Last year (2005) my Panda "Mi Ren" was also honored with The TOBY Industry Choice Award in The Large, Undressed catagory & this year, (2006) my bears "Toots" (Small Undressed Catagory) & "Nukatpiaq" (Small Dressed Catagory) both won TOBY Industry Choice Awards.

I have been featured several times in Teddy Bear & Friends, Teddy Bear Review & Teddy Today magazines.

After a 3 year absence I attended The ABC Schaumburg, IL show where The TOBY Awards Ceremony was held. I want to say how wonderful it was to meet all of you that attended. It was so nice to finally be able to put faces to names.

I am so excited to announce my latest articles in both Teddy Bear & Friends and Teddy Bear Revue magazines Jan/Feb, 2005 issues & the July/August, 2005 issue of Teddy Bear & Friends. I hope you have had a chance to see them. The latest is the wonderful article "The Eyes Have It" written by Christine Pike in the December, 2005 issue of Teddy Bear Revue.

I was born & raised in Bellevue, Washington & I have a very handsome 22 year old Son, Russell. He lives with me & is working toward starting his career as an EMT. He's one of my Best Friends & I'm so proud of him.

I also have two of the cutest Yorkie's, Monty & Sadie.

My Mom taught me how to sew as a kid, but I never cared much for it. My passion was drawing (which got me into alot of trouble at school), I had more interest in my art than I did my school work.

In the early 90's, after I decided I was completely burned out on 10 years of cutting hair, I decided I needed to find something else to do. I tried my hand at everything from custom wood and hand painted clocks to childrens clothing. I did'nt get the Bear Bug until the Winter of 1995 when I was living in the California Desert. It's the best thing that's ever happened to me. It allows me to express myself creatively like I've never, ever been able to do. I just LOVE it . I don't think I could see myself doing anything else.

My bears are considered to be Soft-Sculpture in realism (I love doing the whimsical ones just as much). I take so much pride in these little guys and in my craft, so they are very well made (I can't help myself, I'm a little on the Obsessive, compulsive side). They've got alot of character & personality. You're sure to find one or two (or more) that you will fall in LOVE with.

All of the Bears in the Out of the Forest line have hand stitched & waxed noses, are needle sculpted, poly/pellet filled, (some have steel shot) and have either glass, shoe button, taxidermy or doll eyes. A few of the bears have hand sculpted eyelids. Some have wire armature, hand sculpted claws and leather trupunto pads. The Open Mouth Bears are meticulously needle-sculpted and have very detailed, hand sculpted teeth and realistic ultra-suede tongues.

Your "Out of the Forest" Bear will arrive to you with their adoption certificate & a card with their picture on it, after all, our bears are just like family.

All of the Bears have alot of attention to detail and are very well made with lot's of Love & Care. I'm sure their Bearsonalities will steal your heart.They are sure to become Family Heirlooms.

Hugs,

Denise