Dawn Santagata

I began designing and making teddy bears for my own collection in 1992. My first attempt at creating a bear resulted in a strange animal that looked more like a rat than a teddy bear. Thankfully I didn't stop there and my second attempt produced my first Sunshine Teddy Bear. A year later I designed a teddy bear for a friend and Sunshine Teddy Bears was born. My first sale resulted in a bit of joy as well as a few tears as she left for her new home. Today my Sunshine Teddy Bears are in collections throughout the United States.

There is something very special about taking a wad of fur and creating a teddy bear who seems to speak to me. Each Sunshine Teddy Bear has its own unique expression and I know immediately if a face I've created is a male or female and whether it is a young bear or an oldster. The creation of each teddy bear today is still as exciting as the very first one. The minute I start a new bear I can hardly wait to see the newest face to join our family of Sunshine Teddy Bears.

Some of my bears wear antique dresses that my husband and I find on our antiquing outings. Many of the antique dresses show signs of being worn by a child many years ago. I will always note on a bear if the dress is an antique or a brand new find.


I am also an artist and have an Etsy Shop at dawnsantagataart