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| Practising Karate, has enriched her life immensely, and she currently holds 2nd Kyu rank at Midwest Karate, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. |
| Maralaina is a Costume/Fashion Designer by trade; working with dance schools, production agencies and private clients. In her work she performs many tasks: including original design & artwork, pattern drafting, fittings, shopping, sewing, photography, and alterations to finished garments. |
| Something about Maralaina |
| Maralaina also enjoys dressing Teddy Bears, and more recently, creating her own Artist Bears. In fact, being a child at heart; dressing and photographing these little Bears is among her greatest joys. For her, each one becomes special little character and she finds inspiration everywhere!. |
| The Karate Bears came to life quite unexpectedly, one evening at the dojo, about 7 years ago. Maralaina, with some spare time on her hands, a few bears orphaned from a Christmas project, and some inspiration from the Karate class in session; designed her first miniature Karate Gi. She dressed all the poor naked bears, hung them on a clothesline, and those first bears were all adopted that same night after class.. |
She does much of her work at the Midwest Karate dojo in Winnipeg, thanks to Chief Instructor Sensei Marr, who is a long-time friend and mentor. Her artwork often graces the T-shirts, posters and brochures for Midwest special events. At the dojo, she provides the service of shortening, altering & mending gis and making Hakamas. |
| photo by Colette Marr |
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