As a child, I loved stuffed animals. I had four dolls, but over 40 stuffed animals. I was very picky about my stuffed animals, a teddy bear connoisseur. I hated that so many of them were poorly made or just plain ugly. I got frustrated that manufacturers thought if it’s a teddy bear, it should sell. It’s obvious when a bear is made by someone that’s just trying to make a profit.
When I make a bear, it is purely for my pleasure. I get a true sense of accomplishment. There are two problems with that. First, they are expensive to make. A yard of mohair for bears is around $100. The stuffing, joints, and eyes add to the cost. The other problem is, although I would personally love to have a room with nothing but bears, I just don’t have room for anymore at my home. If I kept all my bears, I wouldn’t have room for any other crafting projects, and that would be traumatic.
So, I share my bears with the world. I hope you like them. I will keep making them even if no one likes them, but it does make me feel good when someone appreciates them.
