| It really comes as no surprise that Canadian teddy bear artist, Terrie Kalaputas, of Terries Bears, found baby animals to be her inspiration when creating teddy bears, noting,"I try to recreate the look and expression of young animals on each of the bear's faces."
Terrie has had a lot of experience with babies and youngsters.
A proficient floral designer, Terrie went back to school and took office procedures. Then when she had children, she opened a home day-care until her children were both in school.
She made bears and dolls for her own small children. "I used purchased patterns and made play friends for them from cloth, synthetic and real fur, even crocheting animals from yarn."
When the stuffed toys were outgrown, she started creating her own patterns that would lead her into the bear making profession.
Her time spent with her own children and running the day-care inspired her proneness to create bears with a "young and playful" look.
"The first time I saw a teddy bear magazine with pictures of artist bears, I was inspired to try to create bears of my own patterns."
Bear making has become her new "career."
Terrie designs four or five entirely new patterns each year but also makes alterations to existing patterns to create new looks and styles; ultimately producing 40-50 bears each year.
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3428 Hillvale Road 
