Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Jane.
You will get a deeper better coverage if the fabric is wet before putting into the dye bath.  I usually trace the bear out onto the fabric and then cut just that piece of fabric so there is not so much waste.  I have been know to dye a piece let it dry and then put it back into the same dye bath again.  There was a time period when I was having a fun time with dying tipped mohair.  I was trying to get some weird colors and was very successful!  I think I would start with a tan and see what happens then move onto the brown.  One of the things that I am very bad about doing is keeping notes on how long it was in the dye bath etc.  If you have access to the better dyes they will give you better results than rit.  I would start with like a fat quarter and just play.
Donna

Kim,
I was hoping you had found a clever way around ebays rule of not mentioning a website on your listing.  Glad they didn't notice it!
Donna

Speaking of ebay, I noticed on Kim's last listing for Rory towards the bottom of the page she had a Wild Thyme Originals that took you to a gallery of different bears.  In the gallery she mentions she can do special orders etc.  Is this a way around mentioning a website, is this hosted by ebay?
Donna

Never mind, it looks like she got it fixed!
Donna

Is it just my computer or is Shantell's avatar fuzzy?
Donna

Danni,
Do a search "tarnishing brass bells".   I don't have the product here but can get the info if you need it.
Donna

Hi Catherine,
Shelli told me about a product that you paint on the metal to age it.  I found it a Micheal's.  They have different effects.  Thought it would be the way to go and then if it didn't work I would try the bleach and vinegar approach.
Donna

Karen,
Where is your show next weekend?  I have friends in Australia and they have been saying that a lot of the shows there are shutting down.
Donna

I am on a goat list also and have been reading all the horror stories from them.  My first thought was that I would make my goat and donate that money, then I decided that was not enough.  I have seven shows before the end of the year.  I have decided to donate a percentage of my sales from these shows to help with relief work from Katrina.  Hopefully I will have good shows so there will be more money to help these unfortunate people get back to life as normal.  Are the rest of you game?
Donna

Kim,
We have two monitors on our computer.  One the one monitor that is easiest to read your pictures are fuzzy.  On the one that is not as new and not as easy on the eyes your pictures are much more clear and crisp.  And I am no help with the techi stuff.
Donna

Daphne,
I think it is Lisa Pay that recommends mixing glue and water and painting the backing with that as a stabilizer.   Elmers glue and 50-50 mix.
Donna

Eileen,
I'm not a pro with dying but most of your dyes that require hot water will color both the backing and the mohair.  Procion and Dylon (I think that is the correct one) are your better quality dyes.  Don't forget kool-aid and fruit juices!  I think there was one bear that Donna Butts, Yosemite Bear Works, did that was just a tipped bear and I think I remember she used silk dye.  The Earth Palette Dyes are very thick and you put the color where you want it.  Then you wrap the mohair in plastic and let it sit.  You check to see if it is finished by taking a paper towel and rub the color.  If no color comes off it is finished.  Then you rinse in cold water.  This is one dye that you can put just on the back, turn the fabric face down and paint the back.  The cotton backing will dye the color you put on it and the mohair on the face of the fabric will not pick up the color.  You could do this with the mohair and try not to get any color on the backing also.  With Earth Palette Dye when you squish the dye into the fabric is when you get it on the fabric and the mohair.  You really can paint a design with this stuff!
Your natural dyes are going to work better on the cotton and mohair.  Just jump in there and start playing while keeping a log of everything you do.  I like to use fabric that has some color to it also.  I use a tan or stone color.
What are you wanting to do?
Donna

Dilu,
He reminds me of a bunny I was making before the Nevada City show.  As I was working on him at first I thought he looked like a lamb then as things progressed I decided he looked more like a monkey.  He sat in the middle of the living room for a week while I tried to decide what to do with him.  Each time I walked past I patted his little ugly head.  My son just shook his head each time he passed.  Well, I took him to the show just the way he was.  He was the first thing to sell!  I even told the woman that I was not sure what he was going to be as he was progressing.  She loved him, took him everywhere she went and asked everyone what they thought of him.  So you never know!

I think I would cut his nose off and keep experimenting with him!
Donna

Hi All,
Just wanted to tell you all about Earth Palette Dyes.  I discovered them years ago.  They come from Australia.  Sandra Kay Murphy and her partner (can't remember her name) wrote a book on it also.  The problem was that it was so expensive to get them shipped over here.  Shipping was as much or more that the product ($30.00 for the kit).
While at the ABC San Diego show, I discovered a couple of ladies that have it here in the US for sale now.  They go by The Imagination Institute.  They are in Florida.  There is a little clown bear in each of the magazines this month by Majorie Fairbarin that was dyed with the Earth Palette Dyes.  She painted the back of the fabric with the color and the white mohair on the front did not pick up any of the color.  It is a great medium for play and experimentation. 
To my knowdlege these gals do not have a website but you can find info by searching for Earth Palette Dyes or you can check out Sandra Kay Murphy.
Donna

Shelli,
ScottNScott's Bears in Old Sacramento had an electrical fire shortly after Nevada City.  They tried to get the store back on it's feet and reopened before the summer started but decided it was best to just close.  They have also closed the Monterey store just a week or two ago.  If they do anything, it will probably not include bears.  Did you need anything or were you just out and about?
Donna

Kirsten,
Have you ever gone to Sierra Meadows Bears in Signal Hill?  I have heard that Penny may be moving the store.  The building will need to be earthquake retrofitted and will be under construction for about a year.   Have you ever stopped in Pismo Beach at the Sandpiper?  I worked there when I lived down there.  They don't have that many bears left but do have some.  There is also the Alcove in Shell Beach.  No supplies at either place.
Donna

Kirsten,
I know Penny from Beary Cute.  I lived just down 101 from San Luis Obispo.  Where do you live?  I go up and down the 101 every few months with mohair in tow.
Donna

Hi Deb,
You ask what the Ultimate Stuffing tool was.  There is a picture and discussion about it in the Teddy Tips and Tech.  You can do a search for Ultimate Stuffing Tool if you want to see what Shelli was talking about.
Donna

Heather,
I bought 25 pounds of glass beads when I bought mine.  It came out to be about 25 cents a pound.  It was much cheaper than buying them from the mohair suppliers and I was not paying all that shipping.  Then I shared with all my bear making friends.
Donna

Heather,
When I was first starting to use mohair I bought from Intercal because of the better prices.  I would buy several yards and then take that down to half yards and shrink the backing.  You may have a loose weave on the backing that allows you to pull the mohair out.  I would dye the different half yards in boiling water so I had different colors to work with so that all the bears did not look alike.  I just made a bear in July that was from my old Intercal stock that I had not shrunk.  The backing was so loosely woven that you could see the stuffing through the backing.  I was down at Intercal just last Friday and it seemed that the backings were a tighter weave.  The stuffing might help hold the mohair in place if it is packed tightly.  Stop pulling on the mohair! 
I don't think I was any help for you!
Donna

Marie,
I am sending you hugs and prayers.  Get your bears out and give them each a name of all the Teddy Talk folks, give each bear a big hug and know that those hugs are coming from each of us here at Teddy Talk.

Get your attorney and then try not to worry.

Bear Hugs,
Donna

Heather,
Check where they sell sandblasting supplies.  That is where I buy my glass beads plus my place has steel spaceships.  They are too large to use in the feet but work great for in the body.  They can order regular round beads for me but since I can get them at Wal-mart I have never had them get them for me.
Donna

Hi,
An artist friend ask me yesterday if I knew how to take new bells and make them look old.  She has tried using vinegar and then she tried boiling water.  She did not get the effect she was hoping for.  Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Donna

I do lots of shows here in the Bay area of CA.  I have several different table covers.  The ones that I use the most are a dark burgandy and dark  forest green.  Then I use piano scarves and lace doilies etc. to put under any of the bears that need a different color under them.  I also rep. other artists bears at the shows.  Many times I will give each different artist a different color accent for their area on the table.  I like to use sheer on the table.  I like to use sheer if I am covering the area behind my table.  It will still let the light through to the bears but it helps stop the distraction of the table behind me.   There were some artists that used to do shows that had a golden tan table cover that worked very well with just about every color combo they put with it.

Donna

Daphne,
About five or six years ago a bear friend had some black fiberfill.  I don't remember where she got it but at that time she was doing a lot of business with CR Crafts.  You might check there.  Have you tried an internet search?  Don't quilters have a black batting?  I don't think fiberfill will dye well.  You could airbrush it black after you get the seam closed!

Donna