Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hello

Thanks for your replies. Yes, I realised that it sounded like I had 3 babies personally, but I left it, it sounded funny :).
I've made an heirloom alpaca bear for a toddler in the past, used safety joints, eyes, nose etc, and double stitched the seams,but I was thinking of a more cuddly bear that the babies could cuddle now, (although the baby who's already here, his parents want an heirloom type bear, dressed like a Spartan - his name is Leonidas!) My daughter  has 2 rabbits that I bought her many (20) years ago and they have pellets in their body, but their heads and paws are stuffed. They've been through the wash several times (but not enough, they are black now), and the stuffing and pellets have never moved, so I'm wondering if they are somehow stitched in place. Perhaps I could put the pellets in a cotton bag inside the body, which would also feel safer to me.

Hi

I have 2 babies on the way and another a few weeks old, all looking for bears. Any tips on how to make baby safe bears, apart from the obvious safety eyes/joints? I don't think I'll bother with joints at all in fact, probably a simpler cuddly shape, and I'm thinking of using minky as it's so soft, and washable, but I was wondering about putting plastic pellets in to make a floppy body. Will polyester stuffing go all lumpy if it's washed? Things like that. Thanks very much

Caroline

Michelle's idea of the polymer clay base is a good one (I love to make polymer clay noses anyway). Perhaps covering the polymer clay with felt and then the fabric would give a softer feeling nose if that's what you're looking for?
Caroline

By the way, update. He sold at Hugglets and went to a bear and doll museum in America! I was so chuffed!

I did manage to find a silicone that stays soft when it's dry, but, once I added acrylic paint to it, it changed texture completely and went all crumbly and never quite dry, so back to the drawing board!

I don't entirely understand this either. I've used acrylic paints, for painting metal figures, for painting pictures, and basically it's plastic. I will have to experiment with it, to see how to make it work not leaving a coat of plastic on each hair of the fur. I have plenty to practise with, so I shall start with that and try oils another time. Also I've seen coloured pencils mentioned, and pastels, and I can't quite see how that stays on the hairs, but I shall try that out too

I've also been trying out shading using markers, Spectrum Noir in my case. I've found that they make the fur feel kind of sticky. So I tried 'polishing' the fur with a paper towel and a lot of colour comes off on the paper, so hopefully is less on the fur. I guess it's  to be expected when you're adding an ink to the fibres of the fur, they must feel different. I need to look into this idea of oils, as that just doesn't make sense to me from what I know of oil paints. I imagine the fur clogged thick with it and stinking of oil paint!

Okay, first lessons learned. Tea light wax is too soft, so trying candle wax next time. And cheap transparent silicon is no good, it sets like rock! I don't know what silicon 1 and silicon 2 is. I might need to go  into one of the  specialist plumbers places rather than somewhere like B&Q and ask them for what I'm looking for. I did try the  professional stuff that I had, just to see what would happen and the answer is, it doesn't! It did Not want to mix with the acrylic at all, went all weird and seperated. Must be water based.

Oh, I do like this idea! Definitely going to try this, just need to get clear silicone first(only have white around the house), then probably start with noses of different sizes. Have you tried putting a wire in the back whilst it's going off to make a loop for attaching?

He does wobble, and they're not the smallest wobble joints I have. I'll tell you who he reminded me of, Michelle, Teddy from Andy Pandy, the original one. He must have been a wobbly jointed puppet!

Caroline

Thanks!

Something fruity sounds good, Jen, thanks! 

This little bear I'm keeping for myself, as I just love his fur! In bright sunlight it looks metallic, it's so shiny. He is also the first all wobbly jointed bear I've made, and I love the way he sits and lolls. Not sure what to call him, Red seems a bit unimaginative but that's all he's got for now

Caroline

Gorgeous! Such a lovely face

Caroline

Michelle has given you a great list of UK suppliers, I've used all of these for various supplies. And yes, trimming away the fur covered by the joints makes a difference as it crushes down over time if it's left long, making the joint sloppy. Post pics of your bears here, you'll get great feedback from experienced bear makers. And only go to a bear fair if you have money to spend - once you see and touch all those fabulous furs you will find it hard to resist them! Plus you can see all the different sizes of joints, eyes, lead shot etc. Hugglets is coming up soon, if you're anywhere near London

Caroline

HI Becky

Thanks for your thoughts. I checked and he isn't allergic. My partner is asthmatic, and it isn't just animal dander that sets him off, it's airborne fluff as well, so that why I thought I should make sure. I've ordered some golden alpaca, and safety eyes and joints. Perhaps I should dab some glue on the joins as well, just to make extra sure. but then I suppose the shank could just snap if it's pulled hard enough. But I'd have thought that was true of even CE marked toys, there's almost nothing a child can't destroy if it really wants to. And hopefully, with the cost of the bear, his parents will make sure he doesn't swing it around by one leg! I'm thinking of charging about  £80 to cover materials and time.

Looking for advice. I've been commissioned to make a bear, for a 2 year old, so safety joints eyes etc, obviously, But his grandad, who asked me to make it, wants it to be...kind of an heirloom bear, i.e. one that lasts a long time, to be passed on, but cuddly and soft enough for a young child as well.. So I'm thinking mohair rather than faux fur, which is what I usually use. He wants it about 12" tall. I've already realised that I need to ask him if his grandson is allergic to animal hair! Of course he has no idea how many fabulous fabrics there are in the world, so I think I need to pin him down on colour and texture a bit too, if I can. Any thoughts, anyone? Thanks

It's not the spells but how you use them! I took them from the first few levels of D&D spells, lol 

Thanks tc! 

Thank you for your replies. I guess I should  have been a bit more specific. I was thinking about  gift boxes, rather than just a box for shipping a bear in. I have a few bears for sale in a local bear shop, but none of them have gift boxes, and I think a lot of the  other artist bears there do. I think it looks more professional and...complete somehow, ( I haven't yet got around to certificates and other such touches either), and this is where I was thinking a box for such a large bear is a problem. But perhaps I am getting ahead of myself and I should just worry about actually selling any bears first!

This is Ozymandias the mage. He has silky pantaloons and a sparkly waistcoat under his lined cloak, and glove leather boots. His paws are swivel jointed with epoxy resin claws, painted and varnished. His eyes are a golden brown, hand painted on glass. His staff is topped with a rock crystal point. In his leather satchel he has his leather bound grimoire with a few spells already added. He is 16" tall.

Caroline

Hi folks

I was wondering if anyone had any tips for packing up large bears, 12" or over. I've just finished a large bear, Ozymandias the mage,

and I feel he needs a box to go in, but he he covers an A3 piece of card, and needs about 6" deep. Looking on ebay for boxes that size, usually brings up plastic crates like Really Useful Boxes, which cost a fortune. I've been thinking perhaps forget boxes and take a tip from Charlie bears and make a special bag for him. Any thoughts, ideas?

Caroline

Such a cute face, lovely!

What a sweetie!

He is lovely. I like donkeys, don't see many.