A Very Unusual Teddy Bear

Just wanted to share this little Papier Mache Teddy Bear with you.

It all started this morning when I ventured into my local Craft Store (I was actually searching for some pretty ribbons to cheer up some Old Bears) when I spotted this little papier mache Teddy Bear.

My concerns started to grow when I found out that he was a ‘Display Item’ and not for sale.  I also had this pointed out to me by the man who worked in the store. However, you know how it feels when you just fall in love with a Teddy Bear and you just HAVE TO HAVE HIM.  I practically pleaded with the man to sell him to me.

Eventually, the guy relented and let me buy him.

He is just sooo cute.

Now he is home with me.

The moral of this tale is.  IF EVER YOU SEE A TEDDY BEAR THAT YOU REALLY REALLY WANT….NEVER GIVE UP !!!  He is destined to be yours.

Love this Teddy !

 

 

 

Warwick Bear Meets the Captain

Last week I took a number of my Old Teddy Bear friends for a short vacation.  How to choose which Teddy Bears to take is always very difficult.  As I pack my bags they all look at me with ‘take me with you’ eyes as all Teddy Bears, no mattter whether they are young or old love travelling, adventures and meeting people don’t they?

Anyway as I was going on board a Cruise Ship, there is one Teddy Bear who HAS TO come along with me and his name is Warwick Bear.

He came to live with me about ten years ago.  I was travelling on board the Cunard Liner, Queen Mary 2, on her first trip across the water to New York.  I needed a very special Teddy Bear to share my trip with me.  After a very short search, I found him.  A Steiff Teddy Bear who had ‘just the right look’.  So I took him home and dressed him in a felt Captain’s jacket.  He immediately looked the part.

The strange thing is, when we went on our adventure, he didn’t have a name as I couldn’t just think of the right name for him.  However, once we boarded the ship I heard that the Captain’s name was Warwick and that was it…..Warwick was a truly wonderful name for him.

Since then, he has travelled on board many ships.  He has watched tons of movies and read loads of books (including Titanic).  He really does have a big interest in everything and anything shipping related.

Last week Warwick Bear was even lucky enough to meet the Captain.

I was very lucky too because I had a very fine gentlemen accompany me to dinner.

Many people stopped to meet Warwick Bear and to shake him by the paw.

I will tell you about some of the other bears I took with me and the adventures we had later.

 

 

Unique Teddy Bears

A child’s relationship with his Teddy Bear is something very special,unique infact.  The constant play together and the never ending cuddles takes away the Teddy Bear’s stiffness that he was born with.  Very soon the Teddy Bear becomes worn almost smooth by all the love and affection the child gives him.  Teddy soon loses his original looks, especially after his ears have been sucked off and his nose which has been pushed and pulled so often that it completely changes shape.  His body starts to lose his fur and sometimes tiny holes appear that can even leak some stuffing (but never love!!!).

Because of these changes the Teddy Bear’s body becomes quite flat and limp and the child companion finds it hard to cuddle at night and it is when this happens that Mother usually steps in.  She looks around for any kind of soft fabric that she can use to re-stuff the Teddy Bear (sometimes even her old nylons or tights).

The change in Teddy’s looks sometimes makes it very difficult to realise who actually was his original creator, but never mind, because this is what a Teddy Bear does, it is his aim in life, to be loved and to be a comforter.  Unlike humans, Teddy has no vanity.  When he looks in the mirror or indeed when his best friend looks at him, all they see is memories, times gone by that may bring back a smile or even a tear.

Sometimes too,quite alarmingly, the Teddy Bear will have taken so much loving, squeezing, kissing and cuddling that his looks have become quite strangely amusing or even horrific.

Working every day, as I do with Old Bears, I see everything from bears literally held together with string to bears that have had new parts created for them (like Old Percy).  I have found all kinds of things tucked away inside them (but so far I have not come across any precious jewels).

All these things make Teddy Bear unique.  Something that we all seem to find very attractive in a very Old Teddy Bear,

Old Teddy Bears Are Always There

When your sun no longer shines on your face,
When your heart feels to heavy for your body to bare,
When you need love but there is no-one there,
When walking this planet makes you weary,
And the sound of the earth is no longer a melody,
When you need love more than food and water,
When all around you turns to stone,
Cling on tightly to your Old Teddy Bear
Always true and always there.

……………………………………………….Lorraine Hitchings

Merrythought Teddy Bear Called Isabelita

John Axe (author of ‘The Magic Of Merrythought) designed two very iconic Teddy Bears for Merrythought, a boy called Jeremy and a girl called Isabel, both of them Limited Edition Bears. Such was their success that Junior Jeremy was made along with his sister Isabelita.

Cousin Harry

Today was a beautiful Spring morning. The sun shone down on the daffodils who held their heads up high and for me everything seemed right in my world. I took my friend Harry for a walk to the local Churchyard, where we both sat and contemplated life for a while. Harry’s original owner died last year, when he came to live with me and Gino. Always room for one more Teddy Bear !!!

Did You Know This Fact About Teddy Bears

Described as the world’s most popular toy. More than 60 per cent of all British households have one and, at a conservative estimate there are more than 140 million of them living in the United States.

Teddy Bears

“A Teddy Bear in the hand is worth ten in the shop”