Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Penny!

Glad we have another needle felter!  I really enjoy it although I am just learning!

Hello to Bobbie as well!

You say:

I have been able to find Fosters that I think you mentioned have formed barbs. Unfortunately I'm not able to find any in a 42 only up to a 40. Anyhow, I'm wondering how do I know if my fibers are breaking inside as I felt? Does it have a different feeling or will the fibers pull out with the needle?

Stacey

Very cute!

Ha! No "plant" really! When I try something new, I do as much research as possible and try to learn from good advice. So far the Cormo has been great! I received the Romney from Wilde. Can't wait to use it. The colors are gorgeous. The dying is much different than the other materials I have hoarded (and not used yet). Not sure how to explain the difference. I guess the colors, even teal etc., seem more natural. If that makes sense.

So, from what you are saying, I would guess the Romney from Wild will be a good core? From your work, you seem to use mainly white for your Polar Bears. If you were to do say... a green bear, would you start with a core green then skin with a green Cormo? If that's the case, I would guess the colors would need to match almost perfectly?

I read a past post from you regarding overfelting and you mentioned needles that have cut barbs and needle with formed barbs. Do you recommend one or the other? I'm about ready to stock up on needles and would like to make the best choice.

Well he is a little camera shy and not quite finished yet. I attempted last night to add some depth via coloring him using cretacolor pencils. I may have overdone him a bit and now want to go back and correct it. Boy, wish I weren't so picky!

Does the whole needle felting process go faster once techniques and indiviual peferences are discovered?

Again, thanks so much for invaluable information Bobbie!

Hey there Bobbie!

I received my Cormo today! Elizabeth is a great person to work with... she said she likes to treat her customers you send her way well. Thank you! I also ordered Romney from Wilde but have not received it just yet.

As for the Cormo, WOW what a difference! I have only started on the eye lid of my current mini bear, but the abliltiy for details with the Cormo compared to what I was using is a huge difference!

Wondering if you have any tips for using the Cormo, or do I pretty much use it the same as others? Also, I did notice some VM in the Cormo which I have not run across before. Is this normal? If I weren't working on a mini perhaps I wouldn't worry about picking it out.

Ok, back to work on my little guy!

Stacey

Thanks Bobbie!
I'm off to order supplies!

Thanks for the welcome Sue Ann!

I did research my ancestry for a while, even found a long lost uncle. Unfortunately, it is so time consuming, I have not been able to my research. It is fascinating though!

Stacey

Bobbie, will you be my mentor? :crackup:

You have so much information and willing to share! Thank you!

I guess my answer would be, to lay on top as a distinct color and pattern as well as blend in (more of a painting type of look).

WOW! Thank you for all the great info! I now feel I'm more able to make some educated purchases now!

If I were to felt a bear, then wanted to add color in say... distinctive swirl patterns. What would be the best material for that? I'm guessing the Cormo. ??

Hi everyone!

I realized I had not introduced myself before posting.  My name is Stacey living in Pasadena, CA. I have always just barely dabbled in art usually charcoal or acrylic paints. I always felt my sister was the "true" artist. I would now and then get the itch to be artistic and I would either draw or paint, it always felt awkward and I never really felt fulfilled, just exhausted once a piece was finished.

This last Christmas, my sister gave me a set of polymer clays and supplies. LOVE IT! Of course doing research lead me to other 3D arts and now I'm felting my first mini-bear. I now realize I need to be able to touch, feel and move my art around. I've come home!!

Here is a pic of my second sculpt ever. I gave him as a gift to my 80 year old "hip" father. They look a bit alike! I know he may look a bit creepy to some, bu thus my ID name Grin and Grimace. Looking at my work, you'll do one or the other!  :crackup:

So... my questions:

I have read all of the felting threads here and have learned quite a lot. But I'm hoping a can get some clarification.

The bear that I am working on now is just about finished. He is felted fairly firm, I have gone over him with a 40 needle at about a 45 degree angle to get all the fuzzy down and in place. It looks great until I move him a bit. Then the fuzzies pop up again! I used dyed alpaca rove (rove=long strands in one direction?) for his body and natural white "superfine" alpaca for his belly. I'm guessing that these two are too fine or soft for mini work?

I'm about to purchase more supplies and would like to make the best purchase for more minis 3-4 inch sculpts.

I'm a bit confused as to what would be best:

Carded wool roving from Wilde Yarns. They also advertise carded Romney, but I'm not sure what that is.

Bobbie mentions Merino X Rambuillet mix, but I do not see that on the site she mentioned, only in yarn form.  I am also considering Corno, but not sure if that can be used for the entire sculpt or just for the added fine details.

Thanks!
Stacey

Hi, my first post here. I'm new to the fiber arts and really enjoy felting. I'm currently working on my first mini-bear and will post pics once he is finished.

By the way Sue Ann, I'm a Holcomb also!

Stacey Holcomb
Pasadena, CA