Are you an Arctophile?

[elize]

I know I am an Arctophile because there is not enough space for all my bears, they are displayed all over the house. To overcome this problem I bought a cabinet for all the miniature bears, gollies, dolls, pandas and rocking horses, but soon the first cabinet was filled and I bought a second cabinet...

[DebbieD]

I definitely am an arctophile, but a housefire back in 2000 robbed me of my collection of over 50 different bears :( To say insurance people have no clue when it comes to teddy bears is an understatement!

Since then I've switched from collector to teddy bear artist as I've spread my wings and learned to make my bears from real fur. The more that I created from real fur, the harder it was for my hands to tolerate the synthetic furs. I've discovered to my great sadness over the years that my hands will not tolerate making the synthetic and mohair bears, but I guess we all evolve. My current collection stands between 10 and 20 bears. I don't think I'll ever get up to the bigger numbers I had before the fire, but I will say each and every bear was completely a treasure to my heart. :)

[LadyEva]

I have never counted how many bears I have. I few years ago we had to put all our processions in storage for six weeks and when we came back to get the stuff, the storage unit was empty. Someone had stolen everything we owned. So we started all over and of couse my bear collection started again. I have bears in every room of the house including the bathroom. Friends and relatives are always giving me another cute bear that they found and as I always say - there is always room for another bear! Plus I am always coming up with another idea for a new bear so I make and make.:)

[theprofessor]

Even if you are an arctophile and surrounded by hundreds of bears, I am sure everyone has that one special bear in their collections. Eva, it must have been hard replacing your bears, and happy birthday. Jacques

[LadyEva]

Thanks for the birthday wish and yes some of the bears were not able to be replaced. The only one that really bothered me was my bear that I carried around as a child. I just had to remember that it was all just stuff and it is the memories that count and not the actual things.

[gizmobears]

I am most definately one...
I dont know what I would do if I had to loose my collection..I would nog be able to get over it! LOL
I dont know how many I have and as Elize ... bought one cabinet and a nother followed and another ..... neverending story.
Very pleased that I am not the only bearmad person out there!
Di:happy2:

[kitty]

Yes, I am certainly one. I have only 22 bears in my collection, but I love all of them so much! I could lose sleep if one of them so much as tore a stitch. :)

And all my friends and relatives and especially my hubby gifts me teddy bears for my birthday, christmas and all special events. :) I very much enjoy that and I know I can always add another bear to my hug!

[Baerenrettungsdienst]

I'm an arctophile too.
I love all our Bears but "my" bear is Paulchen,a Steiff Cosy Teddy.He sleeps in my bed and I can tell him all my sorrows.
At the moment we live with ca. 60 bears but the next ones are on their way to our home.Our bears don't live in cabinets because they need fresh air and room to play. :D

[elize]

Your bears are so lucky to be able to live all around in your house. "happy6:

[Baerenrettungsdienst]

Thank you!
Yes,I hope too.When I have more time I'll take some photos of our "garden fairies".:D
I work as a florist and sometimes we have some plants we can't sell.I take the plants to our home and some of the bears take care of them. :ashamed:

[wubbiebear]

I just had to go google arctophile, and absolutely yes. I'm not sure how many bears I have now, but I have adored bears as a kid, and still do. Teddy bears and music are my life. People give me bears as gifts, too. You can't have too many bears. I don't have a clue about brands of bears, though. I name my bears, and that's how I think of them. Usually they don't cost a lot of money, but I always say that once you cry on a bear, he becomes priceless.

[elize]

but I always say that once you cry on a bear, he becomes priceless.

This is so true...

[lovenshire]

Oh yes, how very true!

[wubbiebear]

Yep, I had a bad day yesterday, and poor Gaither and Prot got cried on last night really bad. Thanks, boys, and sorry for waterlogging your little heads.

[wubbiebear]

I just had to come back here and let you guys know about this. I thought you might get a kick out of it. While I was looking for something today, I found a bear that I didn't realize I had, and I decided to call him Arcto because of this thread.

[elize]

wubbiebear Arcto is such an original name:papabear:

[wubbiebear]

I've gotten a few what the hecks from people over that name. I'll post a picture hopefully tomorrow. He's probably the complete opposite of a collector bear, though. He has sort of a shaggy fur that I would love to know what it is. When I went to get the fabric to make my first bear, I actually brought Arcto to the store so I could try to find some fur just like his. I found some that's really similar, except it's white. I just hope when the bear is finished, I'll be able to tell him apart from Arcto. I'm sure I will, though, because whoever made Arcto knew what they were doing. Arcto is on my bed now where the most special bears go.

[wubbiebear]

At last, I finally got a picture of my precious Arcto that you've all heard so much about. I've gotten so close to this little bear. Elize, go ahead and laugh at me, but you know I have to ask, is he a collector bear or is he just Arcto? The tag on his bottom says Passport Plush Toys. BTW, I was going to start another thread, but I decided to post him here since I got the idea for his name from this thread. Thanks, Elize for teaching me my new favorite word, lol.

[lovenshire]

Well, he sure looks loveable!

[wubbiebear]

Arcto is definitely lovable. He's also the one I told you about that is Crystal's BFF.

[peterbear]

I think I would qualify as an arctophile. Why???

--> Because I would rather spend money on teddy bears than on clothes or cars or cell phones
--> Because teddy bears are gradually taking over my house and I really don't mind.
--> Because I love writing articles for Teddy Bear Times about my addiction
--> Because I can't imagine life with teddy bears
--> Because my bears eat with me, sleep with me, watch TV with me, read books with me (but they absolutely refuse to take a bath with me...)
--> Because .... they are just great company!

Come to think of it, maybe I would qualify for the insane asylum as well... :rolleye2:

Hugs,
Peterbear

[wubbiebear]

Same here. I always carry a bear with me around the house. I'm holding Arcto as I'm typing this and I am surrounded by bears and bears and more bears. I think I'm the biggest arctophile in my state.

[elize]

peterbear when I go into an antique shop my first question is always " Do you have any bears for sale"

The majority of my collection is special to me - even after a couple of years, but the cell phone I got months ago is just a cell phone and it
is already old.

:paw:paw:paw I am sure the insane asylum will allow you to take a couple of bears with...

[wubbiebear]

Well, if I ever have to go into the insane asylum, if they don't let me have Arcto I'll claw their eyeballs out, not really.

[lovenshire]

If I can't have my bear I won't go....

[wubbiebear]

Ten four on that!!! I won't travel without my bear.