Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Oh yes, I'd love to!... but right now I am sick with that ickey virus that's going around. I have COPD level 4 and chronic bronchitus already so it hit me very hard. I think it darn near almost did me in..... for a few times I had some severe episodes.... I am on antibiotics and streroids . .... It would be really fun to get together with you gals, just what I need...depends on how soon I will get well, if not then there is always tomorrow....Spring is in the air so traveling around here is beautiful....Winney

Oh Judi..I can't see them, what happened to the pictures ? There are little red x's where they should be ....Winney

I found something that makes a great " fur picker outer " I use a seam ripper...but  use the longer prong end the opposite way to pull the fur out with ( not against the sharp slot )...it is avantageous because you have something firm like a handle to grip onto.
Around the foot or paw pad I find if you slide that point under the fur and draw the fur  out going in the "opposite" direction instead of popping it up and out.... it comes out better....try it, it works for me...Winney

Daphne, I like your idea using business cards for tags and having material info. on the back. I use a tag I had printed, (only on one side tho ) then I write the info in and laminated the tag.The laminate is just clear shelf paper for protecting documents I bought at Walmart, it works fine.
I then had some  cloth and metallic woven tags made  basically with my business name and by....me, this gets folded and sewn onto the side of the bear under the arm. ....Winney

I don't know but I have a feeling it needs to be heat set...with a blow dryer may work...but wait till someone else who has done this before helps here....Welcome to the board !........Winney

This is an interesting topic. I think it is good to list as much as you can about your piece to protect your self and comply with rules which brings me to another question...

The bears we make are generally NOT toys ,they are SOFT SCULPTURE ART, target market is to ADULT COLLECTORS not children..They should " lawfully" be classified the same as any other art like procelian or sculptured art dolls, no matter what  materials are used which can be many.... same as collage or mixed media paintings, weavings which can have all kinds of things hanging off of them . 
Somehow the law has got us cornered into the " stuffed toy" class  which has yet to be resolved ...wonder if it will ever change ?................. Winney

Oh Judi, that cow sounds like  a real scream ! Can you post her picture here,  I'd love to see this queen...Winney

Laura...Give Frebreez a try. They make 2 strengths, regular house and auto. Auto is a lot stronger.

I had a bear that smelled like tabacco smoke which is a very difficult odor to remove. I sprayed it once with the regular Frebreez. After it dryed I could still smell the smoke so...I sprayed him again while fluffing the fur up a bit and to fub in the solution , then I set him out side on a towel on the covered patio table so he got plenty of fresh air .
This time he smelled just fine and after several days even the Freebrez softens so then he smelled just clean !
                                                                                                            ............. Winney

Hi Dilu.. I don't have any problem sewing the edges  with the office glue..it is so light . I use to use white glue and water which was a  real stiff problem .

I only hand sew the head, soles and paws on real fur...using a back stitch.

I do not emb. the nose except sometimes on tiny bears. I do my trademark custom leather nose.

I don't turn a seam allowance under at the ear bottoms, overcast then hand stitch to the bears target ear spot.

I stuff the head firm but not hard..the rest is understuffed on purpose to keep stress off the pelts.

                                                                                         ..............Winney

Me too, I mean.... get a hold of Nancy's book for ALL the right stuff on real fur bears. Fabulous bear Judi!

First thing you do is carefully remove the lining and be observant for any weak or damaged spots .
I look over the fur really well FRONT and BACK...then on the skin side I mark in red any areas to avoid using.
I mark the DIRECTION of the fur nap in black with arrows. to guide me when placing parts later

I use muslin to line every part , cut the muslin parts out then stick them onto the skin with a roll up office glue stick.

I overcast all my parts together before any machine or hand stitching.

If you use a 1/4' seam then you could trim the seams .... I only trim seams IF it needs it on some parts.

I use a regular machine needle on OLD furs as it makes smaller holes than leather needles .The stitch is a little longer than the  usual 12 per. inch for stitching ...maybe a 10 per. inch. Test your machine  on a sample piece of fur.

I use strong thread...like Guttermans or Metresone for maching stitching and hand sewing.

Make your openings for turning parts bigger than usual for a bear.

Trimming the muzzle ....I do little as possible with some furs.....You want to be sure all the head pieces do not have any " empty" spots where the fur is missing or leather strips may have been sewen to hold the pelts together.
Of course you would have pre-selected the best fur for the head , ears, at the start .

I use 4" German brand scissors to trim but there may be a better way as suggested, give it a try on a piece of scrap fur.

You will want to trim at least minimally , under the eyes cutting across the fur but going in the SAME  direction as the fur " grows " . Then after you emb.the mouth you can trim that also going in the SAME direction as the fur " grows".
Trimming mink so it is nice and dosn't look choppy is mainly dependant on keeping the scissors level and always cutting " with" the nap .

If you get Nancy's book she will have so much more in photos to guide you ...... Winney

Oh Happy Mom's Day to all of you ! Lovely photos , flowers and greetings..what a loving group .
HI there Laura ! LOve that photo of you and your bear...it looks so naturally like you !....Winey

Hmmmmm,Thank's for trying Shelli. No I don't think anything changed...I'll go take a peek....Winney

Another one ???? Do I have more ? Well....there is the one about the FIRST jointed  real fur bears I ever made ...I easily got myself into this one... a bit over my head, any time, any place....which is usual for me  as you will see....I will call it the story of faith hope and charity ...sorta........

I heard the Anaheim Doll & Teddy Convention was due to open in the Anaheim area, in fact right across from Disney, I live about 4 miles from there ! Goodie !!! But I was totally broke ...really broke...I mean not even a piggy bank of change broke. I thought; Why is it whenever I  could get a chance to possibly  forge ahead I can't because I never have any money .I know If I could just go it would really lift my spirits and I could see  other artists work and talk to people...price materials ....after all it is market research . If I could just go, I  may meet an opportunity ...who knows?

So.. I told my hubby I was going..He says; " What for? You don't have any money to spend". I said , "I am not going to go with the idea to spend money...I am going for exposure and to  learn from others." Beside , sometimes you never know who you will meet or what you will see that can make a difference ".   That drew a blank...so I added; " I am not going to miss it this time....  , I will take the $5. entry to the show out of the grocery money " If you can take me I will save $3. parking and then pick me up at 4:00  , OK ?  He said OK....

Oh boy !!! Turn me loose ! I paid for my ticket and could hardly wait to get in. Holy Moley there was 400 booths ! Way back in the room there was two lines of tables all connected together that went from one side of the building to the other just full of all the judged entries . Party Time ! That took me at least an hour to go thru, what a wonderful bunch of bears and dolls , vinettes, etc. I had to keep my mouth closed so I did not step on my tongue.

Now for the booths.. Oh my gosh I saw Kathy Myers ! Her fur bears are to die for...she sold out within 30 min. of opening. I shyly asked her ;" What kind of needle do you use to emb. the nose"? She said; " A sharp one " Ha..I thought that did not answer a thing for me, was she being rude ?Hmm, don't know... "( Later on, I found out there is a needle called a Sharp )

I just wandered the isles  for hours being drawn to sculpting  demos,  bears, dolls, fabrics , trims .....  anything that caught my eye.....Eye candy,,,feels like Christmas..... what package should I open next ?  What am I looking for ..dunno but I will know it  when I find it......just then, right next to me I spotted a lady's booth where she had a huge array of fabrics and loads of neat trims, etc...I just sort of stood in one place while I scanned her area like a survalence camera.. ...  l love fabrics, I love materials to create with...boy I wish I had some money !...now, now, you said you would not covet, help me here Lord.

The conversation started with the usual. She was from Wisconsin, doing this show because the gentelman she nodded to sitting over there..... well ,his wife passed away and left a garage and warehouse  just full of stuff like this, I am selling it for him. As she was talking.. I was politely looking at the stuff  when all of a sudden my eyes lit upon a bushel basket in the corner full of .... and before I realized it I said out rather loud..... FURS !!! I need those furs !!!

She stopped talking as we both went to the basket... I said ," oh I'm sorry ..to cut you off.... I make real fur bears and I could really use these furs ". She said; " You make real fur bears ? ?? Oh that's just too wonderful! Her eyes lit up and she blurted out " I can't believe it ! Before I left for the show my daughter said ;" Mom when you get to the show ,try and find someone that makes real fur bears ".She threw her hands up waving them around in unison as she said: " I have my daughters white stole in the motor home, I'll go get it "!!! ..and off she went in a flash .
I thought...oh boy....I'm in trouble now..........

While she was gone I thought;  How am I going to get these furs when I don't have any money? She wants me to make a bear ?....  I have never even made a jointed fur bear before  ..don't know how...... oh heck it can't be that hard...but what do I charge ? Better think fast before she gets back... OK $10 per. inch, same as mohair bears .

She was back in a flash too...holding up a very pretty white mink stole, called Rare Blue Emba ( Mink  ) .
" My daughter got it as a gift for having the highest in real estate  sales for one year, it is really special.
Can you make 2- 14 "  bears ? How much would you charge ? I said $10. an inch is the usual , that would be $140. ..she said; "For both bears" ? I could see she was not familiar with artist bears prices..I said; Nooo...for one... and her face fell  but I quickly said...." Now, don't fret...... maybe we don't need to exchange any monies ......at all."

What would you say to a trade ?...Her eyes lit up..OK ! So, I got the basket of furs and a bunch of other neat items like antique trims, burnt velvets  amounting to $ 280. and I gave her my little old out of date business card, we shook hands smiling  and that was it....A deal on a promise and a shake..don't you just love trust when it happens?
When my  husband picked me up I was dragging 2 huge bags full of  " stuff" I needed to start my business up making real fur bears. I said " Honest honey...I did not spend a dime ".

So you will know...I did make the " twin" bears  for mom and daughter and  they turned out really pretty...I found out what it was like to emb.  nose's on real pelts and I taught myself to scissor sculpt..Funny, I should have been freaked out  to even cut into that stole...but I wasn't....some things are just ment to be.
I made them long scarves from the beige satin lining with lace on one side and a small  lace ruffle at the bottom, one bear had the owners emb. name, Linda , on the scarf. I made a few pink satin rolled roses that had a special loop in the back to tie the scarf thru....fuss, fuss, fuss .Oh don't they look pretty !

After they were shipped I pondered over how the bears came to be...What an unusual  odd happening that I should meet that lady out of 400 booths,  that needed a bear....two bears....that would supply me with enough mink  fur collars and other materials ...that would not cost me even a dime......that would give me the chance to spread my wings to create ......and give me the validation that I could rise to the occasion and lift my spirit.

But then ...maybe it was not a happening out of place or by  chance ....... so this is what it is like to be on the receiving end of a blessing of a  gift of faith, hope and ...charity . Thank you Lord.........

                                                                                 The end of another happy bear story..............
PS. Sometimes, more often than not, we bear
makers are the object of an unsuspecting blessing.

I have another story that is really special ...
After I made my friend Donna a real mink bear from her moms old collar , you know she just had to show her off to the anyone. Well...her sister in law  was just dying to have a bear. She said; "  I don't have a fur but my husband does...it use to  belong to his little petite aunt Betty who was a buyer for I Magnin in N. Y. for years... until she died at age 92.
He has kept the beautiful mink stole in the closet loosly covered with muslin for at least 15 years and is very protective about that stole. He's  a conservative man but  loved his aunt a lot. I Magnin gave the stole as a gift to Betty years ago as an award for her years of service ?... she wore it to work every single day along with a petite  pearl bracelet .

They decided they would try and talk to him  ( gang up, he, he) about having a mink bear made from Betty's stole. Reluctantly he gave in...The ladies excitedly called me. I always ask several questions about the person who originally owned the fur;It gives me so much more of an idea of what I want to do to create this special bear for the person.
What was aunt Betty like, her favorite color, what would have been her prime years; 1950's. and are there any other pins, jewlery that could be used ? Wonderful...they rushed right over with the georgous stole and 2 gold pearl coat pins, and the bracelet .You could tell the stole had been an expensive one...

So... I made aunt Betty as the rag doll type ( so animated  ) with head ,paws and feet from dark mink fur ...like Donnas bears and dressed her up to the hilt... She wore a mauve silk taffata 1950" raglan long sleeve  gown with a pleated cumberbund waist band , full skirt. Underneath was a silky slip with lace edge and she wore long legged "tricot" nylon panties with the typical side slit , pink bows and tiny rose.
The bracelet fit just perfectly for a necklace ,I turned the gold pearl pins into dangle earrings . Oh my,  the jewlery was real gold and real pearls.

As I was making Betty I had a story line in my head; Oh, yes...she would be going to the I Magnin Annual Ball so she will need a sequined mauve envelope  purse with a  satin cord handles,  that really opened as she would have to have her real " invitation " to pass the door men. That turned out real cute...
The ball was held at the Bilton Hotel on Honey Suckel Lane , in the Holly Woods  and offered plenty of Limos and honey cakes, etc....what fun I had with that. I have a copy of it in my bear remembrances book .

... Betty was done but as I posed her for the photo shoot  I just felt something was missing...but what ?
Oh , I know...she must have her mink stole ! I just HAD to make that for Betty to be complete...Oh, how perfect that would be ! The girls were not expecting it but I would design it for Betty must have it...to be Betty!

A week later and several trials in fake fur to design the  ACTUAL repliqua of  Betty's stole...I finally had it....I was absolutely on my own high for Betty to look so cute... I used the embroidered  Betty name that was on the original stole inside the bears stole... they are going to get a kickout of that !

Time for pick up...this is going to be fun. The gals showed up and squeeled with delight at every detail of
" Aunt Betty from I Magnin "  ... What a pleasure, we all had fun with this love gift...
I heard about it later...The wife presented Aunt Betty to her hubby, he was absolutly astonished and was so taken by her that he chocked up....... He now keeps her in a glass cabinet  where he can  see her everyday and anytime someone new comes to the door, first thing he does is to  run to that cabinet to get aunt Betty to introduce her to them....

                                                          The end to another happy story...... ...Winney

OK..I'm going to start a new thread for anyone's  special bear stories to share ...Winney

I have more bear stories if you want to read them...I mean, is it OK to do that on this board ? I think they reveal a lot about the teddy bear as one of the perfect symbols of love....Winney

I have used the clipper on real fur bears...I wonder if the synthetic will dull the blades faster, anyone know ? ...Winney

Cindy ...I use to see her book in doll books...thank's for the link, that will probably be just what I need.....Winney

Wait !!!!! I was using a mustache trimmer which works fine but the batteries kept dying on me so I went out and got a plug in trimmer...Winney

I think the German fabric back weave is tighter then the English....Winney

Oh how funny...wonderful stories make the heart so merry.... My hands are OK , I only hand sew the soles and the head pieces on real fur bears...and of course the ears. I do not use  leather needle as it poke too big a hoie in the old pelts, I use the skinniest needle I can get away with, usually a Sharps needle.

What a wonderful story about the aged lady. I have a few stories but the one I love the most is about one of the first real fur bears I made.....
I worked at a craft store in the Floral dept. , my superviser did beautiful  tole painting and she dearly loved bears...I made bears and we became close friends. Well, she was telling me when her mom passed away all she had from her was a fur collar and a gold locket. I thought how sad... the fur is so soft and the locket had her picture in it.

There was a tole class coming up on a wooden cow clock...cute! Donna offered to paint it for me and I said; " Hey, why don't we trade crafts " ? I will make you a fur bear and you do my clock ! So...next time she came in she brought the fur and collar and I gave her the clock kit to paint.( Ihad never made a real fur bear before).

My hubby picked me up from work, on the drive home I kept thinking ;Gee I wish I could make her a bigger bear, one that she could hug like her mom  and one that could wear her mom's locket....wouldn't that be perfect?
So I begin to think...What if ? What, how.... how could I do this IF I could uhhhhh....and it came to me....Oh my gosh ! I will make just the head, paws and feet out of fur and the rest from muslin then dress it ! That's it !
So I designed the pattern. Next day I asked her to bring in some of her favorite color fabric and some white lacey cotton....but I didn't tell her what I was doing.I didn't know what I was doing either but I was going to do it...it has to work .

A week later I brought the bear into work.... in a paper bag. I had dressed her bear " Memory" in a long sleeve  white cotton with lace victorian blouse and a pioneer skirt  red ,with tiny white dots that had a flounce at the hem and a large bow  tied in the back,she also wore white pantaloons.

The best thing tho is she turned out to be 17" tall and wore her mothers locket around her neck.She did look so sweet... Wow, Donna was so  surprised, the  look on her face was worth a million, then she was just in tears...she said ;" I was expecting a tiney little bear .... how did you do this "? ' Oh I'm gonna love it to pieces !

Later on there was a second boyfriend  bear made to match ; " Donnie " with ill fitting pants made from some well worn jeans and he wore a white shirt with red buttons that would not stay tucked in even tho he wore red suspenders. He ahd a few red patches here and there...in his pocket was a ball of string, a penny, a very small plastic harmonica that really worked and a crumpled note with Memory's phone # on it...
I made a red  stuffed heart with  cotton eyelet ruffle around it  from the skirt material ...and  I embroidered " Luv Ya Ta Pieces" on the heart  ......  End of one happy story....series to be continued later..... Winney

Dilu...My hands hurt sometimes a lot... after hand sewing real fur bears, stuffin bears, and whatever else.

I recently develped a bear that is so much easier on my hands..it's head is firm stuffed , the feet, paws are medium stuffed then  the rest is pellets  and a small amount of the bounciest  filling you can get..it
s that silky stuff that will not pack down, wonderful for  super soft bear . I use this pattern a lot when working with real furs  as it takes the stress off the pelts and me too....Winney

Oh my...you girls have it ...yeah !

   I need a long sleeve pull over for small bears like a 6" and a 10" and 14" .
I have one pattern for a turtle neck long sleeve sweater, fits a 3 to 5" bear.Yes, I will be making some tiny bears too.
I can size them up or down by changing the type of yarn or needle size.Little jackets or cartigans and hats would be nice too....really anything that's cute... I am not an expert knitter but can bumble thru a pattern if it's not too complicated... I sure appreciated anything you  gals can send me via e-mail. See my profile for my address...Winney

Does anyone know where I can get some free patterns for knitted and crochet teddy sweaters?
I only found one on the internet , it is knit with a shoulder closure. ...Winney

Hi Paula...welcome to the group of us crazy teddy bear makers....Winney