| Bettina Groh of The Glass Dragon (Kansas City MO area) is one Bears&Buds bear artist that I've known for a long time: while she touches on family just lightly in her interview questions, there's no doubt that a sense of family runs deeply through most of the work and fun that makes up her world.
Bettina began true 'bear' making in the mid-90s and absorbed needle felting like a sponge a few years ago: the difference is that she continues to design fabric bears as well as completely needle felted animals, and at times, combines both mediums.
She arrived in the United States from England when she was quite young: her Teddy was one of the few personal items she was allowed to bring. Fortunately, she still has him!
A craft-style teddy was the first creation for her daughter, another teddy bear aficionado. This lead to more bears, to be displayed and sold with her stained glass work at craft shows under the trade name The Glass Dragon, a moniker given to the business by her son.
Slowly she found the bears taking over the business, until they became her main focus. She recognized that they had also evolved from craft bears to artist bears in the traditional style.
It took only one introduction into needle felting, via a class, to grasp the possibility this technique adds to bear making.
While having recently completed her 5,000th bear, it stands out in Bettina's memory as a milestone, new avenues of opportunity have also spread out before he., as designing complex animal figures are now within reach due to the nature of needle felting.
Bettina's first Chimpanzee turned out exactly as she'd dreamed him up, to the delight of her collectors, inspiring her to attempt even more needle felted species.
It's a perfect day when the fiber exactly conforms to the vision in her imagination, and is completed before the end of the second day. Inspirations come from everywhere: the zoo, television programs, books and observing life around her.
As with all creations, sometimes the idea has to percolate on the back burner for a while, then the finishing touches and accessories are executed.
Alpaca is her first fiber of choice, closely followed by Corriedale. Dyeing the fibers for her specific needs brings another level of personal satisfaction. Her style is 'traditional' for fabric bears and 'realistic' for needle felting.
In future she aims to incorporate more elaborate use of color - "making really wild multi-colored felted items!"
While Bettina doesn't think she has mentored anyone, the quality of her work is example enough. I will admit to having purchased one of her miniature elephants because of its whimsical yet-true-to-life depiction of a youngster .... and then giving it to an avid elephant collector because it is now so unique among his large collection.
And as sometimes happens in the serendipitous innocence of a newcomer, Bettina 'met' one of the bear making pioneers, Chester Freeman. "I showed up at his house in Geneva, NY (my husband's home town) with my first mohair bear and he was so nice and so supportive!"
With a yearly average production of 200 bears, in Bettina's own words: "I find bear making a very satisfying medium. Something is missing when I don't spend at least some part of the day making something. My children still love to see what's new and now granddaughter Lili has to check things out and give each her 'stamp of approval'.
Currently Bettina's The Glass Dragon work can be found at bear shows, on her website, on Bearpile.com and occasionally on eBay.
If she ever achieves her Dream Design, a perfect Lili-Bear, "that one will stay in the family!" she said.
Ducky
Sammi-Li
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3428 Hillvale Road 
Frankie and the pumpkins
TeeZee
Marissa 
