About Oldenbears

ABOUT US

It all began one day when my 1957 Pedigree childhood bear lost his nose. It was one of those funny old black noses made of hard gutta-percha (the material that no one ever knows what it is) and it just, well, fell off for no apparent reason, never to be seen again.
Something had to be done, and fast. I embroidered a replacement in thick black wool. It wasn’t like the original but hey, I was just a kid and it was better than no nose at all. He still looked like my bear. And many years on, this nose is still – er - holding its own!

Years later, destiny took me to the London College of Fashion where I studied fashion design. Many years spent in varied roles designing, pattern cutting, working in West End theatrical wardrobe and running my own bridalwear business for 10 years, eventually brought me full circle to my embryonic childhood “career” of teddy bear restoration and making.
Consequently, Oldenbears was born in 1994.
In 2000 I set up www.oldenbears.co.uk.

I take it as a compliment that some other restorers - and you know who you are - appear to have liked our site so much that they have copied parts of it word for word, on their own sites! But that's where the similarity ends - there's only one Oldenbears.

There's quite a lot of info on this site - please enjoy.

Edy

As an accomplished needleworker with an extensive knowledge of vintage teddy bears, Edy will restore your old friend skilfully and professionally without obliterating his original character or past life, using an understanding of the construction and history of teddy bears and the correct materials for restoration in keeping with the bear's age and character with no unnecessary work, inappropriate materials or "over-restoration" carried out on any bear.

Based in Cambridgeshire, Edy also has her own range of custom made, vintage-look teddies.