(Natalie Bell/Fossil Moss Bears)

Natalie Bell  - Bearing Her Heart and Soul

by Pam North

For anyone interested in giving a bear a forever home, there is a proven source for finding that perfect one – Natalie Bell, talented artist and soft-sculpture wizard of Fossil Moss Bears. The trade-off is having the heart permanently captured by one of her creations, each awesomely winsome in its warm fuzziness and expressive heart-stealing appeal, and each quite willing to permanently reside with its new owner. While every one of her bears can lay claim to be associated with the same species, there the sameness ends; each one evidences that special tweak to make it totally one unto its own while still reflecting the hallmark of Natalie’s style, which constantly perks itself into a slightly new twist with every new creation.
Natalie’s artistry has been a part of her life since her youth. As a teenager, her prize possession was her sewing machine (it still is), which she worked all summer one year to buy. Later, she studied fine art, sculpture, and ceramics, and experimented with sculpting and abstract painting. “I’ve always been an artist,” she explained. “I’ve always loved to be in my studio creating something.”
That ‘something’ she creates now is poseable soft sculpture, with a primary focus on bears, ranging from large adult bears to smaller cubs. She started creating the bears seriously after her daughters were born, their soft toys inspiring her to translate her own interpretations into a higher form of soft-sculpture artistry. It is that quirky blend of realism and caricature that defines her style. “I strive to make them as realistic as possible without losing the endearing personality of a teddy bear,” she explained. Occasionally she makes another animal species, such as sloths and owls, that are equally personable in their own right.
She is primarily self-taught, often taking advantage of available information online, and has spent years researching techniques and materials, in the process finding that many skills she already had were transferable to bear-making. Her craft constantly evolves as she experiments with new materials and invents new ways to use old ones, and they inspire her to ever-greater dimensions as she embraces innovative concepts and techniques. “I’m always trying to find a better, more effective way to bring a creature to life. I like to use the best quality materials that I can find, and I love trawling the internet to find them. Most of my crafting supplies come from Germany. There is nothing like opening a new parcel of fur - it’s addictive! I tend to use long-length Schulte synthetic fur for the large bears, and mohair and alpaca for the cubs.
“There are many different materials that go into a bear,” she continued. “They all have Loc-Line armature spines that run the length of their bodies to allow them to stand on all fours and adopt other poses. Limbs are all wired, down to the claws on the big bears, allowing each of the claws to be moved individually. The large bears also have a full-body skeleton to support the weight of the bear and hold their limbs in place. Paw pads and toes mostly are hand-sewn from leather. Claws are made from polymer clay, and noses are hand-sculpted using epoxy clay. I also use needle-felting on some smaller cubs’ faces to sculpt the shape, and to allow mohair and alpaca to be inserted.”
The most challenging element of what she does she cites as time management. “I’m a perfectionist. I never cease to be amazed by how long it takes me to make a bear. The techniques that I use are labor-intensive, involving many different processes and materials. Pulling toes is the most challenging. Sometimes I have to redo them several times. I’ve even made cubs with individual, stuffed-leather toe pads; I love how they look and feel. The technique that gives me the most satisfaction when completed is needle-felting cubs’ muzzles, with individual hairs inserted. It takes me such a long time, but it’s 
also quite a meditative process.”
Natalie’s artful deftness with varied materials ensure that each bear is totally unique and collectible. “I demand that my bears are high-quality, poseable, and expressive, so that I'm proud to have made them. I place no expense or time limit on their creation; every care is taken to make them perfect and individual. My bears are all one-of-a-kind creations, each unique in the many different crafting techniques utilized to bring it to life. This means I’m constantly altering my patterns, researching and sourcing quality materials, embracing new concepts. I find it hugely enjoyable to experiment and create a bear that looks different from the last, allowing my individual style to develop alongside my growing skills. I also get a great sense of delight from the positive responses of new bear owners, and people’s lovely comments on social media.”
She derives much gratification from her crafting, saying, “The ‘birth’ of a bear gives me a wonderful feeling of completion as I watch each one’s unique personality evolve. I’m always surprised by how differently they all turn out. Sometimes it takes me a week to come to terms with their presences and personalities enough to photograph them!”
Natalie’s workplace is contributory to her ability to work contentedly. “I’ve recently moved studio, as my building had a whole new floor of studios built within the roof area, and I’ve never felt more at home in a space. It’s the first studio that I have been able to organize from scratch as a place to create special bears. Everything is easily accessible and in its right place. I feel blessed to have such a wonderful workspace, and to be in a building surrounded by a host of other talented and creative artists in the other studios.”
Natalie sells her bears primarily online. “I have attended a few fairs in the UK, and also one in Germany. I was due to be at the Quinlan Artist Doll and Teddy Bear Convention in Philadelphia this year, which unfortunately was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. I mostly attend these events to meet other bear-makers, and hunt for new supplies.”
Artists rely heavily on inspiration for their creativity, and Natalie is no exception. She finds it in nature, and even more often from new materials and techniques. “I also find my last creation inspiring in that I assess it to see what I could have done better to bring to the next one, or I wonder what a past bear would look like made of a different fur. New materials beckon also, such as silicon. There definitely will be some playing with silicon this year.”
She lives in the United Kingdom with her partner, two daughters and a menagerie of pets. “I keep giant French lop rabbits, they’re amazing animals, not like rabbits at all.”
Ever looking forward, Natalie plans on more future traveling to meet other talented artists around the world. “Last year I traveled to Germany, Austria and Ukraine. I’ve met some lovely people and made some lifelong friends. I’m so sad to not be able to attend Quinlan Convention this year.”
She views the future direction of dolls and bears optimistically. “I’m hoping that there will be more crossover between the two genres, and an expansion into more fantasy creatures. I’m fascinated by the variety of form and creativity within the art/toy genre, too - a move toward craft being seen as art, with works being viewed as sculpture rather than toys. I look forward to more experimentation and pushing the boundaries of the craft. I feel like it's my calling to create these adorable creatures. I’m constantly thinking about them, and I’m always amazed by the different personalities that appear - it's magical!”

Contact Information:
Name: Natalie Bell
Business name: Fossil Moss Bears
Email: natalie.bell@hotmail.com
Website: www.fossilmossbears.com
Address: Newcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
Telephone: 011 44 790 373 0050