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 Garden Centre. She was every bit as warm and colourful as I had imagined, and afterwards I came away with an idea — I wanted to make a Minster Lovell Bear inspired by her.
The fabric had to be full of colour and personality. I chose this wonderful multicoloured design and teamed it with warm orange paw pads, a deep olive-green silk bow and, naturally, a tiny pair of gold glasses.
As with all my bears, Prue was made by me in my little shepherd’s-hut workshop in Minster Lovell, carefully weighted and finished by hand. I wanted her to have all the traditional character of a Minster Lovell Bear, but with a little extra splash of colour.
Once finished, I sent the bear to Leiths School of Food and Wine as a gift, with no expectation of anything in return. I simply loved making something inspired by a lady I had enjoyed meeting.
And whether a bear is made for someone well known or for a family closer to home, that is still one of my favourite parts of what I do — taking an idea, a fabric or a memory and turning it into a completely individual bear.
Handmade in the Cotswolds, one bear at a time.