Author Archives: Naïve Art Cebu

LEARNING FROM NATURE’S RESILIENCE 5: NATIVE SURVIVORS

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For the fifth of our workshop series on Learning from Nature’s Resilience, we focused on native trees.  After supertyphoon Odette claimed so many of the sacntuary’s mature trees, an assessment was made of the surviving tree species and our suspicion was proven right that those that survived were mostly native trees.  We reached out to the Visayas Native Trees (VNT) Enthusiasts group to help us with properly identifying and learning more about the propagation of these species. So we arranged a special workshop day with the group on Saturday, May 28th.

Welcome and Intro by Eddy Lee, conservation educator and ecotherapist

Warm up activity was laughter yoga led by Joel Lee, Permaculture and Aprotech Solutions educator. 

Then the VNT group went around the nature sanctuary to identify and tag the native trees that survived Odette. VNT members Gala, Tin-Tin, Nonoy, Tess, Sarah, Lito, Bretha and JC examined the leaves of the native trees closely then shared their knowledge of these trees. Gala was the official scribe -writing both local and scientific names of the species on the tags.

Gala and Nonoy of VNT
Bangkal
Lagnob

When the group had had their lunch, we proceeded with the next part of our workshop which was the expressive arts portion which was led by Paulina Constancia.
The task was: Make your native survivor self-portrait using a leaf or seed from the native tree that you best identify with.

Paulina Constancia during the workshop demo

Each of the participants went around the sanctuary again to source materials for their self-portraits.

VNT enthusiasts and friends with facilitators Paulina Constancia and Eddy Lee (Roundhouse of the J Lee Nature Sanctuary) with the beautiful native survivor self-portraits
Tour of the MONA – VNT enthusiasts and friends

What a wonderful day of sharing love for native trees, art and laughter! So grateful for our learning adventure together, VNT!!!

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The Floral Bouquet Self-Portraits

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Today we share with you more detail on the expressive arts session on Sunday which was the making of The Floral Bouquet Self-Portraits.
Click here to learn more about this workshop from previous post

Below is the step by step process in pictures…

Below are the individual portraits of our teenage participants:

Very creative use of the fruit stamps and stencils to make these awesome portraits, young ladies! Thank you for sharing your insights and reflections too. We wish you all the best in your learning and development. Till the next time!

LEARNING FROM NATURE’S RESILIENCE 4: FLOWERS & FRUITS

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Yesterday, my siblings and I co-taught  part 4 of our Learning from Nature’s Resilience workshop series. This time we took inspiration from the surviving trees and other flowering plants that have recovered and started to bloom, and some are even bearing fruit again!!!

Our participants were homeschooled teenage survivors of difficult situations traveling all the way from Northern Cebu.

My brother Joel Lee, Permaculture and Aprotech Solutions educator, facilitated the warm up laughter yoga and encouraged its regular practice as a way to health and relaxation. 

My sister Eddy Lee, a conservation educator and ecotherapist,  led the tour of the sanctuary’s food forest, higlighting the effect of Typhoon Odette on the fruit trees that were bent, and broken and uprooted. They noticed how the trees are starting to recover because the leaves have sprouted back.  Some of the surviving trees, including a few mango trees, are even flowering. The meditation and vegetable gardens have also recovered and are blooming.

Here are the tools for the expressive arts session: Floral Bouquet Self-Portraits

Before starting the expressive arts segment of our Learning from Nature’s Resilience workshop I distributed the flower quotes below for the participants to discuss within their groups:

“Happiness held is the seed; happiness shared is the flower.” -John Harrigan
Flowers grow back even after they are stepped on, so will I!” – Author Unknown
“Nothing in nature blooms all year. Be patient with yourself!”
“A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.” – Zen Shin

Paulina Constancia demonstrates how to make the Floral Bouquet Self-Portraits using fruit stamps
(slices of the following fruit were provided: okra, cucumber, eggplant and balimbing aka starfruit or carambola)

The instruction for the expressive art session was :
Your life is God’s gift to you and what you make of it is like a bouquet of flowers that you give back to God, the earth and humanity.  What kind of blossoms will you bear?
 As you create your floral bouquet portrait focus on your pesonal resilient trait and be ready to share this with the group.

How to Make Your Floral Bouquet Self-Portrait

  1. Use fruit slices provided: (okra, cucumber, eggplant and balimbing aka starfruit, carambola,) and watercolor to make prints on paper of flowers.
  2. Practice with your stamps and layout on scrap paper provided before doing your final layout on the artboard provided
  3. Allow work to dry completely before adding design details with ballpen and pencil crayons. Feel free to do freehand drawing or use some of the stencils available to add details to your work.
  4. Prepare to share your work and personal resilient trait with the group.
Floral Bouquet Self-Portraits in the making
Quick sample floral portrait made by Paulina Constancia
Tools used: carambola (balimbing), cucumber (pepino), bird stencil, water-colour, brush, ballpen

MONA -Museum visit

Our teenage participants gather at the meditation garden at the Justice German Lee Nature Sanctuary

Thank you for joining us for a fun learning adventure at the Sanctuary. We hope you will apply the things you learned here today – Care for the earth, care for each other, care for the future and care to laugh, lots! And believe that you are resilient, you have the capacity to bounce back from the adversities life may throw your direction.

The ME TREE Self Portraits

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Today we share with you more detail on the expressive arts session on Saturday which was the making of the Me Tree Self-Portraits.
Click here to learn more about this workshop from previous post

Here you will find the individual creations of our teenage workshop participants from the St Alfonso Maria Fusco Home, Compostela.

The portraits with their corresponding hand carved camote stamps

Awesome camote carving and leaf pattern prints, young men! Thank you for sharing your insights and reflections too. We wish you all the best in your learning and development. Care for the earth, care for each other, care for the future and care to laugh, lots!

The Floral Assemblage Self Portraits

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We are proud to share with you the creations of our recent Learning from Nature’s Resilience 2 workshop. Taking inspiration from the resilience of flowering plants and trees, the teenage participants were invited to create a floral assemblage self-portrait. They were also asked to focus on personal traits that make them resilient. Some of the traits mentioned were STRONG, UNIQUE, CONFIDENT, PRO-ACTIVE, …
(Click on this link to see workshop process and instructions.)

Here is a gallery of the group’s works. Left image is the actual floral assemblage, right image is the water-colour recreation of the assemblage portrait.

We thank the teenage participants for joining us for a fun learning experience at the Nature Sanctuary.

World naive art under COVID-19 influence

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This unique project is part of an ad hoc partnership between two cultural organizations from the Americas, dedicated to the recognition and the appreciation of the naive art sector, MUSÉE INTERNATIONAL D’ART NAÏF DE MAGOG (MIANM) in Canada and FIAN in Brazil.

Paulina Constancia’s art entitled “Celebration in Isolation” from her Covid Times series was part of this special virtual exhibition. Please click on this BRAZIL link or CANADA link to view complete virtual collection.

Celebration in Isolation
Covid Times series 2020 by Paulina Constancia

MONA opens at The Sanctuary in Carcar 2

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MONA is now in Carcar!

Here are more photos from the opening of MONA at its new home at the Justice German G Lee Jr. Nature Sanctuary (“The Sanctuary”) in Bacsije, Barangay Ocaña, Carcar.

Guests at the opening were local folks from the South of Cebu (from Carcar to Argao and beyond)- mostly educators and friends of The Sanctuary.

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Groups of 10 or more may now visit the MoNA by appointment only, email or message us at least two weeks in advance.

MONA opens at The Sanctuary in Carcar 1

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MoNA is now in Carcar!

On August 3  MoNA opened its doors at its new home at The Justice German Lee Jr Nature Sanctuary (aka “The Sanctuary”) in Bacsije, Barangay Ocaña, Carcar. Guests at the opening were local folks from the South of Cebu (from Carcar to Argao and beyond)- mostly educators and friends of The Sanctuary.

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Highlights of the Opening:

  • Orientation with Edna Lee
  • Sanctuary Tour with Joel Lee
  • MONA Tour with the artist Paulina Constancia
  • Art Workshops with Stamp and Stencil Starters:
    BANDA BAKI and FISHinating Patterns
  • Buffet Lunch
  • Art & Nature Pop Quiz with Edna Lee

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Check out next post for more photos…
Groups of 10 or more may now visit the MoNA by appointment only, email or message us at least two weeks in advance.

International Mangrove Day Workshop 1

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To celebrate International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem (July 26) The Sanctuary and The MONA held a one-day workshop for a local youth group.

Here are the mangrove birds that inspired this workshop which was facilitated by artist Paulina Constancia. (Photos by perpetual collaborator at The Sanctuary -Mishka Watin)

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birds - 2

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Main activities were: Sound Walk/Birdwatching, Drawing Mangrove birds, Role Play and Group singing of song Paulina wrote on the spot about the birds.

Below is the song:

In Cebuano

Mga Langgam sa Katunggan
to the tune She’ll be coming round the mountain (more or less)

Daghang langgam nga madunggan sa katunggan (2x)
Daghang langgam nga madunggan (2x)
Daghang langgam nga madunggan sa katunggan.

Talabon, Tamsi-pipit, Tikarol
Bangkiyod, Mayang Bungol
Ganciang, Tamsi, Maya
Kasadya gyud sa langgam sa katunggan.

In English
Birds in the Mangrove
to the tune of She’ll be coming round the mountain (more or less)

We hear lots of birds in the mangrove (2x)
We hear lots of birds (2x)
We hear lots of birds in the mangrove (2x)

Egret, Flyeater, Kingfisher
Pied Fantail, Chestnut Munia
Glossy Starling, Sunbird, Tree Sparrow.
Oh how joyful are the birds in the mangrove.

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PC at the Art Naïf Festiwal 2018

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It is with great joy that we share with you the news that Paulina Constancia’s art is once again part of the celebration of art and culture at this year’s Art Naïf Festiwal at The Wilson Shaft Gallery in Katowice, Poland.

The festival, which is now on its 11th year/edition, runs from June 8 to August 10. So if any one of you happens to be traveling in that area, please do come and be part of this international celebration.

Below are some photos from the opening of the festival.

festiwal aerial

Colourful, lively, inspiring art +great venue + amazing organizing team = Unforgettable Festival

The works Paulina Constancia is showing at the XI Naïf Art Festiwal are from her “Love in the Key of Frank” collection, a series of work inspired by  the songs of the great crooner Frank Sinatra…“Love and Marriage” and “Cheek to Cheek”  (yes, three can dance cheek to cheek!).

low res PC works

(L) “Love and Marriage” and (R) Cheek to Cheek, art by Paulina Constancia, now showing at the XI Naïf Art Festiwal, Poland

PC art shown

Try to spot Paulina Constancia’s art in this photo

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Lots of lovely art + lots of art lovers=lots of fun

band on stage

Every year, naïve artists from a particular country would be the lead or focus of the festival. This year, AUSTRALIA is the lead country. Read more 

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Australian naïve artists (front row) and other participating artists in attendance were honoured and applauded at opening night

prints and cards

Art prints, cards and catalogues

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Spot Paulina Constancia’s prints on the table…

We’d like to express our heartfelt congratulations to the wonderful team at The Eko-Art Silesia Foundation / The Wilson Shaft Gallery for another successful edition of Art Naif Festiwal.  Special thanks goes to Monika Paca-Bros, Chair of the Eko-Art Silesia Foundation -Director of the Art Naif Festiwal and to Małgorzata Walczak, Coordinator of the 11th Art Naif Festiwal.

For more photos visit Art Naif Festiwal on Facebook

 

Salamat GSK Goers

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Salamat/ Thank you for making MoNA a part of your Gabii sa Kabilin/Heritage Night Adventure.

Below is an image summary of the fun activities on May 25th at the MoNA

image summary

Here are the activities at the MoNA for GSK 2018:

Museum Highlight: FISH-to-FACE Collection
For GSK 2018, the MoNa highlights the collection called Fish-to-Face. The balangays traveled on our pre-colonial seas and under the surface was a rich and diverse marine life.  These were the same species of fish and corals that artist Paulina Constancia encountered on her diving trips in Bohol and Cebu in the 90’s.

It is imperative for us to protect our oceans, home to the families of fish that fed our ancestors, continue to feed us, and hopefully nourish generations to come…

Kanta-Kanta: Community Singing Ocean-themed songs

Tanod-Tanod: Stuff and Decorate a FISH Decor

Isda-Isda: Fish Monoprinting

Pares-Pares: Ocean-themed Memory Card Game

Once again, our deep gratitude for joining us at GSK. See you again next year! But remember, the MoNA is open throughout the year from MONDAY TO SATURDAY – 10AM TO 4 PM (CLOSED SUNDAYS & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS). So come see us again with your family and friends. You don’t have to wait till the next GSK. Ali namo pag-usab sa MoNA!

Note: The FISH monoprints featured on this post were created by GSK goers  at the Monoprinting Workshop at the MoNA on Heritage Night/Gabii sa Kabilin.

 

Gabii sa Kabilin ~Heritage Night 2018

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Welcome to the Museum of Naive Art [MoNA]! Happy Gabii sa Kabilin (GSK)/Heritage Night, GSK goers! As you probably already know, the theme of this year’s celebration is “Balangay” to give tribute to the pre-colonial roots of the Philippines. Balangays were used to transport entire clans from one island to another in the Visayan seas. A Bisaya variant of the Tagalog “barangay,” the term also describes communities bound together by kinship and communal ties.

For GSK 2018, the MoNa highlights the collection called FISH-to-Face. The balangays traveled on our pre-colonial seas and under the surface was a rich and diverse marine life.  These were the same species of fish and corals that artist Paulina Constancia encountered on her diving trips in Bohol and Cebu in the 90’s.

It is imperative for us to protect our oceans, home to the families of fish that fed our ancestors, continue to feed us, and hopefully nourish generations to come…

fish to face cropped for gsk promo

Please refer to the GSK e-magazine for the complete listing and details of participating heritage sites for this year’s celebration.

about GSK 2018

Check out the common names of local Philippine fish

Read “David Suzuki: We Have to Stop Killing Our Oceans With Plastic”

Learn about the Philippines’ Tubbataha Reef on National Geographic

 

PC’s Art in Year of the Dog Feature Presentation in Canada

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We at the MoNA are happy to share with you the news that Paulina Constancia’s artwork called “A Heart’s Choice” will be featured from March 1 to April 30 at the Window Gallery of the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver, Canada.

1-Roundhouse-basic poster

This is just a cropped image of the diptych (two part artwork)

Poster below gives more  information about Paulina’s  “A Heart’s Choice”  and its symbolisms.

2-Roundhouse-show description- PC & Sadie only

The original study of this work, a 14” x 16” acrylic on canvas,  is hanging at the Museum of Bicycling (MoB) in the Philippines to help shed  light on the mobility and transport choices we make.

 

Slovenian Film about International Meeting of Naïve Artists in Trebnje

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We are happy to share the message from Trebnje Gallery of Naïve Artists in Slovenia:

“Last year our Gallery celebrated a jubilee, half a century of International Meetings of Naive Artists. For this occasion we planned a film and asked all of you for your help in preparing it.

Slovenian television broadcasted the film in December 2017 and now the film is publicly available on our website:”

We hope you will enjoy it, even though it is in Slovenian only.”

Message from: Andrejka Nose, kustosinja
(Curator, Trebnje Gallery of Naïve Artists)

Slovenian Film about International Meeting of Naive Artists

The film captures half a century of history of International Meetings and of the Gallery of Naive Artists Trebnje.

The film was presented to the public on 15 June 2017 during the 50th International Meeting of Naive Artists and Slovenian television broadcasted it on 29 December 2017.

We are delighted to share with you that our very own Paulina Constancia is featured in this film alongside fellow artists at the 49th International Meeting of Naive Artists in 2016. It also shows film clips from past meetings and a nice review of the extensive collection of the gallery.

pau-slovenia film clips

Screenshots of some of Paulina’s appearance in the Slovenian Film

Dinner with Film Crew

Farewell Lunch with Slovenian film crew on the last day of filming the International Meeting of Naïve Artists in Trebnje, 2016.  Igor Pediček is the film director (2nd on the left), Paulina is 4th on the left with fellow artists and the curator, director and board members of the gallery

Watch the film “Samorastniške kronike” on the website of  Trebnje Gallery of Naïve Artists

 

Virtue Journal and Hand Lettering Workshop

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We are happy to share with you some photos and details of the latest sustainable expressive arts workshop at the MoNA, facilitated by Edna Lee of the Psychology Volunteers on Bikes.

Virtue Journal Making and Hand Lettering were the focus of the recent workshop. Below are the materials used.

Tools Needed:

  • Two-hole Punch
  • 12 different beautiful printed papers such as origami and printed card stock;  recycled magazine pages and wrapping paper would also be nice (to use as month dividers)
  • 1 sheet plain or corrugated craft foam (to use as journal cover)
  • Different coloured markers

 

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STEPS:

1. Choose a colored craft foam cover (letter-size/short size)

2. Choose 12 different beautiful printed paper (like origami paper)  to use as dividers for the 12 months

3. Get 26 sheets of letter-size (short) bond paper/printer paper and cut in half horizontally

4. Fold foam cover horizontally and put 4 sheets of  the cut bond paper for each month and put one sheet of printed paper (48 sheets total)

5. Punch, fasten and cut edges sticking out

6. The first four pages are for hand lettering practice.
(At the workshop, the alphabet was written in script on the board and samples of different types of hand lettering  were providedo for every table- —letters embellished with curls, shading, dots, strips, spaces)

8. Write your name on the  inside of the front cover using a combination of hand lettering styles.

9. Write the name of the month on each of the printed paper dividers.

10. Choose one virtue/value you want to reflect on for each month. Use hand lettering to write it on each divider.
(At the workshop, the participants were asked to suggest the virtues they would like to work on. They made a list on the board, and they chose 12, one for each month).
Examples of VIRTUES:  Respect, Generosity, Industry, Joy, Helpfulness, Love, Care, Simplicity, Fairness, Happiness, Obedience, Sincerity

 

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Here are some of the skills developed through the workshop: 

1. DIY – Constructing things helped develop confidence
2. Hand Lettering– Opportunity to improve one’s handwriting and be creative
3. 12 Virtues in Focus– An Invitation to challenge oneself to improve throughout the year

With their newly handcrafted VIRTUE JOURNAL, the participants are tasked to:
Reflect on the following every week:

  • How did I manifest the virtue this week?
  • What can i do to learn this virtue?
  •  List your behavior or manifestation of the virtue in focus

12

Handcrafted VIRTUE JOURNALS created at the MoNA Workshop

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The participants proudly holding their handcrafted VIRTUE JOURNALS

We hope that this workshop will inspire you to make your own VIRTUE JOURNAL and aspire to better yourself this new year 2018.

Here is a set of virtues of the great Benjamin Franklin.

franklins-13-virtues

Image from the envole.net blog

Repurposed Tarps

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Happy New Year to all of you from your friends at the Museum of Naïve Art [MoNA] in Cebu.

Recently, the MoNA, in cooperation with the Psychology Volunteers on Bikes (Psych Vols), organized a workshop for women and children in difficult situations. It was a simple activity with a very important message – what society might perceive as trash can still be repurposed and revitalized.

The project:  Turning old tarpaulin banners into useful book bags and day packs (workshop concept and facilitation by Edna Lee of Psych Vols)

collage 1- at work

Three simple steps: 1)cut the tarp, 2)sew with running or blanket stitch, 3) attach strap

collage 2- finished products

Pretty good for first attempt at reused/repurposed tarp bags

collage 3- duo

Check out their handmade DAY PACKS

collage 3- group

Proudly handmade –book bags, day packs, grocery bags!

A Beary Fun Workshop

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It is with great pleasure that we share with you our most recent workshop “Beary Fun”, which took place last Saturday, Nov 25th.  The project concept and materials were prepared by  Zed Lee of the Psychology Volunteers on Bikes (Psych Vols)  while the actual workshop was facilitated by Edna Lee also of Psych Vols, and another regular MoNA volunteer Wae Seon Yun.

The workshop participants were women and children in difficult situations.

A pattern, some old jeans material and a set of instructions were provided by Zed Lee. Here are the steps:

First Step: Trace pattern on the underside of fabric.

Second Step: Sew along tracing – using running or back stitch to create the Teddy bear shape inside out.  Leave about 3 inches open/unstitched to give you room to insert filling/stuffing (preferably on the side of belly or top of the bear’s head)

Third Step: Give about 1/2 inch allowance and cut around the tracing/stitching

Fourth Step: Now bring the pattern side to the outside by pulling it through the 3 inch opening.

Fifth Step: Stuff your bear and stitch up the opening (slip stitch)

Sixth Step: Embellish/dress -up your Teddy Bear with buttons, patterned fabric and laces. You may also add extra details using a sharpie or acrylic paint.

Final Step: Hug your Teddy Bear and share its story with the group.

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Here are the girls with their Teddy Bears…

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Fun groupings of the Teddies…

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Everybody gets the chance to share their stories…

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You can tell from our volunteer Wae Seon’s face how much she enjoyed the BEARY FUN workshop..

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Here’s a group photo of the Teddies…

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Here’s a group photo of the Teddies and their creators. Photo also shows facilitators Edna Lee and Wae Seon Yun

Special thanks to Zed Lee, Wae Seon Yun and Edna Lee, the Psychology Volunteers on Bikes, West Gorordo Hotel and My Refuge House.

“You really don’t have to be young to find a friend in a teddy bear.”
-Rachel Newman

“There’s just something about a Teddy Bear that’s impossible to explain. When you hold one in your arms, you get a feeling of love, comfort and security. It’s almost supernatural.”
-James Ownby

“Teddy bears don’t need hearts as they are already stuffed with love.”
-Unknown

Quotes from I Love Teddies