Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi,
That sounds like something I would do.  You are so lucky that there was anything left of the poor little guy!  I use a blow dryer on high heat.  I put my hand where I am setting the color and when my hand can't stand the heat any more I move to the next spot.  It usually does not take long at all.
Donna

For leg cramps at night, I put a small hotel size bar of soap under my bottom sheet of my bed.  Down at the foot leg area.  It works wonders for some people.  Give it a try, it won't hurt you in any way.  If perfume bothers you, get one that does not have a strong scent.  I had a friend whose husband was having leg cramps at night.  I mentioned trying the soap.  Of course he thought I was nuts.  I talked his wife into putting the soap under the sheet on her side of the bed.  His leg cramps went away.  Now he checks to make sure the soap is there after the bed sheets get changed.  I have one friend who puts the soap in socks during the day also to help with the cramps. 
Give it a try if you or anyone you know have leg cramps at night.
Donna

I wear a magnetic bracelet and it helps.  My dad had the magnetic mattress and he had magnets that you placed at different points on the body.  The magnets made the difference of his being able to walk for several more years.  I also use arnica gel and oil to help relieve pain.  You want at least 7% or higher.  Vinegar is also good for arthristis.  I had trouble making myself swallow the vinegar so I bought tablets. 
Good Luck for mom on finding something that will help.
Donna

I'm not any help to you with the paint situation but the first thing that came to my mind was to put a border on them using bright colored electrical tape.  It shouldn't be a problem with folding etc.  Might not be as much fun for the grands as painting would be.
Good Luck,
Donna

Kathy,
That was just plain wicked of you!  I went straight to E-Bearz to sign up for your class and I can't!  When will it be available?  I will be out of town doing shows Oct. 18 and again Oct. 23-27.  Will I be able to do the class with those dates not being available?
Bear Hugs,
Donna

Sarah,
Glad to see that the Ultimate stuffing tool is making your bear making a little better.
Donna

Years ago I did a project with sweaters.  It was just as Daphne described.  The only difference was that it was recommended that you wash the sweaters first if they were wool and shrink them down before starting the project.  The shrinking made a world of difference in the outcome.  Of course if they are not wool they may not shrink. 
Good Luck,
Donna

Kelly,
I don't sell very often of ebay so I might be out of date on this, but you used to be able to transfer your feedback from an old Ebay ID to a new one.  With all the changes I don't know if they are still doing this or not but it might be worth checking if they are going to make you wait the 21 days for payment. 
And I agree, your name is well enough known that it wouldn't matter where they put you, the collectors would still find you.
Donna

Aleta,
Congratulations to everyone!  I am so pleased for you.  And the baby will be here for your mom to be a great grandma.  Those great grands added years to my dad's life.
Biggest Bear Hugs,
Donna

Hi Luann,
I'll be there.  I head up on Friday from Wichita, Kansas.  My family is here so I came in last week to spend some time with them before the show.  After the show I need to get back to California because I have two shows in a row back there.  I don't know why I keep doing this to myself!  I keep thinking I will get smart and pace myself, but I don't.
Donna

Here's how I do it.
Lay the piece out and check it for bad spots on the leather and on the fur sides.  Mark any areas that should not be used.  I use a leather conditioner on the leather before I do anything with it.  I choose a pattern that does not have any small areas that will need to be turned.  If it has big feet and small ankles you will not be able to turn it right side out very easily.  I cut my fur pieces out and then line them so that I can see any problems with the pelt.  Some people do the lining first, it speeds things up.  I use Leather Weld to glue my muslin to the leather.  You can also use a school glue stick.  Regular glue makes it hard to stitch.  Use a longer stitch than what you do for mohair.  If you use tiny stitches like for mohair the leather can just fall apart.  Leave your openings for turning and stuffing much larger than you do for mohair.  You have more material to get through that small hole.  I use paper clips or aligator clips to hold it together while sewing.  Remember the more pin holes you put in it the more chance of tears in the leather.  When doing the nose, I make a felt template and partially sew it to the face then I stuff it with polyfil then finish stitching it to the face.  Then rather than putting all those stitches through the leather I do my satin stitch through the stuffing under the felt template.  Or I put a leather nose on the bear.  Fur tends to be a slippery surface so I try to tighten my joints really tight.  They loosen up more than on mohair.
For the fur getting in your nose and eyes.  I will take mine outside to cut if I can and let the wind blow it away.  After it is cut out, I either shake it outside really well or use the vacuum on each piece.  You can put a fan in an open window blowing out.  Cover the fan with screen cloth and turn it on while you work on the fur.  The fur will catch on the screen rather than be flying around you while you work.  I think that tip came from Bobbie but not sure.
I think I have covered all the things to watch for.  There is a book, Bears with a Past by Nancy Tillberg that is all about working with fur.
Have fun and good luck.  Let us see what you make.
Donna

You better get busy!  I plan on your being next to us at Nevada City in 2009.
Bear Hugs,
Donna

Hi Bobbie,
The discussion is in Tips & Techniques.  Bamboo Stuffing.  Sorry I didn't get the hemp site for you but I need to be in bed.
Donna

Hey Kelly,
I have a question for you about stuffing products.  I believe it was Trash Can Ted that in the description, it stated he was packed with silicone.  This gave him a more natural or realistic look and feel.  This product is different from the normal plastic pellets that we sometime use, correct?  I was looking at the silicone dolls at Expo and loved the way they bounced and moved when carried.  Is this a similar product?   I bought some of the squishy pellets that Edinburgh sold for awhile but did not see a difference in how it packed in the the bears.  Were these the same product that you are using?
Thanks,
Donna

Hi Alison,
I have your grey tip 1/2 yard.  I will check to see if I have two 1/2 yard pieces for you.  I don't think I have the gold but I will look for it while I am digging for the grey. 
Donna

Another thought is what is fiberfil doing to our lungs.  While we work on our bears small mohair fibers and polyfil are breathed into our lungs.  The mohair being a natural fiber will break down in our lungs and just go away.  Not so with the fiberfil.  So, am I willing to spend more to help my body or do I wear a mask while stuffing?  I just hope it stuffs as well as fiberfil!
Donna

Hi,
Has anyone tried the new bamboo stuffing?  If so, can you share how it stuffed and if you like it?
Thanks,
Donna

I think I might use a little sandpaper on them also.  A little roughing up right where a little bear might show wear and tear.
Donna

Deborah,
I forgot to address the part of the question about DVD's.  There are some videos out that I have used.  The best one is by Jennifer Laing.  Edinburgh used to have it, don't know if they still do.  Another one is by John Renpenning.  There is a CD out by Rotround Islish (spelling is off on her name).  That one I also got at Edinburgh Imports.  That one is for a more experienced bear maker than the Jennifer Laing video.
I think the reason you need to make an appointment is so that someone is there so you don't make the long drive to have the building locked up.  Johnna is very easy to work with and will try her best to meet your needs.  She is a real sweetheart!
Have fun and don't drool on the mohair until you pay for it.
Donna

Hi,
Welcome to the wonderful world of bear making.  Johnna at Intercal can head you in the right direction for the best mohairs for dying.  The natural string would be a good choice.  I did a lot of dying years ago and was never disappointed.  Every time was a new experiment and I loved the results.  I really enjoyed seeing what would happen with the tipped fabrics when they were dyed. 
I'm afraid I am no help to you at all with stores in the S. Ca. area.  There are several TTer's who live in the area that may be able to point you in the right direction.
Have fun at Intercal.  Take lots of money, mohair tends to make you go mad spending!
Donna

Hi,
The eyelids on my avatar are needle felted.  I used a piece of felt cut to the shape I wanted the eyelid to be then needle felted onto the felt piece.  This was going onto a real fur piece so I could not needle felt it onto the face.  After the eyelid was how I wanted it, I stitched it onto the face.  If I had been working on a mohair critter, I would have needle felted it onto the face, but I would have used the felt base so that both eyelids would have been close to the same size. 
Donna

Hi,
I have done repairs on some old bears ranging in age from 50-100 years old.  They all had fiberboard discs.  The break down of the discs happens when the metal rubs against the fiberboard.  That is why it is recommended to use a metal washer between the fiberboard disc and the nuts or cotter pins to prevent this break down from rubbing or wear over many years.  I took a class from Jennifer Laing and she tested the fiberboard discs by putting them in a bucket of water to see if they would warp or break apart.  They held up to her test.  I generally use fiberboard discs.
I have used hardboard discs a few times and they have been fine.  My guess is that they would have the same rubbing or wear issue as the fiberboard discs so would recommend using metal washers with them also.  I don't have much first hand knowledge with the hardboard discs but I feel they are comparable in quality as the fiberboard.
I think you are safe to use either.  What ever is easily available to you and you are comfortable with.
Donna

Hi Judi,
You might want to contact these stores to have them keep a watch out for the bear.
www.pebblebeachbears.co.uk
www.luckybears.com
www.blueribbonbears.com

Good Luck with your search,
Donna

Listen to your hubby, sometimes they have much better ways and ideas than what we have.   
I was working on a display a couple of weeks ago and ask my hubby to help me think it through.  He is a mathematician so I do go to him with lots of non bear related things.  I had my display all laid out and ask if I was thinking it through correctly to make it stand.  And he said why don't you just do this and this instead.  It was so simple and so good, but I would have never thought of it.
Another thing about needle felting on the felt and then attaching it to the bear.  If you don't like it you haven't ruined the whole muzzle.

You could also cut a felt piece the shape and size of nose you want.  Felt the nose on your foam and when you have it the way you like just stitch it onto the muzzle of the bear.  Then if you need to cover where you stitched it to the face you do just a tiny bit of felting over the stitches.
Have fun!
Donna