Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Wow Ellen, what a good idea. My Mum is a quilter and kept a pile of my Dad's jeans to turn into a quilt. But I think your clothing bears are so much nicer. I think I have one of his old shirts that I kept as "sentimental" Will haul it out of storage when we go back to SA and make myself a bear. Oh thank you, that is just too good.

Monty is wonderful. How big is he? Just too cute. Good luck

Oh thank you Jane. It was wonderful seeing all the bears. Perhaps someone has one of your stand? Otherwise you will just have to post photos of some of your bears. I have been so looking forward to seeing these. Now going to start again from the top and drool over each one.

Very cute Cat, but I am trying to live by my Mum's housekeeping.... She has a sign that says "this house is protected by killer dust bunnies" Works for her.

Ok, here goes... Because of living in funny places, and not being able to get stuff. I stuffed a mini with cotton wool.....  :redface:  :redface:  But it works..... is there anything wrong with that? I have just spent ages reading the old posts on stuffing and although there are some odd things, I don't find anything about cotton wool, either for or against.

Lots of you have very valid points, but Ellen, I am going to print yours out and look at it every day as my 1st priority. I live very far away from friends and family and have used FB to stay in touch. But don't do all the silly add on things they have. It is just so much easier to put photos onto one place and everyone around the world (my every one's) can see them. Feel no need for the other stuff. Love watching the comments on TT and this makes me feel like I am somehow in contact with people. But learned the very hard way that the internet cannot replace genuine friends. Also used to sit and wait for it to be time for someone from "home" to be online to talk to me. I figured they busy with their lives and that just aint going to happen, and no amount of staring at the screen is going to change that. So now I have a bit of time in the morning to catch up with anyone that was online at night, read news etc. Then I clean the house. Hubby comes home for lunch and that is a nice break. Then sew in the afternoon. Around 3 I check to see if anyone from SA is online, time for a cup of tea. And carry on sewing. By about 6 I am ready to stop, watch an old re run of ER and make dinner. I am only online longer if I have something to research, or in fairness if the lonelies really get me. It has taken a long while to realise that the world will not stop turning if I am not online. There still are days that I see it as a lifeline, but more and more it is just becoming a handy tool.

i will pm you Raewyn. Dont want to spoil it for anyone else figuring it out.

i finally got it!!!!!! Raewyn you are on the right track. Ok so Marilyn is very smart, but the way my brain feels today I am pretty chuffed. Thanks Michelle, how about a daily brain jogger???

mine didn't all have the same name (or number) and she was right all the time????

Our cat was bathed once a week. I am very allergic but love cats. Never had a flea, no hairballs and no hair on the furniture. I am not going to pretend she begged to be bathed but she didn't object too much either. We used a tea tree shampoo for cats.

:clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

I am constantly amazed at the talent in this group, and these bears are no exception. Well done everyone. I voted, but boy was it tough. :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

I have just had a look at the bears, wow you are all really talented. Got tears in my eyes from some them. Well done everyone  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

Wow Lynette, you must be so proud. Seems like just the other day she caused such a stir with her birth. Even my hubby (who doesn't like babies) says she is beautiful and can see why she was chosen. So sorry we didn't get to see you in December, the month was chaos. Seemed to be time to leave way before I was ready.

Nope..... Between December being maddness, (holiday, wedding, sorting house and tenants) getting back here mid January and now moving I have 2 arms made...... Ok so the fingers look pretty good. But the rest is in bits in a zip lock bag. Will finish in my new work room in my new house. And this was such a fun challange, sorry Chloe

So pleased someone raised the gelatine thing.... have to share a funny, and I really am not knocking anyone's beliefs, it was just funny. My Ex father in law was a veggie. He stopped eating meat because his teeth were bad but then took the moral high ground.... anyway, he used to comment that he wasnt responsible for animals dying etc etc... but his favorite treat were marshmallows...... boy did I have fun with that one. (Oh and yes he wore leather.)

Hi Ellen

We travel a lot and I have had diffent experiences at different airports. Had a pair of short blunt nose scissors that I have been all over with confiscated at Bankok airport. This time I didnt realise I had sharp scissors in my bag and only realised that when I got to SA. Went through Davao, Manila, Hong Kong, Charles de Gaulle twice with no problem. Also had a sewing kit and a lighter in my bag and none of them were picked up at all. In fact in the last 6 flights in the last week the only thing they queried was Dino's shaving cream. It looks a bit dodgy on the xray. But the do seem more relaxed.

Hi all.
Finally in SA after a week of flying and getting stressed about tickets etc (hubby to be nearyl got to SA with me still in Paris) 

Then I discover that the post address I gave you all for the card swap was wrong.... It should be Box 1497. Mother has had it for about 20 years and in all the other excitement I must have decided to give her another number.

I will go to the post office today to ask them to redirect and stick a note on the other box. But my stupidity knows no bounds at the moment.

ooppsssss

That was the best. really needed a laugh today... Thanks chick :clap:  :clap:  :clap:    So remember those days....

I sent mine today, and my cards. I am so proud of myself. Thought I would be finishing them in South Africa; but all done. Christmas shopping done today. Now just a few things to do on my top for the wedding and throw  everything in suitcases and we off.... Neice's dress looks stunning. my sister's top is OK. all in all not to bad

oh well done you for finding such a wonderful tree, all that chopping and hauling it in, heheheh....  and the puddle on top is wonderful.

how amazing. you good you. Not only is the dressmaking complicated and very well done, and you look stunning. Used to do alot of dressmaking and havnt for years. Busy on wedding stuff and so frustrated because I have forgotten so much. Going to keep sewing. It is such a good way of getting clothes you really like. So what you planning for the next one???

oooohhh, i could be attatcked like that  :clap:  :clap:

oh Peta that is terrible. But on the good side, she knows she has a Mom who will back her up no matter what. For a child that is the best feeling on earth.  :hug:  :hug:

I have only made 2 big bears. My "big" ones are now 3 inch. Cant explain why. I am no expert but some things I have found... Karen was right. If you have the right haemostat it makes life soo much easier. I use an orange stick (for cuticles) for stuffing. Have some amazing tiny needles that I "borrowed" from my Mom, going to have to come clean and ask her what they are so I can get more  :redface:  Fabric can be difficult, I dont like using stuff to make it stop fraying cause I cant get the line thin enough and it seems to be difficult to make the seam flat if it leaches into the non seam allowance bit (make any sense?). Also whatever fabric you get has to be quite pliable/soft otherwise turning little peices is very frustrating. But not too soft otherwise the stuffing looks bumpy.  The upside is that I used to buy bags of "scraps" from a shop in Durban SA that were perfect for tinies. Which makes me think..... why dont some of you that make big bears sell some of your bits to those of us who make tinies???? Even scraps of other fabric like tule, small prints etc....for tiny outfits???? Used to have a lovely collection but with traveling had to start again. A friend in the UK sent be a big envelope of bits of stuff, ribon, lace etc. It was like christmas. Funny, shops dont want to sell you a 5 square inch of fabric??? But I do love them