Teddy Bears of Witney

We have had a little holiday from home, going out nearly everyday to find new walks and tread old ones. (For our trek round Hailes Abbey, there is a post here on Cotswold Peeps). And one of my secret 'things' is secret no longer. Back in the spring, I referred mysteriously to a large 'trade order' -

- which was no ordinary trade order; it was a commision from a well establised Teddy Bear shop in our local town. I first ventured into 'Teddy Bears of Witney' back in about 1988, when I moved here as a scruffy, odd-hair-styled art student. I don't remember much about my brief visit, but I do remember loving the Japanese art bears on display, goggling at the prices and thinking how wonderful it would be to do something similar.

When I returned to West Oxfordshire in 1994, I was delighted to see it was still there, but it wasn't until a few years ago that I had the pleasure of owning my first collectible bear. Andy had had a stroke of Christmas genius; he had taken his big 6ft 8'' self into that tiny, toy crowded shop, and bought me 'Spud', the little bear to the bottom left of the shelf below. I think I cried when I opened the bag. Never did I think I would ever own my very own special bear.

Two more joined him Tofty (bottom right) and Quimbly - top right. The traditional bear in the top left is a 1980's Laura Ashley bear from a friend many years ago. The catalogue they produce every year, showing new stock, is a little book in its own right, so lavish and highly produced that it has a cover price of £5.00. And I (or rather, my toys) are in the 2010 edition, celebrating 25 years of the shop's existence. Here they are in the British Artist Bear section, sat in front of one of my precious Moleskines.

Everyone at the shop has been perfectly lovely to me. Since my first meeting with them I have been treated like royalty whenever I have popped in. They make delicious coffee. Ian, the founder and owner, decided that my toys should be made available by ballot only, as he expects demand to be high. He has an extensive list of international customers, so with luck my little people will be going all over the place. And he has raised the bar on my prices, starting from £125/$205 - so if you got one of my early pieces for £50/$80 (or less), then you have done well!

They also stock my cards, which can just be seen in this catalogue photo, in the card rack towards the back, in the middle rails.

Needle felting is still a little known craft in the UK, but maybe this will help spread the word. And hopefully my name with it. In the meantime, I am back to painting - for one of my other jobs - my poor paint bowls were literally covered in dust...

Introducing Tofty

Well, I don't know, a few days into my new job and here I am filling in a blog! I'm Tofty, and I came to work here on Christmas Day, the traditional day for all teddies to start their employment. I was bought by a very tall man in motorbike gear, who rather startled the shop keeper in Teddy Bears of Witney, not being the 'usual' type of customer. But he certainly knew his bears and after careful consideration I was picked. I was only born in September, in Norfolk, at the workshop of Lindy Mullard. I am a Loteni Bear, and am called Tofty, number seven of ten. So I'm still a bit young. I was so excited as I waited to be unwrapped. There were smells of woodsmoke and oranges as I made my Grand Entry. By the big smile on my new bosses' face, I was just right for the job of Second Studio Bear.

Before I could start I had to be interviewed by the First Studio Bear, Chad, a Sharon Barron bear. He's been here a year, and is getting a bit overwhelmed with all the new work that's been coming in. So I'm to take over some of his lesser duties.

For a start, The Boss has been buying even more art materials. Here I am looking after the pastel box, trying not to get any on my fur, which is pure mohair. Perhaps I need an apron? Wellies for when I change the paint water?
It's certainly been a bit messy this week, the Boss started work again on Boxing Day. We listened to the Chronicles of Narnia on Radio 7 and planned out a big poster which has to be sent off soon. It's been business as usual since then, and I think I'm earning my keep.

I was most proud to be made Junior Librarian and Archive Keeper, with extra stationary duties. It's not just a sit down job, some of those books are quite heavy! From here I can watch The Boss as she works. Today we've been working on spreads for the 'Woodland Creatures' book. I think it's going well. There was none of that horrid swearing, anyway.

All this means Chad has a bit of spare time to visit our other friends in the studio. In fact, he's been taking it easy ever since I came here. Hmmm...