Woman takes old clothes of lost loved ones and turns them into memory bears for people to snuggle
Mary Maccines is the woman behind these ingenious memory bears. She knows just how tough it is to grieve and deal with a loved one’s death.
The bears, while being stuffed like regular teddy bears, are made out of a deceased loved one’s clothing. We’re talking shirts, ties, blankets, and anything else they want on the bear.
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Maccines’ work with the teddy bears help her customers deal with the grieving stage better, especially the children who’ve lost a loving family member.
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These memory bears requested by her customers can have the ashes or jewelry, and even a back pocket for mementos or letters. The joints allow the bears to be positioned in different poses as well.
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The beauty of Maccines’ bears is that they’re not just for those who’ve lost loved ones. Some customers request for bears just so they can keep memories of their babies and toddlers.
Maccines said that making memory bears was not her initial plan as she wanted to focus on her studies and continue her sewing career in the bridal industry.
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Her first memory bear was for a friend. But when people online saw her creation, the requests came in for her to make more. Maccines gave in to the many requests, eventually turning her project into a huge business.
It’s not easy creating a teddy bear from old clothing.
It’s a tedious process that has Maccines planning, cutting, sewing up until completion.
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One memory bear takes up to five hours. Then think of the fact that she has so many customers. And that list grows longer during the Christmas season.
According to Maccines, it can get very draining. Imagine putting in so much time with your mind and body at work, day in and day out. There was even a 37-year-old customer who asked for two memory bears before Christmas.
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That particular customer wanted to give those bears to his daughters before Christmas. Maccines heart was moved when she found out he had terminal cancer. That customer’s concern was that he wasn’t going to make Christmas.
Maccines turns a simple bear into something so precious for her customers. And they’re from old items.
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All those long hours she puts in make it all worth it when she hears her customers’ stories.
Maccine said, “I love seeing their faces take on character and I’m absolutely loving life. I really enjoy meeting my customers when they collect bears – 80% burst into tears.”
Instead of throwing away a deceased loved one’s belongings, her customers choose to keep and treasure them, even transforming them into a physical memory they can hold on to.
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Macinnes turned her skill into a passion, using her creativity and compassion for other people, sewing for long hours just to memories of loved ones alive. These memory bears allow families to hug and talk to their loved ones whenever they feel lonely and nostalgic.
Get in touch with Maccines on her Instagram page.
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Source: My Positive Outlooks