Bears-Direct - Teddy Bear Artist Spotlight - Margaret Bubner of Maray Bears

Artist Spotlight
Margaret Bubner
The House of Maray

My name is Margaret Bubner, I am a teddy bear artist from South Australia. I live in a pretty tree studded suburb called Banksia Park, which nestles at the base of the foothills approximately a thirty minute drive from Adelaide, the capital of South Australia.

I was born in London, the eldest of eight children, so as you can imagine our household was always pretty hectic and noisy.

Right from my early years I was interested in all sorts of handcraft work. Just ask my poor long-suffering mother who would come home to find her kitchen sink full of cane that I would be soaking in preparation for working with it.

I remember our household was filled with cane planters, shopping baskets, all sorts of items I could make with cane. When it got to where we were all tripping over cane objects, Mum would give them away to our numerous relations.

Or her work areas filled with rubber moulds of my favourite animals that I was waiting to set so that I could paint them.

I used to stick pencil sketches that I had made on my bedroom walls. As I shared my bedroom with two of my younger sisters this was sometimes not appreciated <grin>.

Well meaning relations would say "Don't worry ... she will grow out of this when she gets older.¨ But I never did lose my love of the arts and handcrafts.

In 1970 I moved from a small village in Bedfordshire to Adelaide, South Australia. I have been

living in South Australia with my Australian husband Ray & our children ever since, though our children now are all full-grown and have families of their own.

Before I started with my bears I used to be a porcelain doll maker and teacher, teaching students how to make reproduction antique porcelain dolls.

Then, one weekend in 1986, I went with a girlfriend of mine to a teddy bear workshop on the Yorke Peninsular, where we were living at the time. My girlfriend was also a doll maker and did not want to go on her own as she was too shy. So I went with her to keep her company.

Funny how things work out ... I loved the workshop, even though my poor bear was definitely very funny looking! My girlfriend, whose bear was just as funny as mine, had decided that this was not for her, she was going to stay with her dolls. But I was struck though with the teddy virus and I still have it!

I knew then that I would have to learn how to make and design my own bears.

When I visited the doll & teddy bear shows, I would rush over to the teddy bear stands, just admiring all the wonderful bears. So I guess really I just drifted into the bears. I made one, then another, and little by little, bears were entering my life.

I never guessed though, when I made my first funny looking little bear, that my bears were going to take me to many countries and allow me to meet so many wonderful people.

For quite a while I was making my dolls and bears together, but by 1994 my bears had taken over completely.

I started up 'The House of Maray – Home of that special bear', Maray being a combination of my name Margaret & my husband's name Ray.

Over the years I have been fortunate to win many rosettes and awards. Indeed some of my furry friends have found their way into Teddy Bear Museums in both Japan and the USA.

Early in 1998, my bears were featured in the teddy bear section of an Australian television collectible show called TVSN. They enjoyed this so much they are now frequent visitors to the show.

Travel is now a part of my life. My bears and I enjoy visiting different countries to attend shows. This gives me the opportunity of seeing many wonderful bears by talented artists from far and wide. One of my favourite countries is Japan, and I have been fortunate to visit many times. Over the years I have made many friends from far away that I look forward to meeting on my teddy bear trips.

In late 2002 'Maray Bears – Home of that special bear' was born. I felt I wanted a simple and easy name. 'Maray Bears' fitted the bill perfectly and I felt comfortable with it.

People ask me do I have any hobbies? Oh Boy! Do I have hobbies!? The one thing I do not have is time. There are not enough hours in the day or, I think really, in one lifetime, to do everything I would like to do. But I am going to give it a good try!

Painting is one of my favourite hobbies as I have this real love of colour. On my website you will see a few of my paintings.

I think my love of colour is why I enjoy working with dyes. These I use to achieve a special colour or colour combination that I would like for a special bear.

Another hobby is writing short stories and poems. This I hope to do a lot more of a little later in life. Not too sure I am any good at it, but it's fun.

My bears though are always going to be in my life as they have given me so much. One of my ambitions is to be thought of as a good bearmaker, one whose bears bring joy and happiness into people's lives.

Time to go, as my furry friends are calling to me. Thank you for reading.

Beary regards,

Margaret