Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Your sloths are great Chloe!  :clap: You've really captured their faces.

It's beautiful. :clap:  A lot of work! I love the calla lilies,   they are my fave!

Beautiful! :clap:  :clap:

Hee hee   Wonderful little creations, they made me chuckle and the wings are great!

Sounds like a whole lotta fun! I love road trips. Your pretty brave to go traveling with puppies though!
Your bears are really outstanding. I especially love the ranger bear!

Me too Sue Ann.  I try to click often but sometimes I get busy forget all about it for a while so I was glad to get a reminder too.

I got this in my e-mail today and thought I'd pass it on. It's a simple thing for a very worthy cause and may help save someone's life:

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/

Thanks! :hug:

HI Daphne,

Have you checked into Peachtree?
I have used it in the past and it seemed to do everything I wanted and more. I liked it much better than Quicken from a business point of view. It is for the USA, but is made by Sage, I'm not sure if this is the same company Sue was talking about but it is a good program that has been around for quite a while. With it you can integrate Windows Office and Excel files if you want to. They also have a variety of levels to choose from...  Startup, Pro, Premium etc.
Here is the link if you'd like to check it out:
http://www.peachtree.com/

PS: They have a free trial version you can try!

I work up my patterns pretty much the same way Shelli described. I usually do full size sketches of the whole bear, both front and side view to help me visualize the bear in 3D and help me place any darts I might want. As I go, I  work out the proportions, limb shape etc.  I often trace around actual joint discs to work out the size I want the pattern to be at the joint.

As far as heads and gussets go, I usually do the sides first, tracing the pattern from my sketch,  then I do the gusset. When I draw the gusset, I make the muzzle portion of the gusset the same length as the muzzle is in my sketch. I then adjust the the muzzle portion of the side pattern as needed to reach around the end of the gusset.
To do this I just measure the width of the gusset at the nose (not counting the seam allowance!) then add half that measurement to the length of the muzzle on the side pattern. ( Does that make any sense at all?   It's much easier to do than to describe!) I add the seam allowances last.

If I am doing a completely new and different head pattern I usually do a mock up in muslin just to make sure it looks the way I expect it to. If it doesn't, I can tweak the muslin pattern until it does, bearing in mind that the head will look bigger when it's made up in fluffy fur. :)

Here is a greatd thread that discusses head patterns, gussets, and proportions:
http://www.teddy-talk.com/viewtopic.php?id=895

Wow! Thanks for all the wonderful pictures Jane! So many wonderful creations and it sounds like it was a lot of fun too.
I look at those pictures and it makes me think I really need to get myself in gear! I know exhibitors work for months to get ready for shows, but I still can't imagine having that many bears done at once. Whew!
Thans again for the virtual visit! You did a great job and it is a real treat for those of us who couldn't go.

P.S. I love your monkeys.

Thank you ladies for the welcome back and support!   I really appreciate each of you.  :hug:  :hug:   :hug:

Things are getting better here with time and I am grateful for that. I plan to just keep moving forward and keep a positive perspective.

I really am glad to be able to visit TT again, There are so many wonderful people here and you all inspire me in so many ways. Not just with your creativity but with the gallant way I see you handling life's potholes and sinkholes! Hugs and kudos to you. :hug:  :clap: 

Mary, I'm sorry to hear about your son, knees can be tricky things. I hope he heals quickly and is back on his feet and feeling well soon!

many hugs

:crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

That's great Sue Ann! Thanks for the laugh!

Hi Jared,
I saw this thread before my just computer died and was very interested to see what everyone had to say on this topic. Sorry your dye experiment didn't turn out!

Last winter I experimented with Dyne-a-flow silk paint which is thin like dye and works in the air brush great. I got beautiful results BUT, no matter what I tried, -and I tried several things- I simply couldn't get the colors to set on the mohair.    It all rubbed off! boo-hoo.   Very frustrating! I don't know if my hair dryer doesn't get hot enough or what. It'ssure hot enough to scorch my poor fingers!! Tami how do you set your Dyne-a-flow colors?

I'm not giving up on this though, I like the look too much, I just have to figure out how to make it permanent!
On that note, I have found a new product that you add to the paints and which is supposed to eliminate the need for heat setting. I have ordered some and will let you know how it works. Here is a link if anyone wants to check it out:
http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/2 … aints.html

I would like to see how your further experiments turn out, Jared. Good luck all!

Sign me up too, sounds like fun!    :dance:

I'm wondering too: What is "prim" Christmas? Sounds interesting. Does it mean primitive Christmas stuff? folksy type things? or am I way off base?   

Curiously scratching my head,

HI all! 
Seems like ages since I've been here and I've missed it.

My friends, 2007 has been a rough year for me so far. My family and I have been dealing with a difficult and heartbreaking situation which, in the past few months, has called for some tough and emotionally wrenching decisions. I really don't want to go into all the details, but I just can't describe what a toll this has taken on me in every way. While I can't really say that particular situation is, or ever will be, good it is a bit less stressful than it was and at least we are able to cope.   
I'm not sharing this to whine or complain, just to explain why I suddenly dropped out of sight.

I've also recently had surgery on my knee (OUCH!   but it's doing much better now. ) and back in the early summer, my old computer turned up its toes and utterly died. We have finally got the funds together for a new 'puter and here I am, back in cyberspace again. yippee! I thought TT withdrawal as bad enough but I think hubs suffered even more with ebay withdrawal.   He never buys much but he loves to browse.

So anyhoo. It's good to be back. I'm ready to move forward and look to a brighter day tomorrow... and get back into bears! I have one poor little cub that has literally been sitting with her unfinished head in her lap for months now. Poor thing! I'm looking forward to getting her done.

It will take me a while to get caught up again here, but so far I've really been enjoying seeing what wonderful work everyone has been up to! :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

cyber hugs :hug:

Wow, what a delightful character and beautiful needlefelting. Well done Marion! Lucky Matilda!  :clap:

Wow, Louise and Garnet!! Wish is simple outstanding! 
31 pieces, whew! I can see why you might not want to make very many like him but from where I sit, he was well worth the effort, 'cause he is gorgeous.    

Wonderful news Heather!! Big

Congratulations!!!

Don't worry, everything will work out and your baby will wind you around his/her tiny little finger in no time at all!     You will be a wonderful, fun Mom!

Hi Patsy,
I'm so glad your feeling better and able to get back to making your wonderful bears!!
:hug:  :hug:

:hug:  :hug:  :hug:

sending up a little prayer for you....

:hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Thanks for the nice comments ladies. :hug: 
  I love playing in polymer clay and it's fun to go back to it now and then.
Natasha, I haven't come up with a name for him yet. I'm thinking maybe somethuing like Grog or Boojie or maybe Guggle. Do those sound cavebear-ish?

Okay, Articicle.... Here's my fictional critter, A Wooly Sabertoothed Cavebear.   (You did say it could be made out of anything right?) I don't know that he is really "out of the ordinary fictional" as specified in your rules, but I had fun with him.

He is about 8 inches tall, made of polymer clay over a gourd.  His tummy is bare gourd.

That's great!  :clap: Congratulations Sarah Jane! Tara is so cute.

Sounds like a great idea Laura Lynn and the site looks terrific. It looks like a lot of work too.. Thank you for your efforts and the opportunity!

P.S. I added the link to my website...

Stoney makes me smile, Daphne! I love him.