Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Yes Dilu this is fun !... I didn't scan mine either...I hope Quy does  to post here...Love to see all the cards !

Happy Birthday Teddy Talk...This had been one great year for all of us and  our wonderful feiends at Intercal !

I sure have made  a lot of friends and just love hearing and sharing tips and  we get  some  really great instructions for  many ,many things.

It is amazing to be able to meet here on line in our P J's and visit with our friends from all over the world ....thank you Intercal !!!!... ...........Winney

Hmmm, I don't see any diference except if you make wood ones yourself they may be a bit rough around the edges ?

I order the fiber board ones in bulk , saves a lot of time ....and time is money in terms of labor.... Winney

What I did not tell you is until I figured out how to organize and chage my unproductive ?  bear making habits is that
I have scores of cut out or almost done  bears in their own boxes awaiting to be sewen up...agh!

The shirt like boxs are stacked up against 2 walls...one stack for real fur bears and one stack for mohair  bears... Then there is the closet...a lot of synthetic prototypes in there..Yikes ! I must get those made up as I go and figure out where I want to sell them ...the synthetic ones probably at Christmas , locally here. I need the space.

Avtually...how I really work is just like some of the rest of you..I get an idea and I can't help but grab a pen and paper to sketch it down then I'm off to find materials ...I am just trying to get more focused with my new plan.....it seems to be working  about half way better for me...so maybe I can sort of ride the line halfway...he, he...Winney

Oh my...this seem to be a real delimma for many of us bear maker...this is my worse problem !

I finally figured out ...first I need bears ....then photos..... then a web site or a way to show my bears...simple.
I  usually can't sell a bear without these 3  items ... so that is my order of priority to get things going.

I had to make a  rule for me when it comes to designing...as my light bulb goes off up in my head all the time...on a regular basis I get so many ideas...So...I have a sketch book with plain paper and a note book lined tablet and colored folders...
When I get a good idea I do a sketch and a drawing and gather up other info. such as magazine pictures , examples of a technique that maybe has inspired me ...and I just keep stuffing that folder...this can take a week or a month or perhaps years... This allows me to BUILD upon an idea until all the elements or most of them have been solved...Sometimes it will give me a whole series of bears...taking my time on this really helps to fill out my bear design so it developes better then if I just make the bear in haste...

Another thing I had to do was to be working on no more then 2 new bear designs at a time ...as I keep taking notes on specifications . or changes  I will make on the next bear. My mind stays more focused this way for 2 bears instead of more and actually saves time as I don't for get so easily where I want to go with my design.

I found keeping every thing for one bear in those plastic under the bead boxs keeps it all neat and " everything is in one place " so I don't go picking thru my stash or something else and get side tracked... In the box I put the fur. colored folder, and anything else larger...then I have a small plastic box with lid ( dollar store ) for the threads, joints eyes all ready to build my bear with...so if I get a half hr. here and there or want to watch TV and sew by hand  I can use my time wisely .

It helps to know what your weaknesses are then find some way to organize and manage them ...Winney

I saved that link Kim...thank you..! I took a look at your web site...wonderful Kim ! I love all your paintings and the subject atter is right down my alley...very magical...whimsical stuff. I didnt see any fur bears...do you have another site ?....Winey

WOW!!!! THAT IS BRIGHT !.....    ........WINNEY

Oh Donna...that gives me another idea... since floral wire is taped ( and yes it can peel off later ) you could paint it any color, black, blue, green etc... When that drys then coat it with acrylic varnish so the tape cannot peel, fray off...then I'd  pull it thru the mohair spots..continue as you like with glitter, bead ends, etc... Great tips ... Winney

Hey Shelli..that sounds like 2 very promising ways... I did not know about the clear stretchy jewlry cord...have to go see that...I like the transparant idea.
I do have some hollow black jewelry cord... I thought I may try to push a length of jewelry /craft wire thru it to make it stand up a bit more stiffer....then I want to try a bead on the end that will coordinate with the other colors in my bug bear. What fun ...eh?  Great tip on tying the cord at the head base.Thank you for sharing ...Winney

Does anyone know how to make  feelers for a  bug  bear ?

My bear will not be a minature but will be about 9 or 10" tall. I know there must be several ways to do feelers  as  whenever we start a certain topic ...wow !!! the ideas all come out to play ...Winney

Sorry Daphne for you and your family are going thru some very hard  times . Be sure to take care of yourself and just be with your family right now...you all need that togetherness which is the very esscence of life ...and family.
Our  hearts and prayers are with you...for love and peace and wellness,,,,Hugs, Winney

I was just thinking of asking you about that background Judi...and here now you read my mind I think ,,,

I was down at Micheals shopping today and noticed some of the wonderful papers in the scrapbook section and picked up a piece of one that had pine needles boughs all over it. They looked real..hmm, I thought...now that would look really great for background for some on my  bear photos !
I suppose there are other designs that would be neat . This may work for small bears....you would need more pieces to mount up on poster board...I imagine the design would repeat and connect somewhere so it may be possible to do this to cover the board.
Another idea would be to purchase print fabric...not too busy but perhaps with a nice uncomplimented theme. We can see that  other than  a plain background  works for your bears Judi ...so it might be fun look around and see what would work for our theme bears....I am always looking for something different .... Winney

I read in Nancy Tilburgs book to use onion skins..you will get a nice golden color ..I have not tried it yet. Winney

I did the same for a small bear..only wet the fur fabric first !!! ..

Put the Kool Ade in a small glass bowl , add 2 cups water...stir to disolve then add the fur fabric...I set a small saucer plate on top that weighed the fabric under the water... I only dyed mine for 15 min. as I wanted a light color.
I did some colors  ( like bright  Cherry ) adding 2 TBL salt for lighter colors . Winney

Hmmm. using salt with Kool Ade ...you get a more muted color, less color..so it's not so bright.

When useing egg dyes they have on the package to add vinigar...I believe this is what sets the dye.

I found with Rit it also colors the cotton backing...with egg dye it MIGHT color the backing but often it come out just tinted..especially with the lighter colors as they dont stay in the dye bath very long.......Winney

I just tried the Rit Eveningblue  trying to get that Powder Blue..for a 8" bear..

I use 2 cups hot water in a  plastic container , 1/8 teaspoon dye, for 15 min. kept stirring it all the time and checking.

I threw in the felt too at the same time..it came out darker then the fur fabric.( just the opposite of egg dye)

OK..its light blue...not powder, so..some adjustment would be to dye for only 10 min. or use less dye..

I rinsed well, spread the little parts out onto a towel, gently brushed the fur down . ...Winney

Thanks Heather, there are times when I would love to get a photo to show , it helps when trying to explain something as....." a picture is worth a thousand words".
Hmmm. now thinking...a real small light box would be great for small items . perhaps just a cardboard frame ( cut out sections on all sides except for one, cut it all out there) then toss a white simi trasparant cloth over it...that would work ! Hey...if the item is real small ...a big lamp shade would work...improvise, improvise...Winney

Really nice...does look like childrens book illustrations...wonderful!....Winney

Beautiful Judi ...really stunning effects....Winney

When you all take quick photos of " stuff " to post here , do you go thru setting up the light tent, etc. ? This would exclude Shelli as she has her set up ready all the time as it has its own closet..lucky gal.. ...Winney

Ok I'm backkkkk... I went to http://www.paasdyes.com  looked there for color recipes. there isnt any. but fun place to visit.
Then I went to http://www.ritdye.com/craft_faq.asp   this page has a link for all the colors RIT  carries.... then much to my delight  another link for their CUSTOM color recipes !!!! Yeahhh !!!! I found the one I think that will work for Powder Blue...it is their Evening  Blue just mixed with lesser powder or...dyed  in less time.

I want to mention that it would be best to use a 2nd hand store pot and measuring tools when useing Rit dyes as it is not a food product. WQhen I get done dying I think I will heat set the dye after its dried with a hair dryer. Especially with the easter egg dyes.
I read somewhere you can also use unsweetened jello instead of Kool Ade...and there is another drink brand called Favorade... I will check back in here another day with some results ....Winney

Oops..I forgot to say I left the pre-wetted  fur fabric in for 30 min.

If you are dying felt for pads ...wash the felt first to remove sizing then dye it for 1 hr.= twice as long as fur fabric.
                           
                                                                                                                    Winney

Lyn...That book dye site is neat. I saved a bunch of dying site a long time ago..just need some time to look thru them.
I have not tried  the easter egg dyes yet..I may do that this week.

I am dying for 8" small bears so I used 1 PKG Kool Ade, 2 cups water, and if you want a lighter muted color add 2 Tbl. salt.
Kool Ade  Ice Blue... an intense Robins egg blue , real pretty on the turquoise side.
                              I put salt in half the solution and love that, its  a light/ pastel Robins egg blue .

I want a Powder Blue..anyone know how to get that? I will add to this list when I  do some more experiments...Winney

I am having fun with Kool Ade dying. I know we covered this topic except does anyone have any favorite mixing the packages for certain color recipes ?

I know if you use more packages of a color you get a darker color saturation..

If you add salt at a ratio of  2 Tablespoons to 1 package Kool Ade and 2 cups water ( for a small bear, 8" or so)  it makes for a lighter more subdued color...say ,Grape will then turn out like a dusty sort of purple which I love...I got this from Nancy Tilburgs book.

I used Pink Lemonade with NO salt added and it looks about the same color as Cherry WITH salt except the backing did not get as colored with the Pink Lemonade. The pink does not look pink...darn. I have to go out a find some Sharkleberry ...on one of those links given when we talked about this it shows some yarn dyed using Kool Ade and only one looked like the pink I want.

The other thing I may try is Easter Egg dyes...I bought a bunch last year at Walmart clearance for 50 cents a package... So..anyone got recipes ?...Winney

Great tip Dilu.....I use the white pencil on dark fabrics.....Winney

Oh my gosh..you scared me ! Whew ... Winney