ARTIST

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

2001	My bear making endeavors began with the help of seasoned bear artist Diana Lind of Wee Treasures. She kindly gave up a month of Saturdays and opened her home studio (a log cabin nestled in the hills of NH) and taught me not just how to attach limbs and set eyes but about the ins and out of the teddy bear world. By the time my first bear "Chichester" was finished I was hooked! I quickly began designing my own patterns and began selling to friends and family.
2002	I did my first teddy bear show in Massachusetts and had a blast! BackRoadBears.com was introduced and was the start of what would soon become a new skill I would learn and hone - website design.
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	I presented my work before a jury and was immediately accepted into the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, the oldest and one of the most prestigious artisan leagues in the United States. 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 under the name Back Road Events.
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 and material changes and forever changing deadlines was stressful but a fantastic experience! So was meeting the cast of the movie at the release of 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	I continued to sell my work at teddy bear shows across the northeast and produced the Maine Teddy Bear Show and the New England Bear Show in NH.
2009	The Chicagoland Teddy Bear Show was added to the list of annual shows I produce. What a great city and a wonderfully talented group of artists in the Midwest!
2010	To keep up with the times and trends of the teddy bear and retail industry I decided to put on an online show. 75 artists from around the world took part in the first Teddies Worldwide show and it was a tremendous success.
2011	Still working had to create unique, quality teddy bears and other animals. I no longer put on "in-the-fur" shows but have chosen to continue the online show, going where artists and collectors are now! 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 last name changed from Blau to Towle which is my maiden name.... I will be doing business as Daphne Towle going forward. This is a good change. :)
2012	The TeddiesWorldwide.com shows continue to be a fantastic success with artists from 21 countries participating! I'm so pleased with the positive response from both artists and collectors! You all are such a fantastic bunch of people and I'm blessed to be a part of this industry!

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Media Coverage
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!