Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Thanks so much John, Amber, Brenda and Moo for sharing your history and inspiration.  Those antique bears have got a lot to answer for!  It is remarkable that 100 years later, we are still SO in love with them!  Somehow, they seem to improve with age. There is something very primeval (not sure that is the right word) about wanting to hug a slumpy, saggy semi-bald ancient bear!  I will never be able to afford to buy a lovely old Steiff, but I will certainly spend a few years yet trying to produce my version of one. 

Hugs

Sue

Cheers Jacqui

I feel a little daft, now!

Thanks, ladies.  Maybe I have been working in IT for too long.  It makes you paranoid about things like fraud and identity theft.  My husband's account has been emptied on three different occasions.  I have been OK so far!

Hugs

Sue

He's a darling.  I hope he isn't feeling the cold!

Hi all

It may just be that I am particularly suspicious, but in the last 48 hours, I have had two enquiries about different bears on Bearpile that I suspect are fraudulent (phishing).  They were sent from different email addresses, but both had exactly the same wording:

"Hello,

I saw this wonderful item on Bear Pile and I am interested in adoption. Please let me know if this item is available and send me information on ordering.

Thank you."

I have emailed Dave at Bearpile about this and to be fair:  a warning about fraudsters appears on each email enquiry.  I just wanted to warn any of you that might not have such a suspicious nature. 

Best wishes

Sue

I adore your baby pandas.  Another little gem!

He's an absolute darling.  He has the sweetest expression.  White bears are my favourite.

Hugs

Sue

Little sweetie.  Love white bears!

Such a little cutie.  Love the colour

Such an Adorable little bear.

Aw!  What can I say?  You know I love your work.  Your new nose technique has worked beautifully.  Guadalupe has the lovely sweet expression you get on all your bears. 

Hugs

Sue

He is a real cracker.  Marvellous work.

Wow!  They really are splendid!  You must be thrilled with them!

They are adorable!

Some bought patterns do not exactly fit the gusset to the side head pieces.  You are expected to 'best' fit the gusset to the rest of the head.  I usually oversew a few stitches at the centre of the nose, where the nose widens out by the eyes and at the very ends of the gusset (at the back of the head).  I then use pins to do a 'best fit'.  If the fabric is difficult to work with, I will oversew the whole gusset to ensure the gusset is straight and hasn't twisted prior to machine sewing or back stitching.  Even if the gusset is an exact fit, it is difficult to maintain the same tension for both sides of the head.  Pinning and/or oversewing should reduce this effect.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Sue

Reducing the size of your pattern slightly would be my choice.  I have an 'all in one printer'.  It prints, photocopies, faxes, scans etc.  It wasn't very expensive and is a godsend.  It is very easy and quick to reduce or increase the size of a pattern and photocopy it.  If you have included a seam allowance in your pattern, be aware it will increase or decrease the allowance as well.  The printer really gets rid of that ' oh, I haven't got quite enough mohair to make that bear' frustration.  My printer has really reduced the number of remnants I end up with as I am able to make best use of what I have.

Regards

Sue

Thanks, Tammy.  I am pretty nervous about using fur...but I like a challenge.  The stole had been kept in perfect condition, so I feel guilty cutting it up.  I just hope I can make a decent job of it.  I am allergic to cats, so I'm hoping mink fur will be OK.  I have four dogs and they aren't a problem...

Thanks so much for the extra tips.

Regards

Sue

Hi

Can anyone tell me if you trim the fur off in the seam allowance on your pattern pieces (as you do working with mohair)?  I have acquired a 1950s mink stole and thought I would have a go at making a bear from it.

Hope someone can help.
Regards

Sue

He's a real sweetie.  Such a lovely choice of furs!

A really lovely pair.  Those ears make me go all gooey.

Gorgeous.  I love her.

Too huggable for words!  I love them both.

Well done, Richard.  He is splendid.  There can never be enough polar bears!

He's a beauty!  He looks SO cuddly.

Lovely pair of cuties!