Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Karen

I wouldn't send her any photos.  I work at a store that does a lot of shipping and receiving on parcels.  And it just doesn't sound right.  It sounds just like the emails we get at work that are related with somekind of fraud.  We've always been very careful and lucky, we haven't been caught in any of the messes but a lot of other stores have.  It is just weird that she is saying that she isn't going to use your photos.  Most people would send you and email requesting the photos and wait for your reply with any concerns about the use of the photos.  Not just jump in and say that they aren't going to use them.  It is a sure way of saying that she will.

Amber

i love these.  Thank you for taking the time to post them.

She is so sweet.  I'm just working on a bear face now and I want it's eyes to look like that.  Well not exactly like that.  But just to have that added sweetness that you captured so well.

I started using webs.com as well. It seems to work pretty well.  Haven't put anything up yet, but it works so far.

He is beautiful.  You should be very proud of him.  Don't let people who don't get it drag you down there are a lot of them out there.  This is something you should be proud to show and any negative or indifferent feedback just brush it off.  There are too many things in life that bring us all down, Teddy bears are a pick me up.  Make sure you keep it that way.

It's true a lot of people other than collectors and other artists view most bears as being just plain old Teddy Bears nothing special.  My husband used to be like that.  But one day I said to him "Honey, look what I created!", he kind of just shugged and said that's nice, just like it was any old bear, no big deal.  So I asked him if he was proud of me.  Was he happy that I had found something I enjoyed doing and that I poured my heart and soul into making.  He told me he was.  I then explained that his off handed answer didn't really show me that.  He started seeing my bears differently.  Now he even helps me with them, he stuffs them and joints them, he'll even cut the fabric out for me if I trace out the bear.  One day I had 5 patterns traced out on different fabrics, I came home to find them all ready for me to sew.  And the best part is he did it right.  He found a webpage that told him how to cut only the backing and followed it.  I was amazed.  Now he even encourages me to continue making bears and to give him stuff to help with. 

I know I'm very lucky in this and not everyone is going to have the same result.  But try approaching your husband in a different way about a finsihed bear.  Tell him how you feel about it.  And if he still doesn't understand, then you come right over here and post a picture of that bear for all of us to see.  You should be proud of your work and the bear you gave life to, so show him off, never doubt if you should post a picture.

Hugs
Amber

I'm in Love!.  He is so sweet. 

I've got to say I'm amazed, I've tried mini's and I just can't do it.  The detail is amazing, you are truly talented and should be proud.  I've seen lots of minis but nothing compares to the detail that you have in him.

I have a new appreciation for minis after seeing your work and detail.  Amazing Amazing Amazing.  When I get home I'm going to show him to my husband.  Thank you for sharing him with us.

Hugs
Amber

He is adorable.  I love his cute face.  I just want to hug him.

I love his face and his giant nose.  He is just absolutly sweet.

Yes please.  I'll email you the info now.

I usually print my patterns out on paper, cut them out and then laminate them and then cut them again.  It makes the pieces very strong and last a long time.  I haven't had to have any of my pieces redone.  The idea of the shower hooks is a great one.  I think it is fanatasic.  Anyway back to the laminating. You can have this done at most local print shops.  Check on the price for letter size laminating and for 11 x 17 size.  You may find that there isn't a big difference in price.  I can usually get 11 x 17 done for $3-$4.

Hope this helps.

Hi Hannah

Coloured pencils are a really good choice.  I started using those for my needle felted bears and they work great.  If you want a grey or a blackish shade use a regular HB or B pencils.  Another option is to go to an art supply store and pick up copic markers, you can get blenders with these which will thin out the colour.  Test it on a scrape piece of fabric.   Thin makers that you can pick up at a dollar store can work well too, they usually aren't very good quality so the colour isn't intense, and if you have a really light touch they can work well.

Hope this helps

Amber

Hi Thomas

I'm still learning and finding my way.  Most Teddy Bear artists are pretty good about sharing tips and tricks.  Infact a lot you find will even allow you to use some of their patterns to sell if you let them know ahead of time that this is what you want to do.  Most people know what it is like to struggle to figure out how to make your own bear work.  Even if you are using a pattern designed by someone else try to do something to make it your own. A really simple way to start is with the ears.  Make them larger or smaller, change the placement.  That is the best thing about collectiable teddy bears there are no rules.

I was lucky,  I've had a lot of very helpful teddybear artists willing to share ideas and encouragement.  I find one way to come up with something of your own is even to take bits and pieces of other patterns and mix and match them. You may like the head of one bear the feet of another and the body and arms of  a third.  Who says that you can't just make jumbled up bear with the pieces you like best from a lot of different bears.  You'll find you do this often enough and you'll come up with your own style.  And it is a good start on making your own patterns, odds are you are going to have to resize the mismatched pattern pieces in order to make them work. I've found taping a paper sample together is a lot faster than sewing one together and will at least give you an idea if you like the shape of the bear.

And if you use a kit pattern, don't follow the pattern exactly, go crazy be adventurous, it doesn't have to look like the sample picture, make it your own.

Another option for eyelids that takes a little longer.  Is I usually needle felt mine on. I start with a felted base right on the bear before I insert the eye.  I make a indent for the eye placement so that it sits into the head.  Once you've felted the area it is harder to make the eye sit in if you haven't already made a bit of hole for it to sit in.  Then I insert the eyes as you normally would.  Then finally roughly sculpted the eye lid before adding it to the eye and continue shaping it afterwards.  You just need to be careful not to hit the eye with the needle.  You will either break the needle or scratch the eye, neither is a pleasant thing to have happen.