During the process of making, the teddybear gets his soul, his character and this is what makes the teddybear unique in his own kind.
Nó
other toy is known for being a "soulmate", or bringing such comfort in
special moments, as a teddybear is.
Relatives
of a cremated deseased, especcially when there is a child involved, say
how important it is for the process of mourning, when something stays behind
they can touch and cuddle.
It also is easier to keep an ashtin in a beautiful cover than put it in a cabinet or out on display in a bookcase.
For me, this all were reasons enough to design a special teddybear, fit to keep the ashtin of a deseased in the middle of his belly.
This
was the beginning of "Amos Angelus".
Amos Angelus (Meaning: Carrier of Burdens - like an Angel)
is the name of a Teddybear, designed and handmade by Gloria Willems as protector and the cover of an ashtin.
Click on the picture for a larger reproduction.
Amos Angelus is a replic of a teddybear from the 1920's.
De
largest bear is 78 cm tall, weighs with an empty ashtin about 3,5 kilogramm and
is made out of curly 100% woolen mohair fabric.
The urnbear, suitable for a smaller ashtin is about 54 cm's tall.
Both of these bears are wearing a sjawl around the neck.
It's now legally possible to take a bit of the ashes and put this in a little box into the bear. The bears who are suitable for this are "Goliath", "Benjamin", the "Polarbear" and the "Harlekino"bear. Of course they get the original "Amos Angelus" name.
They'll have a ribbon tied around their neck.
The
woolen mohair fabric is coated on the inside to avoid bugs to enter the stuffing. It is
deliverable in different yellow, beige, brown and brown/blond colours.
Woolen
fabric is known to be preventive as it comes to dirt sticking on it. Under
normal circumstances the fabric lasts more dan a lifetime.
The stuffing is 100% sheepwool, which I prepare myself.
In de backseam a hidden zipper is sewed, to make it possible to put the ashtin in or out the bear.
The
inside of his belly is made of a matching coloured lining.
Between the lining and the mohair fabric there is put a layer of some centimeters of sheepwool.
In
this way one can't see of feel from the outside of the teddy that a ashtin is
kept in the bear.
The
teddybear has wooden rounds with steel bolts which form the joint for the head
and limbs, so these parts of the bear are made turnable.
De
pupil-glass-eyes are put into the head in a authentically way, with little metal
hooks, as it has been done since the beginning of the teddybear.
The
nose and mouth are being embroidered with a special twined yarn.
The
name of the bear (Amos Angelus), with the possibility to supplementary add the
name of the deseased, can be indicated on an anklebracelet.
A certificate of guarantee and an explanation of all names will also be send with the urnbear.
More pictures of urnbears are to be found in the Photogalery.
Please contact me if you want more information.
On this page I've created the possibility to light a candle, voor yourself, a loved one of who ever you'd like.
I myself will light my own candles here now and then.
"To feel the comfort of a teddybear is the same as feeling the warmth of another soul ........" Gloria
This
site is dedicated to all my beloved deceased, but especcially to my dear friend Gerd.
He died, being a cuddly bear ...... and Sandra, my beary
mate, which I miss incredably .......