I am totally self taught with my own ideas and designs, never attending a workshop nor purchasing other artists patterns or selling designs that are used for the company name. My husband Phil is now full time in the business as well. He does the general running around for the business and helps so much with house duties from washing the clothes, all the cooking and a great cook he is, renovating the house, extending the studio, cutting and stuffing of bear limbs due to my clicky wrists and carpel tunnel from repetitive work, I still do the entire heads/faces and bodies though.  We have employed a full time seamstress since 1998 who initially helped with the amount of sewing we had for the TVSN orders. She also helps with sewing the Oz Matilda design range of clothing. A truely valued member of our team. There are now 3 of us that work full time for Oz Matilda. 

STUDIO

Our studio is based on our 5 acrea property where all the Oz Matilda Bears are created. Just 50 steps away from the main house and i'm at work.  Phil built a wonderful 4 room Studio 3 years ago for me. Since our business has grown, we need more room, therefore we are currently renovating and adding on a further double sized room solely for me to use for just Painting and drawing, this way i no longer will have to deal with mohair and stuffing particles attaching themselves to my paintings.  Photos will be available in a few months when we have completed the new extension. 

AWARDS

Honoured and very humbled to have won over 60 Medallions, Trophies, 1st place Blue Rosette Ribbons and Bear of the Show awards since my Teddy bear career started in the early 1990's.

In 2004 I decided to enter into the American Awards, hence received a Golden Teddy Nomination that year, again entering in 2006 and awarded a Toby Industry Choice Award and 2 Golden Teddy nominations. For 2007 received a Golden Teddy Nom. Award for my entry of Mona Lisa.  Although i do not consider winning awards the 'Bee All' of my career as i totally compete against my ownself and strive to improve, it is nice to receive acknowledgement for one's hard work and excecution of workmanship of teddy bear design within the industry you have worked so hard to achieve goals and contribute to.  

BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS & HIGHLIGHTS - WORLD RECORD, DISNEY, TV, LICENSED PRODUCTS

Having a gift to draw, paint, sketch cartoons and write short stories. Being an Invited Artist to the Walt Disney Epcot Show and having my work Licenced by them in 2006 and invited back for 2007. Writing Editorials for Bear Creations Magazine Australia along with my featured Cartoon sketches being published. Mastering special techniques for talking Live on Television for an hour at a time during my 5 years as an Artist Guest on Australia's TV shopping network, interacting with a TV audience, cameras and a TV Presenter is not that easy!. When i get time to draw illustrations for my story book, i'd like to get it published, my 'Master James and his adventures',  Making the Rugby League Football Bears where i was previously a professional Cheer leader Dancer for the Australian football and a 'Jetette' for 5 years, having them as a licenced product was a dream come true; Many awards i have won and the recognition and friendship from other talented bear buddies, My work shown in Museums and accepted by reputable international gallaries and bear retailers; My Bears personally autographed by Celebrities such as Australia's Prime Minister, Hon. John Howard, Brigitte Bardot and Tippi Hedren, in which were auctioned for Free The Bears Fund where we raised over $40,000.00 for the dancing bears in India which i helped organise in 2002 and continue to help today, a huge thankyou to the 30 plus Aussie artists and numerous known Celebrities around the world who contributed and helped make this happen and to many of you bear buddies who continue to support this fantastic non profit organisation run by volunteers!!.

Obtaining a World Record for a Sole Bear Artist in 2003 with my first proto type handpainted Still Life Canvas placed into a bears belly, which sold for usd$17,700. To read more about this World Record, click on: http://www.ozmatilda.com.au/painterbear.html

BRASS BUTTON & Swing Tags

Oz Matilda Bears come with a woven name tag sewn into the back of the bear along with an embossed design Brass button in the right ear, a Professional swing tag signed by Lisa Rosenbaum.  The Painted Bears also come with an Instruction sheet for caring for Oil Paintings.

I thank you the collectors and the many who have become so dear to our family, it is with your encouragement, honesty, patience, emails, letters and phone calls that Oz Matilda Bear Co., will be around for many years to come......

ozmatildaonline.com

ozmatilda.org

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ozmatilda.biz

ozmatilda.mobi

WARM WISHES TO ALL.... Lisa and Phillip Rosenbaum