About the Artist
    I have always been an artist and have worked in many different forms, sewing, watercolor painting, line drawing, advertising and logo design. My favorite ways to create are bear making and quilting.
     As far back as I can remember teddy bears have been a part of my life. Before I could walk, my mother started singing the song “Teddy Bears Picnic” to me and the seed was planted. Little did she know that all those years ago my love for Teddy Bears began.
    The bear I remember from my childhood was a panda as large as I was. I held it in front of me and struggled just to move it across the room because I could not see around it. My panda was a source of comfort to me especially during thunderstorms and a wonderful companion. I am sure it is no coincidence that pandas are my favorite kind of bears.   
   I have been making teddy bears since 1996 fulfilling a lifelong dream. I made my first bear under the instruction of world famous teddy bear artist Steve Schutt in a class making one of his designs. I was hooked. Making teddy bears has been a spiritual life changing experience for me. I continued making bears using other artist’s patterns up until 1998 when I took a design class from Steve Schutt and learned how to create my own bear designs.
   A piece of tapestry, fabrics, antique lace collars, a Broche, vintage illustrations of bears, old toys, movies and bears I see in my dreams provide inspiration and the creative process begins. Stuffing and shaping heads, sculpting faces and adding eyes gives them their start on personality. Sewing on their noses gives them a life special to teddy bears because now they can breathe. Therefore, to prevent suffocation bears are never again put in plastic. The bear is complete when I finish with the accessories and naming the bear. It is a feeling that touches my heart and keeps the passion of bear making alive for me with each bear I make.
 
© Copyright 1996

---