About the Artist

My name is Liane, my husband and I live in Dayton Ohio. I have three boys.

I am a full time graphic designer as a profession. My husband and I own a creative services and marketing company.

I have been sewing all my life and enjoy it as a hobby now. I particularly love creating custom teddy bears, dolls (and wardrobes) and unique gift items. I donate a couple designer dolls each year to charity auctions, and I have given every friend and relative enough dolls or teddy bears to make them all sick of me. So, I decided to put this web site together as a way to connect with people who appreciate old fashioned, hand made quality.

Over the years, I've been contacted by people looking for help using heirloom garments. They have contacted me because they have a shirt, wedding dress or coat or pair of pajamas that someone close to them (or to someone they love) wore at one time and they want to preserve the memories in a way that can be passed on to future generations. So, that is what I do. I turn heirloom garments into keepsakes that tie generations together. I've discovered that I particularly like making memory teddy bears from people's heirloom fur or fabrics. I find a real energy in creating an heirloom piece to help someone commemorate the memory of someone special in their life.

I also enjoy creating patterns. I think three-demensionally so I'm always coming up with ideas of things to make so, this is my outlet for sharing patterns and ideas for those interested in fun projects. Check out my Craft Corner blog where I share patterns and ideas for projects.

If you are interested in a custom gift for someone special, feel free to email me and let me know what you are thinking. I will be happy to provide you with ideas of what I can do and an estimate of what it would cost.

Otherwise, I hope you enjoy your visit and come back often!

Bears Make Memories

I come to my interest in bear making honestly. This is the first teddy bear I remember owning. My mother made it from Simplicity Pattern #6810 (published in 1966). I was about five years old or so and I remember watching her cut up a couple of old shirts to use as stuffing. He is made of corduroy and filled with a combination of sawdust and fabric pieces from old shirts. He is one heavy dude.

I don’t remember when he lost his eye. I’ve never had the heart to replace it. There’s just something about keeping him just the way he is.

The structure of this bear is really very good for a huggable bear that a little child can love. I periodically see the pattern available on Ebay. I don’t recommend saw dust and old shirts as stuffing materials though.