The Featured Artist of the Month for June is Heidi R. Miller - McGinnis of the US!

My mother and I used the phrase “Lovins & Huggybears” as the closing on all of our personal correspondence for years. So in the Fall of 1991 when I began Lovins & Huggybears, after 15 years of creating soft sculpted or rag dolls and teddy bears, it seemed like the only logical choice to name my teddy bear company. After all, my Mom deserved the credit for Lovins & Huggybears creations coming to be. Due to her encouragement and faith in my talents, I ventured into the artist-made bear world and have worked exclusively from my own designs since. My Mom lives on in the rich legacy she left to me -- both of love for teddy bears for themselves and as an art form and the faith, endurance and courage to continue to dream and design.

    In the beginning, I created very traditional bears with embroidered noses and shoe button eyes. Although I still make those bears, over the years I have added a line of more realistic style teds with trapunto paw pads, needle sculpted noses and limb armatures. I work almost exclusively in mohair and alpaca and occasionally in vintage/ antique fabrics. Lovins & Huggybears designs also include several styles of Huggybunnies, as well as, seals, chimpanzees, puppies, kitties, horses and most recently, a chicken -- with others to follow as the muse inspires! To date, I have over 100 patterns in my catalog that I have produced in a range of sizes from 6 1/2” to 40+”. I specialize in one-of-a-kinds and small editions -- no more than 25 pieces of any single design -- on average only making about 100 pieces a year including my large gallery style vignettes. Known for my “Bavarian-style” cut work techniques, I enjoy the challenge of producing elaborate fairy tale inspired costumes. Costumed or bare, however, the teddy bear is still the key. My hope is that my friends will look into the eyes of a Lovins & Huggybears creation and somehow see my heart there.

In addition to teddy bears, I have begun to go back to my roots, producing original watercolor or gouache paintings of my teddy bear creations. I have drawn or painted all my life, so it feels like a logical progression to incorporate those fuzzy faces into another aspect of my artistic vision.

Water color paintings (samples):
  Painting 1
  Painting 2
  Painting 3

You can visit Heidi and her wonderful bears at Lovins & Huggybears