Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Danni
OK, so I'm a little biased here, but it's my honest opinion!
I use this thread for sewing all sizes of bears and every type of fabric. I have never had a problem with it. It's strong and thin and slides through fabric like it's greased. It makes a small tight knot that doesn't come undone and comes in loads of colors for the perfect match.
I don't like regular or upholstery threads for sewing either.

Wow! I need to check in more often!!! It's been a really busy week and haven't had any time to sit and read TT.

Dilu, I'm completely floored!   
You already sent me a baby and I was fine with that. But if you feel the need to send this little guy to me, I think I can find a place for him!  :crackup:
And him momma too!!! It really is too much! Still . . . . .
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
The are a really wonderful pair and I must say I agree he does look like he's reaching for her.

Oh, did I thank you? THANK YOU!

:hug:  :hug:  :hug:

OH GOOD GOLLY!!!
He is just adorable! I LOVE HIM!
Perfect little golly baby and the fabric you picked for his clothes is perfect. Gollies NEED bright colors!
See, all that work paid off! 
You gotta make more of these little guys. 

Lulu,

Can't help you with aging mohair, but I've been where you are now with the pattern design.
All I can say is 'it takes as many as it takes'. I had a bear thumping my skull to get out. I had to make several heads before it looked like what I saw in my head. Just keep at it 'till you get there!
It sounds like you keep altering the 1st pattern you drew. Try starting over from scratch. Sometimes that helps a lot.

As for all those heads . . .
if they are not too big, you could turn them into ornaments or use them to decorate something else. How about a holiday wreath with bear heads??
Or you could go ahead and finish them all into bears. Just because they aren't that bear in your head doesn't mean they aren't perfectly good bears!!

:hug:

Welcome to the party, Ingrid! We always have a great time here!!  :hug:

I've been hoarding vintage long pile for many years. I find some on ebay and other places. I've even found old furniture in the 2nd hand shops and tore the fabric off it. My 'stash' is my pride and joy. It doesn't look like much to most people, it all fits in 1 large plastic bin, but it's a nice assortment of colors. It's like gold!! I don't use it often but this bear came out fairly well, so I may have to make more of him. I guess it would be a shame to NOT use the fabric?

Thank you all for your wonderful comments!!

Great mini! Is that a belly button I see, or a spot on the photo? Either way, he's an adorable little munchkin!! Wonderful job on the toes!

Please welcome Noah. He stands 3.25" tall. I got into my stash of vintage long pile for him.

Cute as a button, like always!!!

Thank you all! I'm pretty pleased with her except her arms need to be a bit lower. I haven't made many big'uns and yes they do seem to take FOREVER!! There is just so much more bear to work on! I sew everything by hand and it feels like I will never get it all sewn. I'm so used to taking those very tiny stitches. I get going and realize I don't need to do that on the big ones. Keep having to tell myself to make the stitches bigger!
Designing patterns for big ones is different too. But they do seem to come out looking just like big versions of minis. Maybe that's because I like the porportions of minis.
This big bear stuff is a whole new world to me.
I know there are several people that make beautiful big bears and are struggling to make minis. I seem to be going the other direction. I guess it's all about what you are used to making.

Here is Leela, she stands 12" tall, so that's a whopper for me! She's made from mohair, which I'm allergic to. I was a mess the whole time. Sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, etc. I sure wish mohair didn't turn out so nice, then maybe I would stop!
The things we do to ourselves for our bears!!!
I need to learn to take pics all over again. Shooting big ones isn't the same as minis AT ALL!!

Oh Wendy! Stop being so hard on yourself. This little bear is cute as can be. You did an amazing job!!
What on earth made you think you'd get every single detail perfect on your first try???
I think I see what you mean about the mouth. I agree she needs a little more chin to get the mouth to look like you want. Other than that, she is fabulous!!
MAKE MORE!!!

I've helped a few people start out with minis. This is what I tell them:

You MUST make at least 20 horrid little things and you MUST sew at least 2 of them to your thumb. THEN you can call yourself a mini artist!!!
:hug:

For shading the tiny ones, I like to use the FabricMate markers. It's like dye in a pen. You can use a damp cotton swab to blend the colors or remove some if you get it too dark. Very easy to get it 'just right'.

Dilu,
Here's a new pic for you. I shot this just before she left.
I'm so glad Nikki has such a wonderful mommy!!

Looks like an excellent mini to me!!   :clap:

Love his eyes, the shading is wonderful.

I start mini right off. I usually make the pieces a little fatter than normal. Even though the seam allowance is very small, the arms & legs come out very skinny unless I do that. But, then I happen to like fat bears! Shrinking a big pattern only works if the big pattern is only a few inches bigger. But trying to turn a 12" bear pattern into a 3" pattern just doesn't come out right.

Wonderful bear! She's a fuzzy thing! I bet her color is even better in person!
Oh, I wish I could spend more time with mohair.

I've made just a few bears from upholstery velvet!!!  :crackup:

It is the BEST for minis.

Swear all you like, BUT DON'T GIVE UP!!!!

Wendy,
Try glueing some thin, cheap felt on the back. That should make it stay. Or you could use some double-stick tape (sticky on both sides).

I use it on my bigger bears too. It's so much stronger than any other thread that size that I've used. Once I tried it, I just had to carry all the colors!
Super-lon IS THE SAME AS C-lon beading thread, just a different brand name. It's made by the same manufacturer. Nymo is pretty much the same too.
I'll never go back to other threads for hand sewing. The stitches are nice and tight and STAY that way. It also makes a very tiny knot that doesn't come undone.

OH I LOVE ALL THESE MINIS!!!
I finally got Jonah done. He is 6" tall, so a big one for a mini.
The poor bear, he sat there for weeks with his ears just pinned on. He's a very patient bear! I finally got them sewn on a few days ago.

My husband was living in the apartment below mine. One day, the water pipes behind my bathroom burst and flooded his whole apartment. He came pounding on my door, screaming about the water!! Been married 13 years and have 2 daughters now.

You asked for it! My first try with scissor sculpting. The tipped fur didn't like that too much!!  :crackup:
We call him MonkeyBear.
I also needed to line the faux-fur, it had a lot of stretch and he got very fat!!!

So cute! Of course, you know I'm crazy about the hair on that little one! I can't believe you sat and made all those french knots!!

Thank you all! I'm having a really good time and it's a nice break from bears. Don't worry! I have no plans on giving up bears!! It's just that something a little different every once in a while is nice. And I can take the new skills I learn with dolls back to my bear making.
I have the patterns and fabric now. Marci is made from craft velour that many doll makers use. It's a polyester knit with just a little stretch. Just the right amount for needle sculpting. I prefer the fuzzy side out, but you can use the smooth side out too. I have 2 other types of fabric too, each different but all good for doll skins.
She really was fun to make, and pretty easy too. Still haven't got the smaller one done yet! I got sidetracked by a miniature penguin.

sarajane: I'm working on it!

Michelle: I got a couple short felting needles and made a little polymer clay handle for them. I basically just made a clay bead and stuck the needle in it and then baked it. The needle is shorter than the head is thick, so it never goes all the way through. Never poked my fingers once! I needed something small to work on these bitty heads.

OK! So it's NOT a bear . . . . .but it IS a miniature!!
I've been wandering off the path a little bit. I have been wanting to learn more thread sculpture and dolls are a good place to learn.
I convinced Vicky Riley of Dinky Babies to make some mini doll patterns and am having a blast!!!

Here is Marci, she sits 3" tall and has needle-felted hair. My first time with felting needles, so I'm pretty pleased! She also has glass eyes and is filled with polyfil and steel shot, so she has a nice weight to her and site very nicely.

I've got a new one cut out, smaller than this. Can't wait to see how it turns out!!