My name is Julie Goodswen and I live in Northampton UK with my family. I have 2 children Emma and Dominic and an English Springer Spaniel called Beth, whom we got from The Springer Spaniel Rescue Centre in Rugby.

I originally began as a bear collector. I wanted to buy a bear for my daughter, with her name to it and found I could not afford the bear I wanted. So being a very creative person and having tried my hand at many crafts i.e. flower arranging, saltdough, clay and fimo sculpting and oil painting to mention a few, I decided I would just have to try and make her a bear myself. This is where my bear making began.

My very first bears were not as adventurous as my current collection as my trial were made from an old suede skirt I had hanging in the wardrobe collecting dust.

Even though looking at these now they are a very poor effort at bears, people started to ask me to make bears for them. Although I must admit I was proud at my attempts at the time.

I had by the end of my very first bear, got the bear bug. I have been known to turn down outings so as to finish a latest creation and have sat up all night on numerous occasions stitching till dawn, because I just can not put it down. I think it is at this point you know your are hooked.

I love nothing more than to shop for my bears, from the mohair to the trimmings. I am always on the look out for the special little trimmings which will adorn my bears.

Most bear artists will tell you they design the bear then choose the fabric then the trimmings (if any). I however shop for the mohair and imagine how I would love a bear to look in that type of mohair. I do not design the bear first, but let my imagination run riot with the mohair. I try to conjure up as many designs as I can till I am satisfied it will look as good as I can make it, in my imagination. I still have several pieces of mohair which I purchased at the beginning of making the bears in mohair that I still can't make my mind up on. Once I have decided a general shape and sizing of the bear I set to work to make it. Once the pure bear is made my imagination comes into play once more and sometimes runs riot as on Daydreamer. I love to use as many trimmings as I can on my girl bears, but only if the bear warrants it. I have been know to try piles of ribbons, flowers and other trimmings only to find it just doesn't work. I will never totally give up on a bear, I know that something will work on it one day. So sometimes my creations hibernate until I find the perfect look for them.

I always make my bears as if it was to join my personal hug. I take as much time as needed and will never rush any bear. No bear will ever leave my hands unless I am totally happy with it. Hopefully this means my customers are always happy to welcome their bears home. I have had wonderful feedback from my customers. It is these words I carry with me to the next creation, I find it very re-assuring I have taken the right path and hope to continue creating as long as I have my imagination to guide me.

Thank you for taking the time to read about me, I hope I haven't bored you too much.

I am always open to suggestions towards my site and my bears. Please enjoy viewing my creations. There will always be new creations in the making, so if you don't find the perfect bear for your hug now, call back another time, I may have just made it.

Julie