Teddy Bear & Friends magazine is heading into its 30th year in 2012, and one of our proudest accomplishments over the last three decades is the creation and development of the Teddy Bear of the Year® (TOBY®) competition. Although there are now several teddy bear competitions out there for artists to enter, we continually hear from many prominent figures in the industry that this one in particular is still the most esteemed, and to win a TOBY is a singularly special experience.

Perhaps Michelle Lamb, winner of the 2011 TOBY People’s Choice Award for Large Artist bear, Undressed, put it best: “It’s always an honor to win a TOBY and I look forward to entering every year,” Lamb said. “Entering the TOBY contest itself is actually the highlight for me. It challenges me to put my mind towards creating something unique in order to not just keep up with the amazing competition but also to try and top my previous efforts. My creativity thrives on challenges, and the problem solving nature of making bears is the greatest appeal for me.”

Karen Lyons, winner of the 2011Large Artist “Friends” category, echoed this sentiment. “I still believe the TOBY awards are the most prestigious award in our industry,” she said.

The TOBYs give Teddy Bear & Friends magazine a unique identity, and we look forward to this program all year long. We get to see what artists are doing from year to year, and which bears they select as their top picks. Another thing we love about the TOBYs is that it is all-inclusive. If you make bears or “friends,” it doesn’t matter what level you are at or what style you have chosen to pursue, we have a category for everyone.

The awards presented here are distinctively special because they represent what you the readers think are the best and most innovate creations of the year. We first have our panel of expert judges select five winners across all categories as the Industry’s Choice winners, and those selections go on to compete in the Public’s Choice competition, where voting is done online and through the mail-in ballot. And these are the results!

We are now accepting entries for the 2012 TOBY competition! If you have entered in the past, we hope you will enter again. And if you have never entered the TOBY competition, we encourage you to throw your hat in the ring!

Download the entry form