Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Adorable heehee,  I think it came out great.     Are you happy with it or are you still going to do more clipping?

big hugs

Shane

Wow  I would go cross eyed trying to make something that small  ,  he is adorable Natasha great work.

big hugs

Shane

Ann don't do any trimming to the body until you get him all done heehee, if you decide to trim the rest of the fur make sure to take a before and after pic of him.  I think he'll be adorable with all the long fur and the face peeking out,  you could always call him "Bumble".

Thanks for the compliment on our bear, he was easy enough to stich but took about 12-15 hours to stuff ugghhhh but we were pleased with the results.

big hugs

Shane

Ann I say keep going,  there's nothing wrong with a mini bear with lots of fur.  We have done tons of bears with super long fur and you can't tell where the arms and legs are attached to the body.  Once you do the head and trim and scissor sculpt it I will gurantee you it will be beautiful.

I have attached a pic of a bear we made with Mongolian lamb fur, this stuff is about 4" long if not longer, and the bear is about 12" you can't tell where the arms and legs are but that's the fun of bear making.  I know he's not a mini but we have done small bears under 6" with really long fur and they do come out cute.

It's just like Tami said go for it and experiment ,  it will work out in the end.  As for the feet pads maybe try redoing them or needle felting over top of the existing one.

good luck and big hugs

Shane

You are both so right Brenda and Gail with your comments.  Since we always fly out of Buffalo to most of our shows in the US, we no longer take any bears with us we ship them directly to the hotel we are staying at.  In January when Steve was going to IDEX he had a few bears with him and we had shipped the rest.  When he got to the boarder he told customs he was going down for a vacation,  while talking customs asked a few more questions and then they decided to search the luggage (this is the first time this has ever happened to us in I don't know how many crossings at US boarders).  Steve told him that he was taking in a Teddy bear show in Florida but was not selling he was only showing as according to US customs Canadians are not allowed to sell at US trade shows they can only take orders.  Customs became quite snitty about this and said that was false information and wanted to know where we got that from,  Steve advised him to read their own website where it clearly states that. 

Well he let Steve through that time but then said from now on we could have to cross using the Tuck lanes if we brought any bears with us into the US, since we would be bringing in Commercial Goods we have to go throught hat whole procedure.  Not sure if any of you have seen a truck lane at a boarder crossing but they are HUGE, so we decided from now all everything having to do with a show gets shipped ahead of time and we will just take ourselves and no bears, no business receipt books or visa machine,  we ship it all.

Big hugs

Shane

I'm sitting laughing thinking well at least you guys got something     I'm still waiting and waiting for mine,  I got my TBR yesterday and it came out a week or two after TB&F  hehe,  well  I am sure they must be just super swamped because of the face book .  I'll sit and wait a bit longer and then if nothing I'll have to call and see what has happened.

big hugs  and thanks for the giggles over this mix up.  I actually wouldn't mind the figure skating magazine as I use to teach figure skating many yrs ago.

Shane

Can't wait to see you both Laura Lynn and Amy, and anyone else who is coming to the show  please stop by and say hello. 

hugs

Shane

hmmmmm  I think we have only done a real fur face a few times,  I know Steve was worried about that problem as well but they seemed to be alright and have not heard that the noses have fallen off  .  I still like a sculpted nose on real fur, I just like the look of it over a stitched nose but that's just my preference.  We tend to do more of an inset face with alpaca now with real fur or sometimes Ultrasuede.

hugs

Shane

We'll be there as well, we are teaching a workshop on the Friday so we will be arriving on Thursday afternoon.

big hugs

Shane

I'm the same way Jamie when I order fabric, I want it like yesterday  .  I hope it comes soon and can't wait to see what you make (make sure you show us all ).

big hugs

Shane

Hi Kirsta,

It must be something to do with BC  :crackup:  :crackup: , I ordered some mohair from California and it was mailed on the 16th and I had it on the 22nd , and I got Deb's fabric in a couple of days .  Granted I was shocked how quickly I got my fabric and no duty either.

Hope you get your fabric soon it's wonderful stuff.

P.S.  I am still waiting for the TBF and TBR   as well

big hugs

Shane

Jane what wonderful photo's,  you now have Steve and I seriously contemplating doing Hugglets next February.  We have to wait another month or so for our first show and I can't wait.  I think I have show fever thanks to you Jane  :crackup:  :crackup: . 

All the bears look so wonderful,  Paula your bears are sooo beautiful I have admired them for a long time so maybe I'll get to see one in the fur if we come next yr.

Once again thanks Jane for taking the time to take the pics and post them for us all to enjoy.

big hugs

Shane

Hi Deborah,

I received my fabric today and all the little goodies,  thank you so much  it is going to make wonderful little bears and I'll make sure to post a pic as soon as it's done. 

I also would like to reimburse you for the postage, I was shocked at how much it cost .  Please let send me a pm on how I can pay you for the shipping.  I can pay with paypal , it was very sweet of you, what a great way to end the week.

big hugs

Shane

Judi, so sorry to hear of all that you have been going through.  I had wondered though as you have been very quiet.  Sending lots of positive thoughts your way and I'm sure if you just keep doing what your doing things will get better every day.

Big hugs

Shane

Hi Shantell,

Hmmmm I'm really not sure what to say to your problem.  But I would think it's no different than when a dog is fixed you still will see "HIM" now and then  :redface: , part of the reason I don't have male cats or dogs I don't want to see "HIM" .  I would think he could become territorial over the female whether he is fixed or not.  I"m only guessing here,   but darn cute cats though .

big hugs

Shane

Hi Rita,

I agree with everyone else, you have to decide what to do with your bears.  We almost always do bare bears, but then we made our skate board guy and we put a baseball cap on him and a long shirt (I hate covering up mohair)  and everyone really liked him.  He doesn't look the same without the hat, it changes him completely.  I have started now trying little things on our bears, a vest, some hats, scarves.  I think just doing that and then stepping back and looking at the bear and see what you like.  Even if you add a bow, then put the bow on the bear and walk away and come back in an hour or so and see what you think.  Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't,  sometimes bears just don't need anything. 

You will work it out, your bears are very cute and I think for yours if you overdress them then it will take away from the bear itself.

big hugs

Shane

:photo:  :photo:  :photo:  :photo:  :photo:  :photo:  :photo:   Lots of photo's please , I live this show through the people going  , it's always so nice to see  who was there and what they brought with them.

big hugs  and hope everyone has fun

Shane

Thanks Deborah , looking forward to seeing it and then deciding what I'm gonna make with it 

hugs

Shane

Hmmmmmm   I miss all baked goods   

Shane

:crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:   I never even thought of that one.

I don't even order mohair from the US anymore unless it's an outstanding unbelieveable deal or something that I can't get here,  it's so expensive and then tack on the shipping cost and the duty and the exchange on the money it's outrageous.  I do however tend to buy a little if I'm at a show and don't have to pay the shipping, but again it has to be a piece of mohair to die for, mainly I only buy paw pad fabric because it is cheap.  Mohair if I buy it here is half the cost.  I'm not putting down suppliers at all trust me, I know they have overhead and expenses to cover  just giving my explanation of why I buy so little of it from the US.

big hugs

Shane

I am getting such a kick out all the comments going back and forth.  You guys kinda make Canada sound like a third world country where we deliver everything by dog sled  .

As my mother use to say  "it takes as long as it takes",  I have never had any major problems with Canada post, I find shipping to the US is the same amount of time and this is because of Customs.  Perhaps there is a problem in BC with packages coming in that way, perhaps there is not enough customs officers, lord nows that everything has to be checked and rechecked for security purposes (I know I know but it could be an exploading teddy bear  )

I sent a bear to Australia last yr, it was shipped on the 15th of Dec  and finally received on the other end Mid April,  we had already started the process of collecting the insurance on it when finally we heard it had been received and all was well.  Now that's bad service if you ask me,  I get stuff from the US all the time and the longest something has taken was three weeks (Maybe I have a horse shoe up my butt, or perhaps the entire horse   :crackup: ).

I think we get concerned when we are told shipping will take x number of days and it doesn't, remember 5 business days is around 9 calendar days and the day you take it to the post office does not count, nor do weekends or holidays

    We ship with UPS or FED EX because in most cases it is much cheaper for postage than Canada Post, I can track it and when they say 3 days or 5 days it gets there in that time frame.  Now UPS will say it will take 3-5 days but they also tell us as long as it does not get caught up in Customs.  We were advised we could get a NAFTA form from Customs which gives us a special number for (stuffed toys) then customs does not even bother with it and they zip it right through. Since stuffed animals are duty free that saves time at customs and poof goes right through.  We are working on this since a fair amount of our sales are in the US, plus we ship all our bears to the shows in the US so makes sense for us to do that.

I know it is frustrating Aleta and you do get worried, but at least you know it has cleared customs and trust me it will make it to it's destination.   The next one you do to Canada you will be prepared and know that it will take a bit longer than what USPS states   

Big Hugs All

Yep still waiting here in Canada for my copy plus the last issue of TBR still has not been received either, man it just takes to long to get here      I"m dying to see it 

hugs

Shane

Hi Eileen,

No I"m not kidding about the PST, I was floored when they told me that.  I had phoned them because I had another question and it came up in conversation about the webpage.  It was also brought to our attention that if I attend a show in the US and take orders and they aren't paid for then and there, then when I request payment for them I had to charge PST as well.  They consider the sale to have taken place in Canada and in our province,  I just shake my head over the whole thing. 

big hugs

Shane

Hmmmm  I'm jealous, no early spring here yet  ,  my front garden is still covered with about 4 feet of snow.  It will happen eventually I know, but it is a lot warmer today and the rest of the week is suppose to be nice.

big hugs

Shane

OH Bobbie, how wonderful to get an offer to go to Taiwan wow that would be so amazing.   I know you have done a lot of travels and it must be fun (stressful but fun).

I remember when we took your class and when you started speaking Steve and I jut looked at one another and said 'what the heck did she say"  heehee.  I find it funny because I use to be a real fast talker as well, I come from the East coast of Canada and they all talk fast there .

Well I hope you are able to work out the details and get to go to Taiwan wow,  it must be nice to be be so famous and known all over the world  .

big hugs

Shane