Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

yay glad Riley now has a name!  Well done lol
hugs to your family
sarah

glad to know that about cockers lol.  my dogs love the water too and that is a smelly problem lol

ughh..ears are one of the worst jobs for me.  I do the eyeballing thing too.  I don't measure.
I pin them both in place and make sure the seams running from the eyes are both in the same place on the ears.  then i tack both sides and back of ear 1, then the same on ear 2, then ladder stitch both making sure that the ear 2 looks the same as ear 1 lol.  I will re sew ear 2 a couple of times usually.
it does get easier with time..like noses, i used to hate them, i now quite like sewing my noses :)
hugs sarah

Hi Jenny
I love your tibetans.  And I didn't know cockers were smelly!!!!  That was going to be my next choice for a puppy.  Well, my jack's don't smell too pretty most of the time so I suppose it won't really matter lol.  (They are kept outside for this reason lol which I hate, but they have a beautiful garden and layout and we are in Australia where it is nice and warm:P)
I love this thread   if anyone can tell lol
hugs sarah

Hi Lynne
Your pooch is so cute.  But then I am biased coz I have jacks too.  I would say your guess of the breed was pretty accurate...looks like it has a lot of jack in him tho.
I used to have a beagle growing up.  Very dumb doggie lol but gorgeous with his huge eyes
My Nala came from a shelter too.  She is a mix of foxy and jack.  She is so good and gentle...wonder why anyone would have dumped her.  I hate that she still flinches...it is so sad to think what may have happened to her..at least so many of us save them :)
hugs sarah

Yes   They are very clever and it is very easy to teach them.  Although with their brains comes a lot of mischief.  They work together to get what they want lol.  I often call them my brats or ratbags lol.
Hugs Sarah

Hi Daphne
Not to worry about the email, boy with your surgery and your new baby, you must be beat!  I remember my pup and the 6am wake up time...ugghhh...go back to sleep lol
Yes, Spike has a very confused 'who me' look about him lol
Oh I know how special pooches can be...I've always had dogs and don't think I could live without them...and they make great kids don't they  
A funny pet that my sister got my niece was a pig!  Then she found out that the council didn't permit pigs...so now after many tears, she has a mouse lol
hope you are feeling better Daphne :)
hugs sarah

I love all the photos   Couldn't resist showing off my babes either...here they are
Kira as a puppy and my three dogs together Nala who I got from the pound, Spike and Kira

Oh Daphne you got him at last   He is soooo adorable I want one!
As Danni asked, is Tucker coping? lol.  My Nala was great when I got my puppy Kira...she took on the mummy role(but hated Kira biting her boobs lol). 
But boy some dogs can get very jealous lol!!

I was thinking Tyler goes well with Tucker, but they do end the same...So funny with my dogs that they know each others names...if I say where is Nala? Kira will go and fish her out lol.

Good luck with the names..I spent a week naming Kira and went to lots of baby name sites.

Glad you hand is coming around too.  bet you can't wait to get going again

hugs to you and both your babies
sarah

Good luck with your surgery Jane...wishing you a speedy recovery.
hugs sarah

He is so cute Jenny.  You have a lovely web site too :)
hugs sarah

hi Kim
lol me too   I always keep the thin long arms legs and smallish shoulders, sameish face...but I still manage to think something is not quite right to change and improve lol.  I don't reduce or enlarge patterns, just draw up new ones..coz I think that little bears look better with a differnt pose or something... I suppose is silly and more work, but I suppose I just like them being a bit 'different'..I liked what someone here said about being different but in the same family.
I like the differnt sizes like you do too...I can't stick to one size which I hope isn't a downfall...I just love to have a go at them all depending on what I'm feeling like...big or little...lol
your bears are even more intriguing now I know how little they are
hugs sarah

I'm not sure if I know Louise yet, but I do understand illness...please give her my best wishes.
hugs sarah

oh Danni ain't you the sweetest :P
I remember the bears you liked of mine at the beginnning when we first met before you were an artist...the funky ones remember...so you really know what you like! Character bears...I like that type too
I think if i were to collect I'd go with something I couldn't do...probably really tiny minis...so cute
hugs sarah

Shelli and Kim, thats what I feel...I'm never happy and keep wanting to go further...unfortunately my health limits me and I only make a handful of bears a year so I'm limited in how far I have come, but I'm always learning...isn't it so great to look back and think of how far you've come and how much you know now?

Do you both get the feeling with every bear you make that something needs to be changed with the next bear you make from that pattern?  Next time I make that one make this adjustment...and it goes on and on lol.

I love both of your bears, even tho they are different sizes...actually Kim I thought yours were the same size as Shelli's.  They say that is a good sign, if your mini bear looks like a normal size bear on photo.
hugs sarah

I don't usually have slumps, but looking at fur really gets me motivated...or bear magazines and other artisits sites
good luck ;)
hugs sarah

Isn't that true lol.  My own feelings are that even if you are 'inspired' by someone elses technique, it always comes out with you in it.  Like if I see something I like it will jumble in my head for a while and pop out with my interpretation of it.  I think it is very hard to copy someone exactly even if you set out to do it.

love that you share Shelli...have you thought of writing a book.  Think you would sell millions :)

hugs sarah

hi Kim...oh I feel for you coz I've been there and dissapointed...it takes time and then most of the time its luck and if the right person is looking.  Your bears are lovely so don't give up.
hugs sarah

Hi Chrissie
Great questions and fun to think on too :)

I come from a crafty family...well my mum and sisters anyway.  We've all got the crafty, creative touch and just looove to use our hands.  I wasn't a sewer before...actually didn't like sewing clothes.

My first bear didn't take me long to finish, I loved it straight off.

I think the longer I'm an artist for the more the ideas flow...I get inspiration from other artists, animals, nature, kids...and just dreaming and thinking..I have a great imagination.

I haven't started collecting other bears yet.  Cherished teddies but thats it.  I love bears for the craft, and letting my creativity flow more than to collect..I do keep lots of my own bears tho:rolleyes:

For me it's like a happy obsession...I love it and can think about it all the time, wish I was making bears all the time...may sound a bit nutso but it really fills me with happiness.

Glad you have joined its great to meet a collector.;)
Happy collecting :D

Hugs Sarah

hmmm..do all of you think it is harder to achieve a 'look' when you make different patterns?
I make different patterns for most of my bears and wonder if that takes away from them looking like my bears.
I think they still do coz they are what I like and my personality comes out in them.  I love colour and make lots of colourful bears.  I suppose I always stick to what I like in shapes of limbs body and head, just change little things for each bear like positions of limbs or different expression etc..
very interesting reading all your thoughts tho..

oh he's adorable Jane..I'm wanting to make a pattern from my doggies   will be fun

I usually work with pencils, i don't like the copic markers too much coz they are so dark and full on.  I like to layer slowly.
I'm interested in the oil paints tho Shelli and will try it out soon.  Wonder if acrylic paint will do the same job?  Does anyone know?  We have so many paints from years of doing ceramics it will be good if they do the same job as oil paints.

hey!!  you saying 70 bears is too many to keep lolol:lol: just kidding lol
i think he is cute too Daphne   I love the paws.  I don't know about the legs being too high,...I usually check by sitting the bear down...is there a protrusion of his buttocks lol then they are too high..if it is all level and comfy looking it should be right.  I don't think his head is too big..he looks cute and in proportion to me :D
hugs sarah

lol..glad I am not alone lol.  Me too Daphne..big hug and kiss and tell them their new mummy will be nice and they will have lots of new friends to play with lol...do you all think I'm insane yet lol.
Gina, I love that feel as it starts to take shape   I love the put together not stuffed body and head with no face look..so cute Actually your hubby reminds me of my mum.  She said yesterday why do you make such cute things and then sell them...so sad lol
I probably have around 70 at home...:rolleyes: shhh don't tell lol
hugs sarah

Oh that is so great Danni   Let us know how they go.  I know they will sell quickly :)
hugs sarah