Mary-ann lives in Ngongotaha, a small village on the outskirts of Rotorua, one of NewZealand's most popular tourist regions. She has a very supportive husband, Laurie, two teenage children, Kristin, 16 - a budding young bear maker herself and Bevan, 14 - the family computer whizz, a faithful 12 year old Shepherd/Lab cross named Chuck and the latest addition to the household, Pepper the 4 month old Kitten.

Mary-ann made her first bear in 1996 from a pattern in a magazine. Little did she realize at the time that she would become totally addicted and still be making bears some four years later. A short time after this first bear she decided she would have a go at designing her own. With this came her move from acrylic fabric to mohair.

Her first design after a couple of prototypes she entered into the New Zealand 1996 National competition where he placed 2nd in the novice section. His name is Billy and he holds a special place in her heart. He gave her the courage to carry on designing and start selling her work and to produce patterns so that other bear makers could share in the joy of bear making too.

Gabrielle

Taffy

With the move into teaching bear making early in 1998 came that first commercial pattern. Mary-ann did not want to teach some one else's work and wanted her students to be able to take the pattern home and make another if they desired and so another big step was taken and a range of pattern bears and a Golly have since been born.

One year later she was honored to take out 1st, 2nd and 3rd places at the 1997 National Teddy Bear Festival and then in 1999 after several other awards in between her 'Taffy' received Bear of the Show and Judges Choice at the 1999 National Teddy Bear Festival.

Stanley

Mary-ann does most of her work in Mohair although when designing for patterns she does use acrylic to allow the beginner to use a less expensive fabric and also because some of the new acrylics with very little stretch can make the most wonderful bears. All of her bears are cotterpin jointed and have glass eyes unless other wise stated. Mary-ann loves the feel that pellets give to bears so she uses these a lot if the bear is not required to stand.

Pepper

At present she is having a lot of fun creating fully dressed character bears although Mary-ann does not stick to any one particular type of bear as she finds she does get bored easily and prefers to work on one-of-a- kinds or very small limited editions.