There are bears out there

By Tania Martin
AVONSLEIGH teddy bear maker Judy Parker will take all sorts of fuzzy and cuddly bears to the Stitches and Craft show next week.
Ms Parker has been making teddy bears in all shapes and sizes for the past five years and is a regular patron of stitches and craft fairs around the country.
She started making bears as a hobby but it soon grew into much more.
“I made my first bear for my mum and then a neighbour wanted one and interest just grew and grew,” she said.
With the interest in her teddy bears growing, Ms Parker decided to turn it into a business of making bears and selling kits on how to make the cute and cuddly creatures.
She is now a regular addition to craft shows around the country, which includes travelling to places like Brisbane and Tasmania.
Ms Parker said she started making bears because it was something she always wanted to try and once she started she couldn’t stop.
“I always liked doing hand craft like lead lighting and I always wanted to try my hand at teddy bears,” she said.
“On my first try I found I really liked it so I started to design my own patterns.”
Ms Parker has a wide range of big and small bears that will be on display at the Stitches and Craft Show, which runs from Wednesday, 14 March until Sunday, 18 March.
She will also have kits available which show people how they can start making their own teddy bears.
Anyone interested in seeing Ms Parker’s teddy bears or other arts and crafts should visit the show at Caulfield Racecourse in Caulfield.