Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi guys, so I've been making my bears for a while now and mainly use polymer clay for noses. I attach a little loop of wire in the clay, bake them, take the wire back out then superglue it back in the nose ready to attach with thread.
Recently I've seen a lot of critters with polymer clay faces...feet..ears etc. Also I know a lot of you make polymer clay paw pads. My question is HOW do you attach them? If I wanted to attach some polymer paw pads how do I do it and Is there a particular glue?..epoxy?..E6000?.. you recommend and do you still attach wire to the back?
And is it the same for attaching full faces to a furry creation? I'm presuming trimming the mohair/Alpaca right back to the fabric but then what?
Sorry if it's a long question but I'm dying to have a go at creating something a little different from my usual!xx

Hi Kat! Thanks very much for the reply and the links! I have sold a couple of bears that have gone overseas so that would be a good idea to be covered! The A&N sounds good, I will give them a call! Thanks again!xx

Hi, I've been lucky enough to get a stand at Hugglets in September..this is my very first show..Ever! Up till now I have just sold my bears on Bearpile and my Facebook page. So my questions are 1 Do I need insurance? 2 Does it need to be specific to doing a show..eg public liability? And any recommendations as to which insurance company's are good? I'm in England and also what do we call ourselves on the insurance!..Artists?.. Thanks.xx

Hi edmundnutmeg! The owner of Straw Beary Designs in Australia is called Jane Higgins so it doesn't look like the same owner of StrawBeary shye. I've tried looking for her via Facebook but cant find anything. I sure they can't be still making bears as there's nothing anywhere on them. The two bears I've found of hers are very different to mine as well.xx

Well that's certainly something to think about! I must admit the other persons bears..the two that I could find pictures of!..don't look anything like mine! I suppose I was just bothered in case I'm ever good enough to do a teddy bear fair that people didn't think we were the same person..or that I had copied her name. Thanks for the info though!xx

Thank you both for your replies! That's a very good idea to put my location on..hadn't thought of that! I will see if there are any contact details I can get, I just didn't want to jump in on someone else's name! It's just odd I can't find anything on google about them..unless they were not going for very long. I also found the blog Becky..it hasn't been used/updated for a very long time! Thanks again.Helen.xx

Hi guys! I'm after a bit of advice! I've been making my bears in my spare time for about 18 months now. When I sold my first one I decided to give myself a name so after a lot of thinking I came up with my name.,I did some googling and looked on Facebook and couldn't find anybody else called StrawBeary Designs. I've sold about 15 bears now and have some lovely sew in labels printed but I've just discovered on Hugglets website there is a Straw beary designs!!..There in Australia but it's not known if there active. Does this mean I should change my name? When I google it it comes up with my bears..only 2 pics of the other bear makers bears. Any advice greatly appreciated!x

Thank you, I have ordered some so will give it a try! I just wish I had more confidence with the faux fur as I have so much of it!..lol xx

Hi guys, thanks for replying! So I can get some sulky solvy water soluble stabiliser from create and craft, how do I use it? Do I just use it on the edges or all over the backing?x

Hi Jenny. Thanks for the reply! That's a great idea about the flaps!! That's the main place I'm struggling so I will definitely try that idea. The pva is worth a try as well as my fray check seams to be really thick. Thanks again.xx

Thanks for the reply Becky! Im going to have another go and use the fray stop on the edges. I actually thought Faux fur would be easier than Mohair to work with! As you say it will probably get easier just wanting to make sure I'm not missing anything i should be doing when using it! xx

Hi guys, just needing some advice. I've been making my bears for about a year now and have been using sassy fur for the smaller 5_6" ones and mohair for the larger ones. I've got absolutely loads of really nice faux fur from mohair teddy bear supplies in the UK but am really struggling with it! It's kind of fraying on the seams especially when I've stuffed them and trying to close the seams is a nightmare!
Should I be lining the fur or putting fray stop on the edges? It's given such great results from scissor sculpting the little cheeks that I want to use more of it but I'm finding it so hard to work with! Any help would be greatly appreciated!xx

Lol..Richelle! I've just finished looking through it and I can say its brilliant! Lots if info and also the ted Menten book is great! Have got two weeks off for Christmas so loving having the time to just sit and sew! Hopefully get some finished then I can start working on my own pattern! Helen xx

There brilliant!..love the Shrek one!..lol x

Hi Michelle! Yes I was in two minds weather to buy the book as it was pricey!..haven't told the other half yet! 
That's a very good idea about the model first! I've made a couple of bears off a pattern and love them, made them in mohair but I would like to make my own.
It's all very confusing as I have loads of images of bears that I love but I don't want to 'copy' them, the pattern I've used I've purposely tried to copy it just to see if my bear would look anything like it's supposed to..just to give me an idea if it's a hobby I could be good at!   
Helen x

Jellybeihn I will let you know!..it does seem to be in demand!
Becky, that's exactly what I'm hoping for, it's the pattern making that's gonna stump me so the more advice I can get the better!
Thanks for the advice Gail!, I will google her and see what comes up!xx

Hi Jellybiehn and Becky! Thanks for the advice! I've been looking on here and found some recommendations, I've ordered Jennifer Laing-How to design and make bears, Nancy Tillberg- 101 bears to make (Wow was that expensive! ), Ted Menten-step by step guide to making teddy bears and one by Julie K Owen on minature bears! Can't wait to get them and start reading!

Hi guys, Im new here and have been busy reading and gathering lots of tips from this great forum! My question is what is the best book to buy if I want to make my own patterns? Ive made a few bears off patterns ive bought and they have turned out well but I would like to try and sell a couple so I want to design my own pattern.
I work in sewing so already have a good idea about seam allowences and how patterns fit together but I have never made a pattern myself! Helen.x