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I have been making bears full time since 1996. I wanted a job that let me be at home to bring up my daughter. I worked in banking before that and had a wee sideline making christmas decoration.A customer in the bank gave me a victorian chennile curtain as a pressie and that was what inspired me to make my first bear.I thought it was fab but it would scare chickens!!!!

Six months later I terrified myself by leaving a well paid secure job to give bear making ago.I was alone bringing up my daughter by then and had a mortgage and numerous animals to feed.I have no idea where I got the courage or faith but I am so glad I did it.

There have been ups and downs financially but it enabled me to bring up my daughter the way I wanted to and to live out here in the countryside. I start each morning by saying "God bless America" as those good old folks in the US of A have paid the bills for years.I have lots of lovely buyers who are so loyal and helping me to keep going through the credit crunch.

I love designing new bears and each one is a one and only. My daughter is at uni now so its just me and the dogs,cat and fish!! I walk in the woods and along the beach for at least two hours a day,run and cycle and go to the gym daily.

I do very little housework and basically just make bears all day long. The house is a sea of fur and sawdust.Its more like a rabbit hutch than a home. I am always trying new things and tonight I am trying to make wheels for my new bears on all fours. I dont collect bears myself but I have a few that have been gifts.I also have my childhood merrythought cheeky and an eyewateringly beautiful steiff on wheels thats 100 years old. I collect vintage childrens books and find that about all my brain can deal with by beddy byes.

Diane Kennedy