Teddy Blog

For those of you who would like to step out of the ordinary, why not go to a teddy bear artist and get a teddy bear that is unique?
After all, this teddy bear will be your, or your child’s, best friend for many years. How often is it that you can pick just what your best friend will look like?

The web site, www.bearpile.com, provides links to teddy bear artists. This site was founded by Dave Stack which he runs from his home in Cleveland, Ohio. Teddy bear artist Emma-Louise Braiden sells one of a kind bears many of which have already been adopted. Some of her available friends are:

Baby Jeremy who is made in two different mohair fabrics and is fully lock-nut jointed so that he can pose in the positions a baby would. He is not overfilled with polyfill so he feels more like a baby. Jeremy also has a heap of stainless steel shot in him to make him more the weight of a baby. When you hold him you will need to support his head, but when he sits he is able to hold his head like a much older child. Baby Jeremy comes with baby booties on his feet and his own toy, a string jointed bunny.

‘TATE’ is a 12 inch panda created by Jaqui Ellerton from Jac-q-lyn Bears in the United Kingdom. He is made from black and cream matted curly German mohair fabrics. His face, inner ears and paw pads are made from beige cashmere fabric. TATE is fully jointed and is number 1 in a series of 5. This soft, cuddly, unique teddy bear is up for adoption.

Another great site featuring teddy bear artists is www.teddybearsden.com. This site has links to the web sites of many talented teddy bear artists. Susan Bartlett is the teddy bear artist and owner of www.adorablebears.com. She has been making her unique teddy bears for 12 years.

‘LITTLE PREP’ is a 9 inch bear stuffed with Australian wool and glass beads for weight. He is made of German ‘Kid’ Mohair and ultra suede. Little Prep is limited to only one. He is fully lock nut jointed and his muzzle is a light beige in color to complement his milk chocolate colored fur. This teddy bear wears an oversized key as a necklace and is waiting to be adopted by you.

Truffles is a fully jointed 10 inch bear kit also designed by Susan Bartlett. The kit includes a pattern and full instructions, mohair and matching ultra suede paw fabric. All joint requirements, threads and quality glass eyes are included. This kit is ideal for the beginner or advanced bear makers.

These bears may cost a bit more than a teddy bear you might buy at a department store. Please remember that teddy bear artists design and make each bear by hand so many of them are one of a kind.

Teddy bears have been around for over 100 years. In that time many have been well loved and ready to retire. There is no “nursing home” for teddy bears, so many are given to collectors or museums to sit comfortably and be admired by all.

Greenfield Village and the Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, is one of the museums where a teddy bear may live his life in peaceful retirement. This museum has hundreds of items on exhibit. There are several antique exhibits which include some of the first teddy bears ever made. Be sure and see all of the exhibits since the bears are in more than one place.

The Teddy Bear Museum in Naples, Florida, has over 4,000 bears on exhibit. Nearly 40,000 visitors from around the world visit the museum yearly. This ‘dream home for teddy bears’ has many displays including antique and limited edition bears plus bear paintings, sculptures, posters and collectibles. The museum highlights the teddy bear by some of the world’s most imaginative bear designers working with various materials. The museum sponsors community events throughout the year including teas, workshops and bear shows.

The Puppet, Teddy Bear and Toy Museum located in Germany, provides a history of puppets and toys dating from 1845. A special rarity is the Steiff Teddy Bear School from 1910.

The Dorset Teddy Bear Museum located in the United Kingdom is a wonderful place for children and adults who still know what it is like to have fun. You can see such favorites as Rupert Bear, Winnie The Pooh and even today’s TV favorites all included in a century of teddy bear history. If viewing this exhibit prompts you to adopt a bear of your own, there is a teddy bear shop on nearby Trinity Street. The Northam House Museum of Early Childhood features an antique teddy bear museum and an antique doll museum. There are over 700 antique and vintage teddy bears and more than 200 antique dolls on display at a museum in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Museums are a great place to visit teddy bears that used to belong to someone else. The attachments we form to our teddy bear goes beyond that of any other toy. He is our hero when the dark night gets scary, our guest when we need a partner to play a game or join our party, a companion when we are going on a very dangerous adventure, and a best friend when we are feeling sad or lonely. A teddy bear can be described the same as the definition of a friend: someone who knows all your faults and loves you anyway.

Teddy bear artists are responsible for some unique and interesting teddy bears. A number of these artists are willing to share a few patterns with the public. You can find teddy bear patterns or links to patterns on the sites below. A number of these patterns are free. You can also purchase kits to make your own bear plus materials and accessories to make your teddy complete.

At http://www.christiebears.co.uk/acatalog/Patterns.html you will find pattern packs. Each pack includes a pattern, joint nuts and bolts, and 1 pair of black glass eyes. You can browse the materials and accessories for bear making. Miniature bear patterns are also available. When you visit http://www.judilynndesigns.com/Rumbles.html you can purchase teddy bear patterns with a complete materials list for $10. A great site to find teddy bear patterns, kits and teddy bear making materials is http://www.admiral-bears.com/. Teddy bear kits are available on http://www.bearmania.com.au/bearkitn.htm. This Australian based site offers unique and wonderful bears. Kits to make your own teddy bear include all materials needed to make the bear except the stuffing along with various other articles to make each specific bear. Pattern sizes range from 4″ to 24″ teddy bears. Links to various sites featuring teddy bears, teddy bear patterns, teddy bear kits and materials to make teddy bears can be found at http://www.teddybearsden.com/art-dir/index.html. Would you like to make a knitted teddy bear like the bear seen in Mr. Bean videos? You can do so by visiting,
http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns/toys/beanbear.htm. Here you will find a pattern and material list for this amusing big eyed teddy bear.

Needle Felting is a new way to make teddy bears and other soft toys without stitching or stuffing. This is accomplished by poking carded wool fiber many times over with a special barbed needle so that it felts together. As you felt the wool you are able to turn and mold it into any shape you desire. The result is a firm toy that is solid wool. You can learn about this technique by visiting http://www.bearycheap.com/info/felting1.html.

Check http://www.crochetnmore.com/Becky’sLittleBearPattern.htm to find a tiny teddy bear pattern designed especially for babies. The finished bear size is 4.5 to 5 inches. This is a crocheted bear. Another crocheted teddy bear pattern can be found at: http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa110897.htm?once=true. If you love miniature teddy bears, you will find an adorable 3″ bear by visiting: http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/tbear.html. If you want to make a pilgrim outfit for your teddy bear, http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa112297.htm has a great pattern with instructions and materials list. Learn to make a teddy bear at: http://www.fuzzybee.com.au/fuzzbears/make_a_teddybear.htm. Looking for teddy bear and felting supplies? Then check http://www.woodlandteddies.co.uk/ as it might be the place for you. This site has very unique patterns for teddy bears and stuffed toys. http://www.funkyfriendsfactory.com/?gclid=CITwr5XW3ooCFSM9UAodlFyzcA.

You should find everything you need on the above sites to make your own teddy bear. You may want to try some of the craft sites to see what they have to offer along the line of teddy bear making supplies.