The Creation of an 'Artful Bear'

Fabrics used are of the highest quality German mohairs (usually Steiff Schulte and Helmbold) and Alpaca; with Harris Tweed and Liberty Fabrics also used.

Smaller bears are entirely stitched by hand; but our larger boys and girls are sewn either using our Vintage Singer or our Janome semi-industrial machines.

Foot and paw pads of each bear are stitched by hand to give the best shape possible; (personalisation, if required, is added prior to making the bear).

My creations are stuffed by hand with the finest polyester and virgin wool fibres; and weighted to ensure a lovely 'presence' when held.

Constantly watched by my 'audience' of little handmade creatures (currently blue tits, wrens and mice) that live in the sewing room with me.

Limbs are jointed to the body; and then the 'soul' of the bear emerges when the eyes are added.  The face is then scissor sculpted to shape......

Finally the bears features (his nose and mouth) are embroidered by hand to finish off his personality.

I pride myself on being 'back to basic' - with only a few essential hand tools (other than our sewing machine) being used, some of them my late Dad's.

Didn't Confucious say "Love what you Do, and You'll never Work a Day in your Life"....well, I DO work hard, but I am certainly Following my Heart!!