Please meet Roosevelt, a Midwest of Cannon Falls Teddy Bear

Please meet Roosevelt, a Midwest of Cannon Falls Teddy bear.   He was made for dealers of Midwest of Cannon Falls decorative items, and there were only 100 made.   Each one wears a different outfit.   This one wears an elaborately styled cream shirt.   He was made in Germany in 2002 for the Anniversary of the Teddy Bear.   He has mohair fur and is number 64.   He originally had glass eyes, but one cracked, so I had to replace them.   He is a huge 24 inches tall and weighs almost four pounds!

I bought Roosevelt for a quarter.   You can't beat that.   He had such a lovely face and when you tip him over, he growls.   I have another one of these bears, but you can't go wrong having two!

Roosevelt grew up in Queens, New York.   He would sometimes take the F Train on the LIRR into Manhattan.   He liked to visit Theodore Roosevelt's Birthplace on East 20th Street.   He would stand outside and look up at the doors of the townhouse and pretend he was a member of the family.    He was proud to see his name on the placard outside, even though he is not a relation.   From there, he would make the long trek up to the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue, where he would get lost among the stacks of books, and wander over to take a peek at the original Winnie-the-Pooh, who sits behind a pane of glass.   Roosevelt was happy to be free.   He enjoyed perusing the titles on the shelves, especially in the biography section.  One day, a rather stern librarian informed him Teddy Bears aren't issued library cards, so he took his pile of books, settled into a big comfy chair, flipped through the pages and spent the day reading.  Nobody seemed to mind.   He learned a lot about the world there.  

Now that Roosevelt lives with me, he paws through my bookshelves as well, but he notices I don't have that many biographies, mostly books on English history, cats, Teddy bears, and a whole load of fiction.  Recently, he's been watching documentaries on our local Public Broadcasting Station late at night while munching on popcorn.   Of course, Ken Burns' "The Roosevelts" would be his favorite.    He wants me to take him to the bookstore so he can brush up on the latest nonfiction bestsellers, so I've cleared my calendar for next Saturday.  I don't mind.   He can spend all the time he wants becoming my very well-educated bear.

Please Meet Paddington Bear's Aunt Lucy by Eden Toys

Please meet Paddington Bear's Aunt Lucy by Eden Toys.   She's in near-mint condition.  She has all her tags and her glasses, but has unfortunately lost her coins, but who hasn't lost their coins a time or two??   Her bloomers and skirts have lost their elasticity, so they're a little droopy, so she tucks them underneath her shawl so they're nice and secure.   She wouldn't want them to fall down mid stride.   She was made by Gabrielle Designs in 1978 and is gray in color.  She's a very tall 18 inches and weighs nearly three pounds!

I bought her with yet another Aunt Lucy at an auction.  They were both in great condition, but one was missing her glasses and one shoe as well as her coins.   It was a great deal though, and I didn't mind having both of them in the same house, although it could be a little startling, thinking you were seeing double.

Aunt Lucy has long been retired, so she putters around the house these days, always helping out whenever and wherever she can.   She says retirement hasn't made her slow down;  it's just that she can sleep in a little more and stay up late a little later.   She actually enjoys doing little tasks.  It keeps a spring in her step and her arthritis at bay, as well as keeping her mind occupied.   If you ask her what day it is, she is very likely to say, "February!" in that high-pitched voice that we've gotten used to.   She likes living by a train station as it reminds her of her famous nephew.   If only it were closer to the seashore, she says,  a little sheepishly.   I've pointed out we can see a large lake from my dining room window, but I know it's not the same thing.   I'm making plans to take her to the beach this summer.    I'm sure she'll enjoy it.

Please meet Geoffrey, a Twyford Teddy bear

Please meet Geoffrey, a Twyford Teddy bear made in England.   He's a little guy, only 11 inches tall.  He was made in the 1950s.   He's quite unusual because he has googly eyes.   He has no tags to him at all.   He has a nice big head, and I love his look.   He has some minor wear and tear here and there, but who wouldn't at his age?  He's a nice creamy color, too.

I bought Geoffrey in 2014 on eBay.   I love English bears, and I found him irresistible, as per usual.  I'm not sure when he emigrated to the United States, but I don't think it's been very long, as he still finds everything here new and exciting.   He's always talking about how big America is and how the United Kingdom is about the size of the State of Pennsylvania.

Geoffrey's favorite thing to do is travel.   He especially enjoys caravan parks, places where he can leave his little pull-along trailer, and then maybe walk along the public footpaths nearby or go see the old  churches and manor homes.   He used to drive down to Dorset in the springtime to the little village of West Lulworth and meander along the Jurassic Coast to the Durdle Door.   One time he took the "easy" pathway there, which was actually longer and took him through a farmer's field, past cows and sheep and over several stiles, and as his legs are rather short, he ended up very frustrated and tired.   Luckily, there was an ice cream truck nearby, and so he bought himself a cornet with two flakes, just to make himself feel better, and it did the trick.

I've tried to explain that we don't have public footpaths or the types of manor homes he's used to visiting in England, but he's not convinced.   He's preparing his trailer, giving it a good clean.  He'd like to head out west in the spring.   I hope he finds what he's looking for.

Please meet Reginald, a Chiltern Hugmee Teddy bear from England.   I believe he's from the 1940's.   He has some loose claw stitching on his feet, but he doesn't care.   He is especially proud of the bald spot above his right eye.   It means he's had many kisses during his long life.  He's made from mohair, and his press squeaker even works!  He has the remains of his tag under his arm, but you can't read it anymore.  It was damaged in the war he says.   He's just over ten inches tall and weighs just over ten ounces, so he's a chunky little bear.

I bought Reginald on Ruby Lane last year, and the woman who sold him didn't realize what a rich history he has.  I was lucky to find him.

Reginald was born in the Chiltern Hills, now designated an Area of Outstanding Beauty.  He lived in London for a while, but with the advent of the war, he and his family moved to Plymouth.   It wasn't much safer there, but he does have lovely memories of stomping about Saltram Woods.   He remembers the difficult times when there was rationing of petrol, coffee and sugar, but he also reflects fondly on the sense of community.   He wished he could have signed up to serve in The Royal Air Force, but there wasn't much need in the military for a Teddy bear.  Instead, whenever there was an air raid, he would comfort the children in the lorries as they were evacuated to the outskirts of Dartmoor.  He considered that a very important job, and indeed, it was.

Many years later, he lived in a flat above a bakery in the center of Plymouth, where he would help serve cream teas.   People were surprised to discover him there, and sometimes offered him a bite (or two) of a sweet, and he would never refuse such a delight.   He's retained his chunkiness around his waistline,  and he's proud of that, too.

Please meet Skinnie and Minnie O'Brien, two vintage artist Teddy bears

Please meet Skinnie and Minnie O'Brien, two vintage artist Teddy bears.   Skinnie hasn't given me a clue who made him, but I know that  Minnie was made by Erla Fetty, an early Teddy bear artist in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  Skinnie is soft stuffed and Minnie is hard stuffed, but they're both the same height.  Together they weigh over three pounds!

Minnie was a gift from my brother, while Skinnie I bought as part of a lot.   I gave Skinnie a butterfly pin to cover a little burn he got while fighting a fire.   Minnie wears a little lace collar.

Minnie grew up on a farm.   Skinnie grew up in the city.   Minnie went to school for computer programming.   Skinnie earned a degree in marine biology.   Minnie had a desk job and liked to read books in the evening.   Skinnie was always traveling for his job and going to the beach at every opportunity.   You wouldn't think they would have met.   But one day, twenty years ago this month, as luck would have it, they both ended up staying at the same hotel in Virginia Beach.  Minnie was there attending a seminar on computer coding, while Skinnie happened to be purchasing the latest sports equipment at a trade show.   At breakfast one day, Skinnie overheard Minnie talking about surfing.  He had just bought a new surfboard! Maybe she'd like to see it!   Later at lunch, Minnie overheard Skinnie talking about surfing.   She loved to surf the internet!   Maybe he would like to see her new iPad!  They were each sure there was some kind of Teddy bear connection.    That evening, they both were in the hotel restaurant lobby waiting for a table for dinner.   He talked about surfing the waves.   She talked about surfing the net.  There was lots of laughter.  And the rest is history.

 

Please meet Hidcote, a Limited Edition Vermont Teddy bear.   She's very unusual because she is made of a gorgeous lavender-color tipped mohair and has the number 122/200 on her right paw.   I've never seen another one like her, although I suppose there are 199 others.  She's a good thirteen inches tall, and only weighs 10 ounces.   She was made about 26 years ago, and she is in excellent condition.

I bought Hidcote at a second-hand store while passing through a town in Northern New Jersey.  Apparently the woman who owned her was downsizing her collection, and frankly, she was quite irresistible.  She wears a little lace collar, and at the time I bought her she had a little lace apron on, too.    I think she took part in a wedding at one point in her life.

Hidcote was named for Hidcote English lavender.  She told me when she found out it's a plant with tall purplish-blue spikes and a strong fragrance, it kind of reminded her of herself!   She's rather tall for a Teddy bear and she carries her self very proudly, and she smells good, too.  Many years ago she was able to visit Hidcote Manor, the National Trust property in the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, England.   She was so very excited to be there!   The house has a rich history.   It was built in the 17th century on the grounds of an earlier priory.   But the most exciting part of her day was exploring the gardens!   She saw the most beautiful, colorful flowers!   Of course, the lavender borders were her favorite.  It was like a dream come true.  She hid among the buds there, and between the bees buzzing and breathing in that heady aroma, she promptly fell asleep.   She was awoken a while later by a gardener walking down the gravel path nearby.    He said her saw her napping and didn't want to disturb her, but now that she was refreshed, would she like to have a cup of tea in the cafe with him?   So while he pointed out the different varieties of flowers, they took a leisurely walk to the cafe, and over scones spread with blood orange marmalade, they discussed lavender, the red borders, and raising bees.   That's where her love of plants and gardening began, and it continues to today.   She'd like to start a beehive one day and make lavender honey, but for right now, she has a garden to grow.   

Please meet Emerald, a Barton's Creek bear by Gund

Please meet Emerald, a cream-colored Teddy bear designed by Teddy bear artist Martha Friesen for Gund's Barton's Creek line.   She wears little flowers in her hair and a very prim lace necklace with a little green stone.   She's made of simulated mohair, and she has pellets in her tummy, which make her very squishy inside.   She's a limited edition bear, too, and she's over a foot tall, so she's very proud of herself. 

I bought her about six or seven years ago with another bear.   They were sitting at a little wooden table with little chairs, and I thought they made a very cute display.   I bought a little tea set for the table, too, so they were able to have some tea and scones on occasion.

Emerald is a very prim and proper bear.   She has a discerning eye.   She and her siblings all helped out at the family store in New Hampshire, so she has a lot of retail experience.   She worked in the fashion accessories department first, where after hours she would paw through the counters and pin silk flowers in her hair or try on the latest trend in jewelry.   Her sisters were all amazed at her natural abilities, how she would pick up a silk scarf and tie it up into a fancy knot around her head and pair it with the some newfangled necklace and look spectacular.   She really wasn't supposed to go through the inventory like that, but she had such a talent.   Her father discovered the girls playing dress-up one evening, and at first scolded them for taking such liberties.   But then Emerald, being such a resourceful bear, suggested maybe she could take over decorating the front windows.  Her father was at first dubious, but he generously gave her a chance, and now her displays have become quite famous in town, and Teddy bears from miles around come to see what she's been up to. 

And today, whenever there's a question about style or what to buy for the upcoming season, the local bears consult Emerald first.

     

Please meet Zane, a very large Gund plush teddy bear

Please meet Zane, a very large Gund teddy bear.   He's unusual for me, because I didn't name him.   That's his family name, selected by the people at Gund somewhere in suburban New Jersey.   I'm sure there are many Zanes out there, but as we all know, each teddy bear is unique and has their own specific personality.  He is made out of a cuddly tan plush and has suede paw pads.   When he stands up, he's an impressive 21 inches tall.  He's not jointed, so he's nice and huggable.   He weighs almost two pounds, but for such a large bear, that's awfully light.  He has the sweetest face.

Zane was a gift to me from a dear friend.   She was actually the one who got me interested in bear collecting.   She's a major Steiff devotee.   When we moved far away from her, she and some other friends came to visit us for lunch after we settled into our new home.   She walked in with a huge tote bag, and Zane was peeking out at me.   It was such a wonderful surprise!

Zane was shy at first, but after a few days, he became really comfortable in his new surroundings.   He was a bit nervous when my friend took him off the shelf at the store.   He didn't know where life would take him.   Once he saw my bear hug though, he was very excited and fit right in with all the other teds.    I remember being woken up by their shenanigans on a hot summer night, and when I peeked around the corner into the bear room, there was Zane, telling the others one of his tall tales.   He has always been a very demonstrative bear.   Then one day he was lounging around watching TV, when he found a chess match on one of the higher cable channels.   He became obsessed!   He tried explaining chess to the other bears, but their brains are full of fluff and they just didn't see the point.   It's not that they didn't like Zane.   They did!   Some of the bears would set up a board and play with him, but since he always arrived at checkmate so easily, the others weren't so keen on participating.   It turns out the rest of the hug preferred checkers.


Zane ended up moving to Washington State a few years ago.   He lives in a small town, the kind of place where everyone knows everyone else.  He loves it there.  No kidding, there's an amateur chess club that meets once a week at the local high school.   He lives with a young family now and entertains the two children with his exciting teddy bear stories.   He sent me a postcard about his new young friends just the other day.   He's teaching them both how to play chess.

Please meet Hendrik, a Steiff Masked Teddy Bear

Please meet Hendrik, a Steiff masked teddy bear.   Hendrik doesn't like that word, "masked."   He thinks it makes him sound like a bank robber.   His EAN number is 0202/36, which means he's 36 centimeters high.   He doesn't like EAN numbers either.  He thinks it makes him sound like something that you might order out of a catalogue.  He's a little hefty, too, weighing in at one pound, five ounces.  He says he doesn't like the term "weighing in," as it makes him sound like a prizefighter, and he's nothing of the sort.

Truth be told, I purchased him in 2012 at an auction as part of a lot of so-called "regular bears," and he really stuck out as he is a Steiff.   He has no I.D., but there's no doubt as to what his pedigree is.   He's no ordinary bear, if there is such a thing.  

Hendrik grew up in West Germany in the 1980's, where he lived in a small village outside of Dortmund.  One of the most pivotal moments in his life was going to Berlin in November of 1989 when the Berlin Wall opened up between West Germany and East Germany.   He says he was one of the first teddy bears to cross that open border, hitching a ride in a backpack.    His heart was so overjoyed that day, that he started composing little ditties to sing to whoever would listen, eventually moving on to more serious music writing.  For quite a few years he worked at the library at the Berlin University of the Arts, where he could hear the classics played during the day,  and then he'd sample some dance music at night at the Berlin nightclubs.

So you see, Hendrik is certainly no bank robber, nor a catalogue item, nor a prizefighter, just a lovely Steiff masked bear with a song in his heart.    

 

Please meet Squirrely, a Gund Cubbi Teddy Bear

Please meet Squirrely, a Gund Cubbi Teddy bear.  He is made out of a silky plush material and has googly eyes and a rubber nose.   He was made in the 1950s.  He even has his original yellow ribbon,  a gift from his first girlfriend.   He doesn't want to part with it.   He is not jointed, but if he's very careful, he can balance on his tippy toes. 

Squirrely was a gift to me from my brother.   I at once loved those crazy eyes and the peach colored fur of his chest.   His arms are spread out wide ready for a big hug, so I knew he was a special bear.  Not everyone is as generous as Squirrely.  

Squirrely was born in Connecticut, but soon relocated to Westchester County in New York.  He worked as a cashier in a drive-in movie theater, handing out tickets.  There was no extra charge for a hug.   He loved watching the movies from the back of the lot.  Often he would climb on top of a car for a better view.   He sometimes helped out at the snack bar.   Hugs were free there, too.  He says it was his dream job.  That's where he met his first girlfriend, Debbie.  She went off to secretarial school and ended up taking a job in California, so it didn't work out, but they parted good friends.  They still write to each other on their respective birthdays.  When the drive-in theater closed, he had saved up enough to retire on the North Shore of Long Island.    When he came to me, he was the happiest little bear, full of his own stories he wanted to share.  He's a most generous bear.   He always wants hugs.   I think I'll go give him one.

Please meet Atticus, a Knickerbocker Teddy Bear Panda

Please meet Atticus, an unjointed Knickerbocker Teddy bear panda.   He was made in the 1940's and has his original satin label and red ribbon.  The label has a horseshoe on it and the words, "Made under sanitary conditions."   He's only six inches tall.   He's made from a silky material, not mohair and is a little grubby.

I found Atticus in at an estate sale one very hot summer, up in the attic with a number of other old toys.  He was in really good condition compared to the others.   His face was so cute, I couldn't resist him.    I knew he'd like to be rescued.   He was so relieved to get into a car with air conditioning, that he couldn't catch his breath, and it took him a while before he calmed down and was able to look out the window and enjoy the scenery.

Atticus grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and attended many parties and charity events in the City.   He always was on his best behavior and  made sure he was impeccably dressed.    When his owner's job was transferred across the river to New Jersey, he thought he would miss the nightlife, but as it turned out, he was pleasantly surprised by his surroundings and enjoyed watching the stars  from the deck of his new home.  He's not sure how he ended up in the attic.   He supposes it's just old age and poor eyesight.   He's happy to live in the country again.  He enjoys the cool breezes.

Please meet Gulliver, a Gund or Knickerbocker Teddy Bear

Please meet Gulliver, a large Gund or Knickerbocker Teddy bear.  He doesn't have any tags, so I don't know who his maker is, and he's not saying.   His head isn't jointed at all, but he has good movement in his arms and legs.  He has those classic starburst plastic eyes.  He's 20 inches tall and he's had plenty of honey to eat, so he weighs 3 pounds!  He could use a bath, too, but he's a little tempermental, so I don't want to bring it up.

I bought Gulliver at an auction in 2009.  I cleaned him up a little bit, but he was resistant to having a sponge bath, so I just let him be.  He sat in a little chair in the dining room for the longest time and was feeling a little restless.   

Gulliver spent a lot of time in New York City sweeping the city streets.   He's seen a lot of things in his time (both good and bad), but he's become quite silent about his experiences.   He doesn't like to live in the past.  He rather likes the sunshine now.   He doesn't care if sun is bad for his mohair fur.  He also likes to putter around the garden.  He's planning on moving to the West Coast because he says he'd like to lounge around poolside and put on dark sunglasses or watch the sun go down, but he assures me he'll come back to visit some day.   I'll miss him.

Please Meet Dolly, a Chad Valley Teddy Bear

Please meet Dolly, a lovely Chad Valley Teddy bear.    She's from England, and she came to life somewhere between 1938 and 1952.  She has a chest label that reads, "Hygenic Toys, Made in England, Chad Valley.   She has the early Warrent label on her foot, "The Chad Valley Co. Ltd.   By Appointment.  Toy Makers to HM The Queen."   She's only 12 inches high and is stuffed with wood wool.   She has been through some rather difficult years, so she has pinholes and a few rips and tears.   She only has about 50 percent of her mohair.   She's wearing a little blue knitted dress to cover up all her bald spots.  

I found Dolly at an auction in June of 2017.   She was with two other bears her age, and I was surprised her then-owners put her up for sale and didn't appreciate how beautiful she was.  

Dolly enjoys collecting seashells when she holidays in Brighton in the South of England.   She currently resides in the United States.   She has many fond memories of England, especially spending time at the local pub in the small town where she grew up in Dorset.   She is proud to be participating in my first blog post.   She hopes you like her picture.