Precious teddy bears eager to meet new owners at next week's Tea with Teddy

Mary Scandrett started collecting stuffed bears when her children were born over 50 years ago, and now she is donating the majority of her vast collection to St. Mark’s Anglican Church, who are hosting a Tea with Teddy event at the end of this month.

Scandrett is moving and needs to downsize. She heard that St. Mark’s might be hosting a winter cream tea event, and eventually she connected with church member Trudi Watson. More than 70 of Scandrett’s bears will be on display and for sale next Friday and Saturday.

Scandrett, an arctophile (collector of teddy bears) has kept some special bears that she has loved over the years “that I couldn't part with, such as, under my Christmas tree, a family of bears including a grandmother, a mom and dad and three kids.” 

She met a bear-maker years ago at the One-of-a-Kind Show in Toronto and has commissioned her to create custom bears for her, as well as family and friends. 

“There's a children's story that we read all the time called Miss Flora McFlimsey, about a doll in an attic. So I got Lorraine to do a bear as the Flora McFlimsey bear.” Another custom-made bear is based on one from the Eaton’s store catalogue. Named Punkinhead, it features a tuft of unruly orange hair.

Mary was hoping her grandchildren would come to love the bears as much as she has, but realizes that that commercially-made toys today are made for playing and are easier to clean.

“It's an expensive collection because of the craft,” said Scandrett. “You know when when you buy a run-of-the-mill toy-manufactured bears, they're all made mechanically and they’re less expensive.”

“But when you get somebody who's sitting there sewing it all together, and stuffing them with mohair, and finding the right glass eyes to create an expression, and the little toys that they sometimes hold  . . . you know, it's an art.”

While bears are the centrepiece of Tea with Teddy, Watson said they also have Christmas decor, jewellery and clothing, china and silver and linens. “Everything is for sale,” she said, “and all the proceeds from this goes to the running of the church.”

The linens are all wrapped and they have all been checked for stains and pressed, Watson said. The china and crystal pieces are all checked for chips and the silverware for dents. What they can’t sell, they donate to other organizations.

And all the bears have been dusted and vacuumed, said Scandrett.

The tea will have seating for around 40 people, said Watson, and people can come and go anytime they like.

Tea with Teddy runs Friday, Nov. 29 and Saturday, Nov. 30, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Addison Hall, 41 Byron Street. Tea and scones will cost $15 per person, and shopping is free.

All are welcome to browse, said Watson. “I think little girls and boys would like to come and have tea with mom and see the bears.” she