Hello again from Sheffield

[Lorna Evett]

Hi

Anyone new joined from Sheffield or surrounding areas yet?? Not joined the forum for some time because for some reason, every time i tried to log on it did not recognise me so got a bit fed up.

Also not one the most sociable of people over Xmas or New Year.

Bear making still ongoing though. Lost some cotter pins and joints, I know I had them, where did they go, no idea so ordered some more tonight, thank goodness for Christie Bears and on-line ordering.

Speak soon

Lorna:6013:

[Brierley Bears]

Hi Lorna :6034: ,

Another Yorkshire lass here. From Barnsley.

How are you?

Kat

[shebob bears]

Hi, and yet another Yorkshire lass!! A bit further north than Sheffield or Barnsley though. I hailed many years ago from the edge of Ilkley Moors. Wonderful fresh bracing air.

Sheila x:6086:

[Lorna Evett]

Glad to hear that there are some people a little closer. Still having trouble logging on, two failed attempts this evening. I would like to meet up with like people in Sheffield or surrounding area. I just feel sometimes that I think I have everything sewn up just right and then poof, it goes wrong right out of the blue.

Made a small bear the other week, and really struggled with the thread, I was just completing the bear and the thread just kept on snapping, I tried using shorter lengths and sewed a fraction of the seam and tied off then started again, just to stop it breaking. I do use fraycheck all along the seam could that of worn the thread do you think. I do use recommended thread which I get from Christie Bears, but this task proved really frustrating, and I started to worry that the mohair was just going to be un-sewable.

Any suggestions:6044:

How did you fare weather wise, Sheffield only had the Friday night really which got quite grim and then the snow just disappeared. My cats loved it, so did the dogs.

I make my bears in the conservatory, and we did not run to heating in there well ony a small oil radiator, so have not ventured in for a few days and I have a poor shaggy bear sitting on the tray waiting for me to sew him together. Will get in there this weekend though.

Its valentines day today happy valentines (what there is left of it).

Best wishes

Lorna :)

[Chris Russell]

Hi Lorna,

I think all the girls have gone to bed, you will have to put up with a bloke for now.

Your logging on problems could be down to the security software on your computer which is changing some of your settings.

Go back to the main menu above and click on 'Teddy Bear Fair Help Desk' and at the top you will see a 'Sticky' - Problems logging in. Work your way through that and hopefully you will be able to logon without any problems. If your problem persists then please call me.

On the subject of breaking thread, you have purchased two types of strong thread, normally neither should give you a problem. It might be the hardened fraycheck doing the damage, but we will call you in the morning to get some more information from you.

I'm off to bed now.

Goodnight. :6023:

Chris

[Steffi]

Hey Lorna

just seen your problems with thread breaking. I assume that you are hand sewing small bears. I agree with Chris in as much as it could be that the fray check could be making the seam too hard. I tend to sew the pieces up using strong thread and backstitch, I run the fray check round after I have sewn the seams only as far as my thread, ie using my stiching as my seam allowance for the fray check. I think that the stuffing puts the most stress on the seam which is why I leave it until after the sewing.

Hope that makes sense

Steffi

[Brierley Bears]

We had a some snow on Friday night. We took a picture, which turned out to be a good thing as it had all disappeared by the time we got up on Saturday morning.

[Geralye]

Hey Lorna,

Have you tried a different needle?

I sometimes find that I get a needle that has a duff eye, and it tends to wear the thread and break it. Needle then goes in the bin, and a new one works fine.

cheers,
G

[Lorna Evett]

Hey Chris

Thanks for the info, and thanks for calling this am. Have been doing something really dosy, I will not admit to what I have been doing, but needless to say, I should not have any more problems logging on:rolleyes:

As to threads, Will try a different needle (as in paying a bit more for them) and will try putting fray check on afterwards too.

Logged on at a more respectable time today. Didn't realise it was so late last night. However, my lap top lives in the bedroom and I tend to sit on the bed and I look up everything and anything.

Oh by the way I emailed the shop in Maltby Chris, so hope to hear from them and shall probably pay a visit on Saturday, I am so pleased there is someone nearer home.

Oh well, off to slimming club now. Got to do something I am starting to look like me bears:6086: :6086:


Lorna

[Chris Russell]

Thanks Lorna, I've learned a few things as well. I hope you now have real solutions to your various problems.

It's surprising what's going on just around the corner, isn't it. There's a great deal more than most people imagine. Since we started in 2002 we have served over 4,300 individual teddy bear makers in the UK. Our Newsletter circulation is close to 3000. That's 3000 teddybear makers with email addresses and access to the internet. There are many more who have no computer. These sort of numbers suggest that there will be around 20-30 other makers in a town the size of Sheffield, probably one or two just a stone throw from you.

Have you thought of joining Anna Shaw of MiSFit Bears by taking a free listing in the Exhibitors section - there would then be two makers listed in Sheffield.........well it's a start!! And then, of course, the other contacts we discussed will know of many more people in Sheffield as well. Give it a few months.......and do you know, I think I can see another club starting.

Good luck,

Chris

[Brierley Bears]

Hey Lorna,

I usually get quite a bit of stuff from Teslatop Crafts in Maltby. It is only about half an hour away from home. Stacey and Mandy who run the shop are really nice.
They also run courses, I made my first mohair bear there.

Did they give you directions to the shop?

Hugs,
Kat

[Lorna Evett]

Hello Kat

I got on the website and found them, and am hoping to make a trip there this weekend. I would like to do a course there if possible and have emailed them to ask about them.

They are probably only half an hour from me so I am quite excited, my last course I went on in settle which took a while to get to, I loved it though, and I loved the friendliness of it.

Lorna:6034:

[Katycharlie]

Hi everyone xx I'm from Bradford xx

[shebob bears]

Hello, and welcome to this super forum. We are almost neighbours - or very soon will be as we are moving from Sussex to a village called Steeton near Keighley in Yorkshire. I grew up in Ilkley so I'm going back home almost.
We really must meet up and have plenty of 'beary' chats.:6015:
Bye for now,
Sheila