Bilford is not your typical teddy bear, with his hand-blown glass eyes, mohair plush and a nose made from many layers of wax.
He is just one of about 40 heritage-style bears that Shelley Burge has painstakingly made over the decades, with 30 moving with her into the Summerset Richmond Ranges retirement village.
This month, the bears have ventured into the village centre for display, where they are meeting residents and visitors while Shelley shares their stories.
Like the polar bear in his sailor suit - a replica of the teddy bear clutched by a little boy rescued in a lifeboat after the sinking of the Titanic. Shelley sought the pattern from England to create that little bear.
Another wears a cameo given to Shelley as a 21st gift from her parents. For that bear, she purchased a dress from a second-hand shop and soaked it in cold tea for an antique look. The cameo it wears is now a constant reminder of her parents’ gift.
“I made one for my mother-in-law, and when I gave it to her she burst into tears. When I asked her what was wrong, she said she had never had a teddy bear because, as a child, the family could never afford one.
“Every bear is different and every one of them has a different story,” she says.
Mohair plush and the hand-blown glass eyes are sourced from England, and then hand-sewn with jointed limbs. Each bear costs well over $100 to create, as well as hours of work, with the pleasure of another little character to add to the growing sleuth of bears.
“I think any handcrafts you do are special because of the hours you put into it. Every one of them has a name, but don’t ask me what they are now!
“You have to look at their faces and their eyes – you can see them looking at you.”
Many have been given away over the years to grandkids and family members, but she kept making them until the house was brimming with bears.
“I was going to give them all away and my husband said: ‘no, you’re not!’”
She eventually stopped making them and 30 now live with her in the retirement village and are on display this month.
