Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I found this guy at an antique shop but he's got no identifying labels. His head is stuffed with excelsior (visible through the worn spot on his jaw), and his seams are a bit frayed, but he's a very cheerful fellow. Does anyone recognize him?

Follow the link for a bigger version and more photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/batwrangler/306879661/

He's not quite what I was expecting, but he's coming along quite well: just needs his ears, his eyes, a little more stuffing, and to have the stuffing openings closed.

Thanks!

He's not quite what I was expecting, but he's coming along quite well: just needs his ears, his eyes, a little more stuffing, and to have the stuffing openings closed.

Thanks!

Hi, Teddy Talkers,

Do you ever reinforce your joints? When would you reinforce a joint and how would you do it? (I tried searching, but didn't find anything. Maybe there's a different term for it?)

Thanks!

What a fabulous bear!

Plastic safety joints are tricky unless the fabric is the fabric is thick enough to be smushed between the "teeth" on the joint peg, also they tend to loosen over time and there isn't anything you can do to fix that.

A lock-nut type joint might give you something closer to the feel you seem to be looking for. Also, what tools did you use to tighten your cotter pins? Maybe you weren't able to give yourself enough leverage to achieve a really snug fit?

Hi, Richy,

If you haven't permanently set the eyes yet, try different positions and different sizes. Experiment with eye and ear size and placement. Try cutting a felt nose in a shape you like and tacking that to the face to see how that changes your bear's expression.

If you have set the eyes, perhaps you could add eye patches or shading to change the expression to something you find more pleasing.

Try reading up on needle sculpting, which is changing the shape of the face through carefully placed stitched, to see if that will help you make the bear you want to make.

But above all, have fun!

What a sweetie! He looks great!

Can I ask a stupid question? How can you tell what fabric a chair is upholstered in? Are they labeled or is it just a matter of being familiar enough with the fabric to recognize it when you see it?

Unfortunately it is a remnant shop in Manchester, NH, USA. I can't find a website for them, and I don't think they do mail order. 

Fabric Fix in Manchester, NH has a bunch of really wonderful fashion fur remnants for $10/yd. Snapshots (that don't do justice to the furs) of what I just picked up are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/batwrangle … 304221995/

Thanks!

Bitten is the right word!

Sebastian is doing swimmingly. He's right at home with my other bears!

I'm glad you were able to handle your bat so well and that you liked my photos.

I'm planning on making needlefelted bats and more traditionally constructed bats.

The needlefelted bear is 90% done. I'm having to resist the temptation to just joint him and call him finished when he really still needs a bit of work. (I have to let my poor fingers rest a couple of days between needlefelting sessions!)

I work in an old Amoskeag Mill building and we get bats inside on a fairly regular basis, so I keep a bat-catching net at my desk, and everyone knows to call me if they see a bat.

Some of the bats I've wrangled.

Thanks! I certainly will.

Thank you! (It would be more addictive if I didn't poke my fingers so much!)

Hi, Teddy Talkers,

This is my first attempt at a needlefelted beastie. I still need to finish his arms and legs, embroider his nose and mouth, and assemble him (he's just held together by straight pins right now). He's made of wool with 2mm amber glass eyes, and he's sitting on a dvd-r for scale.

(You can click here for a couple more views.)

Thanks to Daphne for setting me up with supplies and telling me about Teddy Talk.

Sheila