Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I was hoping someone here had experience in re-gluing claws.  I purchased a nature bear from an artist and I think the shipping caused the glue on a few of the claws to detach.  They are sewn in also, so I am not concerned about the claws falling out, but they wiggle like a loose tooth and I would really like to have them be stiff and stationary like the rest of the claws.  Has anyone ever done this?  The claws are made of polymer clay and the artist told me she typically applies the glue before stitching the claws into place so she is not sure exactly how to go about it.  Thank you for your help!

Shanna

Thanks for your response.  I'm going to go take a look this weekend.

Shanna

Thanks!  I did see her website, but am certain that mine isn't that long a pile.  I think it's probably about half that.  I do live near her, though, perhaps she would allow me to stop by and see the fabric before buying.

Hello,
    I have some buttery soft short pile fabric.  I think it is called cashmere, but I am not sure.  I need it in another color (or perhaps a couple), and am using it for paw pad fabric.  However I cannot seem to find anything like it from suppliers in the U.S. and am not sure I have the correct name for it.  It does not have a shine to it, has a very short pile, and is deliciously soft.  Can anyone help?

Thank you,

Shanna

I just got my first sewing machine, a Singer Featherweight 221 and am super excited.  I was hoping someone could help me with the regular maintenance. 

1-What oil do you typically use?  I read that it should be oiled for every 8 hours of use. 

2-The manual also mentions lubricating the motor.  What do I use for this?  My machine came with a really old tube of motor lubricant.  Is it safe to assume this is no longer viable?  I read somewhere no to lubricate the motor so am a bit confused.  I'm hoping someone here can help. 

3-I would use the same motor lubricant for the gears underneath, correct?

I would appreciate all guidance, this is my first sewing machine and I'll admit I'm just tickled pink with it.  I really want to take the best of care of it.  The previous owner kept it beautifully.

Thank you!

Shanna

Thank you!

I've only ever purchased fabric from Intercal, but was ordering some other things from Edinburgh and noticed that they had a good price on some white mohair.  I wanted to try 1/4 of a yard and my options are 1/4 and F 1/4.  Does the F stand for Fat quarter?  Also, it appears that they charge actual shipping, but it doesn't state whether there is a handling fee.  Does anyone know?

Thank you, thank you!

Shanna

Wow, thanks for all that great advice US Bears.  I will bring some sample fabrics with me.  I know she will let me sew with it first, we have already discussed that.  I've had very little experience with sewing machines, but have done a couple of simple things with my mom's  It was about a year ago though and I hope I can remember, just what everything should sound like.  I appreciate your feedback, I will make a list of things to check.  I'm excited to see it, it will be my very first sewing machine.  Up to this point I've done everything by hand and I'm ready to learn the machine!!

Hugs
Shanna

Thanks Becky,
    I'll be sure to check the chords out to make sure they don't look worn.  The machine comes with it's case, a bunch of accessories, and the original manual (no receipt, it's so great that yours had that, it would be fun!).  It's priced really well relative to other featherweights I've seen for sale online.  I don't mind some scratches, but I'm hoping that it will still have a uniform shine to it.  I'm seeing in next Saturday, and am quite excited.  Hopefully it will be everything it is advertised as.

Shanna

Hello!
     I have a birthday coming up and was thinking I would enjoy a sewing machine for my birthday.  At the moment, I'm doing all my stitching by hand and larger bears are so time consuming.  After some research, I have decided that I would like a Singer Featherweight 221.  I found one locally that the owner states has been cleaned and oiled and is in perfect running condition.  I am going to see the machine next weekend.  Aside from a visual inspection and a sample stitching, is there anything I should look at in particular.  I don't want to buy a lemon unknowingly!

Thank you!!

Shanna

Thanks so much!  I think I'm a little confused at what you are suggesting.  I would cut the treads at the end of each side of the mouth and then would I tied them together?  Would I just try and bury this knot?  What if this left the tread coming down from the nose loose?  I think I'm just a little confused at what you are suggesting, but I really want to try it.  Could you try describing it again?  I really appreciate your response!

Shanna

Hello!
   I have a charlie bear and her mouth is stitched on a bit crooked.  I can't figure out where they tacked the mouth so I can undo it and restitch it in the right place.  I'm worried about cutting the threads in case they are part of the nose stitching.  Does anyone have any ideas on how to straighten her mouth without doing damage to anything else?

Thanks!!
Shanna

Thanks!  I guess not then.  Anyone else have any ideas?  I would be most grateful.

Shanna

She is perfect.  I love how realistic you  made her!

Shanna

Thanks!  I wasn't sure if it was allowed since I have not made the bear I am looking to sell.  Could I post him in the bears that are available area?

Hello!
   The last time I was on Teddy Talk their wasn't a collector's corner.  I was So glad to see this new group!  I have a question that I'm hoping I can get some help with.  I have an artist bear by Charlene Draeger of Charbears that just isn't my cup of tea.  I've posted him in a group on facebook with no luck and have no idea where else I could post him for sale.  Ebay usually fetches very low prices for most artist bears and bearpile requires a $15 fee for each month and I only have the one artist bear to sell.  Where do you post your bears for sale?

Thanks so much!

Shanna

I tried pulling them out on a less obvious spot on his bottom and it mostly broke off.  I also tried to use a needle and hook it from underneath with limited success.  I think the stitching is really tight, oh well!  Thanks ladies!

Shanna

Joanne, I think you are understanding correctly.  It's just there was not trimming before hand so those few little hairs that you missed are a lot of hairs.  Thanks Jenny, for your suggestion, I was thinking that, but thought it might be hard to know if I'm pulling the hair back into the body, or if I'm just ripping through the seam allowance (not sure if they frey check the edges).  I'll try a small spot.  Thanks ladies!

Shanna

I think you misunderstand.  The loops to pull it out are on the inside of the bear.  Pick the hair out of both sides when I make a bear and can only do the one side if it hasn't been done, on a bear that I buy.  Does this make sense? So right now I have these little short tufts of hair sticking out of the seam that are attached on the cotton backing of the seam allowance in the bear.  I know, confusing.  I don't know how else to explain it.

Shanna

Hello!
   I recently purchased a bear from a company called Charlie bears.  He is super cute and I really love him, but they didn't release the fur from his seams.  The fur that is trapped going into the body is easy to release, but the fur trapped coming out of the body (so there are little short tufts of hair that stick out) is less obvious to solve.  I typically remove the hair before turning and would love to "untrap" this fur, but don't know how without unstitching him.  Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks so much
Shanna

I said that bats were not JUST dirty disease carriers.  I empathize with your situation in Australia, I really do.  We have areas here that have over populations of squirrel, or deer and in too large of numbers any animal can cause problems.  I just hate to see all bats villianized.  We are facing the opposite problem here in the United States.  We are losing all of our bats to a mysterious illness called White nose syndrome.  In just the few short years since it was first discovered, more than one millions bats have died and new locations are found to be affected every year.  It is spreading and quickly.  Predictions on what this means for ecosystems effected are not good.  Because bats reproduce so very very slowly (one to two babies each year), a re-bound from these massive die outs will not happen quickly.  Bats in the U.S. are extremely valuable in pest control.  As far as fruit bats in other areas of the world (perhaps where they are not overly abundant), they are critical in pollination and seed dispersal.  In fact, many of the fruits we enjoy depend on bats for pollination and dispersal.  I just couldn't help chiming in to stand up for my very favorite of all animals (humans aside, of course).  I do not mean to offend, or to step on any toes, just inform.

Hugs
Shanna

I worked in a lab at a university (while pursuing my masters degree) that did extensive bat research and also worked for the State of Colorado as a bat rehabilitator.  Bats can be hugely beneficial and are often given a bad reputation.  They are keystone species in many ecosystems and are huge contributors in insect control and pollination.  It's unfortunate if their numbers have gotten out of control in Queensland.  I think I've only read of two deaths due to Hendra though, far far fewer than many other diseases that plague mankind.  In addition, from what I've read, the horse is a necessary intermediate host for the virus.  My point here is that anything in too large of numbers is a problem and bats are not just dirty disease carriers (in fact they are meticulous groomers).  In other areas of the world they have been hunted to virtual extinction.  It saddens me to hear such negativity toward this amazing animal.

Wow, you are a fantastic needle felter.  Beautiful work!

This is so cute.  It reminds of the ferrets I had when I was younger, they would sleep in one big pile all snuggles together.

Becky-
  The brush you described is exactly what my doll hair brush is like.  I think it works out much better for the alpaca. 

Katy-
   My bed is just a wee space, unfortunately the bears get snuggled and huggled all night, they don't have the luxury of their own side!! :crackup: I also think I'm just a wee bit anal about them so nothing wrong with not brushing!!

G-
   Thanks for your assessment.  I do have a teasel for picking fur out of the seams, I know what you mean about the baby brush being too soft, it wouldn't get any of the trapped fur out!