The Tuscany Bear Maker

Tuscany, Italy

I’m really proud to be once again being here, and another year with URSA Award Competition, I should like to spend a lot of them!

Thank you so much to Valerie and her great team for their work.

Many congratulations to all the URSA Awards Competition winners for their fantastic creations.

Huge thanks, all over the world, for loving my bears and for voting for them!

Bearyhugs,
Annalisa

15.5
Paloma

Annalisa's awards arrived and she said:

When I saw the box I was so excited!

I want to share my happiness with all.

I am so happy with all my URSA Awards!

Thank you for voting for me!

Happy Tymes Collectibles

Mt. Dora, Florida

My thanks all who helped to make this competition a success, by taking the time to vote for your favorites.

Special thanks to Valerie for her steadfast support of all of us.

Happy Tymes Collectibles begins its 35th Anniversary Year in 2019. I'm looking back at thousands of my hand made bears, plus uncountable numbers designed for manufacturing, either under my HT Global Designs or for large company titles.

I'm looking forward to all the ones still waiting to smile back at me, still dancing in my imagination and just waiting.

Thank you, dear collectors, for patiently waiting and supporting me too!

Hugz,
Bev

6.4
Kilroy

Tape Measure

Candi Bears
Winston, Oregon

Thanks so much to everyone who voted in the URSA Awards Competition this
year.

It's up to us as artists and collectors to support and promote the growth of the teddy bear world, even if it's a wolf!

Thank you, Candi

10.3

Timber Wolf

Key chain

Warm Heart Bears

Colorado Springs, Colorado

I am so proud to be a 2018 URSA Awards Competition winner with Sallie Ann, Abbie Gayle and Danny, Buddy and Meg.

Thanks go to my amazing and supportive family and to every single person who took the time to vote.

A big thank you to those who chose to vote for a Warm Heart Bear or Kitten. Teddy bear collectors and artists are an amazing group of people, and I feel very blessed to be chosen as one of your favorites. Your support is the highest compliment one could receive.

There are so many talented artists who create wonderful bears and friends. Congratulations goes to all of you who have entered the 2018 URSA Awards Competition. Having the courage to enter a creation in the competition makes each of you a winner! Thank you for continuing to challenge and inspire me.

Thanks go to Valerie and her team at Bears&Buds for organizing this competition. Your hard work has not gone unnoticed!

Hugs,
Carolyn

2.4
Abbie-Gayle

4.1
Sally Ann

9.1
Danny, Buddy & Meg

Carolyn's awards arrived and she said:

The Warm Heart Bears and kittens have gotten their ribbons!

Little Abbie-Gayle is with her new mommy now, so her sister Rachel took her place for the photo.

Thank you to Valerie for the great work on the URSA Awards Competition each year.

Carolyn

The Peach Peddler Bears
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

Congratulations to every one of the artists who participated in the 2018 URSA competition!

All of the entries were outstanding & shined during their moment on the worldwide stage. I'm honored to be counted amongst the artists who competed this year for an URSA award.

I'm grateful to Valerie Rogers and Bears&Buds for providing that worldwide stage for us. Not only did Valerie keep the artists motivated to compete, but she expertly handled the moving pieces involved in organizing and running the competition.

I would like to thank my friends, family and all of the arctophiles who voted for my creations. Each category's vote involved a difficult choice because all of the bears were outstanding.

Most importantly, I'd like to thank my husband for always encouraging me to sew my own bears, instead of spending his money buying bears from other artists. If not for Jeffrey, The Peach Peddler Bears wouldn't exist, but I would have an amazing collection of artist bears.

Bearhugs, Christie

1.4

Figaro

3.2
Rugby

11.2
Yuri

Mohair

Bears by Christy

Grapevine, Texas USA

It is such an honor to be a winner in the URSA Awards Competition.

I so appreciate all the collectors who love and appreciate our work. As an artist it is a thrill and honor to have someone choose your bear to become a part of their bear family.

So much work goes into Bears&Buds magazine by the staff and is much
appreciated by its readers, collectors and artists.

A special thank you and recognition to Valerie Rogers who puts so much love , time and creativity to making all of this possible.

Thank you  for your votes,

Christy

4.10
Rosealee

Hugs Unlimited
Todmorden, West Yorkshire

What a lovely surprise to have won an Ursa Award. There are so many beautiful creations in the competition, that to have Tobias amongst the winners feels like a very special achievement.

I want to sincerely thank all the people that took their time to vote for Tobias.
I really appreciate each and every vote.

A very special thank you must also go to Valerie and her team for all the hard work that goes into making Bears&Buds so special and the URSA Awards Competition so inspiring.

Best wishes, Dawn

Mohair

Dawn's awards arrived and she said:

I was bowled over to receive my lovely award, not just the award but a beautifully wrapped parcel of goodies.

Here they all are, I can't wait to make something with the gorgeous mohair for next year's competition.

Valerie you are a complete star. Thanks again for all you do.

Dawn

DiBears
Naples, Florida

Once again I am humbled to be in the finals of the URSA Awards Competition.

There are so many wonderful creations in the different categories and to be a winner is so exciting.

I really enjoy making new creations.

I want to say thank you to all that have taken the time to vote in these awards. Without you, we would not be able to do the things we love!

So thank you again for making that all possible.

Also a big thank you to Valerie, and Bears&Buds for working so hard to make all this a reality.

Bear Hugs, Diana

8.5

Arbella & Journey

Diana's awards arrived and she said:

I want to say thank you again to all who voted in the URSAS for my creations.

I received these lovely awards and gifts for all our efforts because yYou all helped me to win.

I'm so excited! You all keep us artists going. We really appreciate you so much.

Looking forward to next years URSA Awards Competition.

Bear Hugs, Diana

Bainbridge Bears

Benton Harbor, Michigan

Happiness comes from being a finalist in the 2018 URSA Awards Competition and seeing all the wonderful entries from other artists. I

t’s great fun seeing all the artist’s creations and congratulations to all the participants and winners.

Special thanks to my supportive family, dear friends and all my wonderful collectors who voted for Humbug, Jingles and Cedric the Cat helping to make them winners.

Great thanks to Valerie and her dedicated staff for giving the artist the opportunity to use their talents

in creative ways. Without Valerie’s online shows and continuing help, I would be lost in the great teddy bear world. She’s a special lady and a nice friend.

I love bear making and designing new creations. My basement sewing room is my hideout where my bears come to life.

I have to give special thanks to my husband, Carl and my daughter, Beth Anne for their help and understanding how much I enjoy what I do.

It’s wonderful being a finalist and I’m already looking forward to 2019.

Hugs and blessings to all, Donna

7.1 Humbug

8.1 Jingles

16.1 Cedric the Cat

CrazyZoo Handmade

St Petersburg, Russia

I'm so happy! Emotions overwhelm me.

Thanks to all the people who made this possible and to Valerie for the excellent organization!

Thanks to all collectors and teddy bear artists for voting. Many thanks to my family for their support.

And special thank you to the teddy bears who unite people around the world!

Creating teddy bears is both my hobby and my job. I am very glad to see that over time more and more like-minded people enjoying collecting lovely teddy bears.

Bear hugs,
Elena

2.2
Bear Chief

Fashion Pin

Bear hugs,
Elena

Arkhipova Irina Bears
Moscow, Russia

9.4
Freddie & James

10.02
Jamie

Ashenberry

Norfolk, Connecticut

I am honored to have won an URSA award!

Thanks to everyone who voted for Sweet Sol.

I would like to extend a very special "thank you" to the collectors, for without you, this warm and fuzzy world would not exist.

Many thanks and much appreciation to Valerie and her crew for all of the time and hard work that goes into making the URSA awards a reality.

Tiny bear hugs!

Judith

2.3
Sweet Sol

Mohair

Brierley Bears

Barnsley, South Yorkshire

I am thrilled and honoured to have won in this year’s URSA Awards Competition.

It was a tough competition, as always, with so many talented artists entering the awards.

I’d like to say huge thank you to everyone who voted in the awards, especially to everyone who voted for Bramwell. We wouldn’t have won without you!

Thank you also to Valerie and her team at Bears&Buds magazine, for all your hard work put into the awards.

Hugs, Kat x”

5.4
Bramwell

Cooper Bears
Kelmscott, West Australia

I would like to firstly thank Valerie and all that she does for us as artists. This day and age when things are getting harder in all markets Valerie never rests, always trying to find something new to inspire and encourage our industry.

Then I would like to say how priveliged I feel working next to so many talented people in the industry the workmanship is outstanding and I feel honored to stand next to you in this field.

I would also like to say a huge thank you to all who voted for me, without your support nothing would be possible and because of you, I get to work daily on the thing that make me happy and allows me to follow my Bliss.

Thank you all,

Kay

6.2
Janis Joplin

Mohair

Kay's awards arrived and she said:

Look what arrived today!

I would just like to say a huge thank you to everyone who voted for me in this years URSA Awards Competition.

With out the support of you wonderful people nothing would be possible.

To say you give me wings to follow my bliss is an understatement.

I would also like to thank the amazing and tireless Valerie Rogers, her support and hard work is always so evident

Thank you all so much.

Hugs a plenty.

Kay

LeftyBears
Remchingen BW

First of all, I would like to thank everybody who voted for my Gobi bear and made him an URSA Award Competition winner and helped raise even more awareness for these rare bears. Less than fifty of these
special creatures are left in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, but most people do not even know that these bears exist, let alone that they need help.

So, the URSA Awards Competition seemed to be the perfect place to tell people about them, as here, all entries are seen by bear enthusiasts around the world and hopefully, they will agree that our world can’t afford to lose another species.

Bearhugs,

Natascha

1.2

Save the Gobi Bears

Nicole Woodward

pic-nic-bears
Puits et Nuisement Aube, France

I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to all the people who voted for my work, that I have won the URSA awards.

Along this artists journey I have been fortunate to have had the support of many people: my mother who first taught me to thread a needle and craft my first stitches, to my home economics teacher who advanced my skills and teaching me new techniques, to the other artists, who are not only friends but have encouraged and advised me how to develop myself as a fellow soft sculpture artist, to my Aunt who has handled many of my material deliveries and last but not least my husband for listening to me when I have an artist block.

To all my wonderful clients who have supported me and my business, I want to express my sincere gratitude.

The road of self discovery artistically would not have been possible with out your support.

Thank you all ever so much.

Kind regards
Nicole

15.2
Down the Rabbit Hole

Nicole's awards arrived and she said:

Opening my awards box was like opening a Christmas gift box with everything beautifully wrapped.

Valerie your kind, generous heart made the opening of my awards extra special.

It was thrilling to open the awards and
I want to thank you so very much for all your effort to make this competiion in the URSA plus winning a magical experience.

You are a star.

Special thank you to all who voted too.

Nicole

Teddyana
Andrésy IDF France

I'm so proud to participate in the wonderful URSA Awards Competition!

I was IMPATIENTLY WAITING for the results, and I'm sooo elated to be among the winners.

First of all, I would like to admire the excellent organization of the competition.

Secondly, I want to sincerely thank my friends, colleagues, collectors and my family for their support, and many thanks to everyone who voted for my creation!

I'm going to create a new original toy in my favorite category; Animal Kingdom, and participate in the next URSA Awards Competition.

Finally, I wish everyone success and happiness!

Sincerely, Olga

Lanctot’s Loveables Teddy Bears
St Isidore, Alberta

After over 20 years of making bears this is the first time I have entered a contest and I was very nervous.

I want to thank you all for supporting me and helping Meadow, Gandalf and Cactus Jack win URSA awards.

My bears all have a little piece of my heart and it’s such an honour to be recognized amongst all of the amazing bears from talented artists worldwide.

Thank you everyone!

Bear hugs,
Rhonda-Lynne

3.4

Meadow

7.4
Gandalf

Bear Hugs Originals

North Port, Florida

I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to vote in this year's URSA Awards Competition. It's truly an honor to be included among all the many fine artists represented in the this competition.

I took a small break from bear making and "Peter" was the first bear I made. I was over the moon when I found out he had won an award!

I am very grateful to my collectors, family and friends. I truly appreciate all your votes and ongoing support. I could not have done it without you!

A HUGE "thank you" goes out to Valerie and the Bears&Buds team. You are always kind and helpful beyond words, and the stellar job you do in organizing such an amazing event, allowing our bears to be seen around the world deserves the biggest award of all! Thank you so much for ALL you do.

Congratulations to all the entries in this year's competition - everyone's a winner in my eyes.

Warmest Bear Hugs,
Sandra Marie

7.03

Peter

Mohair

Sandra's awards arrived and she said:

My mailman just left and there was a very special box delivered to me today!

Thank you so much Valerie Rogers for the beautiful engraved trophy along with ALL the other heartfelt goodies you included. You ALWAYS go over and above to make all of us feel so special and I want you to know I truly appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.

Lots of love and hugs, xx

The Mountaineers 

Neidersachsen, Germany

11.3

Yakari

Mohair

Silke's awards arrived and she said:

I send you a photo of the arrival of the beautiful trophies and the wonderful gifts.

You can see how proud Darcy is that he won. Yakani was shy an not in the picture.

I was very surprised that I did not have to pick the ox up from our customs office this time. They were delievered to my door!

The URSA Awards are always so lovingly packaged. That only exists with you!

Thank you so much for all your effort and lovely greetings.

Maisi-Baeren
Offenhousen, Austria

What a joy seeing that crocheted teddies can be very special.

I'm so happy to see that both my crocheted teddies are in the Finals and
I get a prize for this work.

Crocheting a teddy is hard because you have to go stitch by stitch to fit all the pieces exactly.

I love the URSA Awards Competition as it shows and rewards my work, which means so much to me.

Thanks to Valerie and the team for the effort in sponsoring the URSA.

Special thank you's to all who voted for my bears.

I'm so happy to be a winner and I congratulate all the other winners too!

I thank you with all my heart.
Silvia

ThimbleBeary Originals

Gilmore City, Iowa

My heartfelt thanks to all who voted for Flora in this year’s URSA Awards!

It is truly an honor to be chosen among all the winners and from so many amazing entries by talented artists! Congratulations to all the 2018 URSA winners!

Extra thanks to Valerie and the Bears&Buds team for all that they do to bring this competition to all of us. Many thanks as well to the collectors who make this industry possible.

My joy in bear making is in creating and then more importantly, to share my work with others and bring joy to them as well. This year’s URSA is one I’ll never forget, as it brought my little Flora and me to the attention of a woman who I believe was not previously a collector, but who

stumbled across my information during a difficult time of her terminal illness. We exchanged many messages over the course of several weeks. She was so excited about her discovery of artists bears and Flora in particular, and I’m told she shared the URSA voting opportunity with everyone she could. The joy she experienced is what it’s all about, and I’m so thankful for that. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with her and her family.

Thanks again to everyone who cast their votes!

Bear hugs,  Tracy

Elegant Creations

Ithaca, Michigan

First of all, thank Bears&Buds for hosting this wonderful competition.

I want to thank all of the wonderful collectors that took the time to view and cast their votes in all of the URSA Awards Competition categories for the favorite bears and animals.

There were so many talented artists that entered the contest, and so many wonderful entries to choose from, that it must have been very difficult to make a choice in many of the categories.

I feel very blessed and honored to have been one of the artists that won. I am
in very good company!

Bear Hugs and Blessings,
Vicky

3.3
Little Bit Copper

8.2

The Green Witch

9.3
Me and Mom

9.4

Freddie & James

Our hat's
off to YOU!

1.4

Figaro
The Peach Peddler

The URSA Ribbons come from a
small company in Ohio, USA.

See how the ribbons are made.

Behind the scenes
at the URSA Award Competition headquarters!

<<Click on the curtain icon