and of course bear hugs!

So what are your favorite dog conditioners?  There's lots of lovely smells too...mmmmm....can you imagine a cherry almond rinse?  That would be a lovely treat for a mohair bear!! 

sewzanne...I LOVE your avatar bear!!! 

These little ornaments are sooooo cute!!!  Mine's still halfway finished....Holiday cleaning, and parents in laws coming for a visit, so my bear making is on hiatus for now....    sigh, I'd much rather be making bears!

  Oh blah!  Hideous examples of real fur bears....ick pooey!!!    NOT!!!   

I don't know how you can't like them, Daphne....no, I take that back, working with primarily real fur...I can FULLY understand how you cannot like them having to battle with mink.      Let's just say, real fur has a mind of its own....and it WILL NOT listen if you want it to lie the other way 

I think they're adorable, but I can easily see why you're swearing off custom real fur bears... or simply swearing in general! 

Tammy, I think your first bear is cute...definitely huggable!  Its wonderful to be able to look at our first creations and pick them apart, and see just how far our talent has grown. 

  Wow Dilu!     You're lightning fast with that head...and it turned out very cute indeed 

I'm still working bit by bit on mine.  Lots of delays, though with Christmas, and the fact its the first time I've played with mohair at all.  I wonder how long it will take for me to finish??   

I really like them!!! 

     Too true!! 

I've also seen a shirt that says "Three Wise Men??  Be serious!"   

:clap:  I'm sure you've heaved a sigh of relief now that your customer's duly in love with him  :hug:   He's a really nice bear, though...so how could she NOT love him?? 

What a lovely cafe!  If I had something like that nearby, I could take my teds to work on while enjoying a nice cuppa tea...maybe chatting bears all the while....sounds like bliss!

:bday: Congratulations Sarah!!!!!  :bday:   You must be very, very, VERY proud of her!!!   

  Oh my!!  I must really learn not to look at some of these posts whilst sipping my morning cocoa 

Wow Eileen ~ you go girl!!! 

Both bears are absolutely adorable!!!  And you'll get to play dress up too    what fun!

  Penny, I can really relate right now... I'm going positively  nuts m'self with a new design.  Although its nothing as ambitious as a cat.  Let me know if you're head down Loopy Lane  . I can join you and we can babble on about designs, and funny nosed bears and evil eyed cats   

Awwwhhhh...they're all cute!  And good on you for starting the sprog off on the right foot    Gotta start bear lovers young, you know 

Perhaps making it worth more $$ for the entry fees helps people be serious about what they are entering?  (just guessing) 

For myself, I entered three bears last year for both the TOBY and the GOLDEN TEDDY....and came up empty handed.  I don't think it was anything against my bears per se...I think it was just what the judges liked.  As I hand sew, I'm incredibly slow at producing bears, and this year snuck up on me, so I'll have to sit out the contests.  However, I'm all ready planning for next years...

As for your bears....Ooooh, enter "Samuel" will you?  I think he's got the sweetest, most endearing face!  As others have said, you won't know til you try.  And I found many doors opening for me by just submitting contest entrants last year.  So just give it a go ~ you never know ...   :clap:  :hug:  :clap:  we may be applauding you in the New Year!!

:clap: See??? Miracles DO happen  :hug:  I'm so happy for you... and your daughter of course!

  Judi, I think they were ignoring you because they didn't know how to deal with the situation.   So many of us aren't taught how to process a death in the family.  I know I sure wasn't taught anything by my family how to go through the process.  And I think as a culture, Americans really don't "do" death. 

Shantell, I think you certainly did the right thing!  Even though its a very, very sad period in her family's life, I'm sure all the kind words said about Laura will be a help     Such a sad loss.....

  Thank you so much for the head's up, Judi!!!     This will be my first ever online course with Nancy.  With any luck this upcoming year, I'll be able to take some more courses with her.