Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

To all my teddy-bear-loving friends, I think it's time for a little spring giveaway!  I just couldn't resist this little bundle of spring-like sweetness by Jim Shore.  She insisted that I pick her up!  It wouldn't have been polite to have done anything else.   :lol:
Go to my blog if you're interested!
http://www.binglebears.com/2014/03/ever … eaway.html

Hugs,
Cheryl

That is absolutely MARVELOUS!!!  I'm so happy for you, Joanne--and for the Bear Center!  WoooHooo!      

Well done!!!   

Gund was the first thing that popped into my head, too.  He looks a bit like Snuffles or Mr. Minky.  Karen's advice to get in touch with a Gund collectors group is a very good idea.  I hope you have good luck finding a replacement!

I use an old Singer Featherweight (actually I have two ).  I also have an old Singer machine from the '60s that was my great-aunts with all sorts of gears to do all sorts of wild things.  But, for my bears, I only go forward and backwards with a straight stitch.  It's all I need and want.  We also have a new little Janome, but I was told by a local sewing repairer that he wouldn't use that much for sewing the bears because it's just not heavy-duty enough to withstand all the thicknesses and time sewing.  The old machines with all of their metal rather than plastic can do the job.  I would do as Joanne suggests and try out your Mom's older machine.

Oscar is a sweetheart!  And, yes, I've had many bears with strange little faces that I couldn't bear to take apart!   

Oh, of course that's what she meant!!   Thanks for clearing that up, Becky!

It's the water that does the work, so to speak.  The tape is just there, like Becky said, to hold it in place.

Sorry for the confusion!
Cheryl

No, I just use water and tape--no glue involved.  I'd be afraid that glue would make the fur stiff and crunchy feeling.  As for tape, any clear cellophane tape will work.  I don't know if I would use tapes like masking tape or boxing tape because they might leave a residue on the fur.  But just the plain old clear tape that you used in grade school will do the trick!   

That was a lovely tutorial with some tips that I haven't seen before.  I particularly liked the binder clip idea when baking!  Perfect!  I also liked how you shaped the nose right on the bear.  Thanks!!

Well, those are INTERESTING!!!     My daughter, the ballet dancer, said, "It's kind of like being on pointe, only easier.  But you can't stand up straight."  Sounded like an accurate assessment!

I'm SO glad that it was helpful to you, Jane and Michelle! 

I"m glad you all liked the post!  Thanks!   

You know how sometimes the fur on your bear goes every which way no matter how carefully  you laid out your pattern pieces?    Well, I posted this tip on my blog and I thought some of you might be interested in an easy way to make the fur on your bears lay in the direction you want it to.  Magic tape!

Here's a link to the post:
http://www.binglebears.com/2012/10/perh … alled.html

I hope you find it helpful!

Hey, hey, hey!!  I knew I was doing something good for me.     Now I have an excuse to do it even more often!  Here we come Pinterest!

Oh, MAN!!!  This looks just TOO cool! 

The one thing I would like to add is to make sure that the glue you use is acid free, otherwise it will eventually eat away at the fabric. 

Beautiful work!!

Sue, I've already entered your giveaway through your blog, but I just thought I would tell you here on TT what a sweet, sweet little bear Maisie is!   

Like Paula, I use my fingers and occasionally a chopstick, but I ALWAYS use my Barbara Wills stuffing fork.  I actually have two sizes of her doll stuffing forks--the regular blue and white one that Paula posted above and also a smaller one.  The regular blue and white one is the one I always reach for when the stuffing comes out, but the small one is handy for small, tight spots.

All of the winners are stunning!  I'm thrilled that my Thaddeus was chosen to be among such company!

You're too sweet, Lisa!!  Thanks!!

Thanks, Joanne and Jenny!  Your comments mean so much to me.  I must admit that I'm rather partial to him myself.   

Thanks, Christina and Jenny!!   

I haven't shared bears here at TT for quite a long time, so I thought you might like to see this Thaddeus (15 1/2") who found a new home at the TBAI show last weekend.

Here's a little girl that I took to TBAI (Teddy Bear Artist Invitational) last weekend who found a new home.

I'm like Joanne and Becky.  I use a cotter pin for the head (actually I make a wobble joint) and locknuts for the limbs.  I love how it works, because I can get the joint to just the right tightness I want with a screwdriver and a socket wrench.  Of course, I do this before sewing up the leg and arm seams.