To make her plush toys as environmentally sustainable as possible, Jessica contacted Bears for Humanity, and lovely cooperation resulted. We got down with Jessica to talk about how Curious Little Market came to be, what she hopes to teach her sons and other curious kids, and what it was like to work with Bears for Humanity.
Jessica tells her tales about the strange creatures that live in nature at The Curious Little Market. In nature, I can always find calm, consolation, and stability," said Jessica.
Her frequent forays into the forest with her kids serve as the seed for new tales and characters, which she initially enjoys with her sons before sharing with the rest of the world through Curious Little Market. Her magical animals, like the ethereal EverWilde, inspire children and adults to venture forth and explore with loving hearts and open minds.
Jessica is devoted to sharing and protecting the beauty of the world's natural regions. Curious Little Market plants a tree every time one of her books or plush toys is bought. Since collaborating with Bears for Humanity, Curious Little Market critters are produced using soft organic cotton that is 100% cotton, as opposed to polyester.
Jessica was nurtured by two artists who instilled in her the calming art of using her hands to make things. She experimented with materials like clay, dough, fabrics, and other things under their direction. Jessica admitted that when she was younger, she occasionally found social interaction challenging. She chose to immerse herself in the field of artistic production since it allowed her to express herself visually rather than verbally.
Young adult Jessica continued honing her sculptural techniques and experimented with cake decorating. Even while the hobbies gave her mental peace and a place to reconnect with herself, she still felt as though something was lacking. Cake making was enjoyable, but the finished product lacked "huggability" and was transient. Although sculpture produced a long-lasting work of art, she claimed that something about it was still too "cold."
Jessica finally found the components she was looking for to finish her creative process one day at a sewing class. Jessica achieved the required softness with materials and textiles, and the finished item would be comfortable for a long time. Jessica's first boy was born in 2016, and she immediately started using her inventive sewing talents to produce items he could relate to.
Through her Instagram profile, Jessica's cute animals and the tales behind them gained fame. Jessica made all of her plushies in small quantities, using hand sewing and cutting. After having her second child, Jessica suffered from a diagnosis that made it challenging for her to carry on with the intricate craftsmanship. She also discovered that she needed a technique for keeping up with the escalating demand. Jessica started collaborating with a producer to generate more oversized orders of her animals. This worked for a while, but Jessica started to wonder if her produced stuffed creatures were harming the environment.
In actuality, many of these things are made in methods that injure our planet's inhabitants and destroy them. There are frequently few environmental or ethical regulations required of polyester producers in nations like China. Although it has been established that polyester goods are dangerous to the workers who make them and the consumers, they are still in use.
Jessica started to doubt if carrying on with the plushies was the correct course of action. She didn't want her line to unintentionally hurt the environment because it was intended to promote amazement and the preservation of nature. She happened to discover Bears for Humanity's bespoke production around this period. She was thrilled to discover a reliable manufacturer of 100% certified organic cotton products that adhered to the same principles. BfH creator Vijay said, "This is a method for you to keep doing what you enjoy while keeping your soul intact."
BfH assisted Jessica in selecting the ideal organic cotton textiles to reflect her distinctive animals. The stuffed animals from Curious Little Market are designed to be snuggled, taken on journeys, and used as a guide for kids exploring their environment. Now Jessica can relax knowing that even the most sensitive youngster may enjoy her organic stuffed animals, and there won't be any long-term environmental effects due to their creation.
In a way, Jessica said, "I feel that Vijay and Bears for Humanity saved Curious Little Market and also myself, because if I had lost (Curious Little Market)... I would have been shattered.
Since Jessica's cherished plush toys are now created from only organic cotton, she is developing new narratives and characters. She will publish her third book this year, and we can't wait to see which new characters will be added to her charming collection of plushies. Jessica and Curious Little Market are working hard to teach kids about the natural world and protect it for future generations.
How do you tell if the plush toy your toddler is holding is secure? What to stay away from is listed below.
1) Fewer rules were in place when toys were created in the past that are now (safety standards for chemical use are more restrictive now). They are probably filled with toxic metals (antimony has been discovered in the eye beads of older plush animals), or they might even contain prohibited flame retardants that are no longer permitted owing to their ties to cancer.
2) Eco-friendly statements might be deceptive. Animals that have been "bio-stuffed" or manufactured from maize are frequently not organic and may include pesticide traces.
Organic cotton stuffed animals that are filled with synthetic polyester stuffing are common. Consequently, the plastic and microplastic fibers inside your child's organic stuffed animal are inhaled by them.
3) China-made toys raise questions about quality control. Heavy metals like lead and hazardous flame-retardant chemicals may be present in them.
4) During the production process, synthetic fibers are frequently treated. The dangerous substances touch your child's skin and swiftly penetrate the bloodstream. Cancer and hormone imbalance are directly linked to synthetic fibers.
Additionally, synthetic fibers shed tiny pieces of plastic that contaminate the world by settling in our dust, our streams, and our lungs.
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When someone loses a loved one, the pain can be overwhelming. You must know how to comfort yourself and others during times of grief. A teddy bear can be an excellent source of comfort during these difficult times. In some cases, giving a teddy bear as a gift or taking one home after having lost someone close will help ease your suffering while also helping others through theirs.
The Teddy Bear is made with soft, gentle materials on the skin. You can hold it in your arms or cuddle up against its body while reading a book or listening to music on your phone.
The Teddy Bear has eyes that gently look back at you as if they are watching over everything you do throughout each day; this helps remind us of our loved ones who have passed away and gives us comfort knowing they are still watching over us even though we cannot see them anymore physically (but still spiritually).
The power of a teddy bear is that it can help children express their feelings. Children often use teddy bears to express their feelings, whether happy, sad or angry.
The best part about this tool is that it's available to everyone—you don't need any special equipment or devices for its use! You only need an old teddy bear and some tissue paper (or even your hands).
There are many ways to use a teddy bear during times of grief. You can place it in your child's room or give it as a gift to someone who has lost a loved one. Teddy bears have been used in therapy for children, adults, and pets!
Teddy bears are often seen as symbols of love and friendship; they hold so much meaning to us because they reminded us of our parents when we were young; they remind us that someone cares about us no matter what happens in life; they give us comfort when we need it most (not just physically but emotionally too).
Grief is a natural part of life. You'll feel it many times in your life and have to come to terms with it repeatedly. You must know how to cope with grief so that you can help others manage as well.
You might want to give a recordable teddy bear as a gift for someone who has lost someone close or who misses them. A recordable teddy bear will let them remember their loved ones by putting their memories on the bear's face!
A recordable teddy bear can also be used by grandparents or other family members when they need support during times like these. They might even share their memories through these recordings!
Recordable stuffed animals are a comforting way for children to express their feelings of grief. Recording a message on the bear's body or stuffing it with letters and numbers can help them say what they're feeling and give that message to their family members or caregivers when they need it most.
It's also great for kids who have lost loved ones in car accidents, fires or other tragedies—they can keep their loved ones close by recording an audio message on the stuffed animal itself!
Recordable stuffed animals are helpful for children because they allow them to record their stories using markers or stickers on the stuffed animal's body. These toys also make excellent presents since their inexpensive and easy-to-find online stores such as amazon offer discounts on these products during certain times of the year, such as the Christmas season!
If you find yourself in a time of grief, a teddy bear can help. A stuffed animal provides comfort and safety, giving you an outlet for your emotions. It also gives you something tangible to hold onto as you grieve the loss of your loved one.
If they're made from soft fabric like fleece or cotton, these bears will feel smooth against your skin—and because they're stuffed with stuffing rather than hard plastic or metal parts (like most toys), they won't feel cold when pressed up against them. This makes them ideal for comforting yourself when it may be difficult for others around you to understand how much someone has lost through death—but sometimes, just having something warm there would make all the difference!
The physical contact of hugging or holding onto a teddy bear can help you feel more connected to your loved one, which may be helpful if they are no longer alive.
Hugging an animal also allows you to express yourself through touch, which can be healing for both yourself and the person who died.
It can be challenging to cope with the pain when you lose someone to death, loss or grief. Losing a loved one can leave you feeling alone and empty inside.
Most children who lost a parent or sibling to death or grief turn to their teddy bears for comfort. In fact, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), more than half (60%) of all children have lost someone close in their lives before the age of 18 years old!
The power of a teddy bear is something that everyone can relate to regardless if they've experienced heartbreak themselves or not—and yet they continue with life despite having suffered through such tragedy; this is because there exists something within us all that makes us want nothing more than happiness after experiencing sadness over something so devastating as losing someone important.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a teddy bear can be a great comfort to those who have lost someone. It is also an effective way for children to express their grief and sadness healthily. In addition, many say that being hugged by an old friend brings them back to life after feeling so severely during the initial shock of loss.
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The best part about having a child is that you get to see them grow up. It can be beneficial to look back on the first few years of their existence and consider how far they've gone as they get older and start comprehending more about life. Playing with stuffed animals can help parents encourage their children to learn new things and reinforce what they already know because young children are highly impressionable. We've compiled this list of ten activities to help teach your kid about all sorts of subjects while playing with their teddies!
10 Teddy Bear Activities to Help Your Child to Learn:
Stuffed animals are great for teaching children about emotions. They can be used as props in a play, puppet show, or as pawns in chess or checkers. If your child enjoys playing with stuffed animals, this is the perfect way to get them excited about learning new things!
Have your child make up a song or play a popular tune and see if they can recognize it and sing along. You can use Recordable stuffed animals to make this game more fun.
Try out this fun game to help your youngster learn to listen and follow instructions. By the end of the exercise, you should have several simultaneous renditions of each language being sung!
You can use stuffed animals to remember past events. For example, if your child has a favorite stuffed animal they used to play with when they were little, you can use it as a reminder of those days. Share memories with your child and other family members by telling stories about when they played together as kids. You could also share stories with friends who were also children at that age so they could see how much fun it was back then!
Pillow fights are a great way for your child to learn about physical contact. They can use pillows as weapons, shields, cushions, and props. By hiding under the covers, you can use them as obstacles or distractions!
Have your child choose a stuffed animal, then sit on the floor with them as you sing, dance, and read goodnight stories to them.
Use the stuffed animal as a prop during your puppet show!
Your child can be the puppet master who performs all their favorite characters in this engaging activity. This will help them learn about cause-and-effect relationships and complete tasks by following directions.
Your child can help play the game, or you can use them as a reward for winning the game. When using stuffed animals as pawns, ensure that they are large enough to be easily seen by your child and have visible eyes if possible (this will help them feel like they are playing). Place the opponent's piece on one side of the board and the animal on the other. Have each player choose two pieces; this will help keep things fair! If your child wins a round, give them some attention with an animal hug or treat before moving on to another game, so they don't feel bad about losing overall!
Hosting a Teddy Bear Tea Party or Picnic is an excellent way to help your child learn about the world around them. You can invite friends and family for a fun afternoon of learning, playing games, and eating delicious snacks.
Set up a picnic table or blanket in your living room with several stuffed animals on it (or have them sit on the floor).
Serve tea or coffee as well as a cake if you want! If you don't have any cakes, try buying some at the supermarket beforehand.
You'll need a variety of teddy bears - There are many kinds with different personalities, so be sure not to get one that looks like someone else's pet! Make sure everyone has their toy too!
If your youngster like stuffed animals, they can be used to make a circus. All that is needed are some stuffed animals and a little imagination! You can use the same method as above to create your circus but this time, instead of just holding one stuffed animal up in the air, place all of them on top of each other so that they form a pyramid shape with no gaps between them.
The next step is for you both to take turns balancing these layers on top of each other and then standing back from where they're standing so you can watch as an act begins (either real or imaginary).
For example, use stuffed animals as pawns in chess or checkers. (Use your imagination!)
Host a teddy bear tea party with all your friends, family members, neighbors, etc., where each guest brings their favorite or most special stuffed animal friend to sit on your lap during tea time! You can also invite grandparents who live far away to send you pictures of their grandchildren so they can meet yours too!
This is a great list of fun, educational activities involving stuffed animals.
Children love to play with stuffed animals, which are one of the most common toys available. They can be used as props in many ways and are easy to find at any store selling toys for kids. The best part about these characters is that they help children learn new things about themselves and their environment through playtime!
A stuffed animal hospital is fun to teach your child about medicine, safety, and patient care. You can get started by following these steps:
Make sure you have all the materials needed to set up this game. This includes bandages, gauze pads, and tape; scissors; soap or liquid hand sanitizer, gauze pads that match the size of the bandages; cotton balls or baby wipes for cleaning up blood spills; water-based markers for drawing on patients' faces with applications over them; thermometers, so each patient has one.
Have each player sit in a chair at one end of your living room space. Give each player a set number of points worth 0-100, depending on how much money they've made during their career as doctors--or if they're starting at being doctors!
Conclusion
Here are some fantastic things you can do with your kid, their favorite stuffed animals (and yours), and any visiting friends and family. These activities will help teach them all sorts of skills, from coping with loss to practicing empathy. They'll also be good for your relationship, especially if you take turns playing different roles like doctor or patient!
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Children frequently visit shops that offer cuddly animals with recorded messages. When you consider the price of the animal, the implanted device with the prerecorded message, clothes, and other items that children are encouraged to buy, the expense of these pricy plush animals may add quickly.
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Organic Stuffed Animals for Curious Little Minds
By: Garry Beauregard
How Teddy Bear Can Help During Times Of Grief
By: Garry Beauregard
10 Teddy Bear Activities to Help Your Child to Learn
By: Garry Beauregard