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shantell Feb 3, 2006

As you know I've been doing handpainted eyes recently and now whenever I try to put black glass eyes into any of my little dumplings, they look...dull and boring and have no "life."   I keep looking at other bears and think they look great but not on my own.   AUGH

Does anyone else who uses colorful eyes have this problem?

Shantell

Marion Feb 3, 2006

Mm... Sugar's and spice's eyes do not seem to be dull, boring or to have no life :hug:.
Are you sure that it isn't the perfectionnist in you who is talking, friend ? Your little ones have great eyes and great soul ! :hug:

SunnieOne Feb 3, 2006

I have had the opposite problem. When I want to put a colorful eye in, the bear just doesn't seem to look right until I choose a black on. Although I do have a hard time to keep from putting white felt behind them all.
Sonya

Marion Feb 3, 2006

I must admit I've never tried colorful eyes... I just can not imagine one of my bears without black glass eyes...
It must be tricky to work with color eyes, but you sure do it well, Shantell !  :hug:

shantell Feb 3, 2006

Awww thanks Marion!!!

I'm determine to get black eyes into the NEXT bear (not the one I'm working on...he won and gets sparklers)!!!

All Bear Feb 3, 2006

I'm having a sparkling time lately too Shantell - I can't resist them!  Most of my bears used to have black eyes, but I love giving them painted ones now!

psichick78 Feb 3, 2006

That's funny you mention that, bec. I was just thinking that last night.
I have loads of black eyes, but just ordered a tonne of clear ones bec. I'm hooked.
I guess you can't have too much selection, but I figure, if all I have are clear ones and I need a black one, I can just paint the back black.
Oh well, It's fun to see a bix box of eyes.

Dilu Feb 3, 2006

Shantell,

You are doing it to yourself again.....oh sillikins.  You are harder on yourself than any 10 of us could ever be.  But I do love painted eyes. 

however the gollies eyes aren't hand painted....but maybe they should be?  hmmmmmm

oh dear.

Shantell, darling, you are very hard on yourself.....and painted or unpainted your bears are darling.

I keep waiting for you to change the "Apple Dumpling" name.....I am so glad you haven't yet...I hope you keep it.  I love it.

:hug:

dilu

Just Us Bears Feb 3, 2006

I gave up on the painted eyes....can't get two to match for the life of me.

Shelli Retired Help Advisor, Banner SponsorFeb 3, 2006

Hayley... why do they need to match?

Daphne Feb 3, 2006

I guess it's time I read up on how to color eyes, order me some clear eyes and give this a try.
I'm not into putting the bright sparkly eyes on my bears (thought I love them on all of your bears!!!!) but I do have a couple of ideas I'd like to try with them!!!!

Intercal or Edinburgh have the best quality of clear glass eyes?

shantell Feb 3, 2006

Shantell, darling, you are very hard on yourself.....and painted or unpainted your bears are darling.

I keep waiting for you to change the "Apple Dumpling" name.....I am so glad you haven't yet...I hope you keep it.  I love it.

:hug:

dilu

After several messages and comments I'm keeping Apple Dumpling Bears.  It just seems to fit them...and chubby me.   

As far as being too hard on myself...I didn't mean it this time around.  I was just wondering if others who use colored eyes find the black ones dull and boring now.  I have about 20 pairs in two sizes and keep trying them but my littles ones keep saying "NO NO NO...I want sparkling eyes, mamma..."  I love the handpainted eyes and can never thank our Shelli enough for sharing her secret to painting them.  I have shamelessly copied her.

Hayley, they really don't have to match.  I just do them two at a time and what I do to one I then do to the other and just keep repeating it one layer at a time.  They never look exactly the same and I found that they look better on the bear then they do just staring up at you from your workspace. 

Shantell

kbonsall Feb 3, 2006

I agree, eyes don't have to match, peoples don't.  I just paint them at the same time and make them as close as possible... My suggestion is to use metallic paints, even if you aren't doing anything that you want "bright sparkly eyes" on LOL - I use my bronze a lot, I usually will do my metallic first, let it dry, scratch the back in a "burst" kind of pattern and paint another color, sometimes a complementing color, other times just black (which of course is metallic too). I also will lacquer the back of the eye after the painting is done and let sit overnight to make sure they are dry... I have had eyes smudge on me before and it is frustrating!!! But I really do recommend the metallics, cantcha tell? HA! Which reminds me, I want to get some green!

TamiL Feb 4, 2006

Color me new! LOL
Where do you get these clear eyes you can paint???
Tell me tell me tell me LOL

I still have some room on my mastercard.....................grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

shantell Feb 4, 2006

Tami,

I use Intercals Premium Glass Eyes #560.  They are looped and pre-crimped.  I have used the next lower grade which worked fine also except the loops are well looped and not crimped.

Shelli shared her techniques some time ago.  Here's a link...I think her instructions are about three or four posts down.  It's really quite simple and just takes a bit of practice but I bet you'll get it first try.

http://www.teddy-talk.com/viewtopic.php?id=203

Have fun...I love them.

Shantell

Just Us Bears Feb 4, 2006

Hayley... why do they need to match?

Well, I suppose because I'm like Shantell, and a perfectionist! But having said that, if Shantell can allow herself to use eyes that don't match perfectly, then I guess I can TRY.

I just try so hard to get them looking the same and I always end up with thicker black lines showing through on one than the other.....and oh, I dunno...I guess I just thought they should match!

But hey....if you are telling me that yours don't necessarily match, I guess I'll loosen up.

Dilu Feb 4, 2006

Hayley

OK Hayley, I guess I understand....but....have you looked at your own eyes? 

One of the reasons retinal scannings work for ID is because no two eyes are exactly the same-its like the tale of the fingerprints,

and I :hug:  think its part of the reasons that eyes are so beautiful....because they aren't exactly alike but the differences give them character and elegance.

your hand painted eyes would be as unique to you and your talants as your own eyes already are. 

give it a go sometime......

:hug:

dilu