Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I love the first one.  I made a bear around the idea of the same pattern.  Monika's bear is wonderful.  Actually that bear is my avatar bear.  I love the big nose and feet.  Your little biker is adorable.  Nice to know that some artists really inspire others to create.

Karon

Thanks for all your hard work, Can hardly wait to get started, just got some wonderful mohair on the weekend and now I get to create with it.

Laurie- you are very lucky to have Linda as a partner.  I had her last swap and she creates wonderful things.  You'll love it.

Hugs
Amber

Aww I just want to hug the bear.  Not sure I want to be hugged back though. LOL

Hi Karon

A metre should work.  Make sure you have enough pieces to layout the pattern.  For example if the leg comes as a single pattern piece and says cut 4 (2 reverse) make copies of that piece so you have 4 of them.  Same with the head, body etc.  That way you can lay it all out on the fabric at once and move things around if you need to so that you can get the most out of your fabric.  I always do this when I'm working with a new pattern.  Funny thing is it does make a difference.  Some things can fit really tight together and you don't see it till it is all there infront of you.

Hugs
Amber

Can't wait.  I'm going shopping on the weekend for mohair.  I'm going to be itching to create something with it so having an excuse to dive into it for the swap will be wonderful.

Edie

Once again superb work. I love the detail.  Amazing.

Amber

I would think that you would be okay with the varnish or even a white glue that has been watered down that dries clear. I'm trying to think of what it is called.  But one year my mom and I made Christmas ornaments as gifts.  And we just used a plain glass christmas globe and cut up tissue paper and stuck and sealed it with a watered down white glue.  It dried clear and hard and sealed everything perfectly. We had a couple left over and put them on our own tree.  And never a problem.  Of course tree lights now really don't get very hot, but one was near a heat vent and no change in it at all.

He's sweet.  Do you have a stock of hedgehogs for the up coming show in April.  That was such a cute idea.

Amber

I love her.  Every time I see that ad on TV I say to my husband if house hippo were real, I'd want one.  I love hippo's.

I don't even think it should really have to be a bear.  Linda sent me a wonderful Pixie for the last swap.  It is amazing.  I think that everyone just needs to put that special bit in whatever creation you make.  Shouldn't limit creative juices.

Hi Back Linda.  It's great to be able to post here once and a while again. I missed everyone.

Hi Karen

I would look into possibly using DHL.  But look into the shipping cost and make sure they are willing to send.  Post to Countries like Iraq/Iran/Cuba can sometimes be a problem. I work at a UPS store and just looked up Iraq for and it says animal skins and furs are prohibited so be careful with the materials you choose as well.  That will be a blanket prohibited item not just DHL. But just a single piece of paper by DHL is $92.00 from here in Canada.  The US will be a different price.  Check with the customer on how the postal service is in Iraq. But general with certain countries courier is safer, but much more in cost. Investigate the different services to Iraq first.  And once again watch the material used and make sure they aren't on the prohibit list.  From what I can see that is the only two things that pose a problem from the list we have here at the store.  But I would check into it further.

Good luck
Amber

They are beautiful.  As is all your work

Thanks  Karon.  I'll PM you my details.

I personally wouldn't care if I made a big bear and received a little bear.  Infact I would be thrilled.  Mini's required just as much work as their larger cousins do.  Infact having switched from making larger bears to smaller I find that mini's are more work, and I don't really call mine mini's as most are between 5-7" inches.  But with mini's every little mistake in a stitch shows.  I don't think it should really matter if large bear and mini's are paired up.  The idea is to make something specail for someone.  That comes in big and small packages.  Just make it special.

I would love to join again this year.  My only concern is the last swap I didn't get my bear to Linda until not too long ago.  I've been very ill over the last 8 months and after working all day have very little energy left when I get home.  Linda was very kind and understanding about this.  I received Linda's bear on the perfect day, a day I really needed something to pull my spirits up.

So if everyone is okay with the chance that they may get their bear a little late, if they are paired up with me I would love to join again this year.

I find the pens leave a sticky feel too.  But if you let them dry between applications (only takes a few minutes) and really brush the area out, the sticky goes away.  I used to do a lot of airbrushing when I was in school, as a graphic designer and illustrator, personally I prefer the pens and just do it all by hand. I like the control that it gives me.  But if you aren't a complete control freak like I am about things go for the airbrush.  I also find that watered down paint and a brush work really well too, again need to let dry and brush between coats.

Shelia

Have you tried covering your left eye while you sew?  Maybe giving it a break will make it easier for you.  I'd check with your doctor and make sure that it won't do any harm first.  When it has to do with nerves never know what could cause problems.  It may also help.

Hope you have a speedy recovery.

Amber

Hi Lisa

Your bear is wonderful.  Daphne had great suggestions.  Just one more that I would add to that.  His eyes.  If you shade lightly around his eyes.  Even with just a regular pencil it will ad a little bit of depth.  I would try the shading on a scrap piece of fabric first.  But with pencil you can add it little by little.  Same around the nose and feet.  With the light colour the pencil should show up and it will give it a bit of a worn look.

They are great.  Give bearpile a try.

Amber

I'll let you in on a little secret, there are a lot of us artists that can't sew.  Bears are different so give it a shot.
Hey if you need help or encouragement there is always a bunch of us here

I love sea horses.  This is great

I've had couple of bears that I have wanted to give the same name.  But I did what Eddie does changed the spelling or shorten it.  Try looking up the name in a different language as well.

I've always started with a puppy as well, but we had a 5 week old puppy that was abused the last time we dealt with this.  She was a challange, we couldn't tell her no or she was bad, it just made it worse and she would go again out of fear.  Try to take him out at the same times each day and really praise him when he goes outside, make it a big deal and happy moment.    Make it so he wants to go outside to go because he wants all the cuddles and praise afterwards.  Instead of making his going inside a bad thing make him going outside so great that he doesn't even consider anything else an option.  This plan didn't work well for us as we had a puppy that was so messed up in the beginning that she didn't want the human contact praise or no praise.  But friends have had a lot of luck with this.

Welcome back,  You've been missed.  *hugs*

What a great idea to do with your Boot Camp Bear.  I'll have to consider that if I ever get mine done.

Will add you when I get home and can log on to my account Emma.