Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Everyone:

Here's a challenge for you.  Everyone take the same pattern and see how many different versions we can get of the same bear. You can dress or decorate it, enlarge it or make it smaller but other than that it has to be the same pattern.  I saw this done many years ago in Teddy Bear and Friends and you would be surprised at how different the bears can look even when made from the same pattern when a number of artists get involved in using one pattern and make it using their own style.  In the TB&F magazine there were as many different bears as there were artists making them as each artist had their own techniques and individual style. We could take the Goldie pattern since it is available to everyone through Intercal and see what happens.

Neala

This works with real fur bears so I don't see why it wouldn't work with mohair and alpacca.  Take a plastic bag and put rice in it.  Put in the bear and give it a shake.  The rice shakes loose the dust and cleans the bear and doesn't damage the bear.  If your bear has glass eyes just cover them with a bit of quilt bat and tape or make a small mask to cover them to protect them.  I really don't think the rice would scratch glass eyes but it can't hurt to cover them to be sure.  Just like giving the bear a dry bath.  Hope this helps

Neala

I don't know if this is the right time or place but someone very close to me could use a whole lot of prayers right now.  I have two sisters who have been diagnosed with cancer in the last month and a half and one of them is in stage four.  Anyone who has had anyone who has had cancer knows that this is not good and the diagnosis is pretty grim.  Their names are Kathy and Nancy.  Nancy is the one in stage four and if you all wouldn't mind just saying a prayer for both of them it would be greatly appreciated.  I believe that prayer can work miracles and believe me a miracle is what they both need right now.  I know that Teddy Bear people are among the most caring in the world and we could certainly use all the prayers we can get.  Thanks for listening.

Nealabear

Hi Becky:

I finally got around to adding some more bears to the challange page.  A June bride, a bear dressed for New Years and a bear dressed for spring.

Neala

Hi Lanie:

Thanks for the information.  Sorry I haven't replied sooner but I am getting ready for a Teddy Bear Show and I've been sewing all the hours God gives and then some.  It's been crazy here and I have to go back at it so I will close now.  Thanks again

Neala

Hi Everyone:
I use to sell on ebay when I first moved to Ontario.  When I first started I couldn't keep up with the sales and the orders that came out of the sales.  I was working in real fur and people were sending me coats from as far away as California to make up into bears for them.  My bears were going all over the world and my waiting list was months long.  In the years (since 911) the sales on ebay have been steadily going downhill and I've finally given up even listing on ebay.  I think it is just a sign of the economic times and we are paying the price because people just aren't buying what they consider luxury items like they use to.  The fact that we see dozens of watchers on listings actually sort of prooves what I'm saying.  People are watching what they would have bid on in better times but they are now just sitting back to see if the item will sell because they are holding onto their money.  Sad but True.  I've found the same trend happening here in Canada with the Teddy Bear Shows.  I've cut back to one a year and that one comes up in 4 weeks.  When I first started making bears and going in both craft and specialty shows I would usually sell out or come very close.  Now it is a fight to get those sales at all and most of my bears go home with me.  Most people in the shows are saying the same thing.  It's no reflection on the quality of the work just a refeltion on the times we are living through and hopefully over the next few years as the ecomony improves we will again see improvement in sales of our babies.

Neala

Hi Becky:

Thanks for the input.  When you're working on something entirely new it helps to have someone to bounce ideas off.  I decided to shorten the neck slightly and narrow it in at the top slightly.  I think this is going to work with the larger head.  I think this will help give more definition between the neck and head which I think will solve the problem.  As for the clothes I guess it helps that I really became overweight when I was younger not that I enjoy being overweight but it forced me to make all my own clothes to make sure they didn't look like something that my grandmother would wear.  I got to be really good at combining pieces from different patterns to get the look I wanted.  Now I'm taking that experience to making clothes for my bears.  As they say every cloud has a silver lining. LOL

Neala

Hi Again:

I'm working on another one now and I made the head bigger by about 20%. Once I get her finished I'll post her as well.  I've found a pattern for a 1930's evening gown that is trimed in fur.  I'm making this one for the next bear and triming it in fox fur.  I have some red silk here and some red satin.  I'm just trying to decide which to use to make the outfit.  I'm triming it with silver fox which it very dark (charcoal to black) in color with silver (almost pewter in color)tipping on the guard hair.  I think the red will really set it off.  I have white alpacca here and I was thinking of making this dress for the white bear but am afraid to use the alpacca (considering what alpacca costs) until I have the pattern perfected.

Neala

Hi Becky:

I'm not sure if the neck just a bit too long or if the head is a bit too small.  I wanted to be able to put tiered necklaces on these bears.  She is the first one and I think that if I make the neck slightly shorter and the head slightly bigger it will make all the difference. I'm not sure if the problem is with the neck or the head with this one.  If the head is a bit bigger then the neck won't look so long because the head will be more in proportion with the neck.  I'm going to try putting on a head that is slightly larger for the next one and see if that makes a difference.  If that doesn't take care of the problem then I'll shorten the neck on the following one.  What do you think?

Neala

Hi Everyone:

Sorry it took me so long to get my pictures submitted but Jillian is finally finished.  I've been getting ready for a Show in November and I guess everyone here knows what that's like.  Jillian is dressed for all those Christmas parties in a winter white two piece dress done in satin and lace.  What else would a lady wear?  She is the first in a line I'm calling Dream Bears.  These bears will be wearing evening wear from all periods.  They can be dressed in styles from the 1700 and 1800's or styles from the 20th century.  Whatever I find that I think will look nice goes.  Some of the outfits will be crocheted (Paridise Patterns) some will be sewn all will be pretty.  Everything from flappers to princesses and any style including bridal wear.  She is 17" high and has hand painted eyes in a deep purple surrounded by long pretty dark lashes.  Her fur is mohair.  Her jewelry is done in shades of black, gold and amber beads.  She is wearing a pastel mink stole and yes ladies the mink is real.  She is designed to wear cloths and unlike other lady bears she has a smooth hipline so no bumps at the hipline to interfer with the way the dress hangs.  The bear and the outfit including the stole are all handmade which is what took so long to get her ready not to mention adjusting the pattern to fit her.  She is wearing an outfit based on the Hello Dolly Pattern Bewitching Moonlight.  I had to redesign the top of the pattern to accomodate the differences in the body style from Barbie doll to lady Bear.  I really wanted to do this outfit in red but couldn't find red lace anywhere that didn't cost two arms and a leg so I used lace and satin that I had on hand.  Hope you like her.  This is a prototype bear so any suggestions on changes to improve her would be appreciated.  Anyway she is listed in the challange gallery so everyone can see her. I put in two pictures so that she could be seen with and without her stole.

Neala

Hi Everyone:

Sorry it took me so long to get my pictures submitted but Jillian is finally finished.  I've been getting ready for a Show in November and I guess everyone here knows what that's like.  Jillian is dressed for all those Christmas parties in a winter white two piece dress done in satin and lace.  What else would a lady wear?  She is the first in a line I'm calling Dream Bears.  These bears will be wearing evening wear from all periods.  They can be dressed in styles from the 1700 and 1800's or styles from the 20th century.  Whatever I find that I think will look nice goes.  Some of the outfits will be crocheted (Paridise Patterns) some will be sewn all will be pretty.  Everything from flappers to princesses and any style including bridal wear.  She is 17" high and has hand painted eyes in a deep purple surrounded by long pretty dark lashes.  Her fur is mohair.  Her jewelry is done in shades of black, gold and amber beads.  She is wearing a pastel mink stole and yes ladies the mink is real.  She is designed to wear cloths and unlike other lady bears she has a smooth hipline so no bumps at the hipline to interfer with the way the dress hangs.  The bear and the outfit including the stole are all handmade which is what took so long to get her ready not to mention adjusting the pattern to fit her.  She is wearing an outfit based on the Hello Dolly Pattern Bewitching Moonlight.  I had to redesign the top of the pattern to accomodate the differences in the body style from Barbie doll to lady Bear.  I really wanted to do this outfit in red but couldn't find red lace anywhere that didn't cost two arms and a leg so I used lace and satin that I had on hand.  Hope you like her.  This is a prototype bear so any suggestions on changes to improve her would be appreciated.  Anyway she is listed in the challange gallery so everyone can see her. I put in two pictures so that she could be seen with and without her stole.

Neala

I bought it on ebay but I know that some of the supply companies stock it as well.  I believe that Gerry's Teddy & Craft Design in Australia has it under the name Nose Shine. Hope this helps

Hi Everyone:
I recently did a felted nose on one of my bears.  At the same time I discovered nose gloss (the liquid).  After felting the nose as firmly as I could I used a bit of the nose gloss on it and let it dry.  I then put on a second coat.  While I did't get the glossy look I did have one thing happen.  No more fuzzies.  All the little short ends that just won't felt in disappeared and the nose looks really good now without the fuzzies.  Hope this helps

Neala

I have worked with real fur for years and fox is my all time favourite to work with.  It makes the most gorgeous bears although I wouldn't make anything smaller than 13" with a fur this long.  It is also one of the easier long haired furs to work with as the leather is not as thick as most of the  longer haired furs such as wolf, coyote and raccoon.  I'm attaching a picture of one of my fox fur bears so you can see just how nice fox is made up.  Hope this helps and hope you like PengPeng (means fluffyfluffy in Japanese).

Too bad about the hide being washed.  here is something you might want to try to resoften it.  Cut off a small piece to try this so that if it doesn't work you won't loose the entire pelt.  Take glycerine and rub it on the back of the pelt (on the leather) rub it in well but don't make the hide to wet with it.  Glycerine will soften the leather and make it plyable.  Rub it in well and then let it completely dry before using it.  Glycerine is available at most drug stores and it very inexpensive. It comes in a bottle and is a gel like liquid.  I have often used it to soften pelts that are hard and brittle when people have insisted on having a bear made from their Grandmothers coat even though the coat is as old as the hills and the hide is totally dried out.  I have seen it preform miracles so give it a try.  It is better to treat the hide two or three times to get it soft than to soak it with the glycerine the first try.  If you use just a small piece and treat it to the softness you want it you can then tell how many times you will have to treat it before using it.  Let the hide dry thoroughly before applying another treatment.

I have been experimenting with needlefelted noses on my bears.  Anyone who does needlefelting will know that no matter how much you felt the wool you still get little bits of the wool sticking up like stringers. I recently found a product call SB&F Nose Glaze.  It not only made all the little bits of wool fall neatly into place but gave the nose a bit of shine as well.  I used two coats on the wool because the first coat was absorbed quite quickly but the second coat worked wonders and made the nose look great.  I've used it on the prototype of the bear that I will be entering in the challange so once I finish the bear for the challange I will put the pictures up and you can all see how well it works.  It is available on ebay under Dolls and Bears, Bear Making supplies.

Neala

Hi Sue Ann:

Thanks for your help.  I have a WalMart near me but they have pretty much gone out of sewing supplies. They use to be really good for getting stuff like this and they use to have really nice fabrics but they've gone out of fabric all together and the sewing supplies that they have a very limited.  Half the time when you go to get something like frey check they either have a very limited amount of the smaller bottles or they're completely out.  It's sort of hit and miss I'm afraid which isn't much good if you're doing something and need it like yesterday.  I'm sure you know how that works.  You get into the middle of doing a project and you run out of something that is necessary to the project and you can't go any further until you get more.  I wondered if the white glue would work as well.  I use to use that combination to make a stiffener for crotched items and it worked well for that so I'm glad to know that it will work here as well.  At least white glue can be gotten just about anywhere and you don't have to wait for some stores shipment to come in.  Thanks again

Neala

Does anyone have a suggestion for something to use in place of freycheck.  Some of the fabrics that I have do frey but I'm having a hard time getting frey check here.  I don't know what is going on here in Toronto and whether or not others are finding the same thing but most of the fabric stores are going to home decorating items and it is getting harder and harder to get fabrics for clothing and threads and accessories including frey check to make things.  Is no one sewing their own clothing any more???  I've been making my own cloths (everything from underwear to winter coats) for 35 years now and now I can't find fabrics that I would want to wear anymore.  I can't understand what is going on with these items.  Do schools not teach young people to sew anymore?  I'm beginning to think that sewing is an art that will soon be lost if you can't get the materials you need to make things.

I like Pat didn't notice the date until after I posted to this.  I'll do a panda plus the one that I had already started for the other challenge.

Is it too late to get in on the panda challange.  I'm doing a bear for another challange but I think I can make time for this one as well.  Maybe I'll combine the two and make a panda version of the bear I had intended to make for the four seasons challange.  Is that OK?

Hi Becky:

This bear has been 4 years in the designing.  She has a totally female figure so she wears clothing well.  You could say she's the bear version of Barbie only cuter.  Eyelids, Lashes and handpainted eyes and a totally feminine body.  The body was giving me all kinds of trouble but I think I finally have the problems solved. 

Neala

I have a nutria coat that I made into bears and it looks very similiar to what you have here.  I would say nutria is what you have.  When the longer guard hairs wear off this is the look you are left with.  It makes beautiful bears and the under fur is sort of waxy and very soft.  The guard hair is coarse like any other beaver but once it wears off and this often happens with vintage coats what you are left with is what you have here. Hope this helps

I notice you are having problems with size for the different furs.  My rule of thumb is shorter haired furs like mink and shorter to go with the smaller bears up to about 10 or 12 inches.  Longer haired furs go for the bigger bears 14 inches and up. You can use the shorter furs for larger bears but it will make a skinnier bear so adjust the chubbiness of your bear accordingly if you like plump bears.  For long haired furs fox is the easiest to work with.  Wolf, coyote and heavier sheep skins are really thick and difficult to work with although wolf and coyote make beautiful bears.  If you want to get books on working with real fur for bears try Nancy Tillburg's books.  When I first started working in real fur this was my bible for what to do and sizes to make.

I have been working in real fur for a number of years now and no matter how strong the fur seems it needs to be lined.  I use 100% cotton muslim which needs to have frey check on it but it is the best thing I have found for lining real fur.  No matter how strong the leather back of the fur seems if you don't line it then it will split.I've tried to upload a picture of a fox fur bear that I made so that you can see how nice a lined bear can look.  Fox is delicate like rabbit fur and can split easily. Hopefully the picture has uploaded

I think Fayette is adorable.  What type of mohair is she made from?  She is so fluffy