Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi,

Could I possibly have a copy of that Polar Bear pattern too - he is absolutely GORGEOUS.

Karon

emal address: teddylady123@hotmail.co.uk.

Dear Little Girl Who Makes Teddies,

Thankyou for the free patterns from Beary Cheap Supplies.

At the moment I am going through a "traditional phase" , like Nelson, if you know of any more I would be interested.

Thankyou

karon

Sandra,

Thankyou for looking into the stituation regarding the loss of distributor for Bear Creations - as I said in my MIS-mailed note, I was extremely upset about the shoddy I was treated by Auscraft.

HOWEVER I do love your magazine and would love to get it direct from the publisher but I need your help with something - PLEASE could you tell me the price for overseas subsriptions.

I do wish I had known about getting that way before - the wait used to be a KILLER.

I appreciate that you was concerned enough to look into the matter and whilst it is no consolation to know I have lost my magazines at least I know that there are others, including Woodland Publishing also out of pocket.

I wait your reply re overseas subs.

Thanking you

Karon

Hi Jean

Please can you tell who you are getting your Bear Creations from.

Thanks for your sympathy too.

It is a great mag - I am sure you will ejoy it

Karon

Hi all,

I just wanted to tell everyone who has a subscription for Australian magazines not to expect see any more of their magazines if they took out their subs with Auscraft in Hungerford.

The last issue I received was Vol.14 issue 1 so I thought it best to chase it up (this delay was by no means unusual).  However when I rang the number no one answered - I then went on the internet to discover that Auscraft had gone to the wall and another company had taken over the distribution of the magzine.

I rang them up only to discover they are not responsible for my subscription and that I can get a refund for the outstanding mags (up to £10.00 - big deal) if I can produce a copy of my debit information and go through my bank.

Unfortunately  I didn't keep a receipt for such a trivial thing as a magazine subscription.

After 3 years of getting the magazine through Auscraft I feel really angry.

Hugs

Karon

Hi Melissa,

I am writing from a hobbyist point of view.

I think a large bear fair is a great idea - I for one would certainly be prepared to travel for my teddy bear "fix".

With the loss of most of the London I would love to see another large fair, even if one had to make it an over weekend job.

Have you thought about making it more of "convention" with workshops and lectures, combined with bear sales and supplies.  I think they are often run that way in the States.

Just a thought

Bear Hugs

Karon

Hi Susan,

OUCH!! I am sorry about my boo-boo.  I obviously only heard  what I wanted to hear!!

Teddies are obviously not the only ones with "cloth ears".

Again Susan and Linda I am sorry for my mistake.

Hugs

Karon

Hi Linda,

I contacted Susan yesterday - do you know what - that course is almost full - just ONE space left - of course I have put myself down for it.   I cannot wait!

Pandas are my most favourite animals - though I have only made one.  I have several pandas in my bear collection.

I am looking forward to learning several new techniques.  I have done a bear with an open mouth recently but I know you do things differently - you put the lower jaw on seperately don't you.  Will the panda be having a two jointed neck?

I have asked Susan if I can do my panda in alpaca - do you think this will work O.K.

In the meantime I might have a go at making up Finn from Bear Creations.

I contacted Bear Essence but they did not come back to me in regard to your pattern - if they don't come back to me would it be possible to purchase it direct from you when you come to England.

Hugs

Karon

Hi Linda and Susan,

What WONDERFUL news - I will be in touch.

Karon

Dear Linda and Teeej,

Thankyou so much for your response.  Yes indeed it IS the pattern!

SO, SO adorable.  I will contact them for the pattern.

Linda, some time time ago I spoke to the lady who runs Bear Basics a teddy supply store.  She wanted to run bear making courses, perhaps you could contact her with the indea of running a course in conjunction with the time that you are in England to do the Hugglets Fair.

I know Janet Changle used to do this (I went on a couple of her courses - she is a fantastic teacher). 

As you can probably guess - I am an unashamed course-a-holic (and I don't don't to find a cure - ha!)

So glad you are coming to do Hugglets - can't wait to see your beautiful bears in the fur.

Karon

Hi Linda,

LOVE your bears.

Some time again I was looking at some bear suppliers on the next and one of your patterns came up.

It showed the bear done as a grizzly and polar cub on all fours with double neck joint - and it was SO gorgeous.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to locate it since - can you help.

Hugs

Karon

PS Will you consider doing a workshop in England!!

Hi Edie, Sue Ann and Michelle,

My how I ENVY you going to Ted's workshop - I am sure it was FANTASTIC.

Ted came to the UK several times to do workshops - how I wish I had attended one.

Have either of you ever attended a workshop with Joan Woessner - she was another one of the early bear makers and a great artist.  She came to England in the late 90's together with Steve Schultte.  Fantastic workshop, great lady with a wealth of PATIENCE!

Michelle - ONE Ted Menton book is not enough - go on Amazon and get some of the others.

Edie - do you remember the story Ted tells of a bear called "Shrug" who's has one arm higher than the other - hilareous!

Karon

Thankyou ladies for your information.

Sue, please pass onto Ted the best wishes of his legions of fans.  His books used to really make me laugh.  He has such a sense of humanity.

His true story of a bear called Grumpy Ed has me switching between tears and laughter every time I read it!  He is also such a true artist.

One of my biggest regrets is that I never did a Ted Menton workshop - what an experience that must have been.

Bear Hugs

Karon

Do any of you out there know what has happened to the pioneer of Teddy Bear Artistry and auther, Ted Menton.

I used to love reading his books and looking at photos of his wonderful bears.

Has he retired from bear making or is he not with us any more,

I would be interested in finding out.

Karon

Sue,

That is a GOOD idea.

I will try it.

Thanks

Karon

Sue,

That is a GOOD idea.

I will try it.

Thanks

Karon

I was wondering if there are any Bear Makers and enthusiasts in the Buckinghamshire area who would be interested in being part of a a Teddy Bear Club.

I was thinking that perhaps we intially could meet in pub - mutually agreed upon.  And get together to discuss bears, bearmaking, our latest projects etc.

If anyone is interested I would love to hear from you.

Bear Hugs

Karon

I looked in the newspaper today to discover that another polar baby has been born in a zoo in Germany.  It was taken away from its mother because she was displaying unmaternal behaviour.

QUESTION:  Is it REALLY fair to allow these creatures to reproduce in zoos.  The conditions are totslly unsuitable for them - a Polar Bear in the wild in a solitary animal who can travel many miles in day in his search for food.

Imagine what it must be like - an intelligent creature, contained in a space that it could walk around in 5 minutes (if its lucky).   Is it any wonder that this animals exhibit signs of "madness" - pacing and rocking etc.

Whilst I fell for the charms of Knutt, this time I think it would be best if the poor thing was left to the mercies of nature - I DO think "mother knows best" in this case.

Years ago I remember Pipaluk - a bear born at London Zoo, he was adorable.  But what right do we have to keep these wonderful in zoos for public amusement and the indisrimant  publicity it generates for the zoo concerned.

I hope you don't all hate me for writing this!!

Karon

I always wanted a rocking horse - he was to dapple grey - and LARGE not one of pint-sized one.

I never did get him.  One day, when in my twenties, I said to Mum it was one of the few things I always wanted bu never got.  She then said she knew that but they were just much too much money.

Even now I would LOVE a handcrarved, wooden rocking horse - oh well dream on!!!

Karon

My favourite present wasn'te a toy - but a white hamster called Snowball.

I came down about 5 am to see a big blue metal cage - with a notice on it saying "Be careful, he may bite".
Oh he was gorgeous - and I had always wanted a pure white one.  Apparently my Mum had rang around all the pet shops in the locality,

I was about nine years old at the time.

Sadly "Snowball" didn't live long - about 6 months - and of course I was broken hearted when he died. 

I will always have a special place for him though!

By the way "Snowball"s replacement lived for 2 and half years.

Karon

Hi,

You can buy Sassy Fabrics from Emmary Bears - very resonably priced and in some fabulous colours

Good luck

Karon

Hi Christine,

Glad you agree about the Berninas.

For anyone looking for a second hand Bernina e-bay looks a good place to investigate.

The older 2nd hand Berninas are really cheap - including my faithful 830.  The only disadvantage is that you don't see them running.

It is the least tempermental sewing machine I have ever come across and has never given any problems except when the foot pedal conked out, and I got replacement.  Bogod Machines in London where VERY helpful.

Hugs

Karon

Hi there.

I was very interested in the write up on sewing machines.

I make most most of my bears on a Bernina 830 circa 1981 and have found it a reliable machine and is lovely to use.  In fact I love it so much I have bought a spare one as a back up just in case it conks out!

I also have a small Elna Stella which I take to classes.  It is very lightwight.

The Bernina (2nd one) cost £150 and the Elna £130 second hand.

Bought a Brother - cheap and nasty, woundn't work on the fabrics I wanted it too - so best of luck Brenda.

Karon

Hi Angie

I had to laugh when reading your message

I christened one of my first bear "Odd Bod" - he looked great in the magazine photo.

Unfortunately there was no arm or leg positions marked and the front of the four part body looked the the same as the back!!  He had a nose like a fox and arms like a gorilla.  When made up we thought he looked a BIT odd.  I turned out he had an arm on his hump and the other on his upper side body and one leg on his bum and the other on his belly.

Needless to say we roared with laughter.

To cap it all the old chenille we made him out of had got rotten and kept going into holes so he had loads of repairs as well.

Poor thing.

Does any one else have any "early ted stories that are similar"

Love

Karon