Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Oh Dilu, You are a crack up....Bunny is just trying to get those lights untangled,he does look rather determined... he, he...Winney

Years ago when I first started making real fur bears I bought a book by the Mitchums..Making Real Fur Bears. they used 2 ovals for the body...this eliminates pelt seams, seam stress and affords finding the same fur color and  length which gets tricky working with real furs. However.....

I did not like the way the front and back seam looked and felt so bumpy going around that curve ...pelt skins do not stretch, in fact you don't want them to....it just doesn't stuff right...so

I designed my own bear from there and definitely wanted a 4 part body to insure not only a better fit but could play around with the shapes more ...no more bumpy curves...now. I have revised that pattern so I am back with the 2 part body but....it has darts like the first drawing up above here....and the pelt fur matches up nicely......

I still use a 2 part body for some bears,..mostly mohair and  real small bears , as it eliminates seams and bulk...Winney

After me you come first !...he, he...

Id love to see someone develope a pattern designing program..They have them for quilts...dont know if that includes all kinds of shapes other than squares. I also know there is are people clothes pattern making programs out there so..... who ever does this for teddies and other critters  can sure get a lot of sales ....from doll and bear artists....Winney

Paula...I will have to try that curved needle..may work better for me...

Melissa.... I have tried both waxy types of thread...The one that is the stickiest is artificial sinew I got at Tandy Leather supply..its a maple color , very loaded with wax but I love it for pulling in the eyes,,but I don't use any more then 2 strands or it wont get thru the poly stuffing especially if the stuffing is a cottony type that packs down harder. I think you can buy it at Michaels too.

The other waxy thread I also got at Tandys or Huffs Leather Supply ( one doesn't have stores any more ) but also found it at Michaels too... I think its a waxed linen thread, on a spool, comes in white, brown, black....I split that for 2 strands too.. ... Winney

I have done it both ways...for various reasons. When I was designing my fashion bear it really helped to sculpt the bear...then pattern drape...the joint placements and sizes were very critical if this tall lean bear was going to stand up all by herself and be able to take the many poses I had imagined... I still had to make several to keep revising her shapes til I was satisfied...

Now, I make all her clothes the pattern drape way ...for a custom fit for any style I can dream up in my head..and they will fit her..... Winney

Hmmm, I think that is why many advise you to make your name as part of the business name...like. Winneybears..Its harder to run across a repeat of the name being used for a business name..

Years ago I went by Little Friends by Winney, I made tiney mice...then I   found out someone who also made mice used Little Friends....darn ! and I had lots of business cards , letter heads paper and envelopes already done up...darn ! It took a lot for me to think about just how I was going to change that name after 20 years....and yet still keep it...so my old customers could say they could still find me,,,,

There only one other artists out there that has a similar name.. Winey Bears  by Sally Winey ..or maybe she is listed as Wineybears....dunno.
However, I still like my name ; Winney Bears and Friends ( I make Santas and other critters too ) . I could just go with Winneybears .....its catchy and easier...???? Winney

This is very interesting...just a few days ago we were at my nieces for Christmas dinner, we stepped out on the back patio. She has a collection of windchimes...one I hadn't seen she said her hubby gave her...they were real old antique horse sleigh bells.

My son lives in Colorado and one job he has, he drives a team of draft horses that pull a wagon  from way out into the country where vacationing guests stay at a log cabin lodge  into town twice a day to resterants, etc. three times a week. Jimmy drives one trip and a friend drives the other...Jim says he has to stand up on a step stool just to put their harnesses on. WHat fun, they wear some fancy tack. My son and his wife are horse trainers and have clinics to train people too. What they do is quite remarkable with problem horses.... Winney

Beautiful bears Paula..hey, this will be fun..I dont have any multi colored bears so this will inspirational....Winney

I do like Daphne..... When I have designed a new bear pattern I trace every part onto butcher paper to see exactly what is the best placement...and lay on the biggest tallest piece first. Often this determines how much fabric yardage one bear will require...say like 1/3 yd...however if I plan well and buy 1 yd I may be able to get 4 bears instead of 3...so its worth the time.

Another thing ...if I am using fabric I already have or its left over...I will try to fit those pieces with edges together or....if I am going to have a scrap then make it a big one I can use later.....Winney

Yes, That 3" stuff is to die for. The pelt of the angora goat , is that called Tibetian goat ? I found some doll sites will carry that, its wavy. I dont know if you can straighten it out if you wanted to. It is used for Santa hair/beard too.

Donna....needle felting long mohair is what some other artists do too...it a great solution. Ill bet you could felt in wool or most any kind of hair ?
Here we go,.experimenting again !!!

I sure wish Intercal would carry the 3" mohair I just know they would be more affordable......Winney

I always trim fur off the  openings and fray check. I then use 2 strands of waxed artificial thread...because it never slips and it never breaks.

I stitch on one side then  go exactly across to the  other side and make a stitch  ... use my left thumb to push down a little on the seam... then pull the thread smoothly thru until both sides close . No need to pull any harder than this AT ANY TIME  to close...

I keep the stitch sets 1/4" apart and 1/8" on tiny bears. After stitching a few sets I use the small needle nose pliers and stuff up under the already stitched seam , this works great as I go along so there are no empty spaces.

The waxed thread will hold all these stitches even if you let go of your thread to stuff...but just to be sure you have not stuffed it open at the end of your last stitches...pull on the thread a little before you start stitching again.

I found that this kind of thread works better when closing real fur bears as I think other threads tend to cut the pelts ...because you have to keep pulling on the thread to re-tighten the stitches every so often " a sawing action " on real pelts. I also got tired of doing all that work  and finding later that I had either bumpy seams or open seam holes so you could see the stuffing...( stitches pulled open somehow) .

Another thing I picked up by doing the work on REAL FUR BEARS  is I do not finish off at the end of the seam....I go under the seam back about a half inch then out right in the middle of the seam BETWEEN 2 stitches then make 2 knots then back in that same "hole " to bury it then out anywhere. Works for me.... Winney

I love the card Kelly, beautiful and so clever ....Merry Christmas!... Winney

I usually  put the tree up 1 week before CHristmas and then leave it up for one week after...right into the new year....or whatever.

I once had a German boyfriend that built a 3 story German / Tuder/ house with a medival tower which was actually a stone spiral staircase for  all 3 floors...well... that place was so dang cold inside....a cool 58 degrees in the basement....just freezing up staira !

He had a huge wood stove in the basement but would close that staircase off with a blanket to keep the heat downstairs. Now...what does this all have to do with Christmas and the tree ?   I put up the tree for him then he would leave it up til April or so...it was so cold in there it never wilted...ho, ho, ho....Winney

If she sent a check with your name spelled wrong...here in the USA you can go ahead and sign the check EXACTLY as it is shown...

then you sign just  below that with your name correctly spelled....

CASH IT. But first write in ink in the lower left hand corner, " Pymt.for for Invoice #  ( whatever # it is) for # of artist ( bears ) shipped.

Do not deposit it...deposits are subject to bouncing, far as I know.... when you cash a check and it bounces it only costs the check writer  a

penalty fee, not your checking account . ( hey gals am I right on this part?)

So sorry you had to go thu this...  I have been there before too ,only on different merchandise than bears. And...it doesn't seem to matter

whether they have the money or not , many shops live on the 30 day net thing....others,  just plain  are bad bookkeepers and bad non

payers....and yes, some may be near to closing. I guess the only way to know if a shop is reputable is to check their reputable history....with

other artists. Too bad we don't have a list somewhere on who can be OK to deal with.

For me, I  work  on MY OWN TERMS...
I will never ship without payment and clearance of a check .
I take  a customers deposit before creating the bear / order...
I send photos..if they love the bear/s then they pay me the balance...that has to clear then I ship.
The only way they can get it faster is to send me a chashiers check or a money order. I dont do Paypal yet.

I never do consignment... did you know the item is not guaranteed to not get stolen,if it does... the shop may not be held liable ?...
If it isn't sold, it can get quite shop worn.... then no shop customer wants to pay for a soiled bear.
Who is going to pay for a return ship back to you for a soiled bear?

It only took one time for me to get burned on 2 bears for a customer...who had lots of money! Once they get the merchandise,
the " want factor"  is in their hands....so it is easy to just find another reason to use their money on something else they want...

.Not every one is like this but.....I don't have the money or time to risk it and go thru the pain and suffering part..it ruins my creative mood.
So....that's my story and I'm stickin to it !.....Winney

Marie...what a beautiful panda...very cute ....Winney

Brenda...what a neat idea, your gift sounds wonderful . I have been doing genealogy too for  years, I started doing it with my grandmother when I was 15.
Later on in her life she was trying to make photo books for all us kids but  ran out of time. so she filled big manila envelopes with old photos with names and dates on them and we have them now. Thats  easy enough for anyone to do. I talked my mom into doing that and good thing because it was not long and she passed away...now its my turn to do it.

Thanks everyone for you nice comments. This morn .I got up feeling great again . YEAH !!!!  HUgs, Winney

It is so sad to loose family...my heart goes out to you Brenda.
My neighbor, a 72 very alive, energetic person just lost her hubby day before yesterday.  She does not know what to do...she took care of him for a long time...she takes care of everyone, now she is so drained. and alone ..but I go over and others too and  her family..she will get thru this. There's so many people who have nothing...reach out and hug someone..anyone..spread the love around.

On a brighter note....we did not put up a tree..and we had no money for Christmas or even to get thru this month.
I fretted, I have been so sick all this year, what can I do ?
I don't mind going without gifts but I fretted I could not give to my kids, grandkids...so I just thought and thought about it, laying awake at
night...my COPD was getting so bad I thought that I might even die soon or this next year? Crimminy...I have been on antibiotics and steroids 5 times this year ! and....I have been sick again this month now for 3 weeks... I still have not seen my twin grand babies, up north 150 miles away because Im sick or they are sick...have to stay away from anyone ill as it could put me in the hosp.

Then in a few days on the net I saw " The Legend of the Christmas Spider " ..a Ukraine or German story..... then I searched all over the net to find a beaded spider ...and the idea came to me...I know ! I will use that  crystal necklace my baby son broke when he was 2 and make a little keepsake spider for each of my kids and grandkids, make a pretty fabric covered box to keep him in and put a copy of the legend in there.
So...I have  made 45 of these little critters and worked out my own pattern.

In the mean time ,some little blue bird must have whispered our situation to someone....and we got an anonymous gift in the form of a check... for I shall say in  an amount that made my jaw drop. Another very blessed thing...I was very sick and thought I would certainly be in the hospital by Christmas...suddenly , defying all logic , without medication I took a turn for the better...all on my own ? I don't think so...I have no immune system to speak of as I have Fibromyalgia and all the meds this year...Id at best be below zero for immunity. So how can you explain my getting better...almost normal ? An answer to mine and others prayers for me....no doubt.

So...Tree..none is necessary....there is just us 2 here.  Presents... we got each other one.
Christmas dinner, maybe with my niece .... a  gathering  maybe with the remnant family....if I am well, if they are well.

But...we are happy that we got thru this month financially with the help we got and we are so happy my health is better.
I am also happy we can be there for our neighbor . I had a fun time making the spiders...cute little buggers they are...

I listened to 3 Christmas specials on TV last night...the choirs voices were so angelic...I quietly just let it carry me away..

Peace on earth, good will to men..Glory to God in the highest...... I felt my heart soar into the heavens with that and said Amen...HUgs, Winney

HUh? What are you all talking about ( I have dark brown tresses )...Winey

Whaaaa !!! Yall are fast !...Winney

Glenys..Beautiful site...really shows off your beautiful bears, doggies and that cute bunny , all adorable....I love the hand worked garnments and I  do think collectors will snap those guys right up...Winney

How wonderful...It is just amazing what the human spirit can accomplish when we believe we can do it.

It is soooo important to have your parents or someone behind you for moral support...just amazing.

Congradulations to Sarah for meeting her goal and Mom for being there...so many people will benefit

in the future from Sarah's gift .... thus multiplying  it  over and over...God bless....Winney

So funny...Jane thats great!....Winney

Way too cool....thanks a bunch...Winney

Oh MY!!!!! ...( she's blushing )... ( No, that's a lie ), ( No, It isn't ) ( Yes it is ) OK...she...er... I lied.

OK...I will try to tell the truth. ...That picture was taken when I was 50...some years ago, ahem !..won't tell,

don't havta!  He, he....who cares anyway..." You are as young as you feel "..right now I am ...ahhhh 32, No

that would be too young, my oldest son is older  than that ! OK...lets, just skip over all this stuff.

Love you all....Winney

Ohhhh.I finally got my photo posted in my personals and I am already dressed for the new years party..whoopie !

Now, I am going to be looking for that young thang...his name is  Nel Gibson or hot dog , ohhhh .... how about that angel NIcholas Cage ...oh to

die for, that  man! There's others but  I need an older guy, love the more mature type like uh..uh....uh.. don't get me started....

.well you know ... Winney