Tedde: Smarter than the Average Bear

I’ve been meaning to post a review of this for months, but we moved, and the holidays, and… Well, you know all the excuses.

Anyway, the nice people at Tedde sent me this cute little guy, named Scare Bear! Grrrrr! I love this guy! He has a cute, snuggly side, and a toothy, trouble-loving side. He reminds me of my kids…

Unlike the common teddy bear, each Tedde is an individual: hand-crafted with love and made of high quality textiles such as mohair, handspun yarn, natural wool, linen, canvas, cotton, and cashmere. And with the tag line “Full of Love, and a Little Gas”, Tedde wants customers to know that these bears are not only stuffed with recycled materials, but they’re also stuffed with personality and sometimes, mischief. Among this year’s lineup of Teddes is Flat Frank, Headless Ted, Herman (a hot pink furry fellow with a British accent and a thing for water polo), Tiny Teddes (miniature versions of the Tedde), felt Tedde hearts (only two bucks each!) and an assortment of Tedde food including a plush hot dog. That’s right: a stuffed wiener to cuddle up with!

The Tedde geniuses (that’s what they’re called) are out to rid the world of clone bears and give plush some personality, and I think it’s working. In the world of toys, Tedde bears are outsiders. They’re smarter than the average bear, perhaps less attractive in the facial-symmetry sense, have eclectic hobbies, enjoy Monty Python movies, and sport a wicked sense of humor… Okay, I’m making that up, but hooray for handmade personality! Boo to phony factory fluff!

If you’re in the market for a new little friend, you should take a look at the Tedde shop. Bears run from $20 to $75 or so, and smaller handmade accessories and Puffy Hearts (perfect for Valentine’s Day!) start at $1.99.

I received a free Scare Bear to review for this post. I did not receive any additional compensation.