Artist: 

Mary Terry
 

Profile:

How did you get started into making miniature bears? Were you a collector of teddies, or anything else? What was the starting point? Why and when?

I have to thank Tammy Martin for beginning my journey to making bears. I was her patient and we were talking crafts. At that time she was the Artist of the month and mentioned that I should check out Mini Teddy hugs. I did and fell in love with the thought of making my own bears. You could say I pestered her at every visit to explain more on how to do felting. I can't thank her enough. I truly love making my creations.

Was it difficult getting started? Did you design your own patterns or
use other bear artists designs? Do you design your own patterns now? Why did you decide on your preferred medium?

I decided to start out with felting because it sounded fun. It was and is. It's not difficult to get started if you have the right person motivating you. Felted bears and such are all OOAK because there is never a pattern, you just poke and form until he or she arrives. You never know if it's gonna be a boy or a girl until it's done. These creations have a will of thier own.

Why did you decide to make miniature bears rather than larger bears?

I like miniature bears. They are so comforting to hold and bring with you. If someone asks to see some you can just put a few in a small container and go.

Do you make a variety of different styles? Are they One-Of-A-Kind,
Limited Editions or part of a Series? Do you name them, give them birth
certificates, etc? Are they fantasy, whimsy or 'realistic'?

I try to make a variety. The felted bears are all OOAK. I've just started making crochet bears but use a pattern that I purchased fom Deb "Teds from Threads". I do try to name all of my creations and make a tag with thier name and year and artist on it. I have commissioned a bear that I allowed the person to name the bear and then I made a tag. She was quite pleased by that. I try different styles from whimsy to realistic.

Do you dress your bears or give accessories, companions, accents, etc?

I will try and give each bear some kind of accessory. It could be a bow, sewn or crochet dress or a needle tatted collar. 

Do you concentrate solely on one bear at a time or have several being
made at different stages of completion? Do you do everything yourself or have assistance?

I only do one bear at a time. Assistance comes from support and instruction from all my friends and second family with the Thread Artist Guild ®

Is there one bear above all others that is your favorite, and if so, why?

I have no favorite. Each piece carries a part of me. My heart goes into all of my creations. So when they go to other homes I feel like I'm touching other peoples lives and making them happy.

Have you been influenced by any bear artist in particular? Any one you
admire?

Yes, I was influenced by Tammy Martin and I'm a huge admirer of her work and talent. All of her creations are made with so much care. Her heart go into every piece.

What does bear making mean to you? Is it a job or a passion?

It's definately a passion. It gives me joy knowing that I'm making something that someone else will love. Bear making is soothing and calm like yoga without all the crazy positions.

How would you describe your bears to other people? What are their
special characteristics that set them apart from others on the market? Do they make people smile? Are they little friends you trust and can tell your troubles to? etc. What are your feelings about your bears?

My bears are smile makers. Each one is born with it's own character. It's just there right from the start. Each creations knows what it wants to be and how it wants to come out. I usually just listen and eventually the bears just emerge. There are many bear makers and each one of us are all different. Our own characteristic charm goes into our bears and thats what sets us apart from each other. They reflect who we are as artists.

Do you sell your bears? Where and how do you sell....fairs, shows,
internet, private commissions, mail order? How can people contact you if
they want one of your bears?

I do sell my work on Ebay under Owleye03. On occasion I commission a bear. I usually send them by Priority Mail with a confirmation number so that I know that they buyer received their order. It's hard to say goodbye to my creations but it's a comfort to know that people who usually purchase creations like ours usually appreciates the time and effort that goes into each piece

Contact Information:

Email:  mltnightowl@verizon.net
Website: