Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

What about on focussing on our childhood toys, Paula?  I remember you making the old english style bears- I think it would be nice to see the differences between a persons normal style an something they grew up with :)

If people didn't have bears, they could just do something 'inspired by'?  After all, my childhood toy was a Popples- not a bear at all!

I really like him    well done!

Definitely- but I can't blame people either!  Just wish there was enough money to splash in my direction a little more   No bids on my auction yet, so figers crossed for a flurry this weekend!

ooo it's very flash (no pun intended :P) and I like that you kept the 'aged' feel about it 

That happened to me when I bought my Steiff bear last year Jane- got her from a lady in America and then got £20 tax- not as bad as your admittedly, but still annoying   

Huge congrats, Krista!! Wow, and as a 'friend' I best thats an even bigger win- think of all those teddies he beat to get that!  Well done you 

You're welcome Vicki  :hug: It's such a horrible thing, I don't think any of us would expect that after a successful weekend in London, but some people have no dignity and sometimes they chose to ruin other peoples days as well as their own... Good luck getting everything replaced, and well done you for having insurance to pay for it 

If you wanted to keep it on the spools, you could try putting a piece of dowel through the centre of their box, threading the spools onto that and then threading the ribbons either through the lid, or through slits on the side, so you can pull it out when you need to without creating a mess

She's very good! Very impressive, especially for a first attempt My first bear was a present for my mum too

Hey Vikki :)

I have used their 50g bag with success- you don't need too much I think although it depends on the depth of colour you want- I was using black so I hardly diluted my concoction at all!

Use rubber gloves unless you are quick to wash the stuff off (a layer of vaseline also stops i sticking to anything you want to avoid), and I would recommend using an old washing up tub or a big thick plastic bag with no holes in it- you need to be able to ensure that the dye covers everything if you are not going to be 'painting' it on.  Also I'd say to hand wash the fabric afterwards in the same tub or bag, to save your sink!  make sure you have somewhere to dry the fabric without drips first too... Emmary Bears have a guide on their site for the basic info.  Good luck!

I do a lot for my sloths, it has to be said   My output isn't exactly high though, so.... anyway, I usually make up a certificate with name, date of birth, signature etc, a description card with a little story and a physical description of the sloth/bear, and I've just finished working on some simple hangtags that have a face of my number 1 sloth on them, just so there's something that can stay easily with them whilst the other bits can be put in 'a safe place'   I'd do less, but I really enjoy writing out the little descriptions- in fact I just got back from WHSmith with a laminator for mine!

Hey Jane,

I've only been here long enough to appear in one of your collections, but it hasn't offended me at all... however if someone is genuinely of the opinion that it's offensive, maybe put out a post before they go up, asking that anyone who doesn't want to be featured P you??  That way no one will be upset.  You can keep my head in it though!

Hello hello hello!  Glad you've decided to join up, and show everyone your ideas   Can't wait for more!

Hello all!  I was wondering if anyone could help me- I'm wanting to try a longer mohair to make a 'hair style' on my next sloth, and I was wondering if anyone had some smaller pieces they'd be willing to send me?  I only need a small piece, say 15cm square, so I was hoping to avoid buying a whole fat quarter of the stuff as I am now pre-student loan poor XD 

Of course I'd be willing to pay for the mohair and the postage too, if anyone has any available?

Thanks a lot!

Not surprised there Ellen, as there was only one bear left by the time I came up to say hi   That's really good!  And yes, I think my mum recovered slightly- she had a headache the next morning 'from seeing so many ruddy bears' XD  I think she enjoyed it though, and afterwards we went down to Oxford Street to shop (Got myself a nice coat) and met up with some friends of the family for a coffee   I don't think she ever expected so many bears, especially so many that were hugely different!  At one point we came across a man sewing a little footpad on and she was just gaping at how small the pieces were ("I couldn't even see something that small!" :D) so I think it was an eye opener all 'round! 

Thanks to everyone for making my mum and I feel so welcome  :hug:

Thanks Jane- it was great to finally meet you!  Do you know, I took not one photo the whole day! Not a single one!    I was too busy harassing people, but ah well, at least we can depend on you!

How completely and utterly disgusting!!    God I hate some people- what a terrible thing to do! I hope that this wasn't pre-meditated: do you think people could decide to rob you on the basis that you would definitely be elsewhere?  I know there's worry over people writing on Facebook when they'll be on holiday and so on, but really we should be able to say we're going to a fair without getting robbed!!!

I really hope that the police manage to track your possessions, Vicki- I'm ever so sorry for you and your family...

It was really good- so good I forgot to take ANY pictures XD Argh! What a fool!

I had a lot of fun chatting to everyone, especially introducing myself   "Hi, I'm Chloe! I talk on Teddy Talk? I make sloths!" Sorry if I missed you, I know I missed a few people but its mostly because they were so busy I didn't get a chance to chat!

I hope all the stall holders had a pleasant and profitable day, and I hope other people were more successful photographers than me!

I will definitely drop by Jane, as now I am not traveling alone- my mum has agreed to spend the day in London with me   She is threatening to wear her new 'comfy shoes' though, just to warn you all 

Mmmm, great British food I go to University at Durham, which is only 10 minutes from Newcastle on the train- nice to hear you have a Geordie link!   Bubble and Squeak is cabbage and potato based fried stuff (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_and_squeak) and Toad-in-the-hole is just sausages cooked in a giant Yorkshire pudding   Clotted cream is Cornish, and is like extra extra thick cream- I had some on a scone with jam yesterday after fighting my mother for it- yummy!

Stotties are good   I was introduced to a new Northern Recipe this summer- London Pizza.  I'd never heard of it, but it's basically a margarita with chips and garlic sauce all over it  Genius!

Oooh, I can't wait   Didn't spend much time at the fair last time (too shy :P) so watch out, vendors!  I will view your stalls!

How gorgeous! What a lovely gift!     

Awww, can't you see?  He just doesn't want you to make a new Riley out of that oh-so matching mohair!

I think I'm going now   Fortunately I got a free ticket sent in the post to my home address, as I accidentally left my guide in Durham XD  All booked on the train and everything, but I'll be on my lonesome so I'm pretty scared about the journey- hopefully nothing too dreadful will happen!

Hope to see you all there- sorry if I look a little startled!

I'm supposed to be contributing again this year, but as my name hadn't gone up I thought I'd been overlooked and haven't really got anything planned yet- whoops!  Looks like some serious planning is ahead of me XD