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Plum is beautiful, you are very talented, I saw your other little bear on Ebay at weekend and he stood out from the crowd. Hannah
Aww, she certainly is cute as a button! Love the cheeks, and the toes, and the fabric inside her ears, and the eyelids, and... where was that bear fair? :crackup:
Thankyou, the bear fair is in Leeds Pudsey on the 28th March, so excited. Hannah
Introducing Eleanor, part of my Cute as a button range for my first bear fair.
I am making a range of Bunnykins for my next fair in pudsy leeds, hope you like her. Hannah
Jacob was born in 2010 and is available on my website. Hannah
I know what you mean, I bought some lovely pink faux fur but Mohair is so much easier to sew and cut. I gave up in the end There is a lot a skill that goes into sculting the face when using faux fur. I might have another try one day. but for now having small children and fur every where does not mix. Hannah
Just put my little snow bear on ebay he is 3 inches and he loves the snow.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? … :MESELX:IT
Hannah
Here's one for the mavericks out there who've made a bear's head with the pile direction on the gusset going forward (toward the nose) rather than back.
I really like the effects you can get with scissors -- with those "bangs" hanging down over the bear's eyes. My question is: Do you have any problems with the fur on the back of the head (i.e. do you do anything special like split the gusset horizontally so that you don't have fur running up the back of the head instead of down?)
I've got some pretty long mohair that I'd like to try this with, but I wonder what the contrast in fur direction will look like.
Thanks!
Becky
Thankyou Becky for this post, I am really interested in the design of heads at the moment and spliting the gusset sounds a great way of getting a different look. will try it. Hannah
My christmas bear available on my website.
baildon bears wrote:Thanks, I understand now but I am really intrigued by the darts in the head, do you think it would work with a 4 inch bear? Trying to read these messages and picture a head gusset is making my head hurt. I think I might have to get out some cheap fabric and experiment I need visuals. Hannah
Hi Hannah, I can't speak for the centre seam in tiny bears, but I can definitely say darts in the gusset (and head side) most definitely work in 4" bears and even smaller:) I use darts in the gusset a lot.
Thankyou, I have tried it and i was really pleased with the result, its amazing how little ajustments here and there can give you a completly different look. Hannah
I hate fray check, it smells horrible and bleeds into the fabric and make your seams really stiff. I only use it if I have to, I make minatures and I find schulte Mohairs needs no fray check, I also use cashmere fabrics for paw pads that does not fray, if I was useing velvets I would definatly have to fray check, I also sew very close to the edge. Hannah
Thanks Becky, I think I understand but I will just have to do it and see. might be hard to take pictures of my mini bear heads but I will have a go. This forum is really making me think much more about the design of each of my bears. Hannah 
Baildon bears wrote:Im confused, what is a two piece centre seam gusset?
Cut a gusset down the middle length-wise. Add seam allowances to the cut edges, and you have a two-piece center-seam gusset.
They give a bear a different look, especially with the right fur, and in the case of antique bears, they were a way to save fabric on every twelfth bear since the workers very carefully cut as many pieces as possible from a bolt (or something like that -- so the story goes). I imagine the library here has good information on center-seam bears.
Becky
Thanks, I understand now but I am really intrigued by the darts in the head, do you think it would work with a 4 inch bear? Trying to read these messages and picture a head gusset is making my head hurt. I think I might have to get out some cheap fabric and experiment I need visuals. Hannah
If you use a two piece centre seam gusset, instead of having two straight centre seams, you can widen/shape each side slightly at the top of the head. It's difficult to explain, but will add a rounded dome to the top of the head. The centre seams from the end of the nose to the top of the head should be straight and the centre seams of the rear part of the head should also be straight. The widening is very subtle and should not be overdone. I used this method with my avatar bear.
Regards
Sue
Im confused, what is a two piece centre seam gusset?
He is so sweet, I love his curley tail 
I completly know how you feel, I feel completly alone where I live, nobody understands my craft, my family and friends look at me with a kind of (shes bonkers look) my husband is only just starting to get it and only because I am actually selling my bears for a resonable amount and am selling quite alot, he said to me the other day, are you keeping track of what your selliing as we will need to put it through the buisness, its the first time he as actually looked at my bears as a growing cottage industry buisness. Talking to people on forums makes me realize I am not alone. Hannah
Just popped my latest anime rabbit and bag on eBay. She is my favouite so far.
I have just put this little rabbit on Ebay for a 7 day listing, I usually put my rabbits on a buy now price but I thought I would take the risk and put a low starting bid 
Hope she does ok.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dII? … :MESELX:IT
I have finaly managed to get my ebay address to work 
really annoying
What a cute little guy...I love his freckles...did you make them or were they in the wool?
The freckles were dotted on useing fabric pen. Hannah
He is adorable.
How tall is he? What's his name?
Beary hugs,
Sophie.
He is just 4 inches sat and is called Pippin
I have just completed this bear, I was inspired by a beautiful wool I purchased and this is the result, he turned out looking a bit more like a dog, but i am really pleased with him. Hannah
I part stuff the arms and legs insert the joint, then add my steel shots abit more stuffing then sew the seam closed. I attach the completed head first, its really important to put eyes in before you attach the head so as you dont get that denting in the head. then the arms and then the legs. Hope this helps, its all trail and error and you will find your own way in the end. Hannah
I have just finished my latest bear i have made for my friend who is haveing a baby very soon. have needle felted her pink cheeks for the first time. Hannah
Hope the picture shows been having some probs
My inspiration comes from all sorts of things, but mainly my large stash of trims and fabrics, each bear inspires the next. I remember at art collage having a creative block, but finding something you completely love creating like bear making for me, I don't think I will ever run out of ideas and inspiration. I think I might explode with ideas sometimes. Hannah
[img]I really want to add more depth to my bears faces, I make 4 inch bears so faces are quite small. I usually use fabric pens but I am finding them to harsh and also if I make a mistake it completely ruins the bear, is there something I can use to build up gradual colour. Hannah
