Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Tami, I think Deb's story has saved me from doing the exact same thing many times! I've trained myself to instantly freeze when I drop my awl or scissors rather than try to catch it. Thinking of how badly that must have hurt makes me woozy too!

I agree... eBay is not a great place to be selling and certainly not a good judge of quality and sale-ability of your work. Bearpile is a much better place.

I will however offer a little critiquing because you asked. The bear, design, proportions, etc. are great... both of them. While the fur lends itself well to the vintage look the thick black embroidery yarn and the shiny gold collar do not. Because redoing the nose can be a big job I'd leave it but you might consider some shading around the nose to help blend the light fur with the dark yarn... this will help give it an aged look which a vintagy bear should have... you can't achieve that with mohair density/sparsity (no, I don't think that's really a word!) alone. Some shading around his foot pads will balance the face shading too. If you did want to redo the nose I'd use a brown, thinner yarn. You might also consider a less shiny, less "new" looking collar or accessory around his neck.

Shading and a different collar are easy and quick and might make a big difference! Just my two cents!

Karon, I was going to suggest that perhaps you wear shoes but I think you need some big old clogs with 3" heels!

Two injuries come to mind.... putting the sewing machine needle through my thumb... right through the nail and out the other side. EEeww!

The second is a repetitive injury.... tendonitis and trigger finger. I've had surgery for this and will eventually need more. So take care of your hands you guys... stretch, ice if they are sore or stiff and take breaks regularly, arnica rub is helpful for some too.

I've checked out some of the links that have been provided above to free web building services and I've checked out your websites and I must say that I'm very impressed with the services available out there now! I've bookmarked a couple for use in the future!

I taught myself web design nearly 10 years ago before these services were available. I build my site with FrontPage. Recently I wanted to streamline a website for all of the shows I organize and wanted a clean professional look that was super simple to update so as Debora said above, I created a site using www.Blogger.com. There are limitations though and it takes some working knowledge of both Blogger and HTML. But it can be done and if you already have a blog on Blogger you might find it quite easy. Plus it's free and no ads! Here's my site: www.backroadevents.net

If you have no blogger or html experience/knowledge I'd go with one of the sites mentioned above!

I require payment in full at time order is placed. Unless the bear is over $200 then I require a 50% deposit. Until I get paid the order doesn't get put on my prodution schedule. I haven't had any problems doing it that way.

I agree with Laura too.

There seem to be a couple of names that always come to mind when I look at my bears. And a time or two I've used the same name twice when I just couldn't come up with anything better or when a collector wanted a specific name even though I'd already used it. I don't think collectors really care if you've used the name before. But there are so many names out there! Some great sources:

Poets and famous authors
Food names, Spices, sweets, coffee, teas
Pet names (tons of websites for those - you can even search something like "brown dog names" so if you have a brown bear you need to name you are likely to find something!)
Ancestor's names
Flowers, trees, birds
Famous actors/actresses
Biblical names
Cities, towns, street names
Greek Gods

Write out your full name then use the letters to create new names. I've done this using the letters in "Merry Christmas" "Love is in the Air" (for Valentine Bears) and I completely agree with those who have suggested changing the spelling of a favorite name.

Go to a paint store and grab the free color swatch cards... some companies come up with some very clever names for their colors.

I keep a pen and paper with me always.. especially in the car... so when I hear a name/word that might be good for a bear one day I write it down.

I said this on Facebook and I'll say it here.... and see that I'm not alone in my way of thinking:

Trail cams and bait. That's not hunting. That's KILLING! I don't care if it's legal in some states, it's wrong. How can someone who sits in a tree in a lookout drinking beer all day until a bear just "happens" by for an easy shot, even with an arrow as most bear hunters in MN seem to be, be called a hunter? A word with "er" on the ends indicates someone DOING something. There is no sport in sittin' in a tree and there sure as heck is nothing to be proud of.

I hate hunting, period. Talk of population control and such is just an excuse. We as greedy humans are already controling the population of most wild animals by taking over their land and turning it into housing developments.

Now, if the BEAR had arrows and guns wouldn't that be something!?!

  What a cutiepie! Cooper is such a perfect name for him! Once he's been to the groomer Tiff won't be able to resist him, he's so handsome! I'm so excited for you! Congratulations!!!

I bet that in person class was very interesting and a lot of fun! So much of what we do is best learned by seeing someone else do it. And he sure has a LOT to offer! Lucky you, Sue Ann!

Eva, have you ever tried the round wooden knob they make for those joints? That thing is a life saver to me! I still have to practically stand on it to snap the joints together. Those things are TOUGH!!

I've seen ones like that actually made for dogs in the pet catalogs. You'd be amazed at the things they make for elderly, disabled or just plain spoiled pets! In the black lab's case I'd say he's just plain loved and lucky to have such a considerate owner!

Yes, probably 8 years ago atleast. It has a grey handle. is about 12" long and looks like it's a heavy duty German doll needle with the tip of the eye cut and the ends filed. Does that sound familiar? I've found Barbara Willis's Stuffing Fork to be close but it's not strong enough and it bends.

Hi Sheila!! I'm great! Keeping really busy between making bears and organizing shows! Oh, and getting sucked into the timewarp some of us call Facebook! LOL! It's amazing how quickly the time passes when you're online!!

How are you? I'm excited about your upcoming craft show! I bet your Wee caboodles will do great!

Hugs,
Daphne

Personally I'd use black... that would make them really pop! Navy blue or deep burgandy would probably be OK too but black would be my first choice.

Tip: Polyester material is great because it hardly wrinkles and fuzz doesn't stick to it like it would cotton. Down side: if you are leaning your creations against it they may slide/no stay up. Another alternative would be fleece... won't wrinkle and your pieces will "stick" to it to help them stay upright. Downside: fuzz will stick too. Another option is microsuede... might wrinkle a bit but not bad and it has enough texture to help pieces stand up but not so much that fuzz/fiber/hair will stick to it too.

Definitely look at show photos here on TT.... you'll get tons of ideas!!!

I LOVE Sedona!!! Great shops, food... such a wonderful atmosphere. Meeting bear artists there for lunch would be the icing on the cake!! Lucky you!! So glad you all were able to get together!!

My stuffing tool..... there are similar ones to mine out there but NONE are as strong yet skinny with the right shaped "fork" on the ends as mine! Mom and Dad got it for me on a trip to AZ at a store that closed a few years ago. I'll never find another so if this one ever leaves me I will have to quit bear making. SERIOUSLY!

(Pat, of all the things I've used and recommend to students for use as a stuffing tool I never thought of a fondue fork! Brilliant idea!)

Be sure to include a materials list and appropriate skill level.

The more pictures/drawings you can include the fewer emails and phone calls you'll get if you are doing a beginner level pattern.

Detailed explinations are good but not TOOOO many words... people in general don't take the time to read any more.

When I wrote my first couple of patterns I made the bear start to finish and took notes as I went. We make hundreds of bears but it's so automatic for us now that you have to be sure when writing instructions that you include EVERYTHING.

Be sure to include copyright info!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Consider putting a copyright notation on every pattern piece... just as a reminder to the person using it.

I guess I didn't read the article at the link Karon provided carefully enough. Sorry! Thanks for filling me in.

Still think she needs psychological help.

Schulte's kid mohair is much more dense and soft and fluffy than helmbold's so they don't really compare.
This is the closest you are going to get in Schulte: http://www.edinburghimports.com/shoppin … sp?FU1=430
You'll find this white is not bright white but more of a pale cream.

Question: If she was caught on tape why didn't the person taping her go rescue the cat? I thought perhaps it was a security camera but why would it be aimed just at the trash bin and this woman? Seems odd to me.

Miss Bale needs some psychiactric evaluation. IMO.

Kimi... You might find this previous discussion on Morning Glory very helpful as others have be searching for an alternative:
http://www.teddy-talk.com/viewtopic.php?id=36053

I LOVE springy, bouncy stuffing and use the Premium stuffing that CRsCrafts sells at the link SueAnn provided. If you want something that stays put I'm guessing the Economy would be the one to try. I haven't so I'm not sure what it's like.

You might find other stuffing options at the link I posted above. I still have some of the stuffing from Monterey Mills which is mentioned in that thread... enough for one bear.... I'd be happy to send it to you for the cost of shipping if you'd like to try it.

I think she was asking what the Windows Live Essentials program is. 
Here's a link for those of you who aren't familiar with it: http://explore.live.com/home

I have not used it though I am somewhat familiar with it. In my opinion... especially for things like writing blog posts... I find it an extra step, an extra piece of software to have to learn and use just to write a blog post. You'd still have to learn the blog program you post to also. And if you already have photo software you can likely do all that Essentials does with photos and videos. If you want the messenger part of it you can download Windows Messenger by itself without having Essentials. And if you are an AOL user you already have instant messaging any way. For those who aren't computer savvy and don't have software on your computer to do all these things already then it might be a very handy, all in one program for you to have.

As far as creating and maintaining a blog... once you have it set up it's easy to post entries and photos to! There are free blogging services out there. You don't have to install a program on your computer. www.blogger.com is the free site I believe the majority of us use. Once you have it set up the way you like (which can take a wee bit while you learn your way around) posting to it can then take a matter of minutes. If you use Essentials I believe you have to create your blog post in Essentials then go to a site like blogger to submit it so you'd still have to have blogger or a similar blog hosting site set up. (Amy, correct me if I'm wrong!)

If you want a quick answer to your question about blogging and how useful it is for business you might want to use the SEARCH function here on TT to find many previous discussions we've had on it. You'll find "SEARCH" in the horizontal menu across the top... it's towards the right. Just type in keywords to search for. You'll find answers to lots of questions you may have there.

This is the first ellie of yours I've seen in mohair! (I'm sure you've probably made others that I missed!) I LOVE her!! You really ought to do more with mohair!! She's so sweet and your style lends itself perfectly to the sparse mohair!

I love them all but that clown bear.....     Absolutely adorable! You've done a fantastic job on these, Olga!