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For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
Kristina, Your American Bear Co. Bradford Vermont sign has me smiling. I was just in Bradford two weeks ago. It would have been fun if there really was a bear company there!!!
I'm jealous of your fireplace. I'd never thought of having one in a studio but now I'm thinking how wonderful that would be! :dance:
Remember that there is no 'right' or 'wrong' way to make a bear! Don't be afraid to do your own thing! 
Take notes... record finished size, joint and eye sizes, materials used and where they came from... in case you ever want to make another one!
Keep an open mind, be flexible... that bear you intend to be a boy may look like a girl when you're done! 
Not laughing, Denise! I love cozy places to create in. And I was just saying to my husband the other night that I miss our two room (just two rooms!) apartment that we lived in for the first 4 years we were married! The dining area became my "studio" and shared office space. I was always bumping my head on the chandelier!
What a very clever idea to hang that blind on the back side of your shelves and hang pictures on it! It takes a lot of cleverness to make small spaces work! I love your work area!!
Can't wait to see pictures!!
I've never heard of Tyber Fur before so just found the company online. Their fur looks so soft and wonderful!! I'm envious!! Enjoy it!!
I do think it's a very well formatted, visually appealing, easy to navigate site and those who become members will certainly enjoy surfing there.
Darren, my invite seems to be lost too! 
I'm not keen on "invitation only" type sites in the bear community... very cliquey! I missed the part about it being invitation only.
Yes, why not get on the forums Lanie participates on? Maybe because they want to only invite the people they want as members? Not put out an open invitation.
With so many other teddy bear sites out there I'm sure there's a place for everyone! There's so many that I have a hard time keeping up. 
Well, you can't get any where by clicking on the links across the top but if you scroll down and look for "Newest Members" on the left near the bottom and click on one of their photos it'll get you in to that member's profile where you can then click on "Browse All Members" of which there are currently 46 as I post this. You'll able to see them all there.
I checked this out earlier as I'd never heard of it... it is Lanie's site. Very nice too I might add.
I wouldn't appreciate the methods used to gain membership though.
Why not just post here on TT? What a great place to reach tons of artists AND collectors! (Maybe she did once upon a time and I missed it?) Or email artists individually. Takes a little extra effort and time (as all business ventures do) but would probably be appreciated a little more. So, for those of us who don't list on Bear Pile or eBay would we ever have heard about this site/opportunity if Edie hadn't mentioned it? Im off to go poke around the site a little more!
Lenora,
It STARTS at noon eastern.... it will continue until everything is sold out! I'm sure there will be things left tomorrow afternoon so I hope you'll stop by and see!
Hugs, Daphne
While reorganizing my studio (inspired by the thread for posting photos of our work space!) I realized I had a lot of bear making supplies I'll never use. Listing it all on eBay or Etsy seems like a daunting and costly task so I've decided to host a tag sale on my website!!! I have lots of mohair, trims, accessories, books, magazines, patterns, sweaters and even some annies!! Don't miss it!!
Mahines: There are three in my studio. One is a featherweight. I must admit I haven't used it enough to feel 100% comfortable with it yet... adjusting tension, cleaning, etc. and I don't want anything to happen to my sweet Emmaline (well, I call her Emma) so I mostly talk to her and dust her every couple of days. It is my goal by mid-year to have the time to use her more. I have done a couple of bears on her and some doll clothes. Works beautifully!!!
The machine I use and beat on is my Husqvarna/Viking. It's a base model but I LOVE it. It'll sew through anything and I can go YEARS between cleanings even with all the bears I sew on it! (Though I don't recommend this!! LOL!) It does not have a blanket stitch which would come in handy with some of the clothes and folk art things I make and one day soon I will upgrade to a more advanced model. But I still love it!
The third machine in my room is not a sewing machine but a felting machine. It's a Baby Lock Embellisher EMB7. It has seven felting needles like you'd use for hand needlefelting and goes up and down like a sewing machine but without thread. It's so easy to use and lots of fun.
OK, cleaning and reorganizing became a 2 day job but thank you all for the inspiration to tackle it!!! I feel like I can function in my studio again! :dance:
Here are a few photos. I've posted more on my Facebook Fan Page. You don't have to have a Facebook account to see them!
Yeah, Shane posted the link to her website on FB today and I had so much fun checking out all her cards!!! Love her humor!!
Alright.... you guys have gone and done it..... inspired me to reorganize my studio!
Honestly, right now it's so messy the dogs can't even find their bed in there!
I went out and bought hangers today to hang all my mohair then I can put the shelves it's all on to better use.
I'll post pics when I'm done but it'll probably be a few days as one thing usually leads to another, you know how it is!
Keep the photos coming! I always love this topic and peering into people's lives this way! Such fun!! :dance:
This is 15 inch "Benny Bear". He was made for my nephew Benjamin in celebration of his Baptism which is tomorrow Feb. 28th.
Benny Bear is the first from a new design and is made of Schulte Kid Mohair with ultrasuede paw pads. He's fully jointed and no, he's not child safe but he's a special keepsake and his mom, being a bear artist herself understands that!
:)
I have a Rita Deising bear who looks almost identical to Tommy! It's one of my most favorite bears in my collection! You did a great job with Tommy... achieving an aged old, floppy look!
Hey, that last one isn't too bad! Especially after looking at the others!!
Have you contacted Wanda Carson to see if she has any of Keith's bell collars left?
I've searched and searched for a supplier in the past with no luck. Even went so far as to look into buying the leather strapping and tools to make them myself but I just don't have time for that!!!
Susan,
Being in the US I don't have any suggestions for places to buy new fabric but thought I'd suggest checking thrift/second-hand clothing shops... I've seen some great old dresses I've been tempted to buy just for the fabric and trims, buttons, etc.
Good luck in your search!
Lovie is off to a very special collector in NY! I'm going to miss her a wee bit but she's got a very special Valentine waiting for her... 
I'm so glad you all like the fabric! I have so much quiliting fabric that's just sitting in the closet since I took up bear making full time... thought it was about time I put some of it to use!!
Love them all!
Wow.... things sound exciting in your world!! Best of Luck to you!!! :hug: :hug: :hug:
