Mary Ann's new line of "Teddy Cats" was also featured. These embraceable characters are created as a tribute to the Broadway musical Cats. Each Teddy Cat flaunts a feather boa mane and tail adding to the theatrical day of feline fun. Each Teddy Cat was accompanied by a copy of T.S. Elliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats", from which the musical Cats was written, as a gift from the artist.

Throughout her 27 years of costume design experience, Mary Ann has created costumes for some of the greatest stars in Las Vegas and on Broadway. Her 14 years with the Siegfried and Roy Show as well as her background with the ballet and opera is reflected in her whimsical, expressive teddies. Mary Ann now works as a Costume Technician for KA by Cirque du Soleil at MGM Grand Las Vegas.

Happy collectors, Mia Shaffer with her Show Scraps Bear and David Shaffer with his Teddy Cat, were excited to meet Mary Ann.

Gena Colton, Gypsy and Mary Ann Racheau

Leslie Freeland, door prize winner!

Janine Lawson, Owner of Victorian Garden, with her bear Fenton, Leslie Freeland, Chris Burtle and Andrea Cueto in a picture opportunity:

Left to right: Meegan Mason, Mary Ann Racheau, Janine Lawson, Erin Pfeifer, and Debbie Shonebarger.

The day was filled with fun and merriment, refreshments and prizes including many vintage Las Vegas show T-shirts. The glitz, the glamour and the love of the stage were brought to life in all of the one-of-a-kind theatrical teddy bears. Enthusiasts came from far and wide to meet Mary Ann and take one of her highly collectable teddy bears into their hearts and homes.

Victorian Garden is a Thomas Kinkade Gallery located in Blissfield, MI with a wide variety of collectibles and the store has also become a hub of the bear collecting community.

"Mary Ann has quite a following in the teddy bear world and we have customers travel for miles to see Mary Ann and her new creations. The shows are filled with merriment, fun and prizes for the wonderful collectors who attend.

We have made so many new friends who come to meet Mary Ann and share their stories of Teddy Bear collecting.

Thank you so much for including Mary Ann Racheau, her beautiful Teddy Bears, and Victorian Garden in your wonderful Teddy Bear magazine.  

You are a blessing to all of us and your readers and we appreciate your coverage more than words can express.

Sincerely, Teddy Hugs!"

Janine Lawson Owner of Victorian Garden

Andrea Cueto and Chris Burtle love hugging their new bears!

Mary Ann is looking forward to an encore performance sometime very soon.

Victorian Garden events will be listed in Bears&Buds' Show Calendar

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