St Elizabeth Hospice announces Sewing Bee competition winner

The Big Hospice Sewing Bee winner, Ros Oliver, with her winning masterpiece, bears, Bill and Ben (Image: Archant)

Two “beautiful” bears made by Kesgrave resident Ros Oliver were chosen as the winner of the competition by the St Elizabeth Hospice, based in Foxhall Road.

People were challenged to upcycle a used item into a “cutting edge masterpiece” and a number of creative items, from dresses and jackets to cushions and bags, were entered.

Mrs Oliver said: “My dad, John Wheeler, died a couple of years ago and was cared for by the hospice at home nurses, and ever since then my mum and I have supported the hospice through donating and taking part in the Lottery, but I wanted to do something else because the hospice is wonderful.

“I was absolutely gobsmacked when they told me I had won because I had seen some of the other items entered and thought they were fabulous.”

The winning bears, named Bill and Ben, have already been snapped up following a silent bid at the hospice.

Mrs Oliver added: “I made the bears out of shirts and ties I bought at the hospice shop in Woodbridge. Making remembrance bears out of the clothes of loved ones who have died; and memory bears out of children’s Babygro’s and outfits, is a mini side-line business for me.”

Second place went to Jo Leech, of Ipswich, and Melanie Chew, of Stradbroke, claimed third place.

Fiona Ginn, partnerships fundraiser at the hospice, said: “We had an amazing range of items upcycled and entered into the competition. The standard of the entries was so high, it was hard to choose the top prizes, but the bears were such a hit with everyone.”

For further information about the hospice, which helps those living with progressive illnesses, click here.