Classes     Pen & Ink/Rouging     Pattern Packets     Custom Art     Newsletter     Huck's Hangout     Contact/Links     Memorial     Free Patterns     Home

If you are having problems seeing the links for our pages (to your left) you may need to change your java script settings.  Click this link  HELP!!!

P.O. Box 950, Weirsdale, FL  32195  ●  Phone/Fax:  352-821-4120 

Welcome to Pookie Bear's Den, Home of Pookie-G Designs.  My name is Susan Larson and I'm Pookie-G.  Pookie Bear is the nickname we bestowed upon our granddaughter Erin when she was a baby, I'm Pookie's grandma hence "Pookie-G." 

I started painting in acrylics, decorative-tole painting, late 1997.  My friend Dottie taught co-workers after hours and the group kept encouraging me to join them.  I fought the idea.  Though I had taken art for three years in high school and doodled I felt I couldn't paint like them.  They were great and Dottie was the Queen.  She's a beautiful painter folks, but she's very humble.

My "art" was the written word.  Well, finally I decided to give it a try and that was it.  Paint, brushes, books and surfaces started magically appearing in my home.  I created a little space in our loft to paint. 

Having to drive to Orlando or order online and, gasp, wait for delivery, shopping for our books and other necessities was such a bother.  I kept telling my friends I was going to open up a craft store and it would have a great bathroom for our shoppers.  Yes, there's a story behind that. 

A personal loss drove me to create Pookie Bear's Den.  We opened our shop in August of 2002.  A member of my painting group, Vicki, had taken certification in pen & ink with oil rouging from Mary Owens.  She suggested I hire one of the certified teachers to teach in the shop.  My friendship with Carol Adams was born.  What a find.  Thank you, Vicki.

Carol began teaching in the shop immediately.  She actually helped stock shelves and inventory product before the big opening.  The technique was a hit.  Mary came to teach at the shop and I offered to host one of her last open certifications.  This is when I became certified. 

Though we offered the pen & ink, watercolor, One Stroke and wet-on-wet oil painting and other classes we made the tough decision to close the shop when the lease expired in October of 2005. 

I began designing pattern packets in 2004.  As for Carol, we still teach together at Royal Highlands and back each other up as needed at other classes.  She's been a wonderful friend and now has me scrapbooking. 

Bringing painting to those who didn't think they could do it has been very cathartic for me personally.  Thank you to all who helped bring me to this place.  If it weren't for Dottie teaching to co-workers I wouldn't be teaching in the community now.  Dottie, Libby, Vicki and Carol made this all possible, along with my husband Chris and my parents who have all been so very supportive. 

Remember folks, everything that happens brings forth the next thing that will happen.  Be open for anything.

Proud Member of

Pookie Bear is our granddaughter, Erin,
whom we love very much.

Visits since September 2006

Send mail to pookiebearsden@aol.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2006 - 2008 Pookie Bear's Den 
All artwork is copyrighted by the artists featured any reproduction is a violation of copyright laws.
Last modified 4/7/08