The Accidental "Bear-ist"

Eight years after launching "The Bear Menagerie," I still smile and pinch myself...

Despite a lifetime of creating treasures and keepsakes for family, friends, and, of course, self, I never imagined that one day I would hang a shingle that said, "Debbi Henretty, Bear Artist." That is the fun part of life, though...the pleasant surprises one is presented with along the way!

My first step into bear-making began with a quilt. To celebrate a milestone birthday, I had designed a medallion lap quilt for a very special friend. Knowing my love of all things handmade, "Dee" enrolled me in a teddy bear-making class as a special thank you.

Truthfully, I had never even given a passing thought to making bears. Taking a class together, though, seemed like it would be great fun and I looked forward to it. That is, until I went to buy my materials. I can chuckle now, but I can still feel the shock at spending over $100 for one-half yard of material! You see, it had never occurred to me that fabric could cost that much and it was cut and in the bag before I knew it! I was appalled that I had spent so much money to make a "toy."

The day of the class, I drove through a blizzard clear across the county to get there...only to find I was suppose to bring my sewing machine! I remember sitting in that class thinking how ridiculous the whole process was....and resenting the fact that the instructor did not allow students to leave until the bear was finished! I thought I might never see my family again. Close to eighteen hours passed before I did get home again. In hand was Bailey, my first teddy bear! I was absolutely smitten and, after a few hours sleep, began working on the next bear. Quite literally, there hasn't been a day since that I have not worked on bears!

There is nothing I don't enjoy about designing and creating bears! The sources of inspiration are endless. I love the feel of the mohair as I work with it. Indeed, the actual stuffing and shaping of the various parts is as much of the creative process as drafting the patterns. Placing the eyes "just so" and making sure the nose is "just right." What joy when the finishing touches are complete and I can sit back and feel a smile coming to celebrate my accomplishment!

All of this inevitably leads to the question, "How can you bear to part with them?" Of all the joys of bear-making, none compares to that of bringing together one of my teddies with a very special friend!