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| Esmerlda's Dynamic Duo |
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Written by Dawn Emerson, Assistant Editor February 2007
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Nick and Bev Haring, sharing their lives, time and passion for
creating quirky bears and animals. |
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Joe with his jacket of many colors |
When faced with retirement, many couples go their separate ways and find hobbies to pursue on their own. This is not the case with Bev and Nick Haring. After retiring from the corporate world, they joined forces as Esmerlda’s Enterprises.
Bev seemed destined to become a bear maker, when her grandmother showed her how to sew, knit, crochet, quilt combined with encouragement to try all kinds of new things.
“When my sister gave birth to her son, twenty-five years ago, I made him a teddy bear using a commercial pattern. As soon as |
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my co-workers saw it, I started getting orders for more bears and before long, I was making a lot more,” Bev recalls. “When I would deliver one, I usually had someone else ask me to make another.” After a couple of
years, she started designing her own patterns and has been creating new and exciting creations ever since.
Her husband, Nick, made the transition from show “pack mule” to bear designer by gradually helping with various aspects of bear creating. He started by jointing the bears for Bev, then on to stuffing the bears, cutting the fur and finally advanced to performing the whole process; from design to sewing. Nick has enjoyed designing bears for about eight years, including polymer clay sculpting and woodwork. His pattern designs are noted for needing very little modification from the drawing board to the finished animal.
Drawing inspiration from artists like Denis Shaw and Scott MacKenzie, self proclaimed “weekend warriors,” Bev and Nick have taken their “quirky” artistry and turned it into a full-time business, splitting time between making their critters and making jewelry which they sell at other shows. Bev’s varied craft background is beneficial when adding accessories to her bears.
As usually the case, teddy bears have played a pivotal role in both Bev and Nick’s lives. Nick remembers, “when I was young and had polio, my grandfather helped |
Tucan is popular with
the collectors.
 Beary has been the in
berry patch again! |
Clem is a good ole
country boy.
Miniature camel
 Miniature Giraffe is ready to run!
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smuggle a small teddy bear into the hospital room. I still have that bear.” While in the recovery process, arts and crafts were part of his occupational therapy.
Bev’s love of teddy bears started early. Her father gave her a large panda bear when she was three. “I remember lugging him around the house and using him for a pillow. I still have him,” Bev remarks, “although he is now very worn.”
Today their unique appeal to a broad range of collectors. “We tend to make a lot of one-of-a-kind pieces because once I’ve done something,” Bev confesses, “I want to go on and do something different.” Nick’s polymer clay faces, that are put into multi-media pieces, cannot be repeated because each is hand sculpted, lending to the uniqueness and value of each creation. “Because we do so many different things, our animals sometimes appeal to folks that would otherwise never buy a mohair animal of any kind.”
Participating in shows which are mainly in the mid-west and Washington, D.C. area, the Haring’s enjoy the interaction they receive from customers and artists at the shows. “We have discovered that each of us connects with different people, and that helps us when we sell at a show.” Keeping up with the times, they sell through their website and occasionally on eBay.
“The collectors are a lot of fun,” states Bev. “They just seem to want to come into our little fantasy world where bears go on picnics, have their own Christmas and go for extreme makeovers!”
Meet Bev and Nick during the Nevada City, CA show on April 13 - 15 and at the Albuquerque, NM show on May 20, 2007. They would love to see you.
Show calendar
For more fun access the KID’S CORNER for Bev’s paper dolls.
Read about the Extreme Makeover story and see Bev’s remarkable transformation of one of her bears from Dixie to Trixie.
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Professional Members:
For ideas regarding selling techniques used by the Haring’s, please access B2B
Bev Haring
Esmerlda's Enterprise
Member since June 2005 |
Little elephant in miniature scale.
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Collection of whimsical dodo birds from Esmerlda's Enterprise.
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 Fern the Flamingo |
 Ice buddies |
 Dale on rocking horse |
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3428 Hillvale Road 
