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Michele, please tell us something about yourself and Seraphim Bears.
I make a range of traditional and modern style bears and am currently working on a realistic pattern. My bear making is a family tradition!
When did you start bear making and what was the occasion?
I started making bears about four years ago. My Grandmother was a bear maker my entire life starting in the factories in England prior to World War Two and she continued to make bears my entire life. She became ill, inflicted with Alzheimer's and I, the artist in the family, was given all of her tools in hopes I might get some use out of them one day.
I decided to try to make her a bear as no one had ever made one for her and she had touched so many lives making bears for thousands of collectors and the rest is history ...
I never looked back and my art has been bears, bears, bears ever since! I cannot imagine my life without them in it!
Do you recollect the first bear that you made yourself?
Yes, she was never given a name as my grandmother passed away the day I finished this little pink bear. She is now with my grandmother in her resting place. My bears have changed a lot since that day and I know that my grandmother sits beside as I create. She gave me such a blessing and now my world is filled with the love of bears! I still use all of her bear making tools, even one of her old Singer sewing machines!
How do you get ideas or inspiration for new creations?
All I have to do is look around! LIFE is a never ending source of inspiration. I also have been blessed with a really loving and creative team. My husband is also an artist and my family are all creative. So one of our very favourite thing to do is sit together and hash out a topic and create creative idea lists that I have kept in a dresser drawer. Whenever I need a kick start all I have to do is call on them and the fun begins creating a new list of inspirational ideas!
What do like most when making bears?
This is a difficult question as ever stage is fun and full of it`s own joy but if I have to pick it would be in the creation of the face. I take a lot of time in creating the expression and in that the personality of the bear. I am very precise and picky about my work and will work plucking one hair at a time for hours to get just the right look. I also hand dye and stain my bears to create more texture and life. The placement of the eyes is very important as the eyes are the windows to the soul and my bears must express life in their eyes.
Do you still have a dream regarding your work as an artist?
If you don`t have a dream, how are you going to have a dream come true. I dream of my bears constantly, I see the progression and change, I am continually designing new patterns and images and I see myself in the future as having no time to do anything else but my bears! There is magic in the world if you just BELIEVE.
Do you think there is a perfect teddy bear?
Gosh I hope not! I think the most fun for me is making a bear that is different every time. I actually go out of my way to create bears that I feel are not "Perfect". I have created an entire line of bears that are called the ParaBears and they are based on the idea that no one is perfect, but in that we are all beautiful. Some of these bears have two different eyes or detachable arms. They are all created with just as much love and precision as all of my other bears, but there is something "different" about them. The motto for this line is "Every Body`s Different, Every Body`s Beautiful".
Which sizes and materials do you prefer?
Mohair, alpaca and plush are my favourites. I create all my bears in an old world way and try to be as authentic as possible. As to size I don`t have a favourite and I create bears from 4` to 24`. I love the variety and feel there is place for all in my world here at Seraphim Studios.
Do you have a favourite creation?
I cannot really name a favourite. I can say that no bear or bear friend leaves Seraphim Studios until I personally have the "Aaahh" factor. If I cannot look into the bears eyes, gaze upon its face, feel its weighty "give me a hug" body then that bear stays here with me until I do. They truly are ALL my favourites. My bears are like my children and you know you cannot have a favourite they are all special and dear to me.
Do you have special plans for 2011?
I am doing my first out of country bear show this year. I also have big plans for a realistic style bear which is something I have wanted to do for a couple of years now. We are also looking for a new home and in that a new location for Seraphim Bears studio. Seraphim Bears has it`s first stockist also and for 2011 can now be adopted through Silly Bears in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Please tell us something about the place where you live. What's your place of birth?
I live in a beautiful small town in Canada. Even though I am Canadian when it comes to my art I have been influenced by my British background. My bears definitely reflect a European feel, or so I have been told.
Please tell us something about the local teddy bear scene.
There is only one Canadian Teddy Bear show and I am lucky enough to live not too far away, so I participate in that. I have begun my participation in bear competitions and can now say that I am an award winning artist.
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