I bought the 3 ft Sleepy Time bear pattern years ago, and I have since made several for my nieces and nephews. The biggest hit is using them as a "Birth" bear and putting their Name, Date, Weight, Height, Length and Time of Birth on the paw pads. The very first bear I made for my nephew was lost in a house fire about a month after I gave it as a birthday gift. Of all of the things that he missed the most, he said he missed "Tony", so of course I had to run right home and produce "Tony Jr." I just wanted to say thanks for your wonderful patterns. I just received several for Christmas (a little early) and I plan on making some VERY big smiles in the future. Melanie McCarter
Hi Judi,
Thank you for your story of how you started. I am 54 and had to stop working to take care of my 88 year old mother in-law. It has been very hard on us financially so I decided to make dolls and toys to sell and I love your patterns. I try to change each pattern so that none turn out the same. I don’t know if I have the talent to design a pattern and I’m not sure that I will try. Thank you so much for your words of encouragement in your endeavor to make it.
God Bless, Phyllis Johnson
Hi, Judi! Here's a picture of "Joe Bear Johnson". He is a full time resident of Dixie, Idaho, where he lives with his adopted parents, Kathy and Ells. His hobbies include snowmobiling, chipmunk watching, and foraging for candy bars in their cozy cabin! thanks for a great pattern! Sincerely, Debra ( Joe's "stitcher")
P.S... I'd love for you to put Joe Bear's picture on your site, along with the letter! I should also tell you that Joe the Bear went to our local fair, and won a blue ribbon, and a purple "Best of Class" ribbon as well. The judges were really wowed, and had great comments, too.
Thanks for designing such wonderful patterns, Judi. They're all "winners"!
Sincerely, Debra Tack
Dear Judi
I made your floppy bear and much to my surprise it went so easy! I'm new to sewing and this was a wonderful first teddy bear project. I'm now making two more for my little cousins for Christmas. Thank you so much for a wonderful pattern!!!
Sincerely, Stephanie Warren
Marion, VA
Hello,
I just had to write! A couple weeks ago I ordered the pattern Early 1900 Rabbit with Stripe. Last night I traced all the pattern pieces onto templates and thought I may be getting in over my head. But your instructions were wonderful and thurough. I completed 2 bunnies with no problem at all except to wonder why I thought this pattern was going to give me trouble. Thanks for the great pattern and instructions! I had fun making the rabbit and will look for more of your patterns in the future!
Sincerely, Stacy
Hi Judi,
I just thought I'd let you know that I've finished making the jumbo bear pattern I ordered from you last month. Attached, you'll find pictures of
"Rufus," who has turned out better than I ever thought he would - this was my first sewing project beyond simple repairs to pants, skirts, etc. Your
pattern was very easy to follow, even for a beginner, and your helpful tips were
wonderful. If it's possible,
Rufus would like to have his
picture added to your "Satis-
ied Customers" site.I also
wanted to thank you for your
help with altering the pattern
to include paw pads. Hope-
fully they show up well enough
in the photos.
Thanks again for such a wonderful pattern!
Paula Moore
Dear Judi Lynn,
The do not put in dryer message in fabrics, reminded me of a wonderful and sad story of my husband and his first wife and their two childrens' 7 stuffed bunnie rabbits. Iris decided to wash all 7 bunnies at the same time in the washer in the basement. Upstairs, she saw smoke coming through the electrical outlet so she called the fire dept. They came, and seeing the smoke, took an axe and chopped a hole in the kitchen wall. I believe this may be the very wall which is now covered with ceramic tile. Then the firemen went to the basement to find that the washer had jammed up and burned out the motor which had created the smoke. The wet and smokey bunnies were pitched. The kids now in their 40's, with many degrees by their names, still tell of how traumatic it was to lose their beloved bunnies.
Barbara Boucher
Hi Judy,
Here are the pictures that I promised you. They really turned out great. All of the children
were thrilled with them. Thanks, Elaine Winkle
Judy
Your pattern, once I got my head on
straight, was easy to use and your instructions were quite thorough.
You wouldn't believe the comments when I show pics of the bear! lol I used to make Care Bears and sell them at Bazaars when my boys were little, but don't think I'm going there with this one!
I found the fur at Walmart and it's labeled as "polar bear". Can't remember the price exactally, but around $14.00? And it is very, very soft, which is what counts for her little cheeks!........
.......
Thanks again for all your help!
Deb
Stacy, Ashley and Peter Pan
Dear Judy,
I thought you might like to see how my 2-year-old grandson likes his bear.
Thanks again for going above and beyond to get me the pattern in time for his birthday.
Kathi Swindell
Ashley is a little girl battling cancer.
Jody - a friend of Ashleys Grandmother-made, then donated Sleepy Bear to Ashley.
Ashleys mother Stacy wrote the first 'Thank You"letter to Jodi, and Grandma wrote the second'
Jody then subsequently passed the letters onto me in hopes that we would allow her to produce more bears for charity (see Below).
When I made available my first 3 ft bear , I never EVER anticapated that there would be a market for a second large bear. But people kept asking for another then a third etc. As the years progressed I began to hear the same story over and over. That the bears were being used in theraputic settings- to help children in all types of trauma. It is known as "Touch Therapy" I've learned that because the bears are so large that they can become a substitute for "humans". They are used with children who have been abused. Athough such is not the case with Ashley, The bear helped her as well, to work out the trauma associated with her illness.
Dear Judi,
I am enclosing a picture of me with Rumbles and "Cuddle Me" bear. I am SO proud of them!! The sewingmachine is NOT my friend! These are the first items that I have ever sewn with any success using the machine and I THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for making sucn easy to follow patterns.
My husbannd and I do craft shows...and I had thought that I would take them along....Don't have much room in my pickup for many of these guys!! If anyone wanted one of these two origionals, i would have a hard time parting with them. i just love them.
Again, thank you so much for the wonderful patterns. You surely have helped my self-esteem!