If you're interested in purchasing a Burra Bear or having one of your own projects turned into a memory bear, make sure to follow the Burra Bears newsletter here: burrabears.us16.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=861313e7b74a211c429b98502&id=a1b7593e48 Wendy was the most wonderful host and we had a great time learning about her journey with these bears! There is currently a wait time to purchase newly made bears, however, each Friday at 10am Shetland time, Wendy posts a flash sale bear on Facebook and Instagram. The first person to comment on that post is eligible to purchase that week's bear, so keep your eyes peeled!
I visited Burra Bears in 2019 having seen one of the bears for sale on the ferry to Shetland. Wendy was so welcoming and kind when we turned up and she explained all about her bears and memory bears. My mum had recently passed away and I thought it was a wonderful idea to have 3 bears made for my 3 children out of my mum’s cardigans/jumpers. When I got home I sent the items to Wendy and she made them into beautiful bears which my children adore. Thank you Wendy; Our bears called Hilda, Violet and Rose after my mum are not only amazing but treasured and loved so much. You are an amazing lady and I hope to visit you again one day.
Thank you for this warm hug of an episode which reminded me a lot of the lovely "Loose Ends Project" as a charity that matches unfinished projects a loved one could not finish with volunteering crafters who can (knitting, crochet, quilting, ...). And it's been interesting to me to see how someone on the Shetland Islands has had the same idea as me, just several years earlier. :D I once turned an accidentally felted alpaca wool sweater into an alpaca plushie and I ripped merino wool blanket into a rather big sheep plushie/pillow.
Hi Mark, thank you so much for going to talk with Wendy about her bears! I'd heard of them before and now I've seen with how much love and care they are made. It's just wonderful! I am really enjoying your journey vicariously. These are such beautiful islands and most of us don't ever see enough of them!
This is so sweet. I think she should write a book about some of the bears stories. I can see them as a big family and goiing off to comfort another family! This was wonderful!!
What a wonderful way of saving a memory. I made a bear for my mother many years ago out of one of her father’s coats and it still is part of the family.
I had a memory bear made and Wendy was wonderful! She communicated with me every step of the way so I felt very comfortable sending her my mom’s sweater. I love the bear! It was absolutely worth the wait time! And I love that she uses scraps and waste.
I've knit that lace pattern and it is actually true lace work; pattern on both the right and wrong side. All that hard labor is now commemorated in a lovely bear. Great work.
Fascinating video Mark, really enjoyed that and amazing to see how Wendy works and some of her creations. Shetland is of course just absolutely gorgeous too, what a dream it must be for Wendy to work there and see that view. X
She’s a wonderful presenter! She’s so organized, having everything to show and display right on hand. What a beautiful idea these bears are! And she’s so thoughtful of every detail! I love the darning area she keeps on the bear! And her stories! I hope she writes them all down for a book!
This show is incredible. This woman may not enjoy knitting but her sewing skills are amazing. I have sewn a few bears and find it so difficult; I rather knit one
What a wonderful service Wendy provides to so many people. She has a true skill and her bears are works of art and heirlooms. I loved hearing how Jamieson’s plays such a big part in providing the material for the bears. And the idea for stuffing was an eye-opener.Now I know to cut up my old socks that are no longer wearable for stuffing soft toys instead of just throwing them out (which always hurts when I spent so many hours knitting them). Thank you for such a special video and thank you to Wendy.
Thank you so much Mark, what a wonderful idea, I smiled all the way through the story. I’m a Glasgow Girl living in Australia and I have been home many times over the years and I thought my travelling days were over but you have made me think maybe I might have one trip to do 🤔
Another lovely video! Thank you two for sharing your trip with us. Beautiful landscapes, lovely people, like Wendy making such special bears. I have a Fair Isle sweater of my daughter (not intentionally felted years ago 😬), and a big teddy bear wears it. It sits near our Christmas tree every year, it looks so lovely. I wish you a wonderful rest of your journey in the UK!
Hi Mark and Ned! I really enjoyed your trip to Burra Bears! It was great seeing how the shop started and how they are made. I have collected bears throughout the years and hope to one day buy a Burra Bear.
Hi Mark, I only found out about Burra Bears recently and I found it really interesting listening to your interview with Wendy. Enjoying watching your trip around the Uk, particularly the Shetland Isles
I love my Burra Bear. I bought one of the first lace bears and she’s gorgeous. I’m really pleased I stumbled across this interview, it’s been a real eye opener to see what’s involved in making these amazing bears.
16:56 no one: me: screamingg *silently* & *excitedly* in the kitchen about this lace at 4 am *instead* of going to bed!😂😂 this video is like unreall to me rn!! i would *literally* jump up and down and throw confetti streamers🎉if it wasn’t 4 in the morning. haha.😂😂
Awesome interview & she makes some really cool bears I make memory bears on commission occasionally; never thought of using a felted sweater for one. I'll have to remember that. Funny to have this come across, since I'm waiting for my BIL to send a few of his father's shirts so I can make BIL & MIL bears. FIL died a couple weeks back.
@@MakerMarkKnits Nice pun there, lol. Holding on to someone in memory is why I'm going to make the inner parts of my inlaws' bears' arms with a piece of my kids' outgrown clothes, with their grandpa's on the outside, like a group hug. Bro-in-law definitely approved. I haven't heard yet from MIL, but I think she'll love it, too.
I sent Wendy one of my handknit Shetland sweaters which she made into a bear for me. She lived on my bed. Then we got a puppy who was left "unsupervised" while we went out for a few hours - we came home to a bear minus her heel. I knew it had been too long since I'd sent the sweater to be made up so there wouldn't be any fabric left so she's got a gauze bandage wrapped around her foot.
Love the brats! I started thinking do I have any wool damaged items that could be turned into a bear?! Unfortunately I was allergic to wool as a child and recently found out I'm no longer allergic Unfortunately all the wool items that my mom had were given away to family members who were not allergic.
What a lovely video! I have loved these bears for years and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Wendy and seeing how they’re made. (Also I envy the view from her workspace!)
Most brilliant idea ever. I’m watching from Cape Town South Africa and wish I was near enough to purchase one. Thanks for sharing. Good wishes in your future endeavours. ❤️
There weren't any bears available for purchase at the time...but Wendy does a flash sale each Saturday morning through the Burra Bears Facebook page. We were able to get a bear that way after a couple of weeks of entering! We'll unbox it on the channel once we get home to the states :)
I have seen those somewhere - Perhaps Fruity Knitting did an episode on it. I don't know anymore but dang they are lovely. I've been looking into perpahs making them out of thrifted flannel shirts - I want to donate them to the shelter for Domestic Violence - most folks there have left everything and experienced trauma and it seems like a little thing they could cuddle for comfort. I also read that they are nice in police stations - kids who land there have usually also experienced trauma. I also knit simple hats and headbands either for the folks in the shelter or in the thrift shop to sell to people visiting Joshua Tree NP - you just can't imagine from Los Angeles, how incredibly cold it is up here in winter. So they sell well and that supports the shelter. Sorry this is so long - I get carried away. Another lovely video.
I just stumbled on this channel. I make a bear just like the ones you are talking about. But, I make mine from a loved one's clothing that has passed on. I made a bear from 56 shirts. So there was a lot of cutting and sewing to make the fabric to make the bear. I have made over 200 bears for customers. I had to order another pattern. I couldn't find one here in the USA. It came from Australia. I have since made the patterns out of interfacing.
That was fantastic , thank you. I hope to visit Shetland next year from Australia and hope to find a bear to bring home . Though now you have me thinking I should knit a piece to be made up into a bear ! 😊
![Chris Langan - The Interview THEY Didn't Want You To See - CTMU [Full Version; Timestamps]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/9miVG2xT5jY/mqdefault.jpg)
If you're interested in purchasing a Burra Bear or having one of your own projects turned into a memory bear, make sure to follow the Burra Bears newsletter here: burrabears.us16.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=861313e7b74a211c429b98502&id=a1b7593e48
Wendy was the most wonderful host and we had a great time learning about her journey with these bears! There is currently a wait time to purchase newly made bears, however, each Friday at 10am Shetland time, Wendy posts a flash sale bear on Facebook and Instagram. The first person to comment on that post is eligible to purchase that week's bear, so keep your eyes peeled!
Amazing video, I couldn't look at your vest without seeing a bear after that visit! 😄🤩
Haha! I agree. I'm so tempted to cut up my sweaters...
I visited Burra Bears in 2019 having seen one of the bears for sale on the ferry to Shetland. Wendy was so welcoming and kind when we turned up and she explained all about her bears and memory bears. My mum had recently passed away and I thought it was a wonderful idea to have 3 bears made for my 3 children out of my mum’s cardigans/jumpers. When I got home I sent the items to Wendy and she made them into beautiful bears which my children adore. Thank you Wendy; Our bears called Hilda, Violet and Rose after my mum are not only amazing but treasured and loved so much. You are an amazing lady and I hope to visit you again one day.
Yours is such a beautiful story! I'm so glad you have three special Burra Bears to help those memories live on :)
Thank you for this warm hug of an episode which reminded me a lot of the lovely "Loose Ends Project" as a charity that matches unfinished projects a loved one could not finish with volunteering crafters who can (knitting, crochet, quilting, ...).
And it's been interesting to me to see how someone on the Shetland Islands has had the same idea as me, just several years earlier. :D I once turned an accidentally felted alpaca wool sweater into an alpaca plushie and I ripped merino wool blanket into a rather big sheep plushie/pillow.
Hi Mark, thank you so much for going to talk with Wendy about her bears! I'd heard of them before and now I've seen with how much love and care they are made. It's just wonderful! I am really enjoying your journey vicariously. These are such beautiful islands and most of us don't ever see enough of them!
Thank you SO much for watching! :)
What a lovely and heartwarming episode, thank you!
Thank you, a really interesting video. Great that no beautiful knitting us wasted on Burra!
This is so sweet. I think she should write a book about some of the bears stories. I can see them as a big family and goiing off to comfort another family! This was wonderful!!
That's a wonderful idea! I would love to hear some of those stories :)
@MakerMarkKnits right. Teh adventures these bears have could be phenomena, both real and imagined.
What a wonderful way of saving a memory. I made a bear for my mother many years ago out of one of her father’s coats and it still is part of the family.
Oh what a beautiful thing to do with a coat. I'm sure that bear means so much!
Thank you. This is lovely.
I learned something new. I'd not heard of the Burra Bear. Thank you for sharing this interesting story.😊
How interesting!! Thank you Mark for sharing and expanding our world!!
What a unique way to use heirloom knitted items. Thank you for sharing this.
I couldn't agree more!
I had a memory bear made and Wendy was wonderful! She communicated with me every step of the way so I felt very comfortable sending her my mom’s sweater. I love the bear! It was absolutely worth the wait time! And I love that she uses scraps and waste.
Thanks Mark, what a sweet visit with Wendy and bears! Loved it. I feel almost like I finally made it to Shetland. Just lovely. And her yummy brogue!
Yay! Thanks for watching, Paula!
What a talented lady with so much creativity in making the bears😁
I've knit that lace pattern and it is actually true lace work; pattern on both the right and wrong side. All that hard labor is now commemorated in a lovely bear. Great work.
Fascinating video Mark, really enjoyed that and amazing to see how Wendy works and some of her creations. Shetland is of course just absolutely gorgeous too, what a dream it must be for Wendy to work there and see that view. X
I just think this is so BEAUTIFUL !!! Such a talent . Handmade is best. Thank you !
What an amazing idea and what beautiful bears! I can't stress how much love that they are symmetrical.
Great travel videos! Allows those of us who will never see it in person a chance to live vicariously!
What a beautiful sentiment! Thank you for being here with us :)
Mark thank you so much for this video. Such a grand idea about the bears. Please thank Wendy for letting us into her home.
How lucky we are to have this video from you. Thank you! ❤
Our pleasure!
That was a great video! Wendy is so kind and lovely! Really enjoyed it! Thanks! Now I want a Burra Bear!😊
This was a wonderful video! I had no idea that these bears existed. I love the idea of making something from something you always loved
Wendy was delightful! Thank you for taking the time to seek her out and share her with us!
She’s a wonderful presenter! She’s so organized, having everything to show and display right on hand. What a beautiful idea these bears are! And she’s so thoughtful of every detail! I love the darning area she keeps on the bear!
And her stories! I hope she writes them all down for a book!
I agree! I was blown away by everything you've highlighted!
Love this episode! Love the bears! Love Wendy! Thank you for sharing this. ❤
Thanks for watching!
Изумительная работа, очень здорово!!! У этой милой мастерицы можно где-то посмотреть мастер=класс! Спасибо, очень интересно
What a lovely lady and amazing business. Thanks for showing us her wonderful bears.
Thank you for watching!
Thank you so, so, so much for sharing this very special place! What a wonderful way to keep the history alive!
We were blown away! I think its such a beautiful way to preserve history :)
This show is incredible. This woman may not enjoy knitting but her sewing skills are amazing. I have sewn a few bears and find it so difficult; I rather knit one
Charming, touching, interesting, inspiring, and many more adjectives for this video. Thank you for this! Enchanting!
Thanks for watching!
What a wonderful service Wendy provides to so many people. She has a true skill and her bears are works of art and heirlooms. I loved hearing how Jamieson’s plays such a big part in providing the material for the bears. And the idea for stuffing was an eye-opener.Now I know to cut up my old socks that are no longer wearable for stuffing soft toys instead of just throwing them out (which always hurts when I spent so many hours knitting them). Thank you for such a special video and thank you to Wendy.
Yes! True works of art - and I'm glad you'll have a new use for your worn out knitwear :)
This was really amazing. Thank you for sharing it with us all🧶🧶
Thank you for watching!
I loved this episode! Wendy is a wonderful story teller!
Isn't she amazing? I was so happy to hear her story firsthand!
Mark thank you for sharing this with your channel. What a great idea and the bears are so sweet. Really enjoyed this !!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Lovely, simply lovely. Thank you. ❤❤❤🇨🇦
Thank you so much Mark, what a wonderful idea, I smiled all the way through the story.
I’m a Glasgow Girl living in Australia and I have been home many times over the years and I thought my travelling days were over but you have made me think maybe I might have one trip to do 🤔
Wow! Thanks for watching. I think Shetland is worth the visit :)
Another lovely video! Thank you two for sharing your trip with us. Beautiful landscapes, lovely people, like Wendy making such special bears. I have a Fair Isle sweater of my daughter (not intentionally felted years ago 😬), and a big teddy bear wears it. It sits near our Christmas tree every year, it looks so lovely. I wish you a wonderful rest of your journey in the UK!
Oh that's a very sweet solution! I love the idea of a bear by the Christmas tree :)
Hi Mark and Ned! I really enjoyed your trip to Burra Bears! It was great seeing how the shop started and how they are made. I have collected bears throughout the years and hope to one day buy a Burra Bear.
That's fabulous! Thanks for being here with us :)
I think a sweater made into sheep/lambs would be so cute also!
That's a great idea!
Hi Mark, I only found out about Burra Bears recently and I found it really interesting listening to your interview with Wendy. Enjoying watching your trip around the Uk, particularly the Shetland Isles
Thank you so much for watching!
Love the darning on the leg 🥺 Wendy is excellent at explaining 💗
I am so glad you had been able to have this interview. Such a beautiful idea! Absolutely beautiful bears ❤
Thank you for watching!
What a wonderful lady and such a fabulous interview. Thank you so very much for sharing ❤
We were so impressed with Wendy and her bears!
I love my Burra Bear. I bought one of the first lace bears and she’s gorgeous. I’m really pleased I stumbled across this interview, it’s been a real eye opener to see what’s involved in making these amazing bears.
That's fabulous! Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment!
Best video I’ve seen in a while! What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
What a lovely video. I used to work in one of the local charity shops where we saved the Shetland jumpers for Wendy ooh about 25 years ago.
Wow! I loved hearing that part of Wendy's story. I can't imagine the knitwear that must have come through that charity shop :)
this bears are adorable ❤️ thanks for this video, i will share it with my audience, i know they would love it!
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS EPISODE!!! I will be on the hunt for a Shetland sweater because I would love a Burra Bear. thank you for this episode.
Thank you for watching!!
Those bears are beautiful works of art.
It would be fun to see you and Max Miller from Tasting History get together. I really enjoy the research and stories you both have in your videos!
Wow, that's high praise! I'd love the chance :)
I cannot thank you enough for this video ❤
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for taking us along on your memorable travel adventure!❤
Would love to visit Shetland.
I’ve followed Burra Bears on Facebook for a while, and it was a delight to meet Wendy through your video!
Thanks for sharing this story!
Thanks for being here with us!
What a great visit! I really enjoyed learning about bears and the makers.
This was incredible. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you ❤for this great ❤bear making ❤ video ❤
16:56 no one:
me: screamingg *silently* & *excitedly* in the kitchen about this lace at 4 am *instead* of going to bed!😂😂 this video is like unreall to me rn!! i would *literally* jump up and down and throw confetti streamers🎉if it wasn’t 4 in the morning. haha.😂😂
That's exactly how I felt inside! As soon as she pulled out the bolt of lace I knew people were going to be amazed.
@@MakerMarkKnits yesss! omg!!😊🎉🎉
Loved this episode. I lead a grief recovery group and this is another idea what to do with special clothing.
what a wonderful gentle and informative interview thank you so much.
Thanks for being here!
What a wonderfull idea to make memory bears, thank you for this episode, love it.
Thanks for watching!
So lovely. The memory bears are so clever and creative. Best wishes!
We agree!
Awesome interview & she makes some really cool bears
I make memory bears on commission occasionally; never thought of using a felted sweater for one. I'll have to remember that. Funny to have this come across, since I'm waiting for my BIL to send a few of his father's shirts so I can make BIL & MIL bears. FIL died a couple weeks back.
Oh wow. What a beautiful thing you do for people! I think the idea of memory bears is fantastic. What a great way to hold onto those memories.
@@MakerMarkKnits Nice pun there, lol.
Holding on to someone in memory is why I'm going to make the inner parts of my inlaws' bears' arms with a piece of my kids' outgrown clothes, with their grandpa's on the outside, like a group hug. Bro-in-law definitely approved. I haven't heard yet from MIL, but I think she'll love it, too.
What a beautiful bear. Such a great idea
Absolutely excellent interview. Brilliant business, well done both of you for such an enjoyable episode.
Awesome thanks
What a lovely idea ! Thank you for this great video 👌❤️
I sent Wendy one of my handknit Shetland sweaters which she made into a bear for me. She lived on my bed. Then we got a puppy who was left "unsupervised" while we went out for a few hours - we came home to a bear minus her heel. I knew it had been too long since I'd sent the sweater to be made up so there wouldn't be any fabric left so she's got a gauze bandage wrapped around her foot.
Amazing video. Thank you so much.
Thank you for watching!
Wow! Thanks for sharing your adventure and the Barra Bears
Our pleasure!
Love the brats! I started thinking do I have any wool damaged items that could be turned into a bear?! Unfortunately I was allergic to wool as a child and recently found out I'm no longer allergic
Unfortunately all the wool items that my mom had were given away to family members who were not allergic.
Dang! You'll have to keep the idea in mind for future projects :)
This is amazing ❤
Thank you for sharing. So much love 💕
What a lovely video! I have loved these bears for years and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Wendy and seeing how they’re made. (Also I envy the view from her workspace!)
Most brilliant idea ever. I’m watching from Cape Town South Africa and wish I was near enough to purchase one. Thanks for sharing. Good wishes in your future endeavours. ❤️
Fascinating episode. The bears are just awesome!
I think so as well!
What lovely ❤
Thank you for this wonderful episode! Definitely one of my favorites!so did you guys get a bear??
There weren't any bears available for purchase at the time...but Wendy does a flash sale each Saturday morning through the Burra Bears Facebook page. We were able to get a bear that way after a couple of weeks of entering! We'll unbox it on the channel once we get home to the states :)
What a beautiful thing to do 😊
Thanks so much for sharing ❤
This is amazing! Great interview.
I have seen those somewhere - Perhaps Fruity Knitting did an episode on it. I don't know anymore but dang they are lovely. I've been looking into perpahs making them out of thrifted flannel shirts - I want to donate them to the shelter for Domestic Violence - most folks there have left everything and experienced trauma and it seems like a little thing they could cuddle for comfort. I also read that they are nice in police stations - kids who land there have usually also experienced trauma. I also knit simple hats and headbands either for the folks in the shelter or in the thrift shop to sell to people visiting Joshua Tree NP - you just can't imagine from Los Angeles, how incredibly cold it is up here in winter. So they sell well and that supports the shelter. Sorry this is so long - I get carried away.
Another lovely video.
What a lovely story.
I just stumbled on this channel. I make a bear just like the ones you are talking about. But, I make mine from a loved one's clothing that has passed on. I made a bear from 56 shirts. So there was a lot of cutting and sewing to make the fabric to make the bear. I have made over 200 bears for customers. I had to order another pattern. I couldn't find one here in the USA. It came from Australia. I have since made the patterns out of interfacing.
Where can I see your bears?
Absolutely delightful episode!
Wonderful ❤ thank you for this.
Diese kleinen süßen Teddys❤
That was fantastic , thank you. I hope to visit Shetland next year from Australia and hope to find a bear to bring home . Though now you have me thinking I should knit a piece to be made up into a bear ! 😊
So easy to make one myself!
Love this whole idea ❤
Wonderful- love the bears
Awesome episode, so wonderful!
Thank you for watching!
Such a special place ❤
Agreed!
What a wonderful video!
Fantastic podcast. Thanks
I have seen a bear made from airline pilot's coat ,and then put all his badges as decoration , great memory for the family🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿
Oh that sounds incredible!
I want one so bad
That was lovely
Thank you for watching!