GJOYful Bears

[Gabriele]

Hi everyone, just a bit about me

My name is Gabriele Joy and I am a bear artist. I create originally designed and hand-made Artist bears with my mum, Robyn.

I live in country Victoria, Australia and have 6 dogs, two cats and a variety of other animals. I love participating in competition obedience and agility trials with my dogs, who are also a great inspiration for creating my bears.

I have always been interested in arts and crafts but bear making has been the only art to really stay with me.

I have always been surrounded by bears and by bear making as mum has always made and collected bears, we have also both been subscribed to various bear magazines for as long as I can remember. I became interested in making bears myself after I had read so many articles about how other bear artists began their journey that I decided it could be for me and that I shouldn't be too scared to give it a go.

I asked mum to teach me to make a bear from a pattern that had come in the magazine, "Australian Bear Creations." Mum, understanding how much patience is required to create a quality bear, showed me the basics but did not expect me to finish the bear and certainly didn't expect me to want to continue making bears! I surprised her when I finished the little bear, my first bear, "Noah." I wasn't very happy with him and straight away I began sketching and designing my own patterns to create the bears I saw in my imagination. I think I surprised Mum, and continue to surprise her lol, as I have not stopped designing and creating bears since and we now teach each other and create together

Well the inspiration to continue to create the bears I see in my imagination and share them with everyone has not stopped!

I also collect Artist Bears and have a large collection of them, I collect the UK exclusive collection of mohair Charlie Bears, I also collect puppets and of course reborn dolls of which I now have 7.

I sell my originally designed and hand-made bears through our website:

http://www.gjoyfulbears.com/main.html

Blog:

http://www.gjoyfulbears.blogspot.com.au/

Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/gjoyful.bears?sk=wall

Creating The Hive Blog:

http://creatingthehive.com/gjoyfulbears/blog

GJOYful Bears Bearpile Store:

http://gjoyfulbears.bearpile.com/

Thanks for stopping by to read about me!

Beary hugs,
Gabriele, GJOYful Bears

Miriam, one of my hand made bears


Latte, another of my hand made bears


Flye, one of my hand made foxes


Logie, another of my hand made bears designed & made for Andama Galleries

[Timeless Re-creations]

Thanks for sharing Gabriele!
I also love bears and have several. At one stage, I would collect them if they stole my heart! (no matter whether a 'brand' or not) A pair sit permanently on my bed.
I've also made a few, taught myself, and thoroughly loved it.
Since I've begun reborning, though, that has taken over anything else.
I have to say I am smitten with Andi's Logie!!
Jayne xx

[amelo1969]

I must say that I am Flye's adoptive very, very proud Mum. e both ware waiting for Jeremiah, the bear, to arrive.

[Timeless Re-creations]

Lucky you Andrea!
Jayne xx

[amelo1969]

(06-18-2012 09:39 AM)Timeless Re-creations Wrote:  Lucky you Andrea!
Jayne xx

I totally agree!