Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I listen to music when I am sewing or cutting out bears. Stuffing and finishing them, I am usually in front of the TV at night, driving Hubby nuts  :dance:  because I need the light on! (he says it shines in his eyes)
pandamac

I don't make soap, but a friend of mine makes Goat's Milk Soap.....the only soap I will use anymore, even got my Hubby to switch from Irish Spring to the Goat's milk...............From what she says, it takes a long time, I don't know about other kinds of soaps.
pandamac

We will be there! with Bears In Arms! Can't wait........................ :clap:  :dance:  :hug:  :photo:   
pandamac

Sounds like an idea, Daphne, but the Belle Of Maine Cottages does NOT allow dogs, especially in the new cottage we will be in......thought last year about brining him, he can help the kids stuff their bears!  I am so looking forward to ice Cream on the Beach! See you then!
Ellen

:crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup: Oh, am I supposed to eat my supper now????? This is hilarious! love it!
Ellen

Laura Lynn, I look forward to meeting you in Maine also.....are you doing the Ice Cream on the Beach?
Ellen

This is totally unrelated to Teddy Bears, but is about animals, a live one.......who didn't behave as expected!

Last weekend, we left our 4-year-old Australian Shepherd at home overnight. He has a doggie door, and an electric fenced-in-yard. We asked 2 neighbors if they would come over and play with him and make sure he had water and food. We got home late on Sunday evening. Chip came over, very disappointed, with the doggie treats we gave him to give to Ti. Chipe told us the following story: When he came over, Ti went upstairs and hid in the bedroom. Chip went up to find him, Ti jumped over the bed to get away from him!!!!  Ti, who loves children, wouldn't even play with Chip's granddaughter! Then, yesterday, we left him for the day again. My other neighbor came up and took Ti down to play with her 2 dogs for a while in the water. She said that Ti came back home with her beat and exhausted, he came in the house and she made sure he had water and food and left. When we finally got home (we drove to New Jersey, a 6 hour ride each way to pick up my Motorcycle) Ti met us in the street, wet! I guess he decided that he could go swimming by himelf at 10PM!

We have a friend coming to stay at the house with Ti when we go to Maine for the Teddy Bear show, I hope he behaves himself then! He is usually such a good dog....

pandamac

I enjoy watching the antics of chipmunks, they are so much fun......love the picture!

Ahhhhh...last minute checks, double checks, concerns........Don't forget to take some time to breathe!!!! and take a nice l-o-n-g bubble bath and some time for yourself!
Ellen

That is hilarious! and I leave stuffed animals of all sizes in my car all the time!!!!!

There was a post a couple of weeks ago about a little girl who lost her bear. I emailed Mom, and got the go-ahead to make a bear. I was told that the bear was very soft and could be thrown in the washer and dryer. So, I decided to make the bear out of white (and pink) fleece, which I lined to make it not stretch, but stand up to a 3-year old and the washing machine. I mailed the bear out on Monday, and the following is the message I received this morning along with a picture of Abby with her new bear and a picture of the bear before she left here. I really enjoyed this challenge of making a bear like one I only saw in picutres......I am so glad Abby loves her new bear! The bear has embroidered eyes and nose, and an embroidered heart that says LOVE on her chest.

Hi Ellen –

We received the new bear today, Abby rushed to the box, pulled her out and hugged her hard!  She is so excited.  She said that she looks like Bear’s sister! 

I cannot thank you enough for the beautiful bear you have made for my daughter and for the smiles you have brought to her face.   I have attached a picture for you to see – we received New Bear, just about 30-40 minutes ago, quiet time at the house – Abby curled right up with her just like she used to do with Bear – she has not done that with any other stuffed animal since Bear went missing.

Thank you again Ellen, you really did a beautiful job on the Bear.

Adrienne & Abby Blackburn

Wow! great shots.....reminds me of the time my parents took me to see the tall ships on the Hudson River in NYC. boy, that was y e a r s ago!!!!! Someday, we are making the trip to Nova Scotia........probably will take us less time to get there than to Florida!!!

Wonderful pictures.....hmm, a fortress with a moat in the center of the city.....interesting!
Ellen

I make several bears I consider Baby-Safe. I use either synthetic fur, or a shaggy plush felt which is machine wash and dry. I just made one using fleece that I lined each piec so the fleece doesn't stretch. I do NOT use joints and the eyes I embroider on or use felt eyes that I sew on. For the bears made from synthetic fur, I recommend surface washing and do not put it in the dryer. The Shaggy Plush Felt (so says the manufacturer) gets softer the more it is washed and used. I have not had anyone with concerns about the way I make them. I use just my single needle sewing on the machine.
pandamac

I had my niece's fur coat that smelled of Moth Balls. A dry cleaning company suggested putting it in a bag with some "aroma therapy" I used Lavender (or maybe lilac) Kept it in the bag for a while, then used Febreeze, sprayed that all over the coat outside, and let it air out a nice sunny day. When I made the first bear, I stuffed it with some of the "aroma theray" The coat was not dirty, just smelly......whoever stores fur coats in Moth Balls?    As far as I can tell, neither of the bears I made for her smell anymore.
Ellen

I have a book called Constructing Teddy and his Friends by Jennifer Laing. I have used this as an inspiration and guide a few times. There is a pattern for a monkey in it. The directions say it makes a 7 inch animal. The head has 3 pieces, 2 for the main part, and one for an insert that is the face. it looks complicated, but the book says it looks more complicated than it is.

Hope that helps! PM or email me if you want more information.
pandamac

I am soooo jealous......I want so much to meet a bear in the wild.......I keep hoping as I drive through the Adirondacks, but none yet.
Ellen

opossums are gray.....my camera sometimes makes the gray look blue.....sorrry for the confusion.
Ellen

My son had a pet rat many years ago. It was a very friendly pet and would sit on his shoulder under his long hair as Aaron walked around.   But! things got busy, he stopped handling it, and Corey, Aaron's best friend, had a rat also, so they thought the 2 would be better together, so the 2 males were put together and we ended up with babies!!! 
Anyway, Aaron stopped playing with the rat, and it got nasty.     I don't think this would have happened had the rat been handled daily......My son was about 18 at the time.......

So, from my experience, Rats can be wonderful pets, just make sure you have the time to give them the attention they need and deserve.....(just like any pet I guess!)

Have fun with it, if he gets one! I did hold my son's rat several times when he first got it. 

Ellen

Here are pictures of an opossum I made for my son's girlfriend. It is made from a black-backed, long gray-tipped synthetic fur. My husband thought the opossum is very life-like. Someone who looked at it said: " It can't be a opossum, it is too cute!"

Here are a couple of pictures of the wedding Bears I made for my Niece's shower. He has the dates embroidered on his paws, and she has the names on her's. I had so much fun making the outfits. The dress has a string of small pearls on the bodice. I think she really liked them (at least I hoep she did) I tried to match her dress when I made the bears dress. His outfit is silver vest, white shirt and black pants. The fur is a synthetic, black backed, gray tipped long fur. I trimmed the fur for the ears and nose.

:hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug: So sorry to hear your sad news Jane, hugs and prayers with you and your family.  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:
Ellen

Daphne....you should come over for Americade, not that far from NH....and it is such a fun week. Have never been to Laconia, but we might make that trip someday.

The PC parties were all done by friends that Tina has kept in touch with.....a reason to (or not to) keep in touch with people when (and if) you move.....

Sewing.....hmmmmm.....what is that? Oh, yeah I remember    guess I will have to dust off things and figure out what I need to do......A nap? and forget where I am again?????  Nope, I'll stay awake and play with my bears.... 
pandamac

Ooops, forgot to mention that David bought me Chaps, vest, boots......bought himself a vest and fancy things for the grips......and we each got a T-Shirt.........lots of good food, we went to Sushi Yoshi one night and had the Chinese Chef cook for us at the hibachi........fun.......I am looking forward to next year's Americade!

first picture is of David and Little Dipper on the ferry
#2 is of ONE of the parking areas!
#3 is on the High Gaps ride
#4 is on the ride home through the Adirondacks.

All the pictures were taken by me, most from the back of the bike as we were traveling down the road. Nice pictures of David's helmet?  :crackup:

Hope you enjoyed a "short" journey through Americade and Lake George, Vermont region. I took about 120 pictures!  :photo:  but, don't want to bore you, so I will stop here. 

Frist picture is on our trip down, rest area overlooking Schroon Lake.
second is of the stuffed animal competition
third is us on the Vermont Covered Bridges tour, that is Little Dipper on the front
fourth is as we went through the covered bridge
fifth is on our ride through Vermont
sixth is of the line up as we were getting ready to leave (sorry out of order!)
seventh is of downtown Lake George
eight is of a group of bikes on the ferry