This is the 100 year anniversary for the teddy bears. What if everyone carved a teddy and gave it to some young deserving child (or grandchild). If you are looking for some patterns or carving advice on teddy's check out the book 'Carving Teddy Bears' with Kelly Stadelman. The kid in our kids never leaves. Try giving your adult daughters a carved wooden teddy as well with the same affection you gave her the first stuffed one and see the reaction.

Ric

Ric,
What a good idea. Seems like we're always looking for something relevant to carve for the kids in our lives.
Donna T

Just for the fun of it, here is a brief history of the Teddy Bear:

In November of 1902 Theodore Roosevelt went on a four day bear hunt in Mississippi. Some of his companions ran ahead when the hunting dogs picked up a scent. Once President Roosevelt arrived at the scene, he discovered a bear tied to a tree with a rope. A compassionate President would neither shoot the bear nor permit it to be shot. When news of the President's decision got out, a famous political cartoonist, Clifford Berryman, released his interpretation of the event as a cartoon and the rest is history! The Teddy Bear was born and has lived in our hearts for 100 years.

Ric

Ric, thanks for the teddy bear history! I think your idea of carving at least one teddy bear for a deserving child is a tremendous idea. Do you think it might even be possible for us to do something of the sort as a group...and send them to a chosen group of kids? That would be really neat..and something we could work toward through the year.

[move]JUST A THOUGHT :-)[/move]

Teri

[Captain_Bandaid]

Some of us will remember that for Christmas right after 9/11, we were asked to make carved gifts for the children of the victims. Several hundred were donated but I fear it fell short of the mark. I have heard no further discussion on this but I think pinefeathers was involved (come to think of it, where are you Piney?). If the project for 9/11 was not completed, perhaps that is a place to start with the Teddy Bears. If not, one person should the focal point to whom all carvings are sent for donation or distribution.

[Ric]

I would be willing to support any charity carving program. Maybe the magazine here could have a teddy bear carving contest and then donate the carvings to a program we recommend. Anyway is fine with me - I am in. Hey Captain good to see you again.

Ric

Well, yes, I'd like to be involved in something like that, too. I'd like to see us find a group of children who are definitely in need - kids who might not otherwise have much for Christmas. I'd be willing to be part of a smaller group of us who look for and bring back ideas to the group as to where the best place to donate might be. If perhaps a couple more are interested in helping with that endeavor, please say so and we can at least get started on that. In the meantime, anyone who wants to participate in the carving can start thinking, planning and carving!

Teri

[Ric]

One idea might be a battered womens shelter. Those ladies are in need of some special comfort that a carved teddy might bring.

Ric