Bears-Direct - Teddy Bear Artist Spotlight -

Artist Spotlight
Carola Lange
Cala Bear Den

Q: When did you start making bears?
A: I started making bears when I bought a kit from Germany. I enjoyed it so much that I started to redevelop the pattern to meet my needs. Living in Canada where I do, I had to make use of mainly synthetics until I found someone that sold mohair. I have happily been making bears since 2002, constantly trying to create something new and unique.

Q: Please describe your bears?

A: I make bears out of synthetics, mohair and needle-felted bears. They range in sizes from 4" for the needle felted ones to the 10" for my mohair bears. I have recently changed my

pattern to try to get a more innocent look to my bears.

Q: Do your bears possess any unique features?

A: All my bears feet are sculpted to give them the look of toes and I am now extensively needle sculpting their faces to give more rounded cheeks and a look that I can say comes from me.

Q: How long does it take you to make a bear? Do you machine or hand sew them?

I sew all bears by hand and sewing machine. Usually they are sewn around the face gusset so that I can get a nice clean look, this isn't always achieved with a sewing machine. The face usually takes me the longest, especially now where my bears' faces have an extra pattern piece. Creating bears could take me up to 12 hours.

Q: Do you do shows? If so, which ones?

I do shows pretty well all over the world. I attended my first German bear show in 2006 at

Teddybaer Total. That was an experience, such a large show with so many wonderful bears to see. I have attend shows in Chicago, Kansas, Kitchener, Ontario. I love to travel so I'm glad I can combine my travel passion with my bear creating passion.

Q: What motivates you? Where do the inspirations for your designs come from?

I love mohair and the many colours and styles it comes in. This is my main motivator for creating bears. Many times I will just have an idea and I go from there. It could be an event or a holiday like Christmas or Easter where I like to make something special.

I was asked to make a wedding pair for someone and it was just turned into a creation as I got more involved I wanted to make the best wedding dress for the bride and make sure the groom was dressed appropriately in a tux and top hat.

Q: Have you won any major awards? Or been published? Or other fame?

I have not entered many competitions. One competition I did win were the ACE Awards here in Canada – Artistic and Creative

Excellence in Bear Making. This was a special award as it made me realize that maybe I do make something that people would love to see.

I have appeared in the Teddy Bear Club International magazine often.

Q: Do you, or have you done any other crafts or skills?

I started off doing ceramics and painting my own designs on them. I do pencil drawings, crochet, knit and embroider. All skills that I can use in my bear creating.

Q: Anything else you think might be important to let people meet you?

I make one of a kind bears. This is the greatest past-time any one could have and I glad I have found it.