Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

My favourite low calorie/fat dish is cous cous stuffed mushrooms or you could use rice.

Just stuff 3 large flat mushrooms with cooked cous cous (I like the garlic one), sprinkle a little grated low fat cheese, in the oven on a medium heat for about 15 mins and enjoy with a salad.

We have something here called Staffordshire oatcakes. They are a bit like a savoury crepe or pancake, I'm not sure whats in them apart from oats! We then fill them with cheese, bacon or my favourite sausage. Not exactly slimming but very nice.

:rolleyes:Doh! Why did'nt I think of that. I am painting my workroom at the moment and the paint fumes haves dulled my brain!!

Dilu. I love the golly on the left. I am having a bit of positive Teddy Talk time. You're all probably still asleep in the US. Woke up here in England with more news of thwarted suicide bombers and a bombing in a hotel in Egypt.:( Its just nice to connect with all of you lovely ladies.

A bigger photo and details of your golly would be lovely.

Sue Ann's story was great, again the stuff we need.

Hiya Paula. I will have a look for you when I'm out and about. The smallest things can really drive you mad. Sorry I can't be more help.

Its really hard to get things together. I have quite a lot of spare time, but it is spread out. I have decided to clear out my work room. I can just about get to my work space. Books, boxes and junk fill the room. I'm going to clear it out, decorate and make it nice to work in.

I think perhaps we are being hard on ourselves sometimes. When Amy goes back to school in September and the weather changes I think I will feel more like making, instead of bear daydreaming! Now wheres that paint brush?

Thanks SueAnn. I have just registered there. Its got a mini bear and needlefelting subforum which will be good when it gets going. I agree we can spend too much time here, but I think although I end up doing less bears, I pur more in them because of all the ideas and enthusiasm.

I won some green and grey dolls eyes on ebay. So then I think maybe I will needlefelt around the eyes, then that moves something on in my head, and I may see a certain arm shape. It is hard sometimes to just get started. Looking at peoples websites can inspire me.

I had a similar situation to Shelli. Christmas 2004. My daughter accused me of eating her tree chocolate (Me? Never!) only it was the mice! Like Shelli says you do have to think of the hygiene angle. Don't worry Jane, my mother-in-law once spent 4 hours in her chair as there was a spider on the curtain 3 feet away. She thought if she got up it would come at her!

I have noticed the spiders lately are getting bigger. Still I don't think my Brambly Hedge figures look so cute, now I have seen their real cousins! Stick to bears, I think.:)

Incey, Wincey spider climbed up the spout.... Jane you have just got to make a spider. A lovely, cuddly, friendly one! My husband hates spiders. I have had a mouse problem. Eeek!:o A few months ago we were watching TV saturday night, glass of wine in hand, you know chillled out, then a mouse popped its head down and looked at us from the chimney! We spent the next hour trying to catch it. No luck so I went bed. YUCK!

Thanks for sharing your special moment. Its cold and rainy here ( after some glorious weather) and I feel down. Now I am going to think of your post, wind in the hair, smiles and so much luuuuve!

HI Clare. Not nosey, just interested! I have loads of time to spare. I work one day a week (for slimming world) but am on a go slow at the moment. With it being summer I suppose its slow sales wise too. I need to get some of the advice together like websites and correct photography. I need it to be done by the autumn ready for christmas.

I think your mood plays a part. I don't feel as upbeat as usual (next doors kids playing loud music!!!!ahh!!).On a good week, its one a week. I think I need to pull myself together, get in my spare room (it is away from loud music!) and get sewing.

When I had a bear shop, before christmas was of course busy, but also not too bad the weeks just after when the ladies spent their christmas money. People have other money commitments at this time of year.

Good advice from everyone on my 'ebay advice please' post. Thanks.

Hello and welcome Kim. Thanks for your opinions. Like you say there seem to be no set rules, but good advice all the same. I think you are spot on about getting a following. I have not had anything on for awhile but I was getting more hits. All experiences are welcome!

Hi Shelli. I have being thinking of trying this. I have a lovely picture on my wall of a dark bear with a beige muzzle. I have looked in Nancy Tillberg's 101 bears to make and on page 114 she gives some advice on pattern slicing. Throughout the book there are bears with different coloured muzzles.

With your eye style maybe go up to the top of eyes with the muzzle colour on the gusset head piece. Then on the side pieces where you would usually scissor sculp to? Page 115 gives you some ides. Good luck it will probably still be trial and error!

There is a five year old girl in my daughters school, very pretty with blonde hair and she is called Kezia.

Verity is a nice name, shes on the radio here.
Louisa
Lily or Lillian. Her nose and dark red accents in the eyes remind me of those in real lilies. Good luck!

Hello everyone.

I only sell on ebay at the moment. I was wondering things like is it better to start off with a low price or does it make your bears look 'cheap'?

Do reserves put people off or, like my husband says, it makes sure you get a fair amount. £50 is the lowest you can put here in the UK.

Is it better to end your auction, for example, 7.00pm Sunday when people are at home so they could maybe up their bid, or late at night so they would put their highest bid in before?

I know its a quiet time of year now so any ebay tips or experiences would be welcome.

Marie, what a wonderful trio. You've really got something. I think you really can do the sweet, light coloured bears and the noses are spot on. I don't sell at shows anymore, just ebay. So I will be learning along the way about websites, etc. Great stuff!

Just e mailed. Hope it worked!

Thanks Shelli and Sue Ann. I had not given much thought on how the background would bounce light. I am going to do a light tent, it can't make things worse, only better. I also have manual exposure and am going to get my brain around that. I think if I try to improve my camera knowledge one step at a time it won't be so daunting.

Thanks Dilu. Bruno has doll eyes and needlefelted lids. My husband used to say he felt odd everytime he glimpsed Bruno as he seemed to be watching him! He is going to a lady in Belgium soon. Loved the new Gollies by the way. My husbands only childhood toy is Golly. Hurray for a bear's best friend!

P.S. What a fabulous link (see Shelli's post). Not only loads of lovely bears, but... you're right nearly everyone is against a mid blue background! What a eureka moment. Thanks everyone.

Hi. This problem is driving me crazy. I use a canon powershot a75 and am comfortable with macro and the editing etc. My problem is I just can't seem to get the colours true. I don't use a flash and I have tried in many light conditions. Do I need to use a light tent? I have light bulb settings on my camera as well as white balance. Any opinions on if the light tent would improve colours would be appreciated.
Bruno is an example. In real life he is a lot more chestnut brown coloured, but thats about as close as I could get.

Heres Marie and the Kiprie Bears,
Poor Shanty thinks 'nobody cares',
But 'Hey shanty with eyes so blue',
We at Teddy Talk all love you!

Can't you tell I only got a C in O level English!

I used to have a bear shop called Berry Browns. There was someone in the phone book called Mr Berry- Brown. Seemed a good name at the time. I now use Pandy Potter. My dad used to call it me when I was little. My name is Mandy, we live in Stoke-on-Trent (The Potteries-Wedgewood, Royal Doulton etc. are made here) and my first ted was a panda.

Shari. You really must do some more bears like that. Such a clever idea.

Marie. I needlefelted the top lids around the eyes, then the bottom. I then did the nose, and then added the cheeks. I also used the wool kind of loose to shade the inside ears, muzzle area and then the chest. I am very new to this so am learning as I go. Its very addictive though.

Keep them coming everyone, its so lovely to see all the styles of bears.

It does stretch a little. There is some good advice on tips and techniques under Nap direction by Sewzanne. I really loved using it as it was so soft. I found the company when I froogled needlefelting. They are very quick and don't overcharge for delivery. There is a lovely needlefelted face clown bear kit out soon. Good luck.
Forgot to say I have a Koala under general discussions (new creations) and used Pawbears needlefelting wool, mixed to get the right colours.

Hi. there is a company in England that has some lovely faux fur. They have a nice long dark brown tipped one. I have ordered needlefelting supplies as well. My avatar is one of their faux furs.

http://www.pawbears.co.uk

Hiya. Here is my latest Koala, Oliver. He is 4 1/2" tall and has needlefelting detail. He also has handmade eyes by a lovely lady Clare who makes fairies!