Claire Bears, Handmade Memories & Keepsakes

Aim

I aim to expand my current home based business into premises where my creations will be more visible to existing and potential customers.

Hi, I'm Claire and I create bespoke handmade memory and keepsake items, including bears, animals, blankets and cushions. 

I use fabrics from clothing, provided by the customer. Clothing of a passed loved one, children's first outfits, uniforms, wedding dresses ...  In fact, anything!

Each bear, blanket or cushion, can be personalised with text embroidered to the customers request, Bears can be weighted to baby's exact birthweight, loved ones ashes can be concealed inside a hidden pocket on each bear, a locket can be attached containing ashes, lock of hair or photographs and I can even add a photograph onto the bear in fabric. I always endeavour to accomodate customers requests wherever possible and work alongside the customer throughout the process.

I previously worked in Social Work but have been a seamstress all my life, in my own time. My dad taught me to sew as a small child and bought me my first sewing machine at age 14. I later, studied fashion and textiles which gave me the confidence to move forward, designing and making all sorts of sewn clothing, housewares, soft furnishings, gifts & other crafts. I held stalls at craft markets and fairs, enjoying the buzz from selling things I had made. 

In January 2018, I broke my ankle and was off work, with no pay. So I asked friends if I could make anything for them, to earn some pocket money.  A friend requested 5 memory bears from her son's scout leader uniforms. He had passed away and she wanted a bear for each of the children in the family, to remember him by. She posted photographs of the 5 bears on social media. From this, I went on to make many more, inspiring me to reduce my work hours and concentrate on my new venture, which I recently decided to make my main focus and turn into a business.

I absolutely love what I do and cannot imagine ever doing anything else. The completed keepsakes bring happy and sad tears, smiles and lots of cherished memories to keep and cuddle forever. I love to hear the stories behind the clothes and wherever possible, I incorporate any characterisitics and ideas into the keepsakes I create, making them all individual and unique.

My vision is to be able to offer my service to a wider audience and to showcase example items for all to see exactly what I can do. At present, I work from my home, in my son's bedroom (he's away at Uni). I use very basic tools and equipment, with little room and storage. I'd like to move into a local premises with more space, with the use of all the correct equipment and tools and be in a position to order materials in bulk to save money, as well as purchase a decent sewing and embrodery machine. I hope to gain support so that I can expand as a professional business and one day soon, have a team to help me to provide my service, not only in my local area but internationally.

In order to do this, I will need support with the funding and hope to raise some money towards this, using crowd funding. 

With your help, I can do this. If you are able to support my businees to grow, with even a small amount, please do. My gratitude will be infinite and your help will be invaluable.

Help me to help those who need a smile, a cuddle, a reminder of their innermost precious memories.

Many thanks

Claire xxx  

This project successfully funded on 19th March 2020