Basically, I really need sources for the following:

Plastic Joints OR

Nut & Bolt Joints (the discs are hard felt – anyone know where I can get those, even seperately?)

Polyester or Cotton Filling

If you know where I can get any of these, please leave a comment here or email Jenn at info@adop-ted.org

Thank You So Much!! :D

Thanks again! :)

Jenn

PDF: adop-ted-capstone_research_report

I like the quirky look and feel of the above site, though I must admit Jennie Sandahls bears are a little.. peculiar! I came across her work here on a a UK based site called The Bear Club, which specialises in connecting teddy bear lovers everywhere. Check it out here.

I have been busy collecting research for the project. If you are interested in Adop-ted and have a few minutes, please fill out the attached questionnaire and return it via email to info@adop-ted.org 

This feedback will be used in the research segment of the project, and will help with the selection of concepts and designs. If you know anyone else who would be interested in this project and questionnaire, please pass it on to them.

Thank you for helping the Adop-ted project!

Jenn :)

Attachment: adop-ted_questionnaire.doc

(Word documents, cut & paste text and scanned images are all accepted)

UPDATE: If you downloaded the questionnaire on the 24th April, please note that the email address at the bottom was incorrect and should read as info@adop-ted.org - If you returned the questionnaire and your email bounced back, please resend it - my apologies for the inconvenience! Thanks, Jenn

I also have to craft and distribute a questionnaire about teddy bears and learning to parents with young children so that I can justify them as my “target consumer”.

If you have any information about the history of the teddy bear (with a solid bibliographical background) please let me know!

Thanks :)

Jenn

Here is a great article about a woman who is an interim parent. Since 1995, she and her husband have had 92 foster babies — most of them for just a few weeks, until the birth mother decides for sure whether she is going to raise the baby herself or put the baby up for adoption. The woman is white; most of these babies have been bi-racial or black.

Adop-ted aims to bring awareness about adoption to the world through that most well known of children’s toys, the teddy bear.

Teddy bears are easy to take care of, you can have more than one and they are always available for a hug. It’s easy to adopt a teddy bear. It’s not always so easy to adopt a child, but through Adop-ted you can support children in orphanages who are waiting for their families.

Each bear is identical (because we were all created equal in God’s eyes) and they wear different styles of clothing according to where they are ‘from’. Bears from China will have different clothes to bears from Chile or India, and the money raised for each bear will go to an orphanage or adoption charity in the place it represents.

Adop-ted is originally aimed at parents with young children who wish to educate their kids about  poverty and parentlessness  in a gentle, loving way. However this is by no means the only group who would be interested; teddy bears cross the boundaries of age, gender, social and cultural backgrounds, and so Adop-ted is open to anyone and everyone.

Depending on the success of the project (whether it remains theory or goes into full scale practice), further development could include disaster relief items representing real objects that are bought for real people.

Check out www.adop-ted.org

Adopteddy is the blog for the Adop-ted project by Masters in Design student, Jenn Hancock