Who needs a canvas when you have a cuddly, organic teddy bear? When we were given one of these bears by Linda Trau for our GGA mascot baby, Panther, we nearly started crying. It’s so beautiful, but the story behind it is far more gorgeous. They are made by Heartworks, an organization of women artisans in Africa – many genocide survivors and all supporting their families with this work. These teddy bears are so beautiful, they are truly art. Holding them up next to a traditional teddy bear from FAO Schwartz is like comparing a bottle of chemical-laden Sunkist to a juicy orange picked directly off the tree. I’d want one of these even if I didn’t have a child. They are exquisite and stunning.
Each teddy consists of 26 panels that are embroidered before being sewn together by the women artisans, so there’s a lot of love that’s gone into each bear. They have EU-safe stuffing and there’s no parts that can fall off. The bears are decorated either with an African village scene, jungle animal scene, or flowers and butterflies and they are made with organic cotton. Panther slowly points to each item on the bear, “Ball!!” (to the sunshine on the bears foot,) “lowwwwer!” (to the flower on the ear,) etc. This bear is not just a friend, it’s a teaching tool, and the perfect gift for the chic and pregnant friend or couple who have everything.
They are available in black and white. The Large bear is 18″ tall and costs $125. The Small bear is 15″ tall and costs $115. Pricey, yes. But worth it. Handmade/ organic.
CONTEST: Win a Teddy Bear!
HOW TO ENTER:
Make sure to be a member of GirlieGirl Army (only registered subscribers are eligible to win, so if you aren’t yet a member, sign up and then enter.) Then, leave a comment below about who you know that deserves this bear, and why, and a winner will be chosen by Linda on August 1, 2011. Bon chance!
Linda is the distributor of these bears stateside. Contact her directly to order one or many: [email protected]/ 917-553-3856
BONUS: 10% off when mentioning GGA. Proceeds support the women of Heartworks.