The birth of the Heidi Bear ™ came after the sudden death of my sister, Heidi, in June of 2002. As the holidays approached I was unable to accept the idea of celebrating them without her, so I searched my heart for a way to truly include her in our festivities. I still had some of her clothing, and decided to sew teddy bears for everyone in the family using her pajamas and other items. I presented these teddy bears to my family on Christmas Day, and the joy they brought was just breath taking. They all loved them and the very first thing they all did was raise the bear to their noses and breathe in her scent. |  |
The story is an emotional and sad one, but the bear is a reminder of the love that was shared and gave us all something solid to hold onto along with our memories.
We have continued this story to say that it is not just the loss of a family member or friend that these bears are being made. We have had friends give us the baby blankets of their children to make bears to remind them of the “baby days”, old school team sweatshirts, old coats etc. So whatever the memory, enhance it into an heirloom keepsake, one that can be loved and cuddled.
Each bear comes with its own card stating authenticity of being a Heidi Bear ™ and describes what it is made from and the memory for which it is intended.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Heidi Bear™ will be donated to organizations dedicated to aiding victims of violent crimes and domestic abuse.
The average bear is approximately 16” tall, this measurement comes from, one man’s large shirt, equals two 16” bears. Smaller items of clothing will result in a smaller sized bear.
Send me the article(s) of clothing you wish to have transformed into your special bear, the story behind the bear, and any special instructions, such as initials embroidered on the foot pads or placement of any motifs on the materials sent. Send to HSW Fine Arts, 5328 RT 203, Nassau NY 12123 or please feel free to call me at 518-248-7327 to discuss the options for your special bear and schedule pick up and delivery for local customers.
Current lead time for full creation of your Heidi Bear ™ is approximately 2-6 weeks once fabric has been received. The eyes, noses and joints are child safe locked. We offer a selection of a solid black eye or brown eyes with black pupil. Customizing your Heidi Bear ™ is easy. Please choose any adornments (hats, glasses, etc.) and we'll be more than happy to make your bear your very own.