Teddies Bear

Teddies Bear

Teddies, irresistible, cuddly and universally loved. That's the outside, but what about the inner bear? What fabrics, stuffing and squeakers go into our favourite friends?

Fabric

Over the years bears have been made in almost every material you can think of. The classic fabric, that was used for the earliest bears, is mohair (wool from Angora goats) which has a realistic texture and is very resistant to dirty. Over the years manufacturers experimented with other, cheaper, materials and in wartime there was even an economy fibre woven from nettles! Synthetic fabrics are the most widely used substitutes for mohair as they are washable and can be dyed in a rainbow of colours.

Paw Pads

Many of the earliest bears' pads were cut out of felt or sometimes suede. This was felt to be however, a rather expensive material for a simple child's toy. In the 1930s a cheap substitute called rexine was used. This was made from oil cloth but was prone to cracking. Natural leather and velveteen were also used. More recently pads have been made from plush, either incorporated within the limbs or with inserts of a different colour. It is usual today for washable synthetics to be used.

Stuffing

Wood wool was the earliest stuffing and continued in use for many years. From 1918 onwards kapok, a soft fibre made from the seed pods of the kapok tree became popular, whilst in World War 2, bears had economy stuffing, for example waste from cotton mills or cut up stockings. Today many stuffings are washable, for obvious reasons and polyester wadding and plastic pellets are popular.

Features

Eyes were initially made from wooden shoe button eyes. Glass eyes were available and the first ones were made from blown glass, imported from Germany. However these were expensive and it was found to be cheaper to simply paint the colour onto the back of the glass. Eyes were originally fitted with a small metal hook, but after World War 2 safety regulations led to the development of today's plastic eyes, secured from the reverse with a washer.

Noses proved the most difficult feature to achieve satisfactorily as plastic and leather were too hard, so eventually hand-embroidered noses became the most commonly found. These are a useful clue to a bear's manufacturer as different companies favoured different shapes and ways of stitching. Today children's toys usually have lock-in safety noses in plastic, while collectors' bears are more likely to have the traditional hand-sewn noses.

Mouths are traditionally hand-stitched, usually with a single line from the centre of the nose finishing in an upside down "V". Changing the shape of this "V" can completely alter a bear's expression from a beautiful smile to a more pensive or even cross-looking face.

Joints

Early bears could move their heads and limbs well as they had a card or metal disc inserted on either side of the joint joined by a pin and fastened off with a small metal washer. Plastic rods replaced metal pins in the 1940s and today cardboard joints are obsolete having long since been replaced by plastic, although hardboard joints are still used for some artist bears.

Squeakers and Growlers

Squeakers were tried in teddy bears, and an odd contraption comprising a reed in an oilcloth bag was also experimented with. However the tilt growler is universally agreed to produce the "real" teddy bear voice. These growlers comprise cardboard tubes with a small pair of bellows attached to a reed. When the bear is turned over a weight at one end opens the bellows and when it's stood upright again the air is released giving a slow, realistic growling noise. The same principle is used in today's teddy bears, some of whom can be seen at DevonBear Designs on a range of products including aprons [http://www.devonbeardesigns.com/prod6.asp?prod_id=3340&id=266&sub_cat=579&grpid=3340&msg=&offset=] and greetings cards [http://www.devonbeardesigns.com/prod6.asp?prod_id=3344&id=272&sub_cat=581&grpid=3344&msg=&offset=].

Helen Dickson is the owner of DevonBear Designs. She designs and makes a small range of really practical - and pretty - textile items and stationery all inspired by the wonderful coast and countryside of South Devon, England. Helen is a talented watercolour artist and all DevonBear Designs products feature one of her images. Visit her site at http://www.devonbeardesigns.com

Teddies $10 Teddies

Cherished Teddies Diana Bear Hugs Figurine #786845 $9.99 Cherished Teddies - Diana FigurineBy Enesco Item #786845Officially licensed merchandiseThis cute figure features beautiful coloring and craftsmanshipBottom reads "I Cherish Your Bear Hugs"Reg. number written on baseDimensions: 3"H x 2"W x 2"DMaterial(s): resin/stone mix Type: Statues and Sculptures

A Tale of Two Teddies $3.95 Published in celebration of the centennial anniversary of the creation of the teddy bear, this endearing picture book allows each of the candidates for "First Teddy Bear" to tell his tale. Through witty banter and debate, the characters reveal the conflicting accounts behind the creation of this beloved plaything and collectible. Carefully researched and enchantingly depicted by Kathleen Bart's fine colored pencil illustrations, A Tale of Two Teddies is an engaging story that recreates an important moment in the history of toys. It is sure to be treasured by collectors as well as by children.

Cherished Teddies Kayla Christmas Bear Figurine #533815 $9.99 Cherished Teddies - Kayla FigurineBy Enesco Item #533815Officially licensed merchandiseThis cute figure features beautiful coloring and craftsmanshipBottom reads "Big Hearts Come In Small Packages"Reg. number written on baseDimensions: 3.25"H x 3.25"W x 2.5"DMaterial(s): resin/stone mix Type: Statues and Sculptures

Cherished Teddies Stella Lamb and Bear Figurine - #706795 $9.99 Cherished Teddies - Stella FigurineBy Enesco Item #706795Officially licensed merchandiseThis cute figure features beautiful coloring and craftsmanshipBottom reads "Touches Of Heaven Can Be Found On Earth"Reg. number written on baseDimensions: 3.5"H x 3.5"W x 3"DMaterial(s): resin/stone mix Type: Statues and Sculptures

RUSS 12 Beary Special Teddies Wishes Teddy Bear #34307 $12.99 "Wishes" Teddy BearPart of the RUSS Beary Special "Teddies At Play" collectionItem #34307Measures: 12"HMaterial: Plush Fabric Type: Animals & Pets

RUSS 12 Beary Special Teddies Tackles Football Teddy Bear #29904 $12.99 "Tackles" Football Teddy BearPart of the RUSS Beary Special "Teddies At Play" collectionItem #29904Measures: 12"HMaterial: Plush Fabric Type: Animals & Pets

Teddies On Moon $10 Teddies On Moon

Sweet Teddies $10 Sweet Teddies

Teddies in Love $10 Teddies in Love

Cherished Teddies Milton Millennium Event Airplane Bear Figurine #542644 $9.99 Cherished Teddies - Milton FigurineBy Enesco Item #542644Officially licensed merchandiseThis cute figure features beautiful coloring and craftsmanshipBottom reads "Wishing For A Future As Bright As The Stars"Reg. number written on baseDimensions: 4.25"H x 4.25"W x 2.5"DMaterial(s): resin/stone mix Type: Statues and Sculptures

Cherished Teddies Willow Angel Bear with Feather Wings Figurine #661759 $9.99 Cherished Teddies - Willow FigurineBy Enesco Item #661759Officially licensed merchandiseThis cute figure features beautiful coloring and craftsmanship2-piece figureBottom reads "Cherished Your Spirit"Reg. number written on baseDimensions: 6"H x 3.25"W x 2.5"DMaterial(s): resin/stone mix Type: Statues and Sculptures

Cherished Teddies Sarah Dress Form Bear Figurine #308676 $9.99 Cherished Teddies - Sarah FigurineBy Enesco Item #308676Officially licensed merchandiseThis cute figure features beautiful coloring and craftsmanshipBottom reads "Memories To Wear And Share"Reg. number written on baseDimensions: 4.5"H x 4"W x 2.75"DMaterial(s): resin/stone mix Type: Statues and Sculptures

Cherished Teddies Emma Winter Bird Feeding Bear Christmas Figurine #533904 $9.99 Cherished Teddies - Emma FigurineBy Enesco Item #533904Officially licensed merchandiseThis cute figure features beautiful coloring and craftsmanshipBottom reads "Let Earth Proclaim It's Peace"Reg. number written on baseDimensions: 4.25"H x 3.5"W x 2.75"DMaterial(s): resin/stone mix Type: Statues and Sculptures

Cherished Teddies Bette Star of the Show Bear Figurine - #533637 $9.99 Cherished Teddies - Bette FigurineBy Enesco Item #533637Officially licensed merchandiseThis cute figure features beautiful coloring and craftsmanshipBottom reads "You Are The Star Of The Show"Reg. number written on baseDimensions: 4"H x 3"W x 3"DMaterial(s): resin/stone mix Type: Statues and Sculptures

Cherished Teddies Frosty and Aurora Christmas Snowman Bear Figurine #706884 $9.99 Cherished Teddies - Frosty and Aurora FigurineBy Enesco Item #706884Officially licensed merchandiseThis cute figure features beautiful coloring and craftsmanshipBottom reads "Let It Snow, Let It Snow"Reg. number written on baseDimensions: 4.25"H x 3.75"W x 3"DMaterial(s): resin/stone mix Type: Statues and Sculptures

Teddies with Snowmobile $49.99 Teddies with Snowmobile - Giclee Print

Cherished Teddies Melinda Jump Rope Bear Figurine - #661821 $9.99 Cherished Teddies - Melinda FigurineBy Enesco Item #661821Officially licensed merchandiseThis cute figure features beautiful coloring and craftsmanshipBottom reads "I'm Only A Hop, Skip And A Jump Away If You Need Me"Reg. number written on baseDimensions: 4.5"H x 3"W x 1.5"DMaterial(s): resin/stone mix Type: Statues and Sculptures

Cherished Teddies Chelsea and Daisy Friend Reunion Bear Figurine #597392 $9.99 Cherished Teddies - Chelsea and Daisy FigurineBy Enesco Item #597392Officially licensed merchandiseThis cute figure features beautiful coloring and craftsmanshipBottom reads "Old Friends Always Find Their Way Back"Reg. number written on baseDimensions: 3"H x 3.5"W x 3"DMaterial(s): resin/stone mix Type: Statues and Sculptures

Cherished Teddies Ralph Christmas Reindeer Bear Figurine - #706841 $9.99 Cherished Teddies - Ralph FigurineBy Enesco Item #706841Officially licensed merchandiseThis cute figure features beautiful coloring and craftsmanshipBottom reads "Bring Joy To Those You Hold Dear"Reg. number written on baseDimensions: 3.5"H x 2.75"W x 2"DMaterial(s): resin/stone mix Type: Statues and Sculptures

Cherished Teddies Irmgard Winter Bear Christmas Figurine #706728 $9.99 Cherished Teddies - Irmgard FigurineBy Enesco Item #706728Officially licensed merchandiseThis cute figure features beautiful coloring and craftsmanshipBottom reads "Your Smile Can Melt Any Heart"Reg. number written on baseDimensions: 4.25"H x 3.25"W x 3"DMaterial(s): resin/stone mix Type: Statues and Sculptures

Cherished Teddies Dad, Drake and Dustee Lifting Spirits Bear Figurine #661791 $9.99 Cherished Teddies - Dad, Drake and Dustee FigurineBy Enesco Item #661791Officially licensed merchandiseThis cute figure features beautiful coloring and craftsmanshipBottom reads "You Have A Very Special Way Of Lifting Spirits"Reg. number written on baseDimensions: 4.25"H x 3.25"W x 1.5"DMaterial(s): resin/stone mix Type: Statues and Sculptures

It's the Bear! $3.95 The last time Eddie went for a walk in the woods, he had the biggest surprise of his life There was a bear the size of a house in there Now Eddie's mom is in the mood to picnic in the wood--and she insists there aren't any bears in there, (except Eddie's teddy, Freddie). But when Mom forgets the blueberry pie, she runs home to get it while Eddie waits in the woods all alone What happens next? Just guess Hold on to your teddies, because Jez Alborough is back with another hilarious story about little Eddie and that oversized bear--and this time he's hungry

Sailboat Teddies $5.99 Ruane Manning Sailboat Teddies - Art Print

Teddies all around $10 Teddies all around

Cuddly Love Teddies $10 Cuddly Love Teddies

Love You Teddies $6 Love You Teddies

Teddies in Space and Climbing $49.99 Teddies in Space and Climbing - Giclee Print

Teddies in Winter Scene $49.99 Teddies in Winter Scene - Giclee Print

My Teddies XI $29.99 Laurence David My Teddies XI - Art Print

My Teddies II $29.99 Laurence David My Teddies II - Art Print

My Teddies I $29.99 Laurence David My Teddies I - Art Print

My Friend Bear $3.94 Eddie and the bear are back, but can it be true? Yes They're inseparable Eddie's feeling sad, and so is the bear. They both wish they had a friend to talk to. All they have are their teddies, and teddies can't talk. Or can they? Teddy fans, prepare From the author-illustrator of the best-selling WHERE'S MY TEDDY? and IT'S THE BEAR comes a third warm and funny story about this odd-sized, lovable pair, a small boy and a rather large bear