I first met Kathy Niewald at the Best of Missouri festival at the Missouri Botanical Gardens last October. Finding her booth was a great treat for me. I had been looking for someone to convert my late mother’s mink stole into a teddy bear for me. Kathy was the perfect person for the job! She took the stole that no one in the family was going to wear and miraculously turned it into a family heirloom mink teddy bear. Her craftsmanship and materials are excellent. My entire family and I are thrilled with the finished product and I would highly recommend Kathy for your family fur transformation.
Maggie Jackson
St. Louis
I am all about preserving our heritage. So when we were expecting our first granddaughter, I decided to have my late Mom’s fur coat made into a teddy bear. The keepsake that Kathy created was beyond my expectations! Her attention to detail, craftsmanship and creativity were fabulous!!!! This is an heirloom that my granddaughter can enjoy and pass on to future generations.
Nancy Burbach
St. Peters, Mo.
If you ever wanted a special treasure to pass on, the bears made out of furs from your mother or grandmother are extra special. It brought tears to my eyes when I saw the finished product knowing that it was a part of my life being handed down. I’ve had 6 bears made for all the great grandchildren and treasure each one of them. It brings such joy and each one of the bears has its own personality. Kathy does excellent work and is easy to work with along with being very personable.
Thanks again Kathy. Have a great weekend,
Laura Benoist
St. Louis Mo
Dear Kathy,
The teddy bears are darling! I couldn’t be more pleased! I might call you after Christmas and have you make another one out of the scraps. I think you said you could make a smaller one of the brown beaver fur.
Thanks you so much!
Lois Williams
Kathy,
He’s adorable! Can’t wait to present him to our daughter. Thanks you for finishing him before our move to Michigan. I know Mr. Bear will become a family heirloom.
Thanks again,
Joann Hellberg
Kathy,
Just a note to thank you again for the beautiful work you did on my teddies. Every one I’ve shown them to has remarked about how precious they are and I wanted to express my appreciation to you. My fond memories are there for me to look at every day – instead of hanging in a closet!
Thanks a bunch,
Sharyn Lenz
Kathy,
Ruby arrived on Saturday and she is just beautiful! She turned out even better than I imagined. Thanks you so much for preserving a memory that is very precious to me.
Happy Holidays!
Pam Kramer
Dear Kathy,
Each soft bear brought tears of sweet memories of a dear grandmother to the eyes of the recipients. Connie and I are both so appreciative that you could make these little personalities from Mother’s fur coat.
Thank you, take care, and God bless,
Barbara
Thank you Kathy!
In 2005 I saw an article in the Missouri Life magazine about you and your bears. You were exactly what I needed. Since I just visited with you during the Best of Missouri Show at Botanical Gardens, I wanted to again thank you and convey how much the bears mean to all of my family. The important part of the mink coat’s history is that my mother bought in the early 1940s and was very proud of being able to purchase it. It hung in my closet from 1972 to 2005. It was a hard choice to have the coat cut up but I know it would be great gifts for my children and grandchildren. Surprisingly, it was even a greater gift to my husband and me. If not for you, part of my mother’s history would have been lost. You understood my emotions that came with the coat which made the entire process easier. Every time I look at the bears and know that future generations will know her better, I am so thankful I saw the article about you and followed through with having my bear family created! I highly recommend you to everyone!
Sincerely
Chloe Allen
Kathy, He’s adorable! Can’t wait to present him to our daughter. Thank you for finishing him before our move to Michigan. I know Mr. Bear will become a family heirloom. Thanks again.
Joann Hellberg
Dear Kathy, Thank you so much for making the bear out of the hood of my coat and mailing it all back to me. You are very talented and I really enjoyed seeing your work. Enclosed is a check to cover the bear and postage. Thaks again and Happy Dayz.
Carol Lundstrom
Dear Kathy, Each soft bear brought tears of sweet memories of a dear grandmother to the eyes of the recipients. Connie and I are both so appreciative that you could make these little personalities from Mother’s fur coat. Thank you, take care, and God bless.
Barbara
Kathy, Ruby arrived on Saturday and she is just beautiful! She turned out even better than I imagined. Thank you so much for preserving a memory that is very precious to me. Hope your mother is doing better. Happy Holidays!
Pam Kramer
Kathy, Just a note to thank you again for the beautiful work you did on my teddies. Everyone I’ve shown them to has remarked about how precious they are and I wanted to express my appreciation to you. My fond momories are there for me to look at every day – instead of hanging in a closet! Thanks a bunch.
Sharon Lenz
Hello Kathy,
I wanted to reach out to you per your request after meeting you at the Missouri Botanical Gardens for the Best of Missouri Market about a month ago. My mother bought me one of your bears that day (Oct. 8) as it was my birthday. I absolutely fell in love with him if you remember. I was so glad the other lady didn’t end up buying him! Now he is safe and sound in his new home in Germany. You mentioned that you had bears in the UK but not in any other country and asked me to send you a picture once I was back. We live in Munich and the pictures were taken in the city center of Munich in front of the town hall. It’s called the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) because they had to move from the old one into a new one in the late 1800s/early 1900s because the old one was too small. It’s one of my favorite places in Munich because I just love the Gothic architecture and the green bell tower in the center. Thank you again for the beautiful bear. He is so precious to me and sits on my desk at home.
Very Respectfully,
Kristen Walter
Finding Kathy was a wonderful stroke of luck. I have been saving my mom’s mink coat for years with the intention of having it made into a teddy bear for a grandchild someday. Well that day is here. A friend gave me her card and I knew immediately after our phone conversation that she was the person I have been looking for and could trust. Having two daughters proved to be no issue as Kathy produced two, identical twin bears which both girls now have and will be passed down as treasured keepsakes. Kathy’s work and attention to detail are unsurpassed. She also made the fox collar into stoles for the bears which made them even more spectacular. The girls are both thrilled Kathy! Thank you so much.
Jan Gowen
Dear Kathy, thank you for the most incredible teddy bears and for making my dream a reality. My sisters will love them when they get them for Mother’s Day – our first without our Mom. You are so talented and I am thrilled I found you. Forever grateful,
Carde A.