TBAAF - Purchase Directly From International Bear and Doll Artists

Hello! I am Brenda Parker, the designer and creator of BrendaBears™.

I was drawn into the wonderful world of bear making in 1993. I have always had a love for sewing and all things creative. For me, what began as a craft business quickly turned into an adventure in the teddy bear industry. 

Each of my bears is lovingly designed and made entirely by me from start to finish. I strive for perfection in all my creations and use only the finest quality materials and put a great deal of myself into each bear. Much thought and attention goes into each and every detail of my bears.

Bear making allows me to express myself in my creations. My days are filled with creativity and delight. I find a great deal of enjoyment on this path laid out before me.

I design and create contemporary style bears ranging in sizes from 5 inches to 24 inches. I love working with the new plush synthetic furs but still create an occasional mohair or alpaca bear. 

I would have to say that my dream bear is what I am always striving to create.

Not really sure but I will know it when I see it.

My teddy bear collection started around the same time that I began creating my own bears. Friends and family thought that since I create bears that I must have a collection of them as well.  

I have had a love for dolls from a very young age. My collection began with a beautiful antique doll my grandfather gave me as an adolescent.

Hello,

I have been making collectable, hand-stitched teddy bears since 1999. I live in Queensland, with the Great Barrier Reef practically at my door. My bears are limited edition, one of a kind or custom made to order. I only use the best quality Mohair and Alpaca when making bears. My trademark bears are the "Bearonette Collection" of marionette bears which have 13 wobble joints, and the "Hand-stand Collection" of acrobatic bears. I also specialise in animated/musical hugs of bears. I love bears with GREAT character on their face, with BIG bellies and BIG feet! All of the "Bumble Bears Collection" come with their own hand-painted terracotta name tag, with date made, artists signature, and Edition Number or OOAK status on the back. I love any-thing with a difference.

I also have a small collection of Gunnies Bears along-side my own.

Having a busy life-style, and I find making bears relaxing and comforting. I am a perfectionist in many aspects of my life, bear-making one of them.

I design and make collectable Teddy Bears. They are limited edition, one of a kind or custom made, all hand stitched Mohair or Alpaca bears.

I make a variety of styles ranging from small to large in size, with a variety of techniques. I am best known for my "Hand Stand" collection of acrobatic bears, "The Bearonette Collection"- my Marionette Bears and my "Hugs" of animated/musical bears.

I have a passion for Pandas mostly, but make all styles of bears.

My dream Teddy Bear would be cute with alot of character in his face. He would have a big belly and feet. He would be a bear that when you look at him you could just talk too him and know that he would understand.:)

If I were to collect dolls, I am drawn mostly to the realistic porcelain baby dolls. To have a doll made to look like my children when they were young would be lovely as an Heirloom.

I started making Teddy Bears for a theme room for my daughter when she was born. I didnt know how to style her room when I came accross a shop with old book shelves from floor to ceilling filled with teddy bears. I thaught what a wonderful idea to have this with her bed in the middle of the room and to be surrounded by Teddy Bears! I thaught that any child would just love this! To do what I envisioned would cost quite a bit, so I then decided to have a go at making the bears my-self! And here I am 18 years later making them for every-one else instead!:)

I have always liked making things – out of paper, cloth, or any old scraps that came to hand, be it pieces of wire or string, beads, acorns or feathers. 

Of course, you have to find all these things, pick them up, and store them somewhere for who knows how long, because you never know what would come in handy one day for whatever purpose...

And so this not altogether serious attachment to all sorts of little things had been with me all my life – until one day I discovered a way to bring together everything I liked, all my abilities, and all the trifles I had amassed over the years in one occupation: making Teddies.

 This discovery made, there was no way back. And so, one by one, my Teddies appeared – each with his own personality.

My first Teddies saw the light of day in Moscow, Russia, where I had been born and brought up. Nowadays, I live in the UK, near Reading in Berkshire.

But still, each new Teddy Bear is shown first to my children. Their verdict is always the most impartial. Next to be roped in is my husband, who chooses names for my Teddies – and his choice is mostly very apt.

And another thing has never changed: the whole process, from the stage when the future Teddy only exists on paper as a pattern, to that wonderful moment when I can hug the newborn creature, is a very great pleasure for me.

And then there is someone else in our household who shows genuine interest: our cat. 

She is just as partial to trifles as I am, and I strongly suspect that deep down she fears possible competition...

Traditional fully-jointed Teddies made from mohair and other fabrics, as well as small dry-felted bears.

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 KUMASHICHIDO was born in August, 2006. I thought in December, 2005 that I would make a teddy bear. That is, KUMASHICHIDO was born in time for 8 months from the concept.

However, I also had no knowledge of needlework. But there was only a thought harder than others. I studied how to make a teddy bear for every day for eight months, how to make a paper pattern, etc. It all was self-education.

I published the study to the blog and had technical advice my teddy bear evaluated from Japanese teddy bear artists.

That I can have confidence now was the time eight months passed. I acquired the information on the event of the Hokkaido teddy bear show exactly. And I thought that I would participate.

But in order for me to participate in an event, examination of the teddy bear was required. It cannot participate, if it does not pass it. It was a big trial for me.

Probably an event promoter thinks that this was the first time that participating hope was received from the male. Maybe... the Japanese male of the event participant in of those days was only me. Although a Japanese male's teddy bear artists have increased in number just in now, I think that it was not conspicuous those days.

Fortunately, my teddy bear was able to pass examination and was able to participate in the event. I thought then "I was also able to become a teddy bear artist."

Although I became a teddy bear artist, having made a teddy bear was not easy. That is because the difficulty of continuing making an original teddy bear was touched.

I considered the design variously. It is a teddy bear which I make an ideal. However, even if the teddy bear was completed, the thing different from the teddy bear which I visualized was done. That is, the skill of making my teddy bear is insufficient. I keenly realized it. Such days continued for many days and many days.....

My work had a big change. It is in 2010.

It continued for a long time unexpectedly slump days. One day, I looked at it and considered my wife's teddy bear collection. While seeing the teddy bear of a wife's collection, any teddy bear artists must have had an unripe time. And many artists repeat experience and I came to think that I am making the great teddy bear. I was able to remember for the purpose of what it thought a teddy bear would be made. Then, I am beginning to understand the meaning of making a teddy bear truly anew.

After feeling the meaning which I continue making, the work has changed. It still evolves. And I wish to enjoy making a teddy bear obediently, without continuing to disobey I myself thought.

Thank you!

Hideki Saito

My teddy bear is a teddy bear of a traditional style.

I may sometimes make the teddy bear which used as the motif the character which appears in a movie.

I would like to build the teddy bear which can enjoy conversation.

It is not all that it speaks about conversation by means of language.

To people, it may be many and is capable.

I would like to make a teddy bear and the teddy bear which can talk to each person.

It is a question difficult for me.

My wife is a collector of the teddy bear of Steiff.

I confidence had more hobbies.

However, I thought it good to have a hobby in common with her.

And I also became a collector of the teddy bear.

My home studio is brimming with creative chaos here on the gorgeous Central Coast of California. Sometimes I have to move stuff to find stuff, but it sure is cozy!  I hope to have a bigger studio one of these days, and it looks like it is getting closer to happening.  I'm learning that construction takes a lot of time from concept to planning, to actual building. 

I feel very fortunate that I have the freedom to indulge in my artful passions.  Creating soulful, engaging characters brings me a lot of joy and happiness.

Foolsgold Arts producdes bears with engaging characters, ranging from classic to contemporary, toylike to semi-realistic and usually show some aging and color-contouring.  

He will have a twinkle in his eye, adventure in his soul, and he will love me with all his heart.

Worn, but serviceable, a good listener, full of grace, abounding in mercy.  I love your colors and textures.

It happened when I realized I should have taken better care of the ones I had as a child.

I have always enjoyed being creative and made my first bears nearly 20 years ago now - which doesn't seem possible!  At that time I sold my creations through a local shop and at a couple of fairs. Then all too soon,  family life took over and the bears were largely forgotten - apart from the odd few made as presents. Now my children are 17 and 15 I have re-discovered my mohair stash under the bed and my passion for creating!

My designs are usually quite traditional, mohair teddy bears.They range in size from about 6 - 16" tall (I have made larger bears in the past, but never as yet tried any in miniature - maybe one day. . .)

Presently I am experimenting with adding more joints and wire armature to increase my bears’ range of poses. I have also tried trapunto details on my paw pads which I really like.

Wow, what a hard question to answer as this is not a fixed ideal for me. I like all sorts of styles of bear from the fabulous realistic designs of Pawtrait Bears to the chic ‘Elegant Ladies’ by Monica Spicer. I guess ultimately it would need to be a bear full of character and have a ‘take me home’ face!

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I met my first artist bear many years ago in a local craft shop and had to take her home as she was just so cute! She introduced me to the bear making world and although a few other bears have been added to my hug over the years, I mostly enjoy designing and creating rather than collecting.

Hi i'm Darren and along with Lanie my partner I administrate and run Teddy Bear Artists and Friends

We also co run Mohair Bear Making Supplies a teddy bear and doll making supplies company...

I sell the bear making supplies...

Big Soft and cuddly.

The one I bought Lanie for her birthday

Lanie has collected bears and dolls for many years, she just loves them....

All kinds of bears;  large and small, 5 inchs to 30inch.  

I love large bears. I make bears from all kinds of fabrics mostly faux fur, old blankets and towels. 

 Waiting for mohair to go down in price or a hugh teddy bear sale...which ever happens 

first is just fine with me.

....Well, in my dream the phone would ring. It would be a warm sunny day not too hot and I would be off from work.  An old friend would invite me to lunch. We would dine outside, stuff ourselves then walk it off to the lovely shops for some antiquing....

Just then...(and this is my dream remember) a long breeze from a opening door  would draw my attention, the fragrance  would drawn me in, the bear would be waiting for me behind the counter. Big, old, brown chocolate colored, German and old. The expression, the eyes, the cuteness all perfect. "I  just got him in," she would say to me, "isn't he gorgeous?"

"How much," hardly hearing anything she said prior to me? "Only $19.50, I was just about to put him out, but you look like you want him...do you want him...do you want him......do you want him?"  The question gets echoy and then I wake up.

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Just did don't know why...I think the first bears I ever bought would remind me of my dogs. I owned and breed keeshonds for almost 20 years.  

They were like the four gospels of my life Cairo, Bucky, Pepper and CarlieAnn.  Very teddy bear like and smart and funny,just like  bear.

I have been making bears since 2011. I started out knitting bears in a hairy type of yarn, then a friends sister who was is a former bear maker gave me some old magazines with some patterns in them. The rest is history. 

My bears are adopted through the odd craft show, on my website & BearPile.

In October 2012 I became a very proud member of The Guild of Master BearCrafters.

Thank you for taking the time & trouble to read this.

I make, mostly, OOAK or limited edition traditional bears. These range from 2 1/2" minitures to a larger bear.

An antique type bear. About 15" in height & made to look really aged.

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I still have my childhood bear, who is a year younger than me. My love for this bear is the reason I have had a love of bears my whole life.