Michelle Nunnery – Little Bittie Bears

It’s All in the Eyes

By Pam North

The eyes are what draw you in – those wistful, soulful eyes. If ever there was a “Take me home, please” plea, it’s all right there in the appealing expressions of Michelle Nunnery’s adorable animals. Her creations run a wide spectrum of species:  bears, lions, giraffes, bats, hedgehogs, mice, raccoons, possums, seals, zebras, and the list goes on to include even tiny monsters.
Nunnery lives in Panama City, FL, but is no native of that state. Her father had a traveling job in construction, so Nunnery’s childhood involved moving frequently, encompassing 12 states and Cuba. 
She embraced it, however, saying, “I liked that, because I was able to meet many different people and experience different cultures.”
Influence toward bear-making undoubtedly started young for her. Although they didn’t make them themselves, both her parents loved and collected teddy bears, primarily the classic types like Steiff. Nunnery responded to that eventually. After starting her own family (two sons and three daughters), she found herself in a situation in 1992 of wanting a teddy bear for herself. Since an expensive Steiff wasn’t in her budget, she took apart one of her children’s bears for an initial pattern, and went from there. She just gave away her creations for a while, but in 2005, after making her first mohair bear by candlelight during Hurricane Katrina, she felt she had reached the point where they were saleable, so she put them on eBay. With no artistic training in school or elsewhere, she has found success in her endeavor. “I have been making teddies since 1992. I love them so much that I just had to discover how to make them. I have made many types of animals over the years, but teddies still are my favorite. My patterns are original, and I use all sorts of materials which makes my bear-making creative.” She uses mohair, alpaca, and faux fur for her various animals, with glass eyes, clay or needle-felted noses, cotter pin and lock-nut joints (sometimes string for tiny animals), and prefers about 6-inches for average size. She often incorporates fun accessories, pairing her creatures with miniature cars, houses, and other small items to add character to their personalities and display drama. She makes about two animals per week, selling them on Bearpile, her website, eBay and Facebook. “I feel at peace and happy. It is very important for me to create,” she explained.
For many artists, a proper workplace can come in many forms. Nunnery seems to be able to work without the advantage of having her own studio or set-aside space, and said simply, “I work on my couch.” While her family are not stuffed animal enthusiasts themselves, they support her efforts, but Nunnery joked, “They would like it if I took a break sometimes.”
Her favorite creation that she has made so far is a mouse with his steam punk oil can car, and one thing she made and didn’t want to sell is a large panda bear. Something that she hasn’t made yet, but would like to someday, is an ostrich. Future plans include fantasy pairs as a new direction. “I am currently working on a mini-hedgehog riding on a snail’s shell.”  
Nunnery has won several Bears & Buds URSA awards in 2016, 2015, 2014. and 2013, including two first-place plaques. 

Inspiration comes in many forms to her, primarily from animals, nature and art. Additionally, she says, “I love watching Disney movies for ideas. I love fairies, gnomes and steampunk, and giraffes are one of my favorite animals. I love to spend time in nature, and see little animals and their expressions. Books have helped; Where the Wild Things Are is a favorite book. I get my monster inspirations from the characters in that story, and also from an artist, Jean-Baptiste Monge. I also look up to bear artists such as Michelle Lamb, and Denise Purrington.”
Another aspect of Nunnery’s artistry has been doing paintings of people’s pets on a commission basis, and she has painted pandas, giraffes, dolphins, and many types of birds. The creation process brings her great fulfillment. She goes through various phases with her creations, then attempts something new. Asked what satisfies her most about her craft, she replied, “I love to see their faces smiling back at me.” Her customers have smiles on their faces as well, when they see her latest creations.

Contact Information:

Michelle Nunnery
Email: littlebittiebear@yahoo.com
Website:  www.littlebittiebear.com
Telephone:  (850) 258-8421

Michelle Nunnery
502 North Berthe Ave
Panama City FL 32404