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The featured Artist of the Month for April 2003 is Rhonda-Lynne
Lanctot
of New Canada!
How and when did you get started in making teddy bears?
I
made my first teddy bear 6 years ago after becoming totally enthralled
by the artist bears that I had seen in The Teddy Bear Encyclopedia. I
had never heard of artist bears before then and found them so gorgeous
and they just called out to me! After quite a search I finally found some
bearmaking supplies in a neighbouring town I hand sewed my first bear
from a pattern in one afternoon and was totally hooked!! I couldn't wait
to make more! I only used the bought pattern 3 times before designing
my own and it really took off from there! I am addicted!!
Where
do you get your inspirations for your teddy bears?
I am inspired
by everything I see around me. It may be a color, or a photograph. A song
or something my daughter says. I never know when it is going to hit me
and have been woken up in the middle of the night with an idea. Life is
an inspiration!
Please
describe your bears to us.
My bears range in size from 7/8" right up to 23" tall. I use
all sorts of fabrics but especially love mohair and my new passion, long
pile upholstery velvet. I am really into color and my bears really lend
themselves to that with their huge noses and large paws! I love to stitch
variegated noses and dye fabrics to get unique colors!! I guess
you could say my bears are real goofy!!
How
long does it take you to make a bear?
I machine
sew my bears that are 9" and taller and anything smaller gets handsewn.
On my larger bears I do hand sew in the head gusset and the foot pads
to get them more rounded. I can make a bear a day easily. I do have a
2 1/2 year old so she slows me down a bit but I find this a comfortable
speed.
Do
you do shows? yes If so, which ones?
I don't do
shows currently but I do have plans for them in the future. Right now
I market my bears from my website and from ebay. I do sell about 90% of
my bears from my website though. I have also had bears in 4 magazines
and a book about Canadian artists.
Do
your bears possess any unique features?
Well,
they all have HUGE noses!! I just love stitching those big noses, I think
they give my bears such character. I also set my ears lower on the head
most times and they are folded over to give a teardrop shape.
What
is your biggest reward for making teddy bears?
The satisfaction I get when I can bring to life something that
I have dreamed up in my head. It is such a rush! It is an added bonus
when someone gives them a new home!!
Do
you have any feedback to give to other artists?
All I would say is create what YOU love, not what seems to
be the public favourite at the time. If you truly love what you are doing
it will come through in your art and people will love them too!!
Any other comments you would like to add?
I am so thankful for the wonderful people that I have met through
the bear world They are all so kind and I will cherish these friendships
always!!
Thank
You Rhonda-Lynne!
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