Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store

Active | Unanswered

Upstate New York
Posts: 1,650

Deb Oct 3, 2005

I’ve stepped away from the bear before for my sake, but never for the bear’s sake until this morning. I was seriously worried I’d hurt her (yes, intentionally).

I wasn’t going to try &%$ eyelids, but changed my mind. Couldn’t pull leather through with 10” doll needle. Had leather crimped to the needle eye hoping it would pull through. HA! Got the bottom in and glued in place. Top is in on one side, dangling on the other. Looks stupid anyway. I don’t like it. Eyelids are retarded. :mad:

There … I feel better.

Grrrrrrrrr!

Back Road Bears
Laconia, NH USA
Posts: 6,568

Daphne Oct 3, 2005

bear_grin
At least you didn't stab it to death and chop it into a million pieces!

Here's a big bear_smile :hug: !

Feel better! it's just eye lids. Take 'em off and the bear will be just as happy and cute! :dance:

Daphne

Pandy Potter Bears
Staffordshire, UK
Posts: 1,864

Amanda Oct 3, 2005

:twisted: Go girl! Its best to get it out of your system. I have'nt tried corded eyelids yet, so you are braver than me. I have just finished the head of a green bear with doll eyes and needlefelted eyelids. I have never done a green bear before so we shall see what people think of coloured bears.

Back Road Bears
Laconia, NH USA
Posts: 6,568

Daphne Oct 3, 2005

Oh, Amanda, I'm working on a green bear too. We'll have to post our photos when we're done. It's my first green bear. I've done a pale gray/green bear but never true green. I'm not even sure I'm going to like him!! The backing is a strange color of green unlike the mohair. We shall see.....

Apple Dumpling Designs
Willamette Valley Oregon
Posts: 3,128

shantell Oct 3, 2005

There is something to be said for head chopping... :redface:

Jellybelly Bears
Australia
Posts: 4,066

Jellybelly Bears Oct 3, 2005

oh boy Deb..lol...I know that frustration.. :twisted:
Do you all know of the plastic eyelids? They are made from soft plastic and look really good. Don't know if Intercal has them but know Beary Cheap does (and i allowed to say that...) :doh:
I have a pic on my website of Rufus...he has them in.
Hope it works for you Deb....otherwise big hug and feel better :hug:

Oh and Daphne and Amanda I love green bears...My mums favourite colour so I make them for her. I have one on my gallery and then willow flutter bear that I just made.
Can't wait to see yours bear_innocent

Kim-Bee Bears
Pennsylvania
Posts: 5,645

kbonsall Oct 3, 2005

I had a tough time with leather cording but devised my own way, I just superglue the cording right onto the eye and mohair and slightly tuck the end behind the eye..... my newest bear Paige has them done that way...

Flying Fur Studios
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 3,073

psichick78 Oct 3, 2005

Don't forget, you can always make polymer clay eye lids. Take a ball of polyclay that's a little bigger than the eye, place the eye on top and press. The poly clay should squish out from under the eye and give you some good, simple eye lids. You can also play around with it the clay and sculpt a bit, or just do it the easy way, I mentioned above.
Heather

Kim-Bee Bears
Pennsylvania
Posts: 5,645

kbonsall Oct 3, 2005

That is a good idea heather, maybe I will try that out too... I love to experiment!!! I feel like a little kid :dance:

Upstate New York
Posts: 1,650

Deb Oct 3, 2005

Heather ~
So do you take the eye out before you bake? Or bake eye with the clay?

I've been thinkin' and thinkin' all day and I think I have a solution for this one. I hope so!

Kim-Bee Bears
Pennsylvania
Posts: 5,645

kbonsall Oct 3, 2005

I would think you would keep the GLASS eye in - not if you are working with plastic obviously LOL... When you bake fimo it is at a lower temperature... i think, from memory it is 275?

Flying Fur Studios
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 3,073

psichick78 Oct 3, 2005

If you are using glass eyes, you can bake them just fine. You bake poly clay at such a low temp, that I often sculpt on an index card and bake that. So, if you can bake an index card, the glass eyes will be fine. This way, you can experiment with all sorts of eye lids, without having to attach it to the bears head 1st.
Any issues, let me know. I'll be happy to help as best I can.
Heather