Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Well done Nancy!
:clap:

Can't wait to see your liitle one. I will keep an eye out.

Hi Martha/arthur

Great to hear all went well in CPT and the weather was great.
Its always good to be busy. You dont have time to get bored.

can't wait for the issue of SA Bear to come out.
When i get it i read it cover to cover immediately.
so i am sure i wont miss the neddle felting. Thanks.

And well done to Sandy again.

Great... not a dumb question at all... was wondering that myself too.

Thanks for the help!

Oh please please please add me in!  :pray:
i have the most perfect little teddy ballet slippers to match that!

Very kind of you! Thats a great idea... :clap:

Hi Lynette

Hope all is well with you.

Well done to Sandy: Jiggles is so cute... i love the light colours used. :clap:
I would love to see some close up pics.

Sandy's first attempt is a lot better than mine.
Maybe I should attend one on your classes.
When are you going to be back in JHB and where is your next class?

How's the Show in CPT? Do you have some pics to show? :photo:

I still have to do alot of research and the metal mould might cost a bit...
so maybe i was a bit over eager.  But i will look into it none the less.

Sorry to hear about the eys miscount... i seem to have had similar experiences here in RSA with washers for my  joints.  They weigh the washers and a certain weight is supposed to be a certain amount of washers.
The nuts and bolts always seem to have minimal differences but the washers are half of what they should be... also from a reputable dealer.

Kinda irritating when you thing you are obtaining goods at discount prices but they give you half. I know that feeling.  But i also learnt my lesson... count it while you are there!  :doh:

I visited your site... you are very talented. I tried my hand at needle felting (australian merino wool)
Not again... i have not got enough patience for that. Plus RSA does not have a market where one can sell needle felted arts and one can receive the correct and well deserved money for it. So well done. They are great.
I specifically like the polar bears with their cubs (on BAO, i think)

Wow thanks... that helps me loads...  :clap:

i thought i would need s kiln to melt the glass. (maybe on a larger scale later)

I did see the Lesch site and saw a picture where a man was sitting in front of the blow torch so your discription has helped alot.

I also knew that there has to be some sort of half circle things that they put the pupil into... i just did not know what it was made out of and whether they would melt the glass for the iris first (now i see they melt it onto the pupil first.)

You have been a great help!!!

I live in South Africa and I have started to import eyes from the UK as that seems to be the only place where eyes are made. The exchange rate makes these eyes very expensive to South Africans and therefore these beautiful eyes are limited to customers who can afford expensive eyes.

I wish to promote bear making to all types and classes of people.. rich and poor and wish to create a 'want' for teddy bears where there is none. At the moment I am trying to get into the orphanages around Johannesburg and give free teddy bear making lessons.   Hopefully new talent will emerge and the magic of bear making will spread.

I would like to start manufacturing glass eyes on a small scale (for now) at a lower cost than those imported.
This will create and export market where bear makers overseas can also obtain eyes at lower costs thus benefitting many others as well as the local RSA market.

I have a basic and very limited understanding of how one can make teddy bear glass eyes... Does anyone have this knowledge wrt the process used that they are willing to impart with me?

The net does not seem to be much help.

Thanks all

i am still new to the competition game and only entered so far into one in RSA. So i am not used to the entry fees.

i understand that one will only enter their best. makes semse. Just a pity that as this point i do do have the funds to do so and with have to wait before i can entre such 'A-Class' comps.

But reading what you have said... i think it is right to have the appropriate fees. Will just have to save.
Thanks guys.

Lynette.... see you at Hobby X on Saturday morning.
(didn't know you could still get a stand one week in advance.....)  :doh:

I use calico or chinz (spelling?) whichever is cheaper... not sure if thats the same as muslin.
(it's about R13 per metre as opposed to mohair around R300 per metre).

only thing i dont like about test patterns is that the bear always looks like a hairless animal with some sort of balding disease. LOL.
but when i am happy that the pattern works then i use the mohair and my bears always turn out beautiful.

I find that every bear is unique and it will take time/experimenting to get the shape I want.
I focus on the area i am designing and cut and shape the pattern when I see how or why the last one did not meet my objective.

i find that drawing the sides of the head to the shape you want is the first step. I feel its easier to visualize your bear and then design the gusset focussing on the muzzle. that way i seem to get the shape i desire.

The paper draping sounds like a great idea... never thought of that. just have to work on my clay sculpting skills.
:doh:

Hi lynette

why are the entry fees so expensive? ($65 = approx R520?)
per bear
or am i just reading this entirely wrong?

Is there a limit to the number of bears you may enter?

The brown paper worked like a charm! 
i did add one more layer of wax... threads are still showing but the shine is much better.
the shine not a wet look but a little clear nail polish would do the trick.\

Thanks again

Thanks for all your help.

I am using cold wax sophie. maybe i should try heating it. i have tried once with clear wax but it seams to change the colour and burns. (maybe that because i used a candle to melt it.  :doh:

I will try brown paper (The Bear guys) thats the first option i will try before i melt anything on my poor bears face. Thanks for the tip. will try it today.

I have tried two types of wax... they did not appear to have names on them.  The clear one in in a large triangle shape and the black one is in a lip balm tube (almost looks like acrayon when you take it out. Not sure if that helps. it not beeswax. thats about all i know. I warm the wax with my fingers to help it rub on easier and rub it again once on to help smooth it out before shining it.

I also use warm breathe on it too. it helps with the rubbing on but not wet look shine. still

I can add more layers of wax but i like the threads to shown through so it still has that hand sewn look to the nose. so i am hesitent to give it more layers.

Jane i have tried masking it and applying melted wax but when i remove the masking tape it leaves ugly edges. I smooth those edges but its not quite as nice as the rub on method and sometime leaks under the masking tape. i cant seem to find one that sticks quite well enough.
(i tried the masking tape used by architects)

NOSE SHINE... that sounds like a wet look. i am sure others are using varnishes or something as i fail to see how that wax can get so shiny. I will check out the web... easy to order from you as i am in South Africa.
LOL... disguising badly sewn noses... i can see beginners doing that. 

I am trying to perfect each nose with every bear. when the hubby calls for dinner and i am on a nose... i am in a rythym and supper can wait.

Will give the brown paper a try and will check out the website.

Thanks again to everyone!

Hi there

i need some help... my nose just does not want to shine.
i was tipped off to use fax or wax paper (for baking) to shine my nose but i just cant seem to get that extra shine.
i have put 2 layers on by rubbing the wax into the embroidery thread and then buffing it with wax paper.

are others using a varnish or something to get that real wet shine look?