My name is Ingrid Pienaar, known as Miniature Bear Artist (Ingrid Els) from Hermanus, Western Cape, South Africa.
My love for miniature toys and German Folk Art began when I was raised in Windhoek, former South West Africa (Namibia).
I made children's clothes, sketched and paint as a hobby and in June 1999 I made a few teddies for the local craft market. My first 100 bears were made from synthetic fabric and at that stage larger bears. After 8 months, making bears as a hobby, I resigned from my job at an attorney's office to take up bear-making full time because I enjoyed being creative.
My favorite fabric is vintage Upholstery Velvet and I also work with different mini fabric and mohair.
I've been selling my bears international since April 2001 via my website and blog.
It was interesting to meet other bear artists and collectors when I exhibited at a bear show in Wiesbaden, Germany and Hugglets, London during 2005.
Each bear comes with a birth certificate with his/her name, date of birth and signed.
I use permanent ink for the birth certificates and cards.
Thank you for visiting my little bears and friends.
Greetings,
Ingrid