I
live with my family in the rural town of Babcock,
Wisconsin. This small town is where my grandparents
grew up, married, and raised ten children. Six of
them still reside in Babcock, including my dad.
Many of my cousins and their families live in the
surrounding areas. Wisconsin is known as "God's
Country", and this is where I have settled
with my family - my son Sean, daughter Jennifer,
and their father Carl. And now, our granddaughter,
Emily Ann, and our grandson, James, have joined
us - the lights of our lives. Our family also includes
3 cats and 2 dogs! Our old farm house is surrounded
by cranberry marshes and wildlife, including deer,
foxes, coyotes, wolves, eagles and even black bears!
My
love for sewing and crafts has always been a large
part of my life. So naturally, my drive for new
challenges brought me into bear-making. It was just
a hobby when I first started, but after I lost my
job in a corporate take-over, my family persuaded
me to try bear-making as a career.
I
have met the most wonderful people in the teddy
bear world. Teddy bear people have the biggest hearts!
I'm also a sponsor for the "Good Bears of the
World", an organization whose goal is to provide
teddy bears to hurt, abused and traumatized children,
and to the lonely, forgotten adults of the world.
We are always on the lookout for new "Good
Bears".
With
the support and love of my family and friends, I'm
doing what I love, and loving what I'm doing. And
if I can put a smile on someone's face when they
adopt one of my bears - well, that makes it all
worthwhile!
Bear
hugs to everyone,
Pat
