Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Shelli, I just wanted to say you've done a really great job on this. Very clear cut and organized. Thanks for taking this on.

Wonderful work, Shelli. I have Photoshop and actually know my way around...now I just need to use it! 

Hello there. Maybe I can help. I use a straightener all the time. My hair is wavy and frizzy if I don't straighten it. I doubt that the styist misted with water before hand. Unless you have a straightener with ventilation holes than your hair should be dry. There are lots of products that you can mist on before straightening. I think they kind of prime your hair for all the heat it's about to take on...less damage. What I use is by MATRIX brand called iron smoother. There are lots of different brands that carry similar products.

Also, when I straighten I start at the bottom clipping most of my hair at the top of my head. Then straighten in real small sections. When the bottom layer is done let down some more clipping the rest back up top. I find that if I take my time and do it this way the results are really great. Sometimes I don't clip and just do a quick run through and it's not so good.

Winney-
I thought of the sweater thing too, just haven't done it yet.  There are a couple sweaters in my closet that would make nice bears.  All of my angora has come from ebay when I can get a good deal on it. I don't have any stores around me that carry it so ebay is my best option.

What I usually do is split the plies. Most of my yarns have 3 plies, so it's like 3 for the price of one. And once you do that the cost sure does go down. And once you get to the smaller thickness of one ply, you can use smaller hooks. If I use just a single ply, then I can get three minis out of one ball of yarn. Not too bad. I have to admit that splittling the plies is very time consuming and not at all fun! For the guy in my avatar I used a 2-ply yarn and #6 hook, so he's bigger and furrier than the other ones. I don't put anything with the angora, but I do have to be careful because once the yarn is split it loses a lot strength and can break.

Good luck with your bears. If I can help with anything else, let me know.

A few of you who have ordered for Sierra Meadows mentioned using paypal. When I'm on the website I don't see paypal as an option. I think I'd like to try my luck and make an order but I'd really like to use paypal if that's an option.

And she's the reason I'm not making bears all day long.   

Since I don't a website, I'll share a couple pics of my last couple bears. They are quite different as I hadn't found TT and all the great tips until I was making this latest bear. He was the first one that I tried the sculpting on. Anyway, I don't get to make too many bears as I have a little girl running around the house all day.

Oh, Sabine, that's quite all right!

I just hopped on to TT and saw this post. I know there's another Sandi on here so I thought surely not me!
Yes, Rusty, is angora. That's pretty much all I use for the crochet bears. My fiancee and I used to share a website, but we had some trouble and have to get a new one. I'll keep you posted.

Sabine-I've been meaning to email you. In my new member post you said something about yahoo groups. I don't know them...so please feel free.

Like him? Love him!  He is a little darling! And, I think he should definitely have a little brother or sis.

I have a daughter who is almost 3. This kid has more dolls already than I ever had. And why does she have so many??? Because mommy secretly loves them probably more than she does.  :redface: When she gets something new, I just can't wait to get it home and take her out of the box and play with her!

Congrats to your daughter! My mom is such a bearaholic...she did have bears on her wedding cake when she married my stepdad. It was very cute. Some little wedding bear figurines, and she found a cute little white gazebo. Puts the bears inside and on top of the cake.

Matilda,  thank you so much. He is completely crocheted. His fur is angora yarn.

Judi- we have a collie (little miss naughty) and a collie mix. They are actually from the same mother. The mix came first. His litter was an accident. Then a year later we got the little brat. I can't cover up the hole with a bear because she would then eat the bear. Actually it's just filpped over right now until my new one arrives.

Fran- My fiancee makes a lot of mess (and me too  :redface:); he tells me not to worry about it and I say, OKAY!  :lol:
I like the new bear in your avatar. Beautiful!

Sandi

Sounds very exciting. Well, the new house part...not the packing part! I lived near Chicago for a while. We lived in Des Plaines and my daughter was born up there. Sure is different than my huge town now...population maybe 250!

Hope everything works out for you.
Sandi

I checked out Sassy Bears...thank you so much. And a few other sites as well. Here's what I think I really need help with. What length of fabric would you suggest for different sized bears? Obviously a 5-6" bear could have a longer pile than a 2-3" bear. Please feel free to throw out any kind tips that you wish you had known when you started! I truly appreciate any help!

Hi, everyone. All of my bears so far are crocheted. I knew it wouldn't be long before I wanted to try something new. I'd like to buy/order some supplies to try a sewn teddy. I'd like to start with miniatures. (Maybe my bill will be smaller too!) Favorite fabrics, favorite jointing method. I've only thread jointed thus far.  I have a couple books so I'm not going into this totally blindsighted. Although they aren't for minis, I think I'll be okay.  I read an earlier thread with lots of helpful tips on making minis. I just would like help figuring out what to order and where to order. Any offerings would be greatly appreciated!

Sandi 

I've actually seen a lighthouse at a hobby store fairly close to home. I can't buy anymore houses til I finish the others though!  I'll check out the site for other goodies though. Thanks!

The cat is "mine" and the dogs are "my fiance's". The cat, not so bad. We had two dogs, the younger one I'm certain is going to be a "puppy" forever. And my fiancee doesn't care much for cats. He swears she is going to live forever! Yesterday morning he told me he had a dream that Pookie (cat) was 60! I love her so much, so that's fine by me. 

I take that back...Kim, you reminded me of a time when I had just started making bears; my dog stole a body part. I'm thinkin an arm. He was a puppy...so I guess I can forgive him.

Kathy...I can empathize. I haven't had any unfortunate events with my bears. Just recently though I made a really nice crocheted blanket for a baby gift. The night before the shower I washed it just to make sure there wasn't any pet hairs on it. I laid it out on the table overnight to dry. Well, the next morning I got up to find my cat sleeping on the table right on top of that blanket. I picked her up and put her in the floor, turned around for 2 seconds, and I'll be darned if she didn't jump right back on that blanket! Rotten! In another post, I have pics of the lovely work my dog did on the couch! Gotta love em?????

Okay, would somebody please tell me what Nutella is?

Thank you so much Fran for the pics. They are wonderful. I love, love, love the lighthouse. I worked on some furniture a few months back. Made cute little blankets and pillows for the beds. I even painted a bedroom set. I just might sneak down to the basement today and find them. Oh, did I mention, I love the lighthouse!  :love:

Sandi

Penny and Dilu, you two are the funniest!  :lol:

I hate talking bears with anyone other than family or friends...okay, not all of them! One of my friends is amazed that people pay such money, and mine are in the very modest range. And she ruffed up my newest bear today. I'm still pi$$ed.
Most people don't get it...before it's over with I'm trying to convince myself. 

Okay, well, my house is too messy right now for pics. And it's kind of blah anyway, because we haven't lived here too long and I am slow too decorate. Okay, Okay, it's been 9 months. 

But here are some pics off our new couch. We only had it for a couple months when these photos were taken. My dog is excellent at removing stuffing...dog for hire??

Oh, Fran, I love all your little houses. When I was a little girl my aunt had one but I wasn't aloud to touch. I always wanted one, but back then my parents couldn't afford it. I always told myself...someday. Now I have two unfinished.    The sad part is I've had them for a longgggg time. If my daughter ever goes in the basement and sees what's down there, she might nag me enough to get them finished! I thought it would be neat (if I actually had the room for it) to have a little town of dollhouses! Maybe we can peek inside your little houses too sometime. :pray: