I spend most of day in my studio. Although I am a bearsmith by trade, half of my work space is a tiny gem of a toyshop where Christmas reigns year around. It’s called ‘Bear Noel – a teddy bears christmas’ and it’s my pride and joy. Imagine ‘Geppetto’s Workshop’ with a friendly guy behind the counter instead of that silly old coot and you won’t be far off the mark. The shop is a beautiful jewel-box of space, high ceilings and vintage tin-walls with lots of old chestnut and beadboard. It glows with soft lighting and there are plush oriental carpets underfoot. The whole place is filled to over-flowing with vintage toys and teddy’s, hundreds of handmade artist bears from around the world and of course, a towering tree tucked into a corner, sparkling with lights and loaded with hundreds of unique ornaments. Model airplanes and hot air balloons drift overhead, and wagons and wheelbarrows roll by under the counter. My best pup, Buddy, sleeps at my feet all day, but he knows his job, and when the bell rings, he struggles awake and dutifully goes out to greet our visitors. He’s particularly fond of children, and we get a steady stream of kids in just to play with him. He thinks the whole thing is his own private petting zoo, and follows people around with a grumbly ‘grrurrrrooooo’ if he’s not getting enough attention.

Buddy has passed on, but his spirit remains intact in the presence of my new pups, Scooter'n Scout