URSA Awards 2007 Contest
"Reach Beyond The Stars"
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URSA Awards 2007 Contest
"Reach Beyond The Stars"
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Meet the URSA Winners
Listed by their first names and
in their own words.
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See the Virtual URSA Awards |
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Congratulations to all the URSA Award's Winners!
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Aina Ferris
Binkibears - Ontario, Canada I love making bears! I started in 2000 and work primarily in mohair fabric and yarn. I crochet bears, kittens, elephants and other tiny beings in sizes from 2.5 " to 7". My crochet styles include my trademark Funcky bears (which are named after my great grandfather), Pocket Buddy, Anime and traditional styles. My mohair bears, both mini and regular sizes, and I make them in both Funcky and traditional styles. I love colour and utilize it extensively in my work then tend to accessorize rather than dress my bears. I have been very fortunate to win URSA Awards Contest in 2006 and 2007. Here's a toast to Bears&Buds for their wonderful work in promoting our bear industry. |
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Berta Hesen-Minten
ThReAdTeDs - Netherlands
First I like to thank you Valerie, Dawn and everyone
behind the scenes at Bears&Buds who have made the URSA Awards challenge
such a great success.
I love doing challenges, it keeps my mind fresh
and each challenge invites me to challenge myself more. To think of
ideas and techniques I never have done before.
For the N.O.S.T.© (New Old Style Ted) I was inspired
by the old look teddies. I wanted to capture their shape and
character in crochet. The Oya corsage is a very old lace technique I
discovered. It is a technique taught from mother to daughter, original
from Turkey, with the purpose to decorate home and people. I was so
exited to have found a needlecraft I had not done before but
disappointed not finding patterns or instructions. Finally I found
someone in Amsterdam who was giving workshops in Oya lace. I
traveled several times from the south of the Netherlands (my home)
to the north (Amsterdam) to take lessons. While learning Oya in my
head I pictures my bears, decorated with these wonderful flowers. And to have this particular bear, with Oya lace in
the URSA finals, made me very proud and happy.
My bear is now in Japan, as he was not only finalist
in the 2007 URSA Awards Contest but also nominated for TITA in
Japan, and nominated for the Teddy Bear Readers Choice Award. All my
efforts amply rewarded.
I campaign for votes on my website and in several
Yahoo groups. Passed out the wonderful URSA postcards "Vote for Me"
supplied by Bear&Buds on my show table. The very last card I took
with me to my therapist and while having my session we talk also
about bears. She even campaigned for votes!!
I like to thank everyone who voted in the URSA Awards
for my bear!! You all made this a wonderful success!!
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Bobbie Ripperger Creative Design Studio - IL, USA
I entered the URSA Awards contest To promote needle
felting! To demonstrate that miniature, 3-D needle felting is as
much a Fine Art/Fiber Art format as is any wearable art or wall-hung
piece.
I love to design Polar Bears. The piece began with his head looking down at his lap. After needling his base like that I realized that his eventual owner would have to display him up high to be able to look into his face; to demonstrate needle felting's versatility, I sliced his neck almost through from the front and needled more wool fiber in until he was looking upward. In that the URSA's proclaim - Reach For The Stars - I hoped he'd be a perfectly matched theme!
I used to keep all my nominated and award-winning
bears but there are far too many ideas I still want to bring
to Life! I cannot keep them all.
Campaigning was the absolute HARDEST part of the contest for me! I don't even announce when I've been nominated for an award but this time I wrote to everyone I know and ask them to view the Bears&Buds website and vote for the bears they like best. That's as far as I could go. No way could I beg 'Vote for Me' because I personally like to have a free and clear conscience when I vote for anything ... for the best work and that's not always just my friends' work! Special thank you's to all who cast their votes for my entries. |
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Carolyn Smith Boggy Bottom Bayou - FL, USA Boggy Bottom Bayou’s Backwater Bears are a combination of my long love for everything prim and my even longer love for bears (back when I was little!). I began my Folk Art career while my boys were in grade school and that was the only thing that was always handy! All designs are original. People who know me laugh when they find out that my hand-drawn patterns all start out on elementary school newspaper…can’t sketch a thing on plain white paper!
I enjoyed entering the URSA Awards competition and wish to thank everyone who voted for me.
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Cathy Lynn Forcino
Cathy Lynn Forcino Bears - FL, USA I am a fanatic about all things old and enjoy using vintage clothing and accessories on my bears. I love going to my favorite shops in search of the perfect little outfit to inspire my next bruin. I create my bears using 100-year-old techniques along with a few modern improvements. From the initial design to the stitching of the nose, each one is an original. While all my bruins "bear" a family resemblance, each are unique and will not be duplicated. I pay meticulous attention to detail and quality each step of the way and no bear is given its name until I am completely satisfied. Most importantly of all, a bear has to have "face"! I believe a bear speaks to us through its expression and I spend countless hours creating just the right look in the hopes that this face will touch someone's heart.I received so many lovely emails from voters! The URSA Awards Contest was so exciting, the competition tough and the creations are gorgeous. Unlike print magazine awards, the URSA Awards Contest was so interactive. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for me.
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Chantal Giroux Chantal Bears - New Brunswick, Canada When my husband's career advancement transferred us
from Moncton to Saint John, Canada, I found myself at a crossroads.
It was too late in the year to pursue a job as an adult French Immersion
teacher, so I decided to work for myself and thus began "Chantal's Bear
Collections". |
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Diane Lundgren
Cakewalk Creations by dilu - Oregon, USA I have always loved ballet and spent my Algebra and History classes through Junior and High school drawing legs, arms and torsos. When I remember what I used to draw I see that my dancing gollies are an off shoot of not paying attention in class. No regrets there! I can’t say I was excited or not because there were only three of us in the division and so by default we all won. But I am glad and grateful that Bears&Buds.com is promoting Gollies, I hope that the rest of the golly makers will compete next year and that we can bring the golly back to the stature and recognition that they deserve. They really are the most remarkable of kiddikins and are well deserving of love and affection, just as Teddy has known all along. Personally I think Teddy should rule the world and put the gollies in charge of entertainment! Campaign for votes? Didn’t happen. I didn’t know when I joined it was that sort of competition. But again, I am glad that Bears&Buds had a division for gollies. I hope we golly makers can repopulate the world with these remarkable little ones, one golly at a time, and that those who collect gollies will enjoy them and smile every time they see one. Gollies really are meant to make people smile and feel safe and happy. Its true! I live with them, they are overrunning my life and I can’t help but smile at the wonderful creations I have been sent from all over the world! Bear makers with no intention of making gollies end up making one and I am the overjoyed recipient....now how LUCKY can a gal get? |
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Ed Spencer tEDDIE bears - Wichita, Kansas USA For the past three years I have been
making bears, and this is such an honor. I came from the very
competitive field of dolls and three dimensional artists where I won the
prestigious "MILLIE", now, the camaraderie in the bear industry is so
different and welcome. My greatest joy is being included in
such a wonderful group. |
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Ellen Borggreve
Ellen Borggreve Designs - Netherlands
I am a Dutch bear artist and I
share my old village home with my Havanese Caya and my husband
Robert. It has been 10 years already since I first found a teddy
bear magazine and fell head over heels in love with this
fascinating art of making bears.
My URSA entry was actually a cancelled order. When I was doing this raccoon's photo shoot I was enchanted by her looks so much that after having taken the pictures there was no way I could let her go. Some of my dear fellow artists told me I should enter her in competitions and I decided that she would be the one to enter in the URSA Awards Contest. This has been the only competition I have entered this year and I could not have guessed that Aviva would end up being a finalist. The competitors for this year's URSAs were so so stunning. I am very honored to have received votes that put me in the finals, it just means so much to me to know that my efforts are being appreciated. I am thrilled to be a part of this year's URSAs and to be honest...I could not believe it when I heard my raccoon was a finalist. I have a very small mailing list, due to me specializing in wildlife animals for several years. Since I have added bears to my collection again, my mailing list has started to grow, but I know many artists have such large lists that I thought I would not stand a chance at all, especially since so many entries were so absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for voting. |
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Heidi Schaefer edebaeren - Germany I am very happy to have the luck to come in the final
round. Thanks to all who have voted for my Golly. I had so much fun with
the URSA Awards contest. I struck up old friendships and asked the whole
family to vote, specially the young computer-generation. I received many
surprising eMail replies and that was so much fun too. Entering contests is fun and that was the reason I
chose the URSA Awards Contest. There was room for something special like
a Golly. |
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Jan Cuming
Jinglebears - Wellington, New Zealand You can imagine my enormous surprise and delight when I was told that I had won an award in the Golliwog section of the annual URSA Awards Contest because I wasn’t going to enter at all. And if it hadn’t been for a very dear friend pushing me into submitting some photos then I wouldn’t have! So I really have been twice blessed … firstly for having such a wonderful friend who believes in me and secondly for having won a prize. I have always loved Golliwogs in all of their various formats and I will sometimes make one to go with a larger teddy bear, so I was particularly pleased that they had their own special category this year. I eMailed the URSA Awards Contest voting link to all of my friends and collectors here in New Zealand and in America and all of you did the rest. One of my good friends here in New Zealand who is NOT a teddy bear person normally, told me recently that he was absolutely blown away by the amount of talent out there in the teddy bear world. Thank you to ALL who voted for me. Very best wishes with lots of bear hugs to Bears&Buds staff. |
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Jennifer Johnson Three O'Clock Bears - Warwichshire, UK I am a British bear maker and I have been making bears
since 2002. I am so grateful to all those who voted for Kittie. |
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Judi
Paul Luxembears - WI, USA I was born in England and immigrated to the USA when I was very young. I have always had a love for animals and grew up surrounded by stuffed animals of every kind. I found my calling in life in 1999 when I started creating cats and bears. Since then I have branched out to tigers and lions as well as realistic style bears. For me it's all about the details. I love to pay great attention to the intricate details from every dimension of the face right down to the individually sculpted claws. Right now I specialize in needle felted details and airbrushing on mohair. I have received some amazing compliments on my tiger pair in the URSA contest....but I am too embarrassed to repeat them as I blush too easily. For me success is when I step back and look at a finished piece and it speaks back to me through it's heart and eyes, and when I receive emails, cards, and letters from collectors with their heartfelt comments. My heart, hands, and soul goes into each creation so when someone acquires one of my pieces, they are also taking home a part of me. I appreciate all the votes, thank you so much. |
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Laure Weltsch Fool's Gold Bears - CA, USA I get a lot of encouragement about my artistry from collectors and friends, but I've long wondered if I my work would stand up to the public scrutiny of a major competition. It seems that I am forever working, but rarely positioned to cope with contest deadlines, with all the paperwork and organizing it takes to enter them, but this year Bears&Buds made entering the URSA Awards Contest so easy and accessible that I knew I could accomplish the task without a huge disruption in my already busy life. Once my entries were in, I sent an announcement to my family and friends, including my collectors and continued in my life-as-usual mode. What a blessing it was to learn that one of my entries was selected as a winner! Quincey, the odd little winner, was an abrupt design departure for me. If truth be known, I was not all that fond of his looks from a design standpoint at first, until I recognized how much he resembled a fuzzy, ripe quince fruit. Following that revelation, I went with the flow, playing up his quince-like attributes by plucking and coloring his spindly extremities to resemble twiggy branches and fashioning a flowering quince branch of wool for him to hold. I'm so pleased that with the proper attention to details, Quincey's aberrations' made him not only different, but a winner as well! This is a principle that I will continue employ in my art, and whenever I find myself feeling like the odd one, I'll remember that my personal peculiarities make me the unique person I am. I invite you to do the same. Thank you so very much for voting for Quincey. |
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Lisa Rosenbaum
Oz Matilda Bear Co - New S. Wales, Australia I am recognised in the field of Teddy Bear Design and that of a professional Bear Judge for 4 years, but also as a published feature writer for Bear Creations magazine on topics of Business and Motivation. I am a cartoonist, illustrator and painter and a huge supporter of well known Charities of children and 'real life Bears', and have been a key instrumental organiser for these charities and have sponsored 'Moon Bears' and 'Grizzley Bears' for many years, helping them to achieve a 'peaceful, uninterrupted life'. I hope one day to have published a story book that I wrote in the early 2000, about a Teddy Bear called 'Master James' on his worldwide travels. Entering the URSA Awards contest has been rewarding. I am happy and wish to extend my gratitude to all who cast their votes my way. Thank you. |
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Marge Wiese Princess4Paws Designs - FL, USA
I am a Thread and Fiber
Artist, and have been creating
miniature teddy bears and their friends since July 2005. I am
very honored to have my needle felted sculpture, Princess Cali,
voted as a finalist for the 2007 URSA Awards.
Princess Cali is only my second needle felted sculpture. My collectible handmade creations are made from a variety of threads and fibers. Most of my creations are crocheted miniature teddy bears, and are three inches or less in height. My needle felted sculptures can be a bit larger. Some of my creations may look similar, but I always change something in the thread, fiber, size or design. Because they are all individually handmade, no two can ever truly be the same.
Tropical Teddy Bear Hugs for all who
voted for me!
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Marion Fraile Bearkidz by Marion Fraile - FL, USA I am the designer and maker of bearkidz®-bears. At first glance my bears look like made from mohair-fabric, however my bears are very different: They are crocheted from different blends of different yarns without use of any pattern. I work as I go and each one of my babies is truly one-of-a-kind with its individual character. Almost all my babies come with clothing which is handmade by me.
Thank you to all who voted for my entries!
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Mikki Klug Cripple Creek Creative - OH, USA I've been an animal lover as long as I can remember.
My husband and I live on a ten acre farm with three llamas, six cats and
two dogs; all of which were unwanted animals or strays. The URSA Awards Contest showed me I was blessed again with so many people who were willing to vote for me. |
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Penny Ahmed Seamore Collectibles - CT, USA |
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Samantha Lutterotti
SammiBears - Lethbridge, Alberta Canada
I live in Alberta Canada and am a mother to two
beautiful baby boys, Hunter who is 2 and Ottavio who is 1 month now.
I am 29 years old and have been making bears since 2003.
I am particularly fond of the anime style of bear but for the URSA competition I designed a traditional style bear (Gilbert Grape) and was very pleased with the result. The URSA Awards Contest is a great way to get the creative juices flowing! I love a good competition! Special thank you's to all who cast their votes my way. |
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Teri
Crews Bears by Teri - Crystal Lake, IL USA
I'm so excited to be a finalist and can't thank the wonderful
collectors and bear lovers who have voted. I've received wonderful
feedback and emails and have been smiling since the contest
started.
I live with my husband, an old dog and three great kids. Not a day goes by that I'm not working on a bear, scrap-booking or thinking of my next project. All of my bears and needle felted creations are made here in my home. Where I'm surrounded by fur, patterns, fabric and accessories yet I still always keep an eye open for that perfect bear accessory, prop or source of inspiration. There's a quote on my website, "do what you love, love what you do." It's exactly how I feel every time I finish a new bear and he looks back at me with a "hug me" expression or a collector lets me know their new bear will be loved. I wish to thank all who voted and sent me emails. They all were inspiring and encouraging. |
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Terrie Kalaputas Terries Bears - Alberta, Canada
In 2004, I made my first miniature bear and was instantly
addicted to minis and the challenges that they present. I enjoy all
aspects of bear making from the first tiny stitch to the creation of a
new personality.
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Wendy Walker Toggle Teddies - Derbyshire, UK The URSA Awards is my first major competition, so to get to the final round is really exciting for me and not something I ever expected, especially having only made bears for a few years. I wanted to create a bear that reflected my mood at the time, which was generally ‘girly’ and ‘pink’ and I loved the feathered mohair she is created from. I am really pleased with how Phoebe turned out and compliments from customers and others of “She's just so cute”, “she is a little poppet” “adorable little character, full of personality” have made me feel that I got her just right. I am absolutely thrilled to win an URSA Award, and to receive so many votes as to put me in the finals. That has given a huge boost to myself belief as a Bear Artist, and I thank everyone who has supported me and allowed me to follow my dream. |
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Your vote determined the URSA Major Award winner! |
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The URSA Major Award winner is: Ed Spencer Voted the Best Overall winner!
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Each winner will receive their awards by mail, Twenty gifts courtesy of Bears&Buds, Bright Star
Promotions, |
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Special thank you to our generous contributors for their lovely gifts. |
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Thank you |
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