Where Can I Find the Best Teddy Bears?

Hi everybody,

The first Teddy Bear was designed and made by Rose and Morris Michtom. The Michtoms were influenced by Teddy Roosevelt and Clifford Berryman.

It seems that in November 1902, President Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt traveled to Mississippi to settle a border dispute between Louisiana and Mississippi. The President, having a little free time, went on a hunting trip. The other members of the hunting party tied a black bear cub to a tree for the president to shoot but he refused.

Hearing the tale, political cartoonist Clifford Berryman drew a cartoon showing Roosevelt refusing to shoot the bear.

After seeing the cartoon, Brooklyn Shopkeeper Morris Michtom asked his wife, Rose, to make 2 stuffed bears to place in the shop window. The excelsior stuffed bears with the black, shoe button eyes gained national popularity. Michtom had an idea to combine the bears popularity with Teddy Roosevelt; Michtom contacted the President and asked for permission to call his stuffed bears 'Teddy Bears'. President Roosevelt agreed and the first Teddy Bear was born.

Morris Michtom named his store The Ideal Novelty and Toy Company, and began the first Teddy Bear factory in the United States. In the same year the Steiff company in Germany, began making it's version of the jointed bear, on it's own. This company, owned by Margarete Steiff, has been making toys since 1880.

Margarete's nephew, Richard Steiff, after seeing performing bears at a traveling circus, had an idea to make a toy bear that stood upright. Richard was a good artist and after visiting a nearby zoo to make sketches of the bears, designed the first jointed bear. The bear was 2 feet tall and, because of the jointed arms and legs, was able to stand upright or on all 4 legs just as a real bear could.

The Teddy Bear is the most popular plush toy. Other toys may come and go but the Teddy Bear is over 100 years old and has stood the test of time. Teddy Bears are used every day for various reasons. Pink and/or blue Teddy Bears are attached to baby shower presents; and they are given as gifts for the new baby. Teddy Bears wearing cap and gown are given to high school graduates. We adorn our wedding cakes with Teddy Bears dressed as the bride and groom and a hospitalized friend may receive a smiling Teddy Bear dressed in a nurses uniform and hat.

Teddy Bears are especially popular during the holidays. Santa Bears and Snow Bears abound at Christmas. Teddy Bears are available for every holiday or celebration, and nearly everyone has called the Teddy Bear a friend at one time or another.

When we were children the soft, cuddly Teddy Bear was a constant companion who got us through a lot of scary nights and went with us everywhere. We cared for them as if they were a family member, feeding, clothing and even bathing them when they became dirty. A best friend our Teddy Bear was always nearby.

Next: All About The Teddy Bear

Technorati Tags: Teddy Bear | Teddy Bears | Vermont Teddy Bears | One Million Dollar Club Lens

Hi everybody,

In 1902 when President Theodore Roosevelt was in Mississippi to settle a border dispute between Louisiana and Mississippi. While 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 how helpless the small bear was he refused.

The next day cartoonist, Clifford Berryman, drew a cartoon depicting Roosevelt refusing to shoot the bear. This prompted shopkeeper, Morris Michtom, asked his wife, Rose, to make a teddy bear to place in his shop window. Morris 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. Today you will 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.

The teddy bears on, www.tbears.de, are the some of the most expressive, unique teddy bears you will find anywhere.

The Lovable Fellows are one-of-a-kind or limited editions. Hours are spent creating each bears face. This gives each bear his own personality traits. If you want to adopt one of these Lovable Fellows you should check them out quickly. Most of the teddy bears on this site have already been adopted.

When you visit, www.theoriginalpakabear.com, you will find unique, one of a kind teddy bears made of Alpaca. These bears come in many different colors and some of them are multi-colored.

The site, www.settlerbears.com.au, features one of a kind bears inspired by the island of Australia.

On the site, www.tailoredteddies.com, you will find many one of a kind teddies. This site has many fantastic bears. You really don't want to pass this one by. If you have been thinking about starting a teddy bear collection, you should visit: www.bearhollow.net This teddy bear collector has opened her home to many adopted teddy bears. Teddy bears reside in every room of the house and some outdoor ports as well. There are also rooms dedicated to bears only. The history of the teddy bear is wonderful and heartwarming. To think of how many thousands of teddy bears have been loved and held by children who considered them a best friend, confidant, protector, and constant companion, it is no wonder they are still the most popular soft toy today.

Next: A Teddy Bear For Everyone

Technorati Tags: Teddy Bear | Teddy Bears | Vermont Teddy Bears | One Million Dollar Club Lens

Hi everybody,

Every child deserves a teddy bear to hug when the world gets too painful, lonely or sad. Teddy bears are there to watch over them when the dark is too spooky, they need a best friend or their lives become unstable. There are many charitable organizations out there and they are all working toward the same goal, to put a teddy bear into the arms of a deserving child.

The Vermont Teddy Bear Company started the Big Hero, Little Hero Program in September of 2002, to give children across the country a teddy bear to hug when they need one the most. More than 11 million children are transported by emergency services each year. The Vermont Teddy bear company and outside donations, provide specially designed, 13" teddy bears to provided to emergency service professionals around the country free of charge. Interested parties can participate in this charity by purchasing one of the specially made bears. For every bear bought, The Vermont Teddy Bear Company will donate two bears to an emergency service station in need. These bears are also given to lonely seniors.

The Inland Hospital in Maine, was donated 600 teddy bears to give to children who come in for tests, illness, trauma or with other patients. Thorndike press, located just down the road from Inland Hospital, was able to buy the bears with money earned from a silent auction, bake sales and other activities. The decision for Thorndike to donate the bears was reached after a younger sister of one of the employees was given a bear when she had to attend the hospital.

You may want to start a charitable teddy bear drive in your community, to help put a teddy bear into the arms of every child.

The first step is to recruit others, of like mind, to help you. Let's face it, this a big undertaking for one person. You may also want to get area schools and churches involved. Elementary school students make great recruits, as the entire class (or school) can work together to make money to purchase the teddy bears. Churches like to get involved in charity, especially when it is for children.

Get together with friends and plan some money making activities. A Bowl-a-thon, walk-a-thon, spaghetti dinner, Pancake Breakfast, Bake Sale, auction, rummage sale, or street carnival are all excellent ways to raise money for your teddy bears. You and your group, will need to set a time limit on donations and money collected. For instance, you may want to have enough money to buy the teddy bears by Christmas. You must also decide before you begin, where you will distribute the bears.

While you are raising the money, you should look around to find the best place to purchase the teddy bears when the money is collected. It is a very rewarding experience to give a teddy bear to a child. The look on their face when they see the soft, cuddly teddy, is worth ten times the effort it takes to get the bear. The first time you see a child grab the toy and hug it tight, will be one of the happiest of your life.

Next: The Amazing Teddy Bear Parade

Technorati Tags: Teddy Bear | Teddy Bears | Vermont Teddy Bears | One Million Dollar Club Lens

Howdy Teddy Bear Fans,

What a wonderful parade it would make if we could line up all of the teddy bears in existence. Starting at the head of the line, I sincerely doubt you would be able to walk to the end in one day. There are so many teddy bears out there they could have a species of their own, (if they were alive, that is).It is hard to believe that teddy bears have been a best friend, confidant, protector, and constant companion to children from age the of 1 day till death. How hard is it for many of us to look at a cute, cuddly teddy bear and resist the urge to take him home with us. The teddy bear started as a simple, jointed bear stuffed with excelsior, to the wonderful, unique teddy bears we see today.

Teddy Bear Artists have admitted they have spent hours working on the face of each bear they make. While the bears may be made of the same pattern and materials, the face of each bear has a personality of it's own. Each artist has his or her own style when it comes to making teddies. Many times you can see the personality traits of the artist in the teddy bears they make.

Soft toy manufacturers have their own style when it comes to the teddy bears they make. For instance, GUND, the top soft toy company in the U.S., has a patented under-stuffing method that makes many of their teddy's, the softest on the market. You will find many diverse and interesting styles when you visit the factories or internet sites of the main teddy bear manufacturers.

Teddy bear collectors love to show off their wonderful bears. You will find many sites on the internet, belonging to collectors of teddy bears. One family in particular, have such a large collection, they have teddy bears in every room. Some of the rooms in their home are dedicated to bears only.

Teddy bears have been proven to be a wonderful way to lessen the fear and pain of sick, hurt, lonely, and frightened children. Hospitals give teddy bears to those in need. Children make up the biggest group of teddy bear recipients, but adults at many hospitals are given teddy bears to hug while recovering from open heart surgery. It is important for a person who has undergone open heart surgery to cough so their lungs remain clear. The teddy bear is held close to the patients chest to lessen the pain and prevent the wound from reopening with the action.

The Vermont Teddy Bear Factory has a program called BIG HERO, LITTLE HERO. Money is raised through a unique campaign and private donations. Every time a specially made bear for this program is purchased, VTBF will give 2 of the same type of bear to police, emergency service workers, and firemen for distribution to children who are sick, injured, or victims of domestic violence. The special bears are also given to lonely seniors.

One thing we know for sure, the teddy bear is a very popular toy. If you doubt it, look at the number of bears sold each year. Teddy bears have survived the test of time. Other toys have come and gone but the teddy bear lives on in the hearts of those of us who need a bit of reassurance or a soft, warm, hug.

Next: Famous Teddy Bears

Technorati Tags: Teddy Bear | Teddy Bears | Vermont Teddy Bears | One Million Dollar Club Lens

Hi everybody,

Teddy bears, teddy bears everywhere. Teddy bears are the most popular of all toys. Cute, soft and cuddly, they have a way of comforting us when we are lonely, ill or afraid. Teddy bears listen to our opinions without argument, hear our problems without attempting to solve them, and understand when we need a hug.

Over the past 100 years there have been a few teddy bears that have reached celebrity status. These particular teddy bears have been so popular they are recognized by name.

Winnie The Pooh is right up there when we think of famous teddy bears. He was created by A.A. Milne with much inspiration from his wife Daphne, and his young son, Christopher Robin. The idea of Pooh began with a trip to the zoo where, Christopher Robin Milne, fell in love with a small, black bear. This prompted Milne to write about the adventures of Christopher Robin, his teddy bear pooh, and their friends. Today you will find Pooh everywhere. There are Winnie The Pooh clothes, bedding, animated cartoons, web sites and, of course, the teddy bear himself.

Paddington Bear is quite famous in his own right. Paddington was created by Michael Bond, a British writer who wrote his first book about the bear in 1958. A Bear Called Paddington, was the first in a series of books about Paddington Bear. In 1967 Bond's books became so successful that he was able to quit his job to become a full-time writer. Paddington is the sort of bear with his paws settled firmly on the ground. He has a great sense of right and wrong and tends to get involved in everyday situations, no wild adventures for this bear. He gets involved with human situations, but he could never be human, it simply wouldn't work. Paddington bear has also been depicted as an animated cartoon and has had his countenance made into a huggable teddy bear, but don't hug him too tight, it just wouldn't be right.

Rupert the bear was first introduced as a comic strip in 'The Daily Express', a British newspaper. Rupert was introduced by artist Mary Toutel on November 8, 1920, and he still appears in the same paper today. Mary was forced to stop drawing the cartoon in 1935, because of her failing eyesight. Alfred Bestall took over the job and continued drawing and writing about the adventures of Rupert for 35 years, until his retirement in 1965. Since then, various artists have taken over the task. Christmas, 1936 it was decided that the previous cartoon strips be put together in an Annual, and the tradition began. Rupert is popular with children and has become a star, in his own right, through animation. He is a popular animated cartoon.

It would not be right to end this article without mentioning two other bears of note.

Yogi Bear, introduced by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera in 1957, is a very pesky, yet lovable, cartoon character who has been a teddy bear a time or two. Yogi is famous for his schemes to swindle campers out of their pic-in-ic baskets in Jellystone National park.

Smokey The Bear has been responsible for the prevention of forest fires. He has been teaching adults and children about the dangers of forest fires for over 60 years. Smokey has also been a teddy bear.

Until Next Time,
Arjan
My website Keyword Links

Technorati Tags: Teddy Bear | Teddy Bears | Vermont Teddy Bears | One Million Dollar Club Lens