I made something!!
Jul. 24th, 2012 08:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thelibraniniquitySo a few weeks ago I went along to a bear workshop my mum ran. It wasn't my first choice of how to spend a Saturday but that's what ended up happening.
As it happened, I had an awesome time.
I even photo-documented the making process, much to everyone else's bemusement. Turns out I knew a few of the other... bear-makers? customers? however they're referred to, so at least there was banter, and even a bit of friendly competition between me and someone else.
This is the back of the mohair fur with all the mirrored shapes to make the different body parts. The patch of dark brown in the upper right corner is suede for feet pads.
All the pieces cut out and fur side up. I went with grey for my bear, for no particular reason.
The body parts were then tacked together, and inside out. Lots of teeny tiny stitches required for this stage.
They were then painstakingly turned the right way around via gaps in the tacking. I got mum to do a few of mine where I'd left the gaps too small. (I don't do fiddly - that well, anyway.)
Then we got to stuff the body parts! The head had little beady eyes attached before the stuffing went in, the little black dots in the upper centre of the face should be just about visible.
One of the feet. The thigh was left unstuffed so the joints could be put in.
Same with the upper parts of the arms. Teddy's got to have mobility.
And then the joints were installed! Something else I didn't do (to be fair, mum did the joints for almost everyone else as well). Bear's still a bit floppy at this point because apart from the head, nothing is completely stuffed yet.
That was a job I completed at home with the aid of some chopsticks and lengths of upholstery thread that I got wound onto awesome little wooden reels. The gaps in the limbs and torso were then tacked up once I felt Bear had enough muscle going on.
AND HE STANDS. Just a few things left to add...
The first ear, which was easier than I'd anticipated to stitch on, mostly because the fur hides most of the stitching.
And a rear view of both ears attached. The second one went on a little wonky compared to the first, but eh. Gives Bear character.
AND A FACE. That was easier than I'd thought as well, especially once I got used to the non-flat-ness of the face.
LOOK AT THAT MAGNIFICENT BEAST \o/
The bear on the left was made by K. Same pattern, same fur colour etc. and turned out completely different. I'm including this photo because Harrison (K's bear's name) has an AWESOME NOSE.
And of course, me being me, my Bear had to have a name as well. Not going to lie, the final factor in me going to the workshop was when I realised exactly what Bear's name and profession were going to be.
So. Without further ado (and a couple more accessories), I present to you...
Hilary Bear.
HE FIGHTS DINOSAURS.
(Primeval reference for anyone who doesn't know the show.)
Most awesome bear ever.
Even better was the reaction I got from le siblings. My brother *wanted* Hilary, my middle sister thought he was cute, and my youngest sister tried to cuddle him and thought he was awesome.
I'm making them all bears for their birthdays. It's going to be a surprise, don't tell ;)
As it happened, I had an awesome time.
I even photo-documented the making process, much to everyone else's bemusement. Turns out I knew a few of the other... bear-makers? customers? however they're referred to, so at least there was banter, and even a bit of friendly competition between me and someone else.
This is the back of the mohair fur with all the mirrored shapes to make the different body parts. The patch of dark brown in the upper right corner is suede for feet pads.
All the pieces cut out and fur side up. I went with grey for my bear, for no particular reason.
The body parts were then tacked together, and inside out. Lots of teeny tiny stitches required for this stage.
They were then painstakingly turned the right way around via gaps in the tacking. I got mum to do a few of mine where I'd left the gaps too small. (I don't do fiddly - that well, anyway.)
Then we got to stuff the body parts! The head had little beady eyes attached before the stuffing went in, the little black dots in the upper centre of the face should be just about visible.
One of the feet. The thigh was left unstuffed so the joints could be put in.
Same with the upper parts of the arms. Teddy's got to have mobility.
And then the joints were installed! Something else I didn't do (to be fair, mum did the joints for almost everyone else as well). Bear's still a bit floppy at this point because apart from the head, nothing is completely stuffed yet.
That was a job I completed at home with the aid of some chopsticks and lengths of upholstery thread that I got wound onto awesome little wooden reels. The gaps in the limbs and torso were then tacked up once I felt Bear had enough muscle going on.
AND HE STANDS. Just a few things left to add...
The first ear, which was easier than I'd anticipated to stitch on, mostly because the fur hides most of the stitching.
And a rear view of both ears attached. The second one went on a little wonky compared to the first, but eh. Gives Bear character.
AND A FACE. That was easier than I'd thought as well, especially once I got used to the non-flat-ness of the face.
LOOK AT THAT MAGNIFICENT BEAST \o/
The bear on the left was made by K. Same pattern, same fur colour etc. and turned out completely different. I'm including this photo because Harrison (K's bear's name) has an AWESOME NOSE.
And of course, me being me, my Bear had to have a name as well. Not going to lie, the final factor in me going to the workshop was when I realised exactly what Bear's name and profession were going to be.
So. Without further ado (and a couple more accessories), I present to you...
Hilary Bear.
HE FIGHTS DINOSAURS.
(Primeval reference for anyone who doesn't know the show.)
Most awesome bear ever.
Even better was the reaction I got from le siblings. My brother *wanted* Hilary, my middle sister thought he was cute, and my youngest sister tried to cuddle him and thought he was awesome.
I'm making them all bears for their birthdays. It's going to be a surprise, don't tell ;)
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no subject
Date: 2012-07-24 08:36 pm (UTC)I have a dino like that as well.
Hilary Bear is fantastic.
no subject
Date: 2012-07-24 08:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-24 08:46 pm (UTC)the eBay seller's being difficultMatt swapped them out for invisible EMDs *nods seriously*no subject
Date: 2012-07-24 08:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-25 02:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-25 03:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-25 08:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-25 08:42 pm (UTC)