To Deb's Collections

Deb Canham Artist Designs is one of those companies that started at the kitchen table and grew. Deb joined the miniature bear world in 1987 when she read an article claiming that fine details were impossible to achieve on a hand sewn miniature bear. That's all it took. Never having been one to pass up a challenge, Deb sat down that very day and made her first mini, becoming the UK's first miniature bear artist - 'artist' being defined as someone who designs, makes and sells their own bears.

She's been hooked ever since, traveling worldwide from Japan to the USA where she was a regular visitor, lecturing, conducting workshops and selling miniature bears. Her designs have won many awards over the years, and they continue to do so today. Believing that the miniature bear world would grow and expand only if knowledge is shared, Deb was the first miniaturist to write a detailed book on miniature bear making. Many who have participated in her workshops have gone on to become great bear artists themselves.

Deb's work took her down a different path as she became the first guest artist designing for the Akira Little Gem Company in 1993; and in 1996, seizing the opportunity to put her designs into manufacture by her own company trained to 'do it her way', she took her greatest gamble and left England to start Deb Canham Artist Designs in the USA. She has never looked back, saying the risks involved in that big move were easy when compared to the thought of living with the knowledge that she had never tried.

That first New York Toy Fair in February of '96, Deb introduced 3 lines of miniature bears. First there were small colored plush bears in 2 and 3 inches. These were discontinued very early on because Deb felt they were too similar to a line of bears produced by her good friend Jamie Wu of Little Gem Teddy Bears, and also, she did not want to go in that direction with her own company. These were never boxed or tagged, and fewer than 120 of each were ever sold. Some people may still have these bears and not realize that they are from that very first season of D.C.A.D. There was a collection of 4 plush 3" tall bears holding little farm animals, The Country Collection. But Deb's love was mohair, and she had created a collection of 6 mohair bears, a mohair rabbit and 1 Golly, The (1st) Mohair Collection. It took a couple years for some of these pieces to sell out their editions, but as more collectors saw the quality and artistry in Deb's bears and came to admire her work, sell out they did. Now many of these first twelve pieces routinely sell on the secondary market for as much as 500% their original purchase price.

While the company began with bears, rabbits and gollies it has through popular demand grown to include dragons, rats, mice, cats, dolls, and BIGger bears. 1999 saw the debut of the D.C.A.D. Collectors Club. Starting a collectors club was something Deb held a real passion for from the very beginning of this company. Since we don't sell direct to the collector, the club has provided an avenue of communication between the artist and collector that Deb feels give them a special connection to each other.

Mostly the items produced by D.C.A.D. are those designed by Deb, but we have had a few pieces designed by other artists. Laurie Sasaki designed the Nutcracker Prince from the Nutcracker Suite and the March Hare from the Alice Too collection. Bonnie Windell designed the regal Rat King from the Nutcracker Suite. Brenda Power has designed 2 collections of miniature animals, several on wheels, reminiscent of antique push pull toys. Our cloth dolls are designed by Jane Davies, world renowned British doll artist and Deb's sister. Over the next couple years Deb plans to introduce works by a select few other bear artists. A few of these pieces may be produced as early as the last half of 2001.



Deb is well known for her artist bears, usually bringing 'top dollar' with her auction pieces. At left is a photo of an early "Punch n' Judy" auction piece, the old puppets we're all so familiar with and that Deb has a passion for. Another of her favorite subjects has always been the Alice stories, Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass.


Seen below are sketches (done by Lydia Sefton) of one of Deb's "Punch's" (at left) and "Alice", from her "Alice in Wonderland" pieces.