Gill draws inspiration from the stunning country she’s called home for nearly 25 years. She and her husband live in Abergavenny in Monmouthshire, Wales.
“My focus now is on producing sustainable bears inspired by the rugged landscape of Wales and the ‘Green, Green Grass of Home.’
To that end, she’s using Welsh wool tweed fabric, carded Welsh wool for stuffing and up-cycled American boot buttons for eyes.
Ever evolving, Gill expands her creativity to make raccoons, rabbits, foxes, pigs, sheep and dogs alongside her bears.
She credits her mother, Jean, for her skills in producing knitted cardigans and hats to keep her bears warm in the inclement Welsh weather.
Most of her one-of-a-kind creatures are directly adopted from shows or from her Facebook page.
“Although I have a website, my bears hardly ever get featured there!”
Gill can be found at special UK Teddy Bear shows and various craft fairs in the UK.
“It is always great to introduce artist bear-making to new audiences at these more general shows and fun to meet some of them again at traditional teddy bear shows as converts to the cause.”
Since the inception of her business in 2011, she has produced 1011 individually named, unique creatures and been honored in several competitions.
“I am so pleased to have been able to share a little of what I do with people who appreciate 'teds'.
And wish you all ‘Beary Hugs’ from Wales.”
Gillian Cattroll
BowerBird Bears
Member since June 2018 |