"Robyn Brink is affectionately referred to here in my home as 'my teddy bear lady' (and everyone knows that I am talking of the lady who made my memory bear for me). But, in reality, she is a dear angel who fashioned with love a beautiful memory bear (of my dad's favored red plaid shirt). Sentimentally, the bear serves as a wonderful remembrance of my Dad and how he loved to wear the shirt (that now makes up the adorable bear's body). In terms of skill and workmanship, Robyn paid close and careful attention to every little detail of the bear, checking with me about features such as what eye colour would I like? -- would I like eye glasses on the bear? Buttons on the cuff? And when I mentioned that my Dad was a baseball fan; she even took the time to make up a little baseball cap for the bear! Granted, all little details are these -- but all so meaningful and important to me for my special memory bear! I am grateful to have found Robyn and her Memory Bear site; because not only did I receive the wonderful bear, but also a friendship with a dear lady. Thank you Robyn!"

Hugs
Jan xoxx

Dear Robyn: Thanks so much for making the bears out of my Mother's clothing. I loved the 6 that you made and love it that they are pictured on your website. My Mom had made most of her clothes herself as she was a seamstress so I'm so happy the bears could be made using her clothes. She had made several bears herself for myself and my daughters so this was just so fitting to have bears made from her clothes to remember her by. I was just happy to find someone to do this for me. Thanks again.

Sue B.

Robyn, thank you for doing what you do. The bears are the best. Your attention to detail and dedication really show. Me and my family are so happy to have these memories in honor of my dad. It is nice to have something familiar of his around all the time, it really is a great way to help keep his memory alive. Your hard work is greatly appreciated. I'll be calling for more!!!!

Cara J. - Marlton, NJ

Robyn, Here's a couple of pictures from Christmas of when Sara opened up Ginkie. We wrote a long letter to her from Ginkie and she read that first and then opened the box. She loves him! He's absolutely perfect. She noticed the long eyelashes (like hers) and Ginkie's bathrobe right away. Thank you for taking our well-loved old bathrobe and making it into something Sara will cherish forever.

Debbie M.

What can I say about Robyn's Bears other than they are wonderful! I have two of them and I treasure them very much. When my Dad passed away it hit me very hard. My Sister found out about Robyn and had her make me a bear using some of my Dad's clothing. My Dad was a Minister and he loved to sit in his chair in his PJ's and read. So Robyn made my bear wearing PJ's, Slipper' and a Bible in one hand. When my Sister sent me the bear I was stunned and cried buckets. I just happened to have a cute over stuffed small doll chair so this bear is sitting in it now. It reminds me every day of my Dad sitting in his PJ's reading his Bible.

When my Mom passed away 3 years later I had Robyn make me another bear. This bear is holding a tray of Cinnamon Rolls because my Mom was a cook at the local school and she was known for her Cinnamon Rolls. She would bake them for the Policemen here in town and for the Airmen out at McConnell Air Force Base.

I now have my Mom and Dad Bears sitting together and they make me so happy. It is a nice way to keep some of the clothing that they wore and that I remember so well. I hated to give them away or toss them out and with these Bears I was able to hold on to some of the special items. So if you have someone you want to honor or remember I can't think of a nicer way to do it.

Thanks Robyn for my Beautiful and Special Bears!

Carol D. - Mulvane KS

I lost my husband, Luke, on May 1, 2008. We had been married 36 years. We knew that the end was near, but you are never really prepared for the loss. While at the beach this summer, one of my granddaughters told me about someone who had bears made out some clothes of a deceased relative. I came home that afternoon and immediately got on the computer looking up Memory bears. The first web-site I found was Memory Bears by Robyn. After viewing Robyn's gallery, I wrote telling her about my loss of my husband and our family. Robyn immediately wrote back and told me that she would consider it an honor to do my bears. I explained that Luke had some unique shirts that he had received from his grandson who was in the Secret Service and that he always wore nylon pajamas.

After my communication with Robyn, I was able to open his closet and go through his things. This was going to by my gift to our children and grandchildren for Christmas. I boxed up his shirts, hunting coats, and pajamas and wrote Robyn telling her about each child or grandchild and which item of clothing I wanted a bear made for each child. I also send pictures of our family and Luke so she could get to know my husband. I even found his navy "P" coat in the back of a closet. I asked if a bear could be made out of the coat. One of his daughter had done some research about his Navy days and I wanted her to have this bear. Robyn was able to get 2 bears out of the coat, putting the navy buttons on the bear. She had to have it dry cleaned before working on it. I told her Luke had blue eyes, wore suspenders, glasses and a cap with his clothing. Robyn told me to send his caps and suspenders which I did and she would furnish the glasses. During the summer I would occasionally hear from Robyn to let me know that she had not forgotten about me. I even offer to send some money, but she told me she did not want anything until she had finished the bears and I was pleased.

In the end she made me 26 large bears and 2 small bears. (Lots of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.) I received all my bears the day before Thanksgiving. After drinking a glass of wine, I begin to open my 6 boxes of Memory Bears (no one in my family knew what I had done). After many tears later I boxed them back up and hid them. The bears were wonderful. Robyn was able make each one very special. She cut down his caps and suspenders to fit the bears. The children got his shirts and hunting jackets and the grandchildren and great grandchildren got the pajamas. No one could see them until Christmas morning. There was lots of tears and memories for the ones I got to see opening their bears on Christmas morning. Working with Robyn was a wonderful experience and we have become great friends. I feel this is a wonderful memory for the children and grandchildren. Some of the great grandchildren will not remember him, but with the bears their parents can share stories of what a wonderful father and grandfather Luke was. I thank you Robyn for these wonderful bears. Thankfully I was able to keep 3 bears for my self.

Eddie B. - Havana FL

Hi Robyn,
My name is Jenny and I am Eddie B's daughter (the nosey one) LOL! I just wanted to say thank you for the memory bears and tell you what a wonderful job you did on them. They mean so much to me and my boys, everytime I look at them they remind me of my dad, each one of them brings back some kind of memory with each outfit. We will treasure these bears forever and thank you for all the hard work and love that you put in each bear.

Jenny R.

We love our Daddy Luke Bears -Thank you Robyn
What a wonderful suprise when we arrived at our mom's house for Christmas on Friday night last week. Mom had told me she had contacted you about the Memory bears and she was so excited about them but wanted to keep everything Top Secret! About 10 days before Christmas, I asked her if she had ever received the bears and she said, "No, the lady got sick and I am not going to get them!" I decided not to ask about the bears again! Imagine our surprise when she brought out bags carrying the bears. Each child had their moment to open and admire their bear before the next person opened their bag. We all see Daddy in each bear - we laughed, we cried, and we admired and remembered! Each outfit has a great story and we all would say "remember when he wore this...". Our daughter Ashley, who had just had her precious baby on December 15th, could not stop crying when she saw her camouflaged bear - she went hunting with him on his last hunting trip! Our son Heath, got two bears -- he loved Daddy Luke's red pajamas so he was so excited about his red bear and the one with the Tuff Hedeman rodeo hat (Heath and Daddy Luke watched a lot of rodeo together on t.v.). My husband Pat, who was extremely close to Daddy was very overwhelmed with the bears and he has made sure everyone who has come to our home since we have been back sees all our bears! What a beautiful gift to our famiy -- we are so appreciative of the hard work and love you put into each bear. I have enclosed a few photos for you to see. Again, thank you and have a very Happy New Year.

Nancy W., Perry, GA

Thank you so much for the bear made from my mother's wedding gown. It was a great gift for my sister and a wonderful way to perserve such a meaningful piece of my mother's memory. We will forever treasure the bear and I look forward to future bears !! Thank you for using your talents to help keep memories alive !

Krista

Hi Robyn,
I just wanted to say Thank You for the bear my mom (Kathy North) commissioned for you to make out of my Grandmother's clothes. Losing my Grandmother was the hardest thing I've ever had to go through, and almost two years later I still miss her everyday. It's especially tough now that I'm planning my wedding. I always thought that she would be by my side helping me plan things. I am absolutely amazed at the craftsmanship of the bear, especially how you took my grandmother's dressing robe and made it to fit the bear. It looks like it was always made for the bear! It's been a couple of months since my mom gave it to me, but I'm still in awe everyday on the details. I've placed the bear in my living room cabinet so everyone can see. I love explaining the significance behind the materials (her nightgown that she always wore, and the dressing gown that she owned since I was a baby--rocking me to sleep in--and later wearing every evening before she went to bed) and everyone is moved to tears when they hear the stories behind it. Robyn, I can't thank you enough for the service you provide. I'm so glad that the memories that I have of my grandmother have been made into a tangiable object that I can treasure for the rest of my life. It has become one of my most treasured items, and my fiance' is under strict instructions that should our house ever burn down--that is the item he's to save, after our animals---of course. :-)

Thank You,
Sarah Franzheim