Whendi’s Bears

by tkogut on January 4, 2020

Whendi’s Bears

I found Whendi several years ago….how? not even sure at this point. I’ve followed her ever since. I love how vintage her work is and her attention to detail. Her stuffed lovables look like something out of a storybook.

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You won’t find many, if any, artists that create stuffed elephants, dogs, bunnies and bears the way Whendi Meagher does. (last name pronounced “Mahar”)

“Inspired by German toy maker and creator of
the original teddy bear, Margarete Steiff, Meagher
bravely abandoned her post as a computer programmer
18 years ago to launch Whendi’s Bears.

The result is a bear that looks as though it was lovingly
toted around by a toddler in the 19th century
or gleefully recovered from one’s great grandmother’s
attic. Each is handcrafted one at a time entirely
by Meagher. Surprisingly, she has no background
or training in toy making, just a lifelong love of arts and crafts
and, as she puts it, “old things.”

“I always loved vintage and antique bears,” states Meagher. “I
try to make the bears look like they’re 100 years old already.”
Using only the finest materials, such as German and English
mohair and aged leather, Meagher sews the body of the bear
from patterns she’s designed, then fills them with wood wool.
The character really begins to emerge in the careful sculpting of
the face, which determines what type of animal it will transform
into. Once the head is complete and the species determined, the
real fun begins—accessorizing. Here Meagher must decide if the
dog/bear/elephant will be a boy or a girl, a clown
or a sailor, clothed or au natural. Found treasures
such as antique shoe buttons and poker chips
are used for the bears’ eyes, noses, and accessories:
“If I find something I want to use, I make it
(work),” she tells us. All of the clothes are handmade
by Meagher using vintage textiles, laces, and
trims found at antique shows, shops and on eBay.
When asked what her favourite piece is,
Meagher names the French Bulldog and Boston Terrier as her
most loved. One must assume that her own Boston, Zoe, has
something to do with this personal bias.

“She’s been a huge inspiration, just by having her face here
every day,” Meagher gushes. “I use her as my big drawing
board.”  (from Modern Dog Magazine)

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I have yet to adopt one of her lovely creatures! They sell as fast as she lists them. So if you’re interested in adopting, follow her everywhere and hopefully you will hit the mark….it’s all in the timing.

Instagram

Facebook

Website

I hope you enjoyed seeing her work!

Tell me in the comments….do you collect Mohair bears and other animals? If so, who is your favorite maker?

Blessings,

Teresa

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Meet Viv of Hen’s Teeth Art

by tkogut on December 17, 2019

As I fell down the rabbit hole of Instagram one day, I discovered Viv Silwka and was awestruck. I’ve been following her work ever since as she continues to delight my eyes with her whimsical works.

Viv combines embroidery, sewing, fabric, buttons, paper and painting into beautiful pieces of work…some art for display only but also many functional items.

“Painted buzzing bees, embroidered flowers, hand drawn animals and characters make up the world of Hen’s Teeth Art. Telling tiny tales in textiles.” 

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“I live in the middle of England in the county of Staffordshire, surrounded by pretty countryside. I work from a cozy, wooden studio in our garden. I have all my life collect vintage textiles and ephemera. I happily combine my love of stitching and drawing with these discarded, worn pieces from the past.” – Viv Silwka

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Where to find more of Viv’s beautiful work:

Website: https://www.hensteethart.com/

Store: https://hensteethart.bigcartel.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viv_hensteeth/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hens-Teeth-161538940564961/

Let me know in the comments what you thought about Viv’s work. Had you ever seen her work before?

Create Every Day! Blessings,

Teresa

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