Dec from Nicky - memory bears

Nicky is a printmaker and enclosed some nice little prints and added a bear to the front. That jogged my memory that I have something to say about memory bears

 

If you look online for memory bears, especially on Etsy, you will find both patterns to make them as well as people who will make them for you. There are 2 main kinds. One kind uses outgrown baby clothes to make the bears. Many people have a hard time parting with baby clothes. So, they think cutting up the clothes and making a bear is a better option. It frees up space in closets. Personally, I think we should create something like the Tooth Fairy - that comes to your house and takes things that are precious-yet-useless to avoid having to deal with too much stuff at a later date.

The other kind of memory bear is when a grown up loved one passes and leaves behind clothing. Some people make pillows out of the clothing and some make teddy bears. A friend of mine was tasked with making 5 bears for a woman who lives in NYC. She had purchased all the materials and a very nice set of plexiglas templates for the parts but then she couldn't find anyone to do the sewing.

My friend did not call me up and ask me to help her - but she was one of the people who put in many hours on my Day of the Dead project - so when she just mentioned that she was having an epic battle with some teddy bears, I offered to help.

It's a long story --- and I won't bother with details - I'll just warn anyone who knows how to sew that if anyone approaches you to make memory bears - they are way more complicated than one would imagine. Obviously, if you want to take time to make 4 or 5 practice bears - you'll get the hang of it. But that first bear is going to be a real mutant. *bear.*

It does not help when the person who wants the bear provides fabric that clashes. But, I'm sure she's perfectly happy with the outcome - as she chose which fabrics went where - and the fabrics were meaningful to her.

I get a little PTSD just looking at the photo of the bears. If they look lumpy - it's because the lady sent knit shirts - and the pattern was for woven fabric. I told my friend to use iron-on stabilizer for the knits and she did not heed my advice. Later, she agreed that she should have taken my advice.