Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

While my cards finally made it into the post on Saturday.

However I haven't seen a postman for a week, so I hope they will reach their destinations in time!  :pray:

ooh, I'm sooo envious!

I haven't seen a postman for 2 days - I think he must be lost in the snow!

cheers,
G

I'm past my half century, and I take bears to bed - why not.

My mum, who turned 83 last Thursday regularly takes 4 bears to bed.

cheers,
G

I have some finishing touches to do this weekend then into the post for a journey across water.

I'm an xmas swap virgin too and I'm only a hobby bear-maker so I hope it will be acceptable.

cheers,
G

Like everyone else, if I can't see the price I assume I can't afford it.

It's the same at fairs.  Where the prices are not on display, I don't spend too long admiring the bears because I assume I can't afford them.

cheers,
G

I don't have a digital camera, so would whoever gets me please take photo before dispatch.

I'll tray and snaffle my bro-in-law's camera, but can't promise.

cheers,
G

Three methods I can think of:

1. Use a dense fur for the face and scissor sculpt (trim).

2. Use separate circles of fur and apply to face, stuffing as you sew them on.

3. Needle felt chubby cheeks on to the face

cheers,
G

I haven't participated before, but please sign me up, I've sent you a PM

He looks a bit like my 'Wendy Boston' bear, but I've no idea about the Berlin connection as Wendy Boston was a British manufacturer.

cheers,
Geraldine

Are you using too much wax at once perhaps?  I think the trick is to build it up in layers.

cheers,
G

Oops, what happened there?

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I remember my very first attempt at jointing a bear.  The nice pointed pliers slipped and gouged a line running up my hand between my thumb and forefinger.  I was in my early teens at the time.  I'm now the wrong side of 50 and still have the scar.

cheers,
G

You could as the suppliers to split the order into a number of parcels, you may pay more in postage, but if each parcel is under the customs limit you will avoid the tax.

cheers, G

Found this one:

http://www.fabric-online.co.uk/content/ … imal_print

Also, have a look at suppliers of mini bear fabrics, I've certainly seen animal prints on some stalls at bear fairs.

cheers,
G

I believe Davy the Miner was only available to those who went on a factory visit, before Deans moved from Pontypool to Herefordshire.

Interesting!

I'd have thought that the natural 'flow' of walking would tend to cause the lay of the fur to go backwards towards the heel?  OK, I know your bears are not going to go walking about, but I think you probably know what I mean   

If your job is government funded, find out who your MP is, if you don't already know, and go see him/her when he/she next has a local surgery. Also try citizens advice.

Doesn't it also depend on what you consider to be a 'professional look'?

I must have made some 20 odd bears (and some of them are very odd!), I do not consider any of mine to have a 'professional' look, although other bear makers have been complementary about them.  My mum and sister think they are brilliant, but I would question their objectivity!

On the other hand, I have seen bears from some bear makers who sell their work, where I have thought that perhaps they need to work some more on developing a particular style or look.

I would suggest that the point at which you feel your bears look professional is when you would feel comfortable asking someone to part with their hard-earned cash to pay for one.

cheers,
Geraldine

You could try these..

http://www.glasseyes.com/

Try

http://www.woodlandteddies.co.uk/armature.htm

Also, have a look at (I think) Edinburgh Imports website and Beary Cheap.  Both I believe do the flexlimb armature, which is fixed into the joint.

cheers,
G

If you have cut on the diagonal, you may find the fabric stretches in different ways to what you expect (have a go a pulling a piece of sheeting on the straight and the diagonal, and you will see what I mean). 

If you plan to stuff firmly, or are worried about the stretch, you can always use some iron-on interfacing to control this -just as you might for a knitted-back man-made fibre fur.

cheers,
G

Thanks for the information ladies.  I have had what I suspect is mild tennis elbow for a couple of months.  Of course it didn't help that I managed to fall over, land on my nose and wrench my neck, shoulder, knee and elbow a few weeks back!

At least the black eye's have faded!   

cheers,
G

Paddington Bear, a well-known Marmalade-fancier, has been seen advertising Marmite on UK televison...