Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Just superb. Everyone involved and the stand holders you should all be so proud of yourselves, that was a stunning show, the stalls were  teddy eyecandy to behold, you would feel like a kid in a lolly shop visiting that show.  

Thats an even easier way too Mary, alot less fiddly than the beaded thread way too. You know i just dont know what i'd do without TT, every day there's an easier way, it's such a fantastic think tank this TT forum, i'm making  less mistakes by being here and learning by each new thread I read, Mary i think your little teddies and your Crochet is magnificent, congratulations they're little darlings- thanks for sharing your knowledge. :hug:  :hug:

Hello Bronwyn how are you? I Love Fifi, what a darlin doggie, have you been busy or what? and how is it the rain your way, we heard youve been getting  bucket loads in QLD, wish i could say the same the garden looks atrocious but alas we have these water restrictions in force so it looks like succulents and the like, only thing is my new puppy dog (real one border collie Loves crunching on the echeveria leaves, You dont think i could make a swap with you for Fifi do ya? :crackup:  :crackup:  she appears to be alot more tamer than my pooch, She's really lovely too and isn't that intercal wonderful to work with? best wishes,  :hug:  :hug:

OH my - if only i had the money to buy that bear and let him live down under, he is to die for, Gosh is it wrong for a grown guy to say that  Claude bears cheeks are soo kissable?  :crackup:
Cos its true!!! hehe, he's sensational Paula in Every way. If he's going in a show he's got my first prize vote for sure. What a gorgeous Bear  Congratulations Paula :hug:  :hug:

she just looks like shes been into mischief sue ann and shes just gorgeous with her dreamy eyes and the cutest nose out. That is a great look with the length of hair on the head,sooo snuggly congratulations :hug:  :hug: 

theyre magnif Jayne, especially the names suit them so well, now my mom was a tailoress, why didnt she make me things like that when i was a wee kiddie? hehehe Adorable faces and their little green ted suits perfect accessory.  :hug:  :hug: 

Hello Ruth how are ya doing?, Well guess whos going out at lunch tomorrow at work to buy some invisible thread what a brilliant idea, i loathe that part because the stitching is so precise otherwise it shows, and the invisible thread is a brilliant idea, thanks for that one.And by the way your little Teds are soo adorably cute, congrats. :hug:  :hug: 

Hello Sandy how have you been? that is a terrific looking site congrats, its just great. :hug: 

yep it certainly is just a term used for the style of fibre tufts, they are bunched and alot sparser in between, if youd like to go to -
http://www.gerrys.com.au/home.php?cat=231

then click on any of the following -Blended, Curly, Metallic, Sparse,
you'll get a better idea of the Fabric and then substitute for your local supplier, also maybe this will help,

it gives you an idea of the pile of Ratinee Curly pile.

:hug:  :hug:

There is so much happening in 'tt' dont you love it?Well theres is no TV shows worth crowing in Aua, about .
Hello everyone how you been? Im with you Wendy the fine jewellery thread or a fine Fly fishing thread is fabulous. Mom give me a tailoress tip for bridal wear when they cant turn thru a fine shoestring strap, they thread a small pearl or bead with this very strong thread and then keeping it attatched to the needle pull it thru the whole piece you wish to turn through, and start to pull and ease the faric down over it, this always works for me although starting it off you need to hold your tongue right then its a breese and there is no tears or seam splits, anyhow give it a go, just make sure your thread is strong and a reasonable sized seed pearl or bead used that wont pull thru the fabric otherwise youll end up with a ready made arm or leg joint awl hole. Let me know how it goes.

I thought i best draw a small diagram to explain better.

Hey have a great weekend everyone. :hug:  :hug:

Hello , If you wish to purchase rit dye then Ebay is a great place to pick up Fabric and fibre dye bargains,

www.ritdye.com

-  Is a great website to help for dyes available and a color chart to show you mixing of hues,      instructions  etc.

I use Rit powdered dyes and the hot water method - Jareds instructions were super, and youre right dilution of strength with wtering down will give you clear and long lasting pastel and deeper shades depending what you want, most natural fibres and fabrics dye  well using rit dyes.
:hug:  :hug:  good luck

That is just fantastic Bobbie, with your knowledge and talents I am certain that just about everyone here in 'TT' would love one of your books - so you better let us all know, as long as you autograph em for us too tho, I have to say that it was your work that I first heard about and seen Needle felting , i was in awe and still am of your amazing talent, so i thankyou Bobbie for that because i havent had as much fun creating in a long time the applications for needelfelting are endless arent they? God bless and its nice to finally say g'day to you. - well kinda!    :hug:  :hug:

Hi again Wendy, yes im just beginning to needlefelt  properly now and i posted a couple a week ago of my first try,  but i have to say its darn addictive and i have at least five projects on the go at once, hehe, and ive decided to do the muzzle and open mouth part of a Bunyip that ive been busy working on too but its as big as a wallaby so it is takin like forever, we are a bit spoilt for different wools here in Aus arent we? and i've been busy doing little tests to see which ones do what when they are used to felt with, because some of the finer micron are useless, wouldnt be bad for lining ears and such but where body is needed not really stable so i agree with what you said earlier. IM also a bit hooked on dyeing my own wool at the moment some of the color combos are really great which you can do that you just cant buy, do you dye your own as well? ANyway I really admire your needlefelting skills they are just great. take care.

How are you Wendy? , Clarence Puddle is the cheekiest devil and he has the most amazingly mesmerising expression,and beautiful eyes- truly adorable, how could you not fall in love?  Your felting techniques are exceptional, i love the color matching of fur and felt too what a great color fur.:rose:

Your vacation just looks sensational Judi, you all are just beaming and i bet you come home with the best tans out, it would be easy to become a fish in those waters, theyre like crystal, makes us all dream of watching sunsets on the decks of cruise ships sipping a pina colada, AAAAAhhh its nice to dream and thankyou for sharing with us all, especially as i look out in a Melbourne winter, its like an escape to paradise. best wishes, stay safe and well and have fun. :hug:

Hello Bronwen, how are you doing, You've been busy creating your gorgeous bunny Percival Padfoot and he's just so snuggly looking, man where were all these kindsa toys when i was a kid??? damn  anywonder im having later stage toy creating syndrome, but boy isn't it fun? what a great character he is your bunny, I do hope you go well in the show with him too, That fur you chose is just sumptuous isnt it? best wishes Bronwen. :hug:

Thanks so much for all your lovely comments about my first attempt at needlefelting, i think the most fun was had dyeing the wool rovings tho, i cant believe how many colours you can make out of basic rit dye colors, I used the hot water dyeing method to get these colors and recarded, brushed  pale blue pale mauve and some plain white wools together and i was pretty stoked with the marbled effects it gave,  the blue in the mermaid is pulled strands-( messy dangly bits) of blue mulberry colored silk rovings they shimmer,  sometimes it pays to experiment doesnt it? Now i know i can dye the near to exact color of a fur after i play around a bit with it im going to try out one of those whickedly awesome Teddy bear muzzles I read about in a thread or two in here, they were truly wonderful by the way Im sorry i cant remeber who it was who did it but amazing
The mind boggles. Hey i truly hope you are all having a happy creative time of it and you and yours are all safe and well.   :hug:  :hug:    :hug:  :hug: 

Thanks so much for everyone's  encouraging words, and youre so right it sure is like magic when all the fibres become the thing in your head with just a dangerous needle. from a ball of fibre fluff to something to treasure. :hug: highly recommend it for theraputic relaxation and fun.  :dance:

Well Julie I just thin theyre magnificent for your first effort too, Needlefelting is a bit of an addiction isnt it, and dont those needles hurt like hell when they jab you? Ouch!! (thats not what i really said by the way)!!!
I just discovered neddlefelting too , its potential for fibre design is just out there isnt it? Congratulations Julie, and we really look forward your next  wonderful projects I think Leonard the lion has the most expressive face.
:hug: 

Hello - I have used PVA glue for this one time when i needed a Spider web to hold its shape on a canvas installation  using finely spun woolen thread  - But i had to hold this in shape on a flat piece of balsa wood covered with glad wrap and the strands were held taught with pins inserted into the wood alos like a slap dash loom, they took three coats with a fine paint brush and peeled off no problems, and i am making wings for a unicorn the same way only this time will seal it once dried with a flat enamel spray paint so they dont flop should it get damp.

Mom asked me if i would like to take her old wool rovings  off her hands and I said yer why not, and i thought yer i could fill some bears with it!   But then i found out about needlefelting and decided yer why not what could I loose?- well just some blood because of my clumsy fingers but that was about it, I've just finished hand dyeing the last lot today and its drying out in the sun. I used Rit dye, they have an awesome website with a great color chart for mixing color lots -  www.ritdye.com .
I never tried it (needlefelting) until I read a few threads about it on 'TT',which sparked my interest and memory of the wool at the bottom of the cupboard -  so Thankyou all of you, your tips have helped immensley and here are my first two projects, I got so involved in it at night that I  forgot and missed the final episode of  Greys Anatomy - Darn!  Needlefelting rocks. Happy Stitching everyone.
    :hug:

Tig and Wag

Little Mauve Mermaid

Cat your cuttlefish is really fabulous, the real thing on the end of a fishing line isnt so alluring, but yours is way cute theres some piecework gone into that baby and it looks really awesome congrats, hed make a really amazing hot water bottle cover, i know a few surfies who'd love one of those. Awesome stuff  

Thanks so much Catherine, for your lovely comments, yer my life has been really interesting and diverse., love your teds theyre magnifique, i just realised youre from Melbourne too, good stuff hope to see you sometime

You gals and guys in here  are 'PHENOMINAL', im blown away  by all the amazing  artistry in TT members list, A really heartfelt Congratualtions to all of you, your work is magnificent and all of you are winners no matter what, I cant believe how hard it must be to say first second and third, can anyone let me know how this is judged? is it by the readers ballot? Magical stitches. :hug: 

Wowee, now thats what i call a garden to die for. Thanks so much Catherine, for posting your lovely pictures of my favourite garden in the world, when i wnet it was wet and rainy and the photos come out all grey, doesnt it make a difference with the gorgeous photos of that magic space? I bet you have been inspired by that experience too you lucky Gal.  thankyou,