---jannebears---

My name is Jan Kuykendall. I was born and raised in a small town in New Mexico. I grew up loving the rich earth colors and gorgeous sunsets of the west. I spent a great deal of time roaming the forests where my dad cut trees, which he sold to ranchers for fence posts. I have a great respect and love for wildlife and nature. I am an incurable arctophile and the mother of four children and five grandchildren. I live with three birds, two dogs, two cats, and a whole menagerie of teddy bears and other critters.

I spent fifteen years working as a wedding photographer, making teddies in my spare time. I have made hundreds of teddy bears, but have kept only a few, most were sold or given as gifts. I still have a couple I just couldn't bear to part with. I consider my teddy bears a form of soft sculpture, and spend hours trying to perfect them. I have always been drawn to the whimsical and unusual, and try to bring that quality to my teddy bears.

These days, my main inspiration for faces comes from my little dog, Jesse. She is a yellow lab mix with a big heart and sad face. My daughter found her running in traffic when she was about nine months old. She and I bonded instantly and have been best friends ever since. Paco, my amazon parrot, sings opera and knows everyones name, including our dogs. He keeps things lively with his nonstop chatter.

Guestbook

A new feature has been added to the website. Now you can get instant updates and information from Janne through the Jannebears Blog. Here you can get updates about eBay listings, design ideas, and Janne's personal artwork & musings. Check it out!