Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

The 2" fur is lovely, and I'd definitely buy it. That color would make a lovelly golden retriever!

Right now, I have several bags full of wool sheared from an Angora goat and a llama. It's too chopped-up for yarnmaking (you should see my llama's haircut! He was not fond of the process), and I haven't learned needle-felting yet:D

But it's soft and warm and I think it would be nice for stuffing critters. Does anyone have experience with how it holds up over time? Obviously, it couldn'tbe used for washable items. And I'm wondering if it would be more likely to attract moths than mohair (although I've never seen a clothes moth in Southern CA; don't know if we have them here.)

I don't work with fur bears, but I do groom my dog for show So one hint I do have is that groomer's suppliers are often better sources than beauty suppliers for scissors to work with fur!

Right now, my dog scissors are getting more work on the animals I'm making than the dog! The hair-thinning shears can work wonders- get as many teeth as you can afford. i have a 42-tooth shear, which is nice and smooth. Ebay often has some nice ones; www.petedge.com is another good source.

And, BTW, Murph my llama says that that second type of alpaca is huacaya.:D

They are called Judas goats becuause their first use was in slaughterhouses. They were trained to lead the sheep up the ramp to the killing floor- the trusting sheep would follow the confident goat:(

The Loc Line is plastic and durable, so it won't poke holes in the fabric like wire can. And it's much more poseable. I've seen people do lovely things with it.

Have any of you found reasonable sources for LocLine? I want to try it, but it's so expensive!

Has anyone tried the doll armature similar to LocLine such as this- http://www.artistique.us/index.php?category=7 ? it looks similar, but I have no idea how sturdy it is. (by the way, this site also has special joints to use with the armature.)

I won an ebay auction awhile back for a bunch of connectors, but have lost all the hose auctions:(

I've always wanted an airbrush...

I'm looking at acquiring a middle-of-the-road double-action, internal mix airbrush, probably bottom-feed. I'm looking at several models by Badger (150, 360, Crescendo, Anthem), some of the lower-end Iwatas, possibly Paasche (although I've read some not-so-good reviews of these.)

I've never airbrushed before, although I've done other artwork. I'm looking for a model that's easy to learn, adjust, and clean, and that does well spraying watered-down acrylics. I have a Badger Whirlwind 80-2 air compressor on the way, just need the brush!

What brushes have you used in this range, and what do you like/dislike about them?

Thanks! Since it's on sale for $39.95 a yard, it may be worth playing with! I've been wanting something to do natural dyeing with (I did a bunch of skeins of yarn for my sister for Xmas and have lots of supplies left over; everything from indigo to cochineal)- that would be fun!

As you may know, Intercals' been advertising mohair with nap reversal, but there isn't a picture of it. What exactly in nap reversal, and how does it affect bear construction?

Well, the whole reason I want to create animals is because I love them so much!:D

I presently have three dogs ( a flat-coated retriever, a Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, and a resuced mutt), two cats, a llama, and lots of goats. I raise Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats, and presently have 3 bucks, 8 does, and 11 babies. I also have a mama Angora goat and her two kids. You can't really appreciate your mohair until you've sheared your own Angora with a pair of Fiskars scissors! Oh, and we have a llama too.

I show my dogs in all kinds of competitions, and have dabbled in showing the goats as well.

We also have a lot of wildlife where I live- bobcats, coyotes, rabbits everywhere! We just had Bewick's wrens nesting outside the back door, we have house finches galore outside the front door, starlings under the eaves...

Being an animal nut has its drawbacks...I really admire the work of those of you who make lovely keepsakes from old furs, and I'm awed at the results, but I could never do it- each time I touch an old coat, it's like I hear all those tortured voices:( And there never is room on the bed for people! And the dogs eat better than we do. And there is always hay on my clothes.

Thanks for the polymer clay noses reply!

I've made and sold a lot of different crafts, but hopefully in July will actually try selling some stuffed animals for the first time. This is a 4th of July celebration with lots of families and lots of sticky foods on lots of children's hands.

How do you all politely handle grubby little hands grabbing at your work? In this day and age, many indulgent parents might be taken aback by any reprimands of their little ones. Do you use any signage? Do you just try and keep valuable pieces out of easy reach? I'm looking for good ideas that won't offend any potential customers!

I am a newbie bear-maker and am wondering about how you affix polymer noses once they are made. Do you bake a loop into them?