Hi, I'm Helen
Welcome to Bare Cub Designs — a little corner of the world where creativity, beautiful bears and slow stitching come together.
I've been making things for as long as I can remember.
As a teenager, I explored every craft I could get my hands on — sewing, painting, knitting, quilting and anything else that caught my curiosity.
But nothing captured my heart quite like bear making.
In my early twenties, I stitched my first teddy bear, and something just clicked. I had found a craft that felt completely my own.
Bears soon took over my creative world, and Bare Cub Designs was born.
Inspired by my love of real fur and beautifully dense alpaca, I began experimenting with shape, expression and texture. Over time, my signature fluffy cheeks emerged.
Those cheeks became my trademark. I still scissor-sculpt every one by hand, and after all these years, bringing a little face to life remains my favourite part of the process.
As my bears began finding homes around the world, other makers started asking how I achieved certain details, particularly my sculpting techniques.
Explaining everything through email was almost impossible, so I wrote a book, created magazines and developed step-by-step bear-making guides to share what I'd learned.
Teaching became another part of the craft I loved.
But living in Perth, Western Australia, meant travelling more than 3,000 kilometres to attend interstate shows and teach workshops.
So I found another way.
I created my first video masterclass, allowing makers anywhere in the world to learn alongside me, from the comfort of their own creative spaces
Then life shifted.
Alongside Bare Cub Designs, I spent many years working in the corporate world.
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, bear making gradually took a back seat. Treatment, fatigue, recovery and the demands of everyday life left very little room for creativity.
I knew I was a maker at heart, but I no longer had the energy to enjoy the things that had always felt like such a natural part of me.
There is a particular kind of sadness in knowing who you are, but feeling unable to find your way back to her.
For a long time, I felt disconnected from the creative life I'd once loved. And finding my way back wasn't as simple as picking up a needle.
It meant making changes, learning to slow down and giving myself permission to begin again without expecting everything to return to the way it had been.
Slowly, gently, I began to reconnect with myself, one stitch at a time.
I discovered that creativity wasn't something I needed to achieve or prove. It was something I could return to. A quiet place to think. A little space to breathe. A reminder of the joy that comes from making something beautiful with my hands.
And somewhere along the way, I realised that the most meaningful transformation wasn't happening to the bears.
It was happening within me.
A New Chapter for Bare Cub Designs
Today, Bare Cub Designs brings together two things I care deeply about: the beautiful craftsmanship of handmade teddy bears and the quieter, more personal journey of creativity.
I continue to create my signature mink cubs, alongside new miniature and heritage collections for collectors who appreciate the character and individuality of artist bears.
Through Beauty in Bear Making, I share the techniques, patterns and guidance I've developed over the years, helping others discover the pleasure of bringing their own bears to life.
But I also want to share something beyond the techniques. The importance of making a little room for ourselves.
One of the things I've always loved about bear making is how easily it can fit into everyday life. A little stitching on the couch, a few quiet moments with a needle and thread, or simply enjoying the feel of beautiful fur between your fingers. You don't need a perfect studio or an entire afternoon. Sometimes five peaceful minutes are enough. While the finished bear is something to treasure, I've come to appreciate that the moments spent making it can be just as valuable.
That's the heart of what I'm creating here. A place to learn, explore, feel inspired and rediscover the simple pleasure of making, without pressure or expectations.
An Invitation to Begin Again
I've learned that returning to creativity doesn't always begin with a grand plan. Sometimes it begins with curiosity.
Noticing something beautiful. Remembering an old interest. Picking up a forgotten project. Or simply wondering what we might enjoy if we made a little more room for ourselves.
That's why I've created Return. Discover. Create., a free twelve-month creative journey beginning in January 2027.
Each month, I'll share a personal reflection and a gentle invitation to explore creativity in your own life. You don't need to be a bear maker. You don't need special materials, experience or hours of spare time. Just bring your curiosity and a willingness to see where it takes you.
I'll be sharing my own discoveries along the way, and I'd love for you to join me.
No rush. No pressure. Just an invitation to begin.
Contact Helen
