Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I'll bet we all pronounce it differently too! I for one say it in my head as Dee-Loo..but it's probably meant to be Dye-Loo...then again..it could be Dye-Lah!! Then...add in Rita's Scottish accent, Danni's and my Aussie accent, a couple of Canadians,  Japanese....if we all got together...probably no-one would know who we were talking about!
Okay Dilu.. so how does it go??:P
Same with Laure...some probably say Laura..others, like me...think maybe it's Lawrie...but have no idea!
Speaking of Laura....she's being mightly good staying off the computer...but he Laura...don't forget about us!:o:o

Hi all,
I'm back! Good grief but I missed you all sooo much! BUT the great thing about this forum is that the posts stay here...so I've just spent the last hour and a half reading, drinking coffee and catching up...so really, I don't feel that I've missed anything! Of course if I was to comment on all the topics that I would have...I'd run out of space here (hmm....wonder if there IS a limit on post size like at Edinburgh....Dilu and Shelli must come close sometimes!!!:lol:)
BUT I HAVE to say a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Kirsten...woohoo....so happy for you girl!!! :D:D You must be over the moon with happiness...but no doubt coming down with a thud if you are getting morning sickness. Here's hoping you will be spared!
Also a big welcome to Tammy, Sandi and Deb. Nice to see you here Deb!! And Daph...Deb is from Vermont too....so that makes three of you, not two! Deb was my first ever swap partner and as well as an adorable little white bear called "Hayley"....she sent me some woonderful picture mags of Vermont...and I wanna go there!!!!
I love all the new creations...and Danni, I think we should start a New Creations post every two weeks so everyone is encouraged to show off their latest work...whaddya think?
I had a wonderful week off....did only the most essential washing and cooking and spent the rest of my time bear making, but now my house looks like a war zone (even more than it usually does!) I have tried a heap of new stuff on this bear..so it has taken me an eternity....but it's still not finished so I don't have any show and tell yet. Plus, he's brown, so I'll have to set up a light tent to photograph him well. Today is my last day off work, so I really want to finish him (guess I should get at it then hey?)

Hiya Sue Ann,
I noticed your bears on the back cover of the last few ABC magazines...and they look superb! I feel badly now that I didn't say something.:( I guess those of us who are less well known, just figure that things like that possibly become a bit ho-hum for people who are used to seeing their work in print. I just assumed you had an arrangement with Beary Cheap to be their new 'Cover Girl';)..didn't occur to me that you may not know about it! So a huge congratulations from me...I think it's great that you don't take things like this for granted.:D I guess when things do get ho-hum, it's time to get a new hobby!:rolleyes:
Sindie Smiths bears have been in the spot where your bears now reside on the Beary Cheap ad, fo a long time now...so it's nice to see some different bears....especially yours! How do you find the synthetics like the ones in the ad? Your bears don't really look like they've 'grown' like synthetic sometimes does. Did you line it? I have only used the 'Kohair" from Beary cheap from the synthetic range, and I hated it...would never make another bear from it again...it rolled at the edges and slipped all over the place.:/

Actually..I do have a question before I go:rolleyes:
Not so long ago....there was a bit of a discussion on how to measure up a double neck joint...and I seem to remember either Judi or maybe Sue Ann, had a great explanation of "How to". At the time...I just couldn't get my head around it...but now that I'm actually trying to make one, I figure it would make more sense..only I can't find the post now. I thought it was part of the discussion when Sue Ann showed us her Cub with the double neck joint, but I've looked there and it's not in that thread. Anyone know where I can find it? I have looked through all the post headings so it must be buried somewhere in a 'cit-chat' post.
Shelli...this certainly highlights the necessity for dividing the sections into General Discussion and Techniques...I'm really frustrated at not being able to find that post! Good move! I have decided to print out stuff I think I may use in future from now on....t'will save a lot of headaches!:rolleyes:
Blast..now I'll have to check the posts tomorrow in case someone can help! Didn't even get started on my week long vigil!:lol:

We have been away for a few days so sorry I missed a few birthdays...but it'sgood to see there are others taking note of the dates and keeping up.
I have set myself a challenge for this week. I have a week off work...the kids have just gone back to school after two weeks mid year break...and I am challenging myself to stay off the computer until I have both designed and finished a new bear. When I'm working, there just doesn't seem to be the time to drag everything out...and when I'm designing...I make SUCH a mess! So...wish me luck...I'll miss you all!:(
'Til next week...adios!;)
xx

Don't know where I read it...but someone said that they use the 'pluckings' (is that a word??) to stuff the nose...y'know, the bits of mohair we pluck off the muzzle or trim from the seams. Apparently it packs really well and make for easy nose embroidering.
Danni, I haven't used Kid Mohair before.....but have had a few mohairs that have been a little bit stubborn as far as plucking goes. I find if you just use a needle, you can lift the bits that are stuck in there and use tweezers or haemostats to grab them once you've lifted them.

Hi Guys,
Thought I'd jump in on the chat about stuffing tools. As I make bigger bears, I use the wooden "T" handle stuffing stick too, and it does the job okay, but I would love to have a swing at that Ultimate stuffing tool Shelli! May just order one...
For those mini makers who are still looking for the ultimate stuffing stick.....I have some of these new mini stuffing tool sets on my teddy bear making supplies website. I haven't tried them myself because I haven't made a mini in a while...but Jennifer Laing says they are the best thing since sliced bread, so that's quite a recommendation!
They are on the Bear Necessities page in the catalogue, near the bottom of the page.
The Bear Cupboard

Hi Winney,
A friend of mine who does really fab noses recently helped me with that exact problem. Firstly, it helps if you use two template layers...the first one that sticks to the bear is felt (a nice good quality heavy one) and then a leather or suede template over the top. The top template should be slightly larger than the one underneath so you can smooth the sides down. If you don't want a built up nose, just use the one template made of leather. Stitch the nose from the centre out..one stitch on either side of the centre and alternating..this gives you tension pulling from the direction you need to keep the stitches pulling tight together. Make your stitches slightly overlap the template and pull firm. Once you get to the edges where they start to fall off you need to bring your needle out just a few stitches back from where you would expect them to come out. wrap this stitch around to lay where it should and go back in a few stitches back at the bottom as well. These stitches will pull against the ones you last laid down and hold them on, each one pulling against the other one. This works best if you are laying one stitch each side of the nose, not if you work one side then the other.

Has everyone noticed the new photo uploading tool the techo people have added for us? You no longer have to have your pics hosted on the web to be able to upload them to Teddy Talk...you just click on "Browse" near where you post and tell it where to find your pic. It will then upload to the Teddy Talk site. Fantastic guys..thanks! So many times I have wanted to post pics but it takes too long to uplaod them to a website...now it's easy! I'm assuming there is a size limit but can't see that written anywhere. Generally pics should be around the 50KB to 80KB mark so they don't take too long to load....but I'm sure I'll be crrected if I'm wrong!:P

Kirsten,
There are many artists out there that teach sewing the ears in using the slit method. Who is to say that Ted Menton didn't 'borrow' the idea from someone else? Jennifer Laing teaches heaps of different ways to do stuff in her classes but doesn't follow it up with "If you would like to do this method..be sure to give credit to so an so" etc.  Even Jodi said last week that she learned to do those great toes in a Jennifer Laing workshop and now uses them on all her bears. Does she need to give credit to Jennifer or the lady who showed Jennifer?? Whilst I think that if you were using Ted's actual pattern, you would be required to give credit to him (and ask permission)...if you designed the head yourself..based on how he does it...it's still your pattern. As I said...Ted Menton isn't the only one who does this method, and I doubt he thought of it or claims to own the technique...obviously like you, it's a technique he has tried, and likes. I worry that if you are TOO keen to give credit to him for the ear idea, it may take away from the fact that it is mostly your design idea. It's not like you are trying to claim that you invented this idea. I am all for giving credit where credit is due....but I think you should be guilt free on this one and not feel the need to mention Ted's name.
Really cute bear BTW!

Methinks someone took that mean lady's dummy off her too soon. Bet she doesn't believe in Santa either!

Eileen,
I actually sew my 'tush tag' into the back of the left thigh.....it kinds looks a bit rude coming out their butt and if you put it in their middle back seam it's a bit obtrusive in my opinion. Some collectors don't like them so it's nice to put it somewhere not too obvious I reckon.

Shari, You took that news very well...10 points to you! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for quite a few of my older bears too. And rest assured, we aren't the only ones who will get a few worry lines over this one! So glad you will keep the angel....it's meant to be and she is worth far more than a bit (okay a lot!) of cash.
Hugs,

I'm sorry Shari..I did mean your great Aunt..not Grandma. I've had one too many cups of tea today...lucky I don't drink alcohol! I'm so pleased you are going to keep that bear! And I think your mum will be so touchedThe money from it would soon be swallowed up but if you keep the bear it will always remind you that your guardian angel is watching over you. I think it's a wonderful idea to make the knitted bear an angel too...and it can still be an angel even if it's a boy...just call him Gabriel!
Thanks for your sweet comments about my avatar bear...he makes me smile too...so I have kept him. There are some things that money can't match!;)

So Shelli...do you mean you mix and match your pattern pieces to make different bears? How can you do that with head gussetts and side heads?:/

Shari...you know how you were saying that each time you have sold your angel bear in you avatar that the deal had fallen thru and you wondered if you should keep her? Well..I think it's meant to be....and if breast cancer is in your family, you have an excuse to keep her.....we all need a guardian angel right? She is SUCH a beautiful bear...keep her! And when you have your knitted bear done...she can sit by the guardian angel bear and remind you of your grandma!

Shari...I HATE to be the "bearer"('scuse the pun:P)of bad tidings....but dental floss has been proven to disintegrate over time and is not recommended for use in bear making. I was told this by Jennifer Laing, who says that 90% of bears bought to her for repairs have had split seam closures and missing eyes with ooey gooey messes that used to be dental floss. Aparently using dental floss was the idea of one of the more well known "original" bear artists...and theyused dental floss because there was nothing else available at the time, and it seemed very strong. Unfortunately, no-one new how it would stand up long term, and the sad fact is...it doesn't. I'm sure many well known artists probably shudder to think of their masterpieces coming to bits in the future.:( There are still many artisits using and recommending dental floss for bears...and we all need to get the word out there to save people from future heartache. Well all like to feel that many years down the track, our bears will be as good as the day we made them. I used dental floss for the first three years I was making bears too....and have kept lots, with no evidence of breakdown....but why take the risk. I'm sure Jennifer has no reason so exaggerate (unless she has shares in the sinew stakes :lol:)
Artificial sinew is definitely the way to go...like Sue Ann says....it's so strong and very economical. It has the same stickiness as dental floss so it holds well...and it comes in Natural, Black, White and Red.

The only down side to the blue pens Dilu...is that if you iron them they can become permanent. Not a probelm with bear making since we don't tend to iron our bears:P...but may be worth noting if you use them for patchwork etc.

Sometimes the obvious is staring us in the face Daph!  never thought to felt noses on! Could be THE answer for those who just CAN'tT do stitched noses.
Sue Ann, Your noses start getting milky after a few layers? Are you using matching colored wax?
I have a friend who does so many layers of wax, that they look like they have been varnished. After commenting at the last show on how great they look....she said no less that 5 people so far had asked her about them whilst picking at the nose with their fingernail! She had to rebuff the nose after each person....gosh, some people are so rude! No-one wants to out "Do not touch" signs near their bears..it looks angry....but I suggested to her she may need to put a little "Please do not pick my nose" signs around their necks!:lol:

Hi Daph.
They have height restrictions?? I have heard time and time again over recent months..people advising stall holders to try to raise the height of their tables so that the bears are almost on eye level with the customers. And now they are imposing restrictions? That's a bit sad...then again, taken to extremes, if we have out tables too high, we'll need to stand on a ladder so people can see US! :P:D

Gosh Judi...your talents know no bounds..I am floored by your knitted creations...and the fact that they are your own designs. You are such an inspiration!:D

Eileen...now that we are on broadband...it's hard enough not to want to check the email evey time I walk past the computer room. I can only imagine how much harder it must be when you are already there and all it takes is the push on one eensy button. You definitely need WON"T POWER!

My personal opinion as to why we feel so drawn to our email...is because being bear artists, we spend a large cut of our time alone, and for me in particular, time spent having coffee with girlfriends is almost non-existant. So YOU are my girlfriends...and spending time engrossed in emails between sewing and stuffing is my social time for the best part of it. I tend to be a homebody, always have been, and I prefer to spend my free time(what little there is), at home making bears instead of visiting girlfriends. Plus..here it's interesting and soul building stuff...not just gossip about whose husband is running around with whose wife...ergh!
Probably means a small funeral for me when the time comes...but hey, I'll die happy! Some people I know spend all day every day out having coffee with friends...but for me you girls fill the gap and I get girltalk, encouragement, friendship, bear making tips,and support..all wrapped up into one neat little package...and I'm happy. :lol:You girls are the best!:cool::cool:

Well Dilu..I think your house suits you to a 'T'...and it sounds absolutely magical! Surrounded by bush and with deer coming into your yard...it looks like a picture straight from a Shirley Barber story book (my absolute favourite childrens writer...with illustrations to die for!). Lucky you!:lol:

Shari,
We talked about this only a little before you joined and there were some great suggestions offered...including a tutorial from Laura Lyn's site, courtesy of Kris Holmberg, on how to do exactly what you are asking. The heading will be about how to use Locline...just search back a few pages.;)

Congratulations Laure!! What an honour! Yes..you are temporarily excused for TT.....TEMPORARILY!!! Mind you...I wonder if you have the WILLPOWER!! (or should I say won't power!). I have a weeks holidays coming uo soon and I have vowed to myself that the computer is staying OFF for the whole week...and at the end of that week I'll have two...not one...TWO competition entries completed! I just know that if I'm tempted by the computer...it won't happen.
We would LOVE to see your TBAI entry!!! Do you have something in mind?