Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Here you go fellow quilters and bear lovers....this was what was giving me so much grief yesterday...but I figured out my "issues".  Now on to the about 20 or so more...different shirt material....so they will all look a little different.  Haven't decided how I want to sash them together yet...wait until I'm done and then decide...no sense having anything planned too far ahead... :)

I might add that it's a real lapel, pocket and the buttons came off the original shirt.  Fun...

Shantell

Piece of cake...the other half only took me an hour...I never make my "pieces" big enough the first time around and I'm trying very hard to use the fabric wisely.  I'd really like to surprise Angie, my friend, with a second quilt for herself.   I'll take a photo of this block in the a.m. and post it then.  It's really a cute pattern...I just needed to get away from it for a few minutes and change my thought process.  Paper-piecing is just backwards for me.  Now that's I've done the two halves it'll go fast.

Thanks for listening to me vent...

I promised a friend of mine who's father passed away about 18 months ago that I would take all his "aloha shirts" (they are from Hawaii) and turn them into a quilt for her mother.  She dilly dallied...and so have I but I decided to start on it today.  Some time ago I found this wonderful paper-piecing pattern that is a shirt...same style as her dad's aloha shirts....

AUGH...I remember why I hate paper-piecing...I can't follow directions the right way...how am I suppose to do it and do it backwards... AUGH.  I have half a shirt done...and it's taking me all afternoon. 

Okay...I'm done venting...on to the other half.  Then it will one block down and 20 more to go...

Oh all right...how much is Nancy paying you guys  

I'm registering...tonight...it's not the money so much as do I really want to spend my money on a class...or new shoes...or bear stuff...quilt stuff...I have a list you know.

Thanks for the advice...

P.S.  Winney, thank you so much for the generous offer but actually have eye floss that I bought through Edinburgh...I just didn't think far enough ahead that I could use it for sculpting.

TTFN...off to Nancy's site...

Oh Shelli...I don't blame you...I probably wouldn't share either.  You are much braver than I...just can't get past the pain thing.  Childbirth I could handle cuz I got to bring home that bouncing bundle of burp-up.  :)

Tattoos....I've always wanted one but am too chicken...this coming from someone who gives herself a shot every day...go figure.  My daughter just got one on the lower part of her back in the middle...and she said it was the worst pain in her whole life....and that included over 60 some stitches in her leg a year or so ago.  She said she'd never do it again...ever!!!  Now...I think you should post pics of your tattoos...come on...we are sharing here aren't we?

Shantell

I keep threatening to take one of those Bear U classes...I even have it bookmarked...not sure what's stopping me.

Thanks Bethbear...I shall try your methods before I spend $40+ on a bear making class... :)

Daphne I almost wet my pants when I read that...how funny!!!  Now what in the world made you think that was not going to get you in trouble?

I was very spoiled as a child...I had my dad wrapped around my little finger...oh heck...I still do.   I should correct that...my mom use to say "I was overindulged...not spoiled...spoiled children throw tantrums to get what they want...overindulged children just get what they want (within reason)."  Perhaps that's why I only made it through a couple play therapy sessions...she thought they were a waste of time...I turned out okay without them.  I play just fine with children now...:D:D

So....go forth my new friends and stop following directions...be brave... :)

I thought I'd pop on here one more time before going nighty night. ;)

I found it helpful to tack the gusset center at the nose to the center seam of the head pieces...then I tack the back of the gusset on each side...and then I tack at the bridge of the nose.  I also carefully pin...try using Laura Lynn's basting technique with the stapling...I haven't tried it yet because I've been doing tiny bears but it definitely looks like something I'll use on bigger bears...certainly easier to take out the staples then the seams.

Good Luck...you know you have to show a picture of the finished bear...don't forget.  :):)

Good night...

Isn't it bad enough that I have to occassionally pluck my own nose hairs...now I have to consider what kind of mohair to buy just in case I decide to pluck the nose hairs of my bears...oh my!!!

P.S.  Dilu darling...I didn't have to hide behind the sofa....my mom let me sit right front and center...I got to participate....that is until I fell asleep in my daddy's lap and had to be carried to bed....which I use to fake just so he would because I got bored.:D

I wasn't bad...just a bid spoiled and ornery

I'm finding it interesting that most peoples take on this is that not following rules is a bad thing which I don't.  After all if everyone followed "the rules" we wouldn't have had wonderful artists like Van Gogh, Matisse, Michelangelo...or scientists who are breaking new ground in finding the cure or treatments for cancer, diabetes, MS, etc.  All our bears would look the same for the most part.    When I wrote earlier that I made my own rules I didn't mean it that I was a bad kid...I wasn't.  I got in trouble yes but nothing serious...I didn't break the law, drink or do drugs.  I learned to "break the rules" from the biggest rule breaker I know and that is my mom.  She defies rules at every turn.  My mom (as well as myself) has MS and if she would have played by everyones "rules" she'd probably be dead...but she challenges them all.  She refuses to be told how to live...oh you should do this...you should do that.   I don't think breaking rules or not following directions as a bad thing...it's knowing what rules or directions you can bend or break...or push to the limits.   We need rule breakers, non-direction followers in order to learn new and exciting things.

Okay...Shelli you can have the soap box back... :)  (meant as the sincerest of compliments...I love it when get on your soap box)

Oh...and when my 14 year old was in pre-school...I got a call from his teacher who was concerned that Taylor's favorite color was black.  I said...yeah...so what...isn't that just all the colors of the rainbow all in one.  She didn't say much...

Are you kidding...I'm an overachiever only child...oldest grandchild...who hung out with adults...and had to go the "play therapy" when I was in grade school because I didn't "relate to kids my own age"... Follow direction...HA...my own maybe!!!

Suprised aren't you!!

I know I've read some posts somewhere on this topic...I'm not trying to beat it to death.  But...I've tried a few attempts at sculpting the eye area, the muzzle and the mouth and am having a terrible time getting everything to stay in place.  I can't seem to pull, push, pinch, tug, tweek, and hold it all in place and get it actually stay there.  So...does anyone out there and you know who you are...have any photographs, diagrams, drawing, doodles, etc. they could post.  I'm sure I'm not alone in this da-lem-a-la!!

Thanks...

The snoop!!!

Shelli...you're scarin me...did you like hook your brain up to the computer or what?

I can't even begin to follow all of this...AUGH!!!:|

Okay...so I couldn't pass up an opportunity to make Dilu's day...:D:D

Here's the teddy with the new and much improved ears...see you can't tell...HAHAHAHA....I think it's just cuz the pixies are so stinkin blurry...what's up with that anyway?  Hypothetical question I already know the answer...new camera.

So...I added some little pieces of felt behind his little glass peepers to create that "who me...I'm so innocent...where's the honey jar" look.  Did I accomplish that folks?  He's only 4-1/2" tall so how much trouble could he get into. ;)

Shantell

P.S.  I can't seem to let go of anything I've made yet...how do you girls/gents do it.  I love them all...but that doesn't support my habit.

Dilu darling, I could indeed take a photograph of the new improved Winneyfied ears...but you couldn't tell...isn't THAT the point.  It's all in the technique...:D  And I don't want to jinx myself...who knows the next set could be Darth Vader ears...AUGH.

Well at least I won this battle...the war may still be raging we'll see how I do on the next set.  Your instructions worked like a charm....thank you so much.

If you haven't checked out her post in the Tips & Techniques section under "sewing on the ears" and are having ear issues, you should...they are GRRRRRRREAT!!!

Thanks again Winney!!!

Thanks Shelli!!!

Hey...did the Gollies tie up Dilu and then create havoc on her computer? :D

and then I said...

**I've deleted my post from Shelli's Ginger bear for sale...since I just completely forgot where I was when I replied...silly me.

Clare, your bear is wonderful...I can only hope to have disasters as beautiful as she is.

My dad saves a bite of his dinner and actually feeds them off his fork...and they give them icecream cones.  It's just sick...   They both sleep in bed with my mom...under the covers no less.  The funny thing is when I go visit...Chance the beagle totally ignores them and won't stay off my lap or leave me alone for 5 minutes.  I go to the bathroom...and he either whines at the door or insists on coming in with me. One time I got there and he starts carrying on like hounds do...I'm sure the neighbors thought he was being tortured.  My mom is all excited about her water lillies  blooming so she wants me to go look at them.  I get up out of the chair with Chance clinging to me like lint...and he gets all pissy with me and actually jumped up and nipped me in the butt.  Now mind you I'm almost 6 ft tall...so he really had to jump.   I love that darn dog...

Pets...I can't imagine a life without them.

I forgot...we were talking about hot flashes, hormones, etc.  Women in my family tend do go through that later in life....yippee...Auntie Flo for longer than most...anyway.  I can always tell when my mom is having hot flashes...even sometimes before she knows...her ears turn BRIGHT RED...like fire engine red.  It's the funniest thing I've ever seen.

Thanks Winney,  I see it now DUH...my eye doctor is right...I'm am losing my vision...perhaps it's time to get a seeing eye dog...do you think they can read  :)