Questions and answers 

Name: Tatyana Zubareva 
Contact Information: 
Address: Kazakhstan, Almaty  , Kotelnikova street 41 
Telephone: +77052625630 
Email: p_tati11@mail.ru 
Website:  Instagram- @fantasyteddytoys 
Business name if any: 
A short biography outline of yourself. 
Do you have a family? 
I have a family, I am married and my husband and I have a five-year-old son. 
Did you have a different career before? 
After graduating from the Institute, I immediately got married, and did not have time to work in my specialty. 
What specifically do you make? 
I create realistic animals based on the technology of Teddy bears. 

How and when did you get started making your creations? 
I started creating my own creations in 2013. 

Did you have any formal training in your craft? 
I didn't have any special training, I didn't study with the masters of this field . I read the story of Teddy Bear on the Internet, and about the basic technical aspects of their creation. Everything I do I have achieved by myself, my own experience. I graduated from art school, and I have a higher education as an architect. Art education helps me a lot in my hobby. 

How have you evolved in your craft? Has anything influenced you especially? 
In creating Teddy bears in the style of realism, I was most influenced by the work of Teddy bear maker Kelly Dean. In General, it all started with this. By chance I saw his Teddy bears on the Internet and I wanted to make one of them too. I read about what kind of art it is , drew a pattern of a white bear and sewed it. 

What materials do you use in your craft? 
In my craft, I use professional thick artificial fur, artificial suede, leather, special wire and professional plastic frame lokline, as well as I make eyes and sculpt claws and teeth from polymer clay . 
What do you find the most challenging about what you do? 
I don't know what the most difficult thing is in creating my creations, because I love every process and enjoy it. I would say the most difficult thing is to wait until I finish the next creation, so that you can admire and play with it ready. 

What do you love most or gives you the most satisfaction about what you do? 
Probably the most favorite thing in creation is the tinting of creatures. 

Describe your workroom or area where you do your crafting. 
I have my own table near the window with an organizer for tools. And my family allocated me a large wardrobe for materials for creating teddies. 

How do you sell your products? 
I sell my work at thematic fairs and exhibitions, as well as via the Internet from sites for selling handmade work 
Do you conduct workshops to teach others? No. 
Where do you find inspiration? 
My inspiration is in nature. I am inspired by many things-watching movies about animals, going to a zoo or Zoological Museum, beautiful photos of animals, etc. 

What’s next for you and your creations? 
I will continue to improve my skills , I really like it! 

How do you view the future or direction of artist-made bears and/or 
animals? 
I think this direction may be very important in the future. Even now, working with realistic animals is called eco taxidermy. This is important for animal conservation. it is better to have a model created by an artist at home than a stuffed animal that was killed. 
Do you think that collectors are becoming fewer in numbers, or 
that they are buying less? Do you think the world is continuing to 
appreciate artist and their work? 
Anything else you would like to add? 
I believe that artists are necessary to the world, of course they are appreciated and admired for their work. For every artist there is always a connoisseur, everything in the world is in harmony. 

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