Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

WOW--talk about scrolling! Pure genius! :dance:

Hurrah for Jane!! Hugglets photos were a real treat for the landlocked! :hug:  :hug:

Thanks for these amazing pictures, Roxanne.

Those of us who live in (blessedly) dull landscapes and climates cannot even imagine how terrifying this must be!

Lisa!! You're back :hug:

Actually, I think turning 40 is hard. When I turned 40, I felt 40. I had 3 young children, back problems, a semi-renovated house, a husband in full career-making mode, and a pile of  responsibilities that I would never be so daft as to undertake now.

It gets easier. When you turn 50, you don't believe it (50? ME?), and 60 is just too surreal to take seriously.

Besides a bit of healthy denial, there comes a level of acceptance based on experience, which is probably why older people seem so dim-witted to the excitable young. They haven't been there/done that so many times over.

But you do get stubborn and feisty on issues that seem to them minor--which is why sensible youth concludes you've finally lost it. For example, I'm sure there are many good reasons why dogs should not be allowed on the sofa, all of which my offspring are happy to recite, but I like them there.

The only reason they didn't think of was that dog tails can spill your beer into your laptop!

The one thing I don't have is pajamas with teddy bears on them. I'm going to need some of those . . .

These are actually great times to be growing older.

For one thing, nobody expects us to wear polyester pantsuits or frumpy dresses with big flowers on them over ugly shoes and rolled-down stockings. We old dears live in jeans and T-shirts and running shoes if we want to.

Technology is a major plus. I can keep in touch with my grownup kids by email, reunite with long lost friends and keep up with new ones all over the world, play DVDs or music on my computer while I sew.

Last fall an old friend found me via the internet, and I got to go to my 45th High School Reunion! It was amazing--nobody had really changed that much, except the tough kids, who were all sweet and mellow.

When I spilled beer all over my laptop, which was actually the dog's fault, I can go to my desktop and google "what to do when you fry your computer with liquid." I not only rescued my laptop, I learned how many people spill beer/wine/orange juice on their keyboards.

Wow--very cool!

:hug: Thanks, Judi--I'll definitely choose to believe you over my mirror!

Since I became a Grandmother :dance: I've been letting my grey hair grow out. I'll need another picture when I look less stripey.

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TURNING 40? 44?

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Dear young things . . . how about turning 64?

You know you're living with a bearmaker when she's 64 (plus) but has enough mohair and other stash etc. to last another 20 years.

Talk about the triumph of optimism over numbers!  It really is just a number.

I have a theory . . . procrastinators live longer. They have to.

Honestly, friends of approximately my age are busy clearing out their houses and simplifying their lives . . . I'm just getting started!

Definitely for minis!

You'd probably want to split the artificial sinew, but even fine pieces are strong and sticky enough to knot beautifully.

It's the only type of thread I haven't managed to break.

Thanks, everyone--great information!

Bobbi, my fiber stash is a combination of prepared hanks of coarse wool that was sold to me as "roving" (it feels like overprocessed hair) and several tagged fleeces I bought on eBay and washed myself. These include mohair, merino, alpaca, and romney.

I really don't care for the coarse wool "roving," but it could be good for cores.

I love the mohair--the range of natural colors in each fleece is beautiful.

After a few false starts,  I've produced a 1.25" rabbit head using 36/38 S and T needles, so it still looks rough.

My first attempt had a solid core, but a squashy outer later. I still can't figure out how I managed this.

As for my method, such as it is, I started with small bits of fiber crossed at right angles, felted with coarse needles, folded, then increased with more pads of fibers at crossed angles.  I'm trying to create the basic shapes and color blocks at this point--it seems to be holding its shape this time.

For the final layers, I'd like to keep the fibers in a more natural direction, nose to ear. Is this a function of felting? Bushing?

Thanks, Joanne--I knew I could find help here.

I think you were absolutely right. I wasn't using enough fiber, or felting long enough when attaching the finer stuff to the already hardened stuff.

IT's working, but I need to heal a few wounds before having another go . . .

OK, all you expert needlefelters . . .

I'm trying to make a rabbit with a combination of sheep wool, mohair, roving (coarse), and merino.

The problem is that although the finer fibers do felt, I can't get them to turn hard and solid. They're not coming apart, but whatever I do those parts stay soft.

What am I doing wrong?

Is it possible that over-vigorous felting chops up the fibers too much?

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Thanks for the cute picture(s), Kelly

Ahhhh . . . bears, cool beach, and dogs! What a paradise!

The Prisma pencils are permanent, but I'd definitely heat set the colors too. If you don't, there's bound to be some rub-off from the fur, since the pencils are meant to be used on paper or other flat surfaces.

Actually you might experiment with a scrap of fur to see how permanent the pencils are with and without heat setting.

:dance: Really great news--Jill does wonderful work with Moon Bears! :dance:

:clap: :clap:  :clap:  CONGRATULATIONS, JANE AND CHRISSIE! :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

What a treat--thanks for sharing these pix, Daphne. 

I love your Dad's sheep!

:crackup:  :crackup: I'm going to save these! :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

I've seen this amazing little poochie too--the family found it abandoned in a garbage dump!

My daughter has a 3-legged cat. The only thing he can't do without his right hind leg is scratch his right side.

:dance:  :dance:  :dance: Congratulations, Amy! :dance:  :dance:  :dance:

Do we get to see these wonderful bears?

Awwww . . . what a sweet face! She looks like a newborn, just washed and keeping her eyes shut against the light!

Great advice--thanks, everybody. You're the best! :hug:

I think I need to cut some swatches and experiment with all these methods.

I've got miles of beautiful dense curly mohair, but I want to start making more realistic beasties, and most of them have straight or straightish fur.

I agree with Linda about chemicals like glue, but modern hair straighteners come with very good neutralizers--I know, because I once straightened my daughter's hair, bleached it, and dyed it purple. It was painful, but better than letting her do it herself, and the hair stayed strong and healthy! By the way, she's turned into a very respectable, natural haired, traditional mommy.

Great tip about heat defense products, Sue. I think I've got an antique bottle of heat-activated conditioner somewhere. I'm inclined to go with Joanne's suggestion about ironing.

I've tried mousses and gels, Kerilyn and Michelle. They're not gunky after you brush and blow dry, but they are temporary. They do change the direction of the fur, but don't take the curl out.

I don't really know how the mohair mills set the curl--it must be with chemicals or heat, or both. Does anyone know?

How did I miss a BABY?!!

She's absolutely gorgeous, and obviously already idolizing her older sister!

Has anyone ever found a good way to turn curly mohair straight?

I've tried taping, washing/conditioning and blowdrying/brushing, and they help--but they don't really remove the curl completely.

Is it possible to steam or iron the curl out? . . . I used to iron my hair straight in college!