For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
My first experiences of making bears was around 1985 - I was making soft toys as "pin money" and my ex husband used to take them to work and get orders.
One of the patterns was a "Mini Craft" jointed bear. That was it I was hooked. Shortly after a bought a peice of mohair and looked and stroked it for about two days until I cut it up and made my first mohair bear.
I took my to Joan Bland of Asquiths and she liked it but asked me to do longer arms and so began my first steps towards designing.
I have used other crafts and incorporated them into my bears but nothing has really taken over and apart from a few years when I was recovering from "teddy burn out" they have remained my first love.
I had three bears as a child and my smallest one still resides with me - how I wish I hadn't consigned the other two to the Charity Shop!
Karon