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Good question, Kimi. I've been known to take all the stuffing out and start over when I didn't get the nose firm enough. I'd probably do the same with a crooked head (but then I don't think my sculpting and trimming skills are good enough to hide the problem:)
I like to think that bear-making is honing my patience skills because I don't really get upset when I make a mistake. I just take a deep breath and start the un-doing and re-doing process to make it right. (I consider it to be tempting fate if I sew without the seam ripper nearby.)
Let me know if you confirm or disprove the "flat seam" theory.
Becky
I was recently reading a book that said to make sure your seams stay flat (e.g. open: one flap lying on one side and one flap on the other side) while you were stuffing.
I wondered what was becoming of my seams when I stuff a bear! Those seam allowances are pretty small... It wasn't one of the things I was thinking about, but perhaps it makes a difference.
Good luck!
Becky
I agree with Jenny. Dampening is probably your best bet.
I don't think it has anything to do with how the fabric is stored. Some pieces just have a lot of direction changes. What I do in that case is to dampen the pile and use my fingers to direct it. Then I let it dry and brush the pile afterward.
Becky
I agree with Louise -- the mohair color is really nice. Did you do some shading/aging?
Becky
I really like your aged bears, Louise, especially this blue one. Very appealing little personalities:)
Becky
LOL! Thankfully yes -- textbooks are still selling! (Both of us have some job security... for the moment...:)
Becky
I love the bear, the story, the bear's name, and your imaginative photos, Peter.
I'm very happy to hear that you have more job security now. (But if the worst ever happens, how about publishing a book of teddy bear photos? I hear that books focusing on hobbies and pastimes are still selling:)
Becky
I'm nearly speechless! (nearly) She looks soooo huggable and appealing, and you got the panda nose exactly right. I LOVE Patagonia!
Becky
The location sounds perfect, and I agree with Maria -- I'd love to stop in!
Becky
Joanne, I agree with Karen on this one.
When people are bargain-hunting on eBay, a low start price with no reserve can really generate interest. (I know when I'm bargain-hunting, I often won't bother to bid if there's a reserve.)
With an artist bear, I think people have an idea what it costs. Some of the low bidders might not, or some might put in a bid as a show of appreciation -- not really expecting to win, but helping to move the bidding along.
In this economy, a reserve is just sensible, and if the bear is very special (as all of yours are), one or two collectors are probably willing to pay a fair price.
Any thoughts on the Buy It Now option? Do you think that's a good alternative in some cases?
Becky
Could that be fleece fabric? (I'm thinking of the polyester stuff that's popular for blankets and winter garments.)
Becky
Hi Kimi,
I'm fairly new at TT, and hadn't seen your bears before. They are sublime! Beautiful! I agree with Joanne: I love the combination of fur you used for this one.
Becky
If it was Peter Bull who coined the term, he did well.
One of the fun things about the English language is the collective nouns we invent for groups of animals -- words that embody some characteristic behavior of the animal (a murder of crows; a pride of lions; a swarm of bees).
If you had to come up with a behavior that best embodied teddy bears, "hug" is a darned good one. We could also have a "cuddle of teddy bears" or a "patience of teddy bears" or a "security of teddy bears." What do you think?
(Great question!)
Becky
He's fantastic, Sue! I really like the sculpting you did on the face, and his big stocky proportions look very huggable:)
Glad to hear that the workshop was a good experience.
Becky
A "shout out" to Joanne (Desertmountainbear) as well!
That's a beautiful photo of Heber and Cottonwood on page 47.
Becky
