Bear Artists Online - TBACA

I live in the beautiful Shoalhaven area of New South Wales in a beachside village, with my husband of 28 years and 2 neurotic cats (Lily and Mia)!   We are parents to two beautiful grown daughters (one of  whom is still at home), and are proud grandparents to little Mikaela who is 2 years old, and wraps her grandfather around her little finger (well, and her grandmother as well!)I

I've been designing and making teddy bears since early 2007 - so am a relative newcomer to the industry.  Living in a rural community 2 hours away from Sydney and working full time, makes it difficult to attend workshops, so I confess to being self-taught  - devouring information from the internet, books and teddy magazines, plus learning from critique comments from competition judges.

Having tried various other crafts such as scrapbooking, creating and decorating eggs and making beaded bracelets, I discovered the art of teddy bear making while visiting a craft fair in Sydney with a friend, an am now hooked!

I enjoy dabbling with different design techniques (which I am still learning), and can't wait to see a little finished face staring back at me.  I admit to having a penchant for collecting mohair at bear shows (lucky I have my day job!!!) and somehow my bear making supplies (and bears) have taken over our 4th bedroom, where there is now little room left for visitors!!!!

I've enjoyed some success in major and regional bear show competitions:

• Winner - Best Novice Bear (2007 Sydney Teddy Bear Fair) - critiqued
• Finalist - People's Choice (2008 Sydney Teddy Bear Fair) - People's Choice
• Runner Up - Critique Comp. (2008 Sydney Teddy Bear Fair)
• Winner - Best Bear - Open Division (2008 South Australian Doll & Bear Fair)
• First Ribbons - 2 bears (2008 Central Coast Annual Doll, Bear & Craft Fair)
• Bear of Show (2008 Newcastle Charity Doll & Bear Show) - critiqued comp.
• First Ribbon - (2008 Newcastle Charity Doll & Bear Show) - critiqued comp
• Finalist - 2009 Sydney Teddy Bear Fair - People's Choice

My inspirations come from anything magical, such as the beautiful Cirque du Soleil with its colour and mystery.  I'm a sucker for 'cute' and admire the work of artists such as Michelle Lamb (One & Only Bears) and Shelli Heineman (Potbelly Bears) but also have a penchant for realistic bears.