Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I sent you a thank you e-mail... I have got it, but I wanted to post another thank you here too. 

Thanks to Amanda's inspiration, guidance, and practical sharing I should be on my way to bear two, my first miniature bear.  Right now with the holidays my normal graphic arts and mural work is pulling all my time... but come the beggining of the year I can get to sewing hopefully. 

-articicle

I really don't get why people play these games.  :redface:

they really are ruining it for everyone else.  I haven't yet bought from e-bay but now if I do I will need to get a paypal thing... becuase people have made it difficult and we now need to be protected from ourselves.

I don't know how many e-mails I have got for some king in africa that wants to send me money or the latest some "personal" investment tip e-mail, or where to get the latest discount snake oil.... enough huh?  Don't these people have better things to do with their time? 

I guess if there is a buck to be made... dishonest or not people will flock to it.

its truely sad.  I remember the begginings of the net where people shared info freely without a second thought. now the search engines are all messed up because people are trying to get more hits on their sites by putting in any keyterms they can think of.

-Articicle

a bit of rabbit kung-fu going on there? 

baby animals rule!

-articicle

I remember joking to someone about how I spent my birthday, I took a trip to an old bookstore.  I've actually been asked to leave from the library multiple times now because they were closing... remember cheers where norm walks in and everyone yells "Norm!"  well its similar at my library with me.  The librarians don't even worry about my card at this point, I think they have it on speed dial punch up? 

talk about living on the edge!!!!

There are far worse things than cooking as a hobbie.  For a cook I'm sure she's tickled pink for getting that mixer.  To me some of the alternatives  seem the much more bizzare, eyes glazed over watching sitcoms or consuming alcholic beverages until you make yourself ill.

I am no athority on blenders, but that looks like a mighty fine one to me.  Now give us some cookies, or at least let us lick the bowl!

-articicle

teddy  bears just rule, but think of all the reasons why... can you add to the list?

*They are comfort, hugging one is security.

*they are cute, its like bears stole some kitten/puppy looks

*they are nolstaligic, they bring back simplier times and fond memories

*You just can't make an ugly bear, even the ugly ones seem to channel their ugly into awwwwwe factor.

(Add to the list?)

sometimes it's just fate?  I was poking around in my local bear and collectibles store and I found a gund that was fully articulated, dressed in a sharp looking vest and suspendered pants, and it held a baby bear.  It was a limited edition with the leathery seude paw pads signed....the fur is like some man made mohair that looks great.

now get this, for so reason it did not sell and the woman marked it down to $12  (yes twelve dollars) I got it for a gift, but couldn't part with it after I got it home.  I ended up giving the baby bear to a friend and the big one is on my futon now.

sometimes a bear union is just ment to be huh?

oh the ideas of maybe a tiny icicle (maybe christmas ornimants) or a graphic arts button are great.

you know with my first bear I actually was playing away from my normal strengths, because I told the woman I am courting it would have been easy to sculpt or draw you a bear... I had never sewn a bear and really don't sew. 

thanks for wonderful ideas and brainstorming all... and thanks for the warm welcomes.

-articicle

I just want to thank everyone again to be so willing to dive into the "needlefelting for dummies" OR NEEDLEFELTING 101 REMEDIAL.

being new to all this I have found all the information very useful.  I honestly didn't even know the words roving or sliver refering to sheep. 

maybe this subject should get tagged somehow for us who are the truely new.

-articicle.

(I won't be new for long!)

The Articicle is my way to find something memorable.

Art  (I am an artist, graphic arts and cartoonist)
icicle (cool)

art thats cool

thanks for all the ideas everyone.  I think since I have done my first bear with buttons maybe a button on all my bears will be my mark.

thanks for not laughing at me... this sounds very neat.  some generous person has offered to send me a needle and some wool to try it out.  What a swell christmas gift.

by the way I actually did sew my first bear with tapastry needles, hey I'm new and honestly am learning as I go along.

articicle

:clap:

the cookie shingles and snowy icing rule.  God must have a sweet tooth, because he made candy taste so good.

Hey I wonder if that is the Sisterhood of the Sacred Order of Immaculate "Confection"?

WHAT IS THE FINAL TOUCH FOR A GREAT BEAR???

I was trying to think about something nice to add to a bear to make it special...

I was thinking some kind of
birth certificate
adoption papers
shrinky dink (shrinking plastic) tag
maybe a embrodered mark on its paw pad...
a miniature bear for a larger one?

I admit I am new but can people explain what needle felting is? 

are you like taking a handfull of polyfill and somehow tying it together to get a shape?

how?

yes... I really honestly dont know... hey I have only made one bear so far and in that learned that tapastry needles don't have good points. 

articicle

can you reduce any normal bear pattern and make a mini out of it or are there special factors involved?  I'm new and have only made one (regular) bear so far... forgive me if this is a super common or silly question.

take a gander at the charlotte bear named patches.  Its the first bear I have ever made, it has string joints and is hand sewn.