I've been a full time bear artist since February of 2002. I live in the Chicago suburbs with my wonderful husband, teenage daughter and 3 great whippet dogs. I've always been a "creative" person and never really happy unless I'm in the middle of a crafty project of some kind. I became interested in sewing when I took "home ec" in 8th grade... but did not keep it up. Some years later I took it up again to make dresses for my baby daughter. What a thrill to make a pretty "something" out of a flat piece of fabric. But as she grew older, sewing once again took a "back seat" to my other projects and work. Sometime around 1995 (give or take a year) my best friend introduced me to teddy bears.... artist bears in particular. As a child I had collected bunnies.. not bears. But I immediately fell in love with artist teddy bears! A couple of years after I started collecting, I found that my favorite local teddy bear artist (Jo Martenson - Bearfoot Alley Teddees.. I have 13 of her bears!) gave classes in teddy bear making. I took several classes from her and finally found my passion! Soon after I began designing my own patterns... and found new homes for those bears on eBay. Since then I have also designed my own website - but I still list some bears on eBay.
I enjoy creating several styles of bears: classic, contemporary, pandas and antique style. They range in size from mini 3+1/2" to 14" - although I am currently working on a designing larger pattern. My favorite material to use is mohair... although I do occassionally use alpaca fabric or high quality German synthetics. My bears are all 5 way jointed: many with bolts and locknuts for stiff, but poseable limbs. Some are jointed to be a little looser with cotterpins... but all are very secure joints. My bears have premium handblown glass eyes and are very firmly stuffed with polyfil... and also glass beads and steel beads for weight. I love a heavy bear! Many of my bears (and friends) are "One of a Kind" creations, although I do occassionally create some very small limited editions. All of my bears and friends will come to you with a signed hang tag, and also a "teddy charm" on their back with my
"double L" initials.
Thanks for stopping by!
Laura
