Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Count me in too!!!
I also don't have a scale, just don't want to know.
Great idea
Heather

Forgot to mention, that the store near me has over 140 colors of ultra suede. A great thing to have near you. No more guessing if what you're ordering will match you mohair.

Lynn, there is one in Calgary. Nice store, She has lots of artists bears there to look at, and she sells the patterns as well. Super nice lady, will learn your name even.
I go there to browse, buy patterns but the felting supplies and the mohair are terribly expensive.
If you want more info though here is the link, or feel free to email me. I'm interested in the one near you though. What's it like??
http://www.out-of-hand.com/
feel free to email off the list if you prefer.
Heather

Well done, I also love that they look very different from your Aviator bear, but still have your style. Nicely done!
Heather

Dilu, if you're looking for some good roving, I get all mine at gnome sweet gnome.
http://www.gnomesweetgnome.com/main.htm
I find the prices cheap, and the lady is really nice. Also the roving is great and she sure does have black. I was always thinking, even with your sewn gollies, that you should try felting the hair on. Love that stuff!!
Heather

Winney, you are soooooo true, I thought it was just me. I don't even dare look at my supplies while I'm in the middle of a bear, or my mind will start wondering on my next project.

Other than that, I don't have too much to add, don't make my own patterns yet. But i did see somewhere, maybe even here. Where all the pattern pieces had a hole punched in them and they were hung on rings. I liked that idea. easy to flip thru and not much organizing to do.

Just my 2 cents
Heather

Great tip Winney. I was also going to suggest Sequoia bears and her claws. I bought some, have yet to put them in. But the instructions are great!!!! Very happy I bought it.
Heather

All you guys rock!! Now I just have to find the way that'll work best for me. I would love to shade the eyes, but I just don't have anything to match the mohair. I guess it's good to learn anyway.
I'll show a pic when I'm done, you too Sabine!!!!!
I really like the glue idea though. That way I know they will both be even.
Jenny,  you are sooo brave to sew the eye patches on 1st. I can't even decide where to put the eyes untill after I've stuffed the head and stared at it for hours. LOL
Thanks again guys,
Heather

Hey guys, working on my 1st panda bear here. Quite the learning experience I have to say.
So, I finally have the head sewn and now I'm thinking about the eye patches. I will be sewing them on, as opposed to painting them.
Do you guys have any tips or tricks on this?? I'm not sure how to go about it. Do I just sew the patches on the same way I would do the ears?? How much of the mohair do I need to trim, under the eye patch.
I'm soo scared to mess up this face any help that you have would be SUPER!!!
Thanks
Heather

Shantell, i think you are close, but I pictured a bear with an embroidered apple on his bottom. Not sure if I'm in love with it.
My honest answer,
Heather

Please don't stop making bears!!!!! Then I will never have one of yours!!
How did that scam work?? I've never heard of that before. Please explain.
If you stop selling on ebay, please still sell to me. I must own one of your bears one day. Wish my birthday was closer!!
Keep at it!
Heather

Hey guys,
In an earlier thread we were talking about buying steel shot. I had some fellow Canadians from out east say they can buy them at Walmart. So I went there the other day, and sure enough the girl wouldn't sell them to me. Not even look at them!! She said I need some sort of licence. I can't remember the exact name.
So I have a couple of questions then. Any Albertains ( as we have a few here) are you able to buy steel shot??
My other question is about stuffing a larger bear. The one I'm working on in 14" and that's huge for me. I hate to use glass beads, bec. all I have are 2 small bags. I think I would end up using both on this bear. I also have some jelly pellets. Maybe those would be good?? I like nice heavy bears.
Anyway, thanks for any info you may have
Heather

This is soo interesting. Hearing about what we all were like as kids.
I won't go into detail about my childhood, not appropriate for here, but I would like to see more pics!!! I'll try and find one of me, I used to have dreadlocks (I'm very white!), jet back hair (natural redhead) with yellow and blue stripes. And my clothes!!! Very comical.
I'm promise when I get home from work, I'll try and find a picture of me. Maybe it'll inspire someone for a bear!
Heather

I'm a little late on this one, and I do hope I didn't step on anyone's toes.
I would for sure have given that lady my bear for $50.  The best part of all this, is that our selling strategies can be as diverse as our teddies. Whatever works for you is the right one!
Heather

Hello Lynn. I am also from Alberta. I had no idea there were so many bear makers here. We must plan our own show one day!!!!!
Okay, so I've also been putting off taking an online course. Has anyone taken the teddy pattern design course?? I think that's the one I need the most.
Heather

Tammy! You are awsome for posting this. I can't wait to try it.
Heather

ooooh, bit in the face by a dog. I can imagine being scared of them after that!!!!
I've always loved poms as well, and when I 1st moved out on my own, I started the dog hunt. I've worked at many a pet store and knew I didn't want one from there. All the horror stories I have!!!
So I started researching breeds to see what would fit me best. Took me 10 months of visiting breeders and trying not to take home any puppies when I decided on a pom. He's a great dog. He's been to a million parties with me and my friends. He's great bec. no-one minds if you tag him along wherever you go!!!

So, Lisa and Kim, or any other pet owners out there. Do you often find yourself staring at your pet, wishing if only you could make a pattern for them?? I know I sure do.
Just can't seem to get enough of those cute fuzzy things!!!
Heather

3 in one week Tammy?? Amazing. Love the bears to. My favorite is Riley. I'm sure all three of them will sell you for you.
Heather

Sarah, no offence at all. THe 1st thing I checked was to make sure both sides of the head were even. So great advice, thank you

Ahhh, great tips guys, thank you.
I went to bed after posting this, so I'm at it again with a fresh head. ( you are right Dilu!)
I'm going to rip the one side out and try again. I never thought of starting at the eyes and working my way down. Plus I always have done one whole side 1st. I guess that's not the best way eh?? LOL
Plus, if nothing else, I feel soooooo much better that I'm not the only one that this has happened to.
I'm going to try again, and I promise to post a pic when i finished the teddy.
Thanks again for the advice. I hate to have to throw the head out the window :lol:
Heather

Hey guys, you might remember me posting something about a pattern I was working on, where the gusset was too short. No matter how I played with it, it just wasn't long enough. So I took some advice off here and added a bit on the end. Worked great when I sewed one side of the head, used up the bit I added on and all was good.
So I get to sewing the other side, by hand of course. I didnt pin or baste, because I figured I had played around enough with the other side. So here I am sewing and sewing away, starting at the nose. Then I get to the back of the head, not much more left to sew and I realize that I won't need the extra bit of gusset I had added on before. WHAT?????? How does that work.
So I ripped out the stiching, wishing I hadn't now so I could see what I'd done. But I ripped it out and for the life of me I can't make it fit again. I'm soo confused. I have never had trouble fitting a gusset before. I guess the pattern wasn't wrong, it's just me!
Here's what the instructions say, and I dont understand this
    -"Any ease of the gusset should be on the top, rounded part of the head." WHAT???

So after playing with this thing for well over an hour, I've decided to come to you guys, here are some pictures I have taken, so you can see what I'm talking about.

and here is the side I've sewn that has used the extra bit of gusset

and now the front of the part I've sewn

Soo sorry for the long post. I just feel I'm going crazy. My boyfriend said maybe I should take some time off teddy making. NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!    LOL

Thanks   -    Heather

I think I said this in a different post, but I was also a real trouble maker. If there were directions to follow, I would refuse. I think that allowed my creative side to come out. Are has no rules!!
Heather

Thanks guys for your imput. And Shelli, you are great! I have to say I do love intercall. I'm all about saving money, and yes I know you bears sell for tonnes Shelli. That's great! It's nice to see that it isn't the cost of the supplies but the artists vision that makes the bear desirable. I've seen on ebay bears made of schultz mohair and they sure didn't sell for any more bec. of it. Not that I've seen anyway.
I find intercal the best to buy from, bec. I can see a picture of a bear made from that material. Sure helps a newbie like me. And I'm in love with the 's' finsih. That's what I'm using right now. I also like to see your guy's bears as an example for me to see. It inspires me and I know I won't hate the mohair.

Donna, I promise, I'll stop tuggin on the mohair LOL You should see me, I work in a professional office, with my teddy parts on my desk and a black shirt full of mohair. If there's one way to advertise that you make bears.......

Louise, thanks for sharing that you have tried all kinds of mohair, and they're all about the same. Price doesn't always mean everything.

Now I love my mohair again!
Heather

I don't have kids, but I was a baaad kid myself. Did it all and then some. Now here I am at 26, been with the same guy for 12 yrs (yeah, I know it's crazy) and I sit at home most Friday nights at the sewing maching. So there is hope for you parents. I promise!!!!!
Heather

yes I do. He's my baby!!! He's 5lbs on the nose and a very good boy.
Why do you ask? Do you have one too?
Heather