Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Thanks everyone, they're great ideas!! Xxx

Does anyone know where I can buy nose wax in the uk? I just read one of the forum posts about noses and would love to try waxing. I know that sassybearsandfabrics.com sell it, but I've just placed an order with her and can't afford to pay the postage again. Can anyone direct me to a uk supplier and explain to me how to use the nose wax?

Bear hugs,
Amy

Thanks so much guys! I will looki into needle sculpting, but the cheeks I'm trying to achieve are like those on the front cover if Nancy T's book '101 bears to maje'. She has used a short fur and those cheeks are really puffy! They don't look scissor sculpted, but stuffed to achieve the puffiness. It baffles me!

... Thanks so much for taking the time to explain things to me! I haven't received your message Julia- could you please send it to: lilamy88@live.co.uk
Amy :-) xxx

Hey guys, I've checked out the bear course (it looks really great andid love to do it in the future but can't afford it right now), and the discussions you suggested but I'm still stumped on this! The cheeks have to be part of the muzzle, right? But how to sew the muzzle to make them poofy just baffles me. I know it will click into place once someone explains/ shows it to me, but I just can't figure it out on my own. If anyone knows how to achieve this then please put me out of my misery :-p in the meantime I will have another browse through the discussions :-)
teddy hugs xx

I'm glad to hear that you are feeling better and thank you so much for holding the precious Ellie! Just let me know whenever you're ready to trade :-) I suffer with chronic fatigue myself, and because of this my husband and I have decided that it would be best for me to work from home (tutoring English and running my Etsy shops). So I am going to open two new shops, which is keeping me pretty busy. So there's no rush, just contact me whenever you're ready-just concentrate on getting well :-)
I look forward to seeing the pattern and adapting the head-technique for my little critters. If I practice enough they might oneday be as lovely as yours! Xxxx

PS Kelly, I just looked at some of your other bears and realised that I know you from Etsy! I'm Amy from 'Blushing Dove Boutique'! I contacted you about a trade a while back because I loved your little panda and elephant-small world! As you can tell, I've started making my own bears now and am hoping to open up a new shop in a week or so. I hope you're feeling better now lovely xxx

Thank you Kelly Jo, that would be so helpful if you could :-D I haven't been on here long, so am not sure how PM's work. Could you possibly email it to me? That way I'll definately get it! My email is: lilamy88@live.co.uk
thanks so much :-)
your little bear is just gorgeous (I previously commented on your post).
Teddy hugs,
Amy xxx

Hello lovely teddy friends!
I'm going away this weekend and want to design a bear to sew whilst I'm at my mum's. I want to design a head similar to the head the bear artist has achieved in this post:

http://www.teddy-talk.com/viewtopic.php?id=32229

Would I do this by using three pieces? I was thinking I could use two pieces for the muzzle and one for the back of the head. Has anyone tried this before? Will it work if I design a head this way? I've never done a three piece head before! I look forward to hearing from you all!
Teddy hugs,
Amy xx

How cute! They're so sweet and original :-)

She's gorgeous! I can't believe she's only your fourth bear!

Your bears and dragons are amazing! Have you been making bears for long? The ballerina is my favourite :-) I did think about using shop-brought lashes, but will they work for small bears 1 or 2")? Xxx

Hello my lovely teddy-friends :-)
I have been posting here a lot lately and I do apologise for this (I am researching too, but am still a newbie). I really want to give my critters eyelashes but they seem to have disappeared from the inet! I really want black eyelashes(the kind on a strip that I can cut down and trim to fit my mini bears), but all there is on eBay is brown and blonde. I couldn't find any on Etsy either! Does anyone know where I can find them? I'm in the UK so it would be great if there was somewhere close to home :-)

... Or does anyone have any they want to destash that I could buy?
Thank you so much my lovely chums, you're all always so helpful on here- I can't wait to show you some of my creations!
Teddy hugs,
Amy xxx

I tried the darts and it worked really well :-) I used a four piece body too :-) when I upload my pics I will show you the chubby baby bunny I made xx

Thank you April, that sounds wonderful and I hope that I can buy all of my materials direct from you in the future. That way I don't have to worry about custom's fees :-) I just sent you an email and would be so grateful for any advice you can offer :-) xxx

Thanks Ali, they do have some of the fabrics I liked :-) I was after some of the miniature noses and leather cording from sassy which emmerybears does not have. Certainly a good back up though! I ordered from Sassy successfully on Dec 26th so don't think they could be closed for Xmas. Hmm strange, you don't think she's stopped posting internationally do you?
I do feel relieved that I can still buy my fave fabrics :-)

Hey everyone :-)
I am in the uk and love making miniature bears from sassy longpile and other plush fabrics. I always buy from sassybearsandfabrics.com, but as I have tried several times to place my order these past few days I am presented with a message saying the site cannot calculate shipping rates to my destination! I have contacted the owner of the site, but have yet to hear back from her. I am hoping it is just a glitch on the site that will be fixed, but cannot help being overcome by the fear that I may have to say goodbye to making my little plush friends! Does anyone know what I can do or where else I can buy such lovely fabrics? Please help!

Thanks so much Louise, I like that idea :-) I've got some furry trim and I'm going to give that a go too. I look forward to trying out these techniques :-) xx

Thanks so much, that makes much more sense! Would it work if I added the dart to the top of the head before sewing?
Amy :-)

Thank you so much! I can't wait to see your pic, I'm sure I will understand perfectly then :-) xx

... In continuation of my last message: When you dart the head do you dart along the seams/ parts you sew, or cut into the side if the head? Are the darts a triangle shape? Whereabouts along the bottom if the head do you dart?
Thanks so much for the amazing advice! It's slowly starting to make sense :-)

Thank you Joanne, that is great advice! I totally get what you are saying about the body but am still a little confused about the head. Could you explain this to me a little more (sorry-newbie!)? Do you have/ know where I can find some diagrams/ examples of adding darts to the head?
Amy xx

What a great idea! Do you know how I can make wool into a mane? Would I sew it/glue it/ etc?
The glitter would look really pretty!
:-)

Thanks guys, that's great advice! I think you're right about adding darts. I have only done this once before (to add roundness to the belly of a dragon I made). I'm not entirely sure how to use them. How do I know where to place them? Do you have/ know of any diagrams I can see as an example?

I've also never attempted a 4-piece head. How do I do this and what benefit does it have?
Thanks so much, I really appreciate the help and look forward to hearing from you again and hopefully learning more about these techniques :-)
Amy xxx

Thank you so much for your reply Clare :-)
I have tried using a longer fur, but it doesn't seem to work for me. It doesnt seem to make them chubby, but fuzzy. I'd like to know how to alter my patterns to achieve that chubby baby bear look. Does anyone have any tips?

Thank you, I will have a read :-)