Bear repairs stitch memories back together

FROM a Kangaroo Flat shop, Susan McKennariey provides a particular service for a very special group of cuddly customers.

The home sewer operates out of her sister’s business, Sew It Up, to repair and restore teddy bears and soft toys that have been “loved to death” by their owners.

For the past year, Ms McKennariey has stitched, glued, patched and mended her clients’ beloved toys using skills honed throughout the years.

“I used to make all the costumes for my girls when they did dancing and I used to do my own home furnishings,” she said.

“But I love teddy bears and as long as it wasn’t too complicated I always mended them, and I’ve made a few.”

She said there were many reasons people brought in their teddies for repair, like elderly parents wanting to return soft toys to their now adult children in good condition.

“One teddy had no eyes, ears missing, feet missing, arms missing, and it comes back to life.”

The young and young at heart come through the repair shop.

One customer was a 72-year-old woman looking to have a Mickey Mouse toy made by her mother restored.

“I don’t like to change the integrity of the bear or whatever it is, I like to show where the mend has been so that the original is still there and I keep it more authentic to its original state,” Ms McKennariey said.

She said repairing teddies for her customers was an “absolutely wonderful” experience as she loves making people happy.

“One girl, she didn’t even want to leave it with us, it was so precious. She was nearly crying leaving it with us, so I quickly did it and she stood there and cried at the counter at how wonderful it looked,” Ms McKennariey said.

“Older people, they just go ‘oh, this looks so much better’.

“It brings back such good memories.”