Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Jodi, have sent a PM.   Read your post again and my question has been answered regarding currency..

Your way so special....

I enquired from the publishers and it would be quite expensive to post to Australia, I since went into the newsagency here and they couldn't get me one so, please, please if anyone can manage to find one for me I would greatly appreciate. 

Maybe another town in Australia may have copies.....will someone help me....please..I will pay..

That is exactly what they sound like Melissa.

Shelli, I suppose the maggies would be about 10" or so from tail to beak.  Quite a large bird.

Well Gals,

Here are my visiting magpies.   They turned up last night for tea.

Patsy, what an excellant piccie.

  We have befriended 3 magpies or should I say they have befriended us.  Quite a few times during the day they come to the back door and warble for their bread.  It is so great, however they are making a mess of the out door chairs.   One followed me into the lounge room when I had left the front door open and sat pleased as punch on the dining room chair....until the dog woke up,,,,didn't chase the bird but the bird stressed itself out looking for the way out and deposit such on the tiles as he flew out...missed the carpet thank-goodness.

Tomorrow will try and get a piccie of them when they arrive for their brekky...

Thanks Carolyn,  yes, the next one was easier and is now on e-bay.  He has some bids and quite a few looking....

Dana, love your bears, keep at it won't you....

Am so cheered up now, my first card arrived today from SarahJane,....thanks so much..

Bonnie, isn't he just awesome....

Lucky Patsy and well done Bonnie....

I received a similar email from "e-bay" a couple of days ago but as I have account guard when I did click on the link a window came up telling me it was not an authorised e-bay site and there was a link to send it onto spoofemails.

So they did not get any of my details and have been reported to e-bay.....
Is anyone else using account guard?

I haven't received any yet but hey, still 4 days to go here in Aussieland...

Great minds think alike,  hee hee.

I thought that lining it would be a good idea...

Thanks Wendy,  I am attempting another one and the pelt is so much softer to sew because I didn't glue the facing,  I had already used the iron-on facing before I got the excellant tips from Kathy, but as it is a 5.6" bear I will finish it and see how it looks.  A bit of experimenting at the moment....still learning lots about the craft of bear-making..

Hey Wendy, my brother is still single....

Thanks Kathy,  oops I think I have done lots of things wrong.  I have used iron on facing on lapin fur and it seemed okay.  Thanks so much for the advice and will perservere with trying to make the real fur bears.  From what you have explained with the glueing, do you only glue around the edge of each pattern piece? They look so cute, look out I may be asking for lots of help from you in the near future..

Thanks so much for the tips,  I have used a thin iron-on facing for the next attempt.

With the original as it was a water soluble glue I have dampened the pelt side of the mink, scrapped the original lining off, and dried the pelt.   The fur side did not get wet.
Now, if I rub glyserine into the pelt will that soften it?

Here is my first attempt at these sort of bears but there is a story and a learning curve with this bear. She measures 4"-10cm

When using mink don't glue the lining on the pelt with a glue that dries rock hard....you end up sewing a texture like cardboard.

Don't try a pattern that is way too small with a fabric that has a backing like cardboard. No way can their little arms and legs be turned.

I ended up sewing the complete bear using ladder stitch so I was sewing him the right way facing but the seams were turning in,,,, hope you understand that explanation.

I think if this was any other fabric I would have thrown it but being mink I couldn't do it.

He will belong to my collection...well back to the drawing board..

I got my email will be sending cards out this week,

I do the head first, sew, stuff, add the eyes and embroider the nose and insert the cotter pin and discs.  Then I prop the head in an EMPTY port glass and he /she watches me sew the rest of his body.

I complete each piece, do the cotter pins, stuff and then I attach the head first to the body, then the stuffed arms and legs.  Then I fill the body, add any shading and then he /she sits on my sideboard for a week or so until I decide when to e-bay him/her.

Usually watch TV or listen to music while hand sewing the little critters..

Thanks so much, all the fingerprints are all gone now,  woof..

The only time I use the sewing machine is if my bears are going to be clothed.  All my bears are completely hand sewn..

Great news Peta.

I have just watched a documentary on the Free the Bears group and it showed what they are doing for the Sloth bears  or dancing bears in India.

They are doing a terrific job. and to see the cruelty these poor bears suffer, it made me sick to the tummy...thank goodness there are people out there that want to help and save these bears..

Champion idea, look out lots of emails from Paypal coming your way..

Practice, practice and lots of practice...

Prayers on their way to your family Ellen..