Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Found it!

Here we go:

These are same fabric, different bears!  I like to use the same fabric and see where it takes me ...

Hmmn, that's odd ... where's the photo upload button gone?

Thank you Amanda - that's very kind!

After going boggle eyed on the internet for the past couple of hours without success, I'm need to put out a plea for help!

Does anyone know where I can find some brown satin, double sided ribbon which is 2.5ish" wide (as per photo)?  Sounds like such a simple request doesn't it?  But I can't find any and my local supplier doesn't have it in stock now that I need it urgently.  (Always the way!) :(

If anyone has any ideas, I'd be very grateful. :)

Thanks!

Have a great weekend.

Lovely links page Shelli - thank you for the link!

Lovely bears Sue Ann!  What a great way to showcase new fabrics too.  Well done Intercal and well done you! 

My fav fabric is the marble effect.  I like that the colour is so unusual and I also like the pile.  I would probably use it with some light coloured alpaca blend to make one of my laughing bears.

The long pile would make super grizzly bears I'm certain - but I'm not so keen on working with quite such long pile myself.  The short mohair/viscose blend didn't appeal to me to work with as I prefer longer, more dense pile.

My oh my!  So many more messages since I last checked back!  I hope those of you that were struggling with the technology have now found out what you needed to know? 

Maddie, I'm just going to pop along to my site and add your link right now.  Cindy - I'll pop yours on too!Delighted to add you both!

If anyone finds when they check my website links page www.allbear.co.uk that I've missed them out, please shout at me!  I'll pop them up straight away.

I think the more interest we offer collectors by sharing links, the better it will be for keeping interest in the teddy bear world as a whole, alive and kicking! :)

Right, time for me to go back and catch up on my reading here!

Hi Kerren! ;):P:P:):D

Hi Ladies! 

I am just about to upload the last of the banners and then you should all be listed on my links page at www.allbear.co.uk

Thanks to all of you who have added my link to your sites ... it's much appreciated.  To those of you who don't have links pages, no problem, I've still added you to mine! :)

If anyone else would like to reciprocate links, please add your details below and I'll update my page with them the next time I'm twiddling with Dreamweaver!

I only make big bears - I'm all fingers and thumbs with the small ones!  I find that my 20" bears sell very well.  I used to make more very big bears (24"+) and they always sold quickly, but I think collectors are finding the cost of them a little prohibitive nowadays.  Also I think my market is mainly in America for the big bears and of course, postage is hugely expensive from the UK and the exchange rate plays a big part in how far US collectors are able to stretch their bear buying budgets.

What a great response!  I will add you all to my links page this week.  Thank you to those of you who have already added my link to your own websites.

Thanks for the link Rita!

I have just added your banner link to my website too.

Hi,

I'm going to update my links page on the All Bear website shortly.  It would be nice to include the friendly folk of Teddy Talk, so if you would like to exchange links with www.allbear.co.uk please leave your website address below. 

If anyone prefers me to use their banner link rather than a text link, please leave your jpeg image for me to copy.  Sorry, I can't accept html coded links as I don't know how to adjust their size to fit my page!

For those of you who like banner links on your site, I have included mine for you to copy.

Let's get networking!

I purchase a different polyester fibre filler for my heads, than the one I use for my bodies.  It packs compactly, but still enables easy nose stitching.  I've never tried excelsior - it seems like very hard work to use and pretty messy too?

Mind you, I love the old-fashioned feel of bears filled completely with excelsior.  My old Chilterns have a little excelsior around their joints and it gives a lovely crunchy feel to them.

Tushtags indeed!  Aw, Shelli, you are so American!!! ;)

I use a satin label (do I sound like the Queen when I say that?? :P) which I have printed for me and sent through on a nice ribbon reel.  Each bear has my satin label sewn into his back, right above his erm ... er ... bum.

Ooh, posh pens!  Um, I er ... well, that is ... I use a .... (wait for it!) ... black biro! :lol:

If using dark fabric I just use a Pentel white pen ... mind you, they do clog and run out quickly.  GRRRR!!!

I make my noses very simply.  No templates, no glueing, no measuring.  Just plain 'ol stitching and careful tensioning! 

I always start in the centre and work out to the side ... then back to the centre and out to the other side.  My noses require two layers of stitching.  To make a stripey nose I simply use two separate coloured threads and two sewing needles and stitch one, then the other. :)

You ladies are so tidy minded! You put me to shame.  

I am a very messy designer.  I have a large portfolio case (like an artist uses for A3 size paintings) with wallets on a ring binder in it.  The idea was to have a separate wallet for each size of bear BUT that hasn't worked out.  All my patterns are hand drawn onto large sheets of thin card and then stored in the folio ... trouble is, there are so many now that they are all muddled up and it takes me ages to find what I'm looking for! :P:P;):D

Glad to hear you're back with us Rita.  Take good care of yourself while you convalesce.

I'm sorry to hear about Emme Shelli - it's tough to go through, but it is the last act of kindness a good owner can perform for a loved pet.  You have my sympathies; it's something I've been through myself a couple of times quite recently and I know how heart achingly sad it makes you feel.

Bless you Diane.  As you say, we're a tough bunch and whilst the shock is daunting, it is of course 'business as usual' here in the UK, once time has been taken to think about those who have lost loved ones.

I'm a snail girl for the arms and head, but prefer to use nut n bolt joints for the legs to give strength and prevent them splaying over time.

I'm a trimmer ... I sit on the floor, trim carefully by hand around each and every single flippin' piece and then sneeze heaps before vacuuming.

Shelli, you don't know who Robbie is?????? Where is the shocked smilie when I need it????

I saw Robbie play live at Wembley about four years ago - I took my kids for a treat and boy was it a treat!  We had a whale of a time!!  Rock music, pop music, swing jazz (I LOVE the swing jazz!) he does it all so well and HE'S CUTE!

Apparently he hasn't broken America big time yet - you lot are a hard nut to crack!  Go on ... let him in ... but don't forget to give him back!! ;):P;):D:D

About six explosions are being reported now.  Many casualties.  BBC News has stated that this is almost certainly the work of Al Quaida.

I feel sick to my stomach.