Bears, I just love them!!! My partner has had to build me a run of floor to ceiling, wall to wall shelving so that my collection of bears can sit in comfort and watch te comings and goings in my home.
My first bear was a red bear aptly named Moscow, he travelled everywhere with me,he knew my secrets and has kept them from the day I told them to him.
I now have in my collection a couple of steiff bears, some deans bears and a whole hoard of miniature Hermann bears who live in a dolls house!!
I have rescued bears from collectors fairs, taken them home and repaired them to their former glory.
Sometimes you find great old bears at jumble sales, people just throw them out with no idea what they really are. I have aquired three valuable bears this way, although it is getting harder these days as people are beginning to be a bit more shrewd!
I also have a collection of artist bears from all over the UK and abroad. I regularly travel to bear fairs where you can find the most amazing variety of bears to suit all tastes and all pockets.
It was this that inspired me to make my own collectors bears, and I only wish I'd done it sooner.
There is nothing more satisfying than when you've cut,pinned stitched, stuffed and jointed a pile of mohair and then all of a sudden there's this little bear sat on the table infront of you!
Bears are without a doubt the most appealing leftover memory of childhood.
I love bears!!!Don't you?