where has this year gone? I need more hours, more days, more weeks or maybe I should grow 4 more pairs of arms. I am so busy at present with orders that I am in my usual panic about future fairs so I must remain focused and organised. Even though I am busy I have planned two new workshops one for October 3rd and one for November 8th.
Next week looks just as hectic with me spending one day in Southhampton being filmed for a awards evening in November, I call it my Norma Desmond moment!!!!
well must get back to stitching now.
Mini Bear Hugs Andy

Hello dear readers i hope this finds you all well and happy. I have been enjoying a day sewing in the garden. two new creations have made it to the online shopping page:- Ruby Rouge and Barnaby, both are heavily weighted with steel shot this makes them feel like live little bears in your palm. even a day in the garden in the Westie household is true madness..........HID is faffing around with plants etc, Lily the cat keeps on jumping on the table and running off with bits of bears and Dodo our elerldy cat just wants to curl up where I am sewing!!!!!

It was great seeing you all last weekend at Hugglets what a great show loads of westies went off to new homes even though my stock was low (I need to grow another pair of hands to keep up with demand). but great fun talking and laughing with you all..........oh and not forgetting spending my cash on fabrics etc. HID had a great time in Kensington shops which i now think must be empty as she had bags, bags and even more bags!!!!!!!

Take care until we meet again mini bear hugs Andy xxxx

Hello friends,

No I have not been in hibernation just very busy creating little bears. Where does the time go ? I have three fairs coming up the amazing Leatherhead Dols house show on the 31st so am busy making micro creations and little mice for this show. The big bear festival in Stratford and the new forest festival. In the new forest show I will be holding a workshop on miniature bear making so if there is anything you want me to show you just let me know.

I hope you are all enjoying this sunny weather, HID is busy in the garden (I just supervise and generaly get in the way) but pure bliss sitting in the garden making bears and soaking up the sun rays. I hope you all have a little sunshine in your lives. mini but huge bear hugs Andy xx

Hi everyone so sorry I have not updated my blog recently but I do not know where the hours, days or weeks go? Last week was Hugglets and it was so good to see so many of you there and so many of my little sreationd flying off to new homes. HID had a good day shopping in Kensington!!! poor bank balance!! My latest creations have just been added to this site which includes two little bears with dreadlocks these are labour intensive as each dreadlock is hand plaited.My latest craze is Face book very adictive  but great meeting so many friemnds. Have a good day mini bear hugs Andy xx

Hi to you all. I hope you all had a great Christmas and new year. We had a lovely family chrismas. New year was seen in with our neighbours in the street drinking warm punch and eating crackers and cheese.

Well I am back in the swing of things now and creating loads of new designs for my up and coming fairs.

see you all soon mini warm bear hugs andy

Last Night 07/10/08 Andy and a couple of westie bears (oh yes and her in doors!!!) attended a gala dinner to celebrate them winning the national bronze award in the trading places awards. we had a great evening not only meeting the lovely Lorraine Kelly but meeting the other finalists. Andy has to admit to eating rather too much and drinking too much so today is rather delicate!!!! mini bear hugs to you all.

Thank you all of you that stopped and made my day at hugglets. as you know I love nothing better than talking bears and boy did i talk bear!!! so much so that now I have jaw ache. I hope all of you that took home new little friends are enjoying their company remember the westie bear rule......all bears need a smidge of love each day. see you all soon mini bear hugs Andy

This weekend I have been displaying my bears at the Rudgwick steam fair. an odd place for bears i hear you say!! well, there were a wonderfull aray of crafts on offer not to mention my little bears and it was great meeting new and old friends. the only problem was the mud!! many of my little creations went off to new homes and I hope they bring great joy to their new families. Next weekend i am at Shoreham airshow folllowed by Hugglets the following weekend so I must get sewing to re stock see you all soon mini but huge bear hugs Andy xx

I now know what a Hollywood star feels like as today I have had a film crew following my every move. This is publicity for the Barclay Trading Places awards of which I am one of the regional finalists. Great fun although I think I bored the team with my constant jabbering on about teddy bears.Even Dodo the cat got in on the action making his film debut.

Watch this space as next week we get a new addition to the family...no HID is not in the family way!! we get a new little kitten white with a black blob on the top of his head. So we are busy choosing names.....lilly, Pingo,Mrs Crinkle and others which are un printable any sugestions? please let us know. mini bear hugs andy xx

Hi everyone,
I hope you are enjoying this wonderfull weather. I have had a fantastic day in brighton today. not only did I have a opportunity to sit in the sun   but I was   also invited to attend the southern heat of the Barclay trading places awards. And guess what? I am honoured to announce that I am one of the two regional finalists!!!! not bad for a man and his little bears.And yes dear reader a few of my bears got to go to the awrd ceromony as well !!   it is a shame that everyone in the room could not win as everyones   stories were fantastic and inspiring.

I am busy making new bears for the new forest fair this sunday   and I look forwrd to meeting you all there so untill I see you all big bear hugs and smiles to you all Andy xxxx

Hi all so sorry I have not updated this blog for a while but life has been hectic hectic hectic!! I am thrilled to announce that westieBears was in the final of the West sussex County times awards and won the best contribution to life in the Horsham District. It was a very posh event held in The South Lodge Hotel near Horsham starting with champagne on the terrace then a lovely meal (HID cannot say I dont take any where now!!). I have also been very busy making bears for orders and for fairs. the latest fair was the leatherhead dolls house fair for which I made a selection of 1 and 2 inch bears. I have now got the bug for tiny tiny bears so watch out for more. I am looking forward to the New Forest Bear Festival at which I am not only selling bears but also undertaking a demonstration of bear making so do come along and remember my birthday kiss as the next day I will be 21 !!!!!! mini bear hugs Andy xxx

Yesterday I organised my usual Doll and Teddy Bear club near to where I live. As per usual great fun a whole afternoon talking bears!!! But on this occasion we were lucky enough to be joined by Sarah from the Chestnut Tree Hospice for children where we presented her with a cheque for £200 towards the costs of the hospice. Sarah gave a wonderfull talk on the work of the hospice which caused us all to go through a range of emotions from tears to smiles. Well worth looking up this hospice as they do some wonderfull work.

I am busy creating new bears I hope you like the three new bears on the web site: Polly pollen is very tradional and I thought she was just crying out to have some bees as friends so she has one on her foot, one on her paw and one on her head. Jack Union is tradional inthe fact he is red, white and blue as per the union jack flag. His aim in life is to spread wackness over the UK! and Cecil is one hot lillte bear if his colours are anything to go by!!

I am busy also creating some small micro bears as well as catching up with orders.

Take care for now and mini but huge bear hugs to you all Andy xx

Hi all I hope you are all enjoying the change in the weather. all I seem tio do at present is talk to different groups about bears---great job if you can get it !!!!!!! I am looking forward to attending the lancing College fair this weekend great venue ( a bit like Hogwarts from the Harry Potter films!!) so I am very busy making new bears and kits. we had a lovely family easter and even got to see the Spiderwick chronicles you must all go and see the film a lovely bit of escaping the preassures of everyday life. Well my dears i must go now I hope to see you all very soon mini bear hugs Andy xxxx

Phew life has been so hectic recently with bear orders flying off all over the place and last week I gav a talk to the Doll Makers Guild in london. Great fun and what a ineresting buncgh of people. Her in doors had to drag me away Or I would still be talking bears and even more bears!!hope you all like my latest creations to be added to this web site. See you all soon mini but huge bear hugs Andy xx  

Wow Wow Wow what a fantastic day at Hugglets. I was busy all day and saw many of my bears go off to new homes (I hope they are all behaving themselves). it was great meeting so many of you and lots of bear fair virgins who were experiencing their first bear fair and purchasing their first bear. But I did remember all of you that live far and wide from London and hopefully through the power of mind thoughts all of you that could not attend the fair recieved a little bear hug from me!!

The only down side to the day was that I was so busy I did not get a chance to look around and add to my own hug. Oh well its back to sewing for me and getting some new bears and bunnies ready for Rochester hope to see you there. Mini but huge bear hugs Andy

Hi all,

Now January is here so is he cold and windy weather. I love sitting in my workshop making bears and looking out on the stormy weather. At present I am making some traditional style 2" bears some dressed others in the buff!!!! I also have a idea for a rather naughty policeman bear watch this space!!!It was great today talking to Norma from South Africa who has just heard about my bears. I find it amazing hat you can talk to someone hundreds of miles away but it seems like they are around the corner. also great to hear that their weather is not too great at present also. Looking forward to the 2008 bear sows starting in a couple of weeks a Stratford and looking forward to seeing you again until then keep warm and bear hugs Andy xx

Well hello to you all I hpe you are well. yesterday was my first workshop of the year. I must say it went cery well all the participants were lovely and ended up making some lovely creations including:- a scruffy dog, a cat and some cute little polar bears. Great fun all day although today I am so so tired. Never mind I hope you all like the new additions to the web site take care and mini bear hugs Andy xx

just a little note to wish you all and the ones that you love a happy and healthy 2008. i am busy at present making new bears  forr 2008 and planning new workshops. my next wokshop is on 12th january then after that i am planning one for March.

Have a great new year mini bear hugs andy xxx

Hi everyone,

Just a short note to say a big HAPPY CHRISTMAS to you all and a big THANK YOU for your custom in 2007. I have had a great year. I plan o have a quiet christmas at home with my family, but I am sure that I will not stp making my little bears.

I hope what ever you are doing you have a blessed christmas and that 2008 gives you all that you dream of. mini bear hugs Andy xxx

Hi all, lovely meeting so many of you down at Botliegh Grange last Sunday. I must say it was so good having a larger room and more people showing off their little bears. By popular demand I have now made a date for my next worksop the 12th January 2008. Sorry I tried to make it before christmas but time and business just ran away with me!!!! So come on book a place for yourself or how about giving it as a present for someone you love.

I am happy to say that i have been nominated for the British bear artist awards again this year and am looking forward to Hove on the 9th december. well I must go off now and continue with my Christmas orders.

If you are local to horsham maybe visit me at the farlington school this saturday.

Mini but huge bear hugs Andy xx

Why oh why does my order list grow faster than I can sew? Hi everyone I hope you are all well and keeping warm. I am so lucky to have some superb orders to make watch my site for some pics. also i am currently trying to arrange a workshop just before christmas so if you are interested send me your details please have a great week mini bear hugs Andy xx

Hi everyone,

 I hope you are all enjoying the autumn colours that are appearing everywhere. Our garden looks amazing from the window of my workshop all golds and reds. nHence the inspiration for my latest bears made to look crazy and full of colour. Foofer is red and blue with just atouch of attitude, Willie Bum Fluff is purple, mauve and red with a mop of crazy crazy hair!!! I think he is to blame for all our bad hair days and those gray hairs that creep up on us!!!

Looking forward to Rochester next week I hope to see many of you there. mini bear hugs Andy

Hi everyone,

as promised I have added some new bears to this site I hope you like them. I am so busy at present making bears for shows and for people who have ordered them. It is wonderfull the effect bears have on people that sly little grin that slowly grows on a huggers face when their new little friend says take me home. If only we could bottle that then I am sure there would be more peace in this world of ours. I am at the Bracknel leisure centre this Sunday I hope to see you all there. mini but huge bear hugs Andy xxx

Hi everyone, I hope you are all well. i have been so busy recently it seems as fast as I make my little critters they fly off to new homes including some to Hollywood (I am even practising my oscars speech LOL). Well keep a eye on this web site as I have a new range of 2" wacky bears to add I think they are really cute. Lovely to meet you all at the Birmingham Motor Cycle show yesterday. Bye for now mini but huge bear hugs Andy xxxx

lovely to see many of you at Hugglets yesterday. what a great day lovely people and great to see many of my little creations go off to new homes. I was thrilled to hear that so many of you love reading my articles in Teddy Club International why not send a email to Kirste the editor to let her know how much you enjoy the magazine.I am now not only tired but my jaws ache from so much talking and laughing. I hope you all like the new bears on the web site. Take care and hope to see you all soon mini bear hugs Andy xx

 Hello everyone,

I do hope you are all having a great summer and getting a tan and not going rusty with all the rain. A special hi to everyone I met at Rudgwick steam fair last weekend. I had great fun despite the awfull mud!!! at times i thought my chair would sink intto the bowels of the earth and i would never be seen again!!!! Thank you all for your custom as many bears went off to new homes, I hope the bears bring you all great joy. now I am like a mad man trying to get ready for Hugglets, see you all there and if you are passing please say Hi (Idont bite very hard) lots of love and bear hugs to you all Andyxxxx

Hi to one and all. i have just come back from a lovely weekend in the New Forest. On the saturday I was demonstrating the art of bear making at "Bear it In mind" bear shop in Beulieu then on sunday I was exibiting at Exbury gardens. What a beary weekend I had and a big hi to all of you that stopped by to say hello mini hugs Andy

I hope you all are managing to keep warm and dry in our recent awfull  weather, my heart and prayers go out to those of you who are suffering.

As for me the bad weather gives me a excuse to stay indoors and create new little friends for you all to love and cherish. at present I am enjoying making some colourfull little pandas.

hi to all of you who stopped by to say hello at the fair in Dorchester I had a great day and it was so good to see such comited bear lovers. many people asked me why so many fairs are getting smaller. My view is that so many people lead such busy lives it is easier and more convienient to purchase their bears via the web. but lets keep the bear fairs live come and support your local fair and see the bears in the fur.

take care and keep dry mini but huge bear hugs Andy

Yes today i am 21 again and again and again!!!! But decpite my big day i am still sewing away. today i am creating a little creation for wendy a lovely little black bear incorporating sunflowrs into the design, just what I need a little sunshine away from all this wet weather we have had lately. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you that have had damage or had to leave their homes because of this weather (warm bear hugs from me to you).

Later Lesley my wife and I are off to see a Rod Stewart concert (in the open air so I hope the weather improves!!!!!)

Hope you all like the new bears. mini bear hugs Andy

Hi all,

I hope you are all surviving this barmy weather one moment it is sunny the next the heavens have opened. I am busy getting ready for the workshop I am running on sunday, it is always great to meet new people. I am so busy with orders that I am worried about making new bears for future fairs so if anyone has some extra hours please send them to me!!! i hope you all liked the current copy of my article in Teddyb bear international publication, also look at the letters page as one of my past workshop members has written in .

Oh well i must get back to my stitching mini bear hugs andy

Just to let you all know westie bears have been shortlisted for the Barclay Trading Places awards again this year, so watch this spac for more news on this.  with big smiles andy xx

Hi all so sorry to those of you who have been waitng for me to put new bears on the web site well  I hope you like the new bears. Last weekend i was selling my little creations at the Weald and Down open air museam it was great meeting loads of new customers/friends. I am hard at work creating some new punks  so watch this space. Apologies again for the delay in putting new bears on the sit i need more hours in the day. Mini but Huge bear hugs to you all Andy xx

Hi all I hop you are all well and happy. i have been so busy recently what with bear making, writing my latest column for Teddy Bear Club Internatinal and attending fairs. it was great meeting all of you that attended the Reading fair yesterday.

I hope you all like the latest additions to my bears I am particularly proud of my mini mice as inspired by Dodo the cat who brings them in our house !!!

My mini wacky style bears are also proving to be popular and are really cute.

I hope to see some of you at Crawley next monday so until then ta ta mini bear hugs Andy xx

Hi all how are all of you doing? I am very tired but happy. the fair at Botleigh grange was great and many of my little creations went off to new homes, thanks to all of you that purchased a new little friend. I am trying to create a new range of Gollies and beware of my adult only range "the todger bears" well I did warn you!! watch the site for new bears coming shortly mini bear hugs Andy

Hi All,

just had a great day at the Brentwood fair in Essex, what a lovely bunch of people. Many of my little creations went to new homes including Mc Todger my little scitish bear wearing a kilt but underneath he was allmale bear!!!!!!as you can guess he caused quite a stir but also lots of laughter. Please do not forget that next sunday is the great Hampshire bear fair at Botleigh Grange well worth a visit.

Oh i must add that I was lucky enough to adopt two old monkeys for my own collection. Hence I am now tired but one happy fella. mini bear hugs andy

hi everyone i hope you are enjoying this wonderfull weather we are having. yesterday I tried to make my bears outside in the garden but the breeze kept blowing bits of bear away which gave DoDo the cat great pleasure chasing bits of mohair (bless him I dont think!!). On saturday I ran a small workshop for 7 wonderfull ladies who all wanted to make dragons. the participantants were all at different levels but all had great fun (well they spent a great deal of the time laughing!). Most of the group went home with something that looked like a dragon or which could be finished at home. warmest hugs to everyone on that course and if people are interested i am running another course on June 24th. Big Bear hugs to one and all Andy xx

Phew!!!!!! where do the days go. we attended the waltham abbey Fair last sunday which was a hot and sticky day. It was a shame that not many people came along to the fair but it was nice talking to those of you that came and nice to see some of my little creations going off to new homes. i have just finished off my next article for teddy club International and hope you all like it. thanks for the positive feedback regarding my articles please let me know what you think of the web site as i have been playing around with it. Have a great day mini bear hugs andy

Hi everyone,

                       i hope you all had a great easter with loads of chocolate consummed. Here in the uk the weather has been lovely and sunny thats why i think the Portsmouth bear show was so quiet. but i still had fun talking to friends old and new and to see many of my little creations flying off to new homes. This weekend is a fair at Waltham abbey so this week will be taken up with making new bears I think I will make a new range of my wacky bears but even smaller. I also have to write my column for Teddy Club International. so have a great week mini bear hugs Andy

just a quick message to let you know that we will be attending the portsmouth show on easter sunday. orignally we were taking the day off to be with the familly but they had different ideas (kids!!). never mind I get to spend the day with my teddy familly. hope to see you all on sunday mini bear hugs andy

well, today I am recovering from the fantastic fair at Hove town hall. I had such fun meeting all of you that came over to say Hi and thanks for your positive comments about the site and my articles in Teddy Club International (for anyone that does not know I write a regular column for Teddy Club International on the lighter side of bear making).

I enjoyed the Hove fair as it was a mix of bears and miniatiures my two favorite things (well after my wife and kids of course). Quite a few of my little creations found themselves new homes I hope they bring their new owners many days of smiles.

Well it is back to the stitching now and I have to get my head around my next article. Take care and mini bear hugs andyxx

Hi All,

            I hope you are all well and happy. I am busy making bears for the show at hove town hall this weekend. it is a Dolls house miniatures and bear fair so should be great fun. i am making lots of my micro bears for this event--they are appreox half a inch short. I have an idea but want your feedback do you think that a page on this site selling patterns and kits would be a good idea? just let me know also what do you want to see on this site. Take care and i hope you all have a great weekend and i hope to see some of you down at hove. mini bear hugs andy

 This week is being spent getting ready for  a teddy bear fair at Hove town hall this sunday. i have been making some of my micro teds that are 1" short. the question is why do all the sewing needles vanish and are never found until a member of the family treads on them!?! I have now finished my rough draft for this site I hope you like it just let me know. It was great talking to a woman who is 98 today and had a great reminicence on how she used to make teds for her kids out of odds and sods. just goes to prove what ever the bear there is someone to love them. Love is a little word but boy does it have power....so big hugs and love to you all Andy xx

Welcome to my new web site. I hope you enjoy viewing my little creations. It has taken a while to set it up due to my techno phobia but I hope you think it is worth it. I will be making regular changes to the site and would love to hear what you like and what you dont. I will write more in this blog during the week as I have to help my son celebrate his 18th birthday Happy birthday Christian (oh what is to be young he has been celebrating for over a week and still looks human I would be a wreck)mini bear hugs to you and yours Andyxx