Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Do you like me keep getting your fabric out and feeling it? I had about 6 new pieces and you can only make one at a time but I keep getting the other pieces out and feeling them. My opposite experience... hold on why I compose myself, was on ebay. Someone was selling a wondeful stash of mohair. I put my bid in. In the meantime I realised I could afford to bid more and it was worth it. AHHHH! my computer went down and I could not get to the library to go on theirs. It went for a song and I still think about it now! Serves me right for not putting a higher bid in. I know I might still not have got it, but what a bargain the other person got!

Thanks Shantell. It makes it all worth while when you see something like that. Well done. :clap:

I had a lovely lady that did not take notice of my paypal only for a bear she bid on. She sent me a money order in Sterling (she was from Belgium) it cost me nothing to cash it at it was in my currency, but I am sure it cost her more. It was so easy for me but I suppose for you that could be the only way to do it. Ask the post office what it charges to convert your money into the foreign money on a money order. The supplier will not usually mind if its their currency, as like me it cost them nothing.
I like paypal (inspite of the costs when accepting) as you deal in any currency. I paid for some fabric off Sassy's in Canada. I used my paypal (I already had money in the account from a bear sale) it just converts my pounds to dollars at the currnt exchange rate, dead easy, fabric was with me just over a week later, and you pay no exchange fees.

When you said it was all white to start with, well, what can I say? You must be very proud. Stunning. I bet you studied real tigers first because it is so realistic.

By the way if you've got it flaunt it, theres never 'too much'. 

When I had a bear shop 6 years ago we had the most sales up to Christmas including those male Christmas eve shoppers! A lot of women would drop heavy hints to what they wanted, including telling me to stear their men folk in the right direction. I got a few just after as like myself a lot of women have 'a christmas box' an old fashioned word for money. The ebay thing? I'm hoping its busy, but who can tell. I would love some input on that one.

The needlesculpting really ties it altogether. It looks rubbish without it. I did better bears a few months ago but have no pictures. You don't have to put anything in just stuffing. I needlesculpt around the edges where teeth would go, down the middle for the tongue, at  the top in the middle. If I did the bear head again I would not have made the slit as far back. That would have looked better.

We have just come back from Antalya on the med coast. It is lovely there at the moment so hopefully it will be where you are, have a lovely time and wow don't we have lots of catching up when we get back.

I first did an open mouth about 8 years ago. I did'nt have a book so here goes how I did it.

I made a slit in my side head pattern 2/3 down from the nose about 2/3 in to where the nose ends. I then stitch the head as normal but am left with the slit. Then just like a foot paw pad cut the mouth, I used ultra suede.
You then open the mouth area up, again like a foot pad and sew it in. The diffcult bit is in the corners where it will fold on itself to make the top and bottom mouth part.
When you stuff you will have a chin and top part.
I then needlesculpt in the mouth to give it shape.
I painted teeth on.
I'm sure thats as clear as mud but you can always email me if you want to know more.

I have just found an old head I did. A bit basic and I hope I do better stuff now but it gives you an idea. I have done recent open mouths but have not got any photos.

I go away a week and look what you all get up to! COUNT ME IN. I do small and bigger bears so would not mind making either. I don't mind shipping abroad. Also I can get mine made by Christmas but I don't mind if my partner can't. I like bears, gollies (very much so) and heck just about anything. In other words 'whatever'. I can't see anyone on here having any problems, its all part of the fun. Bring it on!

I'd just go for it. If you are making good professional bears just give it a go. You learn as you go along. Try ebay for starters as it is so easy and there are not many costs. Post a picture I would love to see some of your bears.

Hiya. I am a beginner in needlfelting and have used ideas from everyone. My hamster is one inch tall and I used loose coloured wool that I felted on to get shading. On Shamus I used Shelli's way of dry brushing oils. Soooo easy and the colour of the wool I used was not even close to that of the mohair, but hay presto you can build it up to the right colour.

On the Koala I mixed the wool together, then felted to get the right shades.

I have done a quick post under the needlefelting section. I have put it under 'shamus needlefelted eyelids'. If anyone can explain better I would be grateful as its hard to put into words.

In reply to how I do the eyelids, here goes.

First I needlesculpt the eye area. The eyes I use are doll eyes which need a good flat base to be glued onto. I use fabric glue to fix them and use pins underneath to hold them while they dry. You need to make sure the bears gaze is right, slightly out and it will look odd.

I use wool that is near to the bears colour but you can shade later with oils. I do the two top lids first then the bottom ones. The top lid will be about an inch oval shape. Half needlefelt on your sponge pad. Then using a thin finishing needle start felting around the eyes on the mohair at the top. My felt covers half the eye, but you will felt that up near the end. Be careful not to hit the eye as it can break your needle. You will find it just works its way into the mohair.

For the bottom I do the same but make the felt not as wide. I then use the darker shade felting into the lids. I keep pushing it up into the lids so I get the right shape. I add felt on if the shape is not right or felt more into the mohair if the shape is too big. I then use oils to shade after.

I think I have made this as clear as mud! Its so hard to write how you do it, I just do what I think will work. Its very trial and error. When I get back off my hols if you have any questions please ask. Hopefully someone else might have a better way of explaining it!

I am going on holiday in a few hours, so won't be able to answer any questions. I will try to post before I go away and when I get back on the 18th any help you need, just ask.

I'm no expert though so it will be a bit like the blind leading the blind!

Shout it out! Good on you. You deserve all the good luck you can get. It must be very hard when you are not well. :clap:

I have to confess. I might be going to Antalya a lovely part of Turkey on the med coast, but I don't get to see much of it! We stay in the hotel as its in the middle of no where. Pretty much the same the world over these all inclusive hotels. There are some lovely places to visit but I won't have the time or money to see them. So I will have a nice relaxing holiday then be all chilled out ( hopefully!) for when I get back.

Judi no wonder its your favourite. I think you have taken needlefelting to a whole new level. For me I think its the mouth area thats so expressive. It says look at me I'm so cute in that toddler kind of way. When I have sold a few more bears I am going to enjoy signing up to your class. Needlefelting brings your work alive. I have flown by the seat of my pants where needlefelting is concerned and look forward to learning more.

Hard one this. I know of a lady who sells mini bears on ebay who does really well. At least £100+ and $200+ for her lovely designs. Thing is like everyone she started off buying a pattern ( its there for all to see in her feedback). My question is, she and others have, like ourselves  moved on to making our own patterns, but what if people don't? I know the bears won't look like ours but it makes for uneasy thoughts. Maybe because it takes me ages to make new patterns I'm over protective.

I love sharing ideas on here, I would give anyone of you my patterns (hey, thats if anyone wanted them!) but thats because I know what genuine and honest people you all are. I would go with what you said, do a basic one, with your twist on the bear at the end. Remember its great PR and who knows what might come from it!

Thanks for the new section. I have just started to use needlefelting on my bears, with OK results. I have needlefelted eyelids, noses and cheeks on a Koala. Also onto paw pads. Please keep any ideas and questions coming as I am learning as I go along.

Anyone needlefelted anything unusual?

Heres Shamus my first greenish bear! He is 8 1/2" tall and made from a green/grey mohair. I used green doll eyes and needlefelted the eyelids. I used oils to shade them. I will put him on ebay to start next Sunday as I have booked a last minute week to Turkey. I will try to check in as I know the hotel has an internet room.

You have done a lovely job. You are too much of a perfectionist, but hey thats why you make such lovely bears. Nice one.

Tip: Fur Cleaning
To freshen up your real fur items, rub in cornmeal, then brush it out to remove grime. Unless you wear it daily, you should not have your fur cleaned more than once every two years. The process can be very damaging on the fur.

Saw this tip on a cleaning site. I also wondered if human hair dry shampoo would work to take the greasiness out. I am sure someone else can help but you could give it a go on a small section.

Phew! I have been my friends funeral today and when I saw wreath, I was obviously thinking along another line.Of course I feel a bit low but its lovely to see all the things we do and make. Keep them coming there is nothing like doing something you enjoy to make you feel good.

I hope you are OK. What a rough time you have. Get better and don't overdo it.

Yep they do your head in. I'd stick them on ebay and get rid! I use the prelooped ones as I can't be bothered with them. The hole where the eyes go through has to be really big with the ones above. I'd cut your loses and buy some more. With the preloops you just thread them up then close the loops with pliers and they go on real easy.