Emma’s teddy bears on Kirsty Allsopp’s Handmade Christmas show

Emma’s teddy bears on Kirsty Allsopp’s Handmade Christmas show

4 December 2019

A WOMAN’S love of crafting landed her a spot as a maker of traditional teddy bears on TV presenter Kirsty Allsopp’s annual celebration of handcrafted Christmas decorations and treats.

Emma Phillips from Ballynahinch took part in the handmade toy competition in Kirsty’s Handmade Christmas series on Channel 4.

While the mother of four sons did not win on last Friday’s show — the honour went to the maker of a crochet knit reindeer toy — she did showcase her fantastic skills to a national audience.

The fully jointed bear was made in just four hours and caught the eye of the presenter also known for Location, Location, Location and Kirsty and Phil’s Love It or List It.

Emma said that she was delighted to be asked to take part in the show after being one of thousands of crafters who applied to take part.

“It was really all about taking part and I just glad to have been able to get through to the competition as it was just amazing,” said Emma

“The amount of skilled crafters that were there at Kirsty’s house, which is massive and absolutely amazing, were really impressive. There were people from all over the UK so I did have stiff competition.”

Emma said that she was encouraged by friends and fellow local crafters to apply for the show as she’s well-known the crafting circles.

“The show was advertised in July and I got a call in August by researchers to find out more about what I did as I put through a couple of ideas of things that I made but it was the teddy bears that they were interested in. 

“Once I knew I was selected a TV crew came out to my studio in Spa to film me in September and it was a bit strange to ask my husband to get the Christmas lights out

“In early October I flew out to to go to Kirsty’s house Meadowgate in Devon where two weeks of filming took place. There were 15 episodes of the programme and four crafters competed every day. On the day we were being filmed, there were four competitions going on.”

Emma only started making the handmade bears two Christmases. She also makes a range of felted toys, such as personalised dolls and knits in merino wool.

“I’m self taught with the teddy bears,” explained Emma. “I just wanted to make a jointed bear so I ordered a kit online and went from there. I have been making and experimenting with them ever since.

“I have been doing a lot of crafting over the last year and selling at local artisan markets and hopefully I will be able to concentrated on making the bears from next year.

The 16-inch felted mohair bear was a real hit with Kirsty who was fascinated at how Emma used a small blow torch to singe the wool to make it look authentically old. However, she added that she felt under pressure to have it made in the time allowed.

“The only thing I was allowed to do beforehand was to draw my pattern out and everything else had to be done within the four hours allowed,” she said. “Normally I would take six to eight hours to make a bear but I had to plan everything out really well for the show. I had never done one that quick before and on the day I was hoping that I would be able to get it finished.”

Emma said that she got her love of crafting from her grandmother, Violet Spence, who still competes as a member of Drumbo Women’s Institute, and her mother, Linda Davies, who kept the tradition going. 

Emma can be contacted on Facebook and Instagram as Emma Phillips Handmade.