WHEN a Honiton mother found herself hooked up to a kidney dialysis machine four times a day she took up a new hobby.

WHEN a Honiton mother found herself hooked up to a kidney dialysis machine four times a day she took up a new hobby.Carla Salisbury, now 52, turned to knitting traditional mohair teddy bears.Mrs Salisbury, of Willow Walk, modelled them on the famous German Steiff bears.They were sold to people from all over the world. Carla Bears were sent packing to America, Australia and even Iraq - to name just a few of their destinations.Six years ago, Mrs Salisbury underwent a life-changing kidney transplant operation and hasn't looked back since."I gave up making the bears afterwards because, every time I sat down to knit, it brought back memories of my days on dialysis," she said."It didn't bother me at the time, though. "People think you can't do anything while on dialysis, but I travelled to Kenya and hooked the machine to the roof of a safari truck!"The last remaining Carla Bears are now only available to buy at Colour Wheel Plants, in Offwell.Owner Lisa Bartrop says she is keen to support local crafts. A new scrapbooking club meets at the nursery's Pavilion Coffee Shop every other Wednesday.She said: "Carla Bears are ideal for collectors."Carla is keen to see the rest of her bears, all 15 of them, sold. They are currently on offer, with up to 40 per cent off.