Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I use "Firm Pack" from Spare Bear Parts. Only now they are shipping out 'Simplicity' polyfil. It's dense stuff, not very lofty so it packs very firmly. I've found that some of the less expensive poly fil at craft stores is similar. I pack the nose rock solid with this, then stuff the rest with a loftier, soft polyfil like I use in the rest of the body (I order this stuff straight from the manufacturer).

I had a hard time with the excelsior although I love the finished nose but I could never get it packed well enough and then had a hard time getting the needle through if I did get it packed hard. Never mind the mess I made with the stuff!!!! Yikes!!!! So, I admire those like Sue Ann who can work with it make such wonderful noses!!!:)

Kim - Bear Making supply shops are few and far between. It's such a specialized business, there aren't enough bear artists in one location to support such a shop, usually. I've considered opening one but would have to move else where to find the folks to support it!! I've always wanted to live in PA..... hmmmm.....:D

If there is a bear show near you, you might want to go to it as often Edinburgh or Intercal Reps are there with supplies.

They are who I get all of my supplies from - I've found nothing in the chain stores for making bears. Unless you are in need of child safe materials - plastic joints and eyes.:rolleyes:

Sorry!
Daphne

OKay, ladies, I'm not responsible for typos as it's  really hard to see through the tears.....

I cried earlier today for London.... knowing the tube station where the bomb went off rather well I could picture it all in my mind... I still have yet to see pictures.... Of course it brought 9-11 to mind instantly which came with another whole realm of emotions that still get me at times. I just feel awful that we haven't been able to stop these monsters yet and I'm sorry that our friends have to suffer.

By the way, a little side note, did you all know that former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was in London when this attack happened? How dreadful to have to experience such a thing again!!

Shelli - you are so blessed not to have experienced the death of anyone close to you. My first experience was at the age of 12 when our 14 yr. old dog was put to sleep - my parents didn't tell me until after the fact (did it while I was staying a friend's) so I never got to say good-bye to the dog I'd known all my life. Then my best friend died when we were 14 and I've lost relatives including both grandfathers and two very good friends and my best friend's mother since. And I had to put my bunny down - he'd seen me through a divorce as well and a move back to my home town. It doesn't matter whether it's human or pet... I don't find it gets any easier. But you come to know how it's going to feel/hurt and that you will eventually feel better and always have memories. Thank God for memories - they are so very dear and can never be taken away!

My prayers go out to all of us, that we'll have the strength to see each other as well as ourselves through personal trials as well as worldly circumstances.

"God Bless Us, Everyone!"

Love & Hugs,
Daphne

Winney - what do you do with the shaved mohair in the zip loc bag? Do you mix colors or have separate bags for each color???? Inquiring minds want to know. :D

I use my tapered awl to remove fur from seams. Love that thing!!! I slide it along the seam, parallel to it, being careful not to snag the backing but picking up the fur that's caught. It's quick and easy for me. Then I use a bunka brush to fluff everything up. DO NOTTTTTTTTTTT pick and scratch at the seams with the tip of the awl. This is my one pet peeve when teaching classes. I see someone picking away, scratching even at the seams if they've gone ahead of me and started trying to set that mohair in the seams free. Not only do you run the risk of breaking the threads of the fur backing but it frizzes the mohair and draws even more attention to the seams!!! ( Grrrrrrr..... ok, deep breath!!! )

Daphne

I couldn't agree with Shelli more!

But there are times when, because my life is so chaotic, I MAKE myself sit and get a LOT of work done on one bear - even finish it, just so that something in my life is complete!!! Whew!!!

I'm experimenting with 'streamlining' myself at the moment. I used to do one bear at a time, start to finish, while day dreaming about the next bear already!!! Now I have two going at once - I try to be sure they are very different from each other - one big, one small - one in kid mohair, another in sparse matted. That helps keep the boredom at bay. And I get bored SO easily!!! Doing this keeps me interested and I'm always in the mood to work on one or the other. When I just had one bear going and was at a stage in the process I wasn't in the mood for I'd find something else to do, waiting for the mood to hit.... sometimes that would be days later. NOT GOOD!!!

I'm getting more done by having more going - does that make any sense!?!?! Sounds silly!

I have way too much stock of almost everything!!! So that's usually not a problem and my dear friend and bear making mentor lives 20 minutes away so if I don't have something it's a quick call and we're meeting for tea to swap supplies!!! She's got 20+ years of bear making goodies stock-piled!!!

OK, I've rambled - very similar to how I work..... very little streamlining here!!! Is there room for streamlining in art???????????

OK, I'm trying to do a few quick posts and get back to my vacation so I only skimmed the above and see you gals are talking about using two different colored flosses.

Here's an alternative - albiet lazy - or perhaps just different..... :D

I have a wonderful embroidery supply shop near me with a fantastic selection of embroidery floss.... yes, they have the old DMC perle cottons in a rainbow of colors but they also have some wonderful verigated floss by Caron - Watercolors in Pima Cotton and Waterlillies in Silk. Both are just beautiful and make wonderful multi colored noses. If you like the thinner (#5 or 8) floss then they also have Waterflowers - a single ply in verigated. These are just gorgeous - all hand dyed.

I use two felt templates - one just a bit bigger than the other and glue the smallest to the muzzle first with second, larger template glued over that. This offers the foundation for a big nose with no 'bumps & lumps'.

If works for me and my bears noses get lots of attention.

My embroidery shop has a website and offers shipping - take a look at this link if you haven't seen these flosses by Caron before: http://www.abcstitch.com/caron.php

Hope this helps!!

Hugs, Daphne

I am constructing portable shelving - floor to..... however high I can - 6 feet, 7, 8??? That's what I need to know!
Don't even try to envision:rolleyes:..... I'll post a pic when I'm done..... can't start until I know how high I can go!

Daphne

I'm designing a new booth set up and know that some shows have maximum display heights. Can anyone tell me what the max. height is at shows they've done. Just so I can accumulate the info and go with the most common, or lowest one.

Thank you soo much!!

Hugs, Daphne

I needle felt my noses.

I felt the nose into the shape I want it, conentrating on the front of the nose, leaving the back and edges a bit loose.
Once I've got the nose how I want it I felt it onto the muzzle.
Trim away mohair where the nose will go first.
Be sure you've used polyester stuffing or cotton or wool - NOT EXCELSIOR!!!
Put the nose in place and begin by felting around the edge/perimeter of the nose, securing it in place and keep checking the placement as you go. Once it's on there its pretty much on there!!!
Once the sides are secure I felt the middle on, if there are nostrils I can poke thru so as not to change the shape of my nose otherwise. Just be sure you've go it felted on there very securely. Heaven forbid his nose falls of later in life!!! Can you imagine not SMELLING honey or chocolate!!!???

Felted noses leave endless possibilities for shape, color, shading and can be tweeked once felted onto the muzzle.

Once I've attached the nose I embroider the mouth as usual.

Daphne

Finding Nemo was on TV last night!!!!:D Tuned in just in time to hear Crush say "Kookookachoo" when talking about how the turtle eggs hatch and the little 'dudes' find their way back to the ocean.

I need to go find me a chat room for Nemo addicts!!! Although I'm thinking I have some pretty good company right here!!:lol::lol:
Daphne

HA HA HA! ROFL!!!!! :lol::lol:

I can't even see Ellen's face with out picturing her talking whale!!

And we're forever telling Tucker (who likes to sniff EVERYTHING on his walks) to "Just keep walking, just keep walking!"

I'm glad we're not the only nutty adults who love that movie!!! It was playing in a furniture store one day and my hubby sat right down and watched the whole thing. One of the sales people brought him a soda and offered him a candy bar, apologizing for not having popcorn!!!

Oh, it doesn't matter - don't we all gripe from time to time??? Kirsten and I just had bear related things we wanted to share, regardless of who has a crush on which Aussie actors!!!! ;)

No big deal!

You MUST see Finding Nemo! It's so cute!!

I know this is an old thread.... and I, Miss Babble Queen, was griping about getting off topic... what was wrong with me?????? (I'm sorry!) But I had to bring it to the surface because I thought of you all the other night and wanted my 2 seconds on the soap box to tell you who my FAVORITE of ALL TIME AUSTRALIAN ACTOR IS!!

Are you ready?

Are you really ready??

Are you sure??? (OK, using up my 2 seconds here.)

It's CRUSH the turtle in Finding Nemo!! He's so cool!!! My hubby and I not only own the movie but watch it a couple of times a month. When the EAC (East Australian Current) scene comes on I insist we replay it at least once!!! Hubby on the other hand goes around talking 'whale'. And the dog.... he truly watches it!! Maybe it's the colors, movement, voices, I don't know. Totally a family event but CRUCH and his little baby turtles are a riot!!! I love listening to them talk.

If you don't have kids or grandkids or teach or aren't as childish as me & hubby you are totally missing out! You've GOT to see this movie!!!

G'Day!
Daphne

Dilu - you can just toss that dime eastward to me! :lol::lol::lol:
Or westward if you've got a really good arm and can get it all the way around the globe!

Calculus???? I couldn't get past geometery! Took me 3 years to get thru that!!! Science.... we won't even go there. And History..... good grief!!! If it wasn't Literature, Art or Music I FAILED miserably!!! I only passed gym cause I got a doctor's note to cover all four years of high school! I hated school, can ya tell?????

Ahh, but that was sooooo long ago!! HA! (OK, 17 years is long ago enough - do you guys ever look at high school kids these days and think "They look so young!" or better yet "We didn't act like THAT in high school!" You know you are getting old when.....!)

Daphne

Oh, goody.... I'll go check it out.

Hi Laura - we've missed you! Hope you are getting lots done!!!!

Hugs, Daphne

Yes, Cindy.... you've been on my heart and in my prayers.

You will continue to be as you go through each day. Know you're not alone... God's got you tucked under His wing, protecting you from things unknown and giving you the strength to get through each day. I pray each gets better.

Love & Hugs,
Daphne & The Bears

Ooo - ooo me! I know!!!!! Hamlet's "To be or Not to Be" speech. I had to memorize that once upon a time...... it's not up there in my head anymore but I'm pretty sure that's a tid bit of it. Hamlet said it anyway!! Right, Dilu????? Will you just live longer now that I've guessed it? I don't care about the dime!!! Or the nickel or whatever I get!

Oh, but I'm not a Brit so perhaps I loose!?!?!:lol::lol:  :(:(

Dilu - Is there something you aren't telling us? Are you feeling OK? Are these topics on age getting to you????

I'll admit my hubby and I have had similar discussions. Problem here is that I'm an only child so no neices/nephews on my side. My hubby has 2 sibblings and 4 neices/nephews - we aren't close to any of them and they all have more $$$ than they'll ever know what to do with and don't apprecite the antiques and artsy stuff we have collected. The icing on the cake is that we don't and won't have kids. So what the heck do we do with OUR stuff?????

Having my bear collection auctioned and the $$ going to diabetes research would be a good idea. The antiques... who knows... let his family fight and squibble over what's worth more at auction so who gets it.

Then there's Henry's baby... the mustang. There's a country song about a soldier that goes off to war in the 60's, leaves his car behind with a note in the glovebox to the next owner of the car in case he doesn't come back. He doesn't come back but he's spirit rides around in the car with the new owner and pulls him from a crash in the end of the song. OK - if you are NOT a counrty music fan you are rolling your eyes. Anyway, that'll be my hubby... he may never get to heaven (but, I keep praying for his salvation.....) but he'll ride around in that Mustang forever!!!

I've written down what I want done with what, though it's not a 'legal' document yet but that's my handwriting... until it's better recorded it's there!

We don't always think about those left behind unless we've been through what Judi and her family has. A sombering and painful experience. Judi, I didn't know you then so your sister's death is news to me. I am very sorry you've lost someone so special so early in life.

Geesh, Dilly-u, anything else you want to bring up to depress us?? Let's get it all over with now! :lol::lol::lol:

Happy, Alive and Kickin' Bear Hugs,
Daphne

Oh Winney.... the bow thing is all yours, really! If I did it I'd just put a link to it for the folks here to see. I have three shows and 2 galleries waiting for bears... never mind the 8 commissions waiting to be made..... if these girls didn't learn how to tie bows correctly when they were kids then they can wait a bit longer! :lol::lol: I'm just kidding!!!! Your photos, Winney, will be better than my drawings! But I'll search for them this week and just get something simple up for now. You and I may have totally different techniques so perhaps we'll teach eachother something???:)

Oh, he looks so dapper!!! He's wonderful.... the whole piece came out perfectly!! You must be so pleased, Shelli!

Shelli - I just bought a pair of those "homey-crunchy-tree-hugging" kind of sandals yesterday! My tootsies are so happy! :lol::lol:

I, too, would have to do pictures, as I'd talk myself in circles!!! I drew diagrams and will have to look for them, I can post those.... will do a page on my website and post a link. But by the time I do that it'll be winter and we'll have a foot of snow (OK - that's all I've thought about today - it's 98 degrees at present and I hate it!) so Winney will probably beat me to it.

I'll really try to do that this week though... TRY... real hard....promise! :rolleyes:

Daphne

Judi - I just ordered some.... hope to feel like a new woman (ok, I'll settle for eentsy improvements)! One of the ingredients is Kelp which has iodine in it which is supposed to be good for regulating Thyroid function.... another 'issue' I have. Learned a lot from reading the site and look forward to trying it. Judi - perhaps you should become a distributer????

Rita-

OK, I'm not Judi, BUT......

I Googled "sea veg" and got lots of sites that sell it!

Try: http://www.tryseavegg.com/
or   http://www.911healthshop.com  or  http://sea-vegg.us

By the way sea vegg has only two g's.... the link in your post had 3! That may have been the problem???

Seaweed Hugs,
Daphne

Marie - Tammy was my inspiration a very short time ago when feeling down that my fingers on my right hand hurt so darn much and don't have the strength or mobility they once had. I was fearing I'd have to quit sewing. Then, I happened upon one of her ebay auctions, followed that to her website, shared a couple of wonderful email exchanges with her and felt very inspired once again. She does make beautiful dogs and was also a bit of the inspiration behind the Wheaten Terrier I recently made. (For those who don't know Tammy's story - she was born with only one hand, yet has used her God-given gifts to make beautiful work! I'm sure she won't mind my sharing this with you. She's a remarkable person.)

As far a teddy inspiration - each bear I meet inspires me... some inspire me to work harder to achieve such a wonderful look, other's give me the confidence in my own work. Every artist I "meet" also inspires me - some inspire me to try new techniques, other's challenge me personally to be more confident, or more loving, or more patient , or warm hearted. (Yes, I'll admit it... I can be a down right Cranky Yankee!!!)

YOU have ALL inspired me to continue pursuing my bear artistry! When I need a kick in the pants to get re-focused on creating I come here.... sometimes I wind up in the garden or re-organizing my sewing room when I log off but my mind is back on bear techniques!

Love & Hugs,
Daphne

Jane,

Big hugs are coming to your through your computer screen right now, feel 'em??

It sounds like the surgery and recovery may not be all that bad which is a relief to hear. It's a pretty standard surgery, done quite often so let's hope it goes without a hitch. Any idea of how long you'll have to wait for surgery?

Keep us posted on how you are doing!

Hugs,
Daphne