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Online, Monthly Teddy Bear Magazine |
REPURPOSED
TEDDY BEAR CONTEST
WINNERS - 6 IN ALL!
Next 3 winners are featured here.
First 3 winners in May's issue.
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Terry & Doris Michaud June 2010 |
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Our exciting Repurposed Teddy Bear Contest has come to an end, with winners selected in 6 categories.
In May's issue, we highlighted the stories of our first three winners, and now we are pleased to share information about the last three winners. |
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BEST USE OF A FAMILY HEIRLOOM FUR COAT
Mary Morgan, Liberty Township. Ohio |
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BEST FAMILY HISTORY OF REPURPOSED BEAR MAKING
Doris Criss Nadon, Edmunton,
Alberta Canada |
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BEST ESTATE SALE FIND
Cathy Lynn Forcino, Apollo Beach, Florida |
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BEST USE OF MULTIPLE REPURPOSED MATERIALS
Jacquie Pollitt, West Harrison, IN |
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BEST BRITISH REPURPOSED TEDDY
Olive Tripodi, Ramsgate, Kent England |
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BEST MEMORIAL KEEPSAKE TEDDY
Pat Snyder, Darlington,
WI |
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One of the bonuses of doing research for articles is the learning experience, and this contest taught me a good deal about the world of repurposed teddy bears.
For example, I learned about a group of mechanical engineering Doctoral students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute who created Sustain-a-Bear for a student manufacturing design contest. Their efforts took first place last year and was based on creating a new, green consciousness in the production of teddy bears, from sourcing raw materials to manufacturing, use and eventual disposal. They chose fleece made out of recycled PET plastic, and replaced the standard thread and glue with an assembly process that uses ultrasonic welding. The group has filed a provisional patent on their process and plans to eventually commercialize or license their process. So, keep your eyes open for Sustain-a-Bear, a teddy born of the green generation!
Another exciting discovery was a giant 25 foot tall teddy bear created in Britain built entirely out of wheat bales! This giant teddy was entered in a wheat art competition sponsored by by Weetabix and the National Farmer’s Union. No word on whether the big bear was a winner in the contest, but you can be sure he gets a lot of attention from people passing by the farmer’s field.
In the May issue, we highlighted the stories of our first three winners, and now we are pleased to share information about the last three winners. |
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Best Use of Multiple Repurposed Materials
Jacquie Pollitt, West Harrison, IN |
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Jacquie actually shared two wonderful teddies she created from a vintage champagne mink coat.
Pollitt does a lot of vintage mink bears and chose the two because of their character.
She has added clay claws as well as clay teeth on the bear called Juniper. Napoleon Bearaparte was particularly interesting because of her use of multiple materials.
The bear is made of mohair, but his paw pads are from a vintage leather flight jacket and his clothes are vintage materials as well.
His striking hat was actually a vintage Knights of Columbus ceremonial hat! The red sash is a vintage scarf, and the sword was created from scraps of wood by Jacquie’s husband. |
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Best British Repurposed Teddy
Olive Tripodi, Ramsgate, Kent, England.
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Olive created Rosie as a gift for her Mother-in-law made from her late father-in-law’s dressing gown.
The paw and foot pads were made from an old leather jacket, and her dress came from a dress discovered at a thrift shop.
Her eyes are old amber colored glass, and she is wearing an old pearl bracelet as a necklace.
Needless to say, Rosie is a gift that will be treasured by Olive’s Mother-in-law for many years to come. |
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BEST MEMORIAL KEEPSAKE
Pat Snyder, Darlington, WI
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Pat Snyder has been involved in Good Bears of the World and in gifting special bears for a number of years, but one teddy she created went to a close friend who lost her husband three years ago.
The bear is called Buddy and has become a cherished keepsake.
When her friend was cleaning out the closet, she didn’t know what to do with her late husband’s favorite L.L. Bean fleece camping jacket. Pat volunteered to make a bear for her, but the process was delayed for several months while Pat worked up the courage to actually cut into the jacket. Once she got pass this stage, she says the bear was magical and helped her through the process.
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| The bear was presented to Pat’s friend a few days after she attended a grieving class where she was asked if she had kept anything special from her late husband. Snyder’s good friend Gail shared the information that Buddy has become a great comfort to her, especially when she is traveling, as she now has a little part of her late husband John with her at all times. |
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Our congratulations to all the winners of our Repurposed Teddy Bear contest. Teddy bears continue to cement a strong bond with all of us.
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Terry & Doris Michaud
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