More on Bears.................. furs and a bit of history We can thank Theodore Roosevelt for indirectly bringing about the teddy bears that we all love today as children and collect as adults. The story goes that President Roosevelt was out on a hunting expedition back in the early 1900's when the men captured a young bear and, I imagine, seeking the President's approval, offered him the chance to shoot. Happily, for us, he refused, thinking the deed "bad sport". A political cartoonist of the time depicted Roosevelt and the poor cub which led to an American couple, the Michtoms, making a soft toy bear to display in their store. This wonderful bear proved so popular that, with help, they began the first teddy bear company in the States called the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company. At the same time in Europe Steiff began producing their first teddy bear for children. In the next 3 - 4 years the teddy bear become extremely popular and here today this gorgeous character still holds a large place in our hearts. Here's to the Teddy Bear!
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Teddy Bear CoutureBears come is a variety of sizes and textures. Mohair is the ususal coat for a traditional bear and is considered the best quality too. It comes from the Angora goat and is woven into a huge variety of colours and textures, short orlong, dense or parse, straight or curly, tipped and hand dyed.Mohair is now also available mixed with cottor and silks to create the most beautiful sheens. Here are examples of the natural mohair and a dyed mohair (forgive me for using my own bears :)
Ambrose in short hand dyed mohair, Moffat in a short natural state mohair, if a little patched : ) There are many cheaper imported soft toys and bears for children and these all have their place, bringing just as much happiness to their owner. However, a good luxury faux fur can also create the most beautiful bears and, because of its lighter texture can be very dense and thick, allowing bear makers to scissor sculpt the form - although this requires nerves of steel, oh, and a very steady hand!
Button and Carmel with scissor sculpted faces |
