Welcome to Christine Pike Bears!    Last updated May 7th 2008

First published in Bear Essentials, Teddy Bear Review, April/May 2006:

 

Sticky Situations

   There has been some lively debate recently as to whether it is ever acceptable to use glue when making a bear.  Some people hold very strong opinions on this and, I must admit that, once upon a time, I would have placed myself firmly in the anti-glue camp.  Once, I would have said that using glue is a lazy shortcut; it has no place in the high end craft of making collectable teddy bears; it is not durable enough and will fail over time, etc, etc.

 

However, over the years I have learned to never say never!  Right now we are in a very exciting environment, artistically and creatively – and if those pioneers of the bear world had never thought to themselves, “What if?” we would not see half of the stunning pieces that so amaze and inspire us at the annual awards ceremonies.  Daily, it seems, these clever people are pushing boundaries and challenging our perception of what a teddy bear can be.

 

Crafting in general has seen a huge rise in popularity in recent years and manufacturers have not been slow in responding.  North America is particularly blessed with well-stocked craft stores – and mail order companies and the internet have widened the choice even further.  So it is not surprising that inquisitive and enquiring artists ask themselves the What If question from time to time. 

 

One talented soft sculptor who is not afraid to ‘push the envelope’ is Tracy Lee, of Thimblebeary Originals.

 

“I use a problem solving mentality as I work: how will I get from point A to point B?” she explains.  “I find it completely acceptable to use any materials or techniques that will, in the end, give me a well-constructed, attractive bear that brings my ideas to fruition”.

 

In some situations, this may involve using glue to help the creative process along;

 

“I do use glue when installing eyelids, as well as teeth and claws,” Lee agrees.  “I have found, largely through trial and error, that by using a combination of stitching and glue, I have a bear that will stand up to the test of time.  These features are not going to come loose or fall off.  I feel safer going that extra step and using glue as well as thread”, she adds.

 

Of course, there has to be a time and a place for using unconventional materials or practices in our bear making.  Glue should never be used on something that is intended as a child’s toy – indeed, the laws governing children’s playthings are so strict that no artist bear would pass the test even if made to the very highest standards imaginable.  That is why any bear that is intended for sale must state clearly that it is not suitable for children. 

 

However, artist bears are a high end form of craft; some would even elevate the best of bears to an art form – so, like Tracy Lee, I believe it is perfectly acceptable to use glue, or any other material to achieve your desired aim. 

 

Hard and fast rules can stifle creativity, so I suggest that you only hold to one Golden Rule, which is this:  if you are going to experiment with using glue, paint, polymer clay, varnish, or whatever, please, please test your materials first before you launch a bear on an unsuspecting public.  The reason some folk are anti-glue is that they believe the adhesive will degrade over time, causing whatever has been stuck to fall off.  In addition, there is a concern that glue may have a detrimental effect on the fabric of the bear.  This goes for painted effects and sculpted parts too.

 

I personally feel that the panic can be overdone.  Animal glues (which do degrade) have been used for hundreds of years as a size for oil canvases, and there are plenty of Old Masters still hanging in our art galleries; egg albumen and wax are some of the most ancient carriers for paint pigments that we know and have been discovered in Egyptian tombs, as bright and fresh as the day they were painted.  Nowadays, fortunately, we have access to much more stable and durable subtances. 

 

If you are unsure as to whether a product is suitable for applying to fabric, contact the manufacturer.  If you are still not sure, either find a safer alternative or make a test piece first and see how it stands up to rough handling.  Not a perfect cure-all, granted, but it will give you an idea of how strong the material is and if it is likely to behave itself under normal circumstances. 

 

As a for instance, I once played the What If? game and experimented with a sculpting medium I had used before but not in an teddy bear context.  I knew that it was stable and safe from a toxicology standpoint, but I had no idea how it would react with fabric if applied directly, or how strong it would be.  I conducted several experiments which involved dropping a bear’s head onto a concrete floor from a height of ten feet and then stepping on it – not the normal treatment for a bear, you’ll agree!  Only when I was satisfied that the medim would withstand this punishment did I go ahead and use it on my artist bears.

 

So, where do I stand on the glue issue?  I would definitely advise using an adhesive only if you cannot figure out another solution to what you are trying to achieve.  Don’t use it simply because you can’t be bothered to get out a needle and thread – but, if you are attempting to attach something invisibly, and sewing simply isn’t an option, then I think that you should have the artistic freedom to use whatever you need to get the right result. 

 

Leading British bear artist, Gregory Gyllenship, agrees.

 

“I think using glue is fine if it helps you to do things, and modern glues are amazing”, he says, before going on to explain that he uses a clear glue to coat the threads when he is setting eyes. 

 

“I don’t use glue to stick the eyes in, of course!” he adds, “but making the threads sticky stops them from slipping out so easily and means that I can then tie them off nice and tightly.  Some people achieve the same effect by using beeswax”.

 

Multi-award winner, Michelle Lamb, is another artist who is not afraid to think outside the box when it comes to creating her bears.  She is happy to use glue, fabric paint, art marker pens – whatever it takes reach her goal of creating her famously soulful faces.  In one of the pictures of “Spike”, Lamb demonstrates how she applies a spot of tacky glue to cord around the eye and then holds it in place with pins until dry.

 

“I also soaked the nose with starch and marker juice to bind the fibers together and his underlip is a piece of cord that is stitched, but also glued for stability”, she explains.  “His seed pearl bead teeth are sewn into the head as I would never risk glueing those into place and counting on them to stay, so in essence I suppose I combine both....the strength of sewing them through the head to make sure nothing can "pop" off and also adding the glue to anchor them into place”, she adds.

 

There is a whole world of creative materials out there, just waiting for you to pick up and experiment with.  Above all, bear making should be fun, so don’t be afraid to try something new; even if the results don’t turn out the way you expected.  Every attempt is another step along the road of teddy bear artistry and we should salute those brave enough to try out new ideas.

 

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