Extra long weekend, extra 25% off

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-Save 25% on your total order with code: MEMORIAL-

Now is a great time to place your order for a custom keepsake made entirely from your clothes. Check out our award-winning patchwork bears, memory quilts, tote bags and new patchwork puppies! Perfect for baby clothes, graduation gifts, sports/dance teams, or from a loved one’s clothing who has passed away.

Don’t trust anyone else to cut your clothing- we have been making keepsakes from clothes for over 12 years and know how special your clothes are. Each piece we make is stabilized, hand-cut and machine-sewn by our talented team of designers in our Princeton, NJ studio. Check out how we make our memory bears here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Huwo_ifNc8

Offer expires 5/31/2016. Use code MEMORIAL at checkout for 25% off your total order. Valid on all our products including memory clothes bears & quilts.

Photo credit: Kendra Krishnan Photography

Happy New Year

Now that the holiday rush is over, we have some time to reflect on what has been an exciting 2015 for The Patchwork Bear and share what to look forward to in 2016.

WE MOVED!    The biggest news of 2015 was our move into a charming (read: small), light-filled sewing studio in downtown Princeton, New Jersey! We are located on the second floor of 162 Nassau Street, across from Princeton University. I LOVE my one-block life…in one small town block I have my studio, our UPS Store (that receives & keeps all incoming packages safe and dry), and my son’s school. An added bonus being so close to school: moms/friends that helped with orders during the holiday season and having my son hang out at the studio with me after school.

we moved 2015

NEW DESIGNS!       We have so many exciting things planned for 2016. Watch for new designs including fun new animals to add to our beloved bear collection. Puppies? Monkeys? Hedgehogs? Stay tuned. We will also add fresh new quilt designs to our selection of memory clothes quilts.

MORE UPLOADS:       Our One-of-a-Kind Uploads have been hugely successful, often selling out within hours of posting. We will offer more regular uploads with original, handmade products- including upcycled Matilda Jane Clothing pieces. These are so fun to make- let us know what you would like to see. Maybe it will show up in the next upload!

SEWING CLASSES:      Beginning February 1st, we will offer children’s sewing classes after school. I am so excited to share my love of design and sewing with the kids and can’t wait to come up with projects for them to learn different techniques each week.

Our memory clothes bears have become our best selling item and we are humbled that you place your trust in us to create a memory bear from your treasured clothing. We love to see your babies’ clothes, teenagers sports jerseys, wedding dresses, military uniforms and family heirlooms. Thank you for letting us be a small part of your families’ memories. The ones that touch our hearts the most are clothes from your loved one who has passed away, especially young children. We recognize the sentimental value of clothing and the part our bears can play in helping through the grieving process. We have found two amazing organizations to partner with as a small way to give back to our community.

GIVING BACK:     Through our memory bears, we have focused our giving efforts with two organizations that offer grief support. The Luca John Foundation (founded by our own Nickie Baranowski and her husband, Kevin) offers bereavement support for families that are suffering the loss of an infant or toddler. In the works: a partnership with an incredible local organization: Good Grief. They provide support to children, teens, and young adults after the death of a mom, dad, brother, or sister. We hope that our memory bears give a little comfort and love to those that receive them.

Whew. That’s all for now. Thank you for an incredible 2015 and we look forward to sharing more with you in 2016!

~ Jennifer Cura

 

Holiday Must Haves

With the holiday season upon us you are probably thinking about gifts for everyone on your list, here are a few of our faves this year to help get you started.

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  1. Memory Bear: The perfect gift for the young and old on your list, have a bear made from old baby clothes or from the clothes of a loved one who has recently passed. (For holiday delivery we must have clothes in the studio by December 4).
  2. DIY Gifts in a Jar: I love gifts in mason jars, for an easy gift fill with homemade cookies or cookie mix. For more mason jar gift ideas check out our Pinterest board here.
  3. Subscription Boxes: Get your loved one the gift that keeps on giving, subscription boxes or magazine subscriptions are something that people may not normally splurge on making them the perfect gift.
  4. Small Monogrammed Goods: Monogramming something instantly makes it personal, and who doesn’t love monogrammed accessories?! We love this cute little monogrammed zip pouch from Gigi New York.
  5. Pay it Forward: One of my favorite gifts to receive is a donation to my favorite charity. Your friend or family member have a favorite charity? In lieu of a gift consider making a donation in their honor.

Gift Ideas for Someone Who has Everything

*guest post from our friends Flatterbox

Do you have a loved one that seems to have everything? You want to get them a gift that really shows you care, but you have no idea where to start. These are some of our favorite gift ideas from the heart that are perfect for the gift recipient that seems to have everything:

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  1. Flatterbox: A Flatterbox is a box filled with sentiments from loved ones. This is perfect for a milestone birthday or anniversary, collect all the emails for the recipient’s friends and family members and get started. The Flatterbox system will take care of emailing everyone and collecting their responses, the finished product is sure to be cherished for years to come.
  2. Memory Bear: A bear made from clothes of a loved one that has passed is the perfect sentimental gift, for a new parent clothes from baby’s first year is another great gift idea.
  3. Donation: Make a donation in their name to a charity they support.
  4. Membership: Get them something they might not usually get for themselves, whether that is a magazine subscription, subscription to Netflix or yearly membership to a place they love.
  5. Experience: Gift them an experience rather than a physical gift, if they love to cook gift them a cooking class. If they don’t take enough time for themselves consider a spa day or massage.

What are some of your favorite gifts to give to someone who has everything?

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Flatterbox is a box full of kind remarks, compliments or even words of advise for a special person or people in your life.  An amazing gift for any occasion.

Q & A with Wedding Planner Lisa Stoner

Photo Credit: Abby Di-Domenico with Liga Photography

Photo Credit: Abby Di-Domenico with Liga Photography

June is one of the most popular months to get married so this month we are highlighting weddings and our wedding dress quilts and bears. Recently we sat down with one of our favorite wedding planners, Lisa Stoner of E-Events by Lisa Stoner and asked her to dish some advice for brides. Lisa, a native New Yorker, is a sought after event stylist who has been featured in BRIDES, The Knot and more.

1. What is the #1 piece of advice you give all brides?
To plan and design with a strong sense of self and family.  The most memorable weddings are the authentic weddings. If it reflects the couple and the families’ style and sensibilities, it all makes great sense in the end.  If it all properly tells your story, then you’ve made it perfect.
2. What is the first thing brides should tackle during the planning process?
At the risk of sounding cliché, I have to say hiring a wedding planner. Planners can leverage their network of resources to best serve the couple as well as narrow down the search for the perfect venue, photographer, floral designer, etc.  Our knowledge and experience with all variables that go along with the planning and designing process can also garner concessions on our clients’ behalf.
3. What are some of your favorite ways to make a wedding unique?
As much as I love a tastefully designed wedding environment, I always emphasize the power of “gestures” during the wedding weekend. Floral centerpieces and great lighting will make any space look great, but it’s how you make your guests feel at the end of your wedding weekend or evening that makes a lasting impressions.  It’s how you take care of them as a host and hostess at the biggest party of your life that counts!
4. What are some easy ways to personalize a wedding?
Photo Credit: Abby DiDomenico with Liga Photography

Photo Credit: Abby DiDomenico with Liga Photography

Is there a favorite recipe of Grandma’s that you love? Share it with your catering team to have it emulated. If your parents still have their toasting glasses from their wedding, consider using them. What is yours and your fiancé’s favorite indulgent food? Roll that out in the last hour of your reception when the party is really in full force! I’ve had pizza delivery on the dance floor and, as they say, the crowd went wild! *wink
5. Are there any details that brides often overlook?
Brides are busier than ever these days, advancing their careers and nurturing their relationship with their fiancé. I think that once they secure the essentials like the venue, photographer, floral, music, etc. they forget some fun and important details like lighting, wedding stationery [ceremony programs, escort cards, menu cards] a fun getaway, and though not the glamorous part of planning, but what does post-event look like? Who takes the gifts, cards, personal effects such as a cake server set, champagne glasses, any framed photos? Not to worry, we cover this with our clients 30 days before the wedding in our final details meeting!
6. Do you have a favorite current wedding trend?
I try to be very careful and selective with the word “trend” when applying it to a wedding.  Certainly, we all try to be “on trend” in various aspects of our lives such as fashion, home design and even with food. My approach to planning and design is the use of some modern trends to a classic wedding elements. That being said, I adore whimsical drink stirrers, charging stations, and the use of hashtags to “brand” your wedding. Social media is the new branding platform for personal, business and weddings!
7. What are some fun ways you can use your wedding dress after the big day?
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 Well, Patchwork Bear clearly creates these incredible keepsakes that make for the perfect legacy. I have also seen my couples use the dress for a bassinet lining, Christening dress, or fabric for a Chuppah for weddings that follow in the family.  I have also displayed a mother of the bride’s dress on a classic dress form at a client’s wedding, along with accompanying photos on a nearby table.  This had guests favorably talking!
Don’t forget to order your wedding dress quilt, bear or christening gown this month with code WEDDINGS to get 20% off. For more great tips from Lisa check out her blog here.

Multi-Generational Memory Bear

Wanted to share a bear we just shipped with you, the sweetest birthday gift for baby’s first birthday. Such a great idea I wish I had thought of it myself!

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This bear is made from baby’s favorite pieces of clothing from mom, dad, grandparents and great-grandparents! So fun and such a special family keepsake.

Love from Kyra Phillips

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“My twins LOVE their Patchwork Bears! When they were 1, they loved to cuddle with them because of all the colors and special pictures. Now, at the age of 4, they are conversation pieces! Jen created the bears with all the memorable parts of clothing that I saved so each patch of the bear has a story! The kids love to listen and then tell others what their bears represent. For me, it’s history and moments in time that I never want to forget. Our patchwork bears our timeless treasures for all of us!”

Kyra Phillips

Anchor/Correspondent
CNN Documentary/Investigative
@cnnkyra