Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

What a sweetie!  And "Goldie" bear too!
Thank you
Kate

Hi Tuppies Teddies,
Like everyone else, loved your makeover!   May I ask what fibre you used for the job?  I want to try a bear with this effect and have bought my needles, sponge and Barbara Allen's book but am not really taken by any of the fibre colours I see (have to buy on-line because we live rurally).  You've gone for what looks like a lovely creamy-beige colour which suits your 'fur' beautifully.  Did you buy on line or were you lucky enough to have a supplier handy?
Cheers
Kate

Thanks Jared,
That tip on the possible trimming up a mohair pattern to suit a dense synthetic was an important one and probably something I would not have thought about until the inevitable happened.
So many thanks indeed and I'd love to see some examples of your synthetic work!
Kate

Well, being on the other side of the globe, I can hardly blame the season - but after two or three years of happy mohairing, I've suddenly had the urge to try synthetics too.  Have just bought two pieces - both dense and somewhat long pile - with firm knitted backing.   I've probably no idea the drama I'm in for, there's already fur flying around the house everywhere and I haven't even started to cut yet.
Still, for sometime I've been following the posts on synthetics through TT ( really grateful, girls!) and am itching to try the lovely glass eyes and eyelids which have been in the sewing basket for ages now waiting for 'mother bear' to work up some courage.
I have to confess that I've also bought a little cheapie hair and beard trimmer since the warning has already gone out about MM's    own gear.
The next thing is to work up a design.  If anyone's got thoughts on some pitfalls to be avoided in designing with synthetics, would be really interested to hear (before I make every mistake in the book and others more that nobody's even dreamed of!)
Cheers and bear hugs
Kate

Paula,
I loved this little guy and I'm itching to know how you went with him in your Show.  Hope it was all good news!
Cheers
Kate

I wish I'd learned to type a bit better!   Sorry!
K

Hellow Renae,
I hunted all over and found the book with some other keepsakes - its called "Cats leave paw prints on your heart".  A tiny book, just 2-1/2 inches square.  The quote you asked about is from A.S.Tessimond.  Just one more, not really a 'quote' but a beautiful description.  Hope you enjoy...
"A black cat dropped soundlessly from a high wall, like a spoonful of dark treacle and melted under the gate".
I've never owned a black cat but that's always appealed to me.
Cheers
Kate

Renae,
What a beautiful post!   And from my own experiences I can agree with you completely.   A couple more quotes that I've come across and saved....

"Cats, no less liquid than their shadows,
Offer no angles to the wind.
They slip, diminished, neat, through loopholes,
Less than themselves."

(Have you ever tried getting through the front door ahead of a determined-to-be-out feline?)
And this one...

"I have just been given a very engaging Persian kitten,
and his opinion is that I have been given to him"  - Evelyn Underhill.

Oh, heck, one more just for luck:

"Women and cats do as they please,
and men and dogs had best learn to live with it"

On that note.....
Cheers
Kate

Thanks Gemma,
:redface:  :redface:  :redface:
You've just upgraded by education by a huge leap.      I
'm too scared to ask what Imao is, so I think I'll google it too - don't know why I didn't think of that in the first place!
Ta muchly
Kate

Your bears are just beautiful.  Someone gave me some Razzle and until I saw your little Razzle man I've not been inspired (or game) enough to try it, having mostly only ever used mohair.  May I ask what size he is?   The fur seems just right for him.
Lovely!
Cheers
Kate

I'd wish for a little elf who can sew ears on straight - and precisely where they're best suited - the FIRST TIME!  And he'll also have to a diplomat to deal with my husband  who is even more demanding with his bears' ears than I am. Everything else I can reasonably cope with.
Bear hugs
Kate

Not exactly a technical question but will someone put me out of my misery!   What does OOAK stand for?   Also what is LOL?   Years ago, a LOL was a "little old lady".
Cheers
Late

Thanks Paula!
I've read about the use of beeswax on embroidered noses but have never actually seen it.  I've used Nose Shine on a couple of bears to try, but rather think I might prefer the satin sheen look.
If they would turn out half as well as the nose on Georgie, I'd be happy.  Can't wait to try.
Give Georgie a hug for me
Cheers Kate

What a sweetie!  I love the mohair, his expression, but I especially love his nose - a beautiful sewing job - but can I ask, how did you achieve the lovely satin-shine finish on it that the picture seems to give him?
Cheers
Kate

This a beautiful bear - I can only wonder at the work involved.  You really have needle-felting down to a fine art. 
Especially love his little nose and his cheeky grin.  Super!
:clap:  :clap:  :clap:
Kate

This is an earlier creation by husband - based on a photo he saw in "Australian Bear Creations" (I think).  All apologies to the original - if and when I can locate the magazine, will give due credit.  It was the nose that captured his imagination and the final concept of the bear is his own.  I love this little guy.  He has his own cafe table with cloth, coffee cup, miniature bottle of Grand Marnier and of course, his pipe.  My only contribution to this bear were the eyelids and the beret.
Hope you all like him too.
Cheers
Kate

PS - He's just going to have to get his own avatar and do his own presenting....!

Thank you one and all for the kind comments.    :hug:
He's not letting on, but the MM (mere male) is really chuffed - it's given him a big boost in confidence.  So I'm going to run with it a bit further and post another of his bears.
Bear hugs  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:
Kate

Here is my hubby's (Ray) latest creation - he is so pleased with this one that I actually have permission to show it off.  The bear is Ray's concept and making, made in mohair, stands 17 in (43 cm) in his 'bear' feet.  His clothes are Ray's design and my creation. And as if that wasn't enough, Jamie has his own kitchen!
(I hope I get the upload right first up this time or I might never hear the end of it)

Cheers,
Kate
(Here goes....)

Thanks for all the great suggestions ...  Toby sort of suits him, but there is already a Toby in the bear cabinet  - so I think either Muffin or Silky Sam.   

Bear hugs  :hug:
Kate

That's okay !  I can handle the teasing (been teased by experts!)

The file is 7.97 kb, the picture is 3 inches wide x 4 inches deep.  I cannot work out for the life of me what is wrong unless it's some incompatibility between programs on my computer.   

I'll try just once more.....

OOPS!    That was a 187kb file.    What's going WRONG!!!!?

SCREAM,  SCREAM,   SCREAM!!!!!

Kate

Okay, something seems to have gone wrong.  Maybe I had a couple of extra pixels more than I should.   Am trying again
Why does this always happen to me? -  If it doesn't work this time, I'm really going to do something drastic......

Bear hugs for your patience
Kate

Here is the latest little addition.   He seems a serious little character.  I don't think he quite cares for his hat/scarf - obviously the girls (two cats: Dewi and Rani) don't care for it either, they take it off anytime they think we're not looking!  (Wonder why they do that?)
But he needs a name - any suggestions?
Kate

What a pair of cuties!
Kate

Thanks very much for that Lisa,
Since I don't quilt I can only wonder why they call it Freezer paper!  I'm sure one of my quilting friends will be happy to fill me in. 
Hubbie was also inclined to think it would be cheaper (and less frustrating) to have tags done commercially .... but I like to play!
Kate