Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I don't know who all knows this but...
Fellow teddy bear artist, Jennifer Murphy, daughter of bear artist Pat Murphy, was featured on Martha Stewart's day time show back in April.
My sister told me about and I thought that I would share this with you.
She made a Pom-pom bunny for Easter.
Here's a link to the video.
http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/sit … 09a00aRCRD

You'll need to click on the tab labeled video.
Enjoy!

I just saw this posted in another thread.
http://www.glasseyes.com

They have 7mm clear glass eyes.
http://www.glasseyes.com/cgi-bin/produc … code=110OE
They are listed as "L 0.90/pair."

I just use bees wax and rub it on the nose and buff it to a nice shine with a plain white sheet of paper.
I ordered black and brown wax from a supplier and that works nice too. I buff it with the paper.

I can't say that I have, but here is what I would suggest.
Are you just going to use the 6" center or the 10" piece?  The size of the bear will be determined by the size of the art work that you are using.
Instead of placing it on the chest, I would suggest the tummy.  Bears can have very big tummies that are great for what you are doing.
You will need to include the measurement of the artwork in the size of the body and need to make allowances for the arms and legs. Because most bears don't have flat tummies it can be tricky getting a panel on teddy's tummy.

I have made several bears and rabbits over the years from fur that is close to what you are using.
I always planned things out so that trimming could be minimized.  I had a white and chocolate striped fur and the chocolate sections were shorter. Than I laid out the head side pieces to match, making sure that the cheeks were white, since the fur was longer.
I also made sure that the left and right arms matched, the same with the legs.  When I cut out the ears I tried to make sure that they were completely in the long white part of the fur, other wise I felt that if the brown part showed it would look strange, since the fur length changed.
I made this 24" Bear out of the fur and he turned out fablous.  He was dressed in blue and white stripes overalls, and had a glass of fake milk and oreo cookies.  He was the first bear to sell at my table.
Good Luck!

I would think that you can modify an exsisting dog pattern to make a wolf.  Largely that would depend on the fabrics that you use and the details, i.e. airbrushing, art markers, etc., that you put into finishing the wolf.

Well let's see...
I go to the hardware store and get fender washers in sizes ranging from 3/4" to 2".  I use these for the joints. I also use #6 bolts, washers, and lock nuts to join my bunnies and bears.  I get most of this from the local hardware store.
I try to keep on hand the thread colors that I use the most.. Dogwood, a tan color, Black, White, Blue, Red.  Don't worry about getting an exact match it will never happen.  As long as it is close, it will be ok!
Here's a link to 7mm clear glass eyes on Intercal's web site:
http://www.intercaltg.com/catalog/eyes.html#225colored
Here's another link to a web site in the UK:
http://www.christiebears.co.uk/acatalog … Glass.html
It looks like they have a complete line of bear supplies.  They have clear glass eyes that you can buy as single pairs or 10 pair packages.

What my mom and I have found is that will colored eyes, you can get away with using bigger eyes than you normally would use.  For instance you have a 10" bear and use 8 mm black eyes, but with a colored eye you might be able to use a 10 mm or bigger eye.  Try it and see.

If you can't find clear eyes in the UK, then I would suggest that you get eyes that are colored, but are somewhat transparent and close to the color that you are wanting to paint.  You can still paint the eyes and get close to the effect that you are going for.

I favor locknuts and bolts for joints, beacuse they can be tighened in the future, if need be.
I say go for it! Have fun!
We all started somewhere.  I wish I had pictures of my earliest creations, they would make you laugh!  Experiment!
The best tip that I can offer you is this...
Use excelsior (wood wool) in the head, this will make sewing on the nose, eyes, and ears much easier!!!
It took us (mom and I) about 15 years to figure that one out.

Mom usually hand makes hers from leather scraps.
Otherwise you can use fray block, spread a thin coat all over the fabric and that will stiffen it.
But I think the pattern and interfacing that you are going to use will be the best for what you are doing.

Sue Ann -
No nuts!?!?!?  Wow in a hardware store no nuts!     Maybe you should have asked the squirrel in the little red vest... I am sure he could have found them for you...  :crackup:

Mom usually goes into the local ACE hardware and orders them 1,000 at a time. There is an older gentleman that helps her and knows what we do.  The last time she went in the gentleman was training a teenage boy and the kid couldn't believe that she wanted that many nuts and bolts.

If you get in a pinch and need discs, you can go to the local hardware store and get what are called fender washers, just make sure to get a smaller inner diameter and to use #6 or #8 washers with them.  They come in several sizes, 3/4", 7/8", 1", 1 1/4", 1 1/2", 1 5/8", & 2".  It will all depend upon what your local hardware store stocks, but those are the sizes that we use the most of and they do add some weight to the bears and hares.

Count me in!!!

I loved it!!! :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:     

Depending on how floppy or solid you want the bear to be will halp determine the size dics you use.
I think that I use anything from 1" to 1 1/2" discs in the arms and legs.
Hope that helps.

Oh Daphne, how wonderful and you looked just great on the interview.
If you didn't read in my post on the school talk... I mentioned Mimzy to the kids and they all were surprized that I knew the maker.
How cool for you!

I might have had their attention because I am such a big guy... LOL! :crackup:

I am going to put together a packet of information and send it out to some school districts after we get done with Schaumburg.
Who knows maybe I'll make my fortune by flapping my jaws...

Friday, March 23
Geneva, NY
I was invited by Ann Goldfarb, principal of Geneva Middle School, to talk to the 6th thru 8th students at her school. I had a wonderful time talking to the kids and answering questions.  The most popular question was... "How long does it take you to make a bear?"  The second most popluar question was...  "How much do you sell your bears for?" I answered all of their questions and spoke in detail of the bear making process.  Each student was given a copy of my Brewster pattern. I know that one student was going to make it up.

I am talking to a group of 7th graders.

Here the students are listening to me and Axel Bunny, is checking them out!

More 7th grade students.

I am pictured here with Jeri & Molly, the consumer and domestic science teachers.

The purpose of my trip was to expose the students to the fact that I was using my sewing skills to make a living.
I explained a little of the history of teddy bears. Explained about the tools and materials used to make bears. I brought poly fil, excelsior, mohair, leather, felt, and a few oher items to share with the students.  The students had never before seen or felt mohair.  They liked feeling the different styles of mohair that I passed around.

I also brought several bears and bunnies with me.  The finished products caught their attention and they looked them over and checked out the details as I explained the creation of the bunnies.

I discussed basic business practices and touched on the use of computers.  I also gave them a resource sheet that listed US suppliers of mohair, online materials (teddy-talk.com), and the magazines.  I am hoping that few of them will pop on and check us out.

I also talked with them about the different types of shows that I do. I explained the differences between trade only shows and retail shows. I also chatted for a little bit about Toy Fair and a shared a few pictures that I took.  I also talked about a movie that was coming out... The Last Mimzy and that I knew the artist who made the bunnies that were used in the movie... I had them with that.  A gasp of excitment when through the room.  (Thanks Daphne!)

I chatted to several groups through out the day. And by days end I was ready to go home.
The school picked me up and dropped me off, which was nice. I didn't really care to rent a car and drive to someplace that I had never been to before.  I ended up waiting at the airport for several hours due to bad weather in Chicago.  But the airport was nice and I was able to do some shopping and get dinner before flying home.

As a buyer on ebay I think the only correct thing to do is leave feedback when the item is paid for. I think the same as a seller, when you pay then you should get your feedback. Though, sometimes I forget to leave feedback as a seller, usually because I am busy and have forgot to check it all out.
It is right that seller not leave feedback, until they get their feedback from the buyer. That is called retaliatory feedback and is against ebay policy.
Just because I leave my feedback for the buyer doesn't mean that I am done with the transaction.
Beacuse I create my label fro both USPS and UPS online I am able to track the packages online. Creating labels online usually means that you can get services for free or at reduced prices, this is something that all of us need to consider. I pay for the online delivery confirmation on my 1st class packages, it only costs me $0.14 and is well worth the money. That way I know that they did indeed recieve the package. If my buyers e-mail me and say that they haven't gotten their package, then I do my research online to see where and when the package was delivered. Most of the time it has been that the buyer forgot to check their PO box, or that the post office left them a notice that they need to sign for the package.

You can also get nice shipping boxes from Wal-mart, they are in the stationary department next to the other shipping supplies. Mom and I get most of our boxes from Staples, they usually have the sizes/quantity that we need. Uline is also a great place to get boxes from.

Mom got hers in the mail the other day. We brought it with us so that we could display it.

Yes, we can't forget the trip to the Zoo. I would like to see the pandas.

Remember anyone that is on the list and isn't going to EXPO, remember that I would be willing to except on your behalf.

Congrats to everyone on the list. I am so excited for mom...
She also go a TOBY for her Maemie and Her Dove.
You can see Maemie on the inside cover of the March/April '07 TBR.

So can I expect everyone to be at the Dinner in DC?
If not I would be happy to except on your behalf, not joking...
Very Happy for everyone.
Hugs,
Jared

I know that I got my cards and enjoyed each one.
Mom opened one of her cards and got confetti all over. She wasn't expecting that. :bday:
Anyway, we really enjoyed our cards and had fun sending ours out to everyone.

Shelli
Thanks again for putting this all together.

Looking forward to next (this) year.

I know that there have been several times when mom has had to defend her copyrights and trademarks.
The craft show that we ran was called Holiday House, there was a couple in another local town that had a craft show at the same time and they tried to use the same name claiming that the words, Holiday House, were commonly used terms to describe crafts shows at the holidays. Mom explained to them that they weren't and that she would be happy to have her lawyer explain it to them. That backed them off in a hurry. Their signs were down in a matter of minutes. They wanted to draw off the advertising efforts that we did. Hoping that people would be confused and assume that both shows were the same. That happened with the local historical society as well. They tried to use Holiday Housewalk, that was still too close to our name of Holiday House. It confused and upset many people who came to our show. We even had a couple of ladies that insisted on going upstairs, they never did. Mom blocked the way. After that the historical society changed the name of its event. We still hold the trademark to the name Holiday House.

Daphne
How cool I am so excited for you!
:hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:
What a wonderful thing! Now they need to post you in the credit in really big letters!

Daphne Blau

  -  Bunny Builder

Does your camera have pre-set white blances? That is what I use on mine and I usually get great results.
Mine is set up for incandesant lights.
I would also suggest using a plain white background rather than blue. It might be a trick of the human eye, but I usually find that the colouring is better off a plain white background.
I use 4 lights. Two light the background and Two to light the subject. One subject light is usually 2x further away from the subject than the other one. Doing this softens the shadows and produces a clean photo. Adjust the light positions until you get a clean shot. Remember to move your lights back from your subject or you will end up with harsh looking photos and heavy shadows.
I do have a sofa light with 4 bulbs that I use on ocassion for overhead lighting when I need it but most of the time I don't.

Come on Deb you can do it!

So far I am doing good. I got the new computer set up for mom. I even managed to organize her files and documents into folders. Now anyone can go on there and find whatever it is that we are looking for. I got really fancy. I created folders for BEARS, KITTIES, & DOGS and in each of those folders I created folders with the year i.e. 2002, 2003, 2004... you get the idea. Then under each year a folder is created for each bear. Then all of the files, pictures, docmunets, etc. all go into the same folder for that bear. Then when she asks me or my sister to look something up it will be really easy to find. Now the task will be to make sure that mum follows the new "system."

Since she bought a new computer, I thought that a new mouse and keyboard would be in order. So I bought a microsoft wireless keyboard and mouse combo at Wally World. We get an extra 10% off one item at Christmas and I got a gift card so I ended up paying about half for it. So I took mum's old keyboard and was able to connect it to my laptop. When I am here at home I can use the ergonomic keyboard and mouse. I have never cared that much for the flat keyboards that come with computers. I hate using them at work, but that is all we have. The only thing that I don't like about the mouse is that it is a 3 button mouse and not a 5 button. I would have had to go to Staples to get that and paid more for it. Oh well you can't have everything.

I have even managed to clean up and re-organize my bedroom. I cleaned up my desk, talk about a federal diaster area! I finally, got all the pieces pulled out of my old tower that I needed. Can't just throw the hard drives in the trash, need to make sure that everything is deleted off of them. I got rid of all the old software that was sitting on the hutch of my desk. Most of it I wasn't using or going to make use of.  A couple of weeks ago I cleaned some programs off my computer that I didn't use. Every bit helps.

I just need to get my closet set up. I have a closet organizer that I spied at wally world that I will pick up later this year. Then I will be able to hang all my clothes up and have drawer space for the things that need to be folded. I also need a moment to go through my old clothes and get rid of them.

Ok now I need to get to bed so that I can get up in the morning and make bears. I still have orders to fill. Did I mention that classes start today as well?

That's why I thought they made the Bowflex. They made great clothes lines...  :crackup: