WHY 'BOOK COVER BEARS' ?
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In 2009 renowned felt maker and textile artist Liz Gaffney was commissioned by Addison Publications to design and create natural protective felt covers for The Highgrove Florileguim - the publication of the botanical  paintings inspired by HRH The Prince of Wales' Highgrove garden and in celebration of his 60th birthday. 
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The resulting oatmeal and sage green book covers continue to protect these wonderful hand-bound books as they travel the globe.  

The Highgrove Florilegium before gilding

Liz and her childhood ted reading the Florilgium

The handmade felt book covers

It is fair to say that the amount of felt Liz has handmade to fulfil the original Highgrove Florileguim commission, together with what she continues to make for her many ongoing book cover commissions, is unimaginable, unless of course you happen to visit her studio when she is working on a current order in which case you are likely to find most available surfaces covered in huge pieces of  beautiful vibrant green felt and lengths of rich red hand rolled felt cords. 

​It was on just such an occasion that Andrea first saw and fell in love with the wonderfully tactile quality of the fabric and the art behind it, and while ​she could see that the felt was absolutely perfect for the protective book covers, she also knew there must be other ways in which it could be used to promote the delightful feel and versatility of such a carefully crafted product. 

Many pots of tea and conversations between the two artists followed during which the most perfect idea began to take root and, to the delight of Andrea, a lifelong Arctophile, a truly unique family of teddy bears were born.

'Book Cover Bears'
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Lovingly handcrafted and born from friendship.

......and so it began.

Bertie Button.
The very first Book Cover Bear. 

Each bear has their own individually handmade felted bear bag.