Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

...nice mini mohairs that aren't stubble are hard to find anywhere much to my frustration, though if you are concentrating on bears around the 4" mark as there are still some reasonably nice medium density pile furs at that length.  I'll look through my samples and see if I can find the order numbers.  I'm sure your UK suppliers will probably carry some of them.  In my post flood packing up of the house, I'm about to go through my mohair box and ditch all the scraps - I can pop some in an envelope for you so you can take samples to the suppliers if you'd like.  Is the mohair below similar to what you're thinking of?  This bear is 4"

and ahem..jenny I am sure your mini is far better than you're imagining it to be.  I can't wait to see pictures as you develop your skills!

Hi Jane

Here are five I know of (apart from TB&F) - the issn numbers should be of use to your friend when looking at a database of avail mags
UK
Teddy bear club international (issn 1364-5129)
Teddy bear scene (issn 1355-9311)

Australia
Australian bear creations
Australian dolls bears and collectibles

US
Teddy bear review (issn 0890-4162)

thanks guys for your kind thoughts - boy oh boy packing would be so much easier if I wasn't into crafts and books.  I have barely started and I'm exhausted already!  I have 10 days away over Christmas and apart from cooking christmas dinner, I plan to do absolutely nothing!

I left work early yesterday as I was lousy with a sinus headache due to hayfever.  I got home to the ominous sound of running water from the upstairs neighbours and opened my front door to find pretty much my entire house flooded.  The kitchen and bathroom were several inches deep in water and the lounge carpet thoroughly saturated.  Water was dripping on my head    So I spent the next few hours mopping and tearing out carpets.  My living room will be unusable for the next few days/weeks.  I now have to pack up my entire house so it can be recarpeted at some point.  All this a week out from my Christmas break...so instead of winding down as I planned I'll be packing. Luckily my landlord owns the house next door too, so I have moved my lounge furniture into his garage.

Fortunately the damage to my stuff was fairly minimal - luckily I had moved my laptop so it didn't get wet.  Unfortunately, I had set out some things the night before for christmas gifts - some scrapbooking papers and most importantly my stash of vintage longpile mini fabric - I'm hoping that the fabric will be salvageable - it was covered in grit but I've left it soaking and hopefully the pile will be ok

It was all the fault of the local council - a mains pipe had broken down the road earlier in the day and it seems they forced water through the pipes - and that water came out at our house.  Still, I guess the silver lining is that I will hopefully get new carpet and new paint too...

Everyone's bears (and golly!) are so cute...what a fun swap!  I love how they are all so different.

I'm hoping that the postie in xyz will be fleet of foot and deliver my parcel to my swap partner in the next day or so.

If you want an easy free way to create a PDF document use Google docs - you don't have to download any software to your pc and it's easy as pie.  Create your document in Google docs (it works much like word) and you can easily combine text and image.  When you're done, click the "file" button in the top left of your document and then "export as PDF"

Google docs can be found at http://docs.google.com  You just need to sign up for a google account.
I use it a lot as I can edit my documents from any computer - it's also great for collaborative projects as you can invite people to share documents.  Actually, two (or more) people can be working on a document at the same time and changes will show up on everyones' screen in real time - no saving and emailing multiple versions.  I've used it this way and it really works!!

mine is almost finished and will be in the post tomorrow on it's way to....???  I'll give you a tiny clue -  my ornament is not going South...so if you live in Antarctica, I'm sorry, you won't be getting my Christmas ornament in the mail.   

Hey Krista (and Jane)

There's another similar one that is available outside of the US - will try to remember what it's called.  I haven't listened to it for a year or more but from what I remember it's good because if you don't like one of the artists it selects you can permanently block them from your playlist.  It has quite a few different channels to choose from depending on your mood

http://www.accuradio.com/rock/

cute bunny!  I like his cheeks.  For me personally, no cupcake - somehow hedoesn't look like a cupcake kind of bunny (don't know just what does look like a cupcake kind of bunny) I think it would detract from his candy canes and vest.  Especially with the glasses - I do like Daphne's idea of a present for him to stand on - something quite simple.

Hi Laura

I can't answer you on the fluffy bit as I don't have a dryer, and for my own bears, use the vintage long pile when I do want the flat smooth look. 
You could try gently brushing your finished bear with a soft toothbrush to bring some life to the pile.

You need to be very very careful when bleaching vintage long pile.  If you boil it too long the pile falls out.  I have bought pieces several years ago and can still smell the bleach in them.  I would not have bought them had I known they'd been bleached - they are fairly stiff and don't make up to a  nice bear.  I know that Bobbie is an expert in this field and she will be able to answer that question better.

I did buy some that had been properly bleached and there is virtually no odour and the pile is soft - I believe the artist used a non-ammonia bleach - but I'm not sure which and she is no longer selling bears.

The Malden Mills vintage long pile had a shiny finish - I have not seen matte fabrics for sale but they may possibly be out there.  I have seen people marketing what they calle matte vintage long pile - which is actually vintage rayon, and usually very short pile.

If you want a matte fluffy finish you can't really do better than sassy long pile - it's precisely what I use when I want my bear to have some fluff and it is not shiny at all.

Different suppliers use mohair from different sources - for example Edinburgh fabric is mainly from the Schulte company and Intercal mainly from the Helmbold company, so while their fabrics may appear similar they are not exactly the same.

And even within the same manufacturer one bolt of a particular type of fabric can be different to the next bolt produced of the "same" fabric. 

By experimenting with a few fabrics, you'll learn what works for you and your bears.

btw Laura Lynn - that sounds just like me and my friend.  We both make mini bears but the means and methods by which we get to the end results couldn't be more different.  If I tried making bears her way they would look like little monsters!

it's so hard to equate that cute little thing with the noisy monsters in the bush around my house.  I'm guessing it's an american opossum soooooo much cuter than our opossums.

I love everyone's bears so far  - it's fun seeing how everyone interprets it.  I'm looking forward to seeing some big bears too

Here's my Posy again.  She's 2 inches - I really shrunk Paula's head    I was temted to make a bigger bear but the thought scared me too much! I used one of my regular patterns and though the side head was not much different in size to my regular pattern, the different structure caused it to look much smaller in proportion to the body and limbs.  I like these proportions so now want to play around with my regular pattern and body pieces - sizing them down and up respectively to create similar proportions but with "my" head.  So thanks Paula - you've made me think!!

Thanks Matilda!  I think it's the first time I've completed a challenge bear on time...still working on my anime bear !!! 

Here's my Posy bear - measuring at just over 2"   This was fun!  Thanks Paula  :hug:   

Congratulations Gail!  You must be thrilled.  Your little pirate is very cute - I like his bandanna.

Congrats Clare!

Hope that your pregnancy goes swimmingly and that you are blooming!  I'm the youngest of 3, with a similar age gap.  I swear that for my first few years I was a living breathing toy for my brother and sister!

woohoo!!  I have just finished my challenge bear.  Only I can't show you as I have promised to have four new bears on my site on Saturday and no one gets to see the bears till then.  I do have a sneak peak on my blog though.

I have to confess, I didn't design a totally new bear.  I had a wee bear half sewn who'd had her head pieces stolen for another project (don't ask!  )  I thought it was the right motivation to get me to do the challenge.  I almost don't want to tell you Paula that my finished side head measures just on 1 centimetre deep (1/3 inch) at the deepest point and the whole bear is a fraction over 2 inches (5.5cm).  It felt a bit sacreligious to shrink your pattern that much.   

Thanks for a fun challenge...right off to finish those 4 bears...only 3 more days to finish them

wow!  I am in awe of everyone's creativity.  there are a few that would love to come and live at my house 

way cute Chrissi...yes you should be making more minis    they are so delightful

Laura Lynn - you rock!

You always have great new ideas for sharing your passion for bears with other people.  And you manage to fit in the time to make your gorgeous creations too.

What was the last magazine you bought?
Creating Keepsakes (and it was a buy one get two free deal!)

What did you have for dinner last night?
Fresh steamed asparagus on toasted sesame and wholegrain bread with hollandaise sauce ( I love spring!)

Who did you last speak with on the phone?
a fellow teddy talker Laraine from Rainebears

What was the last tv show you watched?
some weird british comedy last night

Whats the best thing that has happened to you today?
it's Monday here and it's Labour Day and I don't have to go to work!

Have you ever broken a bone?
No - but the doctor broke my ankle (in surgery  )

What are you really bad at?
organisation

Your favourite food?
anything lemony

Do you believe in ghosts?
don't know!

Your favourite season?
Autumn - nothing like a good frosty morning and a beautiful sunny day...shame that my current city doesn't have autumn!

Do you collect anything?
A very limited number of bears.  I have a few vintage sewing supplies.  I used to collect pigs!

What do you wish you had more time for?
I wish I had more time to just be creative rather than feeling pressured in the weekends to achieve a million and one things and design new bears.

When is your bedtime on average?
10ish - I get up at 5.30 

Judi...I think you've been reading my mind!     I am in show planning mode today and several of the bears on my list are "sweet treat" themed.
What fun!!

I think that this is pretty much the same quality as the mohair I used on the lighter bear. 

http://www.intercaltg.com/colors/finish600S.html

Hi Ellen

I have used mohair on a bear as small as 2 inches.  I haven't used the Sassy mohair - mainly as from memory it's fairly dense and I prefer the sparser look. 

You will need to invest in some fray stop.  Personally, I use Aleenes Stop Fraying - I like it because it stays pliable and has a relatively benign smell.  You can also use pva glue (not sure what the US name is for it - it's white glue) that has been diluted with water.  I do not like using the other brands of fray stopper - the clear glue like ones - they give me migraines and they dry to a hard edge finish which is hard to disguise when your arm is less than a half inch wide.

Use a good quality polyester thread like metrosene or molynlycke and match it as closely as possible - I usually match it to the backing.  Keep your tension even but not too tight.  I do use the superlon thread from sassys on my bigger 3 inch bears but haven't tried it on anything that small. 

Yes, people can be allergic to mohair, but it's not that common.

Now...the bears below are about 2 1/4 inches and 2 inches.  I think that both mohairs are Schulte.  I don't buy my mohair in the US so can't tell you just who would have it but I believe that Intercal has some mohair fairly similar in finish to the the longer stuff.  Of course - it's actually pretty short.  I'll try and find the code for you

Have fun - pm me if you have any questions.  I think there are a few people on here more experienced at mini mohair bears than me - so they'll have some good help for you too.