About Me
Hello, my name is Kay Newhook
I have been making teddy bears since 1994 and started selling them roughly 4 or 5 years ago. Bear making is a dying art, and it’s one of my goals to bring back some interest in this unique craft!
My passion started on a random work day in the Scotiabank break room in Victoria BC 1994, where my co worker at the time was in the process of making a teddy bear. I thought about how unique it was and asked her to teach me….. that is how all of this began.
Since then I have been continuously perfecting my craft, taking courses over the years, discovering new ways to sew faces and even making my own patterns.
Five years ago my daughter told me I had too many bears and needed to start selling the ones I made. She ended up signing me up for my first craft show and it has only grown from there. Now my daughter is my business partner and I can’t keep up with the demand.
I could’ve never imagined this being the business it has become and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Cavendish Bears.
Here at Cavendish Bears I strive to use handmade, locally, or Canadian sourced materials for all of my furry creations.
Each bear is carefully crafted, every cut with the scissors is carefully done, every stitch is meticulously placed, and all measurements are thoroughly thought out. I do not use a sewing machine, I sew every stitch by hand, even if it means stabbing myself with the needles from time to time.
Each bear and bunny has hand blown glass eyes imported from Germany. The heads are attached with cotton pins while the arms and legs are attached by nuts and bolts, each bear is also stuffed with poly fill stuffing and have little red hearts sewn onto a paw pad.
No two bears are ever the same… even if I tried. The faces are hand embroidered so they will always be slightly unique.
The Fur is from a range of different materials and types of fur. The synthetic furs are soft and plush, which is typically more kid friendly. Though I do enjoy using the synthetic fur as it is easier to sew, I try to make the majority of my creations from real fur which is typically repurposed from fur coats I have collected from thrift stores over the years.