Jacqueline Schultz
My career background is Early Years and Primary education and I have taught here in the UK and in International Schools around the globe for over 30 years. In addition, during my life as an expat I have had the pleasure of informally teaching embroidery and bear making to like minded crafters, all over the world.
Several years ago we moved back to the UK so that my youngest child could be guaranteed to complete his high school education in one place. I decided at this point to follow a life’s ambition and retrain in Interior Design. I did 2 diplomas in one year with the National Design Academy; Interior Design and Professional Soft Furnishings. The following year I created JSInteriorsUK, and began offering services in professional soft furnishings. Within 2 years I was also offering workshops, teaching others how to make professional soft furnishings. Once a teacher, always a teacher!
I have always had a weakness for all things soft, fluffy and cuddly. As a young adult I started to collect vintage traditional jointed mohair bears. It didn’t take long before I started to make my own bears, then design my own bears, and of course, teach others how to make bears. Until recently, designing and making bears has been for personal pleasure only. My bears have been given up for adoption only to my nearest and dearest. Each bear has always been totally unique and often came with additional accessories such as bonnets, skirts and waistcoats. Lockdown gave me the opportunity to create Jacqueline’s Bears, taking my bear making, designing and teaching to a whole new level.
I was taught embroidery by my grandmother, who specialised in Goldwork for church furnishings, robes, alter clothes, and banners. Very handy as a vicar’s wife! Many school holidays were spent joining her on workshops and sitting by the fire in her Yorkshire cottage using her scraps and soaking up all traditional skills and techniques.
Embroidery continues to be one of my favourite ways to escape into my own creative bubble and very much a part of the accessories that adorn and embellish my bears.
Several years ago we moved back to the UK so that my youngest child could be guaranteed to complete his high school education in one place. I decided at this point to follow a life’s ambition and retrain in Interior Design. I did 2 diplomas in one year with the National Design Academy; Interior Design and Professional Soft Furnishings. The following year I created JSInteriorsUK, and began offering services in professional soft furnishings. Within 2 years I was also offering workshops, teaching others how to make professional soft furnishings. Once a teacher, always a teacher!
I have always had a weakness for all things soft, fluffy and cuddly. As a young adult I started to collect vintage traditional jointed mohair bears. It didn’t take long before I started to make my own bears, then design my own bears, and of course, teach others how to make bears. Until recently, designing and making bears has been for personal pleasure only. My bears have been given up for adoption only to my nearest and dearest. Each bear has always been totally unique and often came with additional accessories such as bonnets, skirts and waistcoats. Lockdown gave me the opportunity to create Jacqueline’s Bears, taking my bear making, designing and teaching to a whole new level.
I was taught embroidery by my grandmother, who specialised in Goldwork for church furnishings, robes, alter clothes, and banners. Very handy as a vicar’s wife! Many school holidays were spent joining her on workshops and sitting by the fire in her Yorkshire cottage using her scraps and soaking up all traditional skills and techniques.
Embroidery continues to be one of my favourite ways to escape into my own creative bubble and very much a part of the accessories that adorn and embellish my bears.