Hello! My name is Debbi Henretty. I've been designing and creating the teddy bears and friends of The Bear Menagerie since 1993.
My love of teddy bears came somewhat late in life. As a child, I never had my own teddy bear (although I'm quite sure my parents did love me!). I was in my mid-twenties when my best friend gave me my very own Paddington teddy bear. It was love at first sight!
No doubt you know that there is no such thing as a "one-teddy bear" home. Over the years, I added many teddy bear friends to my collection. And, just as one friend introduced me to teddy bears, it was a friend who introduced me to teddy bear-making.
I have always loved creating keepsakes. My interests have included quilting, embroidering, knitting and the like. I am fortunate enough to come from a long line of "Hand-Made, Heartfelt" folk.
With that in mind, a friend invited me to join her in a teddy-bear-making class. I took the first class and was immediately smittened. More classes followed and I was off to "Teddy Bear University!" Before long, I was designing my very own line of teddy bears! Today, The Bear Menagerie teddy bears and friends come in all shapes, sizes, color, and techniques. I have even designed fine silver teddy bear jewelry!
Over the years, I've been lucky enough to have my teddy bears featured in print media ranging from local newspapers to major teddy bear magazines, including Teddy Bear & Friends, Teddy Bear Review, Great Britain's Teddy Bear Scene. Teddy bear designer/artist Rotraud Illish of Germany has included numerous samples of my work in her books. It was a great thrill for me when Stephen Cronk included my work in his book "The World's Most Lovable Bear," featuring my GrizzLee teddy bear on the cover of his beautiful book! Several of my teddy bear designs have been nominated for the prestigious TOBY and Golden Teddy Awards. I also designed for The Ashton-Drake Galleries.
The teddy bears of The Bear Menagerie are truly "Hand-Made, Heartfelt." I love making them all... they make my heart smile. And, when others look at them, and I see their hearts smile, I am a happy person indeed.
