The Napier toy maker "mending broken hearts, one teddy bear at a time"

Krystal McGirr of Little Miss McGirrs is a tailor turned toy maker who repairs toys. Photo / Paul Taylor

Krystal McGirr doesn't just fix toys, she also mends hearts 'one teddy bear at a time'.

McGirr never intended on being a toymaker.

A fourth-generation dressmaker who began sewing at age 7, she had always planned to be a tailor.

And for a while she was, but now, outside of her part-time job, most her waking hours are spent creating memory bears and repairing toys for people around New Zealand.

Her business Little Miss McGirrs mainly operates through word of mouth.

McGirr was taught to sew by her grandmother on a hand-wound machine at age seven. When she was 10, she bought her first electric sewing machine.

When she left high school, she began an apprenticeship at Lorraine's Tailoring and continued dressmaking and tailoring.

But with the cheap options of fast fashion, not as many people want dressmaking services anymore, she says.

In June 2017 she made her first 'memory bear' with a pattern she has had since she was 14.

Memory bears are personalised for each customer and previous bears include punk and steam punk themed bears.

Then there are the memorial bears that represent someone who has died.

They capture a personal story, and are sometimes made with the deceased person's clothing, perfume and even ashes.

"With the memory bears ... I get messages about how the kids aren't sleeping because grandma has passed away. And then you get photos of them taking their bears to bed.

"It's the fact that I know that I am helping people deal with that grieving process, mending broken hearts, one teddy bear at a time."

Two and a half years ago a South Island woman got in touch with McGirr asking if she could repair her daughter's toy monkey.

When toys come in they are taken into her "hospital wing" and lovingly given "surgery" at her Napier home.

The monkey had little fur left, and was in bits, with its eyes falling out.

McGirr salvaged the face and some fabric from the original monkey and created a new toy.

"The little girl was over the moon."

Smokey the bear before going to Little Miss McGirrs hospital. Photo / Supplied

In March, a customer approached McGirr with an original 1950 Smokey the Bear toy that was about 70 years old, but, after an earlier restoration, wearing a pair of paisley yellow pants.

The owner wanted the antique toy restored to its original glory, and McGirr began the search for fabrics and accessories that were more authentic.

"She was skipping up and down like a toddler when she came to pick it up."

Smokey the bear when he was returned to his owner with replica original features. Photo / Supplied

The repair side of the business has taken off and McGirr's become known as the "lady that makes those bears".

Sometimes, she even works on lambs for little girls.

"When she came in the nose of the lamb was soaking wet from her crying from Hastings to Napier, the idea of not having it for one night was freaking her out and I could see it."

She worked hard to get the lamb out of 'surgery' by dinner time so it could be reunited with the girl before bedtime.

"I just love my job. ''

"With the restorations, it challenges my skillset so it means that I actually have to use all of those skills that I have to bring them back to their original former glory, I really enjoy the challenge."

Little Miss McGirrs can be contacted on Facebook.