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For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
Posts: 1,836My Avatar bear "Truman" will always be one of my favorites. I can still visit him frequently at my sister's!
Twinkle is one of my favorites for 2006 with his sweet little face. I really loved making him.
Second place is a tie between Ichabod & Tinsel.
2007 will see larger bears from my studio, but the lil' ones are sure to pop up now and again! Once you make mini's you can't stop...they're addictive little critters 
:hug:
~Chrissi
Bears by Jodi
Jane Perala Designs Ltd.
These are two of my favourites for 2006
Delartful BearsMy favourite I think is Jack Frost.
I did not make very many bears during 2006 as I was busy caring for my husband who has just finshed treatments and on the road to recovery, Thank God!
I would have to say the piece I sent to TBAI would have to be my favorite for 2006.
Hugs,
Wanda
Oh Wow!!! so many beautiful bears, what a clever bunch of ladies we have on TT's...
Here are 3 of my favourites from 2006..
Becky Lee, Timothy James & Miss Bleu Boo! 
All of the artist bears posted so far would be favorites of mine too! They're all just fabulous!!
Here are my two favorites: Princess Mirabelle and Sophie and Winter Frolic. Both bears challenged me. Princess Mirabelle was a collaboration piece with my favorite doll artist, Christine Crocker. Winter Frolic challenged me to think outside the box.
Newcastle, OntarioWow, the bears are all wonderful - great idea Paula! What I wouldn't give to be able to see them in person - you know, a hug here and a squeeze there and a kiss on the nose of the sad ones.
I'm still trying to create my ideal antique bear and this year I feel like I'm getting there. My first favourite is Cyril, the black bear because he was one of my first hand-dyed bears AND he was 8 inches tall -enormous for me.
The second one isn't a bear, but a bunny. I enjoyed making and decorating a shadow box "home" for this wee summer bunny. Both pieces were outside my comfort zone and I love it when they actually work out LOL!
hugs,
Brenda
Chaska, Minnesota
I don't have much to choose from since I only sew about six or seven bears a year...But here is my favorite bear I made in 2006. It was a class I took from Denis Shaw where he taught us how to design a bear from a statue. What you are seeing is the statue and the bear I designed using it as the model.
Irenours-bears
Here are my prefered ones for the past year. First image represent a trio of the same design. They really make me smile and i'm sure that i'm going to follow this design. The next one is Eleonore, another design wish i'm please for. I bought this mohair on ebay and it was a very good surprise because it's a pleasure to work with and it's so soft.
What an amazing amount of talent here! These pieces are outstanding!! :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
Wanda, so pleased to hear your husband is on the road to recovery.. I hope you have more time in future to continue with your beautiful bears again. 
Wouldn't it be wonderful if all these bears could be brought together for a TT gallery 'in the fur' gallery show? What a stunning promotion of quality bears that would be to visit ... 
DoodlebearsI think Beau is one of my favourite 2006 bear. I joined in the Classic bear challenge that Paula started and Beau was the result. I hadn't really managed to make a traditional looking bear before that I really liked but my design for this one I was happy with.
I also love Packito my young chimpanzee which I won the Readers Choice awards with.
Hugs Jane.
Wow.......what a lot of awesome bears.......and mermaid, and bunny, monkey, etc!!! Gorgeous! All of them!!
Hmmm........that's a tough one picking favorites. I get attached to all of them! But, after thinking about it, I guess these two are it:
Mandi is the first one, a mid-sized bear for me at 9 1/2 inches, that I just fell in love with.......it's her expression and those deep, dark eyes I think. And then Flynn and his bee(Zephyr), a first for me with the miniatures and a big challenge.........especially the bee! Zephyr was designed as I went along......one piece at a time, working it out until it fell into place and I 'built' a bee. Took awhile! 
THese 2 were created at the end of 2006... they are my favorites because they are the first bears I did using new techniques I learned in a class.
Bears by Jodi
:crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:
Bruinwerks2006 was kind of a strange year for me as I spent most of it recovering from some extensive knee surgeries that I had and I just couldn't seem to get the 'bearmaking' mojo flowing so I apologize that most of you have seen these pics before :redface: but I'd still probably choose them. One was 'skillfully' challenging and the other was emotionally challenging.
The Goldfish Whisperer for the Ursa's
Rosemaris for the Lemonade Bears Auction (to remember 2 six yr. old boys that our family knew that lost their battle with cancer this past year). He looks simple enough I know but he gave me no end of stress!
Cheryl
Actually, Cheryl, that last one, Rosemaris, looks technically challenging, too. I'm incredibly impressed that your bear can stand given the skinny little ankles. You must be a master of balancing!
I'm loving all the beautiful work here; you are all so inspiring! I think we're lucky to have one another to help us push forward into new areas and improve what we can already do. I love visiting here.
Tracy, your silly little bears with their huge eyes and sloping foreheads and totally distinctive look have won a big warm spot in my heart. They're just absolutely charming. I'm saving up starting now!
dusty attic bears
SMOOK
BARNICAL
STICKY TAPE AND TWISSLE.
What truly beautiful work everyone. :clap: :clap: :clap:
I found this really hard to decide, but here are 4 bears , sorry I know it is only suppose to be 2 , but it took me 2 hours to get it down to these ones. :crackup: :crackup:
Jazzy Rags
this is mind they are all so gorgeous
Bears by Jodi
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsAmazing work! I have to echo Heather in saying that you all have picked some of MY favorites of your work this year too!
Here are mine. Both of these pieces were intended for ebay when I made them, but after they were finished I decided I wanted to enjoy them myself ---at least for now! 
This little rabbit was the first rabbit I had done since my VERY early years in bear making. I wanted to make something reminiscent of Beatrix Potter illustrations. I never really got a good photo of her, but I was delighted with how she turned out.
And I hope you all are not tired of this guy. He is one of my all time favorites ever! I have been itching to sculpt faces but I don't feel my doll sculpting would sell as well as my bears so I thought if I created some light hearted sculpted accessories, I'd be able to get some sculpting practice in, and still make a sellable piece. Funny thing is of course after I made this pair the last thing I wanted to do was sell them. So I told Sean I was keeping them for the contests. I guess maybe I'll let them go after that!
Jac-Q-Lyn
Hi Guys
I would like to introduce you to my two favourite bears. The first is Bronte, who is from my Arts and Craft Range. Secondly is Turkish Delight, I wonder why he was called that? Yep I just love Turkish Delight especially covered in chocolate.
Hugs
Jacqui
p.s Darren is trying to muscle in, and says he wants to put his 2 favourites on, looks like I will have to have words, can't a gal have a natter without him indoors knowing.
Country BearsOoooh what lovely bears everyone - you are all so talented!!
Patsy Lake Bears
I think these two would have to be on my favorites for last year
Josie as she is the first female biker I have done
Knuckles as I seem to be getting the beard weaving much better
Bears by Jodi
