Cornelius

Even though she thought of herself as a "closet" arctophile (bear lover), the native Australian didn't realize what an impact bears would make on her life.

One day, about 15 years ago, she noticed a shop selling bearmaking materials. She bought a bearmaking book, some fabric, then went home and made her very first bear. "Well, he sort of looked like a bear anway," Beryle said laughingly. She made another, then another and with a passion to improve, she went to a bearmaking class.

Dorothy

With her skills improving, she continued to try new things. Unfortunately "real life" soon took over and demanded much more of her time. She put down her needles and put bearmaking aside, only to bring them out on special occasions such as birthdays or the birth of a new baby among family and friends.

Six years would pass from the time she first started making bears to her return from an overseas holiday. Beryle was involved in a motor accident and that inturn changed her life forever. "I spent weeks in the hospital and months recovering with neck, shoulder and lower back injuries," she recalled.

"That meant an end to sitting at a desk in an office all day. Realizing that I could no longer work, play sports or even lift and carry my grandchildren, I sank into a deep depression."

Fritz

But thanks to her best friend, Patricia, she was encouraged to take up bear making again. "She promised by doing so it would cheer me up. So I followed her advice, made a bear and guess what? It did cheer me up!" she agreed.

Wanting to find others with the same interest as herself, Beryle went online and joined an online group with an interest in bears. But the group was short-lived. The interest in it, was not. So Beryle jumped in herself and founded the "Bearmakers of Australia and Beyond" an online bear group in 2003. "Our group has been going strong ever since, based on mutual friendship, support, and a mutual love of all things bear related."

One of their pet projects has been to make comfort bears to send to the members who have lost a close family member or are fighting a serious illness themself. That then branched into making the comfort bears for breast cancer patients. "It is a project very dear to all our hearts as most of us have been touched by breast cancer in a family member or friend."

They work with a breast cancer center nurse who helps distribute them when and where they are needed.

Beryle with Nurse at

Breast Cancer Center

Now making all her own designs, she contends that she doesn't have a specific style, but rather several styles that keep her interested in trying new things.

From hand dying the fur, to needle sculpting the faces and paw pads, hand painting the eyes, hand molding the polymer clay noses, she usually chooses to keep her bears "bare." She adds, "I love the colors so much, why would I want to cover it up?"

Jack

Occasionally, she does opt for the "real bear" designs. In 2005, she won second prize in the "People's Choice Award" in a Melbourne Teddy Bear show for her brown bear.

Beryle has completed training as an Integration Aide (working with students with intellectual, behavioral or physical disabilities). "I love my work," she remarks happily.

Although the training involves 40-50 hours of study each week, she gladly undertakes the new adventure.

Grizz

"It's funny," she said, "but if it hadn't been for the accident, I would not be doing the things I love the most; that is, making bears, doing a job I love, meeting so many wonderful bear-friends and having much more time to spend with family and friends." Beryle continued, "I now feel truly blessed!"

Beryle Tidey

Bickerton Bears

Member since March 2005

Kenny

Funky Trio

Finkelstein & Fritz