For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
This is Matteo, and as you can probably see, I had a lot of fun making him. (I don't think there's another like him anywhere in nature. )
He stands just over 15" tall (about 38cm) and is made from two colors of mohair from two different countries (German Helmbold and English Norton).
He's listed on Bearpile. I hope you'll take a peek! http://www.bearpile.com/detail.cgi?id=1414&item=39214
What a handsome bear. I love the combination of colors.
Joanne
Thank you, Joanne, and I hope you take it as "the sincerest form of flattery": I tried your technique of mohair strands rooted in a needle-felted base. (That's how I made the eye details.)
It's definitely secure and creates a natural-looking effect, but I can see why the bear-making world isn't doing it en masse. It gives a whole new meaning to "time-consuming"!
Anyway, thank you for the idea.
Becky
What a nice bear!
Thank you, Joanne, and I hope you take it as "the sincerest form of flattery": I tried your technique of mohair strands rooted in a needle-felted base. (That's how I made the eye details.)
It's definitely secure and creates a natural-looking effect, but I can see why the bear-making world isn't doing it en masse. It gives a whole new meaning to "time-consuming"!
Anyway, thank you for the idea.
Becky
LOL! I agree 100%. I will say though that it gets faster. Used to be about 1" an hour. I have increased my speed. Not for the easily bored though. Glad you tried, thanks for letting me know.
Joanne
Aww, he's fab, love those 'eyebrows'
Hi Becky,
I must admit that I had felt some hesitation, when I first saw Matteo : he is a very unusual bear !
But I have seen him several times now and he is starting to grow on me : the colour combination is really excellent and I also love the way the foot and pawpads match the colour of his nose . He has a lovely expression and the fur looks absolutely gorgeous.
But there is one thing that still bothers me a little (I hope you won't mind me saying this) : the pink eyes are a bit too much for me (but you know me : I am a very old-fashioned fuddy duddy)
Hugs, :hug:
Peter & Vincent
I must admit that I had felt some hesitation, when I first saw Matteo : he is a very unusual bear !
I completely understand. He's the only one of his species, and I hope the right person finds him and loves him.
I appreciate your thoughts on the eyes, and the eyes were the beginning of Matteo's whole personality. At first, everything I tried was getting lost in the dark brown fur, so I thought some eyebrow patches - like the ones real bears have - might look good. Well, those developed into the magnificent growths you see here. :crackup: Then, I bought three colors of eyes in the size I needed - black, smoky olive, and the mauve starburst (just on a whim). When I tried the different colors on his face, the more normal colors didn't seem to give him any expression at all. But with the pink eyes, he came alive! (It's a bit mad, I know, but I was in an experimenting kind of mood.)
I'm really glad you shared your thoughts, Peter. Since I also love the old-fashioned bears, Matteo was a bit of a surprise to me, too. But he's grown on me as well - kind of a special boy.
Hugs, :hug:
Becky
Great bear, I have a great, great, nephew named Matteo, he is 4 years old and a Q-T. Your bear is quite nice and I love the colors.
Thanx for sharing
Hugs Pat