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dangerbears Sep 2, 2010

This is Matteo, and as you can probably see, I had a lot of fun making him. (I don't think there's another like him anywhere in nature.  )

He stands just over 15" tall (about 38cm) and is made from two colors of mohair from two different countries (German Helmbold and English Norton).

He's listed on Bearpile. I hope you'll take a peek! http://www.bearpile.com/detail.cgi?id=1414&item=39214

desertmountainbear Sep 3, 2010

What a handsome bear.  I love the combination of colors.

Joanne

dangerbears Sep 3, 2010

Thank you, Joanne, and I hope you take it as "the sincerest form of flattery": I tried your technique of mohair strands rooted in a needle-felted base. (That's how I made the eye details.)

It's definitely secure and creates a natural-looking effect, but I can see why the bear-making world isn't doing it en masse. It gives a whole new meaning to "time-consuming"! 

Anyway, thank you for the idea. 

Becky

donatel Sep 3, 2010

What a nice bear! 

desertmountainbear Sep 3, 2010

Thank you, Joanne, and I hope you take it as "the sincerest form of flattery": I tried your technique of mohair strands rooted in a needle-felted base. (That's how I made the eye details.)

It's definitely secure and creates a natural-looking effect, but I can see why the bear-making world isn't doing it en masse. It gives a whole new meaning to "time-consuming"! 

Anyway, thank you for the idea. 

Becky

LOL!  I agree 100%.  I will say though that it gets faster.  Used to be about 1" an hour.  I have increased my speed.  Not for the easily bored though.  Glad you tried, thanks for letting me know.

Joanne

1 user likes this: New Avenue Crew

rowarrior Sep 3, 2010

Aww, he's fab, love those 'eyebrows'

peterbear Sep 4, 2010

Hi Becky,

I must admit that I had felt some hesitation, when I first saw Matteo : he is a very unusual bear !

But I have seen him several times now and he is starting to grow on me :  the colour combination is really excellent and I also love the way the foot and pawpads match the colour of his nose  .   He has a lovely expression and the fur looks absolutely gorgeous. 

But there is one thing that still bothers me a little (I hope you won't mind me saying this) : the pink eyes are a bit too much for me (but you know me : I am a very old-fashioned fuddy duddy)     

Hugs,  :hug:

Peter & Vincent

dangerbears Sep 4, 2010

I must admit that I had felt some hesitation, when I first saw Matteo : he is a very unusual bear !

I completely understand. He's the only one of his species, and I hope the right person finds him and loves him.

I appreciate your thoughts on the eyes, and the eyes were the beginning of Matteo's whole personality. At first, everything I tried was getting lost in the dark brown fur, so I thought some eyebrow patches - like the ones real bears have - might look good. Well, those developed into the magnificent growths you see here.  :crackup:  Then, I bought three colors of eyes in the size I needed - black, smoky olive, and the mauve starburst (just on a whim). When I tried the different colors on his face, the more normal colors didn't seem to give him any expression at all. But with the pink eyes, he came alive! (It's a bit mad, I know, but I was in an experimenting kind of mood.)

I'm really glad you shared your thoughts, Peter. Since I also love the old-fashioned bears, Matteo was a bit of a surprise to me, too. But he's grown on me as well - kind of a special boy.

Hugs,  :hug:
Becky

DENBY30 Sep 7, 2010

Great bear, I have a great, great, nephew named Matteo, he is 4 years old and a Q-T.  Your bear is quite nice and I love the colors.
Thanx for sharing
Hugs Pat