Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Sounds like my mother-in-law, bless, give her a choice and her brain turns to mush!;) In the future I would stick to your choice as an artist. I know its nice for her but its a nightmare for you and it will make making the bears a chore. I would lead her in the direction of your fur choice but pretend it was her idea... hmm.
Next time just say as an artist YOUR fur choice says which bear is to be made, just say it ruins your artist flow with too much outside input!:lol:

Yep time to slow down and smell the roses. Thanks that is just what I need at the moment. Anyway could be worse its sunny and warm here and not RAINING!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. I just got some really nice safety eyes, got home and my husband is in a mood as I have made him late for the appointment he did'nt tell me about! Then I have paperwork to do, job later, ahh! I've got http code going around my head as I have been trying to get the free ebay templates customised.
I need to take one thing at a time, so I will finish my Gala bear then stop. Thanks for the simple idea of writing a list and starting at the top. I think my first priority will be a good hang tag with a colour scheme and design which will then be followed up later in auction templates and the rest.
So tags and design first, the rest can wait!

Kim you keep posting things that apply to me! Like the web page thing, mouths and I have been thinking about websites, ebay templates and banners. We must be having the same sleepless thoughts. Same here over mouths I gave up awhile ago, still I would like to get it right. I will have to do one for the Progeria gala bear as the child who receives it will be expecting one.
Keep on posting as you find a way of asking about what I want to know!

I just had to post this. Over the last day or two we have seen a side to bear making that I have not seen in a long time. I know there are a few of you who have had negative experiences. Had them myself many years ago.

Please Nancy I know its hard at the moment and you maybe need to distance yourself from this situation but don't let this stiffle your creativity. Its people like yourself that keep me trying new things. I saw a lady on ebay who made fairies and gnomes, I can't and don't want to make them but it set a scene for maybe doing a fantasy bear? We know Jodi is probably just as upset about this and I am sure things will get better but please don't change, you shine in your work.

On a lighter note you must check out some of the British comedies. Father Ted is about three catholic priests who live on an island with their housekeeper Mrs Doyle. The best episode is when an outing for priests goes wrong. They end up in the lingerie section in the department store. Very funny.

Hang in there and remember that people are thinking of you, all the best, Mandy.

Thanks everyone. Its the thought of my bear going to the ball, I want it to be Prince Charming not one of the ugly sisters!:lol:

I'd noticed you were an early bird. I sometimes wake up and can't get asleep again, not often though. Over the work issue don't spend too much time thinking about it if it does'nt desrve it. I'm like that always stressing about the little things.
Dishes to do then I'm off to the gym later (great destresser) then lunch and start making Pennie's Progeria gala bear. Too-da-loo, Mandy.

I am looking forward to making a bear for the Progeria charity, thing is can you help over the child friendly aspect?

I know you have to use safety joints and eyes, but can I stuff with plastic beads? I think I can because of beanies but am not sure.
Also any ideas on the eyes as the plastic ones are not so nice.

Any help would be appreciated as it is such a long time since I made a child friendly bear.

Not as messy as my head is at the moment! I have spent the last hour or so looking at the suggested links for templates. Mind blowing stuff. I have found a nice simple free copy and paste one.

http://auctionsupplies.com/templates/

Don't get too overloaded, you can only do one task at a time. Some great links were given.

I'm not a baby person, not when they are young I like them a bit older, but he is gorgeous. I give blood too and you realise the importance when you hear about people like your daughter. All the best, Mandy.

Great phot ny the way.

Quite bluntly, Grandmother Rose, dead with heart trouble caused through smoking. Grandfather Jack, dead with lung cancer which was operated on, but carried on smoking. Grandfather George, dead at 55 with hardened arteries in 1972. Grandmother Mabel, dead with a stroke after living with a leg amputation for a few years. Father-in-law Ken, dead at 62 with lung cancer and a stroke, never saw my daughter who was born later. Need I say more...

Good luck, my mum gave up years ago and was hypnotized to help her, it did work.

Deb I have been making bears for years but just got back into it recently. I am that rubbish at doing mouths, I have stopped doing them! I know you can put pins in, then measure and even wrap the thread around to see how it looks. You are right its the sculpting bit..hmm. Shelli knows her stuff as you can see in her bears. I think its all in the pulling of that thread to shape it. Also fur direction and scissor sculpting come into play. I swear there is an old thread on this?
I think I will go have a lie down to recover from all that I have to learn, then get my 101 bear book out to have a think. Not too hard as it is the weekend after all.;)

Fantastic post. I am also interested in the answers as I could do with some pizazz. I put bear in my koala title as I know they are not bears but its all to do with the search. Very good point there.

I like six feet under, Coronation street. Pheonix Nights is great too, on DVD. Only Fools and Horses is also great for late night, had a glass of wine (or two) kind of humour. I also love the new Doctor Who and like Sci-Fi in general. At the moment TV in the UK is dire so its time to read some good books me thinks?

Hay how come we can't get those darn bars and Cadburys is just down the motorway from me!!! I have been to the Cadburys factory and had lots of samples though. I like the Nestle Wonka bars at the moment..hmm.

Hope things go OK for you all... God bless.

Here is my Panda for my first christmas off my parents. When I was sevenish I swapped a bear for the panda with my brother. You see my younger brother must have been given MY panda when we were both young!!!:o Best of it I did not know this until I found the evidence in the photo some years later!! I still have him and he was always my favourite cuddly.

Linda Mullins 101 bear book shows you how to downsize. Take off the stitching allowance (usually 1/4"), reduce on the scanner using the image bit, size part (not very technical am I!) then add the seam allowance back on.

Once you get used to stitching the smaller ones you can then go even smaller. I change things, like I can't embroider a neat nose on the small ones, so I cheat and needlefelt them or use fimo. I have just got a great curved small needle to do ears from Tesco. Brilliant find as it is about the size of a 10p piece.

Doh! Not Linda Mullins, Nancy Tillbergs' book!:P

They do sound a bit moo but I still like them. Have not used one in ages though. Heres a company in the Uk. They do a neat pull cord one.

http://www.christiebears.co.uk/acatalog/Growlers

I think I asked the same question? Bit brain befuddled at the moment! I seem to remember it was a case of 'horses for courses'. My thoughts are that postage is less, so could be a factor. I also agree with Shelli about Ebay. Again postage? I have made some 2 1/2" many years ago but could not cope now. My smallest at the moment is 4 1/2". I used to do 14" as my standard but 9" is large to me now. With the 4 1/2" ones I can still use a sewing machine to a certain extent but have to do more hand sewing which takes time and makes my left hand ache.
I think the best way is to keep downsizing your patterns and as you get used to the next size down you are more able to cope with smaller after that?
Still which sells best is an interesting question, looking forward to all the opinions.

Just hand stitched the body (for 4 1/2" bear) and thats me done for the day. Thats how it is for me. Things to do but mainly getting motivated. Just getting back into it after a break. I'll get there, slow but sure!

OK, OK I'll get off this computer and start my bears body! Enough said!

What a lovely thoughtful collector. I love the colours you used.

Hedgehogs? Not been on that one so I took a look. What are they singing about? AHHHH... just clicked in! Funny though.

Someone mentioned strong magnets? Used in the head near the ears maybe? Then in the hat? Just thinking aloud as I have not used this Idea yet.