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Past Time Bears - Artist bears designed and handcrafted by Sue Ann Holcomb
Shelli Makes - Teddy bears & other cheerful things by Shelli Quinn

All Bear

I made an 'unfortunate' bear not too long ago.  Blessed thing would not sit up properly - my own fault as I hadn't designed the new legs well.  I ummed and ahhed about what to do as I couldn't get any more fabric for new legs.  In the end I listed the bear on Ebay with a very honest description and couldn't believe my luck when the bear sold for more than the usual retail of one with a well behaved bottom.  The buyer was delighted with her purchase and left me positive feedback, so it just goes to show, honesty can be the best policy!! :D;)

All Bear

Nothing sacred on here eh? bear_happy 

See, how fast you are missed?  Goodness lady, you must be someone special indeed! :cool:

Shelli, take care and make time for smiling when you are able. bear_original

All Bear

It's a while since I last suggested exchanging website links and I know we've had a heap of new members since then, so if anyone missed the last call and would like to exchange links with the All Bear website www.allbear.co.uk please leave your website address and banner below.(Don't worry if you don't have a banner, text links are fine!)

I'll be happy to add you to my site on my next sweep through here! :cool:

Let's keep our websites interesting for collectors by sharing links, it's a great way to keep the teddy bear market place vibrant! bear_laugh

All Bear

Thank you Eileen and Louise!  It's great to get your feedback.

Eileen what a great job that must have been!  I'm in awe!

All Bear

Such a pretty bear!  Judi, your bears are unique!

All Bear

What a great start to your designing!  He's lovely and I love the colour!

All Bear

What a lovely bear!  Well done you!  Good luck with your charity. bear_original

All Bear

Everyone out there must be very tense Sue Ann.  I've just been watching the lunchtime news about the US hurricane here - they are showing long, long queues of traffic and cars running out of petrol, Brits flying home, etc etc etc.  One guy has been arrested for taking a swim in the sea ... looking at the wild sea I can't imagine what made him think that was a good idea!

Anyway, I hope you are safely secured and that the worst passes you by.

Take care and let us know how things go.

All Bear

Hi Catherine,

Sorry, only just got back to this thread as I've been busy with my preparations for a show in two weeks' time!

I found my beeswax (a lovely big lump of it!) on a UK website for candle makers.  It's sold in a large block and I just cut bits off to work with and keep the rest in polythene - I think it will last me forever!

So far, I've only used it on black noses so it's hard to say whether it affects the thread colour or not - I will be using it on brown soon I hope!

All Bear

What a lovely feather in your cap (s'cuse the pun!) Sue Ann!

All Bear

This is lovely!  What a lot of work must have gone into it!

All Bear

Definitely my kinda bear!  Love the rooster - made me grin!

All Bear

What great pics!  Keep 'em coming, this is fun! :D;):cool:

All Bear

Thanks for popping in everyone!   I'm so glad you like him.  :D:cool::)

This particular mohair is German Schulte (which means tres expensive!) and I purchased it from a UK supplier.  It has a wonderful silky sheen.

All Bear

Da bigger da better girl!

Tiddly smiddly is for those far more virtuous than I.  I get really cranky and snarly whenever I go below 15" ... not a good look for this sweet natured fluffy headed bear maker. :(

*Dons halo* bear_rolleyes

All Bear

big_ted2.jpgOkay you lot, 'fess up, who else has pics of themselves with their childhood bear?

This is my Chiltern (still with me!) when I was a wee thing of seventeen months ... aw bless! bear_tongue

All Bear

What a lovely picture and what sweet bears!

All Bear

Jeremiahhead.jpgPickwickhead.jpgHi Catherine,

I've just done a couple of waxed noses.  I've pondered about doing them for a while and recently decided to take the plunge.  I don't know if this is the best way, but it worked okay for me!

I used natural beeswax (which smells lovely when warmed!)
I have a huge lump of it that I purchased and so I cut a small piece off to work with.
I used my hairdryer to warm the piece of beeswax just enough so that it was soft enough to gently rub onto the nose ... I tried to keep my direction running with the nose thread. Watch the heat from the hairdryer on your fingers though - it gets pretty hot!
When I'd coated the nose, I let the hairdryer soften it a little more, so that it could be smoothed with my finger to make sure I had no lumps and bumps.
Then I used plain white paper to buff.
Then I repeated the process a couple more times until I achieved the effect I wanted.
I wasn't comfortable with leaving the nose wax unprotected, so I sealed the final buffed nose with a coat of satin finish varnish from my local DIY store.

I think to achieve the look you want, it would work well if you left the nose unsealed.  Or maybe someone knows of a better sealing agent?

All Bear

Glad you like him!

You guys don't miss anything do you?  That mohair certainly is not at the lower end of the cost range, but you know how it is, sometimes you just gotta run with what you want to do, rather than what you should do!  Fortunately, in this case I was able to purchase this piece from the UK. :rolleyes:

As for the muzzle trimming, it's all just done by hand with a pair of good quality embroidery scissors.  I don't have any secret methods, it's just done by eye and with patience.  It's my favourite job to do I think.  bear_original

Shelli, by the way, I'm so pleased you like the outdoor shots!  I don't get such good results inside with lighting etc (I'm definitely a 'point and shoot' gal!) and although I know mags like TB&Friends prefer plain backgrounds, I still prefer to do my own thing! bear_happy  The pics get featured regularly in UK mags, so I guess they work for me! bear_original  (Actually, thanks also to TB&F for putting two of my bears in the last issue! That was a thrill!)

All Bear

Pickwick.jpgPickwickheadcircular.jpgRochester is famous for its Charles Dickens connection and as I am exhibiting at the Rochester Bear Fair on October 9th, I have Dickens in mind for my show bears!  The first bear, a 22" big guy 'PICKWICK', is now complete and so I thought I'd share him with you.

All Bear

Thank you so much for popping in Carolyn. bear_original

All Bear

I've had many offers to attend shows in different countries over the years, but sadly have never been able to justify the expense. 

A few years ago and for a couple of years in a row, I was invited to send about ten bears to the States to participate in the Kelly Dean show.  I've also participated in the Teddies of Mt Holly show in New Jersey in this way.  It was expensive to ship the bears (especially as I make BIG bears!) but once they'd been shipped, the promoters undertook to sell whatever they didn't find homes for on the day of the show.  It was a generous offer and I was delighted to accept.

Shows are definitely enhanced by overseas exhibitors and I think it would be great if show promoters could be a little 'versatile' in their approach to incorporating overseas work in their shows, although I can understand that 'special treatment' might upset the regular exhibitors!  It's a tricky one! bear_ermm

All Bear

Good luck with the auction Gail!  Lovely bear!

All Bear

I never measure anything.  I always use my eyes to judge - must make that opticians appointment ... !! bear_happy

All Bear

What a lovely thing to say Julia.  You have made me smile.  Thank you! bear_original

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