Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

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Baird'sBears
Toronto
Posts: 3,873

Eileen Feb 16, 2006

bear_original Hmm. The only reason I do the eyes first is that I can't wait to see who the critter is. Like KimBo I like to have the ears pinned on when placing the eyes, because eyes + ears give me a better idea of the overall look.

KimBa--I really like your idea of sculpting the mouth before embroidering the nose. This method would certainly give you a better idea of which size & shape of nose works best.

Eileen

scotland
Posts: 2,160
Website

nettie Feb 16, 2006

It funny to see how different we all are.I pin the ears then put in the eyes (without tying off in case I need to move them) then I embroider the nose and mouth and then I go back and fix everything if all is well.

Upstate New York
Posts: 1,650

Deb Feb 16, 2006

Aleta - The Silly Bear wrote:

For me.....ears, set eyes with testers, stitch nose, airbrush ...

No kidding ... nose before airbrush? How do you protect the embroidered nose? You're going to tell me you paint around it aren't you? And then I'm going to scream.
bear_wacko

The Silly Bear
Portland, Oregon
Posts: 3,119
Website

Aleta - The Silly Bear Feb 16, 2006

Oh Deb, you're so funny! bear_grin Yes, I do airbrush after stitching the nose. And no, I don't tape it off. If it gets a little dye on it.....that's okay. No worries because most of the noses I stitch are black and that's the last color I usually airbrush...well, that and pewter. Please don't scream!! I have a splitting headache after working on a funky little pincushion all morning. bear_cry I think I stuffed the darned thing too full and everytime I tried to secure the stitching from the top to the bottom the silly thing would fly out of my hands. bear_shocked It's been one of those mornings!! bear_angry

Warmest bear hugs (even if I am just a wee bit grouchy), :hug:
Aleta

Kim-Bee Bears
Pennsylvania
Posts: 5,645

kbonsall Feb 16, 2006

Eileen wrote:

Hmm. The only reason I do the eyes first is that I can't wait to see who the critter is. Like KimBo I like to have the ears pinned on when placing the eyes, because eyes + ears give me a better idea of the overall look.
KimBa--I really like your idea of sculpting the mouth before embroidering the nose. This method would certainly give you a better idea of which size & shape of nose works best.
Eileen

LMAO KimBo, KimBa and KimWhi (pronounced WHEEE!!!) LMAO

Childhood Treasures
Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA
Posts: 101

AnnG Feb 17, 2006

I use to put the eyes in last so the little fella couldn't see the needle coming. I like to do the nose first because if the nose isn't right the face will never look right. You have to be in the right mood to do the nose, I like them with nostrils. So now I pretty much do what ever I'm in the mood to do.

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

psichick78 Feb 17, 2006

Love Bud Bears wrote:

I always make the nose first- then the eyes- ears- & mouth last. No real reason, just the way it seems to go. I'll play around with the eyes & ears adjusting them for hours & hours before deciding where they go. Then after I can't take it any more I'll make the final placement. I usually end up changing the mouth at least 5 times, I have a hard time getting the bears to look happy. No wonder it takes me forever to get one finished.

Ha ha ha, I'm soo happy! That is EXATLY what I am like. I wish I had the guts to just get on with it, but it still takes me forever.

Soo happy I'm not alone in this! Thanks! :hug:

Love Bear Forever
Posts: 109

Taiwan Angel Apr 28, 2008

First a piece of felt nose cut with the size/shape I want and with the test eyes on the head.
So I can see if that is the face I want then I will start the nose first then the eyes.
I like to do the ears at last. I mean even complete the whole bear with body joined...
So I place the ears with the ears pin and see if that is the position I want for my bear....
After few hours or even few days if I find it right then I will go for the ears.

New Avenue Crew by Debora Hoffmann
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Posts: 1,959
Website

New Avenue Crew Apr 28, 2008

I sew the nose first with the neck still open. I probably do it first because it's the toughest part! Then I put the joint into the neck and may even attach the head to the body (no limbs yet). I'll then work on positioning the eyes; I take a stitch in the back of the head above the neck joint when attaching them, so I need to have the neck joint inserted in the head. The ears are last. Often I'll do the entire head without attaching the body and set it on a teacup so it can watch what I do in the Crew studio. bear_laugh Here's Juniper (the bear in my avatar) in process: