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On that same trip my 12 year old
brother tore the eye off my favorite teddy, my 10 year old cousin felt so sad
for me she gave me her teddy - a wonderful 12" Steiff Zotty. My brother had an
18" Zotty who I confiscated, and the two bears, along with a 3" Schuco became
my constant companions. |
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Almost twenty five years later I was complaining to my favorite bear (one of
about 300) how unhappy I was with my job, it suddenly occurred to me - I should
try making my own. Why not make bears to give someone else the joy,
companionship and unconditional love I’d found in my teddies. My mom was a
professional seamstress. I had learned to sew from her by osmosis. I would sit
at her feet while she sewed and play with my bears. Today I sew my bears on the
very same machine my mom used when I was a child. I started making bears with a
pattern I found in a teddy bear magazine. The finished bear looked more like a
mouse than a bear so I developed my own patterns in hopes of achieving a more
"bear like" bear. Originality in design and quality workmanship are very
important to me. From that first bear I wanted a creation from my soul that I
could be proud of. About a year later I exhibited my bears at a teddy bear
show, sold one, and never looked back.
I love all kinds of bears, and this is reflected in my work. My bears run
the gamut from traditional, old looking teds to contemporary fantasy
bears. My work is very much influenced by my childhood. I had quite
an extensive Steiff collection as a child - lots of different animals. As
a result, I also make animals other than bears. Another area of
inspiration for me is literature. Since fantasy is my favorite genre,
there are often a few fairy bears in my menagerie. I believe that teddy
bears are a window into our soul. I try to capture the childlike wonder
that the teddy bear magic gives to me with each and every bear I create.
The teddy bear world is a wonderful place comprised of wonderful people, the
other artists, the promoters and most specially, the collectors. I feel so very
lucky to be a part of this world, to be able to share the joy of teddy bears
with others. The most amazing aspect of creating teddy bears are the people. I
knew it would be fun and magical to create teddy bears, I knew I would find
happiness and satisfaction in creating teddy bears, I did not know how much
pleasure I would feel from the look on a persons face when he or she has fallen
in love with one of my bears. I knew of the magic of a teddy bear but I didn’t
realize how powerful it was, how much my bears affect peoples lives. Or how
these people would become so dear to me, collectors who have become my most
cherished friends. I feel very fortunate to be able to share my bears, to be
able to give the magic of teddy bears to others.
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