Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Ah well you see Lisa, it's like this ... first you get the workroom renovated, then you take the photo ... then you start work and now?  There's stuff everywhere! 

I've worked both ways over the years, but much prefer to work on a single bear from start to finish.  I usually remind myself of how tedious it is to trim more than one bear's seams at a time whenever I feel the urge to make a group of bears in one go!

I definitely think its important to think about posture while you work - I used to make bears for long hours sat on my sofa and I eventually found my hips were giving me hell.  Now I work at a desk with a proper hobby swivel chair (made by Horn if anyone is interested in checking them out) and I no longer have the hip problem.  I am also conscious of the tendency to nibble away at treats if I get bored while I'm working on my own, so lately I've developed a taste for celery sticks and can often be found crunching those during the day!  :P

Also, I've just bought a bicycle and for the first time in almost forty years have started to cycle again - it gets me out of the house, gives me exercise and it's fun!

I'm glad you like her, thank you! 

She has your own inimitable charm Kelly!  Lovely bear! 

Wow. 

Just that.

Wow.

I had every intention of offering this lovely teddy girl for adoption in the 'Teddy Bears and Pals' category, but she was snapped up from my website so quickly this afternoon, she hasn't had time to blink!  It seems a pity not to show her off a little, so I'm popping her here to share her with you, simply for the sheer joy of sharing bears!   

Wisteria, 20"

This week, the Guild of Master Bearcrafters invites you to enjoy a black and white perspective on bearcrafting with a lovely new slideshow presentation.  To watch 'It's all black and white', please visit www.masterbearcrafters.ning.com 

The Guild itself has been set up for teddy bear artists who meet the membership criteria, but everyone is welcome to share our weekly featured bears by visiting the Guild's Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Guild … 384?ref=ts

Happy bearcrafting!   

Thank you Peter, so glad you enjoyed it 

The Guild of Master Bearcrafters is running a special presentation slideshow this week, featuring the outstanding talents of its membership.  Please come along to enjoy their work ... it really is superb.  Don't forget, you can see each bear's details by clicking on the bar at the bottom of the slideshow, then clicking 'i' (information).  You can also watch the slideshow at full size by clicking on the 'full screen' icon on the same bar.

www.masterbearcrafters.ning.com

Enjoy!  

I think it depends on how strong the fabric backing is.  If it's frail, I wouldn't take it apart to wash, I would leave the bear intact and surface wash the pile only using a very mild solution of baby shampoo and tepid water.  Dip a sponge into the solution, squeeze it almost dry and use gentle circular movements to clean the mohair pile (try to avoid getting the backing wet).  I would clean the bear in sections, taking my time and when each section is clean, I would very gently dry with low setting on a hairdryer, whilst gently fluffing up the pile with a teasel brush or similar.  I have cleaned several vintage bears using this method and they have come up beautifully.

I just ordered some lovely printed satin ribbon from a seller on Ebay ... just put in a 'personalised ribbon' search.  I wanted mine to tie cake bags for my wedding guests, but it's definitely good enough quality for bears too.

The company I used was called 'The Radiant Ribbon Co' and it's based in Somerset.  Phone number: 01934751366

Thanks Pat and yes, this is a new pattern ... more traditional in proportion, with a more pronounced muzzle - I wanted this bear to be a little more 'grown-up' looking, rather than cutsie in style.  It's good to hear you like him. 

Thanks Thelma!  I'm glad you like him. 

Thanks Peter, I'm glad you like my Ticketty Boo bear!

I finished this fine fellow yesterday ... he's rather the English gent, don't you think?! 

'Ticketty Boo' is 17" and has just been made available for adoption from my website www.allbear.co.uk

I just want to say a big 'thank you' to TT for the lovely slideshow of my work today!  Such a lovely surprise!

I didn't enter this year, but I enjoyed voting!  Good luck to everyone who has entered.

Thank you all for popping in to see what the Guild members' have been creating ... I'm so glad you enjoyed the presentation!

I am most definitely very proud of our ladies ... and gentlemen!  We have bearcrafters of both sexes! 

We have a wonderful slideshow presentation of members' work on the Guild of Master Bearcrafters this week called 'Animal Kingdom'.  We would like to invite you to sit back at your computer screen and be inspired by these amazing animal designs!

Please visit www.masterbearcrafters.ning.com to enjoy the creative talents of the Guild membership!  

I'm not sure, but he look Polish or Russian in style to me.  He reminds me of the Russian Mischa bears.

Thanks Roxanne, that's good to hear xxx 

Thanks Brenda! 

I've been visiting TT since its inception and although I couldn't accept because of other commitments, was originally invited to be a Help Advisor.  I've witnessed many 'ups and downs' over the years, but think that overall TT works because it is committed to help promote the teddy bear, sharing him equally among collectors, makers, sellers and promoters alike. Mixing such a variety of perspectives can make for really interesting discussions, but it is also sometimes difficult to share the nuts 'n bolts of bear making/selling discussions with such a broad audience.  I've seen and experienced firsthand, some awful flare-ups guaranteed to ruffle feathers among TT members and it never ceases to amaze me how personally things can be taken when written on a forum.  It's disappointing when a good topic goes sour simply because of the way someone expresses themselves in text, or someone else misinterprets the gist of a comment because they haven't read it through carefully enough, or considered the writer's perspective fairly enough.

As has been mentioned, I run the Guild solely for committed bear artists, to help promote their work and to provide a venue for professional discussion, often about subjects which would not be appropriate to share with a broader audience.  We have had remarkably few flare-ups on the Guild and I'm happy to say, the few which have occurred have been resolved in a dignified, professional manner between the members who disagreed with one another.  The Guild doesn't compete with TT, the two forum memberships are very different.

I do think forum communities are strange places sometimes ... many times we don't actually know one another in person and wouldn't dream of making argumentative comments if sat sharing a cup of tea together, yet it seems anything goes on the internet!  A passion for a subject may bring out views which once offered for forum digestion, are subject to heated argument if another member wishes to offer an alternative view - before you know it, more members have waded in, sides have been taken and an unproductive war waged.  In these circumstances, some members will take offence, others will be upset, others will thoroughly relish the fight and so on ...  the sad thing is, many will simply withdraw from a forum they previously enjoyed - the damage is done.

TT is a fabulous source of information, has forged some terrific friendships between members over the years and has worked hard to strike a balance at all times amongst the very diverse membership.  I would say quite bluntly, if you want it to return to its glory days, the best thing to do is put a little more effort into using it!  Have respect for your host, invite members to take part in challenges, open interesting discussion threads, share your work here ... don't leave it to the usual committed few and expect them to carry it all for you.  Forums need commitment from their members, to be successful they need them to participate, keep a level head and think about the subject matter from perspectives other than their own.  It's not rocket science, it's common sense.

On a personal note, I love TT and see no reason why it can't be vibrant again ... if that's what the members want.

Pretty Mavis is 17" tall and most definitely a girly kinda bear!