Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

After a long time and a lot of trouble at work following a fire and a relocation, I have finally found the time to finish my 6th bear. 
I am still finding stitching noses a challenge and learning something new every time I use a needle and make another stitch but really love finding the character appear in a creation.

Please meet Lily, she has been given as a gift to a work colleague for her 65th birthday, hoping she loves her.  I was not overly please with her stitched nose but I don't think she turned out too bad.

Thank you Jane.  Yes really sweet & really quick to make too. X

New Teddy with a difference.
I have just made a needle and pin holder from a pattern by Megan Wallace, Handmade from Helmbold Stormy Grey Faux Fur with glass eyes, magnets and a felt centre. Although this is for personal use I have named her KIMI - that is native american "Algonquin" for SECRET.

The eyes do not look tight in the photo but this has been rectified since taking the photos.

Thank you x

Ursus is my newest bear handmade by myself, Shani of SkaBeary Bears.  She is 10" standing and is made from beautiful white faux fur.  Each pad, toe and her nose is handmade by polymer clay and she has English glass eyes.  Ursus is wearing a head-dress of wired beads and paper flowers finished with a rachetti, and wears matching neck-wear.

Ursus is stuffed with polyfil fibre and steel shot for a realistic weight.

Ursus is now available for adoption on my website at www.skabearybears.wix.com/skabearybears.

Ursus is a One of A Kind Bear and is totally unique.  Once adopted, she will come gift boxed with her own certificate of authenticity, signed by the Artist.

Ursus is a collectible item and is not made for children under the age of 14 years due to small parts.

For further details please contact me.

This is TIKARA a 5" alpaca bear, fully jointed with individually wired clay pads/toes and nose.  TIKARA has satin ruffles around her feet and neck and a felt hat on her head.
TIKARA has been adopted.

Thank you for your comments x

Thank you for your comments x

This is NITA - she is an 8"/21 cms (standing) OOAK artist bear made from sparse pink mohair and beige faux suede, she is 5-way jointed with black glass eyes and fibre filled. Nita's nose is hand embroidered and she wears a satin ribbon frill around her neck with satin roses attached to the frill and her head, she has a tushy tag attached to her lower back.

When adopted, NITA will come gift boxed with her own certificate of authenticity. To purchase NITA please contact SkaBeary Bears direct.

I would love to know what you all think of her. Xx

Meet NITA (Meaning : Bear -  in Native American Indian: Choctaw). 

NITA is the newest bear handmade from SkaBeary Bears.  She is hand sewn in pink sparse mohair, beige faux suede and with black glass eyes. Her nose is embroidered, her face is shaded by hand and she is five way jointed.
NITA is 8"/21 cms standing and is filled with soft fibre fill stuffing.  NITA wears a "SkaBeary Bears" tushy tag in her back and a satin ribbon ruffle around her neck.  She has also satin ribbon roses attached to her head and ruffle.

To adopt NITA please contact me direct.

Tillie is lovely, I don't really like sparse mohair either but, as you, I am learning and find the sparse better to work with than the longer hair.  Although the long hair looked great for the arms legs and body of the bear I was working on, I do not really like the face - scissor sculpturing needs a little more practice I think.  I am sure your mother was thrilled - well done!

Shani x

Eyes in, face sculpted (to a degree).  Nose and ears are yet to be placed.  This has taken me about 2 hours to do and i have a few more grey hairs. I think it is beginning to come together a little bit better than I thought though.  I think the ears are going to be too small though, i am rethinking them, and then to sew or clay the nose - ????

I am waiting for some new eyes to arrive, I only have 9 and 10s and they look too small so have ordered 12/14/16 to test which one.  I am thinking about making a polymer clay nose too (that will be a first too) so have decided not to do anything until those are ready.  Thank you for your advice as soon as I make a move on the face I will post some more photos, I am not sure i will become bolder until I have been doing it for years though .... Lol 

Ahhh, thank you so much x

OMG! I am not sure about this - thinks I am just about to cock it up .....!!!!!

Wow, thank you so much that is really kind.  The answer to your question is YES that is a first nose too.  Thank you so much for your advice - I will get a pair of tweezers and give that a go.
I am attempting my first scissor sculpting on a new bear at the moment.  I have applique'd its feet too but I am scared stiff of the face.  I have started and feel physically sick ...... I just know I am going to cock it up - lol!!
I was going to give a polymer clay nose a go too - I have never been one to learn to swim in the shallow end : jump in the deep end and work your way back - that how I live life!!  Stress is my middle name & is very much self inflicted.  LOL! 

Thanks - I have tried that but because it is not padded it does not have the same "response".  Bull by the horns moment I think!

Thanks Jenny, maybe i should get some of that then - i think I am going to need all the help I can get!!

I would like to introduce you to my first bear. 
She is made from sparse mohair and is 12" in size.  She doesn't have a name and won't be sold as she is my first but I think she turned out quite well considering .....!!

I would love your comments and any criticism as all your professional expertise would help me progress and get better.

I have decided on a name for my business creations.  I have called myself SkaBeary Bears - this is a collaboration of my initials and "bear" with a bit of a ring ....!
My 2nd bear is nearly finished BUT the head - I am terrified of the scissor sculpting.  I am so worried that I am gonna mess up.
This will be a 12" bear once the head is attached and I am really pleased with the way the torso has turned out.
I scissor sculpted the feet and appliqué'd the pads, i am actually quite pleased with the results for a first attempt at this, the first foot took me hours but the second was a lot quicker.  I did worry that I wouldn't get the same results for both feet though.  I have also cut the front part of the ears - again a bit of a build up to the face BUT the face is all I have left to do and am terrified of messing up the whole thing.
You are all probably going to agree that I am a bit potty using this type of fur (Husky) and attempting this type of sculpting this early on in my creations but I always start in the deep end and tread water towards the shallow - challenge is my middle name, but you may be right - has the head beaten me ....??? Nah, when I pluck up the courage to do something with it - we'll see ...!
Once the face & character appears, I will consider a name - for now my headless creation is yet to have identity!
I would really love your comments and any advice you can offer before I take the plunge.

I have also added the first bear I made - this one was made from sparse mohair and although the same size looks a lot smaller because of the fur.  I actually love the cuddly, hairy bears more than the sparse ones - personal opinion!

Thank you all, I really appreciate your comments and advice.

Oops, pictures are around the wrong way, sorry all!

I would like all your professional opinion.  I have made my first bear and would like you to tell me what you think of it.  It is a 12" bear from sparse mohair.  I haven't finished it yet, it needs foot claws and I am crocheting a garland of roses + have some beautiful lace from china I want to use but for now please comment, good or bad, I value your opinion ...!!! Thank you

I have bitten the bullet and brought a book called Teddy Bear Art by Jennifer Laing.  I found it at Waterstones (UK) for £15.50 (which is really cheap considering I have been if finding it for between £60-120)  if anyone is interested.  That was also free P&P - bargain!!

Thank you to all who have posted comments to my question.  I have been studying and drawing sketches from photos of my dog with grid lines, with a bit of perseverance I am sure I will get there in the end .....! The book suggested may help - thanks.