Harding Syred Bears by Jo Duckworth

Growing up Nan always seemed to have a needle and thread in hand. Whether it be sewing on buttons, mending hems or quilting. I grew up around fabric and thimbles, needles and pins. My appreciation of fabric developed from a very early age.
Experimenting with colour, texture & expression 1997

Experimenting with colour, texture & expression 1997

Prior to bears I was studying and practising folk art for many years but in search of my own individuality and creativity I swapped my paint brushes for fabric and thimbles and began on a new found path. Working in a three dimensional form with tangible textures seemed much more rewarding then my previous art form.

I worked hard on improving my technique with every hand stitch. My pattern design was simple and traditional in its own quirky way. Behind the scenes I was experimenting with the fabric used. Chopping, dying, painting and distressing mohair, seeing how far I could push the medium to achieve unique effects.

In the early days my in signature was an embroidered bear foot-print on the paw pad. I now give each bear a gift, a pearl with rose gold bead stitched and tucked away in the fur somewhere.

The pearl symbolizes each creation as being unique. As an oyster nurtures and protects its individual creation, no two pearls are ever the same. Reaffirming their unique shape and lustre. Rose gold is my colour choice in gold jewellery so each bear leaves home wearing a part of its creator.

Ziggy's fleece (our pet angora goat) became my supply for stuffing. My bears were filled with his fleece until about 2000 when I started using a range of materials for stuffing, depending on the effect I wanted to achieve.

With the help of a friend I put together a poem describing my work at the time.

Harding Syred Bears ...
First group of bears created to sell 1996.

With signature paw print on their arm, these Bears are not the same,
for each one is unique with their own birth date and name.
Characteristics of each Bear are not their only charms,
for these Bears are moveable with jointed legs and arms.
If you think their gaze is real don't be too surprised,
as all these Bears have loving stares of glistening, glass eyes.
"German mohair", says one Bear "that's what covers most".
But "filled with Australian mohair", we later heard him boast.
The bears should be adopted by adults young at heart,
as they are not a child's toy, but a delicate work of art.
Harding Syred Bears should be held closely in your arms,
lovingly designed and hand-stitched by Bear Artist, Jo Barnes.
© J.Barnes 1997 (maiden name at time of writing)

An arm full of bears put together for my first exhibition and sale Morpeth NSW, Australia 1997. To see what kind of response my work would receive I plucked up the courage and with an arm full of bears went to Teddy Bears Downstairs, Morpeth in early '97. Experimenting from the start with colour, expression and finishing effects. Comments on my work would be "Wow, your bears are so different".
I never really knew if that was a good thing or bad. I just accepted it and kept creating, trying to satisfy my own artist pursuit.

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