Rescued Bears

Rescued Bears We make unique items of clothing using dead stock fabrics and materials upcycled from clothing or linens. Learn more and adopt a new friend via our Etsy page!

Rescued Bears began with a mission to reuse and recycle abandoned plush toys. It has since developed into an adoption agency for stuffed animals. Each rescued bear (or friend) comes with a hand-knit sweater or scarf, a pair of overalls, or a hand sewn bow tie, a unique biography, and Rescued Bears postcards. Before leaving for their (new) furever homes, each friend undergoes a vigorous sterilizati

on process to ensure they meet our hygiene standards. Rescued Bears is committed to environmental sustainability, and all of our clothing and accessories are made of recycled materials.

Very proud of him. No garments to show today. Just a photo of our son-in-law on stage in Prague. is the lead guitaris...
06/05/2026

Very proud of him.

No garments to show today. Just a photo of our son-in-law on stage in Prague. is the lead guitarist touring with as they rock through Europe.

Mmmmm— he would look great in one of our shirts.

I bought a mystery bagThe bag contained a torn tea towel, a weird runner thingy with embroidered flowers, a panel with a...
06/03/2026

I bought a mystery bag

The bag contained a torn tea towel, a weird runner thingy with embroidered flowers, a panel with an embroidery transfer and a tote bag with a broken handle.

Everything was “almost” garbage but I like a challenge so I made this jacket. The jacket body is linen, the sleeves are cotton and the pockets are ???

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$9.99 local. $4.99 MexicoI asked Adam, my hair stylist, because we talk about important things — $9.99 for our June stra...
06/01/2026

$9.99 local. $4.99 Mexico

I asked Adam, my hair stylist, because we talk about important things — $9.99 for our June strawberries or $4.99 Driscoll brand from Mexico?

$9.99 of course! You don’t wait all year for an Ontario strawberry and then gripe about the price.

Adam, a boy after my own heart.

Pop-over top covered in the fruits and vegetables of Ontario. Does it get any better?

Now

05/29/2026

Today I turned 73 years old.

It was 56 years ago in June 1970 that I wore a halter top and went down to the CNE grounds to see Janis Joplin perform. There was something vague and vulnerable about her performance but it was powerful and my 17 year old self thought she was great.

Halter tops made of linen or cotton available now.

Little Red Cap (as in 1812 edition of Grimm’s)Over the decades Grimm’s tales were revised to make them less terrifying. ...
05/25/2026

Little Red Cap (as in 1812 edition of Grimm’s)

Over the decades Grimm’s tales were revised to make them less terrifying. A cautionary story to warn children of strangers sure but one where a wolf eats your grandmother? and a man eviscerates the wolf? takes it into horror story territory. Even the cat looks menacing.

And yet Little Red Riding Hood has endured for 200+ years and children love it.

Shirt is made of linen/cotton with h**p sleeves and collar.

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When I was an Event ProducerAlways on the look out for interesting venues to make corporate meetings less boring, I fou...
05/24/2026

When I was an Event Producer

Always on the look out for interesting venues to make corporate meetings less boring, I found myself on a tour of the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

It was definitely not on my list of venues but the sales manager for Ottawa Tourism convinced me to take a look because a dinner could be set up among an exhibit of military tanks.

The stunning building (designed by Moriyami & Teshima) not only documents Canadian military history but is a place of remembrance.

Reading the personal stories about the brutality of war, seeing the mighty airplanes and comprehending the skill and bravery of the pilots by the time I stood in Regeneration Hall I was in tears.

The back of this shirt shows “Famous Aircraft of the RAF” printed on linen. The rest of the shirt is made of vintage cotton.

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Shakespeare — 400+ years and countingI was a pre- teen when I first heard a young William Hutt recite words from Hamlet....
05/22/2026

Shakespeare — 400+ years and counting

I was a pre- teen when I first heard a young William Hutt recite words from Hamlet. William Hutt — the brilliant Shakespearean actor, considered a foundational icon in Canadian theatre — uttered lines from Hamlet and I have loved Shakespeare ever since.

I was a Girl Guide and they held their meetings in the basement of this church where the pastor, Father Hutt older brother of William, would regularly pop down to visit the girl guides to say hello.

One day he brought William who was visiting from Stratford. One of the girl guides said “In England?” and William said here in Ontario and I am Hamlet in a play there.

“To Thy Own Self be True” spoken by Polonius in Act 1, Scene 3 of Hamlet.

Shirt made of cotton fabric food sacks from and soon

Everything already existed It is possible to make a new garment out of things that already exist — it takes a bit of rum...
05/20/2026

Everything already existed

It is possible to make a new garment out of things that already exist — it takes a bit of rummaging, a bit of laundry and a good iron.

The back of shirt is made with a fabric food sack which contained wheat starch and after the first wash it literally stood up by itself. 🤣

Shirt is made with the food sack and 3 tote bags- all from fabulous places. Viola Yarns, Wyndham Art Supplies and the Guelph Arboretum.

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yarns

Is there anyone who doesn’t love Peter Rabbit? If you are out there I don’t want to meet you. As a young child I rememb...
05/19/2026

Is there anyone who doesn’t love Peter Rabbit?

If you are out there I don’t want to meet you.

As a young child I remember looking carefully at the illustrations in my Peter Rabbit book and moving my finger under all the words.

Fast forward to seeing my daughter, who had a habit of putting part of her hand in her mouth, looking carefully at those same illustrations** but since her hand was in her mouth she just used her eyes to read the words. ❤️❤️

A Peter Rabbit tale and top for a summer day.

**Not the same Peter Rabbit book but I wish it was.

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Hoarder or Saviour?It’s an interesting thought - when does saving turn into hoarding? I don’t care! But I am happy I had...
05/18/2026

Hoarder or Saviour?

It’s an interesting thought - when does saving turn into hoarding?

I don’t care!

But I am happy I had a bunch of miscellany in my stash!

Shirt is made from 3 cotton canvas tote bags, a pillow case with baseball embroidery and a remnant from a cotton food bag stamped with its port of entry at Vancouver,BC.

Oh yeah.

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Toronto, ON

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