Bear Essentials & Silver Bear Centre

We just like to thank one of our customers who send us this Life Boot teddy bear.

She saw the RNLI life boat here at Bear Essentials in support of Lifeboats.

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Brave people who risk their lives for others.

What do you think my old teddy is worth?
At Bear Essentials we have been asked this question so many times and we  cant really  give you a satisfactory answer. We do design teddy bears and also restore old bears but to evaluate a teddy bear requires a lot of knowledge about the history of that particular bear. So the best we can do for you is to forward this address to you of someone who might be able to help.

Teddy Bear Times Magazine – 00441903884988 – they can give you an address who to write to.

When you send them a question give them as much information about your teddy bear as you can like age, where he came from, size, a photo and what else you remember. Good luck and happy new year!

This Cosy chap embraces all the traditional ingredients we love about Steiff but he is also so soft and has a huge hug big enough for everyone of every age. With the year 2012 embroidered on his foot pad, he provides the perfect gift for so many occasions celebrated throughout the year. Whether a gift or a companion, he’ll will always be your friend for life.

A lovely present for a new born baby in 2012.

The most important part of any Teddy bear is his mohair. Artisans at Steiff-Schulte are constantly striving to provide us with new fabric choices from which they can make interesting new bears for our collectors around the world.
Dante is a perfect example of Steiff-Schulte’s innovators at work. His unusual green mohair is a work of art within itself. It’s an extremely short pile dyed using an ancient Indonesian “batik” technique. The result is a random pattern that makes each and every bear unique.
But Dante’s mohair is just the beginning of his wonders. He has a classical look, but is yet somehow modern. He bridges the gap between traditional Steiff and today’s artist Teddies. He has a shaved muzzle, sparkling black eyes, antiqued paw pads, loosely jointed head, and hand-stitched nose and claws. Around his neck, he wears a patinated bell on a cord for good luck. And any collector would feel lucky to own this exceptional Steiff Teddy.
Just one available at Bear Essentials online shop.

A Teddy Bear with Swarovski Crystal – where elegance and luxury come together.

In 2011, Steiff has brought  to light its own precious gem, the Sapphire Teddy bear. Sapphire brings together luxurious materials, sophisticated design, and the world of fashion for a bear that’s simply unlike any other. Even the Teddy’s coat is something extraordinary. It’s an exclusive plush woven from 100% silk strands for a sumptuous feel that you’ll have to touch to believe. It feels nothing like mohair at all. This silk material has been carefully dyed to a deep blue – just like the rich hues of the most coveted real sapphires. The bear’s paw pads are encrusted with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS for a dramatic effect, reflecting secondary tones of purple, light blue, green, and even pink. Around Sapphire’s neck, she wears a strand of SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS as a choker. In the bear’s ear, a stunning Swarovski XILION crystal takes the place of a button as a fabulous finishing touch. Not since the 125-Karat bear has there been a Teddy so dazzling. Just 2 Teddy’s available. To buy click here>

Auction finds are a major source of inspiration for designers at Steiff. They follow the Teddy bear market closely, attending auctions and collecting catalogues – always on the lookout for wonderful rarities to reintroduce or reinterpret for our devoted collectors. The inspiration for Johann was found in an country auction. He had everything  collectors – and  designers – look for in a classic Teddy. First of all, his face is truly inviting and endearing. He has a hand stitched nose and sparkling black eyes. His nose is hand-stitched with black floss in the traditional Steiff style. His body, too, is very typically “Steiff”. Discover Johann – just the way our auction watchers did – and we think you’ll fall in love with him, too.
I know we here at Bear Essentials have.

We have ordered the whole range of 2010 Charlie Bears which will come in from end of February. We also ordered the new 2011 range and we are looking forward to receive the new 2011 Isabelle Collection.

If you are looking for a specific bear here are some of the names.

Aidan, Ava, Ballantyne, Bently, Bruce, Caitlin, Caleb, Charlie 2011, Chrissie, Cody, Cotton Sox, Dolce, Ellie, George, Grant, Hamish, Kit, Kitty, Kojac, Lita, Malcom, Merlin, Michael, Molly, Naomi, Olly, Parker, Parkin, Philip, Phoenix, Polly, Puddifoot, Quentin, Riley, Ronnie, Seth, Shades, Shreddie, Taomi, Tess, Thumper, Tony, Torquil, Tracy, Trevor, Trixie, William IV, Xena, Yvette, Zak

As soon as the bears come in we will add them to our online shop.

Yes we have got a winner! We are delighted for Cavan Kids to adopt Freezy for Christmas and he will meet up with his old friend Leo. It is the entry who got the most public votes and this was their story:

teddy bear picnic

Every year we visit Anke at Bear Essentials! All of the Kavan Kids Montessori children visit and get to do lots of interesting things. This year we noticed a sad bear on the kitchen work top. Anke explained that Leo the Bear had been sent to South Africa to someone who had returned him. Leo was then left in the rain on Ankes door step and Ankes dogs ripped open his parcel and dragged him around. Leo did not want to go back to South Africa nor stay at Ankes. Anke asked Kavan Kids Montessori would we adopt Leo! We were all delighted! Leo now sits on a shelf in the Montessori looking after all the children here. He has come on Teddy Bear Picnics and has had a new Graduation Gown made to attend our Graduation. He sat proudly on the stage with all the children. Leo is now a happy Bear and is very much loved…..

CONGATULATION Cavan Kids Montessori!!!

Thanks to anyone who took part and we like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and hopefully there will be a little bear under your Christmas tree.

Yes it is the time of the year again and Christmas is not far ahead of us. Even so the Irish summer days are still warm, the nights are creeping in a bit earlier every day.
A lot of us have different reasons why to think about Christmas already and not always in a warm, cosy, enjoyable way.  In challenging times, financial cuts or even job loss, the thought of Christmas especially Christmas Gifts might not be a joyful one. We worry about the money and that expenses have to be spread over several months.

But a gift to someone special could be prepared in a lot of different ways and should not be a struggle. If money is tied why not think about making a present yourself. Art & crafts is not just for the experienced, anyone can have a go at it. It could provide some enjoyment for you as a maker as well as for the receiver view Gingerbread House Making>>>
We here at Bear Essentials are specialised in teddy bear making and have launched this year our first “Little Rascal” craft kit so you can make your mohair teddy bear at home. To view our Bear Craft Kits click here>>> and it doesn’t have to be expensive.
Christmas also is the time for teddy bears and to make it easier for you to choose a teddy bear here are a view guidelines.
Think about whom is the teddy bear for? Do you want to give him to a baby, a child, a teenager or an adult?
Give it a thought why you are giving a teddy bear. Teddy bear are for comfort, company, reassurance, a teddy bear should make us smile, feel better and of course remind us of the person who gave him to us. But teddy bears are also a keepsake, a memento a token of something very special.
If you buy a teddy bear for a new born baby it has to be baby safe. Last year we launched Bobo Bear, and Bobo “My First Teddy” a bear made from 100% cotton, washable and huggable at the same time.
But a teddy for a baby doesn’t always have to come as a shape of a traditional teddy bear. Comforters made of cotton cloth with a bear head or animal head are ideal for babies needs to hold, to suck and to be reassured.

If you decide you want to give a teddy as a keepsake you have to know what fabrics can stand the test of times. Plush fabrics can last for several years depending of the quality but they might not see the arrival of the next generation. But even if they do they are not easily been repaired. The best results of restoring very old teddy bears we have her at our Teddy Bear Hospital is with Mohair teddy bears. Mohair teddy bears can last for a century as you probably know from watching bears at the Antique Road Show. Our own unique one-off teddy bears are all made of mohair for the simple reason to give pleasure for years to come.
For whatever reason you want to buy a teddy bear this Christmas it will be a pleasure for us to help you choose the right one and remember – any teddy bear can be customised ( a little bow, an Irish jumper, a little heart, embroidered initials/names……) to make him only one of its kind and irreplaceable.