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About The Bears
There are many different types of bears for show and for sale. I want you to know what makes Ivy Rose bears so special, besides the fact that they are named after my daughter, Ivy Rose.
Faces: (Every face that I have crated since January 01, 1996 are under copyright, owned by Patti Thomas.)
Each Ivy Rose Bear face starts out as a hand-full of polymer clay, and is carefully shaped and sculpted by Patti Thomas. Each one is an individual work of art. No mold is used to make the face, therefore, no two are ever exactly alike. However, by looking at pictures of bears that have already been adopted, similar ones can be sculpted for persons wishing to have one that is no longer available.
Eyes are usually glass; sometimes shoe button, sometimes blown glass.
Faces of all ages can be sculpted: very young (fetus for the Birthing Bear), Preemies, babies (all of theses can have open eyes or closed, sleeping eyes), toddlers, adolescent, varying ages of adulthood, including Grandparents.
There are many variations in face types. "Bearly Bears" look more human than bear, due to their human-like cheeks and mouths. Other faces look more animal-like, but most often, not like a real bear. One of the most recent additions are the “Bearly You” bears that are sculpted to “a reasonable likeness” from photographs of people. I’ve also expanded my Golly line. Once baked, all the faces take on a translucent, flesh-like appearance. I suppose it's this quality that makes curious fingers want to scratch or gouge them. Care must be taken not to let this happen. Even though the clay becomes hard after baking, it can still be damaged through misuse. Dropping a bear on its face can crack the clay, therefore they are not recommended for small children.
Each bear has it’s succession number sculpted in the clay under it’s chin, with the exception of the “Fairy Bears”. Their faces are very small so I don’t put that information under their chins, but I do put it on their adoption certificates.
Body: (All patterns are under copyright, owned by Patti Thomas.)
Bodies are usually Schultz German mohair. For those who don’t know ... the fur is sheered off angora goats and sewn into a fabric backing so that you get real fur without harming the animal. Occasionally I use a synthetic fur, but I always identify it as such. The fur is available in a wide variety of colors.
Most bears are heavily weighted with poly pellets and/or glass beads to give it a feel of having "muscles and bones" rather than fluff. However, for the collector who prefers a softer bear, that can be done as well. Sizes range from 6 inches to 42 inches and include almost every increment in between. New patterns are being made frequently, therefore new sizes and styles often appear.
Many different shaped bodies are available: long arms and legs (adolescent), short, plump arms and legs (baby); bent knees and elbows, straight legs and arms, etc. The “seat” of the bear can have a short bear tail or a round “baby bottom”. (The baby bottoms are popular in the “Bearly You” line.) Some "newborn" bears have an umbilical-like cord and an authentic umbilical cord clamp, as well as a hospital name band showing the bears name. Other bears have a "belly-button" made from clay. Each bears name is sculpted into the belly-button.
Most all bears are jointed at the neck, arms and legs. For very small bears, I sometimes use cotter pin joints. Most often I use the nut & bolt method with disks.
Growlers are sometimes inserted into the bear body so they can “voice their opinions”.
Regarding names: Sometimes I name them, sometimes the "adoptive parent" names them. I only use a name one time. By only using a name once, I’m able to keep an accurate register of who adopted each bear.
Adoption:
An adoption card is provided with each bear. One part of the card is filled out with information about the adoptive parent (name, address, phone number, etc.) and this part is kept in a registry with photographs of the bear. The other part of the card goes with the bear to the adoptive parent. That part of the card reflects information about the bear, such as: name, succession number, length, fur type, etc., and information about the adoption: parents name, date and place of adoption.
I carefully construct every bear face and body to make sure that they are the highest quality of workmanship that I can possible provide. That’s why I use the very best materials I can find for every one of my creations. I want you to enjoy your Ivy Rose Bear for many, many years ... just like a good old friend.
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