Aina Ferris

Binkibears

By Debbie Nicholas

Aina's crocheted Funcky Bears definitely stand out from the

norm!

No, that is not “funky!"

Rather, it is Funcky, as in

Bearon Alexander von Funck,

Aina’s great grandfather

and the bears' namesake. 

Birth of the Funckys

Aina's first set of quirky, cute,

out of the ordinary, Funcky

ancestors, were created

while visiting her father

while he was still alive. 

Since they represent her

father's grandparents, this

set will stay with her forever.

"My paternal grandmother

was a very gifted needle

woman, " reminisces Aina. 

"It would have been lovely

to share some of my creations

with her.  I wish I could have

made her a Funcky Bear

resembling her, complete

with home made sweater

and knitting needles, and

have her working on some

children’s clothes.  She made

a lot of little dresses for me

when I was small."

Aina wrote the tale, Funcky Story published in Bears&Buds,

which follows the initial romance

of the Funcky Bears founders -

Bearon and Bearoness von Funck.

Snips and Snails

Aina decribes her Funcky Bear

style as “fun, colorful, whimsical,

and crazy.”  The bears, which

are usually about 7 inches tall,

have exaggerated features: tiny heads, big bellies and large feet.

They come in all different colors

and sizes; with and without hair;

and each has a a belly button,

needle sculpted face and feet

and a BUMble bee embroidered

on their little tushes.

Other Styles

Not too long ago, Aina reversed

gears to create anime bears,

which are the opposite of the Funckies, featuring huge heads

and tiny bodies.  All of these bears have belly buttons and tails.

Aina describes her mohair bear

styles as "much more traditional, though I do tend to stray into

colours your average old-fashioned bear would never wear."

Mohair bears will remain a huge

favorite of here, Aina says, and

she has begun to translate some Funcky style bears in mohair fabric

- a departure from her regular crocheted Funcky bear. 

Cause and Effect

"A life long love affair with stuffed animals," is why Aina says she

began to create her own bears.

"I have always loved teddy bears

and own a beautiful Steiff animals collection from my childhood.  I still have my old teddy from when I was two years old."

"When teddy bears emerged as

adult collectibles, I started to collect them.  Of course, it was a very small step for me to decide to make my own."  Aina continues, "I once made

a four-foot tall sitting bear for my daughter when she was a toddler. 

It took up half her play pen."

Multi-Disciplined

Aina, an artist her entire life, has worked in a variety of mediums

and comments, " I still have a fish

and a turtle that I crocheted when

I was about 12.  I have made character dolls, and designed

cross stitch designs.  I also quilt,

sew and weave." 

Fine Arts was her focus during

University years and she has conquered sculpting; printmaking;

oil, fresco and water colour painting; and desk top publishing and web design.

"I am both tactile and visual, and

love to work with the textures

of yarns as they shape up in my

hand," remarks Aina.   "I also love

fur fabrics and make fur bears from mink coats and remnants."

"However, fur as a medium does

not allow me as much freedom

of expression," Aina claims. 

" I prefer the mohair bears where

I can squeeze and shape the head, pluck fur, and paint and sculpt the bear to my heart’s content."

The Muse

As far as her source of inspirations, Aina reveals, "I am often inspired

by the colour of my wool or mohair fabric.  Sometimes I start with

a name and go from there."

On themes for her bears, Aina says,

"I have made bears representing

food items (cappuccino coffee with foam on top and ice cream), and professional or sports characters."

"When I get special orders, I try

to find out as much as possible

about the person my bear is supposed to be and use that

to choose the colours and accessories."  

Regarding the creative process,

itself, Aina says, "Many times,

you take one step forward and

two steps back. Often you don’t

know how things will turn out, or

how you will manage to do what

is in your mind."

"Creating is like solving a puzzle.

I slowly work away at it and stop when it feels finished," explains

Aina.  "I like the way bear making keeps me in touch with my inner child."  

Part of her creativity is the little

extras Aina includes, like 5-way jointing, embroidered noses,

and trademark BUMble bee

on the little tushes of her

creations.

Patterns and Triumphs

For her first crocheted bear,

Aina bought a pattern from

Berta Hesen-Minten and ended

up corresponding back and forth

and becoming fast friends in the process. 

Aina admires Berta and her work,

"I am enchanted with her creations and she is certainly a talent

to aspire to reaching."

Aina jumped quickly into designing

her own patterns, which she

modifies often to achieve

different effects or outcomes.

One of the high points of her

career occured when Aina won

the Ace Award 2003, in the 12"

and Under, Undressed category. 

In the May 2004, Planet Teddy

Bear issue, she was featured

as Artist of the Month. 

Her work was also featured

in Teddy Bear Review's October

2004, Design Challenge - Creativity with Color, and her Kringles bear

was featured in both Teddy Bear Review's and Teddy Bear and

Friends' December 2004 issue.

Aina was featured in several

sections of the Bear&Buds

Webzine.  Her Funcky Bears

family story and portrait of the

Bearon and Bearoness von

Funck, were given a full page

in the Story Telling section.

Several other bears were

included in these features:

Red Hots, Props and Trinkets

& Treasures. 

In Short

Aina says “Being an artist is

a labor of love. Like love, art

can be wonderful and painful,

fun and frustrating.  However,

if you are an artist, the being

creative is as essential as

breathing.”

Future plans for Aina include diversifying her line by adding

items such as rabbits, cats and

dogs.

"At a workshop last year,

I designed a dachshund

after Max, my all time favourite

dog," reports Aina. 

" I have been so busy since

then with my day job and

making bears for orders and

shows, I still have not had

the time to create him.  I think creating bear friends will help

to keep me inspired and

interested in my craft."

"I follow the same advice

I give to other artists," says

Aina, "work hard to place

yourself in the public eye

through advertising, entering contests, going to shows,

selling on ebay, getting

included in directories, etc. 

I think the winning combination

is to have a great product and

to make yourself visible to your public."

Find Aina's bears on her

website: www.binkibears.ca,

and at theCanadian teddy

bear shows she attends. 

Snowflake

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Eddie the Teddy & Blitzy

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Mitzi & Magenta

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Lorrie

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Boscoe, the Clown

Frizzy hair topped with jaunty

blue hat and tassle, costume

crocheted from various colours

of wool, finished with large red

shoes, black glass eyes, 5-way

jointed, big red wool nose and

toes stitched with floss.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Hiram, the Elephant

4" tall, elegantly stitched in blue,

variegated foot pads and ears

for contrast from very fine DMC

wool and cotton floss thread,

black glass eyes, wired trunk,

needle s culpted face and feet,

sheer blue neck bow, 5-way jointed.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Princess & the Frog Prince

Once upon a time, a very spoiled

Funcky Bear princess lost her gold

ball while playing near a well.  A frog

offered to retrieve it if she would

grant his wishes.  The rest is history.

Lovely pink mohair, beautiful lace

dress accented by a gold belt and

bow, 5-way jointed.  She holds her

green crocheted Frog Prince with

black googly eyes and a silver crown,

clasping the coveted golden ball.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Vanilla, the Elephant

An elephant done in  softly

shaded cream tones.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Jack

Made from short tufted mohair,

ultra suede paws, black floss nose,

black glass eyes, long nose, hand

painted face, lovely yellow bow tie

populated with Noah's Ark animals,

7.5" tall, 5-way cotter pin jointed.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Tatters

Resembles a little bear rescued

from a toy box or attic. Fur is

stained and patches are missing.

Many i nexpertly repaired parts

with large brown stitches.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Victor

Grey tipped cream mohair, needle

sculpted ultra suede paws stitched

with taupe floss, black button eyes, needle/scissor sculpted and shaded

face, variegated nose stitched with

dark grey taupe, jaunty fabric bowtie.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Harold

A Funcky Bear created in thick, pale gold, distressed mohair,

small goatee under his chin, wears cozy winter scarf made

from Funcky multi-coloured yarn that coordinates with his

green striped nose, needle sculpted paw pads, 5-way jointed.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Rose

Gentle lsoul gazes at the world with a quizzical expression. Fashioned from soft pink short pile mohair, five way jointed, black glass eyes, dark gray floss nose, toes stitched with multi colouredfloss, needle sculpted and shaded face and feet are for extra expression, fiberfill stuffed. She is a collectible and not a child's toy.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Tang

Instead of being crocheted

like his other Funcky Bear family

family members, he is fashioned

from burnt orange distressed

mohair but has the same long

nose, large paws and feet, needle

sculpted face and feet, black

glass eyes, cotter pin joints,

black floss nose and claws.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Barnabe

7-1/2 " tall, made of a soft

dense peach German mohair,

tan ultra-suede paw pads. nose

and claws stitched in black floss,

black glass eyes twinkle from

needle and scissor sculpted

face, 5-way cotter pin jointed.

triple ribbon in navy, forest green

and red with a silver heart pendant.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Daisy-May

She loves me. She loves me not!

Dressed as her favorite flower,

Daisy-May's lovely yellow head

is framed by collar of cream,

ultra-suede petals.  Dark green

ultra suede needle sculpted paw

pads, black glass eyes with brown

shading, gold floss nose, clipped

ears and muzzle, needle sculpted

face, 14" tall, butter yellow mohair

head, dense forest green German

mohair body, 5-way cotter pin jointed.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Cameo

Designed in Anime Japanese

bear fashion with a large head

and a tiny body.  Very feminine

with her favourite colour, pink,

reflected in nose, paws, toes

and ears, pink button on her

cute little belly and big pink

gauzy bow.  Gazes at the world

from large dark eyes, crocheted

of white fuzzy mohair yarn, cotter

pin jointed head, string jointed

limbs, fibrefill stuffed.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

The Slugger

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Anne Doctor

Member of the Funcky Bear

family , fashioned from green

variegated wool the colour

of hospital scruba, fashionable

crocheted blouse, fuzzy red

hair, gold bell earrings, orange

belly button, black glass eyes,

cotter pin joints, black floss nose

and claws.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Banana & Alice

Alice towers over family

members and hopes to be

a famous basket ball player. 

Crocheted of white sayelle,

striped shades of blue,

yellow and pink turtle neck

sweater, matching pink hair

ribbon, yellow nose and toes.

Sunny Banana crocheted

of yellow orange Norwegian

wool, carries yummy ice

cream cone, multi coloured

hair, variegated silk floss

nose, needle sculpted face

and toes.  Both have black

glass eyes, 5-way jointing,

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Pocket Buddy Bears Gang

After creating some Anime style bears, Aina was not fond

of their high forehead, so she decided to change the shape

of the head.  After a couple of tries, voils!! Thus, the Pocket

Bears Gang was born!

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Caleb

Born in Cavendish, Prince

Edward Island and named for

a road sign "Caleb's Retreat".

He favours lobster suppers

and collecting sea shells. 

Crocheted of gold Norwegian

wool with cozy purple sweater

trimmed with green and gold,

5-way jointed, black glass

eyes, black floss nose/

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Sunshine

This new member is the first

mohair version of the Funcky

Bear family .  Made from short

pile, soft yellow German mohair

with same large paws and feet

and long nose.  needle sculpted

face and feet, wears distincive

green makeup, black glass eyes,

cotter pin joints, rainbow floss

nose and claws, fibrefill stuffing.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Newton

Slender Funcky Bear fashioned

from green mohair, brown backing

on needle sculpted paw pads,

very long face, big belly and feet,

needle sculpted and shaded face,

black glass eyes, scarf and touque,

5-way jointed.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Sir Binki

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

McFuncky

Funcky Bear with a Scottish

background.  Lovely red Stuart

tartan kilt and matching hat,

black shoes with laces, cream

coloured knee socks, paws

and feet needle sculpted,

5-way cotter pin jointed/

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Fern

Shy little bear enjoys quiet

evenings with a glass of mead

in front of a nice warm peat fire.

Wears a splendid blue tartan

sash accented with a feather

broach, 12" tall, made of short

sparse black mohair, beige paw

pads, 5-way, cotter pin, loosely

jointed.  Needle and scissor

sculpted face and feet.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Funcky Bob

BOB is a member of the Funcky Bear Family.  A volunteer fireman,

he stands by with his fire hose and fire hydrant, in case the birthday

candles get out of control! His brown suspenders with yellow buttons

keep his green pants from falling down.  White shirt, brown shoes

and a cute curly coloured tie complete his look.   His other parts

include black glass eyes, cotter pin joints, black floss nose and

claws.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Elvis
Elvis likes to make a strong

fashion statement.  His pansy

costume definitely stands

out from the crowd! Purple

shirt green trousers, large

pansy flower collar, hair is

riot of flaming yellow matching

his nose, crocheted from yarn,

5-way jointed.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Bettie Boo

Fashioned from lavender mohair

with black accents, large open

grey eyes, black foot and ear

pads, black and white plaid bow,

black floss nose and paw details.

Needle sculpted face, paws and

feet, 5-way jointed.

Edward

Classic bear wears a fancy

red ribbon accented dangle

of silver bells and yellow and

red beads, short distressed

mohair fur is lovely soft gray

colour with matching ultra

suede needle sculpted and

shaded paw pads,

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Koko

Really large head and tiny body

fashioned after the Anime style.

She looks likes she has been

rolled in coconut. Green glass

eyes, large heart on her chest,

needle sculpted face and paws.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Anika

Pocket Buddy Buddy elephant

crocheted from blue yarn with

white trim around his ears,

wired trunk is lightly stuffed

and needle sculpted and can

be posed, black glass eyes,

pink belly button, needle sculpted

feet resemble elephant toes.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Cappuchino

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Betti, the Yetti

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Tibet & Friend

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Fanny Farmer

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Tourquoise, the Elephant

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Wolfgang

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Ruby

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Horace

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Rainbow Funcky

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Redd

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Minna

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Buzz & Neon

The signature Binkibears bee is

adorable in his little slippers.

Crocheted from DMC wool with

very small stitches, black racing

stripe on his sunny yellow body,

with black arms and legs, black

wings made of netting and string

antennas, tiny black glass eyes,

cotter pin jointed, string jointed

limbs, fibrefill stuffed.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

CEO

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Pogo the Lion

This gentle King of the Plains

loves to sit in the sun and dream

and flick his tail.  Crocheted

from vibrant red variegated

wool, large mane of soft yellow

wool that fans out around his

head and tips his lovely long

tail, black floss embroidered

nose, five way jointed, black

glass eyes, needle sculpted

face and toes, fiberfill stuffed.

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

Bud

Binkibears
Aina Ferris

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