Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Kim!  Our Michael's here in Ohio has them.... look in cake decorating/candy making..... and also in wedding supplies.....  Or look in your phone book for a wedding cake shop or candy making supply shop... we have those all over the place in Ohio... you guys must have them in PA!?

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta

Oh.... you know what, i should clarify something, since the topic of the post is "shipping boxes."   The wedding cake boxes I use to pack my minis in would NOT be strong enough to with stand the horrific amount of abuse that a poor package goes through during the shipping process.  I double box.  The wedding cake box is like the "gift box,"  but that box is shipped in a nice sturdy corrugated cardboard shipping box.  I get the 5x5x5 or the 6x6x6 shipping boxes at Wal Mart!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Oh.. you are SOOO right on that one Judi!  Especially the figure out how it works part!!!!!    That IS the icing on the  :cake:  isn't it!!!!!

Beary trulu yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

I just ran out of little boxes today!  At my old house we had a fabulous scrapbooking/paper /art supply store right down the street that sold THE cutest boxes! Anything from a one inch cube all the way up!  I just went to JoAnn Fabrics to find something similar... I did find, in the cake decorating isle, little 5 x 5 x 3.5 inch boxes plain white and made for slipping a piece of wedding cake into as a take home favor..... They weren't exactly cheap.  I think they were close to a dollar a piece, but in my opinion, presentation is always a good thing!  I wrap my minis in acid free white tissue paper, then put them into a little box that I've lined with more white tissue.  I then close the box and place a cute little sticker that I printed from my computer (with one of my bear's faces & my company name) over the edge where the box opens.  It seals it up a bit!  Then that goes into a 6x6x6 inch brown cardboard shipping box along with a note from me.  I remember when I was a kid (and still now!!!!    )  I had a few bachelor uncles who would buy us the nicest gifts, but they didn't wrap it!!!!  They'd just leave it in the store bag and hand it to us!  Even if the gift was pretty cool, it just wasn't the same as unwrapping something in a box with shiny paper and bows and such!   
Wedding cake favor boxes could probably be found a whole lot cheaper if you bought in bulk from a wedding supply place... and I know that there are lots of web store that specialize JUST in boxes... but if you are looking to pick up something local... try a craft store or a cake decorating supply store... They'll have the wedding cake boxes... Oh, you know what I just thought of!!!!  When I got married our cake boxes were actually engraved with our names and the date in silver script with the date etc.... I bet if you went to a wedding printer you could order those!!!!! That would be pretty neat... but probably  fairly expensive... I can't remember for the life of me how much ours did cost.

Beray truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Yes, Kim and I have our own Kim B. club.... we have another Kim here too if I'm not mistaken as well! 
I have huge problems trying to figure out how to resize my photos so that they are the right size & resolution to post as avatars.... maybe I'll give it another try!

Beray truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Our ballet master wouldn't let us use lambswool in our point shoes!  So after I was about 12 or so, it was just absolute torture, until I built up the huge permanent callouses that I still have to this day!  My feet are completely hideous!  I have one big toe that is about half a centimeter shorter than it should be because I was dropped by an inattentive partner from an over the head hold straight down onto my toes....  ouch!  It was jammed and broken and I never had it reset... Arthritis at the ripe old age of 33 in both ankles and big toe joints! 
We had a great accompanyist for rehersals!!!! His name was Sebastien and he was a fabulous piano player.  We all had huge crushes on him       .... we used to talk him into playing pop music before class started.  Madonna sounds pretty funny on the piano!

Beray truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

There are types of dental floss that DO break down... either when exposed to a fair amount of moisture or just after a certain amount of time elapses.  They are marked "biodegradable," or "environmentally friendly."   I guess that quite a bit of dental floss winds up in the environment and in lakes and streams... and they were finding that birds and sea life were being harmed by it... sort of like those awful pictures you sometimes see with sea gulls or baby seals with the 6 pack rings around their neck.    I guess it can also play havoc inside the digestive tracts of some marine mammals.  So some companies started making environmentally safe dental floss.  The regular old cheap waxed kind doesn't do this.   This was a HUGE concern for mini makers, I'm sure you can imagine..... So may of us contacted the dental floss companies and that's the deal.  Sarah is so right... there really isn't a possibility of break down with the beading thread, it's not always as inexpensive as dental floss, but it's nearly as strong.  I use one from BeadaLon.... I'll see if I can post a few more specifics on it tomorrow...

Oh.... it may seem crazy to even think about dental floss as a sewing material... but when I was in the ballet, everyone used waxed dental floss (the non-biodegradable type!) to sew the ribbons and elastic on their point shoes... why?  It's impervious to moisture (sweat) and really takes a whole lot of friction to frey it.  I mean a LOT, even once the wax has worn off.  Weird huh?!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta

I think maybe some of it has to do with the size of your seam allowance.... the bigger the seam allowance, the less likely you would really need to frey check the whole pattern.  I tend to skimp a bit on my seam allowances... probably because even my larger bears tend to have wrists and ankles that are fairly slim... making turning a bit more difficult. When I skimp on the seam allowance a bit, they are easier to turn.. less doubled up bulk to pull through the turning hole.  But since I HAVE sewn closer to the cut edge than ordinary, I like to have that frey check there just as a protective measure.  I also HAND sew everything, so my pieces are probably handled a whole lot more on the cut edge than someone who might use a machine... again a bit of extra protection...
AND I stuff really really hard.... I mean REALLY hard, (so long as I'm not using an armature where I want to stuff a bit more softly so movement is possible).  I find that when I reach my hemostats in along the seam where I am stuffing, i am also chewing up that cut edge sometimes!  Early on before I was frey checking, I once had to unstuff basically and entire bear because I was absent minded and forgot to put on one of the disks ( I had the washer in there, but not the disk   :doh:  )
After she was unstuffed, I took a peak inside the  body cavity and the seams were kinda chewed up on the cut edge in the areas where I had not frey checked, but they were nice and neat where I had (around the areas left open for turning, the muzzle...) .... After that I started frey checking the whole darned edge of everything! 
I think there are a lot of factors that determine whether or not you really need to do it at all, much less do the whole thing.  I'm sure there isn't really a right or wrong way, just a personal preference, like so many things in bear making. 
It does get expensive, and I know that I am one for overkill and worry!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

That's an interesting idea Eileen... the only potential problem I could see with that is that you wouldn't be able to much inside seam grooming.....?  If I'm understanding it right.... I don't know....

Beray truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Thanks Kim.... she's my all time favorite of the larger bears I've made so far... I almost wish I would have kept this one.... her name is Rhaine, and she lives in Germany now.... to far away to even visit her!  Her new owner is super nice though!
I've gotta erase the text from my avatar though... to small to see!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

That's why I like the Fray-Check brand as well, Kate, the fast dry time..... I have a hard time even waiting for that to dry..... I always want to get those scissors out and dive right in immediately!!!! 

I mark out patterns with a Pigma Micron, made by Sakura Color Products Corporation... haven't had any problems with bleeding, even with the fray-check.  I use a gold metallic gel pen when working with dark backings, haven't had any problems with that either.

Berta gets my vote hands down if we ever had a world-wide contest for the "Super-Nicest Teddy Person in the World!"  The fabric I used on Sabina came from Berta.  It's probably considered a medium pile upholstrey velvet... it's nice and dense and has little grey/black hairs throughout it..... super fun stuff!  Though it does appear that she doesn't currently have any more instock...

http://www.threadteds.com/

Beray truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

On Mohair bears, regardless of the size, I trace the pattern pieces, then fray check all the lines, I do try to get a bit more where I know that I will have my opening for turning.... then cut out after it has fully dried.  On wee things, I don't fray check at all... all the fabrics I use don't really fray.... I wonder if there is a reason for doing it before vs. after cutting?  Anyone know?  I've always done it before, but it certainly does seem like it could be done either way.

Beary truly,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Thanks girls!  I will pass that information along, as well as the info of those who PM'd me and e Mailed me.... WOW!  You gals can really make some lovely bears from real fur!  Simply breathtaking!  I'm just NOT ready to go there yet...  I asked them if they had the fur... both do, both are heirloom coats, but not all that old, so I'd imagine that they'd be in pretty good shape.  One lady said hers is only about 20 years old, was worn for 5 years by her mother and then professionally stored by a furrier (she lives in FLA, and I'm sure she never really had a chance to break it out!)  The other is a beaver coat. 
She said that she asked the furrier down in Florida if he knew anyone who make teddies from fur and he said that he had heard of it, but couldn't recommend anyone... he had had many people ask him about it in the past 15 years since he's been there though.  You ladies that make heirloom fur bears... have you considered passing out a few cards to furriers in your area?  Might be a decent source of referrals!? 

Oh... anyone else you might want to send me your info, please do.... I won't be e Mailing them until Monday or Tuesday. 

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Hey Shelli & anyone else that it interested....  if you are like me.... research & read before sticking a toe in the water?  Have you purchased / checked out the books on the subject?  There are  a few....

Making & Dressing Miniature Bears by Julie K. Owen
Creating Miniature Teddy Bears by Linda Mullins
How to Make Enchanting Miniature Teddy Bears by Debby Kesling....

These are not the most recent of publications, but much of what has evolved in the mini world since then is stuff that you really already know from making larger bears... thread sculpting, etc,....  Okay.. now I really do need to get off the computer... I've been saying that all day!  We have so much going on here this weekend!  Like I said.... I'm certainly always ready willing and able to answer questions.... especially mini questions (as I have more experience in those than the larger).  If they come up this weekend just e Mail me, I'll be more likely to get those! 

Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

So glad that everything worked out for both of you!   I'm sure that when the shock of loss begins to smooth out a bit... she'll be head over heels in love with her new blue friend!  I would be!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Hi there!  A couple of months ago, and then again last week, I had e Mails concerning custom made real fur bears..... I don't work with real fur, so I had to turn them both down,    but does anyone do, or know anyone who does do special order real fur bears in the 15-20 inch range?  One lady was looking in the $400-$500 range and the other said $650.00 was her top limit.  I told each of them that I'd be happy to look around and see if I could find someone for them... so if you know of anyone, I'd love to pass along a link to these two ladies... I HATE saying "no" to people, and it would be so much easier for me to stomach it if I could at least be able to say, "No, I don't do them, but X does....."
You can e mail me, or PM me, or just post it here!  Thanks!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild  Thyme Originals

Hi Helena!  I can completely understand how you feel.  Commissions are either the most wonderful experience in the world..., or they can be downright terrible.... inevitably the customer has a vision in their mind, and it's downright impossible for you to be able to EXACTLY produce what she was thinking of precisely.  I've generally had pretty good luck with commissions, I do them on a regular basis and have about a 6 month waiting list at this point, but I did have one that just completely went terribly from start to finish.  Since this woman has been a good customer, I'd simply offer to try again.... rename the Bluebell that you've already made and sell her through your website or on eBay.   

Beary truly yours,
Kim basta
Wild Thyme Originals

WOW Shelli... a mini making question and I didn't even see it 'till right now!!!!! Everyone has done such a great job answering your question, I'm not even sure that there is much I can add! 
I really prefer to string joint my really tiny guys because I find that with the mini cotter pins the metal is just too soft to really be able to turn it down tight enough to get a nice firm joint in the limbs.  I use waxed dental floss or sometimes a heavy duty beading thread to string joint.   For my head joints I use a disk that is about the circumference of what you'd get if you used a standard sized hole puncher, and a mini cotter pin.  I use the T shaped cotter pins and a tiny little washer.  I've found that if you don't use that itty bitty washer you can still pull even the T shaped cotter pins through the hole if you exert a bit too much pressure on the joint.  I use 2 mm or 3mm onyx beads for eyes most of the time.  You can get very tiny black blown glass eyes on a U shaped wire from Intercal as well.  They are round (like a bead) rather than flat back, so you still really have to pull them in deep into the fabric.  You can thread sculpt just like you would on a larger bear to get a nice indented eye socket.  I use size 12 quilting needles, the are absolutely tiny with a tiny little eye.... For me the hardest part of mini bear making is just threading that minute needle... but I really do find that when i use a needle that fine and short I can get more stitches to the inch.  ( I stitch about 22 stitches to the inch).  I back stitch (usually twice) all the seams using about a 1/16th inch seam allowance.  The tinier the seam allowance the easier it is to turn.  I use hemostats and prayer  :pray: to turn, seriously.... that's the next hardest part of mini bear making!  If there are any more specific questions you have, or you get stuck along the way... fell free to ask me any questions you may have.  You might try getting me by e Mail for the next couple of days ... we have a busy weekend here and I may not be able to get to TT as much as I'd like to! 

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Yes... "bear artist" is just open to WAY too many bizarre interpretations!  I stay clear of that one for sure...
Even "teddy bear artist" requires some sort of an explanation.... when people hear "artist" I think they imediately assume that you are standing there with a paintbrush and a canvas.  I've had people think that I paint portraits of teddy bears!  :doh:  Or that I paint with the teddy bear as brush to get the paint onto the canvas!     
I just hate it when I start to explain and people say, "Oh.... you make stuffed animals , okay, I get it now!!!! How cute!" 
I LOVE to be proud of what I do, but like I said... in some company it's easier to just say, "I design and sew high end teddy bears."  Better yet... have a picture of one of your creations on your business card and when they start asking questions, you just whip one out and say, "THIS is what I do!"  There ARE a whole lot of people who just can't imagine a teddy bear collectors as anything but a 10 year old girl in an all pink room, sitting on her canopy bed surrounded by mountains of stuffed unicorns and Care Bears and the like!

Beary truly yours,
Kim basta
Wild Thyme Originals

I bought three colors of the smokey long pile and I am dying to try it!  Please..... maybe these kids will go to bed on time and I can get a pattern traced out before hubby wants his "husband" time!
:pray:

Beary truly yours,
Kim basta

It's not just on e Bay that 'Artist' is a really accepted term of art... it's the teddy bear industry/marketplace as a whole.  I generally think that 'bear artist' most commonly refers  to those who design their own patterns... as opposed to sewing a bear from another person's pattern.  The trade magazines make that distinction as well.  Depending on the company I am in, and how much I feel like explaining the whole concept of artist bears... I do occassionally say that I design and sew "high end" teddy bears.... that seems to be a bit more descriptive than "bear artist,"  that one can get you some strange looks if people interpret it as "bare artist." :redface: I guess that might be some sorta naked performance art kinda thing.... definitely not what I do!   

Beary truly,
Kim basta

I don't think you should be hesitant to use the word 'artist' in your auction titles, or for any other purpose at all Helena!  Your bears are positively lovely!    I won't touch the whole debate about whether it's proper to use the term 'art' to describe a personally designed, handmade teddy bear with a ten foot felting needle!!!!  But, what i do know is that it is an absolutely standard "term of art" (there's that word again!) in our industry to distinguish such a bear from a manufactured teddy.  Again, it's a top 10 search word, and you should certainly use it!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Sassy Bears & Fabric is :

http://www.sassybearsandfabrics.com/

Dear Bears is :

http://www.dear-bears.com/cgi-bin/mivav … rchant.mvc

You know, it's just so gosh darn insanely crazy... I wonder if it's not a case of a law (or a hospital policy) being written that was just worded improperly.....

We read the funniest case in law school... which happened to take place in my home state of Ohio.  :redface:  where someone was attempting to pass a law that would place really hefty fines and possible jail time as a punishment for those who would relieve themselves against a school yard fence or on school property in general.  Well, obviously, they were trying to deter situations where some drunk takes a pee up against a school building.... clearly something that should be deterred!  But the poor fools when they drew up the law, it essentially BANNED ALL urination as well as defecation within the school, as well as a within a 100 foot radius of the school! 

Can you imagine all those poor kids jumping up and down in the hall way with legs crossed, just dying to get home so they could empty their little bladders!?  Lets hope that it's a policy where something has been left out of context, and when put back in it becomes completely understandable.... Let's HOPE!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals