Minster Lovell Bears Journel

The Prue Bear – A Little Cotswold Colour
The Prue Bear – A Little Cotswold Colour
Sometimes a bear starts with a piece of fabric, and sometimes it starts with a person. I had the pleasure of meeting Prue Leith at a book signing at Burford... Read more...
A Very Special Bear for Nigel Mansell
A Very Special Bear for Nigel Mansell
Every now and then I get the chance to make a bear that is a little different from my usual commissions, and this one was particularly special. I was invited... Read more...
Memory Bears Made from Baby Clothes: A Keepsake to Treasure
Memory Bears Made from Baby Clothes: A Keepsake to Treasure
Those tiny first outfits can be surprisingly difficult to part with. Babies grow so quickly that favourite little clothes are soon packed into boxes and put away — yet years... Read more...
Handmade Teddy Bears in the Cotswolds
Handmade Teddy Bears in the Cotswolds
Tucked away in the Oxfordshire village of Minster Lovell is a little shepherd’s hut where every Minster Lovell Bear is individually made by hand. It is a small workshop rather than... Read more...
Bearing Bear – A Very Special Bear for Richard Hammond
Bearing Bear – A Very Special Bear for Richard Hammond
Every now and then, an idea for a bear comes along that I simply have to make. When I first saw Richard Hammond’s new Bearing Spiced Rum, I immediately thought the... Read more...
From Dust Bags to a Bear – Meet Fairfax
From Dust Bags to a Bear – Meet Fairfax
I’m always looking at fabrics and materials and wondering what I could turn them into, and Fairfax Bear started with a couple of Fairfax & Favor shoe dust bags. Rather... Read more...
Traditional Handmade Teddy Bears: What Makes an Heirloom Bear Special?
Traditional Handmade Teddy Bears: What Makes an Heirloom Bear Special?
There is something very different about a traditional handmade teddy bear. Unlike a mass-produced soft toy, an heirloom bear is made slowly, individually and with the intention that it will... Read more...
A brown wicker basket of materials used to create a soft toy bear.
What Can I Have Made from a Loved One’s Clothes?
A wardrobe can hold far more than clothes. A favourite shirt, a familiar dressing gown or a much-loved dress can instantly bring someone to mind, which is why deciding what... Read more...
Memory Bears Made from a Loved One’s Clothing
Memory Bears Made from a Loved One’s Clothing
Some pieces of clothing are simply too precious to part with. A favourite shirt, dress, cardigan or dressing gown can hold so many memories of the person who once wore... Read more...