Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

"Cody by Jody" :D
He's really scrumdiddlyumptious.. and very nice too!
No way he won't sell Jody...you've done a fabulous job on him!

Matilda...you are doing great with the needlefelting! Keep it up!
Did you make Marmalade? He's fabulous..love the nose. the bird has great taste in bears! :clap:

Just a note on printing photos. It may well be different in other countries, but here in Australia, the cheap prints we can do ourselves through the whizz bang machines at K-Mart and Big W (which I assume are on a similar level to Walmart) are printed on inferior quality paper. It IS kodak brand...but it is much thinner than the paper they use at proper photo shops. I have a friend who works at a photographic place, and she says that they are fine just for every day snaps but if you want a superior quality image that will last...you should get it done through a photo shop. I personally use the K-Mart machine to print out what I call 'proofs' cos they are so cheap...and I choose the best ones and get the photos and enlargements done at the photoshop.
Just my 2 cents.

Judi..I do it that way too..as does Jenny. I have made three Pandas now..and each time, I have had to wangle that patch bit. If you cut the section out, and then add a seam allowance to the cut out piece and the other piece...you then end up with a concave piece and a convex piece. I always find the piece I cut out is way too big then.(cos by doing this, you are making the insert bigger and the cut out section smaller..right?)

So the last time I did it, I only added a seam allwance to the piece I cut out. It did work...but I still can't get my head around the right way to do it like this. If anyone is completely lost with what I'm talking about here...take a piece of paper and cut a half oval shape out of the edge. Now imagine if you add a seam allowance to each piece...or even do that and cut the pieces again. They don't look like they have a hope of fitting.
Sabine..I love your Panda...he's just so scrummy. (That's an Aussie term meaning good enough to eat ;))
Here's my last Panda..Mei Ling.
Anyone else have a Panda to share?
I would like to try a Panda with different colours..like Brown/Cream or pastels even.

Hi all..just a real quickie. I have hurt my back real bad and have been bedridden since an hour after I replied to this thread, so please forgive my apparent abcence once again. Gotta go lie down again..too much pressure when standing or sitting. Hope to be right soon. Third time in 17 years. :(
Thanks for all your kind thoughts re my Uncle...much appreciated.

It's so sweet of you to note my abcense Shelli and you too Claire...there are so many new friends on the board now that one doesn't really expect to have one's abcense noticed...but it was nice to log on today and see that it was. Mwah! (that's a kiss) ;)

It has been a rough fortnight for me and my family as my Uncle died and I have been away to attend the funeral. He lived 7 hours drive away and being school holidays, it was necessary for me to take my three kids with me for the trip, so I stayed on a few days so it wasn't too tough on them.
It was a huge shock for the whole family as he was only 56. He did have a pacemaker and was doing well, but he got the Flu quite badly and the Doctors said it was just too much for his heart. My dad is really sad. He is 9 years older than his baby brother and his death is the first the family has had to deal with since dads parents died 30 years ago.

There are five pages of messages that I have missed in my abcense, but I still have all the kids home until Monday, so I don't have a hope of catching up. Gosh you guys can talk! Love it!

I missed you all too!

Heather and Vicky,
You can use plain beeswax on a coloured nose but if you wish to build up he layers for a more solid waxed nose, the layers start to become more milky and take on the colour of the wax. So when you want a solid waxed nose in a brighter colour, you will get the best results if you use a matching coloured wax.

I'm told as a youngster that I ate the candles off my birthday cake.(hopefully it was only my 2nd or 3rd one!)...but I am still alive and well....although I seem to have blocked the memory from my mind..so chances are they tasted awful!

He's FABULOUS Marie!!! Looks like you had fun making him too! Did you knit the scarf/hat and make the sled too?
When do you find out who won?

Jenny,
Please send step by step instructions for mopping the floor and typing emails at the same time. I'm hoping I can also apply this technique to other areas too.:lol::lol::/

Hey Dilu and All,
Maybe when the class starts, we can all post before and after pics. And we'll either encourage more people to join Judi's next class...or put them off forever!!:lol:
Bet my "ET" bear is far sillier than your pig monkey!:P

Sue Ann,
Chooks...otherwise known as Chickens.;)

That's great that they want more of your bears...scary though! You WILL be busy!

Judi,you are so encouraging..thank you for such kind words.

Tha black eyes on the little cub have just the right ingredient for that look.

Your work is so amazing!;)

I heard that the average lifetime smoker spends over $300,000 on ciggies.....that's a house worth!!!!

Judi, I am SO GLAD that your ordeal turned out so well!
Honestly, can you imagine paying hundreds of dollars for something to be mailed to you without confirming your address?? Yikes!
Sounds like he was being lest than upfront with his wife too huh? So who pays for it to be resent??

You must have laughed out loud with releif when that box turned up at your door! Yay for Judi!

Marie,
Sounds like this whole thing has been one HUGE headache for you. I'll bet you wish you had never heard of Mrs K now!:/
Still, at least it won't cost you a heap to pay her debt now. Life is so complex!
Glad to hear it is under control and will be over soon.
Hugs to you,;)

Hi girls!

Judi, I was wondering if you got any further with the Ebay dilemma where the fella paid for the wrong bear. Did you manage to contact him and get the balance??

And Marie...what happened with the issue you had over the 'relatives' deceased estate that was in debt that they were trying to get you to pay for?? Did you see a solicitor and get it all sorted out?
Have been thinking of you both with your 'dilemmas'.

I've never heard of this type of thing happening before Dilu...my understanding was that once bids are made the auction must run it's course! Will wonders never cease!

He's so precious Nancy. There's nothing like the feeling of a new born babe's soft fuzzy head against your lips.
He must be even more precious being a boy after three girls...company and team member for Pete!
There are days...roughly every 28....when I'd give anything to have a hysterectomy.:/
Thanks for sharing the pic!:D

Insane! And I mean that in the nicest possible way!:P

He's gorgeous Judi..I'm really looking forward to the class so much.....and now I'll be able to airbrush the finished product with confidence too thanks to your airbrushing class!
I'd imagine that after learning the principals of felting the face and ears, we should be able to work the feet out...or is that over simplifying it???:/

Judi,
I've often wondered how you make your taxidermied eyes stay in. I'd love to use some of the ones with the natural 'whites' showing but was unsure how to attach. You're a treasure!:cool:

I have the leather cording on my Bear Cupboard website in both black and brown, both flat and round....
It's very light so should only cost the price of a large letter..ie $1.80.
On the other hand, it's probably still cheaper for you all to get it in your own country. Most haby stores should have at least 1 colour and size...you can also search for leather thonging, same thing, and it's also great for hanging keys and bells around your bears necks.

Laure,
would it be too cheeky to ask about your eye method (the internal one). I'm trying to read between the lines where you said "I could tell how I do the inset eyes I do, under slitted fabric, but you'll need to know that it's not a perfected art.  It is extremely difficult to position them perfectly focused, which as mentioned earlier, is important. to know whether you are happy to share or not. If you aren't I completely understand, but I remember reading about it in your Bears and Buds article and thinking I'd love to understand more about how you do that bit.:D

I hope you win too Heather. People who smoke have no idea how bad it smells. My father has smoked since he was 17 and refuses to give up. I am an asthmatic I believe due to years of travelling in the car with him smoking. He would have the window down an inch and thought that all the smoke went out there. My mother is a non smoker. Being married to a smoker really makes her sad and she hates the smell of his breath and their home. My father is rather arrogant, and smokes in the house, which I think is extremely selfish because this way mum doesn't have a choice whether or not she inhales it. She had a Stroke almost 7 years ago, and in the back of my mind I have to wonder if his smoking caused it. He still smokes in the house.

I know he will die from smoking related disease...and I hate the fact that he won't even try to give up to prolong his life...much the same as Shelli's mum. Mum is quite disabled and depends a lot on dad...and it causes her so much strees and worry that he may pop off any day now.He is only 65.
My kids don't like to cuddle up to Pa...because he stinks. That's so sad 'cos they love their Pa.
A few years ago I was involved in a trinket swap for Christmas. All the ornaments I received were of non-porous materials...but they and the box REEKED of cigarette smoke. I tossed the lot. People have no idea how vile it smells.
I applaud you for giving up Heather...more power to ya!:D

I'm doing that class with Judi too!! Will be fun with so many friends in the same class!
I have a bear with 'extraterrestrial' qualities after I attempted to needlefelt eyebrows on him...now he needs a makeover!
Looking forward to it starting!

Hi Nance,
I'm late in on this one. I'm sorry to hear Stephanie has suffered such an ordeal. Childbirth and all those hormones flying around are difficult at the best of times, but so much more complex when things don't go to plan.
How lucky we are to live in the age of modern medicine, when such things can be treated!!
The partial hysterectomy is unfortunate, but at least her family is complete...would be devastating for them if Matthew was their first child and it meant no more.
Thinking of you all, and offering prayers for Stephanie, Matthew, Pete and yourself....how lucky is Stephanie to have you to help...must be such a load off her mind.
Hope you don't get too tired in the coming weeks..it will be a tad stressful no doubt.