Teddy Blog

Today I went to the local Hallmark store to buy a teddy bear that recited Twas the Night Before Christmas. It’s adorable, but I was smart enough to wait until after Christmas to buy one for the newest member of my family. She’ll be 18 months old when I give it to her next year, so she can understand more about this sweet, soft bear. It’s a Gund, too, so it’s super cuddly. This bear recited the whole story, turning his head and making his mouth move. I really wanted to get it before Christmas, but the price was more than I was able to afford. Getting it now was the best deal for me. I should have bought one for myself!

While in the store I looked at other bears and am already contemplating buying some more bears for her over the next few years. There were all sizes, colors, and outfits for the bears. So soft that I found myself standing there feeling their fur. Until I started this blog I never realized all the different types and manufacturers of teddy bears. Having seen some of the cheap ones and now some of the more exceptional ones, I can understand someone wanting to have a better quality of teddy bear. I saw one that was so soft and cuddly and pictured our little one sleeping with it, hugging it close to her. It’s no wonder why teddy bears are so popular. They are very appealing and lovable. Take a trip down that road, stop in at a specialty store or a toy store and just check out teddy bears. I am sure you will understand once you get to hold them and feel their softness.

In 1902 President Theodore Roosevelt went to Mississippi to settle a border dispute between Louisiana and Mississippi. While he was there he went on a hunting trip. Members of the hunting party tied a small black bear cub to a tree for him to shoot. Seeing this small helpless bear tied up, President Roosevelt refused to shoot at the cub.

The next day cartoonist Clifford Berryman drew a cartoon depicting Roosevelt refusing to shoot the bear. Morris Michtom, a storekeeper, asked his wife Rose to make a stuffed bear to place in his shop window. Michtom contacted the President asking his permission to name the stuffed bear Teddy. The president agreed and the Teddy Bear was born.

At the same time in Germany, a company owned by Margarete Steiff, was beginning to manufacture a stuffed bear of it’s own. These were the first time stuffed bears were introduced to the world.

From there the popularity of the teddy bear grew. Today almost all children have had a teddy bear at one time or another. You can find toy manufacturers, teddy bear artists, and stores selling teddy bears of all shapes and sizes. Gund(r) is a leading manufacturer of soft toys and is in the same league as The Vermont Teddy Bear Factory when it comes to quality. You can check them out at: www.gund.com, and www.vermontteddybear.com.

Quite a few teddy bear artists have sites on the internet where you can view their teddy bears online. Teddy bears on www.tbears.de are soem of the most expressive unique bears you will find anywhere. Their Lovable Fellows are one-of-a-kind or limited editions. Many hours are spent creating each face to give each bear it’s own personality traits. Check them out quickly if you would like to adopt one as they do go fast. One of a kind bears are also made by Alpaca, www.theoriginalalpakabear.com. These bears come indifferent colors, some even being multi-colored. Bears inspired by Autralia can be found on www.settlerbears.com.au.

Miniature bears can be located at www.designsbyterri.com. Domino is 2 3/4 inches tall and made of upholstery velvet. He comes with his own die cast taxi pedal car. Cute! More fantastic one-of-a-kind teddies can be found on www.tailoredteddies.com.

Thinking of starting your own teddy bear collection? Then visit www.bearhollow.net. The collector featured has opened her home to many adopted teddy bears. They reside in every room of the house and some outdoors as well. There are rooms in her home just for teddy bears!

And, of course, the newest store to feature teddy bears The Build A Bear Workshop. You might even have one of these stores at your local mall. You can build your own teddy from the beginning, making him personally your very own.