Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

You appear to have the same posterior as my childhood Wendy Boston bears.  The face is similar too, but the ears are not the same.

Wendy Boston bears were made in the UK in the 50s and 60s.

cheers,
G

I've still not heard if my Christmas ornament arrived....

Thanks for doing this Gail. I can now go postcard shopping, and look forward to postcards from far away places!

cheers,
G

Ooh!  I bought one a couple of months ago - still haven't had much time to play with it.

cheers,
G

Best of luck to all who are job hunting - I've just been made redundant too...

I've always had excellent service from Bear Basics.

Have you checked that your email service is not blocking their replies?  It has happened to me where replies to my email are treated as spam?  check your filters.

cheers,
G

I am so sorry to hear this.  I used to regularly attend the Merrythought Collectors Club Open days, and he was always so welcoming and proud of his staff and business.

Have you had a look at Woodland Teddies.  They do hair extensions which may be what you want, and I am sure they can give advice on how to attach.

http://www.woodlandteddies.co.uk/hair.htm

cheers,
G

If you visit a bear factory such as Merrythought, you will see people embroidering the noses.  The very cheap bears usually have plastic or fabric noses, because they are cheaper to produce.

I wish I could sew noses as quickly and neatly as the ladies at Merrythought...

The bear with 2 left legs, etc.  We've all done it.  :doh:

just put the bear's face into the cup, the edge of the cup gives you a line to follow.  It's fairly crude, the elastic band is the better option, as it moulds more to the contours of the face.

If the lacci band is slipping, put some pins in to hold it.  You can adjust them until you have a line you like.

cheers,
G

I like the sound of splotchy blackberry colour - it should make an interesting bear!

Have you tried washing the fabric in your washing machine, it might even out the colour a bit, and fluff up the mohair.

Use a gentle wash - e.g. wool programme.

cheers,
G

Are they perhaps talking about needle felting?

Wouldn't your elbow joints need to be like a double neck joint?  I guess then you would need to the arms to be straightish?

cheers,
G

I like the idea of making the 'hotel' just a bit less comfortable - the blow-up bed in the living area, which has to be cleared away each morning, and their stuff packed out of the way during the day.

Alternatively you could say 'we're busy, but you could come and stay for such and such a week in July, and possibly over such and such a weekend in August'. 

While you need make it clear to them that you have your own family life, and they can't just usurp your home when they choose, you really need hubby to do the talking, otherwise you will be branded as the wicked daughter-in-law.

I wish you all the best, I know how difficult parents can be, my 83-year-old mother lives with me, and I have a well-bitten tongue!

cheers,
G

Have you tried Thread Magic?

Comes in a tiny box, and you just run your thread over it (place the thread between your finger and the slightly waxy stuff in the box and pull).  The thread runs easier when you are sewing, and doesn't seen to get quite so knotted.

Also Don't give yourself too long a thread to sew with, otherwise it will knot up.

You could also try running your thread over beeswax, but I prefer the Thread Magic.

cheers,
G

Now there's an idea!

A bear in suspenders - what Americans call a garter belt! - Not sure what it's called in other parts of the world  :crackup:

Cheers,
G

Here in the UK there is the British Toymaker's Guild

http://www.toymakersguild.co.uk/

Is there something similar in your location?

cheers,
G

Deans still exist, so contact them and they will no doubt be glad to help you 

http://www.deansbears.com/

cheers,
G

Where are you in the UK?  Let us know and we can probably see what's coming up in your area.

cheers,
G

Never heard of them, which country are they based in?

cheers,
G

But it isn't the last!  Dean's are still making bears in Herefordshire

Thank you

Geraldine

I don't know if my swap partner has received my offering yet, I haven't seen her post anything for ages.   

I posted the ornament 8 weeks ago.  I don't know if my partner didn't receive it, or if she did maybe she didn't like it 

Do you think I should make another one?

cheers,
Geraldine

No worries, I have those sort of weeks too.

I just hope the mail gets itself sorted soon.  Any idea how many are still missing?

cheers,
G