The company's roots go back to the late 1960's, in Watertown, MA. Judy Folkmanis began sewing puppets for her son's nursery school while her husband Atis earned his Ph.D. at Brandeis. Even with two small children underfoot, Judy managed to design and produce enough puppets to begin a cottage industry. When the family moved to California, Judy enjoyed four years of success as a sidewalk vendor, selling her "Furry Folk" creations to the eclectic passers-by on Berkeley's famous Telegraph Ave. Then, in 1976, her business took an interesting turn. Atis completed his studies in biochemistry and switched to cutting puppet patterns. They soon hired several seamstresses, and never looked back. The couple has turned their small venture into the premier manufacturer of plush puppets worldwide, with about 250 of the most heartwarming and realistic designs on the market today. Best of all, after 30 years, Folkmanis, Inc. is still a family business.