Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Yeah... that minor toyshop in London.  Hamleys.  Blink and you'd miss it it's that small.  It's not that famous either.  :)

Yes -- they are expensive.  I did see a nice koala teddy that I went up to and cuddled as they had one already stuffed.  :D

The clothes are a nice idea, but I prefer my teddy bear naked.

Yes.  But if you've got four children, that's £50 before you've even started.  :)

-- Thomas Adam

Hi all,

Here in Southampton, we've had one of these Build-a-Bear shops for years.  I think the company was originally called "Build-a-Bear" and changed its name and/or was bought out by "The Bear Factory" -- I forget which.  Either way there's one in the bottom of West Quay.

When I was at University I delighted in going round this shop -- it's a great idea, you choose a teddy, see it "come to life" with kapoc, name him, he has a certificate, etc., and then you carry him home.  :D

I like the idea -- and as I wandered past the shop earlier today, I noticed lots of stuffed plushies, including teddies, dressed in their halloween costumes, etc.  Interesting idea.

What do other people think of this shop?  I can see the appeal for children, but it must be really expensive for parents.

When I was at University, I had a friend who worked there, and I have a plushy hippo I cuddle up to still at night, he has red PJs on, so it seemed appropriate.  :D

-- Thomas Adam

Yes, it's a good book (and its on my own bookshelf), but it's not the only reference.  I have many teddy bear books, and all of them have different teddy bear photos.  :)  I did have a quick look through for you, but didn't see anything obvious.

I am still going to stick to my assumption and claim it's a Chad Valley.   :)

-- Thomas Adam

He looks like a Chad Valley teddy to me -- his nose, the shape of his ears, and the colour of what fur he has left (bless him!) remind me of that style, especially from the early 1950s.

I might be wrong though, but I would look into it.  He's a charming example.  Will you get his well-loved look restored with fur?  :)

-- Thomas Adam

Oh sure -- it just surprised me, and my mother (who would have been alive when the Gollies were at the peak of their controversy) that they've now had some sort of "comeback" -- and it's that which interests me most more than anything.  I hope society has overlooked any racial connotations connected with these toys, but I am not naive enough to assume otherwise.

So something I have tried to find out but have failed to really do so is what has appealed to people to get Gollies noticed again.

-- Thomas Adam

What interested me is the number of gollies (I hope that's the right term to use over "golly wog", I have never been too sure, so sorry in advance) which were present at Hugglets 2009 in London this year.

I don't like them and find them scary -- I just want the teddy bears.  :D

-- Thomas Adam

I hope my new bear won't be too "girly" then.  :)

-- Thomas Adam

That's an interesting question --  Peter, have any of your teddy bears got married yet, and if not, which ones would you want to see get hitched, and what event would they plan, do you think?  I can see lots of hugs, and marmalade sandwiches, and a huuuuuge picnic.  :)

-- Thomas Adam

This is quite common here in England -- especially highlighted with hobbies/activities which are considered as gener-dominant.  I suppose it's the same for the opposite way round where women try and do things that mostly men have dominated.

It used to bother me a lot that a given activity was described as "girly".  Given the last decades of history -- such as with the Suffragette have helped push through rights of women for instance, one would think that society en masse would overlook such gender-divides.  Seemingly not though.  Mind you -- a lot of what is described as "girly" tends to run within peers; groups of people, so the description tends to me quite isolated. at least in my experience.

I mean, take for instance crocheting --- that is something that many people would describe as "girly" and yet I bet there's plenty of men who do this sort of thing, even perhaps with sewing; I know some men find these things relaxing and therapeutic.  And whilst I personally can sew in a limited fashion, I don't necessarily enjoy it.  :)

But in terms of teddy bears, and having those being described as "girly" -- pfffft.  I don't care; only the uneducated would describe it as such, and I am proud to be a teddy bear collector.  When I was at Hugglets there were a large number of men, many of whom were perhaps with their partners, but nevertheless they were there, being just as girly, presumably.  :)

-- Thomas Adam

Aww --- how cute!  :)

-- Thomas Adam

I even cuddle xteddy on the train into work, and on jouneys -- I get everybody giving me looks, not that it bothers me that much, but I do wish other people were less judgemental.  :)   Not that it's going to deter me.  :)

-- Thomas Adam

Awwwww -- well, my xteddy is such a teddy -- and as I have mentioned before now, both Leo and Buddy both get cuddles when I leave for work and when I get home -- especiall Leo - his growler is so cute I end up cuddling him for a good half hour when I get home sometimes.  :D

Awww.

-- Thomas Adam

Hehehe, I talk to my bears, I have one I take to and from meetings at work:

... actually, this teddy is more precious to me than any other as he goes *everywhere* with me, even if it's a trip into town to get some food.  :)

If teddy bears talk back to you though, isn't that a sign you need help?   :)  I sometimes have whole conversations with my teddy bears, but I long since decided I was insane.  :)

-- Thomas Adam

hi all,

I am curious -- how many of you cuddle your teddy bears?  I know some teddy bears made from artists aren't really designed for cuddling, but for me personally, I cuddle all my teddy bears.  :)

-- Thomas Adam

Awww, so cute.  :)

-- Thomas Adam

They are good photos indeed, thank you, Jane.  It was a shame we did not bump into each other at Hugglets, like we did at Stratford-upon-Avon.  Nevertheless, it shows that you had a good look round.  The photos are great.  :)

Thanks.  :)

Thomas

Hehe -- I note he's still available.  :)  If only I could snap up alllllllll of Dangerbears' teddy bears.  :D

-- Thomas Adam

Yes that was me -- if I looked like I was in serious need of a haircut and wearing an odd cyan-colour jumper, and brown trousers (thanks to M&S, I too can dress like my Grandad) then it was I.  :)

-- Thomas Adam

Hello all,

Well, what a day Sunday turned out to be!  I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was completely crammed with teddies and lots of people.  :)

The journey to Kensington was annoying, as half the Underground was closed for whatever reason, but luckily I am able to read maps and I found a route which took about the same time had I taken one of the Underground lines which weren't closed.  :)

I turned up at just gone 11:30 -- assuming the queue to get in would still be there, but I was wrong -- I walked straight in the building.  As I wandered round, I stopped at pretty much ever stool there, and admired all of the teddies.  I spoke to more or less everyone I think -- and whilst I didn't introduce myself in name, some of you recognised me from the Stratford-upon-Avon fair.  I suppose at this point I should say I had quite a long conversation with Paula from AllBear, I just never introduced myself.  Sorry, Paula.  :)  And yes, if you thought I was repeating the same questions to you from those of you who met me at Stratford, it's true -- and I will always do that, as I invariably get a slightly different answer each time.  :)

I was really impressed by the different style of teddy bears on offer this year -- and thing which interested me more was the large number of antique teddy bears (Steiff in particular).  Lots more than I was expecting, but it was nice to see some very old favourites there -- including a very early Farnell teddy bear which I was fortunate enough to give a very delicate cuddle to, amidst much trepidation on my part.  :)

I would have liked to have chatted to more of you -- alas, due to it being so busy that wasn't possible.  I did though buy two teddies.

One was called Chester, from Jigpaws.  I said to Janice as I wandered up to her I liked him -- and Janice remembered me from Stratford.  Here's a picture of him guarding my books:

He's gorgeous -- his colour, size, shape and how he sits appealed to me at Hugglets, and whilst I deliberately ignored him until I had gone round every stall, I came back to him and he was still there -- so... he was my main purchase, and I am really pleased.  He's heavy.  :)

It was a pleasure talking to Janice and doing business with her -- I will be keeping an eye on her future work, so thanks, Janice.  :)

My second purchase was "Arthur" -- from Dari Laut bears.  I like Patricia's bears, and Arthur chose me, I can tell.  :)  Here's a photo of him:

All in all, I had a really nice day.  :)  Thank you to everyone for making it so.  :)

-- Thomas Adam

You'll really like it Peter... I always go there unassuming and end up buying a teddy bear, it's unavoidable.  :D

I can't wait for this year.  :)

-- Thomas Adam

Well, I will be going and can't wait.  It should be better than last year.  ;)

-- Thomas Adam

Wha't the purpose of this?  I mean, from a collectors' point of view, I'd love advance warning of adoption way before Christmas, especially as mail at that time sucks!

--  Thomas Adam

Have you tried clearing your browser cache?

-- Thomas Adam

Hello all,

Yay!  Leo and Buddy are finally here and settling in to my hug.  :)  When they turned up in their parcel box at work, the delivery women said to me:  "Oh, so *this* is the box that was making a squeaking noise!", as she looked at the front of the box and saw the words:  "Box makes noise",  I don't know if that was added by Customs or not, but that noise was Leo -- as he has a squeaker in him.  :D

They're both absolutely *gorgeous* teddy bears -- they really are.  As soon as I unpacked them, I gave them both a big cuddle and beamed at them and placed them with my other teddies.   Leo really is big, and lovely.  :D

Here's some photos:

You can find larger photos of them here:

http://www.xteddy.org/teddies.html

Becky, thank you so much.  I am so pleased they're here, and I absolutely love them.   :D

-- Thomas Adam

Updated (2009/07/09):  Added photos of Leo and Buddy.

-- Thomas Adam