I have been making these special bears now since 2001 and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of designing and evolving over the years. The thing that really spurred me on when I started to make was just after the first year in 2002 I entered the Teddy Beart Times competition and walked away with a British Bear Artist Award in Category 14 - which is The Teddy Bear Times Award chosen by the staff & Judges of Teddy Bear Times Magazine as Best Bear of the Competition - I also was honoured to win a runners up Award for the Bare Bear Category Two - so winning two Awards was just fantastic - this did help me to believe in myself and my art. I also found that the demand for me to make bears began to increase but I did not want to lose the personal touch so chose to pace myself and only make a few bears a month. I have found that on my amazing journey so far the most profound things have happened whereby some of my bears have provided a kind of healing and comfort to others - I have been given some lovely feedback about my special creations and a lot of my collectors keep returning to me again and again for more of my work. I have made some wonderful friends and special connection with people in the UK and all over the globe - designing my own bears has been such an amazing and rewarding journey and I am looking forward to what will unfold in the future. Bringing happiness to others is all that matters.........