Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

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Holt, MI
Posts: 138

Little_Bearries Jul 23, 2009

Well, I bought several bear books and studied the dimensions of the patterns... drew my own pattern up and sewed it together... there was a little trial and error in the beginning... (I made the ears bigger... and I think I need to add more neck... and I *really* want to give the bear a wire armature) but overall... for the first bear from the first pattern I ever drew... I'm kind of stupidly pleased :P

I know there's a long way to go... but dangit I think this little gal is cute. Her name is Toffee:

(please ignore her ugly, half arsed dress)

Melisa's Bears
Hazelton, BC
Posts: 5,811
Website

Melisa Nichols Jul 23, 2009

She's very sweet! And I think her dress is adorable! bear_wub Way to go on making your first bear from your own pattern! :clap:

Holt, MI
Posts: 138

Little_Bearries Jul 23, 2009

Thanks :)

She's made from an old coat I bought at a garage sale...

and I realized, in the picture her nose looks kinda crooked... but the fur just turns up a little funny on the one side and creates a shadow.

I needle felted her nose and really loved it... so I'll have to try doing more of that!
I really wanted to try little claws and paw pads too... but she just didn't seem like that kind of bear.

I LOOOOVE your bears though... you guys on here are my inspiration... your work is SO amazing!!!

Yorkshire
Posts: 1,899

Lovethosebears Jul 23, 2009

She's a real cutie! bear_wub You must be really proud of yourself :clap:

They make it look so easy in those books to design your own pattern, but knowing from experience it isn't! bear_whistle I ended up making two bears for my first go - I made too tiny a head for the body so I made a tiny body and a bigger head, hence two bears! bear_grin

Look forward your second creation

Hugs Ali

EJ's Crafts
Fort Mohave, Arizona
Posts: 829

EvaJ Jul 23, 2009

Sweet little bear. Great job for your first pattern. :clap: I have been designing for years and yesterday was one of those days when what I designed didn't turn out well. To the bin and try again. bear_rolleyes

Holt, MI
Posts: 138

Little_Bearries Jul 23, 2009

This one is a bit of a mess... I'm having trouble with head joint... I need to do more reading... although I LOVE cotter pin jointing!
It's nice to hear that you guys, who make amazing stuff, still have troubles too sometimes!

I'm in awe of the patterns you guys must come up with... this one, obviously, is stupidly simple... the open mouth bears, the pandas, the bears with eyes that open and close... most all of your guys bears... I am just in complete awe.

I have to admit though, her oversized head was on purpose XD (I love big heads on bears) ... but the poor thing barely has a neck... and I had messed up measurement on the foot pads and had to rework those a bit...

I am stupidly happy with the fact that it *looks* bear like, lol... but then I browse the gallery here and am quickly reminded of how far I have to go!

Arcas designs
Posts: 941
Website

LisaAP Jul 23, 2009

I think that she's a really sweet bear. You did a great job with your very first pattern, give yourself a big pat on the back. :clap:

Regards

Lisa

FenBeary Folk
Pointon Fen, Lincolnshire, UK
Posts: 2,234

FenBeary Folk Jul 23, 2009

Well done on your very first designed bear :dance:

It's an awesome feeling, isn't it. I can remember my first, like it was yesterday, I was so chuffed as well but also like you very critical of myself. I still am very very critical of my own work, so you see we all are very hard on ourselves.

If you don't mind me saying, Toffee (great name) reminds me of The Cheeky bears by Merrythought bear_thumb

bingle bears
Upstate, NY
Posts: 1,559

binglebears Jul 23, 2009

GREATjob on your first bear!

Warmly,
Cheryl

Cutiepie Bears
Posts: 579

bearyfun732 Jul 23, 2009

what a cutie! bear_laugh

Melisa's Bears
Hazelton, BC
Posts: 5,811
Website

Melisa Nichols Jul 23, 2009

Thank you for the compliment! :hug: I think you might find that there will always be areas you want to improve on - I still see things I want to do differently all the time. It keeps things interesting! bear_thumb And sometimes the things you are critical of in your own bear may be something that appeals to someone else. bear_grin