Kids Learning

Maxine Clark founded Build-A-Bear Workshops Inc. in 1997 and has served on the board of directors when the company was incorporated in 2000. By the end of 2006 There were nearly 300 Build A Bear Workshop stores worldwide, including company owned stores in the US, United Kingdom and Canada and franchised stores in Europe, Asia and Australia.

Friends 2B Made, (r) a store designed for kids (especially girls). Clark launched this new addition to retail entertainment in 2004.

A few of the awards bestowed upon Build A Bear Workshop and Maxine Clark:

An induction into the Junior Achievement National Business Hall of Fame for Clark in 2006. In 2005 Build A Bear Workshop was named Workshop Portfolio Company of the Year. Build A Bear Workshop was named one of the “Hottest Retailers in 2004, and the retail innovator of the year for 2001.

The list goes on but I think we get the big picture. Build A Bear Workshops are tops when it comes to a creative way to build the very best friend you may ever have. After all, the definition of a best friend is someone who does not hold your shortcomings against you, listens to your problems without giving advise unless it is asked for, and is there to comfort you when you are feeling sad, sick or hurt.

You can go to: www.buildabear.com to find the Build A Bear Workshop near you. Prices for stuffed animals start at $10 and go up. Clothing and accessories are purchased separately. You can choose from many themes to dress your Teddy Bear. The website has slumber party where you can find pajamas and slippers in several styles. There are also accessories available, such as, sleeping bags which comes with a carrying case. A rock and roll theme includes t-shirts, blue jeans, billed hats, sun glasses, guitars, walkmans, cell-phones and more. The Harley Davidson theme includes faux leather jackets and chaps, boots, bandanas and even a motorcycle so your best friend can ride with the pack. All of your favorites from the Wizard of Oz are ready to come to life, including Toto and his basket. These are but a few of the themes to be found at www.buildabear.com.

Each Teddy Bear and stuffed animal has a heart and virtual wishes inside, personalized birth certificate, Lifetime Paw Pass, Find A Bear tag inside and comes in a Cub Condo carrying case. Different sounds can be added to the inside of each stuffed animal purchased, depending on what you want.

You can also build a teddy bear or stuffed animal for any special occasion. You may even want to build as a gift for that special loved one or as a thank you to that Fourth of July barbeque. When you think of Teddy Bears, think about building your own at one of the Build A Bear Workshops near you. After all it isn’t every day you can create your own best friend right down to the shoes.

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For those of you who would like to step out of the ordinary, here is an idea. Instead of buying a teddy bear that everyone can get, why not go to a teddy bear artist and get a teddy bear that is unique?

After all, this teddy bear will be your, or your child’s, best friend for many years. How often is it, that one can pick just what their best friend will look like?

The web site, www.bearpile.com, provides links to teddy bear artists. This site was founded by Dave Stack and he runs it out of his 1903 Victorian home in Cleveland, Ohio. Teddy bear artist, Emma-Louise Braiden, Sells one of a kind bears, many of which have already been adopted. Some of her available friends are:

Baby Jeremy is made in two different mohair fabrics, and is fully lock-nut jointed so that he can pose in the positions a baby would. He is not overfilled with polyfill so he feels more like a baby. Jeremy also has a heap of stainless steel shot in him to make him more the weight of a baby. When you hold him you will need to support his head, but when he sits he is able to hold his head like a much older child. Baby Jeremy comes with baby booties on his feet and his own toy. A string jointed bunny.

‘TATE’ is a 12 inch wacky panda created by Jaqui Ellerton from Jac-q-lyn Bears, in the United Kingdom. He is made from black and cream, matted, curly, German, mohair fabrics. His face, inner ears and paw pads are made from, beige, cashmere fabric. TATE is fully jointed and is number 1 in a series of 5. This soft, cuddly, unique teddy bear is up for adoption. Another great site featuring teddy bear artists is, www.teddybearsden.com.

This site has links to the web sites of many talented teddy bear artists. Susan Bartlett is the teddy bear artist, and owner of, www.adorablebears.com. She has been making her unique teddy bears for 12 years.

‘LITTLE PREP’, is a 9 inch bear stuffed with Australian wool and glass beads for weight. He is made of German ‘Kid’ Mohair and ultra suede. Little Prep is limited to only one. He is fully lock nut jointed, and his muzzle is a light beige in color to complement his milk chocolate colored fur. This teddy bear wears an oversized key as a necklace and is waiting to be adopted by you.

Truffles is a fully jointed 10 inch bear kit designed by Susan Bartlett. The kit includes a pattern and full instructions, mohair and matching ultra suede paw fabric. All joint requirement, threads and quality glass eyes are included. This kit is ideal for beginner and advanced bear makers.

These bears may cost a bit more than a teddy bear you might buy at a department store. You must remember, teddy bear artists design and make each bear by hand and many of them are one of a kind.

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For over 100 years the Teddy Bear has been a comfort to us. When we were frightened, lonely or sick, our Teddy Bear has been there. Serving as a constant companion and best friend who never faltered or failed us. This is true of sick children and adults today. I doesn’t matter how old we become, we are never too old to be comforted by the cute, cuddly, stuffed toy.

In hospitals across the country, patients recovering from open heart surgery are given a Teddy Bear to hug to their chest when they cough. After surgery it is vital for a open heart patient to cough so that the lungs remain strong and clear of fluids. This wonderful Bear has been a close friend to those in Cardiac Care.

Good Bears of the World, is a non-profit organization dedicated to placing Teddy Bears in the arms of children who are less fortunate to inspire love, reassurance and hope to those who are in desperate need. These children are the victims of flood, hurricane, Tornado or domestic violence. Good Bears also gives Teddy Bears to sick, injured and underprivileged children, as well as, lonely senior citizens. You may donate through their web site.

The Vermont Teddy Bear Company sponsors a Big Hero, Little Hero program. The mission of the program is ‘to make sure every child has a Teddy Bear to hug when he or she needs one the most’. The Vermont Teddy Bear Company, and outside donations, offer a 13″ Teddy Bear specially designed for distribution to emergency service professionals around the country, free. For every special Little Hero Bear purchased, The company will donate two bears for distribution. You can become involved by coordinating a fund raiser through your church, school or community.

The Lexington Kentucky, Man O’ War Post of the American Legion, donated two unique Teddy Bears to 2 cancer patients. 1 year-old Maleek Kattara and 3 year-old Daniel LeBoeuf Jr. were the recipients of SPINOZA. SPINOZA is a talking bear that entertains children by singing songs and telling stories. Spinoza comes with 9 cassette tapes that are played inside the bears internal cassette player. This Teddy bear provides songs and tales of encouragement, friendship and support to children with life-threatening illnesses.

At Inland Hospital in Waterville Maine, children coming in for treatment or with family members will have a friend to help them stay calm thanks to Thorndike Press, located just down the road. They donated 600 Teddy Bears to the hospital for the children. The money to purchase the bears was raised by bake sales and a silent auction, among other activities.

A small group of senior women called ‘Busy Fingers’, at the Epiphany Lutheran Church, is making sick children feel better. These women have been meeting every Monday, from early morning to late afternoon, for almost two years. The group sews and stuffs colorful Teddy Bears, lap Robes and placemats. They have donated more than 300 items to Shore Memorial Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Shriner’s Hospital.

It is very heart-warming and consoling to know that Teddy bears can bring so much joy to so many.

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The search for the best teddy bear, does not end at one certain destination. It is more a personal search to find the teddy bear that is best for you. What others find adorable in a teddy bear, may not be the same characteristics you look for. Many teddy bear lovers find it difficult to decide on just one bear to adopt. They choose to open their hearts, and their homes, to several teddy bears.

You can see a wonderful collection at: www.bearhollow.net. This collector has opened every room in her home, and some outdoor areas, to her extended bear family. There are a few rooms just for the teddy bears. There are several sites like this one, and you may visit them to see what a great idea teddy bear collecting can be.

When you are looking for that special bear you have an obligation to yourself to take a look at the sites of teddy bear artists. These talented artists design and make teddy bears from scratch. So many of the bears they offer have a their own unique look and personality. 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. At, www.theoriginalpakabear.com, the Paka Bears are made from super soft, natural Alpaca. Each bear is handmade and unique. The teddy bears come in many different colors and some of them are multi-colored. This site is a must-see.

When you step into the website at, www.settlerbears.com.au, you will see a great number of unique teddy bears based on the Outback, the Great Dividing Ranges, the Great Barrier Reef, the Rainforests and other areas in Australia. This site offers teddy bear collections, as well as, other beary interesting stuffed friends.

The web site, www.designsbyterri.com, is a fantastic place to find miniature teddy bears. Domino, is a 2 3/4″ tall bent knee bear of black and white, made of upholstery velvet. This tiny teddy comes with his own die cast, taxi pedal car.

Another site to see when it comes to one of a kind teddies is, www.tailoredteddies.com. This site has many fantastic bears and is one you don’t want to miss.

Not only can you find that special bear on one of these sites, you may want to try your hand at making your own teddy bear.

You will find pattern packs with instructions, nut and bolt joints, 1 pair of eyes, and a complete materials list at: http://www.christiebears.co.uk/acatalog/Patterns.html. Materials and accessories for bear making are also available on this site.

Teddy bear patterns, with complete material list, can be purchased for $10 each at: http://www.judilynndesigns.com/Rumbles.html.

You will find teddy patterns, kits, and materials for making teddy bears if you go to: www.admiral-bears.com.

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