Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hee hee, thanks Stephanie... I got it from this really nice lady who does this GREAT fabric!!!     I have just fallen in love with the smokey stuff...  It does my best bears!  You DO realize that I'm going to have to keep going back until I have all the colors, right?

Hee hee

Kimberly W.

Kim B.  using a toothbrush on the minis, what an excellent idea!!!!!  Never thought of that.  I usually just kind of run the tip of my needle (not too hard) along the seam so the tip rakes out any stuck hairs....  fur on minis is never hard to get out...  My seams are easily and quickly done with the needle technique

Kimberly W.

I know what you mean, Kim B.  Wow, it's snowing outside....  Oh, where was I?  lol

OK yes...
On minis, I tuck the fur in between the backing with the needle as I sew along.  On big bears, what I do with the longer  and or thicker furred bears is I go along as I am stitching and about an  inch or so in (where my stitch is actually going to fall) I part through the fur and tuck in the fur that will be on the right side of the bear.  This is probably the same concept of your trimming Kim B., I just don't actually cut mine for fear of clipping in too far and then having a 'bald spot' somewhere along my seam!  I am not that experienced!! lol  So anyway, I just part and tuck as I go, sewing along that part I've made.  When I'm done, I turn my piece, check my seams to make sure it all looks good before stuffing.  I almost always stuff before I pluck, and I only pluck little bits at a time in the areas where there managed to get a bunch of fur stuck in the seam.  I pluck with my needle, and if I get too big a hunk, it won't pull out.  Nothing wrong with big hunks, but on a bear they can be worrisome.      I know what you mean about having too much fur in the seam.  I did that on a couple of my earlier bears.  Then I had to turn it back inside out and reverse pluck (or pluck from the inside to get some of that fur off the outside of the bear)  Oh yeah, I never close up my hole until I've plucked.... I never know if I might have to unstuff and turn it back again for some reason or another!!!

Geez, how can bearmaking sound so.... gross?!?!? lol

Did that make any sense?????

Kimberly W.

Hee hee hee, well I don't know if my way is the 'orthodox' way of doing it, but if I have leftover spaghetti (to me it's gotta be the homemade kind, prego just doesn't cut it!) I mix the two (noodles and sauce) and store it... Then when I'm ready for leftovers, I just melt copious amounts of butter (OK, well maybe just about 1/2 to 1 TBS) in a nonstick frying pan on med high heat then dump my spaghetti in...  Often (because I'm a butter freak and LOOOOOVE butter in my spaghetti.. if you haven't tried it, TRY IT!) I'll put a little more butter in and sprinkle with Parmesean cheese while frying (if you don't want the mess of the melted cheese, you can wait and put it on after).  You just have to fry it to heat it up, not cook it all over again!

I dump it on my plate and enjoy....  YUM!  It's even better when it's fried leftovers....

If anyone's interested in my homemade spaghetti sauce recipe, just let me know...  It's always a big hit and not too hard to make (it just cooks for a good while, but you can let it simmer and do something else)

Kimberly W.

Hello guys,

I am having a tough time deciding whether to enter the TOBY  because I am so new...  Part of me REEEAAALLY wants to enter, but the other part of me says, "Don't get ahead of yourself there, Kim!"

Anyone have words of encouragement, discouragement, self stories, or anyone else new and thinking about entering?  I know it never hurts to try, but I don't want to be getting ahead of myself, and I also don't know if I'm good enough...

I'd like honest answers (not to say anyone would lie, of course!!!! but I don't want any sugar coating... make sense?)  Give it to me straight...  get down to the nitty gritty.... tell me like it is.... lol

Beary warm wishes,
Kimberly Whitlock

Huh, I've learned something new....

I always picked the seams after stuffing, but while I sew, I always tuck the fur in as I go along with the needle, That way most of the fur is pushed out already, and I can get good tight stitches that aren't going to loosen when I do have to pluck those few renegade tufts...

Kimberly W.

Hee hee, I can see why you guys wouldn't want to part with the bears you've shown!!

And I Do take a gazillion photos of my bears before they go so that I can go back and look at them from every angle.  That way I still feel like I've kinda sorta kept them... except Samuel... I think I will always miss him. 

I do like Rhaine from Kim B. too, but my favorite of all time has GOT to be Ava... She's just lovely, and my favorite of Kim's...  Coming in a close second is Rory, he's too cute!  I am hoping maybe one of these days I'll be good enough for Kim to want to do a Teddy swap with me... hee hee    Don't worry Kim... I'm not hinting... 

And Bramble is just soooo sweet!!!  He look slike he needs a hug every day!

Kimberly W.

Hilarious!!  It reminds me of giving little Samuel a hug and a kiss on the forehead and saying "I'll really miss you," before I put him in the box to be shipped away to his new home.  What is it about bears and the way they look right into your heart?

I, too am one of those who DO NOT want to know what I've gotten.  My husband, darn him, will come over and say, "Do you want me to tell you what I got you?" and I respond a resounding, "NO!!!  I WANT the surprise!!!!" lol 

Why can I see you madly ripping into the box, paper, packing peanuts and cardboard shrapnel flying everywhere?  Just tell your husband to take cover...

Kimberly W.

Aleta,

Your bears are simply wonderful!  They have sweet, warm faces!! 

I am seriously eyeing that blue jacket on the middle bear... Ooooo I likey!!!!!  I want!!!! lol    

Kimberly W.

Ohhhh, I am loving little Snow Bear and the seven dwarf hares!  They are all three seriously beautiful; I can see why you wouldn't want to part with them... The time alone in all those wee bunnies.... But SO worth it when you have that wonderful set...

Pipa, my first was purple too! (minus the yellow)  His name is Cosmo, and while he'll always have this little spot in my heart, I have already started to pick him apart, all the mistakes I made as a brand newbie!!! lol

here is my first bear I ever did...

Does anyone know how to put pics in amongst the wording?  I can only stick em on top!

Kimberly W.

Oooo, I've always wanted a goat, and I want one of these!!!  Do you think I could potty train one and have it in my house?????  It could be just like a dog... lol

I am liking the ears, too hee hee!  I'm one for floppy animal ears!

Kimberly W.

So I'm wondering about all our lovely bear makers and your bears...

Do you keep some of your bears, have you kept any of them, or are they all gone?  I'm tlaking about bears that you've made yourself, and if so, why don't we add PICS!!!!  I'd love to see a pic of the bear (s) that have tickled your fancy so much that you just couldn't part with them....

....mostly because I am longing for a bear that I recently sold and I REALLY wish I'd kept.     Don't get me wrong, I am so happy he's going to someone who obviously loves and appreciates wonderful bears (she has some of Kim Basta's bears, so there's a point right there!! )  but he just really tugged at my heart.  I do still have my first bear I'd ever made...

How about ya'll?  This is Samuel, who has become my favorite to date.... 

Beary warm wishes,
Kimberly Whitlock

I myself am married with two little girls, ages 4 and 2, plus two big boy dogs, one Bernese Mountain Dog and one Golden/Akita mix.  My husband work 40 + hours a week in the afternoon and I work 40 hours a week starting at 5 am.  That saves us on daycare expenses.  I am very fortunate to have a husband who honestly does over half of the housework.  Speaking of which, I need to get downstairs and clean the kitchen.  I'll admit housework has slacked since I started making bears.  My husband only complains every now and then, when it looks as though Katrina came through our house.

I have diligently trained my girls to help straighten up their toys and easy things like their movies and such.  they both help me put away dishes, and Gabrielle helps set the table for dinner.  She just picked that one up on her own...  I'll usually do my bears in the evenings while watching a movie with the girls or when I'm laying in bed at night.

I keep reminding myself that I'm really lucky to have a husband that went from thinking that men shouldn't lift  finger in the house and should have their off days to 'rest' when I met him to helping as much as he does without very much complaint. 

Geez, now that I've re read this, I really need to get the house straightened up so he doesn't have to!

Beary warm wishes,
Kimberly Whitlock
'Bear' Bottoms Originals

GASP!  I thought my family was the only ones who fried spaghetti!!!!  I do with butter... YUM

Kimberly W.

Oh, by the way, Brenda....

To add more than one pic, you have to submit your first pic, then when your message shows up with the pic in it, down in the lower right hand corner of your post you'll see Delete | Edit | Quote
Click on Edit, and scroll down under your message.  You'll see a place where you can add another photo.  Do that one by one until you have all your pics in your post!  I think there's a limit, though, so don't go too wild!!   Oh yeah, and your pics have to be I think 600 megapixels at the most

Kimberly W.

Kim B.  I DID see your little ones!  You have 3 beautiful children.  You know, your girl looks a lot like I thought she would!  Go fig!  and your two boys are going to be heartbreakers as they get older, if they aren't already! 

You all have some darling babies!  I just looooved perusing through all the photos.  We will have to do a 'pics of ourselves' or '...of our whole families' at some point in time!  I'd love to see what all you bear makers look like! 

I didn't realize how many of you bear makers are so young!  I thought I was going to be a baby joining this group, but I see I'm closer to the middle!

And how on earth did I miss 'Fran's gorgeous son'???????  I didn't see a pic posted by her at all!!  Fraaaaaan, I want to see your gorgeous son!!     Perhaps I can add in one of those, "If I was younger and wasn't happily married....." things... hee hee

Kimberly W.

OK, so here are my little chittlins. I have two daughters Gabrielle is the older one, age 4 and Brynn is the younger, age 2.

Do not be decieved by their sweet appearance... They are right now downstairs jumping off of the couch onto the cushions that they have thrown on the floor, laughing and screaming at each other...  I am more likely to find my kids doing things like that one of my older girl in the goggles than sweetly parading around in Cinderella dresses.  My younger one would sooner parade around with nothing on and swinging her diaper around, leaving a trail of clothes behind.

Hmmm, my older one just answered the phone and is chatting with whoever is on it, yay...  I wonder who it is...

Thought I'd mention since I'm adding photos... She was chatting with a sales person.... lol

Kimberly W.

I didn't see the story... but I've seen it before... And how sweet is it!!!!  Talk about inspiration... Sweet little orphaned Hippo finds a 'mom' in an old wrinkled tortoise.  They're stuck like glue....  Just melts my heart....

Kimberly W.

OMG!!! You guys CRACK me UP!!!  Personally, I like the snipers on my items.  It's so exciting in the last few seconds, you wouldn't believe how many times I hit the refresh button...  I'm suprised the left click on my mouse isn't dead and there isn't a permanent image of a little pointy finger on the refresh button on my screen.

Oh, but just to let ya'll know who say you didn't bid because you knew someone else would win it, help a sista out and bid... the more bids the merrier!!!!   

Oh, and I don't snipe...  I don't too often but anything anymore on eBay...  Every once in a while something will catch my fancy....

Kimberly W.

Hi Sabine,

Steal away!  I 'stole' it from Kim Basta!  Thanks Kim!!!

Oh, by the way, he's been listed on eBay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi … %3AIT&rd=1

Kimbelry W.

You are right about that, Kim!  Then add just a touch of shading and viola!  Those little guys just have so much depth!  It's a good thing we have Sassy Bears, or else what would we all do?!?!?! lol  Thanks for pointing me in her direction, Kim!  I really enjoy making the little bears out of the smokey stuff! 

this is also the first time I've tried the nose gloss... I'm liking it!

Kimberly W.

OH MY GOSH!!!!!  WHY on earth did I start reading this post?!?!?!?  Now my curiosity is completely KILLING me!!!  Dilu, you do realize that now you have to let us ALL know (well, those of us who DON'T know) what he got you!!!!!!

Oh please, oh please will someone PM me?  I am a reeeeeeeaaally good secret keeper!!!! C'mon Kimbee,  you can tell meeeeeeee....  lol

OK, well if no one lets me in on the skinny then I've GOT to know on Christmas Day..

Kimbelry W.

Awww, thanks Dilu!!  Hey, by the way... The other night I was sitting in bed working on little Sebastian, and that quote kept running through my head OVER and OVER... because I couldn't remember the whole thing and it was driving me CRAZY!!! lol Good Gollies rule... naughty gollies have more fun!

ha ha

Kimberly W.

Thank you so much, Ann and Sue!

Kimberly W.

Well, my husband has given him the perfect name, and he's givven the little head nod saying he agrees.

So his name is Sebastian.

Oh, and he's not listed on eBay yet, he'll be listed Tuesday, December 13th.  I'll have the link when he's listed!

Kimberly W.