ARTIST

2011 Marks my 10th Anniversary as a teddy bear artist!
So I thought it would be fun to recap the highlights of my first ten years for you!

2001-2002:  I started designing my own bears right away and soon developed confidence and enough inventory to participate in my first teddy bear show. I also taught myself website design and opened backroadbears.com!

2003:  After many requests I began teaching workshops and published a few of my patterns. It's wonderful to be able to share my knowledge and experience with others so they can create their very own loveable teddy bears!

2004:  The bears and I went before a jury in hopes of being accepted into the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, the oldest and one of the most prestigious artisan leagues in the United States. We passed with flying colors and I've enjoyed the education, promotion, networking and sales opportunities the League has offered over the years.

2005   The need for quality teddy bear shows arose in my area so I decided to put my 15+ years of marketing and sales experience to use and organized the Maine Teddy Bear Show. It was a great success and the first of nearly a dozen shows I'd go on to produce in New England and later Chicago.

2006-2007 Imagine my surprise when the Property Master for New Line Cinema contacted me and asked me to create the bunny star for their family movie "The Last Mimzy" (2007). Designing a critter to someone else's specification, working with design changes and forever changing deadlines was stressful but a fantastic experience! So was meeting the cast of the movie at the release to Tonner Doll Co.'s limited editions of Mimzy (made with my pattern) at FAO Schwarz in New York City! Note: No, I can not make Mimzy bunnies for purchase. Check eBay for Tonner Doll Co.'s sold out Limited Editions!

2008-2010:  I continued my focus on creating upscale teddy bear shows like the New England Teddy Bear Gathering and the Chicagoland Teddy Bear Show. At the same time I worked on many new bear designs and continued teaching workshops. November of 2010 I held my first Teddies Worldwide Online Show featuring 75 artists from around the world. It was a tremendous success!
       

2011: Teddies Worldwide! I no longer put on "in-the-fur" shows but have kept up with the times and gone where artists and collectors are now... online! Organizing online shows for some of the most talented artists and up and coming new makers in the industry has been an exciting task. The feedback from the 6000+ collectors who visit every show has been encouraging and the number of bears who have been adopted during these shows has been incredible! Frank Towle, my dad, has made the show even better since stepping in with his software and database management skills! We've got lots in store for artists and collectors in 2012!!


My work, including interviews, photos and patterns have been published in Teddy Bear & Friends magazine, Teddy Bear Review magazine and Teddy Bear Club International magazine as well as in many local and regional newspapers and special interest publications over the years. In 2007 local TV show, NH Chronicle, came to my studio to do an interview.

When I'm not making bears and producing shows you're likely to find me on a long walk with my dogs, wheaten terriers Tucker & Riley. Or I might be off antiquing, out digging in the garden or curled up with a quilt reading a book.

Thank you for sharing my bear making journey. I hope you'll come back often to see what I'm up to!
Wishing you love, laughter and a bear hug or two!