Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Sue Ann...they are both magnificent...your work is fantastic....and that rooster....for once I am lost for words!!!

See, that's one way to shut me up...it can be done!!

Jenny

I'm an antiques show fan too....I love to watch those...but generally I'm not much into 'telly'...except for 'Coronation Street'..which is a must. I am a sucker for old films, 'To Kill a Mockingbird'....'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn'....and my all time favourite ...Ken Loach's bleak nothern tale 'Kes'...sad, funny, depressing and inspirational all rolled into one.

I do like new films too...but it's 5.20 am and my brain isn't up yet...so I can't think...

Jenny

Oh Nancy, that's terrible...

I hope that you and your family are coping with all that you are going through and especially hope that your daughter and her baby make a swift recovery.

From the other side of the world...my prayers and good wishes,

Jenny

I don't like my bears when they get too big...17" is about as big as I can make without them starting to look like grotesque monster babies. In my book cute and big don't work too well, though I suspect there are one or two folks out there who will tell me I'm wrong.

I find it easier to downsize than upsize..I tend to use the same head pattern on my bigger bears that I use on my 14 inchers....it gets too big otherwise but I draw the line at hand-sewing so tha rules out any bear below 6"..

Jenny

Hi Penny...this is so difficult because I have had customers ask me if I make miniature bears because they haven't got room for the big ones...but I can't cope with making tiny bears...and it's not what I like to make.

That said, I have introduced some 6" bears...and they have been popular.....It takes me as long though ,if not longer, to make a small bear...but it's my belief (I'm probably wrong) that if someone really wants to buy a bear the size won't be an issue.

Jenny

Well...it's good to know that I'm not alone. I suspect there may be the odd full-time artist out there who works on bears 'full-time'...but life is a distraction...especially when you work at home.

I wish I could operate the method I use at 'work'..ie in the salon. I am in my 32nd year hairdressing and it's hard habit to kick...not that I'd really want to anyway...and for most of those years we worked a 5 or 6 day week...then did the books on Sundays. (You do when it's your own business ..if it wasn't I wouldn't work so hard) Since bearmaking came along I've cut down to 2 long days in the salon ...from 7.30am till 8.30pm to fit everyone in that wants to be fitted in.
If I could just pick up the pace that I am used to in the salon I would be really productive...but as Daphne said, I get so ...easily off plan. My daughter has not long had a baby who's now 4 months old and I try to spend time with her when I can..my son's wife is expecting her first baby in 8 weeks time so that will be me obsessed again for ages.

I also need to focus my mind for bearmaking in a way that maybe I don't so much these days in the salon (my clients might not be too pleased with that statement...but it's not something I think about too much ...not too many challenges these days) and so it can be quite intense..especially designing something new. 

I do try to limit myself on this computer here, I unsubscribed from the other groups...mainly because I just can't sit here all day reading posts and tapping away...On my two days that I set aside for making bears I have learned to not do anything else..but I can't ever really do more than 5 bears a fortnight even if I burn the midnight oil...

Jenny

Looks like they found a nice new home!!!

Jenny

Housework? What's that? ...................That's not in my schedule

Jenny

He-he ..Amanda...ditto!!!

Jenny

We were due to go to the Teddy Summer Bearfest in Zurich this year...and I had decided that if we tagged a holiday on to the end of it we could justify the expense and who knows, we may have sold a bear or two. I was looking upon it as a marketing strategy...to get my bears in front of new eyes...and if we were having a trip to Switzerland too then that was an acceptable out-lay.

In the end we didn't go because of events that conspired to stop me in my tracks...but hey-ho..that's another tale.

Jenny

I am trying to be more organised (ha!!) and up to now have pretty much dedicated 2 full days and one morning and evening to bear-making. (I work other 2 days and have to talk to my lovely husband at some point!!!)

Sounds regimented ,but if I don't do it this way I'd go shopping instead!!  I try to start my full days at 8.30 ...ish  and work till about 8.00 in the evening....then I guess I pick it up at other times if there's nothing else doing  (unless I have a show coming up, in which case I work round the clock pretty much)

Just wondered how you all organise bear-making into your lives. I guess for the full timers it's ....well...full-time.. How much time do you reckon you spend bear making on a weekly basis?

Jenny

We're facing protest blockades at petrol stations from tomorrow...we are looking at around £4.50/ $8 a gallon in the UK.

I might start walking to work...It would do me good anyway...

Not much fun here whichever way you look at it!!

Jenny

What a lovely bear...!!!!

Jenny

Hat elastic...maybe....?? It should keep it on...but allow it to be removed too

Jenny

I hope this works....

Oh Yes...I should have said about that too.....sorry...I'll post it in a minute or two!!!

Jenny

No problem Danni...it's an absolute pleasure.....I'm amazed you got it up on your website so quickly...I must go and learn how to do it...I feel such a dunce when I see people doing their own sites. It's not like me to be so pathetic

Congratulations once again Danni...now go and get that needle threaded, girl.....you're gonna be busy!!!!!

Jennyy

Many congrats...would love to see the pictures!!

Jenny

I've tried both Intercals 825H and the 785H...they're both equally nice to work with.....

This is the first time I've used mohair in an age...I have been playing with faux fur for a while now and I thought I'd better use some of my stash of mohair!!

Jenny

Hi Rita...I think some of the taxidermy supplies places sell upper and lower jaw sets...plastic ones I guess ..of small animals which I read somehwere that artists use.

I've never done teeth before so I'm not 100% sure..

Jenny

I'll try again......

phew.......I was worried then....I am not the worlds greatest computer expert!!

Jenny

I scanned them in....they may not be too good my scanner is a old thing...very temperamental!!!

Danni...no matter how I try I can't get your pages to load..I'll keep trying

Jenny

Just a note to say that there are a lot of lovely photos of list members bears in Octobers Teddy Bear Times..

Danni of Delartful bears has 2 whole pages.....wow...well done! Ritas Black Forest Bears are featured and so are Michele Bradley Bears.

Jenny

Thanks, everyone, for your kind remarks....they're much appreciated...

Jenny

Hi Shantell...It's Schulte curly kid mohair in a blonde colour....really nice to work with and it has a wonderfully cuddly feel ..very tactile..

Jenny