Making great minis is definitely one of the areas polymer clay is perfect for. Still, there is a difference between decent miniatures and really great ones like this bear tutorial (English translation) by Svetlana Pavlova. I love the fur texture and the way she works methodically on one side then the other. From experience I know that you want to touch your work as little as possible with your hands and that even the heat of your fingers will smudge miniatures so that working with them on a fixed surface is the best way to go.
Oh! I’m gonna have to make some of these for my Mom! She collects teddy bears, vintage ones. She’ll love em!