Our customers share their thoughts

“Bright Bears are truly one of a kind perfection. When I ran across these amazing bears, I instantly fell in love with the sweet faces and attention to detail. I am extremely picky about which bears I add to my small collection. When I was looking for a one of a kind bear to be named after my one of a kind husband Michael, I knew to look no further than Bright Bears. I contacted Tessa via email and told her what I was looking for, right down to every detail I wished for my Michael to have. He was born very fittingly on Valentines Day and arrived home a few short weeks later. I could not believe my eyes when I opened the box and saw him in person for the very first time... it was love at first sight. Michael has been living here in our little country home in Kentucky for a few months now. Though he misses his creator in the Netherlands he is delighted to bring such joy and happiness to his new mom. Without a doubt when I am looking to add a new friend to my collection I will most definitely choose another Bright Bear. Thanks for everything Tessa, it has been a real pleasure!” -- Tabatha Decker (Kentucky, USA)

“It has been a pleasure for me to "meet" Tessa and her Bright Bears. The communication was nice and prompt and the bear Lauren arrived in just two days - lovely packed in a beautiful box, giving the feeling of Christmas when opening the box. The little fairy bear Lauren exceeded all my expectations: her cute little face and amazing wings make this bear simply adorable! With the experience of my first Bright Bear and the lovely service from Tessa I can recommend an adoption to any collector loving miniature bears!” -- Harriet Kapri (Finland)

“I've been collecting bears for many years now from many artists and Tessa's are among the very best. Her attention to detail, the personality she imbues, the quality of her materials and workmanship are outstanding. Her extra care in packaging her creations make them a real delight to receive and open! I have admired her work for some time now and am very happy to have added her bears to my hug. And I hope to add many more! Don't hesitate to support this wonderful artist, her little bears (and her excellent service) will not disappoint!” -- Barb Evans (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA)

“I own (and LOVE) Pepita! She is made so beautifully! It is her fabulous face that drew me in. A spectacular little girl! You also allowed me to have a screen-saver of her so that is exactly what I have on my computer screen now. Love that! No one else does that! Thank you sooo much!” -- Susan Petras (Nutley, New Jersey, USA)

“All my 5 Bright Bears show very skilled craftsmanship and I am very pleased with the service provided when dealing with Bright Bears. I always get a fast response and the bears are sent swiftly and well packaged. I am a satisfied customer.” -- Jan (Denmark)

“The exquisite little teddy bears and bunnies hand-made by Tessa are individual works of art! She puts so much time, attention, and love into each little creation. Her attention to every detail ensures that the collector is getting a very special, one-of-a-kind miniature. So far, I have purchased Catherine and Emma bears, and have added Tessa's Bright Bears to my list of favorite miniature artists. Each little bear has its own unique personality and expression. I smile every time I look at my little treasures. As an added bonus, Tessa is very kind and prompt in her transactions, making it a real pleasure to work with her! Thank you from a very happy customer!” -- Maria Dorrence Oder (Laramie, Wyoming, USA)

“Matthew arrived safely today. Your package was so perfect. I love your use of the tin and the filler inside. This was the best packaging I have ever seen. Tessa, I hate to admit that I am somewhat of a bear snob. I have made about 165 bears over the years, and I always try for perfection. Sometimes I reach my goal, sometimes I don't. I don't buy many bears on eBay because I am usually disappointed in the quality of the workmanship. Well, my Matthew is absolutely perfect. He was worth every penny and will be treasured forever. Thank you for sharing him with me and for doing such wonderful work. Congratulations!” -- Linda Monson (Rockford, Illinois, USA)

“Talent and professionalism from a great artist!” -- Georgia Papadaki (Crete, Greece)

“I have only a small collection of bears and had told my hubby that that was all, at least for now. But Tessa Altenburg's small bear, Philip with his rocking horse, kept tugging at my heart strings and I was fortunate to become his adoptive parent. The transaction was swift, safe, and packaged beautifully. Philip not only shared my husband's name, but also his birthday, so he is very special to us both. Tessa's workmanship on such a small bear is amazing and this I know, for I hand make many different items. All her bears are adorable and so special. Thank you again, Tessa of Bright Bears.” -- Ronaele Snyder (Illinois, USA)

“The entire adoption process of the bears I had purchased from Bright Bears was handled very efficiently by artist Tessa Altenburg. The distance these bears had to travel made me feel a little uneasy at first but my worries turned into great satisfaction at how fast Luna and Butterfly arrived! The quality of these bears and the wonderful packaging were just outstanding! It shows me that this artist takes great pride in her work! You can definitely count me in as a Bright Bears collector!” -- Lynn Takeshita (Pearl City, Hawaii, USA)

“I started my miniature bear collection about eight years ago and now find it numbers in the hundreds. I have always been very selective about the bears I adopt. They must be OOAK, but more than that, they must each have a unique personality and be made with the love and devotion of their creator. Because I have so many bears, I will not add a new artist to my collection unless they are remarkable. After finding Tessa and adopting Mireille, Rowena, and Austin, I am proud to add Tessa Altenburg’s Bright Bears to my favorites. You will be delighted too, and don’t worry about overseas shipping. Most of the artists I collect work outside the United States (Australia, Germany, England and now the Netherlands). I have never lost a bear in shipping, nor has one ever been damaged.” -- Bronwyn Stanisch (Tarzana, California, USA)