Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Kelly - I attended the TBAI last year  for the first time and met you and your mother and saw your wonderful bears.

Janet -  Remember we were side by side at the show.  I enjoyed visiting with you about your family and beautiful home.

Deborah - Was so hoping to meet you and see your bears in person, but I will not be going this year.   My husband has had health issues all year which have gotten more complicated and  requiring more supervision by me, so I cannot come this year.  I have been looking forward all year to this week to see all the wonderful creations and meet with the different artists.  Hopefully I will be able to attend next year.  Right now, my place is here where I am needed.

I am trying to get my gallery piece shipped for the Friday Gala since I have spent the time and energy to create it.
At least I can contribute to the show in this small way.

You gals have a good time and be sure to give a report of all the happenings.

Hugs,

Wanda

Brenda,

As I'm sitting here in the cool air conditioning, I see it it 107 heat index here in the Midwest USA ... grass is brown, so no mowing ...just the weeds are surviving.  Suppose to cool off Thursday ...Yeah !!!     Sunday the heat index was 113 .... whew!!!

Wanda

Brenda,

That is my guess too .... so is it Jane's ????     Both Jane and Rita are my favorite artists.

Little brown bear wearing off white suspender pants with key around neck sitting middle of bottom shelf ..... RIDI Bear

White Bear on Top right ... Jane Perala ?????

Tracy,

A proud cut horse is more dangerous as shown by your excitement this weekend.  People treat them as a "gelding" and they are not.  Someone can really get hurt and usually it the ones who do not know about the situation. 

A stallion knows that he is put on this earth for one reason only and nothing or anyone can stand in his way.  Only professionals should handle a horse like that.   I  have had horses all my life and there's no way I would attempt to handle Kip until he has had some serious surgery.

Hugs,

Wanda

Tracy,

A proud cut horse is much more dangerous than a stud!   He can be helped by a surgical procedure which involves putting the horse completely out so they can remove the retained testical ... a  more expensive but effect way to turn a dangerous horse into the quiet gelding he should be.   The U. of I. in Champaign here in Illinois does this.

So glad you were not hurt in  all the excitement.

Wanda

Janey ...Janey ...

I have never been on a cruise before and I didn't even get seasick !!! .....Love the purple bikini and WOW .. you really dressed me for the meal.  ....pearls and all.

Thanks for taking me away from the hum drum of everyday life to experience a fantasy of fun.

Hugs,

Wanda

Dearest Jane,

So sorry to hear all your bad news.  Sending a big hug and prayers for you and your family.

Hugs,

Wanda

Dilu, Eileen, Laura, SueAnn, Brenda, Birgitte, Hayley, Daphne, Louise, Chrissie, Kim and Nancy .... thank you  for the compliments.   

Gosh, my head will be so big I won't fit through the door !!!    Really, you gals are the best!

Hugs,

Wanda

Well,

You  gals are more disciplined than I am .... I have been WANTING to learn  Photoshop, but  that thing they call "time" sure is elusive to me.  I purchased a book to learn HTML in a weekend ...well, got through the Friday night lesson and then too many things buried that plan.

Good luck, I know you all will  master the techniques.

Thanks for the bear compliments, but sometimes I  feel mine are lesser than some I see here on TT .... you all have such great talent and imagination. 

Hugs,

Wanda

Hey,

Look at the  Banner that Ms Shelli made for me!! .... Neat, huh?

That gal just oozes talent.

Thanks Shelli,

Wanda

Daphne,

The pygmy goats mature to 19", give or take an inch.  They are perfect for a hobby farm and the grandkids just love them. 

I always want to give the babies a big hug, they're so cute.

Sorry I don't have much time for posting, but I'm always reading the goings on here.  You gals are great and I use TT as my "away time" from the real world.  Keep up the good work and I'll try to comtribute more.

Hugs,

Wanda

Thought you might enjoy a picture of the new triplets born two weeks ago.  They are registered Pygmy Goats and are the cutest little things.

You can judge their size by the steel post which is 2 or 2 1/2 inches wide.  Two are little does (girls) and the one with the red collar is a little buck (boy).  They jump like little rabbits when first turned out in the mornings and are such fun to watch.

I'm reading "Simple Abundance" a couple of pages each night before retiring.  Just don't have time to read.   I know, I know, one usually finds time to do what they want to do, guess I don't want to read that badly.

Hugs,

Wanda

My favorite movies include.....  "Footloose" ...... I just love all the songs and music in this movie.  If I'm having a bad day, just watching this movie changes everything. ... Love the African Queen, The Searchers with John Wayne, and Kevin Spacey in the Negotiator.    My daughter and I both like Con Air with Nicholas Cage.  I know there's more, but these rank at the top.

Wanda

Eileen,

It depends on the look I'm after.  I usually use the same size disc in the body as the head and then adjust the tightness of the cotterpin.   I have used the smaller disc in the body with great success for an older looking bear.  Just depends on the "look" you are aftern...... there's always more than one way to do anything.

Hugs,

Wanda

Dear Bronwen,

When you say wobble joint, are you talking about using two cotterpins by looping the eyes together and then inserting the spike open ends into the head and one into the body?  This technique will give you a really wobbly head and broke neck look.

I make my bears with wobble heads by using the traditonal cotterpin technique.   Run a single cotterpin through a disc and enclose inside the head.   Attach the head to the body in the normal way.  Instead of tightening the cotterpin as tight as I can get it, I curl the ends just tight enough so the head will wobble from side to side and front to back without looking as if it will fall off any second.  Almost all my bears have the looser cotterpin heads which enables them to pose in a lot of cute positions.

Hugs,

Wanda

Scott,

Love the story about the manly man briefcase.  And, you are right!  Everything and the kitchen sink.

But don't forget the DUCT TAPE! ... I use this to secure my table cover so no one can step on the end or pull it off the table.  It is useful in placing all those electrical wires where you want them so they are not dangling off the back of the table.  You know, wires for lights, calculators, computers (for Birgitte).   I also use it to tape together cardboard boxes which make great risers.  The boxes fold down for shipping and then you can put them together with the duct tape.

You can also tear off a strip and use to take off mohair which always clings to those nice show clothes after you brush a teddy.

So, throw in a small roll of duct tape for the next show.

Hugs,

Wanda

Judi,

Your story proves the point that everything happens for a reason, Penny made a special bear for a reason, she removed it from E-Bay for a reason, the bear was named Luna for a reason,  and the precious bear arrived at your house at a very specific time, FOR A REASON. 

I truly believe everything happens for a reason.  We may not know what that reason is at the time or may never know, but it is for a reason that only the Divine knows for sure.

Your story has not depressed me in the least.  After the tears, comes the smile knowing that everything is as it should be, everything is fine and in order, and that we are all here for a reason ... to help each other.

Thank you for bringing comfort to me through your story.

Hugs,

Wanda

Tracy,

How wonderful for you!    We added a family room to our little house.  I drew out the plans to scale, just where I wanted everything, electrical outlets, windows, doors, etc.  That was the fun part.

Was lucky to find a contractor who needed a job (was a fellow I had once worked with).  He itemized everything and gave us a bid.  Course, you always and I mean always spend more than you plan. 

We started Oct 13 and the room was finished Dec 12.  There was no plumbing, just electrical and heat ducts.   We spend just about every minute in the new room.   I made a studio out of the old bedroom that now adjoins the new family room. 

You'll love the new additions.  All the work and mess will be worth it.  Yeah, there will be dust, etc. to deal with, but well worth it.

Hugs,

Wanda

Brigitte,

Move your mouse to the PM under my avatar and click to send me a private message with your mailing address.

Hugs,

Wanda

Hi Birgitte,

Sure thing.    You can send me a personal message with your address.

Hope they work for you !!

Hugs,

Wanda

Hey,

Anyone want to try the alligator clips?   I bought 100 of the little boogers and my tired ole fingers don't like squeezing them.   (Thought squeezing might be better than sticking, but I have become accustomed to sticking)..... I have used pins for so many years, this ole dog just can't do the new trick.

Anyone interested can have them for the price of shipping?

Any takers?

Hugs,

Wanda

Shantell

I have used the baby patterns from McCall's, Butterick, etc.  They are roomy for a bear whereas the doll patterns are for a more shapely figure and we know most bears do not have a waist as such.    Altering the baby patterns would be at a minimum to fit your bear.

I have also made patterns from ready made clothing, such as the little pants for Tyler.  I made the pattern from a pair of vintage wool child's pants.  This involves a lot of measuring, etc.

I'm sure you will do fine.  The gals have  given a great list of resources on this subject.   You'll have to show us the finished attire.

Hugs,

Wanda