Your Memory Teddy Bear Maker
I never would have thought I could make a teddy bear, until I tried, and then believed. That was in 1998, two years after my mom passed away from breast cancer, she was only 55. It was a couple of years later I heard about a company making teddy bears from old fur coats, and I immediately thought of Mom’s plush furry coat. I would still see it hanging in the closet, and occasionally touch it, smell it, even touch the tissues still in the pockets.
I knew then, I wanted a teddy bear, but the company could not use Mom’s “fake” fur coat. I had no one to make it for me, so I decided to make it myself. However this was an undertaking like none other; I was born with only one hand, my right arm not to develop just past my elbow, leaving me with a little “paw” and five tiny pea-sized fingers. So when I first started making my bear, I would sit on the floor using my toes, my knees whatever I could to make up for my missing hand. But it was really hard. I tried and tried, and it seemed to just get harder and harder. I was ready to give up, but days later, thinking about it, knowing what Mama would say, and how proud I knew she would be, I couldn’t give up just yet. I see now- I quit “trying” and began believing.
Mama always told me I could do anything I wanted to if I believed-with all my heart. And that’s what it took, all my heart. I eventually made my first teddy bear. Then when I felt confident…enough…I made Mama’s bear. Being able to create memory teddy bears is truly special, it’s part of me, it is my purpose. And please know each bear I make is filled with just so much love and hope, and the belief Mama instilled in me that-
The One within me can do all things through me and in me when I believe.
My Mama Bear
Meet Tammy Your Memory Teddy Bear Maker
I never would have thought I could make a teddy bear, until I tried, really tried, and believed. That was in 1998, two years after my mom passed away from breast cancer, she was only 55. It was a couple of years later I heard about a company making teddy bears from old fur coats, and I immediately thought of Mom’s plush furry coat. I would still see it hanging in the closet, and occasionally touch it, smell it, even touch the tissues still in the pockets. So then I knew what I wanted from mom’s coat…a teddy bear!
My Mama Bear
I decided I would learn to make it myself. But this was a challenge like none other; I was born with only one hand, my right arm not to develop just past my elbow, leaving me with a little “paw” and five tiny pea-sized fingers. But I wanted my Mama-Bear. So when I started making my bear I would sit on the floor using my toes, my knees whatever I could to make up for my missing hand. But it was really hard. I tried and tried, and it seemed to just get harder and harder. I was ready to give up, but days later, thinking about it, knowing what Mama would say, and how proud I knew she would be, I couldn’t give up just yet. I see now- I quit “trying” and began believing.
Mama always told me I could do anything I wanted to if I believed-with all my heart. And that’s what it took, all my heart. I eventually made my first teddy bear. Then when I felt confident…enough…I made Mama’s bear. Being able to create memory teddy bears is truly special, it’s part of me, it is my purpose. And please know each bear I make is filled with just so much love and hope, and the belief Mama instilled in me that-
The One within me can do all things through me and in me when I believe.
I am a former mental health counselor, working closely with many who experience grief/loss, depression, bi-polar, anxiety and many other difficult and often debilitating mental health and life challenges. I learned a lot from my clients and this has helped with who I am and what I do today. It was a few years after the passing of my Mom that I was led to a different kind of service therapy, one that was more tangible, a teddy bear, or “Bearapy” as we might say.
I hope I may be of service to you, but even more importantly than making your teddy bear, I want to share a message of Hope. And that no matter the challenges, the difficulties, the grief, that you are faced with, You are more than all of it. You have within you something that will see you through, to strengthen, to lift you up, and beautifully-you have within-Love-their Love. And this Love will shine through you and lift you up at all times in all places in all ways. Only believe.
-Tammy
I am a former mental health counselor, working closely with many who experience grief/loss, depression, bi-polar, anxiety and many other difficult and often debilitating mental health and life challenges. I learned a lot from my clients and this has helped me with who I am and what I do today. It was a few years after the passing of my Mom that I was led to a different kind of service therapy, one that was more tangible, a teddy bear, or “Bearapy” as we might say.
I hope I may be of service to you, but even more importantly than making your teddy bear, I want to share a message of Hope. And that no matter the challenges, the difficulties, the grief, that you are faced with, You are more than all of it. You have within you something that will see you through, to strengthen, to lift you up, and beautifully-you have within-Love-their Love. And this Love will shine through you and lift you up at all times in all places in all ways. Only believe.
-Tammy
