Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Thank you to Melissa Kemp, my beautiful Reindeer Christmas ornament arrived Monday.
I've named him "Dancer" as that is what I did when he finally arrived from Australia.
Dancer told he met up with Santa on his way to USA, and lent Santa a bit of help - 
I will post Dancer to the Teddy Talk Tree soon.
Thank you Melissa.
Holiday Huggs,  Donna a.

Thank you for your answers, and advice.. Now I know just how to begin.
I'll post a photo when the bear is complete.
Thanks again.
Donna a

I browsed though several posts didn't see any answer to my question....
Please forgive me if it's been previously discussed.   I'm prepaing to N F't a nose on a  sewn 16 inch mohair bear.
I've read its best to stuff the nose with the same type of wool I'll be using for the  N F'ted nose.
Do I  completely finish the head, stuff & sculpt, add eyes,sew on  ears & close the seam THEN
N F the nose.. ?
Or is it best to finish the head & close after N F'ting the nose ?
How do y'all  N F'ting bear Artists  do this ?

Thanks,
Donna a

I'm a bit slow  ..............
took me  4- or 5 mins to send email to send letter to Congress/ House Representative.
Donna a

I'd like to mention not only Sassy fabric Quality products, but  also  the customer service is outstanding.
Stephanie is quick to respond to questions, and goes out of her way to HELP her customers.
She treats those large orders over $200.00  -customers  just as  courteous as her 'budget restricted' customers.
Stephanie stands behind her products 100 %.... AND gets her orders mailed out Quick.

Donna a.
www.BrandonBears.net

Once you catch her PLease take the opportunity to have her spayed. She will live a much longer healthier life !
Donna A.

I paint a bit .

Donnn A.
www.BrandonBears.net

Buying A Bra -- A Cowboy's Poem...

I ain't much for shopping,
Nor even goin' into town -
Except at cattle-shipping time,
I ain't easily found.

But the day came when I had to go
And I left the kids with ma.
But before I left she asked me,
"Would you pick me up a bra?"

Without thinkin' I said "Sure,"
How tough could that job be?
I bent down and kissed her
And said, "I'll be back by three."

Well, when I done the things I needed,
I started to regret
Ever offering to buy that thing,
I was working up a sweat.

I crossed the street to the ladies shop
With my hat pulled over my eyes,
I wasn't takin' any chances
On bein' recognized.

I walked up to the sales clerk -
I didn't hem or haw -
I told the lady right straight out,
"Ma'am, I'm here to buy a bra."

From behind I heard some snickers,
So I turned around to see
At least fifteen women in the store
And they's all gawkin' at me!

"What kind would you be looking for?"
"Well," I just scratched my head.
I'd only seen one kind before
"Thought bras was bras," I said.

She gives me a disgusted look,
"Well sir, that's where you're wrong.
Come with me," I heard her say,
And like a dog, I tagged along.

She took me down this alley
Where bras was on display.
Well, I thought my jaw'd hit the floor
When I seen that lingerie.

They had all these different styles
That I'd not seen before
I thought that I'd go crazy
'fore I left that women's store.

They had bras you wear for eighteen hours
And bras that cross your heart.
There was bras that lift and separate,
And that was just the start.

They had bras that made you feel
Like you weren't wearing one at all,
And bras that you can train in
When you start off when you're small.

Well, I finally make my mind up -
Picked a black and lacy one -
I told the lady, "Bag it up,"
And figured I was done

But then she asked me for the size.
I didn't hesitate.
I knew them measurements by heart,
"A six-and-seven-eighths."

"Six and seven eighths, well sir,
That really isn't right."
"Oh, yes ma'am! Yeah, I'm positive,
I just measured them last night."

I thought that she'd go into shock,
Musta took her by surprise
When I told her that my wife's bust
Was the same as my hat size.

"That's what I used to measure with,
I figured it was fair,
But if I'm wrong, I'm sorry ma'am."
This drew another stare.

By now a crowd had gathered
And they's all crackin' up
When the lady asked to see my hat,
To measure for the cup.

When she finally had it figured,
I gave the gal her pay.
Then I turned to leave the store,
Tipped my hat and said, "Good day."

My wife heard the whole story
'fore I ever made it home.
She'd talked to fifteen women
Who'd called her on the phone.

She was still a-laughin'
But by then I didn't care.
Now she don't ask and I don't shop
For no more women's underwear.

6 7/8 or there abouts...

A little while ago a flower delivery truck pulled up in front of the house.
A young ( 25 yr old nice looking young man) Knocked on the door while balancing at least 2 dozen roses
arranged in a large vase in one hand and a    G I A N T  heart shaped box of chocolates in the other !..
I  usually get flowers - few times during the year.. BUT  not 2 dozen roses !
( I'm thinking -- geeez I'm good !)        
  I Thanked him closed the door and set the flowers down in the kitchen. Pulled out the
card to read........   BRENDA   my  Love....         
  Either  My Mr. is in  biG  BIG    B  I   G   trouble     OR   there's been a mistake.

I ran outside just as the deliver guy was getting out of his truck with a ' painED'  look on
his face..  he opened up the back of the delivery van and together we searched the
other beautiful arrangements, finding the one that had no card I replaced the card with
the one I held in my hand into a vase holding ONE dozen roses.. ( are these mine?) 

The guy then went to the other side of the van.. " Here it is" .. his face again looking like
he'd  lost his best friend !...    I looked up and he was holding  a  small     short    vase.
Lillies and 3  roses !..    "I'm sooo sorry, and I need the box of chocolates back too, if I had
another I'd let you keep them"... :redface:
  I ran back in the house and fetched the chocolates & a  soda  for the delivery  guy.
"where's your helper ?"  I asked him.   "I just dropped her off at home she got sick,
I'm on my own"  he said then apologized  again, thanked me for the soda  and hurried off !

For a few seconds   I was a Queen !..
My flowers are beautiful,  and  Mr. is very thoughtful
and not in trouble.

donna a.

Ladies,  I MUST tell you of my first bear show.  Many years ago.
The first one that I attended.   I was sooo excited.  Had no Idea what to expect.
It was a beautiful Sunday that I convinced my 4 year Granddaughter to join me.
Being my official 'bear making assistant'  Brianna was into bears just as Much as I.
We dressed up in our finest 'bear clothes'  consisting of  teddy bear vests,  teddy bear
pins, purse, earrings & hair bows.
The car was washed inside and out, Brianna & I set off on our adventure only stopping
for a nice lunch on the way.
When we arrived at the door to the Show Brianna insisterd on filling the card for the drawing herself.
We were handed our goodie bags then as the doors opened for us to enter Brianna stood there,
frozen  EYES   wide open..  awwwwwwwwwww !  surveying the whole room. 
We made our way slowely around the room stopping at EACH table. My Granddaughter
not being shy spoke to every exhibitor that  wasn't busy.  Always asking if it was ok to pick up
or touch the bears she liked the most.  Brianna hear her name being called.. She won a door prize!
A purple bear, her favorite color !  3 hrs later it was time to go.  Family waiting on Us at home.
When we arrived home, Brianna rushed in eager to show off her new Bear.  PaPa was preparing
Sunday dinner for the family. " How was the bear Show Brianna?"  PaPa asked her as he was
standing at the kitchen sink.. as Brianna glanced first left then right she motioned for PaPa to bend
down,  then she quietly whispered in his ear.......
"they were all fake "  ! !  !

Donna A.

ohhh My,
I'm so glad to read about this in TT.
I didn't  know this person was  offering copied  patterns.
I bid on one and now thankful was outbid.
Thank you for the HEADS UP ladies.
What steps can/should I take to avoid making this mistake in the future.

Donna a.
www.brandonbears.net

1. Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?

2. Being "over the hill" is much better than being under it!

3. Wrinkled was not one of the things I wanted to be when I grew up.

4. Procrastinate now!

5. I have a degree in liberal arts; do you want fries with that?

6. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

7. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance

8. Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!

9. He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless DEAD.

10. A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three thousand times the memory.

11. Ham and eggs...A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig.

12. The trouble with life is there's no background music.

13. The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson.

14. I smile because I don't know what the heck is going on.

When I noticed (myVERY first)  Ebay selling listing had blank photos - RED X's
I tried to revise the listing, delete the blank photos (Red X's)  and add more photos.
NOPE. I was unable to get rid of the blank photos ( RED X's)...
I contacted Ebay live.  Vito told me that a VERY rare thing happened. Somehow
ebay added a file photo from a year ago to my listing....??? strange  WHY me ?
Grrrrrrrrrrr  AND because there was already bid He couldn't delete the blank photos or make any changes.
Vito offered to cancel the auction and credit me the cost.   NO. Can I add photo's and he move the blank photos to the END ?
NO. He cant alter the listing.  "Vito FIX your magic wand"...  I added photos but the Red X's are still there.

Has anyone else had this problem ?

Donna Armstrong
BrandonBears

Many years ago if my SON born late November had been a girl his name would have been  Noel Danae. 
or Danae Noel.   His first girlfriend ( first grade !) was named Deri which I though was cute.
Sage is a beautiful name.
Donna A.

Generation Gap...

A first grade school teacher in Virginia had twenty-five students in her class. She presented each child in her classroom the first half of a well-known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders.

Their insight may surprise you. While reading, keep in mind that these are 1st graders, 6-year-olds, because the last one is a classic!

1. Don't change horses...........until they stop running.

2. Strike while the............................bug is close.

3. It's always darkest before..............Daylight Saving Time.

4. Never underestimate the power of ....................termites.

5. You can lead a horse to water but........................how?

6. Don't bite the hand that..........................looks dirty.

7. No news is.........................................impossible.

8. A miss is as good as a....................................Mr.

9. You can't teach an old dog new...........................math.

10. If you lie down with dogs, you'll ......stink in the morning.

11. Love all,trust................................ me.

12. The pen is mightier than the...................... ......pigs.

13. An idle mind is........................the best way to relax.

14. Where there's smoke there's.......................pollution.

15. Happy the bride who.....................gets all the presents.

16. A penny saved is ...................................not much.

17. Two's company, three's ....................the Musketeers

18. Don't put off till tomorrow what ......you put on to go to bed.

19. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and..... You have to blow your nose.

20. There are none so blind as.......................Stevie Wonder.

21. Children should be seen and not.....spanked or grounded.

22. If at first you don't succeed................get new batteries.

23. You get out of something only what you ................see in the picture on the box.

24. When the blind lead the blind................get out of the way.

And the WINNER and last one!

25. Better late than......................................pregnant

So sorry your hurting right now, I pray that you may receive the strenght to cope and deal with things one day at a time
I hope this situation will get better for you soon. I know that it is hard to keep your head up. Sometimes you feel like you will be crushed by all that is going on. Keep going Patsy.

Big Bear Huggs,

Donna A.

All that talent in those two Hands.  Thank you Bobbie for being an Artist who shares the
'secrets' that took years to learn. Your work is exquisite.
Donna A.

I'm on the 'puter instead of working on a 3 inch crochet bear for a Round Robin Egroup project !...
Its Heaven   as the grandies are here making noise and getting into everything. Mom and Dad have a night out.
We did a bit of finger painting,    then its bath time, a quick snack, PaPa reads bedtime story (or two) then its off to bed.  :dance:
OOps... detour.  I smell a poopie diaper going on !... gotta go !
Donna A.

Happy Happy Birthday Dear. :cake:
Of course Chocolate is GOOD for you on your Birthday, Christmas, Mothers Day, Valentines Day, Queens birthday, Fathers Day, New Years,
Ground Hog Day, Presidents day,  SunDay, MonDay, TuesDay, WednesDay, .......   Oh I wish.
Happy Birthday Sweetie. :bday:
Donna A.

1. needle sculpting faces
2. scissor sculpting faces
3. leap from using other artist patterns to designing my own
4. Open mouths

MAGIC Wand? There's a magic Wand...? how come you didn't tell me about this ?
I've GOT to have one.  Going to look for one. 
Donna A.

snnnnifff.  snnnIf.  That was a mighty touching story.
Thanks for sharing.
Donna A.

Hi Krista,
I luv Tonks.  This is a photo of Saphire (Saffie) my Tonk.  She is such a Thief. I must keep the studio door closed at all times. Saffie somehow knows when
a mohair bear is being cut out or sewn up. Her favorite is to snatch the ear pieces. I've tried to give her scraps, she preFURs the ears !
Once when cutting out a mohair bear with NONE to spare, Saffie snatched an ear piece. After spending what seemed like hours on hands and knees searching
her hiding places I sat her down for a serious Cat chat begging her to return the ear.  Much to my surprise the next morning the missing ear was laying on the
floor in front of the closed studio door !
Huggs,
Donna A.

Isn't this just the best thing since sliced bread???  I agree wholeheartedly Anita.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
many bear hugs to you,
Patty Barone
                          www.swanvalleybears.com
Swan Valley Bears,    formerly BaroneBear

Sliced bread ?   T T'ers invented sliced bread ?    I knew it.
A big THANK you to all Artists from me who  share ideas, techniques and tips.
Donna A.

mohair ?  hummmmmmmmmm, whatyagot ?
Donna

Perhaps someone ELSE is interested ?
D.