Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I agree about Norton... I took it off a couple years ago when I was having problems with it.  A friend who works in computers said that it is one of the worst as not only is it huge & takes up to much room, but it is also one of the main targets by hackers.  I used AVG (anti-virus) & Zone Alarm (firewall) - both free - for years with no problems.  I'd definitely recommend them both! 

Ouch, ouch, ouch!!!  I've put a needle felting needle through my finger & a cotter pin through my hand (don't ask me how... it happened so fast I'm not really sure how I could do that!)....  Good thing I don't use a machine to sew my bears... I'd be perforated by now!  Anyway, I can sympathize!    I hope you take good care of the wound & heal quickly!!!     

She is wonderful - very siamesy!  I love her tail & her smile (my siamese Coco smiles just like that at times)!      

Hi Donna,

I prefer to felt a nose after I've finished the rest of my bear's face but before I add the ears (ears are generally the last thing I do on a bear).  That way I make sure I like the proportions of the nose to the rest of the face.  I've always closed the head first too.  Hope this helps!   

We're looking forward to seeing him!  Your previous chihuahua's are sooooo cute... I'm sure this one will be wonderful!      

She is sooooo sweet!      Wonderful detail for such a small kitty!   :clap:  :clap:

Adorable!!!   :hug:  :hug: You've done an amazing job for your first unique creation!   :clap:

Gorgeous!  Gorgeous! Gorgeous!!  Stunning as all your creations are!!      

Very sweet little bear!     You've done a great job on him & his accessories!  :clap:

Thank you Andrea!  :hug:  I bet your chihuahua is adorable!   

Thanks Jane!  :hug:  If you have a chance to look at the last thread about open/close eyelids in "tips and techniques", I mentioned how I do them.  It's not complicated, but can fiddly...  I do like how it adds to a creation's personality.   

Thank you Marlys!  :hug:  This little one was a lot of fun to make!

Hello!  I just finished this chihuahua for a collector in France.  He's similar to my last chihuahua, but in comparing them, there's a big difference. 

I made a webpage for him where you could see more pics if you've got some spare time...  (spare time??  what's that???? )  http://www.melisas-bears.com/puppy.html

Absolutely fantastic!  The detail you got in this beautiful bird is amazing!      

Your Siamese is gorgeous!  Those eyes are amazing!!  Our kittens do seem to me to look more like Himalayan kittens... their faces are shorter and most of them are already getting quite fluffy.  I'll have to post another pic in a couple of days. 

Thanks everyone!  These little ones were just too cute to keep all to myself.  I have a feeling that as they get bigger, I'll be trying a design based on them. 

I have a feeling they'll be photographed often!!!  :photo:  Every day one of the kids is saying, "we should take more pictures."   

All the siamese and himalyan kittens that I've seen have always been born mostly white and they get their distinctive markings as they grow older. 

My sister is in love with them & wants one, and I think my mom will take one.  If no one else we know falls in love with them and just has to have one, we'll keep the rest.  They should be absolutely gorgeous when grown up and with doing an addition, we should have enough room in our house!

Hi Everyone!!!  I don't often have time to post much here, but I just had to share these pics of our new kittens with all of you.  They are siamese/himalayan kittens.  These pics were taken as soon as they were born... the one with the three kittens in my hands was taken by my 10 year old as I was holding them while their mom (Coco) was having her fourth kitten.  There's nothing like seeing new little ones!!!      

Thank you from me too!  I loved seeing all that wildlife & the fantastic scenery!   :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

They are absolutely stunning!!!!  Love them both!!!!          

You're so right!  Just like there are so many techniques to actually make the bear, there are so many ways to design - there's lots of ways to "peel an orange"!  Keep having fun with it -I think that's the important part.   

That was a great answer... it can be hard to be calm in situations like that.  I had a similar email sent to me only they said I was going "straight to hell"... sometimes people who are very enthusiastic about an animal cause forget that people are important too & don't look farther than that the fur is real. 

I sent a calm email back to the person who emailed me and she emailed back saying that she was sorry and realized I wasn't the problem as I too use only recycled fur. 

It's nice to know that some people involved with anti-fur campaigns recognize that abusing those who recycle fur isn't the answer to the problem they are adressing.

Thanks!  :hug:  I had so much fun making him!

Great topic!  Usually I draw a side picture of the bear I want and go from there to create the pattern pieces.  Then I experiment with the gusset to get the head shape I want.  With my last bear (the realistic panda) though, I did a very similar thing to what Karen did with her head sculpture... only I didn't have any real pandas to measure. 

She is so adorable Melissa!  I hope you make more like her!  Very sweet!     

I would love to be able to attend a show!  It would be great to meet everyone & see collectors face to face - the few times I've been able to have been so wonderful!  The problem for me is that the nearest show was in Calgary (2 days drive for me with 3 young kids).  I learned about it too late last year for me to attend (I need a lot of prep time).  I would have planned on attending this year, but it doesn't look like it is happening.  If only travel wasn't so expensive from way up here in northern Canada.....