Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Good tip, thanks and I will do that. I have Dritz and it's great. What do you use to draw with? I touched a bead of Dritz on ink and it bled.

I am so scared to cut into this mohair. But I am so excited I can't stand it. I bought some ultra-sparse curly matted from Intercal.

Should I use any kind of Fray-check on the edges? It seems like I could most definitely pull away at the backing. And yes, I will be very careful not to cut the hair. I've been practicing on the corner to get closest to the backing.

Wow, I am really impressed. Such a sweet face. I tried sculpting and it's tough. It was fun but you can go on for hours and never been finished. It's going to be a lovely piece.

Wow, that is an amazing creation. Gorgeous!

I have a leather punch with a wheel on it so you can choose all different size holes. The actual punch is very very sharp, unlike a paper punch. It's almost like a cutter. I've had it for like 100 years and it works perfectly.

Thanks Sue Ann! That's what I was kinda figuring.

I've been reading a lot of material regarding jointing. I read one book where they said try to use the same size joints for everything. I had some verbal advice to use as large a joint as you can for durability. It makes sense to use different sizes since the head is much larger than my arms on my pattern. I suppose I could have made my limbs the same size but I drew the pattern a certain way and to make all the joints the same size would compromise the design. I already ordered my joints but thought this would be a good question for bear #2. Seems silly to change my design just to save a buck on a joint.

There are about 5 bears on this board I would love to purchase. The are all priced differently and most are well over $150+. While I cannot afford one right now, that does not  sway me from wanting to buy one. I have to keep saving. I have never looked at the prices and thought, "Ew that's too much." I know the work that goes into these bears. These bears are artwork and each one has a different appeal. If somebody likes your bear, they will pay the price. For every 10 bears I love, there are 10 bears that don't have the tug on my inner soul, but are equally as beautiful and well-made and well-deserved of their price. I HAVE come across bears and thought, "Oh, they need to raise their prices." But then secretly I say to myself, "If I tell them, they will raise them and I will have to save MORE money!" lol 

That is WAY too cute. I think she is darling!!!

Another thing you could do is take a little rubber ball (the kind kids play and get in goodie bags at birthday parties) and slice it a little bit with an xacto and shove in the back of the needle. I know how you feel, it starts to hurt after a couple hours!

Cute doggie by the way!!!

Thanks!

I just ordered some mohair from intercal! This will be my new adventure. You're right, I do need to make another cupcake bear. I have one half finished sitting here.  My blog is so suffering....

Holy cow that guy is adorable! I think the ears have a lot of character and they look perfect. The cookies and candy are fabulous. Are the polymer clay? Love the green mohair!

But I wouldn't use that if I went the cotter pin and disk route, right? Do y'all do cotter pin and disk on all five joints?

Can I use the same jointing method for the head as I would the limbs?

I have a hand-quilting thread (for my quilts) that is 32% cotton and 68% polyester (Coats & Clark). Smooth and buttery. But definitely breakable.

I think I'll try my upholstery thread for hand-sewing my bear. I'll see how the process goes for me. I don't think I can handle the stress of fighting with bobbin tension right now on a machine. LOL.

Great stuff, I have used it for years. Plus smells great. I also used that super expensive ($30 a box) scar treatment where you put gel "band-aid" things on the scar. Didn't work for me. My ortho said that my nerves attached themselves to the scar under the skin and caused a snarled mess.

I cannot IMAGINE having my kneecap on the side of my leg. The visual alone is making me cringe. Good grief Cheryl!

Anyway, I like that idea of basting the seams first. I don't like slippage with pins and machine sewing. And yes...Intercal has an amazing choice of threads. On a sidenote, I went to get the hunk of mohair I was eyeing and they emailed me to say they had "just" sold it. 

Yes and its awful. Had to rub it the day after surgery (ouch). I had 7 months of therapy the first surgery. My scarring was so bad that he cut out the scars this time and only used stitches on one of the incisions. The other one (on the knuckle) he didn't use stitches for fear of it clamping down again. It's looking good though. Nerve surgery is slooooooooow to heal. My hand was a mess after my wreck. Almost had joint replacement.

Brenda,

No, its the result of a mountain biking accident a year ago. (broken hand, torn ligaments and completely blew apart my knuckle). This time around he did nerve and tissue surgery to the area. So I don't have all the feeling back in my left hand. Doctor said it could take 6+ months for the feeling to come back. Swell.

Totally unrelated to thread...in case anybody is reading this...

What is the width of the mohair at intercal? Is the bolt size like the fabric store?

I am looking at a bargain piece and it says it's 7". Does that mean it's 7x58?

Geez    Can you tell how frustrated I am? I even looked there but didn't bother to scroll down. Maybe it's my painkillers.  Thanks Sue Ann. 

I know there has to be a topic somewhere but I cannot find it.

What thread do y'all use to sew? Can I use hand quilting thread or shall I use upholstery thread or neither?

Here's the deal...I am on my second hand surgery in less than 6 months and my creativity has floundered. I am just bummed out. Therefore I am going to take a stab at a mohair bear to rejuvinate my spirit. Or maybe it will just frustrate the crap out of me.  It will be a smallish bear, I think around 8 inches. I am planning to get some bargain end pieces at Intercal. I like the sparse ratty looking mohair.

My daughters name is Lauren Camille and my son is Reid Gabriel.

I like the name Violet. Boy names are tough!

Can't wait! I am going to a private showing at IMAX in 3-D!!!

That is so cool. I hope you get it. I would LOVE to teach art. I got a job last week. I wanted it really bad. It's teaching elementary PE. It's full time but the hours are so awesome because I get off at 3:15 and can be home with my kids to cook dinner! Woopee!

You look fantastic! And good grief the hair is gorgeous!!! DO NOT CUT IT! I'd love to have hair like that.