Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Sandy...hugs and heartfelt sympathy to you. It's such a devastating ending to a rotten week and we were all hoping for a recovery for Magic. Don't blame yourself okay...it's just one of those things that happens.
My tears are flowing freely and my heart aches so bad for you.
Holding you in my prayers,
:pray: 

Hee hee...Aleta don't panic deal girl! We have so many members on TT now that you will not be expected to play every time! Heck none of us can do that! If we end up doing monthly challenges, chances are it will be a different crew working on each challenge. No fine print....we all just join in the ones that strike a chord with us and when we feel like it. 'kay?
Settle back down to sleep now...shhh.
Mel, I'm sure that 'SuperQuy' has it within his powers to add another section for challenges. Will wait a few days to see if he's caught the thread and then email him. We're eventually going to run out of space for new sections on this forum!

      Oh Daph...the dreaded B word! I'm sorry  . I guess if you never see another bunny again it will be too soon huh?
The things we do to ourselves....but you'll be a star soon enough and it will all be worth it.

Aleta, Kim and Mel..thanks for your enthusiasm! I think the thing about a challenge is that it really doesn't matter if there are 100 people doing it or only 3...of course the more the merrier though! We can encourage and support each other. Mel..I think it's fabulous suggestion that we have a monthly theme challenge! And those that can join in, great, and if you have to miss a month, that's fine too. The great thing is that we will be pushing ourselves to try new stuff with a huge support team into the bargain. We have so much combined knowledge on this forum that I'd be extremely surprised if there wasn't someone who could help with any problem conceivable. And we can sell our challenge bears so we don't have to justify taking time out to do something different. Who knows, someone may find they have hidden talents!

Marie and Kimbee...you will get all the motivtion you need. Kim..it can be tricky when you have commitments, but maybe this is something you can just play with on the side...a 'just for fun' project. And don't feel bad if this time is bad timing for you...there'll be next time and the time after that and.....oh..maybe Mel's right and we should see how the Easter one goes frst. Ooohhhh but I LOVE the sound of a challenge to outfit a bear in your countries theme. Hmm...would that be thongs and a singlet for us Aussies? 
Aleta..I'm sure there will be others who will be keen to hop in on the challenge (no bunny pun intended...but it was quite clever wasn't it   )..give 'em time girl!   Sheesh...45 mins and no other takers.       I just LOVE the sound of an Easter Chickee...boy, that WOULD be a challenge! Go and have a look at Sue Ann's adorable chickees in her vignette scene under the thread "How to make an eggshell??"" Sooooo cute!!! I'm sure you're up for it ..and a lambie would be adorable too. This is going to be so much FUN!

After seeing all those wonderful Easter Bunnies in the 'Bring out the Easter Bunnies' thread...I wondered if it may be fun to do a challenge? There seem to be quite a few of us who haven't yet made a bunny but would like to have a go...and what we need is MOTIVATION!!
I'm not talking about prizes or anything...merely a set-up like we did with Shelli's digital design challenge...just encouragement to have a go at something new and stretch our imaginations and learn new skills.
And so as not to exclude those who have already made bunnies and would prefer to do something different....we could just make it an Easter Challenge.
What do you think? A challenge to make an Easter character of you own size, media preference and species, be it bunny, mousie, bear...whatever...maybe even an Easter platypus Matilda As long as it has an Easter theme.
Easter is around four weeks away so that gives plenty of time for all. And then if we want, we have Easter Characters to sell so no-one needs to feel they 'can't play' 'cos they are still working on saleable pieces.
Suggestions? Anyone up for it? Could be the beginning of many future challenges...open mouth challenge, multiple double joint challenge, Christmas themes...FUN!!!
Anyone know dates of Easter? I can't find a calendar with them anywhere.

Thanks Eileen..and the skeletal pic was most helpful too. I shall see what I come up with.
Maybe we should have a challenge? Not with prizes or anything...but just like we did with the digital design with Shelli. It may motivate us to have a go at something we haven't tried. I'm off to start a new thread and see if there's any interest. :dance:

Lol....Dilu..you HAD to ask! I laughed out loud at your question...especially after Daphne said what a little ripper is in the states. Older people are sometimes reffered too over here as 'old farts'...but it's an affectionate term (weird race huh?). Mind you, this is generally not a term used by ladies(like me )...generally teens and men.....'ocker' type men. Hmm...and before you ask...'ocker' is slang for Aussie and is used more for those who speak with a strong strine...like Steve Irwin.
Despite what people may think....Steve Irwin is a hugely exaggerated charater and you don't often hear people talk the way he does. I think he may be a tad hyperactive.

Ditto Aleta. Thanks for saying so beautifully what we all know to be true. TT is my friendship circle, my support circle and my sense of where I sit in the whole scheme of teddy bear artistry. I live quite a solitary life and don't enjoy the social scene and yet still have the same yearning to be cared about and  to care for that everyone else does. You guys are better friends than a girl or guy could ever ask for and I am so thankful for being able to share the lives of each and every one of you. :hug:
My only regret is that I can't spend as much time here as I would like....as in all day!
At the moment, I'm only managing once or twice a week, and with 7 or 8 plus pages of posts, I can really only skim them, which is so hard. But I'm having to choose between getting beras made for my first show in May and spending time with you guys......it's a tough choice but the bears must prevail!    
Group hugs all 'round! :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug: 

I smiled, giggled and 'awwww'ed my way through this entire thread. So many gorgeous buns here!  So...I'm just going to have to make a bun.    Now, something I'm wondering all you bunny pros.....is a bunny head basically made just the same as a bear but with long ears?? Hmmm.

Jane,
Is it possible that Holly has had access to either rat poison or slug and snail bait? Both these products cause anaemia in dogs and the pale gums. Just a thought.
Do hope she'll be okay, it's lucky you took her to the vets when you did. Don't blame yourself.  

Tracy,
If it comes to it, remind your folks of how much money they put into bringing you up, education, clothes, non-necessities that we just had to have as teens. Help them see you are just giving a little bit back of what they gave you.

I totally understand where your dad is at...my dad was tossed on the rubbish heap at the same age and it did do terrible things to his self esteem. Years later though, he sees it was a blessing. His work was hard and stressful and he is now quite an accomplished author, having published two books and working on a third. This never would have come about if not for his redundancy. Maybe your dad can try to look at what he'd really like to do and consider semi-retirement...just get a part time job or something? There's no easy answer and unfortunately with our menfolk, often their work is their identity.
I think Donna's suggestion is also a great one re paying some of the bills and definitely putting some food in the fridge or even a casserole here and there.
Your parents are so lucky to have such caring kids.

You did great Melissa...and if I'm not wrong...you have come to the point that was the very reason for the challenge...that you are now confident to have a fiddle with your own avatar.

Shelli,
Don't wait for me after all. I just can't find time to sit down and get on with it this time so will have to join in the next one.
Something that frustrates me is that I now have the skills...but unfortunately I don't have the imagination or foresight to picture what I want to do in Photoshop. You have such great graphic ability...I'd kill for a cup of that. I can sit and look at a template for ages and not know where to start. My imagination needs an overhaul. I am in awe of everyones different interpretations here and just so thrilled for you all. Keep up the great work people! :clap:

That's so great Matilda!! You have every reason to jump up and down...that's very exciting!!! Congratulations...can't wait to read the article!! :dance:

Daphne..I know judi uses and swears by the Createx paints. Maybe you should just make all 50,000 bunnies and ship 'em all to Judi to airbrush!   

It was the marvellous Tracy who uses the sculpy liquid finish on her bears tongues.....certainly 'licks' 'em into shape beautifully!

Lynn, I hope someone can answer your question about the fuzziness of your text..I can see what you mean and Kimbee's has the same problem. I sometimes notice this problem if I click a box around something and try to make it bigger by dragging instead of resizing the image...but if you started with the default size Shelli gave us, that's not likely to be the problem. Help anyone??

Shelli...don't you dare start number two until I have done number one! Tomorrow I hope.....

I am so impressed with everyone's work and even more impressed at the first timers biting the bullet and having a go. You should all be very proud of yourselves...well done! :clap:

P.S Kimbee, I just noticed that your project has blown out to 211 pixels by 354...so maybe that's got something to do with the fuzziness of your quote??? Finished size should be 185 x 270 pixels. I dunno...could be the prob...but Terries' is the correct size and she has the prob too. SHELLI!!!!!!!!!

Daphne,
Judi uses a CO2 cylinder and is a diehard fan.   They are noiseless..and useless to those of us on the other side of the pond .cos they are cost prohibitive. But where you are...well worth looking at.
I went on to get an air compressor...just an el cheapo from the hardware. No complaints here. They are atrociously noisy when filling and my dog takes a hike every time I move towards the thing. :twisted:  The way they work is.....they make a heck of a noise as they are filling with pressure...say 2 or 3 minutes, then they switch off and you can use the pressure. If you don't run it out, that pressure will still be there a wekk later. I can run my airbrush for about ten minutes or sometimes more on the amount of air in that tank. When the air is almost gone, it switches itself back on again and refills. This bit can give you (and your dog  :twisted: ) a fright if you aren't expecting it, but once mine fills, I unplug the power as the air still comes out the same without it being plugged in. I usually only need to fill mine once per bear. It depends too what pressure it's set at as to how long before it empties. I think Judi recommends airbrushing around 32-35 pounds, which is where I set my regulator at. If it was higher...the air would run out much faster. The air comes out beautifully smooth...it just slows down as it's almost ready to switch on again.
Hope this is remotely helpful.

What a great idea Shelli! I'm in! Now...where to find a couple more hours in the day...trouble is once I start....next minute it's bedtime! It's too addictive.

For those of you who hardly know where to begin but really wanna try, Shelli sent me this link way back when I first started fiddling with Photoshop.
Go to this address http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/un … page.shtml and follow this tutorial from start to finish...I mean actually do it as you read. This was the first one I ever did and I learned SO much just in that one tutorial. For me it was .....the beginning.  I was so chuffed when I actually found I could do it!
If you follow the tutorial...you will be able to do this challenge. If you go to the home page after that, there are tutorials on how to do heaps of stuff, explained in lay terms with no techo jargon. I'm looking forward to seeing all the different interpretations...when I first saw the colours, they didn't do anything for me...but after seeing the samples from you guys, I'm more inspired. Shelli! I have been resisting the urge to play with PS......I SHOULD BE MAKIN' BEARS!!!!!! You've raised up a dormant monster!  :twisted:
Off I go!

Daphne..methinks for such a subtle and soft look...airbrushing's going to be your friend. It is soft and the edges will blend perfectly. I wonder if the producers really even know what airbrushing means??

Shari,
I have been offlist since Monday due to a deadline (it has to be all or nothing for me  ) and it's such a treat to log on and see your postive email at the top of all the threads. I am so relieved for you and I got a lump in my throat when I read your great results.
I'm sure you'll be very sore for a while yet...have heard it can take the body 12 months to fully recover from a hysterectomy...but you should be feeling a heap better soon. There are times when I wish I could have a hysterectomy....roughly every 28 days!!   Am glad to hear you are able to do some bearmaking too....it's good for the soul!
I'm glad you shared with us. 
Best wishes for a quick recovery!

Tracy,
Thanks so much for sharing how you make your bears tongues look so realistic. Isn't it amazing what wonderful techniques are just 'stumbled' upon merely from having a go at something new.

I just use Photoshop 7.0 but the magic wand thingy should be on most upper tech photo editing software....Shelli???

The black does look good doesn't it. And BTW...I LIKE the name Mr Nekked!!!!

Yes Eileen..you can using the magic wand tool.
Tracy...he's adorable and you've done well with the shading! I love the tongue...is it ultrasuede?

WoW Daph...that sure is pressure with a capital 'P'!!! What gets me is how disorganized this director of props is...heck if this bun is the main charactor...how can he have left it SO to the last minute to have him created?? You'd think he would've got onto it ages ago. Maybe he's heard that artists work best under pressure but sheesh!

Sending more power to ya! Daphne's gonna be a screen mum!!!! Wowee!

That kitty is just so sweet Jeannie! You are very clever! The eyelids look great too, really add realism to the face. Well done!

Thanks for the tips about your backgrounds. Your photos are always superb Jenny. You say you use a light tent too....do you totally flood your with lights of all descriptions too? There are no shadows at all on the one above and they are so crisp and clear!!

Shari,
I just wanted you to know that I'll be thinking of you heaps on Tuesday and hoping all goes well. That really sucks that it's happening on your birthday, but I really hope you get good news.
Be strong and think of us all plugging for you when you're lying in that hospital bed...we are really care about you a great deal.
Hear from you soon!
Hugs and stuff, :hug: