In the past seven years, Priscilla Hillman has risen to the top of the collecting world. She has received numerous awards and honors for her Cherished Teddies collection -- as well as her Calico Kittens®, My Blushing Bunnies™ and Priscilla’s Mouse Tails™ collections. But perhaps the surest sign of her popularity are the long lines of collectors who are always present for the opportunity to have a figurine signed.

Priscilla Hillman grew up in New England with her twin sister Greta, brother Rick and loving parents. Among her fondest memories are the happy times she spent around the kitchen table. Priscilla’s mother would bake while she and Greta would spend many hours drawing and painting.

As a student at the University of Rhode Island, Priscilla majored in Botany with a focus on Marine Biology. It was here that she met her husband Norman. After marriage, Priscilla returned to her love of fine art and, following son Glenn’s birth in 1969, she emerged as a successful book illustrator. Priscilla’s early works can be seen in the nine "Merry Mouse" children’s books published by Doubleday.

In 1980, a serious back problem caused Priscilla to spend months lying flat on her back. It was at this time that the Cherished Teddies concept began to take form. This was a reflective time for Priscilla. Drawing on her previous artwork from the books, she began thinking of teddy bears. Priscilla envisioned these little bears as lovingly worn and nostalgic.

When she was able, Priscilla rushed to her drawing board. The teddy bear images flowed from her and she soon had 36 drawings. Having been aware of the collectible market, Priscilla took her pictures to the Enesco Corporation. Her artwork was instantly recognized for its special qualities and a partnership was formed. In 1992, the Cherished Teddies collection made its debut.

In her spare time, Priscilla loves to spend time with her family and walk in her garden. Her year-round home is a beautiful 1771 white colonial house with magnificent gardens. In the summer, the Hillman’s spend their time at their newly built home in Nantucket.

Her homes and gardens are reminiscent of nostalgia and whimsy. The gardens overflow with peonies, daisies, and many perennials. In addition, impressive herb gardens and strawberry beds abound. Priscilla fills her home with the things she loves – family memorabilia, antique baby collectibles, lilacs and her Cherished Teddies collection.

When its time to work, Priscilla settles in to her bright and airy third-floor office. She draws each picture one at a time on vellum paper – a heavy tracing paper. One test that Priscilla uses for each drawing is to hold it up to the light and look at it from the back. Flaws show themselves in doing this. After each picture is completed she makes a photocopy and then, using colored pencils, colors the artwork for the pieces to be sculpted.

Priscilla has a hard time picking out any one particular Cherished Teddies figurine as her favorite. The first picture she ever drew was of Jeremy, so that remains dear, but others hold a special place in her heart as well. Perhaps her favorite artwork is the Mother Goose artwork that was first created as a bas-relief plate and then fully created as a figurine in 1998.

Many ‘special’ figurines will highlight the 1999 introductions including "Winfield" -- the Millennium Bear, Norm -- a fisherman teddy inspired by Priscilla’s husband, and Glenn -- named for her son. As with past years, several Cherished Teddies figurines will be named for special people Priscilla has met through her work. In the past these have included "Bruno" and "Ella". In 1999, look for "Fay & Arlene", two collectors who met each other and Priscilla at the Long Beach Collectibles Expo in 1997.

Through the past seven years, Priscilla’s creations have grown in detail, with 1999 presenting some of her best works yet. No doubt about it, her ‘special’ quality is still shining through in her art.

by Vivienne Wiltberger
for The Fourth GREENBOOK GUIDE to Priscilla Hillman's CHERISHED TEDDIES COLLECTION by Enesco