I was 42 on Sunday and I live in Gateshead with my lovely husband Gary, 15 year old Son Chris and my cat Ripley. I used to be a receptionist in the Radiology department of one of the local hospitals but since my son was born with Williams Syndrome I had to stay at home to look after him and so I went back to the embroidery that Mum taught me to keep myself busy.

I think I have tried every craft known to man and then some, but Needlework was my big thing. I passed my NCFE grade 1 &2 in embroidery and did a diploma in Creative design. I was thinking about going to sign up for a City and Guilds in Embroidery and I discovered bears.... I started out as a collector. I started after my Mum bought me a bear from the English Teddy Bear Company. I thought "I could do that" so I did with a kit from Oakleys. Then I bought a kit from Penny Roberts for a 3 inch bear and that was about three and a half years ago I think. I was hooked, well and truly.

I still collect, I have quite a few Prince Bishop Bears, a Cotswold a couple of Bry's Bruins, the obligatory Steiff and Merrythought and I love Russ bears. So now, like Shona and Sindie, I also have piles of half finished cross stitch waiting to be completed, that's on top of the samplers, kits,fabric and charts and more books and supplies than you can shake a stick at, all stacked up under the table in my sewing room gathering dust (like the rest of the house, I'm no housewife). I can use some of the threads and beads in my stash, but I have yet to be persuaded to part with any of the other stuff. I have tried loads of times to pick up embroidery, but I am always thinking about the next bear, and end up putting it away again. I am hopelessly addicted.... When I am not making bears or making a feeble attempt at the housework I like to use the computer and the Playstation. Well thats it about me, this is turning into an epic...

e-mail: bears@wyngarth.com