I have been involved with some sort of sewing and crafts from a very early age. My mom was an excellent seamstress and taught me many sewing tricks. As a youngster, my twin sister, Emily and I sewed for our Barbie dolls and enjoyed making cloth dolls.
I signed up for my first teddy bear class in 1991 at the suggestion of a friend, and my life has not been the same since! It was just the beginning of a career that I had no idea even existed!
My work and style has changed over the years because of my desire to improve my techniques. I do all of the work myself from the initial design to the final accessory placed on the bear. I prefer to use only mohair but will use a high quality synthetic to achieve a certain effect. I do not elaborately costume my bears, but prefer an illusion of a costume.
In 1997 I was nominated for the Golden Teddy Award and for the TOBY Award. Again in 2001 I was an Industry Choice winner of the TOBY© Award for “Joaquin.” I am featured in Linda Mullins’ book about teddy bear artists,
Tribute to Teddy Bear Artists, Series 3, and in Steven Cronk’s book,
The World’s Most Lovable Teddy Bears.
It has been a very interesting journey into the world of the teddy bear, with rarely a dull moment. I look forward to what this unique world will bring in the future.
