Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I saw that too, does it only show up after a vote?
You can't just pop into the site and see the results can you?
Also found the page setup really awkward.  There were some bears whose pictures showed up in the wrong category...

I'll need an airfare as well, Maria! Thanks (mwah) When is it? Do I need to start packing yet?

We had a pup once who ate a whole box of rubber bands......interesting poop the next day!
poop~poop~poop~poop~poop  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

Susana, I cram as many glass pelletes into some bears as I can so that they have a good weight when held. Into arms , legs and body. Just make sure you have fibre over the joints. 

This technique came to me when I should have been asleep, Bobbie. Like a bolt of lightning. But it does require an extremely fine piece of leather and I think I used 1mm wire, not 2mm. I've done it on a few bears now, and I'm pretty happy with how it works 

You've got to love them! Thanks for the link Sue-Ann     

Depending on timing, I might be able to participate........    Winter swap for us down under though   

Isn't Hope just a gorgeous big sister to these adorable babies! I'm sure she's going to make a wonderful Mum when the time comes      Thanks for sharing, SueAnn I rely on your recommendations, so keep them coming!

Hi Mary, I've just cracked the open/closed eyelid thing.
I used an extremely fine piece of leather (the suede side was the "right" side),  I cut an oval shape that was a little larger than the diameter of the eyes (measuring across the shorter not longer diameter of the oval). I then cut a length of 2mm aluminium wire that sits across the centre of the oval (again the shorter diameter) with some extra length on each side (legs). Now spread a little water based leather adhesive across the middle of the leather oval and place the wire onto it, fold the leather in half so that you have encased the wire along the fold. Now bend the wire legs so that they are more or less at right angles, and also bend a curve in the rest of the wire to fit over the eye. Push a couple of holes into the head at each side of the eye to take the legs of wire, run some very small running stitches around the the curved edge and pull them up slightly so that when you pop the wire legs into the holes beside the eye the top of the lid fits nicely over the eye. Now hold the leather eyelid in it's closed position over the eye and ladder stitch it into place around the top of the eye. Add some stitches from side to side to make sure the eyelid is well secured. In this panda I have added a static bottom eyelid using leather thong and needle felted the whites with merino wool tops. Use the wire to pose the eyelids, open , closed or sleepy. I hope this helps, I've admired your work for many years, Mary. I wish I could look at your website, but for some reason it won't open for me ( maybe it's my dodgy satelite broadband)

And the best thing, Jane, when you get it on your hands you get hours of entertainment peeling the stuff off!!!!! Even better than craft glue!   

It is an intangible thing, Lizzie. I have been to many, many bear shows, as well as doll and bear shows and believe me there is a world of difference between the  "dolly" people and the arctophiles. I have seen dolls carefully wrapped in bubble wrap, plastic and then a box (not neccessarily porcelain dolls) but when it comes to bears......."Oh don't put him/her in a bag she won't be able to breathe!" So what is it I wonder? A new bear mum will happily carry her purchase like a newborn, but the dolls get wrapped and don't see the light of day until they get to their new home and then they are carefully placed into a diplay cabinet. Often the bear gets to share the bed!       

What you want a photo of those silly penguins for? Get one of Meeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!       

Stabbing back stitch is the same as back stitch only you stab from front to back. You can get much smaller stitches this way, I generally use it on tight curves in mini bears and where I really need to have an accurate meeting of seams in all bears (say at the nose end of the head gusset). Otherwise I use running backstitch, which has a much more fluid action. On really small minis I use stabbing backstitch and invisible thread in a size 12 needle, tie a single knot behind the eye of the needle to stop the thread slipping out of the eye.

Good one Dawn!  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup: Only a fellow bearmaker would know what you were talking about!     

Susana, Chris is my husband!
And Peter if he'd said that...........!!!!!!!!
It was funny though, and I think we got some looks because it just cracked me up!   :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

So cute, Sue-Ann! My dog was really interested in the noise! I'm amazed at how tolerant Hope has been with the new bubbies, she's a real sweet big sister! Such a pity my dodgy satelite broadband doesn't allow me to see the live stream.......so keep these coming! THANKS   

Here's a funny but true tale. A while back we were in an electrical store looking for a new refrigerator for my son's new home. While there, we browsed through the store looking at the specials. I saw a rack of beard trimmers and commented that I should get myself one some day and Chris asked me why. I replied "To trim my mohair" He took a really close look at the area between my nose and mouth and said "I didn't think you had a problem with that"  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  DUH! (He was sreious)

WOW WOW WOW! If you can do that well at aged 10, Fenna, just imagine what you can do in years to come! I certainly hope you stay with it and I will look forward to perhaps seeing more of your work      (I love the concentration in Fenna's face when she embroidered that wonderful nose, she's obviously a natural!)

Thanks ladies, I've done it and will wait and see if it works!    

How did they get that pic I wonder.........10 squirmy puppies.  Very very CUTE!!!!!!!!!               

I'm not getting that app showing up    It just isn't there! Hurrumph

While we're on this, how do I get my blog posts to show up on FB? Step by step would be good because I'm rubbish at anything computery 

Katy, if you win one of my little bears in the giveaway.........I hope you have a safe place in your bed for it!!!!    

Awwwww Lynn! I know you, and I know your sense of humour and I do know that your "out theres" won't appeal to many and it's a very good thing that you have a very thick hide! Because I know that you will keep making your creations, be they cute or "unusual". I guess this ol' internet opens us up to a whole world we wouldn't otherwise know, and there will be positives and ALOT of negatives.......as with all things. I know you accept that some of what you do will not be acceptable to some, but I for one appreciates your daring and your humour.......Love to you x x x

Looks almost human with that knowing gleam in his eyes and that grin!