Miniature bear size

[elize]

Miniature bears are generally accepted as being less than 12.5cm (5in) tall.
The little Golly next to Noddy is only 3.5cm tall.

[elize]

The one advantage of collecting miniatures is that they do not take up a lot of space.

[Izzy Bear]

Here are the first miniature bears I ever made. The pale lilac stands about 8cm and her hat is a tiny piece antique lace hand sewn with deep purple seed beads. She was 5 cotterpin jointed and I made her for my Mum for her birthday.

The other bear Monty, was my first attempt at needle felting. He has paw pads, a belly button and tiny stumpy tail. I crocheted his shawl from sewing thread and made him his dolly for company. He is 5 jinted too but thread joints. As is the Bunny.He stands 8.5 cm and the Easter bunny (my second attempt) I made even smaller at 5.5cm. He has his little easter egg.

[theprofessor]

Izzy, now that is a skill, how long does it take to make a little bear like that. I just would never have the patience. Welcome to the forum. Jacques

[Izzy Bear]

Thank you Jaques. The mohair bear took me a day but the needle felted bear took about 72 hours off and on. That is not including his accessories. But they are very worth it.:)

Lotsaluv Izzy
izzyscubs.com

[Elizabeth]

How difficult is needlefelting and how long does it take after you have taken a course to be able to make a little bear?

[debbittybears]

Thanks Elize for the invitation to the group. I will just jump right in here. most of the people in the group i run make miniature bears either by crochet or needlefelting. i have tried needlefelting and have LOTS of supplies but haven't finished a bear yet. i do lots of crochet bear but most of them are slightly bigger than 5 inches. my gallery is at www.debbittybears.com (http://www.debbittybears.com) but on MONDAY wow, i am going to Chicago where i will be learning needle felting from one of the best in the world Bobbie Ripperger, of Beyond Basic Bears. i am so excited. Sad to leave my eight kids and TERRIFIED about the flight but excited about the workshops. Berta of ThReAdTeDs will also be there teaching oya lace a technique she uses on her miniature bears for embellisment. it is going to be awesome.

Glad to be here!
-deBBie
www.debbittybears.blogspot.com (http://www.debbittybears.blogspot.com)

[elize]

Thanks Elize for the invitation to the group. I will just jump right in here. most of the people in the group i run make miniature bears either by crochet or needlefelting. i have tried needlefelting and have LOTS of supplies but haven't finished a bear yet. i do lots of crochet bear but most of them are slightly bigger than 5 inches. my gallery is at www.debbittybears.com (http://www.debbittybears.com) but on MONDAY wow, i am going to Chicago where i will be learning needle felting from one of the best in the world Bobbie Ripperger, of Beyond Basic Bears. i am so excited. Sad to leave my eight kids and TERRIFIED about the flight but excited about the workshops. Berta of ThReAdTeDs will also be there teaching oya lace a technique she uses on her miniature bears for embellisment. it is going to be awesome.

Glad to be here!
-deBBie
www.debbittybears.blogspot.com (http://www.debbittybears.blogspot.com)
deBBie , hope you can tell us more about needlefelting and oya lace technique after the workshop.

[Izzy Bear]

Hi,
I have never been on a course for needle felting. I read an article on the technique, ordered some materials and just had a play with it.
Monty (in the photographs) was the result and, as I said before, he took about 72 hours, done in small chunks over a week, to complete. There are books out there that explain "How To", but I would say don't get the one written by a Japanese lady showing how to make needle felted dogs. The dogs are lovely but the instructions are a bit vague.
I recommend a great book called "Needle Felting Magic - making beautiful teddybears" By Barbara Allen. This book is FAB. Its the one I bought along with my materials first time and I've never looked back.

Lotsaluv Izzy
www.izzyscubs.com

[Izzy Bear]

WELL, BLOW ME DOWN!!! After posting my last reply on this thread I noticed the name of our newest member. It is Cobweb51. This IS Barbara Allen, the author of the WONDERFUL book I recommended. Hail Brabara!

Lotsaluv Izzy
www.izzyscubs.com (http://www.izzyscubs.com)

[lapousmor]

Miniatures need so much patience!

I first thought i would never ever be able to make some...
This summer, I was given the opportunity to take a class at eBearZ University about how to make a teddy bear pin with a mini bear head (about one inch big).
Next class will be soon!
Check on this site :
http://www.kranbearys.com/EbearZ/index.htm

Their classes are wonderful. A must try for every teddy bear maker wathever your skill level.

Anyway, I had a go at making a mini bear head and I suceeded! :happy3:

http://www.teddybearsforum.com/%5BIMG%5Dhttp://img185.imageshack.us/img185/9537/dsc033721cm2.jpg%5B/IMG%5Dhttp://img185.imageshack.us/img185/9537/dsc033721cm2.jpg

So why not you???? :Winking:

I will make more for sure.
My concern is I still do not feel ready for entire mini bears. They are so tiny... But now i can make pins! :p

Beary hugs,
Sophie.

[LadyEva]

This little head is really cute. I don't think I could make them this little. My smallest bear has been 6 inches and those were difficult for me. My fingers don't work like they use to:(

[bobbybaer]

Miniatures need so much patience!

I first thought i would never ever be able to make some...
This summer, I was given the opportunity to take a class at eBearZ University about how to make a teddy bear pin with a mini bear head (about one inch big).
Next class will be soon!
Check on this site :
http://www.kranbearys.com/EbearZ/index.htm

Their classes are wonderful. A must try for every teddy bear maker wathever your skill level.

Anyway, I had a go at making a mini bear head and I suceeded! :happy3:

http://www.teddybearsforum.com/%5BIMG%5Dhttp://img185.imageshack.us/img185/9537/dsc033721cm2.jpg%5B/IMG%5Dhttp://img185.imageshack.us/img185/9537/dsc033721cm2.jpg

So why not you???? :Winking:

I will make more for sure.
My concern is I still do not feel ready for entire mini bears. They are so tiny... But now i can make pins! :p

Beary hugs,
Sophie.


The little "lady" is so cute and looks great.Very nice idea to make such "pins".

[bobbybaer]

I started with ultra miniatures because in the beginning I didn't have any idea where or how to get supplies........so I took velvet and sew bears from 1-2"
Afterwards I thought that it's too complicate and too much work to sell those ultra mini's for the relative low price I got for.
Means: I don't think to become rich by selling my bears but almost to cover the cost of supplies and maybe a bit more.
The other is: One cannot hug such mini bears :ashamed:
Here are 3 examples from my miniature - thread joint and from velvet fabric
Their size is 1" and 1.5"
66

67

68

[LadyEva]

I love all those mini bears. I can't do things that little, my fingers are just too stiff. I guess 30 years of working on bears and sewing and lots of typing have taken their toll.

[PeachtreeCottage]

Miniature bears and friends are wonderful to have around. I love the tiny little faces smiling at me, and as has already been said, they don't take up alot of space.

I crochet most of mine, as well as sew and needlefelt some, heck I've even knitted a few tiny ones! Most of mine are 2.5-3 inches tall standing.

The Thread Artist Guild (R) did alot of research and gathered information from several sources on what is a miniature size. They concluded the following size ranges were most commonly used throughout the industry and use that as their sizing guide (measured in standing height from bottom of feet to top of head, not counting ears sticking up):

Micro - under 2 inches
Miniature - 2 - 6 inches
Small - 6 - 12 inches
Medium - 12 - 24 inches
Large - 24 - 36 inches
Extra Large - over 36 inches

So most of mine fall within the miniature size range, but I've also made a few that are micro's as well.

Here are 2 picture examples of my thread crochet creations. The first is a bunny that's just a tad over 3 inches tall.

Pieris
http://www.PeachtreeCottage.com/images/Pieris-Sitting2-72dpi-400x400.jpg

And this is a picture of one of my micro thread crochet bears

Candie
http://www.PeachtreeCottage.com/images/Candie/Candie1.jpg

I think it's amazing the amount of detailing that you all get in your little bears!!

/bearhugs,

Mary Robinson - Artist Bears & Friends, Patterns, and More!
Master Artist, Thread Artist Guild (R) Founder, Mini Teddy Hugs (tm) Publisher & Editor
www.PeachtreeCottage.com (http://www.teddybearsforum.com/www.PeachtreeCottage.com) - www.ThreadArtistGuild.org (http://www.teddybearsforum.com/www.ThreadArtistGuild.org) - www.MiniTeddyHugs.com (http://www.teddybearsforum.com/www.MiniTeddyHugs.com)
Etsy & Ebay ID: PeachtreeCottage

[elize]

These miniature bears are just too gorgeous.:):):) I must say I had a look on your website and one , maybe two who caught my eye is Quinn, Mumford the Mummy bear, and then there is Hippity, Ruby, they are all so gorgeous. Thanks for the sizes, I have learned something today.:thanks:

[jigpaws]

file:///C:/Users/Janice/Pictures/2008-08-13%20sammy/sammy%20002.JPG
I thought I'd show you my latest miniature bear, Sammy, who is only 4 and a half inches tall :)

I don't make miniatures very often....don't know why not as I really enjoy making them.

Hope you like him :):)

Oops.....didn't mean for his photo to be so big....sorry!!!

Hugs
Janice

file:///C:/Users/Janice/Pictures/2008-08-13%20sammy/sammy%20002.JPG

[Elizabeth]

She is so cute and she even has her own blankie!

[debbittybears]

deBBie , hope you can tell us more about needlefelting and oya lace technique after the workshop.
I uploaded a picture of the first needle felted project that I did. He is probably barely minature, about 5 inches, although I haven't measured him. I may redo the eyes. It was fun to learn Bobbie's technique which is different than most people work apparently. Her website is beyondbasicbears.com. But working with her in person was real treat. I learned a lot. i just recieved her teddy bear kit with lots of extra wool so I hope to get started on that after school gets started and we get back on schedule around here.

I posted about the Chicago trip on my groups blog at www.threadanimals.blogspot.com (http://www.threadanimals.blogspot.com).

Love, deBBie
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii199/debbittybears/threadanimals/bearsummer150.jpg

[ladybear13]

Hi I am new here, but love all the mini bears. I make most of my miniature bears while waiting at the doctors office, when I take my husband in. The smallest I have made is 1 inch. Most of the ones I do are 3 to 5 inches now.
I have crocheted some but love making them with fur or material. Attached are a few I have done. I am now starting to make my own patterns, so wish me luck.

[LadyEva]

Welcome to the forum. Cute little bears. I never liked making the little guys because I can't do much hand sewing any more.

[lovenshire]

Welcome! Your bears are great. I am going to try to make a "miniture" bear...the pattern I have made is for a 6" bear and that is mineature compared with what I usually do.

[elize]

They are lovely. It is great to make something while you wait then you have something to show for all the time you waited."happy6:

It is an art to make them so small and I know my fingers are too big to make them that small.:D

[bobbybaer]

My latest work for this year is also a miniature:papabear:..........
He's about 2" tall, all articulated and from velvet upholstery from the 50th.
Elize, it's not possible that your finger are too big for it if mine can do it :no:
Just try !

[elize]

bobbybaer he is really cute.

I'll try sometime to make one of these very small bears...:rolleye2:

[Dragon]

cute! :)