The Potbelly Pixie

RAWLEY -- NEW!!

Now available on my website, RAWLEY:  13 inches of fuzzy-good bear yumness.  Seriously, he's a total charmer.  Please pop by www.potbellybears.com for a closer look!

New POTBELLY stuff available now!

Just posted to my website:  Two -- count 'em, TWO! -- new teddy bears, plus an adorable wee mouse pinkeep, and a mixed media canvas.  All of it, themed around fall, with a nod to Halloween.

I hope you'll pop by my website for a look.  And if you do -- thank you so much for your interest. :)

Coming soon...

There's a new POTBELLY BEAR nearing release; this one, with a romantic Valentine's Day theme.  Here's a Photoshopped sneak peek at an earlier stage, to whet your appetite.

If you'd like to be notified when bears become available from my studio, please join my mailing list.

Special event

My very talented friend, bear -- and (eek!) raccoon -- maker Ellen Borggreve will be hosting a special event this December 23rd.  It's her first annual Christmas Parade of Artists' Favourites, a showcase event for soft-sculpture hobbyists and professionals, who were asked to submit their very favorite piece, ever, for display.  A very fun idea, for sure!

Be sure to check out Ellen's blog on December 23rd for a peek at just exactly what it is, that artisans themselves find extra-special.

BEAR COLLECTION FOR SALE

Just in time for the holidays, I've decided to part with my collection of bears by OTHER artists.  This is the first time I've offered any of my collected bears for sale, and my reason for doing so (someone is bound to ask) is that I've pretty much honed my bear collecting taste down to a particular type of bear, with a particular look, and I'd like to focus my collecting on those bears -- and the artists who make them -- exclusively.  The bears I'm selling, stunningly gorgeous as they are, simply aren't "it."  They're all minty-mint and in pristine like-new condition, and have been stored away from light and dust in a glass-front antique hutch since their acquisition.  Most come with tushtags, hangtags, and/or Certificates of Authenticity.  Trust me, they're lovely!

Among the offerings already posted to my website and available for purchase IMMEDIATELY -- just eMail me to buy -- you'll find bears for every taste, to fit every pocketbook.  There's plenty of time for shipment and receipt, ensuring the arrival of your new teddy in time for some beary happy holidays, indeed! 

Pieces by respected, famous artists like Denise Purrington, Lori Ann (Baker) Corelis, Jennie Sandahl, and R. John Wright make appearances in my listings; some, more than once.



I hope you'll visit my website to see whether one of these wonderful pieces might be the perfect addition to your own hug, or a great gift for that special someone in your life, this holiday season.

My collectors rock my socks off

Thanks to everyone who wrote to request AMELIE and ANDREA JEANNE.  I'm thrilled to report that they've both already sold, reserved and paid for.  This means a lovely holiday for my family AND, hopefully, for the two lovely collectors who were the first to claim these two personal favorites.

To those disappointed their eMails arrived too late, my sincere thanks for both your interest, and your understanding.  I hate disappointing people with sad news, that's for sure.  But it really is nice to be able to interact with my customers directly, selling from my website instead of from eBay, like I used to.  Even though it makes me uncomfortable to deliver bad news, it sure is nice to make that connection.

My collectors rock my socks off.  I'm the luckiest bear maker on earth, I think.

Thanks to you all, for your support and your business.  You make my creative journey possible, and I don't ever forget it.

For you:

New, Old Bears

I'll be posting both AMELIE and ANDREA JEANNE, bears from my private collection, to my website tomorrow night.  They've been absolute favorites of mine since I created them in 2004, which is why they still live here, with me!  But after four years of keeping them all to myself, I think it's time to let someone else enjoy their sweet, winsome souls.  I'm hoping they'll be a favorite holiday gift this season for a special someone in your life -- including YOU!  And why not you?  Every year, Santa brings ME a new teddy bear.  Did you know that?  He's a good guy, that Santa.  He always seems to know just what to bring me.  Probably, because I help him, by handling the order placement... :)  

Both AMELIE and ANDREA JEANNE are minty-mint and in pristine condition, having been stored behind glass in an antique hutch since their creation.  They'll ship with hangtags and Certificates of Authenticity.

For pricing and purchase information, please check my website tomorrow night, Sunday, November 23, at 7pm, PST.  And remember:  I offer a two-payment Layaway plan, for those who prefer to spread payments out over a longer period.

I hope you'll enjoy. ;)

AMELIE, above

ANDREA JEANNE, above.

Thank you!!

Huge thanks to my collectors, many of whom sent the nicest compliments yesterday when my new bears made their debut.  And of course huge thanks, too, to the wonderful people who made these bears their own.  ROOSEVELT, TRIX and TWEET are all off to their new homes; they sold within an hour of being posted. 

I'm really blessed to have such a receptive audience for my work, and I never forget how lucky I am.  Thank you for liking me!

So grateful,
Shel

HARAJUKU HANA debut today!

My first bear since late 2007 made her debut today and I'm delighted to share that she's going home with a lovely collector.  I'm also RELIEVED to share this news, because it was a very worrisome thing, to re-enter the bear market after a year away.  We artists are such neurotic types; or, at least, I am.  :)  People have been lovely and so supportive and enthusiastic for and about my new work; it's just such a gift.  Thanks to everyone who stopped by my website for a peek at HANA, and to those who expressed interest in adopting her.  I just never take that kind of thing for granted; you're really appreciated.

I've gotta put up a few pictures of HANA here on my blog because, well, I'm sorta OCD that way; everything I make has to go up here.  It's my living record, you know. :)

So here are a few shots of HARAJUKU HANA, inspired by Japanese pop culture and the wild and vibrant fashion stylings of the Harajuku Station region of Tokyo. You can read more about that and see even more pictures of HANA at my website, here.

Done!

I've finished my bear.  Wheeeeeeeeeee!!  Today I'll be finalizing her costuming and accessories and hopefully also photographing her.  I think I'll sell this one from my website... so Mailing List members, be on the lookout for news from me sometime in the next few days!

Very exciting.  Eat-a-batch-of-warm-chocolate-chip-cookies exciting.  I'm vibrating.