At Tambo Teddies, we’re incredibly proud of our talented team of sewers, our teddy bear makers, who bring our beloved bears to life.

In Tambo, Lauren, can be found behind the machine a couple of days a week

Lauren Webber and her family made a big move to Tambo around five years ago, trading in city life for a rural adventure when her husband was transferred here with the Queensland Police Service. Originally from the picturesque Hunter Valley in New South Wales, the family was living in Wellington Point, Brisbane, when they felt the urge to embrace the country lifestyle. Tambo popped up as an option, and from that moment, there was no looking back!

Lauren has been sewing for Tambo Teddies for four years, but her love for sewing started long before that. She learned to sew at just 12 years old, guided by her mother’s expertise. Growing up, her family owned a café and quilting shop, where Lauren helped run sewing classes and stitched quilts for sale.

At Tambo Teddies, Lauren enjoys the creative challenge of working on new designs and products. Her favourite project is sewing our Toby bears because they’re quick to make, however, she finds Digger the Dog to be the most challenging project, as the ears take extra precision to get just right.

Beyond the sewing room, Lauren values being part of the Tambo Teddies team. She loves interacting with visitors to the town and feels a strong sense of appreciation and support from Alison and Tammy. For Lauren, being part of this community is not just about the work – it’s about the relationships and the joy of contributing to something special.

In Toowoomba we have three very talented and dedicated sewers.

Dilo Maho has been part of the Tambo Teddies family since we opened in Toowoomba in February 2019. Dilo left his home country of Syria due to the war, and after being in Turkey for a while he settled Toowoomba six years ago. Shifting to Australia his life has transformed, he’s married and is now the proud father of a one-year-old son, Aiden and the family recently purchased their own home.

Before coming to Australia, Dilo worked in clothing production in Turkey and Syria, which gave him valuable experience. His favourite Tambo Teddy to sew is a large pink Basil bear, but he admits he’s not a fan of sewing bears with difficult skins. What Dilo loves most is being part of a great team and working on something he knows well. Recently, he’s also been the lead sewer for our contract work on Gidgee Smith Bags alongside his colleague, Khalil.

Khalil Rash has been with Tambo Teddies for five years, joining us in February 2019 when we started at our original Hub in Mort Street. Originally from Kurdistan in Iraq, Khalil left his country due to the war, seeking a better future for his family. Resettling in Australia has been a good thing for Khalil, who has been able to bring his father and sister over from Iraq during his time here.

Khalil, who used to sew women’s clothing in Syria, has transitioned smoothly into teddy bear making, although his true love still lies in clothing production. His favourite Tambo Teddy product to work on is our Lambs, while he admits not being keen on sewing our little cuddly echidnas. Khalil enjoys being part of the Tambo Teddies team, and in his words, he is “very happy working all together.”

Noora Alomar has been with Tambo Teddies for three years and has lived in Australia for six. Born in Iraq, Noora and her family fled to escape the devastating effects of ISIS, finding safety and a new life in Australia. She is married with three children who attend school in Toowoomba and often help with interpreting for their parents.

Noora is an accomplished sewer, having previously worked in clothing production. While she enjoyed sewing clothes, she much prefers making teddy bears. Her favourite bear to sew is the Basil bear, but she finds the jointed Dusty bears a bit more challenging. Despite the language barriers that can make finding work difficult for migrants, Noora is grateful to be part of the Tambo Teddies team, doing something she loves.

A Unified Team at Tambo Teddies

All of our talented teddy bear makers brings a unique story and experience, but what unites them is their love for sewing and their commitment to creating the best teddy bears possible. We are incredibly fortunate to have them on our team, and they each play an essential role in making Tambo Teddies what it is today.

Next time you snuggle up with one of our bears, remember the talented hands and the heartfelt stories behind each stitch.