UKMichelePartridge

Michele Partridge

Bradley Bears

By B. B.

Michele Partridge is a living

testament to the inspiring and

healing powers of teddy bears.

Her design company, Bradley

Bears began life as a creative

release and respite from caring

for her autistic son.

Describing her designs as

“coming from the heart”,

she has been delighted

to find that she has an

endless wealth of inspiration,

which can generate from

a piece of mohair or fabric,

or nature, chiefly from the

beautiful countryside that

surrounds her Lincolnshire

home.

Michele describes her initial

foray into bear making:

“The first bear I made was

a kit, a little 10” bruin. This

character came out looking

just like my father-in-law,

so I gave it to him for

Christmas."

Michele continues, "After

that, there was no stopping

me! I decided I would really

get serious and learn more

techniques. So, I purchased

some good bear making

books, played around a little

and designed my first pattern."

Since then, that pattern has

led to many other patterns

and bears including award

winning works!

In 2002, Michele experienced

one of her proudest moments

so far, when she won a coveted

British Bear Artist Award .

Appropriately enough, since 2002

was the centenary of the teddy

bear, it made this event filled

year, even more fulfilling for

Michele.

According to Michele, one

of the most enjoyable parts

of the process was participating

in the British Bear Artist Awards

ceremony in Hove near Brighton,

December, 2002.

"The program is like the Oscars

for bear makers," exclaimed

Michele, "artists from all over

the world attend!"

Michele entered just one bear

into that 2002 British Bear

Artist Awards competion, in the

Bare Bear Category.

She was absolutely delighted

when her entry was honoured

with not just one, but TWO

awards. It won the Runner

Up Award for Bare Bear AND

to Michele's amazement, it

also won the Teddy Bear Times

Award for Best Bear (selected

by the Teddy Bear Times

staff members).

That same year, Michele was

again recognized for her superior

bear making artistic skills when

her bear, Michael, was nominated

for Teddy Bear Scene’s EVAs,

in the Bear Bare category.

Michael, was placed in a glass

cabinet at the Alexandra Palace

in October 2002, for the judging

portion of the contest. When he

won Runner Up in his category,

Michele was exhiliarated!

As an additional tribute to her

skills, the prestigious Deans

Ragbook Company chose two

a darling duo, Talia and Rafferty,

from her line, for their Artists

Showcase 2004, both of which

proved to be amongst the most

popular bears for that year's

Ragbook.

Michele duplicated that honor

in 2005 whe Deans Ragbook

Company once again accepted

two more of her designs, Harvey

Moon and Mirabella, into their

Artists Showcase for 2005 and

produced both bears in Limited

Editions of 100 each.

Her most recent achievement

came with one of her newest

bears, Natiel, a gorgeous Angel

Bear, recently qualified as a

finalist, (Category 4 - bare

bear over 16 inches) for the

2006 British Bear Artist Awards.

Like many other bear artists,

Michele admits to be addicted

to buying mohair and confesses

that she just cannot stop making

bears!

"If collectors didn’t keep buying

my bears, I would have a serious

problem as my whole house

would be lined from floor to

ceiling with bears!" Michele

laughingly confides, "Not that

I would mind, as I do fall in love

with each one as they are born."

"Sometimes I find it quite

hard to part with them, but

I just get such a buzz out

of making other people

happy." confides Michele.

"So far that has been

happening quite a lot, so

it makes it all seems very

worthwhile!"

As far as style, Michele feels

her bears fall between traditional

and whimsical, all definitely

contemporary, some mixed,

perhaps with a touch of mystical

appeal.

When it comes to mohair choices,

Michele particularly loves the

long-haired mohairs, which she

transforms into the most lovely

bears.

“They seem to be my signature”,

she explains, “Especially the ones

with muzzle and paw inserts. I am

forever changing the combinations!”

she laughs.

"I really feel I have found my

look and hopefully when you

spot one of my bears, you will

recognise certain qualities that

makes it a special Bradley Bear."

Currently, Michele creates

one-of-a-kinds and Limited

Editions with a maximum of

three, on her most popular

bears.

Michele finds comfort in creating

bears that appeal to her own

personal taste. Most of her

bears are quite intricate with the

addition of fine details such as

bees waxed noses, sculpted

cashmere paws and some

challenging designs such as

open-mouth bears with teeth.

To provide lifelike characteristics

to her works, Michele explains

a few of her special touches she

bestows on her bears, "I prefer

my bears to have quite a nice,

weighty feel, like little babies

in your arms! Each one comes

fitted with a wobbly head to give

them more of a life-like appeal."

In the end, what began as a

pleasurable hobby has reaped

rewards far beyond Michele's

wildest dreams, providing her

an oasis of escapism that provide

the perfect relaxation therapy and

creative outlet she so desired!


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Jemina (Means Hebrew for Peace)

Azurite

Snowdrop

Muraco

Zeke (Almerian for Shooting Star)

Michael

Michal won a 2002 EVA

nomination and travelled

to yhe Alexandra Palace

where he was placed in a

glass cabinet for judging.

He won runner up for the

Bare Bear category

Tao

Rafferty (L) & Talia (R)

Bunny

Amaris

Jolie