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I baste the bigger bears nose/muzzle area....but that's about it. When I make a mini bear I just hand sew....well that's about the same as basting so i just take smaller stitches and get it done.
When I do real fur bears I use the extra large paper clips....
Gollys? Nope not at all....Not really anything there to baste...and who would know the differance if they looked a little off kilter....I mean that's their normal state!...Being off kilter.
Golly hugs Dawn
dilu
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OFF KILTER !!!! You crack me UP!!!!!! :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:
:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:
Jodi Falk
Thanks Jodi, you must have been reading my mind! I've been thinking of trying a miniature bear so you may be getting some questions from me in the near future
:hug:Kathleen
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Kathleen,
Bring them On dearie !!!! :dance: If I can Help I surely will !!!
Bear Hugs .... Jodi falk
Claudia,
Welcome back. I guess I am new to you also. I have been on TT about 2 months now or so . But wanted to jump in and say HI and welcome back. Looking forward to getting to know you.
Bear Hugs... Jodi falk
I've been using the alligator clips for several years and make smaller bears. Couldn't do without them. I only hand-sew and I baste the foodpads first like Shelli does.
Marion
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Can you send a picture of that alligator clip ?? I think I know what it is. I hand sew every thing now. I love it . Even for a 10 inch bear , I still love it. I do a back stitch and you can't really tell if I used a machine or not when it is finished. It is nice and tight.But I still use pins, even with a 3 incher.I have just gotten used to it.
Jodi Falk
Boy I remember a 16 th birthday party for my son. The whole high school showed up. We had a pool at the time . Oh My !!! They trashed my basement carpet with cake !! I thought I would never get it cleaned up !! But I survived also. What mothers do for the kids !! We love them so much we will put up with anything !!!
Jodi Falk
OH BOY I can't wait !!! I have some longer mohair that I am not using now that I do smaller bears , Any one got some Sassy fur ? The Smokey long pile ?? Or NO3 mohair like I like to use on my 5 inchers??? Boy I have allot of supplies from years ago !!!! For small and bigger bears. LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!! I have allot of mini fabric also that is different from the sassy fur.I am excited !!!!
:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:
Jodi Falk
Thanks Karen....sorry I should have said that the only thing done so far to him was the needle sculpting and the insertion of eyes...he has a long way to go still and I am as we speak starting the scissor sculpting...but thank you again Karen, your opinion is worth alot to me... :hug: and I can't wait to get your opinion on the finished product as well.
Want me to post pics as I go????
Also what do you think, should I do all his shading in natural colors, like his feet and ears, or add some K Pawz quirks?Hugs,
Krista
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Do pictures !!!!!!
Do something different !! Some times you stumble up on your best look by trying new things !!! And I have had a mistake turn out to be wonderful in the end > Be wild !! Just jump in !!!
It was great fun , I really enjoyed it !!! :dance: Hope someone learned a trick or two. :dance:
Bear hugs.........Jodi Falk
Maybe we should do one sometime where a pattern is handed out and we see how it comes out when we do our own thing to it.
What do you think ??? If I need to train the newbees along the way I can. Just a thought.
Thank you Sarah, How nice of you to respond. I hope you enjoyed it . Bear Hugs...... I want to try another pattern in this Sassy fur. This little guy was hard to photograph, the pictures don't do him justice. Some times that happens on mimi's. They look much bigger than what they are. My sons girlfriend picked him up tonight and the most wonderful noise came out of her !! It felt good to watch her enjoy him. Thats the best part!! The smiles it brings !!!
Jodi Falk
My first sassy bear . 3 1/2 inches. I did a project for new artists with him step by step. This is Petie !!
Bears by Jodi
Jodi Falk
Goodness gracious...would anyone like a "Start to finish Basket Project"???Just let me know....
Hugs,
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I would like to see a basket made, Any one else ????
Jodi Falk
Jodi, I think it was just wonderful of you to take the time to put together this tutorial. It will be a wonderful help for new bearmakers. There is nothing like actually seeing something done rather than just reading instructions. I would have loved something like this when I was first starting out. You are a real sweetie.
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I am so glad you liked it. It did take all day but it was an act of love. I am a visual learner so I just wanted to help out some how in sharing with someone who just needed to see. Thanks again.
Jodi Falk / Bears by jodi
3107 people have looked at this topic !!! Who are they ???? People are watching. Hi people !!!!! Do any of you have ideas that haven't shared? You collectors ??? What would you all like to see?
Jodi Falk
Try acrilic paints watered down. Spray the bear with a mist of watter ,then make a watery paint mixture and rub in where you want it. Let dry out in the sun. After spray some hair spray or mist and fluff up the fur. Let dry. You will live it.
Even if you learn just one thing to day it has been worth the time I spent. I took a personal day today from work to finish for TT. Just could not bring my self to go to work with this project hanging in the air. But tomorrow it is back to work I go !!! 
So I hope now some one else will do a project also. And it could be a doll , it could be a basket, it could be felting. I would like to learn that. I would like to learn how to felt on to a bears face. So ........ any ideas ????
Now, where were you last month????? Just kidding! This is a great tool for beginners....like myself. I worked my first bear using tips from TT, a free hand sewing stitch guide and Tammy from Beckoning Bears!
This is a very nice thing for you to do!
JeannieB :)
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Jeannie,
You are very welcome. I am not afraid to share. Even though you may see my pattern , it would never turn out the same. If I gave a pattern to 10 people we would get 10 different bears !!! No matter what. And If I can help you in any way I surely will. Bear Hugs I send to you !! I hope you can understand my directions. It has been a long time that I have been making bears and some things I am sure you would still like to know , so just ask.
Jodi Falk
Great lessons, Jodi . . . can't wait for the next one
What size seam allowance do you use on a mini?
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Just big enough to make sure you are catching the fabric on both sides. Look at the sides of the head photo.See how close it is?
And last step Kiss your bear !!!!!
He measures 3 1/2 inches small. And his name is Petie !!!
After jointing, then stuff your head, put on ears , eyes, nose and joint head to body. In the same way I did the arms and legs. This is where all the artist tricks are( the head) but if you have a question I will try to help.Stuff your legs, arms, and body. I use tweesers. Use small amounts of stuffing at a time and stuff firmly, and evenly. Ladder stitch closings on arms , legs, and body. Then You decorate bear how you want.
Now we are ready for jointing. I decided to use a hand made joint because of the bears size. I used waxed dental tape. It is stronger than dental floss. I doubled it used a small disc and a small button. Disk and button inside of arm,bringing threads through the arm, then bring threads through a hole you have punched into the body for the jointing of the arm and go through it and put floss through the disc then button when you are on the inside of the body. Square knot several times tightly. Do the same for legs and head. It works, I just came up with that method.See first picture.This is one side of the disc. Then it goes through the arm on the inside fabric on the inside part of the arm and thread goes through body and you place a disc then a button and tie off.
Turn the body right side out. I use tweezers to do this.
Next I have done the ears.PLace fur side to fur side. Sew the moon shape up around top of the ear leave bottom open to turn. Turn wip stitch bottom Leave that shape or fold bottom and stitch together end to end back to the middle. Leave a long thread attached to sew to the head.
Now turn body .
Next is the leg.Place right sides together.Sew from bottom heal to not quite half . Then leave an opening for turning and continue around to bottom of toe. Do the other the same and add the foot pad. Starting at toe and sew around to the toe again .
