Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Tammy,

Based on my guess that your opeinig bid was $100 Australian and eBay's policy "Only actual bids (not automatic bids generated up to a bidder's maximum) are shown." here is what I think happened.

(Please read from the bottom up) 

kevinswang ( 7 )  US $305.00 22-May-06 08:44:36 EDT  (kevinswang bid higher to protect himself and eBay listed the same amount previously bid but updated the new bid time and date)

kevinswang ( 7 )  US $305.00 22-May-06 08:43:34 EDT  (kevinswang bid at least $305.00 and eBay lsited the minimum amount required to beat jerie559's $300.00 bid)
 
jerie559 ( 16)  US $300.00 21-May-06 16:48:46 EDT  (Jerie559 tried to protect his bid by entering a bid of $300.00 on 21-May and eBay listed it "trumping" kevinswang's $300.00 bid by date and time.)
 
kevinswang ( 7 )  US $300.00 22-May-06 08:43:24 EDT  (kevinswang bid $300.00)

kevinswang ( 7 )  US $260.00 22-May-06 08:42:15 EDT  (kevinswang bid $260.00 and eBay automatically counter bid using the maximum entered by jerie559)
 
jerie559 ( 16)  US $255.00 19-May-06 23:02:50 EDT (jerie559 entered a bid higher than $250.00 and eBay posted $255.00 as it is the next higher bid required to beat kevinswang's $250.00 bid)   
 
kevinswang ( 7 )  US $250.00 19-May-06 16:02:42 EDT  (kevinswang finally bid higher than parrotlady64's first "maximum" bid)
 
kevinswang ( 7 )  US $240.00 19-May-06 16:02:22 EDT  (see below)
 
kevinswang ( 7 )  US $230.00 19-May-06 16:02:15 EDT  (see below)
 
kevinswang ( 7 )  US $220.00 19-May-06 16:01:57 EDT  (see below)
 
kevinswang ( 7 )  US $200.00 19-May-06 15:56:51 EDT  (see below)
 
kevinswang ( 7 )  US $150.00 19-May-06 15:45:26 EDT  (see below)
 
kevinswang ( 7 )  US $130.00 19-May-06 15:41:41 EDT  (see below)
 
kevinswang ( 7 )  US $120.00 19-May-06 15:41:30 EDT  (see below)
 
kevinswang ( 7 )  US $110.00 19-May-06 15:41:13 EDT  (see below)
 
kevinswang ( 7 )  US $100.00 19-May-06 15:40:45 EDT  (Entered a bid and eBay automatically counter bid using the maximum entered by parrotlady64)
 
parrotlady64 ( 392)  US $91.00 17-May-06 22:18:53 EDT (Entered a bid just under $250.00 and eBay listed the opening bid of $91.00 USD)

I hope this is helps,

Dale

Hi Shelli,

I was there, just not the days you were. 

Wednesday 3:00 am - drive to Nevada City and set up the booth - leave for Schaumberg
Thursday - driving to Schaumberg - ice, snow, wind, rain, etc all the way to Schaumberg
Friday - arrive in Schaumberg - set up show
Saturday - work Schaumberg bear show - pack show - start driving back to Nevada City
Sunday -  driving to Nevada City
Monday - arrive Nevada City - Pack up show - drive home - home by midnight.

5000 miles and two shows in one weekend -- See, some of us work almost as hard as the bear artists.     

The first bear table sounds like a lof of fun.  I think I still have my first bear.  It is a 4" flat bear made while I was still in grade school.  If I can locate it, I'll bring it along.  I can't bring my first jointed bear.  It is on display at the Clarion Museum.

I will however be bringing an assortment Intercal's great bear making fabrics.  If there is anything you want me to include, email me at bearst@pixelgate.net.

Looking forward to a fun weekned in Albuquerque,

Dale

PS: I have convinced Kjeld (head bear at Intercal) to come along for the ride.

Hope

Hi Rita

To make your images appear the text needs to look like this:

[img]http://i4.ebayimg.com/03/i/04/2e/3a/cd_1_b.JPG[/img]

When posting an image, click the Img button and copy the image location between the Img tags.

This board does not support direct HTML tags.

Hope this helps,

Dale

Harbor freight (http://www.harborfreight.com) offers several calipers. 

They currently have a digital one on sale for $15.99.  Item 47257 

They offer polymer calipers (great for passing thru metal detectors at airports) for $1.99.  Item 7914.

Sorry for the large image.  I "borrowed" it from their web site.

Dale

Mince them first.  That is what Steiff did with the felt scraps in the old felt faced dolls.

Why not stuff the bears with them, near the turn of the century, Steiff stuffed their felt dolls with the leftover felt scraps.

Dale

Besides, they don't taste real good deep fried!!:lol::lol::lol:

One method is to use a small brass ferrule (similar to the ones found on shoes).  You should be able to find these in small packages with the installer tool at most fabric or craft stores.

Dale

You can get your own free spell checker for Internet Explorer at www.ieSpell.com.  You can add words/names/etc to the dictionary as you go.  Just right click the box you are typing in and choose 'check spelling'.
Dale

Judi,

Not only were we typing at the same time, we must have been looking oner each other's shoulders.

Eileen,

Expert...eh?  If you mean "used to be pert" I probably qualify for that.

The first bear clubs were started as places to share ideas, collections, knowledge, sources, etc.  I still subscribe to the notion that if any of us want to succeed, all of us have to succeed.

Dale

After sewing, pick the seam before turning the piece.  Then pick the seam again after turning.  This way you don't have to worry about sewing perfectly along a trimmed seam.

Check the seam after picking.  With a dense fabric, you may need to resew the seam to tighten it up.

The end result should be nearly invisible seams and no more dark lines in the seams of tipped fur bears.

Dale

Just pick both sides of the seam.  This will remove those hair tips sticking thru from the inside.

Dale

You need to get the image into the PC, then just print with an inkjet on printable fabric.

This link will get you a good start on your quest for more information and supply sources:

http://www.google.com/search?q=printable+fabric+inkjet

Dale

If you pluck the noses before stuffing the head, you can turn the head inside out and clean the remaining tufts from the back.   Give it a try on a 1/2" corner of the mohair before cutting and sewing the bear to see if it works to your satisfaction.

Dale

I too am diabetic.  Adult onset type II.  That means (according to my doctor) my body still makes insulin, but my cells seem to have forgotten how to use it.  I get by on pills and watching my diet.  Losing 60 pounds over the past several years (with about 30 more to go) also helped a lot to keep the sugar number in check.

Traveling all over the country for shows makes keeping the diabetes under controll quite a challenge.

Dale

Sugar Bear was the character from Post Sugar Crisp.

                                           
                                                 The image is from 1965

Better yet, here is the supplier list from "Paula Burch's All About Hand Dyeing Fabric" web site.

http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/dyesources.shtml

Dale

I would try a fabric supply first for silk paints and dyes.

Dale

What dulls clippers is the dust and dirt trapped between the fibers, not the fibers themselves.  Synthetisc are soft plastic and should do no harm to the clippers. 

Dale

Real fur is a protien fiber.  Silk paints should work.

Dale

I was wondering how long it would take for someone to notice.  You are the first!!!

Dale

If you sew a scrap of Mohair into a nose shape and stuff it, you can practice and not worry about damaging a finished bear.

Dale

Also when photographing your creations, move a bright light around in the background to get the highlights in the eyes where you want them.  Dead center never looks "right".  Use a photo editing program to remove excess or unwanted reflections.  A good example of this can be found on the covers of most bear magazines (they don't always get it right either).

Dale

That would mean giving up the 3 minutes a night I sleep now.

I think there are still 2 bears in the collection at home.  I sold or gave away the rest.  The square dance outfits were made in 1976 for the So Cal Square Dance Festival.  Mom might have some pictures.  The wedding dress is older than that.  My ex may still have the dress or possibly some photos of it.

It will be some time next week before I can get at any of these.

Dale