Description:
The ultimate site for Teddy Bears Artists and Collectors.
Contents:
Meet Sue Ann Holcomb of Past Time Bears
Meet our April/May Artist: Sue Ann Holcomb of Past Time Bears. Each month, we'll bring you an interview with someone in the bear world. Enjoy!
When did you start making bears and what inspired you to design your own?
I began making bears in 1997 because of a need for comfort during a particularly dark and stressful time in my life. I never had teddies or any other stuffed animals when I was growing up, so didnâ??t realize their therapeutic value until I made that fortunate discovery by way of a department store bear. After trying my hand at making bears using commercial patterns, I decided it would be even more fun and meaningful if I could design them myself. Also, I had found out that there were actually two bear shows almost right in my backyard - well, 25 miles away in Dallas. With that knowledge, I got serious about creating my own patterns.
Describe your style of bears and/or animals you make.
My bears are fairly traditional with humps on their backs, waxed noses, and, usually, long arms. One characteristic that is not historically correct, however, is that they all have bangs . . . even the more realistic all-fours designs come with bangs.
Where do you live and where are you originally from?
I was born in Abilene, located on the central west plains of Texas, aka, â??Big Countryâ??. I grew up and went to school in nearby Anson - not quite a desert region, but most of our sparse vegetation was scrubby mesquite trees. When I married, my husband Paul was in the Air Force, so we spent several years living in different parts of the US. When he was discharged, we came back to Texas and settled in the Dallas area. Both of us spent our childhoods amid dust storms and tumbleweeds, so when we chose our permanent home, it was on a heavily wooded acre in a rural community called Double Oak. Even though we are only about 20 minutes from a metropolitan airport, there is a peaceful, serene, and quiet ambience to the area. I love nature and couldnâ??t ask for better working conditions. My sewing machine sits in front of a huge window that looks out on our back woods. I do get distracted from time to time by what goes on outside that window, however, as we have a variety of birds and animals that provide constant entertainment.
What inspires you?
You know, I donâ??t really have a clue as to where the ideas come from. I do know that lots of nights when I should be asleep, my mind is pretty busy designing the next creation. Itâ??s possible that a particular look on one of my petsâ?? faces or the characteristics of my wooded environment somehow creep into my subconscious and decide to come alive at bedtime. Whatever the source, I hope the ideas keep coming.
What is your favorite part of bear making?
Oh, by far the most exciting part of making bears is seeing the expression on that face come alive. I always finish the head first so that the bear can watch the rest of him/her self being created.
How did you choose your business name?
I wanted a name that suggested something old and treasured since I had decided to pattern my designs after the very early bears. I played around with using words like vintage, heirloom, antique, traditional, and heritage, but couldnâ??t come up with anything I liked. I finally decided on â??past timeâ? because bear making had become my past time after retiring from my career, and it was a reference to an older era of time.
Do you have any other hobbies besides bear making?
Oh yes . . . way too many! Thereâ??s just not enough time in my day to be able to participate actively in all my other interests which include photography, playing the piano, altered art, painting, gardening - and on and on.
Do you have any pets and/or children?
All of the above. I have two grown daughters who are extremely smart and talented (nope, Iâ??m NOT biased) and six four-legged kids (not so smart and talented). Four cats, two dogs.
What are you most proud of?
I have been honored through the years with several Golden Teddy nominations, winning one Golden Teddy Award, several TOBY Industryâ??s Choice Awards, a commission from The Franklin Mint for â??Holly the Holiday Bearâ??, and have been selected as the designer for the Theodore Societyâ??s 2005 Membership bear. Also, my bear â??Dallasâ? was chosen as the grand prize winner of Steiffâ??s 2004 design contest. I am very grateful to the teddy bear industry and collectors for their confidence in my skills as a bear artist.
Where do you sell your bears?
Most of my sales come from teddy bear shows, although Iâ??m taking a break this year from participating in them to take care of some important personal matters. I also sell from my website (www.pasttimebears.com) and a retail store, The Toy Shoppe, has carried some of my creations. Thank you to â??Teddy-Bears.orgâ? for giving me the opportunity to share some of my life as a bear artist - itâ??s been a pleasure.
Past Time Bears
Past Time Bears
www.pasttimebears.com
Past Time Bears on Teddy-Bears.org
Meet Judi Paul of Luxembears
Meet our March Artist: Judi Paul of Luxembears. Each month, we'll bring you an interview with someone in the bear world. Enjoy!
When did you start making bears and what inspired you to design your own?
At a very young age I had a passion for art. I started to draw and paint. My favorite subject were animals of every kindâ?¦especially lions, tigers, bears and dolphins. At around age 7 I learned to knit and sew my own animalsâ?¦many of them my own designs.
I made my very first jointed fur bear in Jan of 1999. It was about 6 inches tall and I sold it for $35.00. I learned about bear making by buying a mohair bear kit. Soon after that I decide that I would like to design my own bears as I wanted to be original and had some ideas to try out.
Describe your style of bears and/or animals you make.
The best way to describe my work, I think, is â??whimsically realisticâ?. But this does not apply to all my designs. I love very expressive faces. I want my bear to â??speakâ? to the public through their faces and body language. I love detailsâ?¦lots and lots of details. I like multi-dimensional eyes, sculpted noses, claws, armature, paw details, double jointed necks, and airbrushed accents. Some have open mouths, teeth and tongues. I especially love to do very firm needle-felted muzzles and paw details.
I also love big cats. I have made lions, tigers, a white tiger, and snow leopard. I plan on making many more of these in various designs and body positions.
Where do you live and where are you originally from?
I have lived in five states: California, Indiana, Michigan, and currently in Luxemburg Wisconsin. I am originally form Derbyshire England and immigrated with my family to the US in 1965 when I was only seven months old. I live on a dairy farm with my husband and three children ages 16, 10, and 5.
What inspires you?
So many things inspire me. Life in general, first of all. The beauty of nature, being in the fresh air of living in the country; the view from my workshop windowâ?¦.nothing but acres of farm land and a large red oak tree which I often use for photographing my bears in. Being at peace within myself which leaves me open for inspiration to find me. And it does. All the time. I am never with out ideasâ?¦in fact, I wish I had more hours of the day to work on the ideas I would like to create.
What is your favorite part of bear making?
I love hand sewing. All my bears are sewn by hand, even the large ones. I enjoy needle felting because I can sculpt and watch the expressions emerge. Airbrushing is also a favorite of mine. This is like decorating a yummy cake and where the creation truly comes to life. I enjoy sharing my creations with buyers but some bears I find hard to part with, as I know that no two of my creations are ever gong to be the same. They are like childrenâ?¦.you can have many children, all of whom come from the same source, yet each one is very different form the others.
How did you choose your business name?
My business name started out â??Teddy Bear Picnicâ? because I love the song of the same name. Then one day I was driving into the village of Luxemburg, where I live, and I looked at the hand painted sign with the village name and it hit meâ?¦â?Luxembearsâ?â?¦I live in Luxemburg, I make bears that really are a luxury itemâ?¦.it just felt right. So there it is. My business became â??Luxmbearsâ?.
Do you have any other hobbies besides bear making?
Beside bear art I love to Ballroom Dance with my husband. In fact that is how we met. We dance every week. I love to do airbrushed painting, many on denim jackets. Wood burning bears on boxes and plaques, drawing with pencil and ink, and painting.
Do you have any pets and/or children?
Three children. Two girls and a boy, 16, 10, and my boy is 5. They are a constant source of joy and entertainmentâ?¦they make me laughâ?¦a lot. We have a malti-poo ,Mandi, and a cat named Shamu. We also have a barn and filed full of Registered Holstein Cattleâ?¦not to mention ever changing numbers of barn cats.
What are you most proud of?
I would have to say that I am most proud of my entire family. They all have been and continue to be extremely supportive and proud of my art. I am proud of the fact that I have even been able to have children. I have type one insulin dependent diabetes and was diagnose at age 12. Itâ??s a full time job just manage my health. I take multiple daily injects and finger pokes to test blood sugars. I stay in shape and do well but it is not easy at all.
I am proud to have had the front cover of Teddy Bear Review magazine Feb 2007 issue. That will always be an honor. I feel very blessed that I am able to be a stay at home mom ( I quit my nursing job) and pursue my art. I also have to say that I am very pleased to have won awards [I Love Teddies Note: Judi has received many awards, including TOBYs and Golden Teddys] and nominations for her work] for my bears and other animals. Winning awards does not make me a better artist but it is a wonderful feeling to have some of my work recognized and acknowledged. Truly truly and humble honor.
Where do you sell your bears?
My bears find homes through the auction sites, Ebay and Bid 4 Bears. The Toy Shoppe in Richmond, Virginia also carries my work. I also try to have bears listed on my website from time to time. I have steered always from doing custom orders due to the time constraints. I have a full and busy life with my family and I have lots of bears and other animals that I want to work on. Custom orders tend to inhibit creativity. So many bearsâ?¦.so little time. LOL
Luxembears
Luxembears
www.luxembears.com
Luxembears on Teddy-Bears.org
Meet Daphne Blau of Back Road Bears
Meet our February Artist: Daphne Blau Bears. Each month, we'll bring you an interview with someone in the bear world. Enjoy!
When did you start making bears and what inspired you to design your own?
I began making bears in late 2000 after attending my first handmade teddy bear show. I used Jennifer Laing patterns for the first few months but because I get bored quickly and don't like to make what someone else has already done, I began 'tweaking' the pattern here and there and learned the effects each tweak had on the finished bear. It wasn't long before I was sitting down with a blank piece of paper and creating my own bears.
Describe your style of bears and/or animals you make.
Hmmm.... a few years ago I would have told you they were all pretty traditional bears as the industry standard goes. Then they began to be more contemporary..... colorful, big noses and feet and the bears as a whole were bigger... I moved up to the 14-20 inch size where I'd stuck with the 10-12 inch size the first couple of years. Now with a new year I've been experimenting with smaller bears.... well, 7 inches is small in my book! And not just bears now. I've created an elephant and a lion thus far which was fun.
Where do you live and where are you originally from?
I was born and raised in New Hampshire, lived in Massachusetts for a while then came back to New Hampshire. I'm a mountain girl.... love the views, ever changing foliage and landscape and all the wildlife.
What inspires you?
My two dogs... wheaten terriers... many say my bears have their faces. Also just digging through my mohair stash, my quilting fabric stash or even a drawer full of accessories can inspire visions of bears made with those goodies!
What is your favorite part of bear making?
Hmm... well, I can honestly say that the only parts I've never griped about are tracing and cutting. The sewing, trying to get the ears, eyes and nose right, the limbs jointed on in the right place, stuffing w/o lumps.... it can all be trying at one time or another. Thus my favorite part is tying on the bow or accessories and meeting my newest completed bear! Don't get me wrong, I do find the whole process to be exciting - I wouldn't be doing it otherwise!
How did you choose your business name?
I lived on an old back road in the mountains.. still do but on a different road in a different town, different mountains... anyway.. the name of the road we lived on was Bear Hill Road. Back Road Bears just sort of came to me and seemed most fitting.
Do you have any other hobbies besides bear making?
Needlefelting, punch needle embroidery, quilting, gardening, antiquing and eating chocolate. :o) Well, I'd rather call that a hobby than an addiction, wouldn't you??!!
Do you have any pets and/or children?
As mentioned, we have two wheaten terriers. Don't need kids with those two around! They are needy, time consuming and costly all on their own! Course, they won't be able to take care of me when I'm old or inherit my bears when I die but they keep my blood pressure down and keep me company, laughing and loved... who could ask for more?
What are you most proud of?
Professionally speaking: the teddy bear shows I produce here in New England. I organized my first show 3 years ago in Maine. I'd been attending bear shows for a number of years and making note of things I liked and disliked, knowing one day I wanted to put together my own show. When the opportunity presented itself I seized the moment and jumped in head first, wanting to offer a show that would make the artists happy and feel appreciated and collectors excited. It's harder than it sounds but feedback says I accomplished that my first time out! The right setting is important to me... something unique... bright and cheerful. And quality in craftsmanship and variety is important too - annual shows can get stale. The biggest challenge most any promoter faces is getting people in the door. It's harder today than it was 5-10 years ago. (I won't get into the whys - economy and the internet have a great deal to do with it though.) Now promoters must think outside the box and introduce new people to the industry. We can't count on current collectors always supporting us, we always have to work at attracting new folks. The saying "Build it and they will come" may apply to baseball stadiums but not teddy bear shows. So, as a new promoter I am learning what works, what doesn't and just how costly advertising is (more incentive to think outside the box!). Artists and collectors alike have commented on the quality of my shows and the fact that they are growing in artist and collector participation each year says a lot. This year I have artists traveling from Canada and the other side of the US to participate. That means a lot to me that they'd go the extra mile, literally, for one of my shows! I produce two shows a year now - The New England Spring Teddy Bear Show in NH and The Maine Teddy Bear & Soft-Sculpture Show in ME. To learn more about my shows, read reviews and see photos or get an application please visit www.backroadevents.net
Where do you sell your bears?
I sell my bears mainly at teddy bear shows. I also sell from my site and by word of mouth. Once in a blue moon I'll put a bear on eBay but I really don't have time to make enough bears to spread myself out that much. I have all I can do to keep up with orders! Due to tendon problems in my hands I can't sew as much as I'd like to which limits my productivity somewhat. If my orthopedic surgeon had it his way I wouldn't be making bears at all. This way I figure he has job security! Producing shows and being a mohair supplier ( www.backroadbears.com/supplyshop.htm ) as well as teaching workshops take up quite a bit of time also.
I Love Teddies Note: Daphne did not mention this in her interview, but she made the bunny in the movie â??The Last Mimzy,â? which came out in theaters in 2007. Tonner Doll made some versions of Mimzy. Contact Daphne for more information.
Back Road Bears
Back Road Bears
www.backroadbears.com
Back Road Bears on Teddy-Bears.org
Back Road Events
www.backroadevents.net
Back Road Events Upcoming Shows for 2008:
March 29 - New England Spring Teddy Bear Show
July 26 - Maine Teddy Bear & Soft-Sculpture Show
Meet Carolyn Green of Draffin Bears
Meet our January Artist: Carolyn Green of Draffin Bears. Each month, we'll bring you an interview with someone in the bear world. Enjoy!
When did you start making bears and what inspired you to design your own?
The birth of our daughter Victoria in 1989 and son Marcel in 1991 inspired me to start making bears for my children. I wanted to give both of them something special. Looking at the mass produced bears available, I felt that these lacked the life and personality of a handmade bear. I decided to make my own bears, and thus in 1992, Draffin Bears was born.
Describe your style of bears and/or animals you make.
Draffin Bears are of a traditional style and follow an old fashioned theme, as of yesteryear. Typically the bears are dressed as gentleman or ladies.
They are made from the finest mohair or sometimes alpaca and their clothes are fashioned from the finest quality cloth and sometimes I will accessorize them with rare and antique items and beautiful hats adorned with flowers.
Where do you live and where are you originally from?
I live in New Zealand on a small Island called Waiheke, located about 18 miles off the coast of the North Island. It is a beautiful subtropical Island with about 8,000 full time residents.
I grew up in a small town called Dannevirke, where many Danish people immigrated to and was a great place to live and grow up and go to school there.
What inspires you?
I have always admired the beautiful vintage bears that have been around for over 100 years in some cases and they still look beautiful albeit a little loved and worn. I think that they have inspired me to give my creations an old fashioned theme.
What is your favorite part of bear making?
I particularly enjoy the stage when the bears eyes are sewn in and they look back at you and seem to come alive.
How did you choose your business name?
I chose Draffin Bears as that is my maiden name and my married name was Green, but that really did not sound right.
Do you have any other hobbies besides bear making?
I used to make porcelain dolls and still have a collection in a cabinet and I used to make some of my clothes from about the age of 15. I also love to embroider, knit, do hardanger and cross stitch and have just recently finished a cross stitch of two bears enjoying afternoon tea.
Do you have any children and/or pets?
We have a daughter Victoria 18 and son Marcel 16 - teenagers! An interesting stage of life! They are both beautiful and most of the time are a lot of fun.
We have a giant Schnauzer named Heidi and a sealpoint Persian cat called Louis.
What are you most proud of?
I have donated 5 bears to the Waiheke Homecare Hospice and a big Sailor bear called George to the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation for the Bentley Glamour Gala.
I enjoy hearing from collectors when they have adopted a bear and have made many friends this way.
I made my Mother a Scottish bear Hamish and he had a little Scotch terrier to accompany him and she really loves them and has them sitting on their bed.
Where do you sell your bears?
I sell my bears from my web-site www.draffinbears.com and lately I have had a market which is held the last Sunday of the month at the Stamford Plaza Hotel in the ballroom. It has been a lot of fun and I have met some really lovely people and sold some of my bears there.
Draffin Bears
Draffin Bears
www.draffinbears.com
Draffin Bears on Teddy-Bears.org
Meet Tami Lahey of Dolls N Dreams
Meet our December Artist: Tami Lahey of Dolls N Dreams. Each month, we'll bring you an interview with someone in the bear world. Enjoy!
When did you start making bears and what inspired you to design your own?
I started designing teddy bears close to two years ago after viewing the wonderful Artist Bears on Ebay. I was hooked. I also found a wonderful place to visit on the internet called Teddy Talk, met some wonderful artists and learned the ropes of designing my very own teddy bear pattern. I also purchased many how to books. I'm still on Teddy Talk today and was recently given the title of "Cute Animal Ambassador". Being the animal lover I am, I post a cute animal photo on the board each day for all to see.
Describe your style of bears and/or animals you make.
I have been designing fairy dolls for over ten years, and wanted to bring my fantasy theme to the teddy bear. Although it was a lot of work, it was also a lot of fun developing my own unique pattern. The name I decided on was Fairy Doogles. Each one seems to have their own mischievous personality and have curly toe boots, antennas & fairy features. I also developed a pattern for a Mermaid/bear called "Cuddletails" and a series called Woodland Wabbits.
Where do you live and where are you originally from?
Iâ??m originally from Odessa, Texas, and recently moved to Aurora, Colorado. Although it is very pretty here, this southern girl still can't get use to the snow & cold weather!
What inspires you?
My love of fairies inspired the Fairy Doogles, and my favorite book is called Fairy Art by Iain Zaczek. This book explores the magical world of nineteenth and twentieth-century fairy paintings. The book is beautifully illustrated and gives one a glimpse into the realms of myth and fantasy. I am a huge animal lover and was recently inspired by my adorable Westie, Tiffani, to design a new Doogle Dog. I named the Doogle Dog Tiffy as well.
What is your favorite part of bear making?
I receive the sweetest emails about my creations. The most enjoyable part of creating a bear is knowing someone else will love him as much as I do. Teddy bear people are the most wonderful people in the world.
How did you choose your business name?
I have had my business name of Dolls N Dreams for over ten years now. I always wanted to design creations that one may envision in a dream, and I created many fantasy dolls from dreams I have.
Do you have any other hobbies besides bear making?
I love interior decorating, painting, needlepoint, and another passion I have is baking. Love the sweets! Keeping my website www.dollsndreams.com, my myspace page and a blog updated takes a lot of time. Teaching myself html way back so it has really come in handy.
Do you have any children and/or pets?
My husband Tom & I have an adorable 5-year-old Westie named Tiffani and she is the 'CPO' of Dolls N Dreams (Chief Puppy Officer). She also has her own website, www.dollsndreams.com/tiffani.html
She is our joy!
What are you most proud of?
I was thrilled to have one of my Fairy Doogles win a TOBY Industry Choice Award this year. That was a living dream for me. The award was proudly displayed among my Barbie Bazaar Crystal Awards I have won over the years. I keep them all in a lighted cabinet. Whenever I feel overwhelmed or uncreative, they always give me inspiration.
Where do you sell your bears?
I sell my bears from my website and on Ebay Auctions. I'm proud to say I have over 1600 positive feedback rating on ebay. I'm also a member of a wonderful group called Bear Artist Online, which usually has two online shows a year. If you would like to join my email update group and be notified when new creations are listed, please send me an email.
Dolls N Dreams
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