Bear It In Mind was established in late 2006, with the craft studio being completed in early 2007.

It is run by Julie Tatchell, who is married to Colin. They have four children, James, Alicia, Alexander and Beth.  Julie has lived in and around the New Forest for most of her life except for two and a half years she spent in America living in both New Jersey and Virginia.

The retail side of the business aims to appeal to the whole family whilst offering opportunities to watch different aspects of restoration work being undertaken as well as new bears under construction!.

“My vision is to create an environment at Bear It In Mind that evokes a sense of creativity, family fun and learning, where children of all ages (and adults too) can be encouraged to develop their artistic abilities and discover new skills.”

Julie Tatchell

I have loved teddy bears for as long as I can remember. As a child I never wanted to play with dolls. My toys had to be soft, cuddly and filled with character. I started collecting them as an adult and making them seemed a natural progression. I am constantly experimenting with new designs and I never tire of the thrill of creating new little characters.