Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Gina,
Did you talk personally with someone from Sierra Meadows Bears?  I posted the liquidating info because that is what the owner told me in an email where she ask me if I was interested in purchasing the business.  I know I was not the first person she contacted to buy her out.  Seems like she is sending out mixed messages.   Whatever she is doing there are some good buys to be had.
Donna

Shantell,
I use the guetermann thread for all my machine sewing.  Won't that work in your machine?  I believe it to be the quilting strength that I buy.  I've never had a problem with it being strong enough or going through the machine.  Years ago I used the upholstery thread on my old machine.  I don't think the newer ones can or will handle it.
Donna

Kelly,
Were the magnets anything special.  I am not sure the ones I have would hold through the ultrasuede or did you put them on the outside bottom of the hooves?
Thanks,
Donna

Can you needle felt over a muzzle that has been stuffed with wood wool?  In my mind, I have the wool bonding to the stuffing inside the bear not to the woven cotton backing on the mohair.  Am I correct, that I can't needle felt on this bear?
Donna

Melissa,
You may want to suggest to your friend that has the fading copic airbrushed bear to use a hairdryer on it to heat set the ink so it stops fading.
Donna

I want to needle felt a Santa Beard onto a mohair bear.  I know to trim the mohair away from the face where I want to needle felt.   Do I needle felt just each end of the wool or do I pull off twice the length I want for the beard and fold it in half and felt the halfway point of the wool?
Thanks,
Donna

Just wanted to give you all a heads up.  A bear supply business here in CA. is liquidating.  Everything on the website is 50% off except books.  Check it out:  www.sierrameadowsbears.com
Donna

I have a friend that is felting a poodle using the hair from her poodle.  She has purchased a stuffed poodle to use as her base.  Her question is:  Does she really need to trim off the fur from the stuffed poodle or can she just start felting?
Thanks,
Donna

Jenn,
If you know some of the supplies you might want and need check to see if you can get them from www.sierrameadowsbears.com.  She has lots at 50% off.
Donna

Check out www.hidehouse.com.  They have two locations in CA.  One in Napa and one in San Dimas.   They could put together a grab bag of small scraps for you.
Have you seen the leather noses that are made using a pie piece shape?  Bring the two flat edges together to turn it into a cone shape.  Attach the wide part of the cone to the bears nose then fold the point down over the seam.  All of this can be glued but since I really dislike doing much with glue on mohair I tend to stitch.
Donna

Kathy,
Is it too far for you to go to Reno for a show?  Crossroads Doll and Teddy Bear shows is having one in Reno Oct. 29.  I had planned to do it this time but have a conflict that weekend. 
I am finding fewer bears at the shows on a regular basis.  Shows that had waiting lists of 50 bear artists to get into the show are now not able to fill the spaces.  I did a Doll and Bear show three weeks ago that only had two tables of bears.  It was so sad.
Donna

I use setscrews for my jointing.  You use the locknut on one end to make the bolt head.  The nice thing about the setscrews is that you can treat it like the cotterpin joint and finish the arms and legs before you attach them to the bear.  I feel dealing with just and arm sewing the opening closed is so much easier than dealing with a whole bear.  The setscrew has a hole in one end of the screw that you put the allen key into to hold the screw.  I have a drill bit that goes into a screwdriver that I sell that goes into the end of the screw that makes it much easier to hold.  I used to glue the disc to the bolt head so that I could close the arms and legs before attaching to the body but found it time consuming and did not like the odor of the glue.  Also there were times that the glue did not hold the disc.  To me the extra expense of the setscrews is paid for with the convience of this system.
If you are going to Lincoln City show next weekend look me up at the Edinburgh booth and I will show you how they work.
Donna

Matiilda,
CR Crafts  has some frog wiggle eyes.  If I remember correctly they have three sizes and they are larger.  Might be more like what you want.
Donna

Hi Matilda,
Edinburgh Imports carries them.  They have them in sizes 6mm -15mm.  http://www.edinburghimports.com/shoppin … a987sd=101
Hope they are what you are looking for.
Donna

If these bears are going to certain children and you know the age is over three years then it is not an issue.  The safety issue is the swallowing of small parts and most children over three are not doing much chewing on teddy bears.
Donna

Hi All,
I would like your input on how you sew in the horse hair for whiskers.  I just finished a cat and need to add whiskers. 
Thanks,
Donna

Hi Barb,
Years ago I made tree topper bears.  I used a toilet paper center for the base covered in cotton fabric.  The bear head is attached to the dress which also has arms and bear hands holding something cute.  Then I stitched the dress to the cotton that covered the toilet roll center.  All the members of my family are still using them and that has been at least 25 years ago that I made them.
Donna

My Dr. recommends that I put my hands over my head every fifteen to twenty minutes and shake and wiggle all fingers, wrists everything while sewing.  He wants me doing wall pushups and pushups that you do every time you walk through a doorway.  It does help but what helps the most is my ARNICA gel and oil.
Donna

Thanks Julia,
It looks like your material you use is much thicker than the felt I use.  Maybe I'll glue two pieces of felt together.
Thanks,
Donna

Julia,
I love the way the nose on your Avatar stands up there so prominent.  Do you have a special way to get it to stand up so high?  I use felt and have put stuffing under the felt to try to get my noses to be more prominent but I just can't seem to get them to stand up.
Donna

Hi Catherine,
Do a search for "Using wax on noses".  There are several ways to do it.
Donna

Jenn,
Mark your calendar for Jan. 14-15, 2006.  That's when the next ABC show is there in San Diego.  It is at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center 1895 Camino Del Rio South.  I'll plan on seeing you there.  Maybe SueAnn will be back again for that one.
Donna

Jenn,
Do you belong to the Teddy Bear group there is San Diego?  They are a great group of ladies (the ones I have met so far) and would be glad to give you hands on help if you need it with your first bear.  They also bring in artists that do classes.  If you need contact info let me know.  I was hoping you would be closer to the SF Bay area.  I guess I will try to see you when I head down for the ABC San Diego show.  Have you been to that show?
Donna

Our local libraries have a section for local artists etc.  See if your library will put your work in one of their display cases.  Hair salons are another good direction.  In the old days our local beauty shop had one section devoted to crafts for sale by the patrons.  Other places that I had success were in a local flower shop that was more upscale and in an antique mall.  The bears look really good sitting in an antique chair.   When I knew they were going to the antique mall I tried for a more vintage look and would use the old shoe buttons etc.  You can't be shy about getting your bears out there for the rest of the world to see.  Many of the newer bear makers here in CA are also doing craft shows and are having success there.
Donna

I don't worry about the 1/4 inch seam allowance, I use my pressure foot as my guide.  If I am doing a mini, I move my needle position so I am still using my foot as the guide.  When I design a new pattern I use my sewing machine to add the seam allowance.  Just draw each of your bear parts on paper and then take them to the sewing machine and stitch around each piece you now have a perfect seam allowance.  I learned that little trick from Armella Dana.
Donna