Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I'm still sorting through 700 photos my photographer took of the show... she got some awesome shots... they'll be posted on the show website along with a full review in just a couple more days!!! It was a great show and I'm already looking forward to next year!!!

www.teddybeargathering.com

Hi Lynne,
It's Schulte fabric.

Here it is on ProBear's website (Germany): http://www.probear.com/com/shop/pd52376 … tegoryId=2
Here it is on Edinburgh's website (US): http://www.edinburghimports.com/shoppin … 2347R=9017
Here it is on Gerry's website (Australia): http://www.gerrys.com.au/home.php?cat=347

Hugs!

To save anyone the time of finding his blog, here's the link: http://tedsteddytalk.blogspot.com/

Interesting idea to use snaps. Great for an easy project!

You are all very welcome!

Lenora - My mom is left handed and I learned to do a lot of things left handed over the years so it's possible this is a lefty method but I don't think so. I can't do it in the reverse... I can not form that second loop with my left hand.

I can't help with a supplier.... stores carrying bear supplies are few and far between now-a-days, mail order is how most of us get our supplies now. But there is a bear show coming up at the Botanical Gardens next month that you might check out... there may be a supplier there you could buy from and plenty of fairly local artists that could give you suggestions if you don't get any here. Here's a link to the show: http://www.teddybearsonvacation.com/torontomay2009.html

OK guys, it's back!!! That was 5 years ago! My photography skills have come a loooooooong way since then! I'll have to redo this one day.
A video would be even better wouldn't it? I'll add it to my ever growing "To Do" list! At any rate, this photo tutorial should have you on your way to tying beautiful bows!!

www.backroadbears.com/bows.htm

Horatio is your best elephant yet! Love that trunk and the choice of paw/ear fabric!!! He's really got character!

Um, yeah, that was more than 5 years ago... my website has had many updates since then. 
I have the pictures on file and will rewrite the instructions.... in a day or two.... just got home from a 2 day event I've spent the last 4 months planning.... I'm exhausted to say the least!!

Paula....... sorry! Thanks for your patience! :hug:

Thanks, Deb! New, bigger version is almost done!

Lisa might have some at the Edinburgh tables this coming weekend too! Save you on shipping.

Thank you for the compliments, every one. I'm so glad you like him. I'm working on another one today!

Lenora, after finding the link to Gerry's for you I ended up placing an order.... a big one. LOL! I need mohair like I need a hole in the head!  :doh:  But some of the colors looked so yummy, I couldn't help myself!

Lenora,
That mohair is made by Schulte. I call it apricot but it's actually "maple". I got it a few years ago from Edinburgh. They don't currently have it but I just found it on Gerry's website. They are in Australia. I've never ordered from them but I know many here in the US who have. Shipping might be costly. Anyway, here's the link: http://www.gerrys.com.au/product.php?pr … 234&page=2 Lots of other great fabrics on there that we can get in the US too!

Intercal might have something similar made by Helmbold. You could check their website too.

I've been working my way to this design for a while now. I can see the slow evolution in some of the newer designs I've done leading up to this guy. He's been in my head for a long time and I'm now 95% happy with how he turned out. Just one or two more little tweaks of the pattern and he'll be perfect.

Spencer is 10" tall and made with one of my favorite mohair colors... apricot with a brown back.
He'll be available for adoption at the New England Teddy Bear Gathering on April 18th.

Thanks for having a look!

Lenora, I'm not that organized... I do everything on the spur of the moment!

I use "grub" screws also. Here in the US they are called "set screws". I can't be bothered to take the time to be glueing anything, letting it dry, etc. I was taught to use the standard screw like you do for the limbs and leave an opening in the back of the head in a gusset seam so there'd be access to the head of the bolt but I could never get the head stuffed properly. When an artist showed me set screw joints I was so thrilled!

A set screw is straight, no head so you put a lock nut on the end that goes in the head. The other end has a hole in it that you use an "allen key" in so that holds the screw from inside the body while you tighten the lock nut in there. So easy... no glue... only requires one extra little tool! They are available here: http://www.edinburghimports.com/shoppin … 92364=S034 and work with the 1/4" or 1/8" nuts.

There is more info and a photo here of how to use set screws: http://www.crafttales.com/Jointing%20pg.%202.html

So many options... try them 'til you find what you are most cofortable with!

Louise, I love your elephants but this one really caught my attention!! Very cute! Love the ear and paw fabric and his hat too!!! Great job!

That is my most favorite picture and has been my laptop wallpaper for a few days now! Sue keeps posting more great photos too.

And this is by no means "Farewell"! Gosh, there will be so many more updates, photos and videos. And BBC documentaries!!! And just think of all we can get accomplished in a day now that we aren't glued to our monitors and head phones listening to Hope nurse and scream. Well, OK, I'm gonna miss that but I have ring-tones! LOL!

Yay! Congrats to you and BIG hugs to William! Scott is two already??? Wow!     

Chrysanthemum is a 13 inch tall Bunny made of a yummy Schulte mohair in pale aqua with magenta tips. He's available for immediate adoption in my Etsy shop and would love to hop right into your heart and home for Easter! (Protect your Easter Basket though... he LOVES chocolate!)

Won't you visit him? http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?li … d=43802286

Also, because there is no fur, the bear will be skinnier when using a pattern you use for mohair bears. You might consider making a practice bear out of fabric like denim or heavy cotton twill to see what the body and seams will look like then make pattern changes as needed.

Hi Nancy,

There is a woman out there who makes annie dolls and she used to sell on eBay VERY well. She had to go out and get a real job after a few years and had a hard time keeping up with doll requests. She eventually stopped selling on eBay and now sells solely from her blog. She sells very well that way. She's never had a website. Just the blog and eBay. In addition to listing her latest annies for sale once a week on her blog she also shares a bit of what's going on in her personal life. As a collector I have to say that it's easy "one stop shopping" for me. I don't have to go to eBay to buy and then her blog to see what's going on in her life now.

Why not try having just a blog where you are going to be making a change with the website anyway. See how selling on your blog goes for a while. If you find a need for a website THEN you can start a new one up for your dolls.

For marketing purposes you can register a new domain name / website address and then just have it "point" or "redirect" to your blog website address. That way someone could type in say "nancysclothdolls.com" and they'd be taken directly to your blog. It's usually easier for folks to remember a website address than a blog address and also easier and shorter to put on a business card. ANd it'll only cost you about $9/yr for the domain name. Just a thought!!

Hugs,
Daphne

She's precious!

And here I was avoiding this thread because I didn't want to read about some horrible stabbing you read about in the news, Alison!! LOL!

I find it rather convenient to stab myself and draw blood.... as a diabetic I take advantage of this and do a blood test!  :crackup:
I have a wonderful leather thimble made by Clover. I HATED thimbles until I found this one a few months back. It stays on my finger, isn't bulky and awkward, comes in sizes and I can really work with it on.

Now, if you want to talk about getting yourself in the finger with the sewing machine needle THAT, I promise you is traumatic and hurts! I've done it twice, right through the nail and all! Some of you may remember me posting here about that a while ago.... warning you all not to try it!

Linda & Brenda - OUCH!!!!!

Anyone who turns the teddy bear into a representation of something other than warm fuzzies and innocense needs some serious counseling in my opinion. They've clearly got issues. They don't need to push their horrible childhoods on the rest of us. Just get a therapist.

Sadly, people from all walks of life turn all sorts of otherwise innocent objects, subjects, things into representations of their twisted, sicko minds.

For the magazine to run that article: Tacky. In my opinion.