The Steiff Teddy Bear Story By Sharon Lauer

In 1847 in a small town in Giengen, Germany a baby girl was born. She was named Margaret Steiff. Her childhood vigor was cut short when she contracted polio at the age of 2. Although confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life, she became a model for strength and determination.

Margaret excelled in sewing and needlework and became the proud owner of the first sewing machine in Geingen. In 1879, she started her dressmaking business. Her dresses, coats and other clothing products were quickly in demand. In December of that year she came across a pattern for a toy elephant in a magazine. She made these as gifts for her family and close friends. Margaret used her expertise to develop other animal patterns and 1883 added them to her price list as a range of felt items. Her business continued to grow and in 1892 she began making soft filled bears, which would later be referred to as Teddy Bears. These bears resembled real bears, posing on all four paws with humped backs.

Richard Steiff, Margaret's nephew, helped his aunt with design and production of her teddy bears and soft filled animals. An avid art student, he was a regular visitor of the Stuttgart Zoo where he got ideas for animal designs. While touring America, Richard was inspired for a new design during a circus performance. The dancing bears gave him the idea of designing a toy bear which stood upright and was jointed, similar to how dolls were made.

By 1902 the inspiration was reality and Margaret was producing a jointed soft filled teddy bear with mohair plush fur and glass eyes. They were the first jointed teddy bears produced.

In 1903 Richard displayed the new bears at the Leipzig Toy Fair. Unfortunately they didn't generate much interest in the Europeans. As Richard was packing up his display at the end of the fair, American Hermann Berg chanced by his booth. Berg was a buyer for the New York firm Geo Borgfeldt and Company. At about this time in America the story of Theodore Roosevelt's 'Teddy's Bear' was becoming popular. Berg placed an order for 3,000 bears.

By 1904 the Steiff teddy bear had become an American success. They were awarded various accolades including the prestigious Grand Prix award. In total 12,000 bears were sold by the end of 1904 with the trademark button in the left ear.

Publicity from Roosevelt's adventure helped place teddy bears in the hearts of Americans where they remain today. The world record price for an antique bear was made at a December 1994 auction. The winning bid was $176,000.00 for a 1905 Steiff bear. Steiff teddy bears continue to leave their marks today in the hearts of collectors and teddy bear lovers alike.

Sharon Lauer is a free lance writer and the marketing director forhttp://www.everyoccasiongiftshop.com and http://www.simplythebestbaskets.com. She regularly writes articles on various aspects of gifts and gift giving. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Lauer

Who is Teddy Bear? By Tina Nyary

There is nothing like a Teddy Bear!

Since his existence, he has brought pleasure, serenity, and comfort to children and people of all ages worldwide. A Teddy Bear is very special, because he is more than a toy - he is a companion. He has wonderful qualities, he consoles when needed, he has compassion when required, and he knows everything about us including our deepest thoughts. He is our most intimate friend! Did you ever feel like that about your Teddy Bear? I am sure you did, we all did! How can a stuffed bear, although cute and cuddly bring so much pleasure and happiness to our lives? Let's look at some of Teddy's origins.

It is well known that the name "Teddy" originates from Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States of America 1901-1909, who was referred to as Teddy by the public. There are numerous stories of how the Teddy Bear received the President's name. One story refers to a Mississippi bear-hunting trip where villagers wishing to please the President captured a bear for him to shoot, however, the President flatly refused. He drew a line, as this was not fair hunting sportsmanship. This encounter became a famous cartoon story by Clifford Berryman under the title of "Drawing the Line in Mississippi." The cartoon caught very wide attention, which eventually led to the Teddy Bear and its name. Another story suggests that the staff of Hotel Colorado wanted to cheer-up President Roosevelt during a hunting trip with a gift. They presented him with a small stuffed bear made by the housekeeping employees. His daughter, Alice, liked the bear and gave it the name Teddy.

Based on my findings, it seems that Teddy was born around 1902, but this was not just a US birth. Coincidentally, at the Steiff Company in Giengen an der Brenz, Baden Württemberg in Germany, the owner Margarete Steiff, produced stuffed animal toys. Her nephew Richard Steiff was an artist who drew animal pictures for the stuffed animal toy production of the company. In 1902, Richard visited the Stuttgart Zoo and made a sketch of a bear cub. The company started production of his design and the German (Teddy) bear was born. How wonderful sometimes coincidences work. Was it destiny to remember internationally a great President throughout the ages with this divine toy? In 1903, at the Leipzig Toy Fair Steiff sold 3000 bears to an American toy merchant and by 1907 the Steiff Company sold 974,000 bears. Whatever the stories are, the fact remains that the Teddy Bear became a famous and beloved toy ever since the time of President Theodore Roosevelt. A nice long stretch!

The bear market is still going strong to this day. Teddy Bears or stuffed bears in general are here to stay for generations to come. It is interesting to know that in some families Teddy Bears have become heirloom pieces. Did you know that bear collectors are called arctophiles? The word derives from the Greek language "arcto" meaning bear and "philos" meaning lover. Bears are not just a toy for children, bears are also used as mascots by many organizations or as corporate gifts and uncountable other special uses. There are also Teddy Bear Clubs and some organizations even have annual conventions to celebrate these lovable keepsakes.

Teddy Bear has reached its 106th Birthday, that is a good old ripe age, but we all know he will live forever.

Tina Nyary, researched a beloved stuffed animal toy, the Teddy Bear. Stuffed teddy bears are without a doubt one of the most adored stuffed animal toys. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tina_Nyary

Breeding Teddy Bear Hamster For Beginners by Andrew Martin Jr.

It can be a truly wonderful experience to breed teddy bear hamsters; You need to think about a number of things before you decide to breed your hamsters:

Who are you going to sell your baby hamsters to? After only 20 - 25 days, baby hamsters can be weaned. They can begin to breed once they reach 45 days old. Once the pups are born, there is not much time before you need to find them homes. You need to know long before the time comes, where you are going to send your baby hamsters. Do not just set the babies free. They will be eaten, or they will starve. In the unlikely event that they survive, they will start to breed and will become a pest. They will have to go to their new homes sometime between 4 - 7 weeks old.

Do you have the required supplies as well as enough space to breed hamsters? You will have to have enough space and living area. At least four housing facilities are needed: one for males, one for females, one for a quarantine tank, and one for a birthing house.

Are you ready to commit to all the work needed for hamster breeding? You need to make a considerable commitment to be able to successfully breed hamsters. You need to keep the cages very clean. Your will have more expenses because your will need more bedding, more food, and more supplies overall. You also need to remember the cages, the toys, exercise wheels, and so on. Before you decide on breeding your hamsters, be sure that you are willing and able to invest in those resources.

Once you have made the decision to breed your hamsters, the following steps will get you off to a great start:

1. Purchase your hamsters from a good breeder. Find a breeder who keeps their hamsters areas clean, and provide them with enough space to live.

2. Before completing the sale, make sure to observe the hamster you are interested in closely. Is the hamster friendly? Calm? Tame? Curious? Do not pick a hamster who seem timid or one that seem overly aggressive. Temperament is hereditary, so you wouldn't want to breed these hamsters. Instead you want a hamster that is tame. Ideally, you should try to find a breeder who handles their hamsters often and even tames them before they are sold. You will probably want to get your hamsters for breeding from a good breeder. This is because the local pet store does not usually handle their hamsters often enough.

3. Keep the male hamsters separate from the female hamster until you are ready to breed them. Females will often abuse their male partners if they are not yet ready for mating. Every four days or so, a female hamster becomes fertile. You will know when a female hamster is fertile by the way she freezes her tail up in the air when a male hamster is around.

4. Be sure to keep a pregnant or nursing hamster away from any noise. Do not handle them too often. Remember not to touch any of the babies until they are weaned. Separate the males and females soon after weaning to prevent them from breeding.

About the Author

Andrew Martin Jr. is a pet enthusiast and publisher. He owns and maintains Hamster Care Answers, a resource forhamster breeding and hamster care.

Different Ways To Display Your Teddy Bears by Jael Soutter

Teddy bears are now in museums due to their history of how they came about. If you love teddy bears or know someone that does try heading out to one of these museums. The world's very first Teddy Bear Museum was in Petersfield, Hampshire, England back in 1984. Judy Sparrow opened it up with her own collection of teddy bears.

The Dorset Teddy Bear Museum in Dorset is opened 7 days a week beginning at 9:30 a.m. This museum has teddy bears around every corner, from the very old to the latest and greatest. Look back through time as you watch your favorite fictional bears come to life right before your eyes. Watch out as you turn the corner, there are even life sized teddy bears to keep you company. You can even walk into the house of "Mr. Edward" bear and sit with his family. The gift shop has everything you could possibly want from character teddy bears to one of a kind.

England wasn't the only place in the world that has teddy bear museums, but that is where the first museum popped up. Jeju Teddy Bear Museum opened its doors in 2001, this place has all types of different teddy bears inside and all types of information on them. There's a café for those parents that need a drink while carting their children around, two galleries, beautiful gardens and a gift shop.

The Dancing Bear Folk Center is the largest teddy bears museum in the western United States. It is located in Thermopolis, Wyoming and is ready for you to come and explore its teddy bears. If you ever get out to Vermont don't forget to stop at the Vermont Teddy Bear Company. They've got so many teddy bears you won't want to go home without one. Take a tour of the factory while you're there too.

There is also the Teddy Bear House Bed and Breakfast in Anchorage, Alaska where teddy bears are displayed in every room of the house. The cost is $45 a night per person and that includes breakfast. Try making some very bearable memories and start seeking out those teddy bears.

About the Author

Learn about endangered bears and pictures of bears at the About Animals site.

Teddy bear care tips by Hafizah Nurain

Have you ever tried to clean your teddy bear and end up frustated with the 'new look' of your teddy bear? Well, I had. And what worse was that it was the first teddy bear gift from someone very special. Yes, I do love teddy bears a lot, but I just wished that I had learned the proper way to clean teddy bear before I actually attempted to do it myself. And that is why I want to share with you these simple tips on teddy bear care so yours wont't end up with a 'whole new look' like mine. • Wipe your teddy bear with a damp cloth (preferably white and no soap please). This sound pretty simple but it is the safest and most effective way to clean surface dirt on your teddy bear. Wipe down your teddy bears just like you are wiping the delicate skin of a child - gently and carefully. Alternatively, if you do not want your teddy bear to get wet, you can also use a handheld vacuum cleaner to remove the surface dirt on your teddy bear. • If you think you need to wash your teddy bear in a washing machine, please read its cleaning instructions first (a lot of people do not recommend this though). Some teddy bears are machine washable, but it is better to take extra precaution when you are using the washing machine to wash your teddy bears. Put your teddy bear in a meshbag (alternatively, you can put your teddy bear in a pillowcase) and choose the gentle most cycle your machine can offer. Air dry your teddy bear afterward. Your teddy bear do not need to be dried under the sun because that can cause the color to wear off. • Lastly, don't forget to give your teddy bear a good brush PS: You can also send your teddy bear to a centre which specializes in restoring teddy bears if you are afraid of spoiling your teddy bear. Whatever option you choose, your teddy bear deserves the best care from a person like you.

About the Author

Hafizah Nurain is the cofounder of www.uniqueteddybeargift.com, an online store that brings you among the world-renowned teddy bear gift centres for your complete teddy bear gift idea. Find selections of quality teddy bear and choices of teddy bear for baby gift, birthday gift, anniversary gift, wedding gift, thank you gift, get well soon gift, teddy bear gift basket,personalized teddy bear, heated bear and also build a bear kit.

Make a Bear Party By Ricy Chacko

Are you looking for a fun filled unique birthday party? Nowadays all birthday parties offer fun and hands on party activities for children of all ages. It is important that parents get it right so the birthday girl or boy will enjoy and remember this for years to come. The teddy bear stuffing business is a new and highly original entertainment. Children and parents will love the hands on fun of choosing their own teddy bears to stuff. These companies bring you all the fun and creativity of stuffing a teddy bear in a more relaxed and convenient location using do-it-yourself kits either in the home or in a hall or other venue.

Teddy bears and other stuffed animals can be used to decorate a room as well as for bear related games and activities for the children. Invitation cards can be cut into teddy bear shapes with pink ribbon on the top of the teddy bear's head for a girl's invitation, and a blue ribbon around the teddy bear's neck for a boy's invitation. Make sure you include the request for all the guests to bring their own bear to the party.

When kids think of bears they often think of honey and bees, so a great idea for decorations are lots of yellow and black balloons and banners. If possible have various teddy bears positioned all around the room. The best decorated bear is a good choice for a prize at a bear party where children stuff bears or other animals by themselves. For a fun filled bear party, make your own teddy bears and plush animals with add on bear-related crafts and gifts.

Bear making parties are the latest must have entertainment for kids who want to have fun. Be my bear helps you to make a bear party for your children. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ricy_Chacko

"Make Your Own" Gift Basket Ideas By Kim M. Wilson

Gift baskets have been around for years, and gift basket making has been around even longer. The unique thing about gift baskets is that they are more personal than most gifts (let's say a gift card) and each gift basket could have a personal meaning. People give gift baskets for many different reasons and for different occasions. The Internet has provided a way for people to give and send gift baskets to love ones across the nation. Regardless of the reason, gift baskets can warm someone's heart just to know that someone is thinking of them.

To make gift baskets more personable and more heartwarming, people like to make their own gift baskets. Now for some people, designing and putting things together from scratch comes easily. And for others, gift basket making can be a daunting task. If you are making a gift basket to send in the mail or to give to someone in person, here are a few tips to help make gift basket making a little easier. It is so easy, here's what you do.

First, after deciding on whom you are making the gift basket for, select a theme for the gift basket. The occasion usually helps to determine the theme for your gift basket. Some occasions are easier than others; say for example a newborn baby. You can pick out all the things you know a new born baby will need. Now birthdays and anniversaries might be a little more difficult, and a thinking of you gift basket, even more so.

Themed gift baskets can help to make gift basket making easier. If you know your gift basket recipient's hobbies and/or what their likes are, you can easily put together a sports gift basket for a sports fan or a gardening gift basket for someone who loves working in their garden.

Next, once you have a theme, get a basket. Michael's and other crafts stores sell a wide variety of wonderful gift baskets that often times are on sale. Some department stores with a craft section may also provide a variety of baskets. Now for my nifty shoppers, Thrift Stores are full of all kinds of baskets. Usually most are in good shape. They may need just a little cleaning or color change. You can purchase an air spray can that's used to clean keyboards for computers or buy a can of spray paint to change the color. Both ways are quick and easy.

Lastly, once you have decided on your theme and have your basket, grab a few items that you know your recipient uses and/or likes, for example candy or fruit. The size of your basket will determine the amount of items you need to add. You could also add items of the recipient's favorite color, favorite sports team or favorite non-perishable food items. Once you've developed a theme, it is best to stick to it. But one of the many great things about creative gift giving is introducing the recipient to something new.

Candles are a great gift item and are used by people for an array of reasons. Some people use them for decor while others really like the aroma that candles can add to a room. Adding candles to gift baskets are easy and fun. No matter the theme of your gift basket adding candles can make your gift basket a real treat. Adding candles to any gift basket can also give the gift basket a personal touch that adds to the warmth of gift basket giving. At Fruit Nut and Candle Gift Baskets.com, we offer over 35 aromas to choose from in a variety of creative styles.

For more gift basket information and details, visitfruitnutandcandlegiftbaskets.com and sign up for our newsletter. We provide great ideas for gift baskets and gift basket making. We also provide special offers and discounts through our newsletter for our registered members. We specialize in fruit gift baskets, specialty gift baskets, themed gift baskets and candle gift baskets. Submitted by Kim Wilson http://www.fruitnutandcandlegiftbaskets.com Fruit Nut and Candle Gift Baskets.com offers a variety of gift baskets for every occasion. Let us help you to Make Every Occasion a Gift Basket Occasion. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kim_M._Wilson