Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Rinn,
If you are still looking I found a free pattern for a duck.  Here is the site:  http://noseynest.blogspot.com/2008/06/l … eebie.html
It looks fairly simple and easy to make.
Good Luck,
Donna

Hi,
Edinburgh Imports has a selection of the faux fur.  Most of it has the woven back.
Donna

Does anyone have a source for bell collars?  Years ago, I got mine from Haida on the east coast but they are no longer in business.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Donna

Hi Jeannette,
You can check with www.edinburghimports.com and see if what they have in the synthetic section is what you are looking for.
Are you looking for plain colors or animal look?  Is it the feel or the woven backing that is important?  Are you going to need yards or like fat quarters? 
Donna

It opened just fine for me.  Had a quick look see at all your wonderful bears.  I hate when the computer acts up.  Good luck finding the problem.
Donna

Pat,
That is correct.  There are four head pieces.  Two head sides, one top gusset and one chin gusset.  The mouth is a totally separate piece that is sewn on by hand after the head is finished.  I am searching for my pattern.  I had a friend that was wanting to know how I did it and I am hoping that I did not give it to her.
Donna

Pat,
Let me find my pattern.  A picture is worth a thousand words.  But till then, I sew the chin gusset in first to the two side heads.  Then I sew the normal top head gusset in.  My chin gusset ends before the end of the two side heads so where the nose would be on the gusset there is just the regular two side head pieces.  After my head is all sewn and stuffed and eyes and nose on it, I add on the open mouth.  I first sew the mouth across the top where the pink ultrasuede is then I sew from one side of the mouth down towards the neck and up the other side to the other edge of the mouth.  I then do some scuplting of the inside (pink ultrasuede) to give it an indention.  I may do some sculpting of the upper mouth.  Then I check to see that the rest of the mouth looks good and is secure.
I'll be back with the pattern pieces.
Donna

Pat,
The open mouth that works best for me has the neck-chin gusset.  The muzzle is not as deep as other bears.  Then the mouth piece is like a two hump camel that is sewn together with the inside mouth out of ultrasuede.  This gives it more area to attach to the chin area.  Then it is stuffed very firm.  Then there are sculpting stitches that help keep it firmly in place.  I found this worked better for me than the ear shape mouth.  I'll see if I can find the lower jaw and scan it and put it up here for you.
Donna

You might want to check out Monica Spicer's tutorial on the open mouth.  Just google her name and it should come up.  When I do an open mouth, I like to do the add on kind.  I feel I can get better results.  Check the library on here, at least a year ago we were discussing making a mouth that would open and close.  I know during that discussion there was wire mentioned.  I don't know if there are any detailed instructions for it.
Donna

Thanks for the idea. 
I just got back from our local honey farm with a handful of bees wax.  They also had the candles.  They had a different bear candle that I really liked.  From now on when we go to get honey, I will have to check out what they have in the gift shop also.
Donna

I use a blow dryer for the hair to set the color.  You may have it on too heavy if the color did not set in the oven.  Try the blow dryer set on high.  Hold your hand behind or to the side of the piece you are setting the color.  You will want it so hot that it is uncomfortable for you to hold your hand there.  Then take a paper towel and gently rub the area where the color is.  Keep this up until there is no longer color on the paper towel. 
Hope this helps.
Donna

Hi,
Try using sandpaper on it.  Also there is a product that they use for staining that is in the folk art section of the crafts stores.  Wish I could have a product name for you but I got this info from another bear artist and didn't get a name.
Good Luck,
Donna

Hi Clare,
I have some also.  Let us know what you are looking for.  I know that Schulte mill and Steinlein mill manufacture viscose.  So check their reps in your area.  Have you checked to see if Intercal has any?
Good luck finding it.
Donna

Hi All,
I have a question about facebook.  Do you have to have an account to go look at something on facebook?
There is a Clarion Convention group that I wanted another artist to check out and I was not sure if she needed to become a member of facebook to be able to view it.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Donna

Let me dig and see what I have.   I just checked and the largest I have are 13mm.
Sorry!
Donna

Glad to see you are able to create again.  I was really worried about you.  Now, I need to get back into the action!
Bear Hugs,
Donna

Shane,
My take on your problem with the set screws is that you are turning the screw rather than the locknut when you are tightening down the joint.  Try to hold the screw still and just turn the nut and see if that will work better for you.  Let me know if that works. 
Bear Hugs,
Donna

Hi Lenora,
I like to use the set screws or some people call them a grub screw or Arizona joint.  I tried using epoxy to glue the disc to the bolt but after having it fail a few times on me I found it was better to use the set screw.  The set screw has a small hole in the end of it for you to use an allen key to hold it from moving while you tighten the nut.  With the set screw you need two nuts, one nut being the head of a bolt.  I use them for all my joints now (except for minis) so that every thing is nice and tight.  I also like to close the arms and legs before attaching to the body of the bear.
Are you holding the disc tightly as you try to tighten the nut?  Make sure you don't have any fur in between the nut and the bolt.  I hope you don't have to take the joint out and start over.
Donna

Thanks Maria,
I am not sure that they have what I am looking for, but I ordered the sample swatches and ordered several of their fabrics.  I had looked at their site in the past but had forgotten about them with my current search.
Donna

So the velboa is more like a cashmere?
Donna

I am hoping someone here can tell me the difference between viscose and velboa.  I am familiar with viscose (long pile rayon) and have used it in the past.  Also does anyone have a good source for either or both?
Thanks for any help,
Donna

Hi Lee Ann,
When I do a real fur bear, I like to use a template.  I stitch the bottom part of the template to the bear using a backstitch or whip stitch then I put stuffing under the template.  When I have the nose nicely stuffed I finish sewing the template to the bear.  Then I do the satin stitch nose but I don't go into the leather of the bear.  I stitch through the stuffing in the nose.  That way I don't have all those needle holes in the leather.  I will put a few stitches through the leather but most of them are through the template stuffed nose.  I hope you can understand what I was trying to tell you.
Donna

Hi Jodi,
Does the fabric have the knit backing or woven? 
Donna

Hi,
Let me check.  Years ago I purchased one and it had some bad spots in it.  I got another one to see if it was complete and now I don't remember if the one I have is good or missing a few pictures.  I will pull it out and watch it and see if it is the good one or not.  I checked where I had purchased mine but they don't have them anymore.
Donna

Hi Krista,
I know I have a small piece, around an 1/8yd. piece in the shortest pile (1/4" pile).  I just sold the two longer pile that I had last month.  What length pile do you need?  I can get you 3/4" pile or 1" pile also.
Donna