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Chaska, MinnesotaHello teddy bear friends: I am new to Teddy Talk. I am not a professional bear artist, I sew bears for a hobby. I've been doing this for 10 years. I am thrilled to find this forum, to make friends, learn, share information and techniques. This is so exciting to finally talk to folks about bears....I'm tickled pink actually...
I do have a question(s) about designing bears: What makes a "great" design? How do you begin to tackle a design (steps please)? Where do you start? Where do you find inspiration? What makes a great bear (or rabbit, mouse.....grape for that matter)?
Thank you
Michelle
p.s - Kidding about the grape. I have no desire to design or sew a grape.
Motto I live by: "Life's too short, eat dessert first".
Bears by JodiUmmmmmmm lets see... First of all WELCOME to Teddy Talk (TT) We have great fun. And if you have been making bears for 10 years you know more than you think you do. In my opinion any pattern can become a great teddy bear. It is all in how you do the face and the quality of the finish work. Balance is important. The right size head for the right size body and so on. Fabric makes a big difference. Mohair is very nice if you have not tried it. What kind of fur have you been using? And are you using a store bought pattern? If you have only used store bought patterns then you know how the pieces are susposed to look. You can lay it out and re trace the pattern size but then make the changes that you see in your mind. Like if you want a fatter tummy add that on. If you want bigger ears , do that. If you think the arms are to short make them longer and before you know it , you will be able to just set down and start drawling with out a pattern to look at.Every time you make a bear look at it and then with the next one change what you didn't like. Just keep going till one day you will have a GREAT BEAR !!!!
Send some pictures of your bears if you can , we would love to see them.
Just keep asking what you want to know and if I didn't answer what you wanted ask again !!! :dance:
Bear Hugs and blessings from above.... Jodi Falk
Bears by JodiMake sure you mark at the bottom of this page to subscribe to this topic and a notice will come in your e mail every time some one responds.
ToadBriarJodi explained it just right I think!
I dunno what a bear is gonna look like when I start. I think something like
"I'd like a more tall, long body this time, with a grown-up looking head,
instead of all the short pudgy baby shaped ones I've been doing." & then I choose the
mohair that looks good for the size I have in mind, & then I design the pattern
pieces with my idea in mind, & see how it works. I build from previous pattern
designs as Jodi describes, or I make up entirely new ones depending on how I
feel. I look in books to see what pattern shapes give which effect - a big round
forehead, a blocky nose versus a pointy snout, & so on.
As I make it I get to know 'who' this bear is. It is the most fun & rewarding & satisfying
way to work, for me.
Right now I have been doing 2 projects that I needed them to turn out looking
very specific, so I've been doing practice patterns sewn up in muslin, etc. & it
is dead boring. But some people work like that all the time, so whatever works
for you is the best way!
Have you got pictures of your bears to share? Pictures are fun 
Chowlea BearsHi Michelle - just wanted to welcome you to TT. :dance:
There's so much to learn here - you won't have time to do anything else for WEEKS. :crackup:
Be sure to check out the 'Library' for tips. Its on the index page with a little wavy hand character beside it. It has its own index and more information than you can try in a lifetime.
Enjoy.....................
Baird'sBears
Welcome, Michelle! It sounds as though you should be teaching us
There's good stuff in the archives.
Once I got the hang of it, I just started sketching and drafting the body pieces for the effect I was after.
I'm now finishing a "Hamlet Bear", tall and skinny and dressed, which was a completely new adventure for me.
Hi Michelle
I can highly recommend Nancy Tillberg's online design course through E-Bearz University. Just go to www.kranbearys.com These classes are fun and you are also able to print out all of the information as well as being able to ask questions of Nancy while the course is running
Hugs
Gail
Welcone to TT
Chaska, MinnesotaHello Teddy Bear Friends: What a nice surprise. I come home from work and find several responses to my questions. And what a nice welcome too….Thanks you.
Jodi and Kim: Great ideas about using existing patterns and changing the shapes of the pieces to make a different bear. Or looking at books to get ideas on features.
Sandra: I have not found the library yet but I will be on the hunt. I bet it is a treasure of information. Thank you for the suggestion.
Eileen: I hope you post a picture of “hamlet bear”. Are the archives the same as the library on Teddy Talk?
Gail: On-line classes? Hmmmmm…I never thought about that! How does it work? Do you follow a workbook and e-mail questions to the teacher? I will look at Nancy’s Tilburg’s website. Thank you for sending it to me.
Jodi asked about pictures of my bears. Once I can figure it out, I will get them up. In the mean time happy bear making. And again thank you for the warm welcome.
Bear Hugs
Michelle
Jare Hares & Bears
First of all...
Welcome to TT....
Everyone else give bear hugs...
You will enjoy yourself and find that you are posting at 3 or 4 in the morning...
First off when designing a new piece I usually have a picture in my head.
Then I deconstruct the design in my head to figure out the pattern pieces to see what shapes they need to be.
Then I draw the pattern on paper.
I can get the proportions correct, most of the time. I usually need to go back and make the body longer, arms less hooked, legs more bent, tush smaller, tummy flatter (I am working on this one... HEHE! :crackup: ) etc., etc., etc.
Balance is important. The right size head for the right size body and so on. Fabric makes a big difference.
I will argee with this, but I think with the anime movement... what is the right head size? (see photo)
Flying Fur StudiosOh my Jared, those are the cutest bunnies...........I love them to bits.
Jare Hares & BearsThanks, I made those guys for Dollmasters.
I call that picture "March of the Bori..."
I think Bori is pural for Boris... :crackup:
Baird'sBears
Jared, your Hug of Buns is so adorable!! 
But 'Bori' . . . . hmmm. It probably isn't, but Boris sounds Greekish. How about 'March of the Borides' (pronounced like 'Euripides') :dance:
Michelle, I'm struggling with Hamlet's doublet, and trying to finish Yorick's skull in time to get this dratted bear onto my website this morning.
Bears by Jodi Oh yes I forgot Anime heads are bigger !! Silly me and most of mine now a days are !!
Jodi Falk
Bears by Jodi
GREAT bunnies !!!!! Love them !!!!!
AHHHHHHH I want to hug a bunny !!!!! Sample HUG ??
Here is a bunny of mine I did last easter.
Chaska, MinnesotaJared: Love, love, love the bunnies....Thank you for your advise and the warm welcome. I also enjoyed your teddy bear memory. So sweet....
All of you, Jodi, Kim, Sandra, Eileen and Gail, another big thank you for you ideas on design.
Gail: I did call Nancy Tillberg and left a message re: her on line design class. I'm not the greatest with computers. I don't understand how to do a class on line. So I called and left a message to ask how that would work.
So in closeing, I'll borrow from Jared and his lovely, delightful Bunnies:
"Big Bunny Hugs" to all of you
Jare Hares & BearsWell I thought Boris was Russian.
Apple Dumpling DesignsThe only thing I can add....A BIG ERASER!!!!
:crackup: :crackup: :crackup:
I've worn out two!!!!
Canna Bear PaintHow about 'March of the Borides' (pronounced like 'Euripides')
And for those of us who can't pronounce 'Euripides'.....?
Kelly
Canna Bear PaintWith a great design, you can say "I meant for that to happen", when asked about particular features.
With a GREAT design, you actually did mean for it to happen.
Notice the subtle difference 
No seriously, I start new designs usually by looking at photographs of the actual animal. If I want to make a bear, I look at pictures of real bears. If I want to make a rabbit, I look at pictures of real rabbits. Or as others mentioned, working off your existing patterns is a lovely way to move forward.
Best wishes,
Kelly
ToadBriarWith a great design, you can say "I meant for that to happen", when asked about particular features.
With a GREAT design, you actually did mean for it to happen.
lol truer words were never spoken :crackup:
Baird'sBears Michelle, I also work from pictures of real animals. I've got huge files of critterpix on my computer and pinned up all over my work area.
When I'm having trouble figuring out how to transform a 3-dimensional body part to a 2-dimensional pattern piece, I sometimes model the thing in clay . . . just plain children's modelling clay. I then drape my modelled piece with something disposable (like paper towels) to determine pattern shape, dart placement, seam placement, etc. This is a messy method, but it works for me when nothing else does.
I did the same thing when trying to imitate an old Steiff bear for the 'Classical' challenge. I couldn't figure out how to make the feet long, narrow and flattish all at the same time. Maybe next time I'll get it right!
Jared, of course you're right . . . I did a quick google of Russian noun plurals, but lost heart after I hit the word 'complicated'.
I still like the sound of 'Borides'.
Kelly--just think of a man taking his ripped pants to a tailor for mending. The conversation goes like this . . .
Tailor: "Euripides?"
Customer: "Eumenides?"
It's an old Greek major joke. Very very old.
Jare Hares & BearsKelly--just think of a man taking his ripped pants to a tailor for mending. The conversation goes like this . . .
Tailor: "Euripides?"
Customer: "Eumenides?"It's an old Greek major joke. Very very old.
:crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:
Chaska, MinnesotaEileen: what a clever bug (or should I say "bear" in our world) you are...modeling clay and paper towels.. Thank you for the tip..
Michelle
Hi Michelle... I see you DID find us here at TT. A huge warm welcome to you!
I love what everyone has written so far. I sometimes have an exact idea in my head and go searching for photos to inspire me more closely. Other times I just sit down and sketch until I have a pleasing outline.
Most of the time what I'm aiming for is some kind of particular silhouette. I tend to draw out my entire pattern on a huge piece of art paper (it's from my son's art tablet -- don't tell!) and then I trace over it with Sharpie, and then trace the limbs and other pieces from that. This way I can see the whole critter standing, or sitting, however I drew it!, with all features placed where my eye thinks they should go.
Like most creative pursuits, you probably already know there are ten bajillion ways to do any one thing.
Again... welcome to you!
BEAR ME SHOOTKAThanks, I made those guys for Dollmasters.
I call that picture "March of the Bori..."
I think Bori is pural for Boris...
Actually, Borya is short for Boris. My uncle name is Boris.
Your bunnies makes a great company together :hug:
Michelle welcome to TT. :hug:
Hugs, Julia
