Bears 'n Buds by Armella is an Artist Teddy Bear company which has produced handmade soft-sculpture teddy bears and critters since 1994. Though most of Armella's creations fall into the category of character bears and animals, occasionally her designs follow alternate style lines.
Birthing bears and buds is not a job, but a passion for Armella! Each creation develops in Armella's love and is instilled with his or her teddy bear virtue, as he or she is prepared for the day it goes home in the arms of it's adoptive collector. From that time forward, whether teddy or bud, he offers his virtue to his collector.
“A teddy bear’s virtue is that he cannot love himself . . . only others.”
----Ted Menten
All of the Bears'n Buds by Armella are designed and created by Armella M. Dana with her tender care and loving hand.
Emily Patrice
is "just a mohair teddy bear",
ready for cuddling
Fleur
is a"recycled mink" teddy bear
The Hobbit--Gandalf and Bilbo
are "character bears", with 3-inch mohair fabric pieced into their heads to serve as their hair and mongolian lamb to make Gandalf's beard. They are dressed and accessorized by Armella
Jethro
is a "character bear" with an open mouth and buck teeth
Welcome
A common question for soft-sculpture artists is "why did you become a teddy bear artist?" For me, I think a better question would be, "what took you so long to discover life in the teddy bear world?"
I have spent my life immersed in art. I studied oil, acrylic, and watercolor painting, etching, pen and ink drawing, drafting and voice at the Lawrence Conservatory of Music, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and in the press rooms at City College in Santa Barbara.
About the Artist
Introduced to the world of the artist teddy bear by my pastor and challenged to make my first bear, I fell in love! On the road to discovery, I could hardly wait to finish one teddy before trying out a new idea on the next. Then I attended my first ILTBC conference in Orange, California, and fell in love with the crazy people of the teddy world. All other forms of art soon ceased to interest me, so Bears by Armella became a reality in 1994.
There was an indescribable thrill in creating teddy bears and seeing them come to life. They seemed almost alive!!
My children were teenagers and no longer needed or wanted mom to volunteer in their classrooms or be scout leader or teach in 4H or any of their other activities. No longer being needed as a fulltime "Mom", I threw myself into Bears by Armella. Roger and I found our lives revolving around bear shows. I was birthing more and more teddies and other critters, among them bunnies and mice.
Though my teddy passion has slipped into second place, behind my grandchildren, I still find time for my character bears and critters. But, with more and more teddy bear buddies joining my teddy bear creations, in 2008, Bears by Armella became Bears 'n Buds by Armella.
Over the years, we have developed many close friendships with both artists and collectors from around the world. Roger and I truly enjoy being part of the World of The Teddy.
Happy hunting!!!
Armella M. Dana
Abby, Matthew, and Chloe
*Love is like manure ...
ya gotta spread it around for it to do any good!
Until . . . 2005 when our first grandchild, Matthew Landry, was born and I seemed to have a little less time for being creative.
Each year I try to give my grandchildren a special teddy for Christmas. Last year Mattie wanted a Red bear. Here he is holding his newest bear, "Lightnin'".
Bears 'n Buds by Armella
Armella M. Dana
P.O. Box 296
Marion, Iowa 52302
(319) 377-5869
1-800-753-5759
bearsnbudsbyarmella@mchsi.com
or
bearsbyarmella@mchsi.com
*
Chloe Dana is our newest grandchild. She is a beautiful and happy baby. The teddy is a sister to Peng/#2, which her cousin, Abby, has with her. Chloe sleeps with Ping/#1 every night.
Abigail Landry is Matthew's sweet (girl who loves "pretty's") little sister. Abby has become our verbal child. The teddy is a "huggy" silk plush bear named Peng (meaning "Friend")---her Christmas bear for 2008.
