Omletina Kyckling Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 I thought I'd post some photos of the teddy bears I used to make, as I'd mentioned them in the window seat post I made a short while ago. I used to make one off bears, hand dyed, which I absolutely loved as each one was a little being to me, and you could give them real character. Since I got arthritis in my hands I can't make them and I sold a lot of my mohair and bear making kit a year ago, and haven't been able to look at my bears since that as it makes me a bit sad, but today I decided to look at my old photos and post them on here. I hope you like them! These final two are of Stig, a bear I made to sell, then I started taking him out and about with me on long trips in my Land Rover (yes, really.... ) and found I couldn't sell him, so he became my bear. He has various outfits and came on our trip to Scotland a few years ago so these are from that trip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 wow, they are fab. You could make a fortune on QVC!! I particularly love the dark chocolate one sat on the wooden fencepost. Your landrover caught my eye aswell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 They are gorgeous Diane! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted September 20, 2008 Author Share Posted September 20, 2008 wow, they are fab. You could make a fortune on QVC!! I particularly love the dark chocolate one sat on the wooden fencepost. Your landrover caught my eye aswell. The dark chocolate one was a commission for a friend - he's Heathcliffe bear,but he soon lost his period clothing and has various outfits she wears from him, he has grungey jeans with his boxer shorts showing over the top!! I wish you could make fortune, trouble is, they take about 11 hours to make on average, and with the price of the mohair, you never make any real money on your time. People used to say to me "You can buy a bear for a fiver in Woolworths" and I used to have to bite my tongue until it bled, it made me so cross!! That Landy with the roof tent - excellent idea, you just pull over at the side of the road, and undo a zip on the roof and hey presto, you have a tent with a sprung mattress inside away from the creepy crawlies! We had a pull out panel in the bank of Landy with adjustable legs, where the stove etc. went for cooking... Thanks for your nice comments! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 How beautiful are they? So cuddly and cute I really like the bear in the second photo - what a fluffy little chap indeed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 wow they are gorgeous they have such lovely faces - sooo important for a teddy to have a lovely face how did you make them? was it a knitting pattern? you are so clever cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 They are gorgeous, Diane! I love them . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted September 20, 2008 Author Share Posted September 20, 2008 wow they are gorgeous they have such lovely faces - sooo important for a teddy to have a lovely face how did you make them? was it a knitting pattern? you are so clever cathy x Hi Thank you for your kind comments. I think that teddies should smile and be cuddly, after all they are your best friend! I used to do bear fairs and go around and look at the other bears, and couldn't believe how grumpy some of them looked (I wanted to rescue them and give them a smile) The bears aren't knitted, they're made of mohair fur - I used to collect bears but couldn't afford to buy them so I bought a length of mohair and a pattern and made a bear, but didn't like the style so much so I designed my own pattern which I developed over the years. You can buy some lovely pattern kits for bears though, a lot of artist ones too, if you want to have a go.... Diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 They are lovely your right that each one looks as if it has a different personality. Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 They're lovely, what a shame you have had to give up making them. definitely bears with personality! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 . People used to say to me "You can buy a bear for a fiver in Woolworths" and I used to have to bite my tongue until it bled, it made me so cross!! That's why I stopped making novelty cakes and changed to just wedding cakes They really are beautiful bears - I love their happy faces and agree with you about some of the bears with grumpy faces. I'm just going to show Carl your Landy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 They're lovely. Shame you had to stop making them as they're really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 They are gorgeous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 WOW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LesleyH Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 They are so beautuful - you should be very proud - what lovely memories to treasure. I have 3 special bears that my husband bought me. Yours look fabulous. They look like they were made with love! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 They are absolutely beautiful - what a lot of work has gone into them! Sheila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 They are beautiful! Would you consider teaching people how to make them? There is a residential college not far from me that does weekend course in all sorts of things. It is called Burton Manor College. I'm sure there are lots of people who would love to learn to make them. You are very talented. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 They are beautiful!Would you consider teaching people how to make them? I'll second that. They are absolutely beautiful Diane :clap:. It must break your heart not to be able to make them anymore It's clear from looking at them how much love you put into making them. I collect bears and have got quite a few 1 offs that I had as presents from my ex OH. I can't afford to buy them anymore so it would be lovely to learn how to make them.Even if you could just point us in the right direction of where to look. It would keep my fingers occupied now I've given up the ciggies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted October 27, 2008 Author Share Posted October 27, 2008 I'll have a look in my UK Teddy Bear Guide (yes there really is such a thing and lists all things bear related - not a good idea for you Joojoo if you're a collector!) - they list kit makers etc. in there and I'll see who does a good one....if I find one and anybody wants to have a go at making a bear, I can let them have my number so if they get stuck they can call me!! I'm starting to think about having a go at another bear some time, but just pace myself and make it slowly. I'm starting to regret letting my Swedish friend have all my mohair and eyes etc. now....hmmmm.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 I'll have a look in my UK Teddy Bear Guide (yes there really is such a thing and lists all things bear related - not a good idea for you Joojoo if you're a collector!/b] I wouldn't have the patience to do many, but one special one would be nice to have a go at I'm starting to think about having a go at another bear some time, but just pace myself and make it slowly. I'm starting to regret letting my Swedish friend have all my mohair and eyes etc. now....hmmmm.... Go on... you know you want to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggstravagant Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 They are absolutely stunning! I'm really impressed! I knit teddies, bunnies and hens and I agree that you don't actually make any money out of it because they take so long to make, but I do enjoy it and I like to think that others get pleasure from the things I make so it is worth it. I would love to know where you found the pattern though...? xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted October 27, 2008 Author Share Posted October 27, 2008 My first pattern came from a big craft shop down in Sussex back in about 1991, I made two different bears from that pattern, my mum has both of those in her collection....they weren't very good to say the least, I just bought the pattern and a length of mohair.... Over the years, I adapted this pattern to get longer legs, or sometimes bendy legs, and I knew I wanted a more pointy nose etc. so I modified it until I eventually made my own pattern....I used pretty much the same pattern which I reduced or increased on a photocopier depending on what size bear I wanted. The most important things to me are laying the pattern right on the fabric so the fur flows the right way, and getting the face right. The bear speaks through his face, so what you put on his fizzog decides his character. I've always been told my bears are simple little souls, not your intellectual type, but they'd do anything for you and are always there to give you a lift if you need it. Of all my bears, Stiggie is my favourite and he goes everywhere with me....he even has his own webpage...read this and you will know how sad I am!! http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/tugalotandscruffbags/Stig%20main%20page/Stig%20index.html By the way his page is out of date because we no longer live up in the Pennines but since I moved away from Tiscali I can't update the webpage any longer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted October 27, 2008 Author Share Posted October 27, 2008 I knit teddies, bunnies and hens and I agree that you don't actually make any money out of it because they take so long to make, but I do enjoy it and I like to think that others get pleasure from the things I make so it is worth it. xxx I absolutely love your knitted beings...the teddies and bunnies have fabulous expressions! I think we like the same kind of bears! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggstravagant Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 Thank you! I've just been looking at Stig's page and he's gorgeous! I sew as well, my little one's a devil for teddies so I'm going to try to hunt out the pattern x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted October 28, 2008 Author Share Posted October 28, 2008 I just had a quick look for patterns for you.... This site looks quite good with free patterns and advice http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/free-patterns/patterns.html I've used Christies bears before http://www.christiebears.co.uk/ I really like Norbeary for mohair but I see they do patterns too http://www.norbearyfabrics.co.uk/patterns.shtml Good luck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
