Introduce yourself!

[Laura Lynn]

Hi everyone!

I’d love for you to introduce yourself and tell us a little about yourself.

I’ll start…

My name is Laura – my business name is Laura Lynn.  I chose to use my middle name too because at the time I entered the teddy bear world, there were several other bear artists named “Laura” and I didn’t want to be confused with anyone else  🙂

I currently live in Lexington, KY USA with my partner Steve and my adored Chihuahua Sequoia.  I started collecting teddy bears after a friend introduced me to artist bears.  I had never heard of them before.

After a few years, I bought a book at a fabric store about how to make teddy bears.  I got so frustrated because I didn’t understand how to do it.  I needed someone to show me.

Fortunately for me, I lived in the Chicago area at the time and there were quite a few teddy bear artists there that I was friends with.  I discovered that they also gave bear making classes so I was on my way.

I started designing my own patterns and selling my bears in 2001 and I’ve been hooked every since.

I’d love to hear about you!

[Phyllis Valdez]

Hi. My name is Phyllis Valdez and I live in Northern California. Back in the mid-80s to mid-90s, I made 1/12 scale porcelain dolls and sold them at doll shows. Some teddy bear artists also sold at these shows, and I repeatedly fell in love with the sweet faces.

I decided to learn to make my own bears. Well, this was before so much information was on the internet, so I tried learning from books. I sold a few bears, but felt that I never was able to capture that “awww” expression. The popularity of porcelain dolls began to fade by the end of the 90s. So much of my time was taken up with making home improvements that I stopped making dolls and bears.

So now there is Ebay and Etsy and marketing is so different. And my interest in making teddies has returned. I want to design my own bears, probably small, and sell them online. I am starting with the 4″ mini bear class. I am looking forward to this project!

[Laura Lynn]

Welcome Phyllis – so glad to learn a little about you.  Dolls and bears really do go together don’t they?  I’m happy to learn what you would like to learn about as well — smaller bears and marketing.  Some marketing classes are in the works!

[Gisele Schaeffer]

Hello
My name is Gisele Schaeffer. I live in North Carolina with my husband 2 inside cats and 2 outside dogs.
I started making bears 7 years ago. It was such a challenge at first. But I learned from my mistake.
I make simple 4 pieces bears for our Sherif who distribute them to children in distress. The other bears are for our granddaughter, family and friends.
Then I discovered Laura and her easy to understand bear patterns.
Thank you Laura. It is a pleasure to make these bears
Gisele

[Laura Lynn]

Gisele how nice to meet you!  North Carolina is a beautiful state.  We visited last year.  How awesome that you create bears for children who need them so badly!  That is a wonderful idea!  I am so glad that you find my patterns and directions easy to understand.  I love helping people with their bear making.  I bet your family and friends love receiving your bears!

[chris harrison]

Hi, My name is Chris (Christine) I live in Australia with my husband, 2 Sons and 1 Daughter.

I have been making bears for a few years now, But never had any lessons or classes. I just learnt from books and magazines. I am glad I came across this site. It is what I have always wanted to do.

I am looking forward to getting started and making some friends.

Chris. xx

[Laura Lynn]

Hi Chris!

I’m so happy to have you join us.  I think it’s great that you were able to learn from books and magazines.  I hope you enjoy the classes here.  If you think of a class you would like to see, please be sure to mention it in the “Class Requests” forum.  Which class are you hoping to work on first?

[chris harrison]

Im thinking of starting with the either the 12″ or 4″ bear,  My trouble is always with the face. Im also to scared to trim the fur back in case i trim back too much.

[Laura Lynn]

Chris I understand!  It can be scary to trim that fur after all of the work you have already put into your bear. The 12″ bear has a video showing you how I am trimming Marco, the 12″ bear. Go slowly, trim just a little at a time. You get better and more confident with each bear you do. 🙂

[chris harrison]

Thanks Laura.  😊

[Athena]

Hi

I’m Mandy I live with my partner keith and have 3 grown daughter’s who live away at with their family and youngest is going to London to do her degree in shoe design. I have done a couple of classes with you also a few workshop class with lanie Edwards  but my first class was with Megan Wallace but I when I saw your classes and the way you could keep going back to the dvd was great,so looking forward to doing jolly can wait x

[Laura Lynn]

That is wonderful Mandy!   Can’t wait to see your Jolly bear!

[Laura Johnston]

Hi! I’m also Laura, but friends and family have been calling me Lolly since my early teens. (which sounds a bit ridiculous now that I’m in my 40’s!) 🙂

I’m from Montreal, Canada (brrr!) I share my home with my hubby of 18 years (and counting!), a crotchety 15-yr old Ragdoll cat named Smudge, and an 8 yr. old American Cocker named Wiki, a puppy mill rescue we adopted last summer.

I have been drawing, painting, sculpting, and building ‘stuff’ as long as I can remember, but have only been making bears since 2012. I’ve always loved teddy bears, and while on 3-month post-op medical leave, I decided to learn all I could about bear making. After much reading (especially from Teddy Talk), trial and error, not to mention band-aids, well as they say, the rest is history! 🙂

Thank you so much for making these classes, patterns, and most of all, the forums available to us! I look forward to losing myself in them all.

Much health and happiness to you and yours for the coming New Year!
Lolly

[Laura Lynn]

Hello Laura!

I think Lolly is a lovely and unique nick name 🙂  “Brrrr” is right!  Wow, I moved from Chicago to Kentucky because Chicago was too cold for me.  Your family sounds lovely 🙂

Teddy Talk is also a wonderful place to learn from.  LOL about “after much trial, error and band aids”!!

The bear you shared with us is wonderful!  I hope you enjoy learning and sharing more here at TBA.

A wonderful & healthy 2016 to you and everyone else as well!

[Melani Moore]

My name is Melani.  I live in North Carolina.  I’m normally a dog lover, but currently live w/ a cat named Willa.  I began as a doll collector, but knew that I didn’t have the talent it requires to sculpt my own doll.  A friend suggested I try making a bear.  (I learned to sew when I was much younger.).  My first bear was made using a pattern from a Jennifer Laing book and synthetic fur.  He ended up looking more like a weird monkey.

I have a strong academic background & tend to gather resources & go whole hog into an area of interest.  I must have read every book I could get my hands on back in the early to mid ‘90’s.  I moved on to taking workshops whenever I could.  I was fortunate to be able to study under Ted Menten, Beverly Port, Martha DeRaimo Burch, & Bev White among others.  I sold a few bears through shops before life stepped in and I had to get a ‘real’ job.

Several years ago, hoping to refresh my skills, I enrolled in Ebear University (which has since closed), but wasn’t able to devote as much time as I would have liked.  However, I did begin to purchase mohair when I could find bargains on ebay and etsy.  I have now retired and hope to supplement my retirement income by making & selling bears & other critters from the stash of mohair & alpaca I have accumulated over the years.

I made a bear over the holidays and look forward to learning more and getting back into the swing of things.  I’m not aware of any in-person workshops and am grateful for this opportunity to network & learn from others.

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