Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I hear you all, and I hate to be the lone dissenter, but I think it is good to push yourself into other avenues every now and again.  We all are comfortable with the tried and true and what works for us, but I feel that as artists we need to push beyond that in order to grow and improve.  Even if what we try ends up as a disaster, we have learnt that that isn't quite the avenue to travel, and maybe the next venture out of the box will be the one that does.  That is just my 2 cents worth, and I hope no one takes offense.
Sorry about all the metaphors in my post.

Jane P.

Hi Cheryl,
No, I'm not getting your emails.  I seem to be missing a lot of emails lately - I have contacted the provider or whatever they are called, and they can't figure it out either.  this has been going on for several months now.
Hopefully people don't get offended if they send me emails and I don't answer.

Perhaps it would be better to send them through PM here at TT.

I sometimes despair of mankind - and wonder just what is the matter with us.  We are supposed to be above that sort of thing - or at least I keep hoping.  I too am angry just thinking about it.
To make you feel a little better, there was a story on the local TV news tonight.  I didn't see the whole thing, but the jist of it was that a young buck had wandered over a frozen local lake and had gone through the ice into the water and was unable to get out.  The fire department rescue unit was called out and one of them crawled out onto the ice, grabbed the buck and then the two of them were then pulled back to safety.  They figure the young buck was in the lake most of the night.  When they were at the shore, the fire chief pulled off his coat and put it around the animal to try and get it warm.  He (the buck) was then taken to the vets and seems to be doing well , and the prognosis is good for a full recovery.  They could have just left it, but instead, one of them put his life in danger to save this poor young buck - so maybe, just maybe there is hope for us yet.

Jane P.

I haven't participated in any swaps, and try to stay away from trades at shows, for the same reason as Paula (All Bear) gave - the need to make a living  - or at least to contribute to the household income.

Keep doing the dogs - they are great!

Hi Cheryl
I sent my info. off this morning.
Thanks, Jane P.

I absolutely adore him Deborah - he is gorgeous!  I really like the green colour - you have done a wonderful job with it. 
I know one year I purchased all kinds of green mohair, as I wanted to do a series of green bears (not sure why), and I still have most of it.  Once it arrived I just couldn't get "into" it.  I have dyed some of it, and it turned out a lovely pink colour, so I guess all was not lost.

Jane P.

I start out with a sparse mohair - just way too much work with a dense mohair.  This is a photo that I have posted before, but it is probably my only venture into distressing teddies/fur.  I plucked, snipped and even used a little sandpaper (carefully), then made fake patches and darning.  For the "dirtying up" I used my airbrush, and rubbed on my black wax that I usually use for the nose.  I just wasn't able to make myself mess up his nose however.  He also has loose joints.

Sounds like fun - I didn't get into the Christmas one, so would like to do this one.

Jane P.

My mother tells me that she washed mine, and he didn't survive the experience.  She was always "good" at washing "non washables", and then gitting rid of the evidence !    I had a wood sweater/pullover that I just loved when I was a teen, and of course she put it in the washing machine - it would have fitted the little dog when it came out!
Oh well,

Jane P.

I hate to be the odd one out, but I am not having any problems at all with "7" - and I am really computer challenged - maybe I just don't know I'm having trouble :crackup:
Aleta - if you want to print just a page then go to "file", then "print preview", and it will give you the number of pages involved, and you can also shrink the pages, so that instead of 5 pages, you make it all smaller and only have to print 3 (or whatever).  Then when you click on print the little box comes up and in the lower left corner it says "page range" - usually it is clicked on "all", but you can change that with the button just under that, and specify which page you want.   Anyway that is how it is on my computer, and I just upgraded to "7" a few weeks ago.  I hope everybody's "bugs" get worked out - I know how frustrating computers are!!!!!

Big hugs, lots of support and care sent your way.

Jane P.

I must be really naive - I never would have thought about the shill bidding. 
However, I think overall it will be a good thing.  Except that I am nosy and like to see who else is bidding

Jane P.

I  love your new bear Shelli - Mr. Sandman truly is a "dream".  His smiling face is perfect.

Jane P.

Thanks for the early morning giggle - those were great!

These are two of my favourites for 2006

I think you are right Nancy, and I will certainly give it a go.  I am a very slow bear maker, so don't expect one overnight

Thanks for reminding us all of this alternative that Nancy Tillberg has worked so hard to set up.

Jane P.

Like Shelli, I too have been bitten by the lampworking glass beads bug.  A friend (Candy Milliard of Bramble Bears) and I are going to be taking a class in a couple of weeks.  I was at a craft fair this last November, and saw a couple of ladies selling these beads - made up into necklaces, bracelets, etc., and was so intrigued that I ordered a necklace (still waiting anxiously for it).  For two months now I have been just stuck like glue to the internet searching out these glass baubles instead of making bears!!  However I am going to need to make bears so I can pay for the glass beadmaking supplies :crackup:

I'm also hoping to persue the felt flowers that I started this last summer.  As feltmaking is very messy and wet, this will have to wait until the summer when I can do it outside.

Sometimes I find I need to step back from my bearmaking and try these other things, and then I always go back to bears feeling refreshed.

Jane P.

OK, I hope this makes sense!  The pattern is not to scale, but you should be able to adjust it to your own pattern.  The inner mouth piece will need to be done from Ultra Suede (best) or felt and will need to be stabilized with heavy interfacing.  The side head piece is just sewn from the tip of the nose down to the first "corner", then the chin piece is sewn to each side of the head piece from the neck up to the first "dots".  The inner mouth piece is then sewn into the hole left by the side head pieces and the chin piece.  The gusset can be sewn on at any time.  When you are stuffing, you have to be careful that the inner mouth does not bulge out too much - so all you "rock hard" stuffers will need to back off a bit.  When you are finished stuffing you will have to take a double thread of VERY strong nylon thread and go from the back near the disc and right through the back of the "throat" take a stitch of about 1/4" or so and go back to the disc area - tie this into a triple knot and pull very tightly.  You will now see why the interfacing of the inner mouth needs to be really heavy and your stuffing will need to be a bit softer - it is easy to pull this stitch right through the fabric, yikes!  You may need to do some judicious needle sculpting when you are finished, but this will give you a starting point.
I find this gives a nicer look than the slash method.
Thanks Kim for reminding me that I had this pattern - I will have to go back and make a few.
If I get time this afternoon, I will peruse my files and see if I have a digital photo of one of the bears made from this pattern and post it.
Be sure to post pics of your bears if you do any with this method - I'd love to see them.
Everyone, please feel free to use this pattern for yourself or for bears for resale - all I ask is that you don't sell the actual pattern.
Thanks and bye for now,
Jane P.

Sorry, I see the picture isn't very clear.  Hope you can figure it out though.

I found a couple of photos of bears made with this method - please remember that these bears were made at least 5 years ago

Wish I had some tricks and tips to give you Kim.  However what I do have I will gladly give you.
For the very few open mouth bears I have made, I don't use the "slash the side head" method.  Instead I use a method I sort of "made up".  I'm sure it isn't and original idea however, and I'll be glad to share it with you.  I'll go and trace out the pattern and take a photo and post it.  It's just too hard to explain - heck, even with the pics it will probably be too hard to explain :crackup: (I just  love this little smiley guy)
Be back in a while,
Jane P.

You are quite right Aleta - consider me suitably chastised.  Don't worry, I wasn't at all offended - it takes a bit more than that    After all, not everyone reads each and every post - at least I don't, and perhaps some others may want to post their first bears.  Mine was just so awful that the less it is seen the better :crackup:

I have just figured out how to use these little "smiles" - I know, I'm a very slow learner - they're lot of fun!
Have a great week everyone.

Jane P.

Wow, Shelli, you are one multi-talented lady!!  Look at your great new avatar - and where does one go to find those incredible dolls of yours, and those beads, and that wonderful new bear - the list just goes on and on!!  Not to mention the talent that goes into being able to do the avatar.  I love to see what other talents bear makers have.
That's fantastic Shelli.

Jane P.

OK - me too.

1. Born in Stockport, England 57 years ago.   Emigrated to Canada at 9yrs old.
2. Love dogs and horses, and still have my second horse "Smokey" - although quite old now, like his owner. :crackup:
3. On my 3rd and FINAL marriage.  If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. :crackup:

Jane P.

What a shame Kim - it takes away your pleasure at creating that lovely bear.  However, be consoled by the fact that yours really is superior in every way.  Chin up, and push on.
I have been at both ends of this particular predicament, and when I was accused by Pam. W. of copying her bears I was devastated, as it was totally without foundation.  I was sick for weeks! But I found out later that she made a habit of accusing other bear makers of the same thing all the time. (Sorry, don't mean to insinuate you do that, because I know you don't)
Then I have seen copies of my bears from a couple of my own customers - but there's no point in going on about it, as I'm the only one who will suffer - as my husband says, I take everything too personally.  Also if I have inspired these bear makers to create something they are pleased with then I guess it isn't too bad after all.
Just my 2 cents worth.

Jane P.

Yes, we did this before - sometime last year.  I'm not posting mine again - he was soooooo awful!!!!  Poor thing, I stilll have him.  I tried to give him to my neice one Christmas, and a couple of Christmas's later, she gave him back to me with a new sweater on him, and a note pinned to it saying "Hi, I am Mr. Balloon Head, please take good care of me and my new sweater". :crackup:  Cheeky girl!!!!

Jane P.