This bear is dedicated to Richard Leland, his mom, Gail, and his brothers.  Gail founded the Tucson chapter of Parents of Murdered Children after Richard, her 14-year-old son, disappeared from her home in 1982. 

This Angel Bear design was created for parents of murdered children and other survivors of homicide victims to honor their grief for their loved ones.

I would ask you, if you take these instructions for your own use, to occasionally donate your efforts during the YWCA Week without Violence kick off in your town, to creating these and selling them and donating the proceeds to Survivors of Homicide in your town.

They're beautifully presented mounted on sticks, and writing the name of the murdered loved one on the belly of the bear is a treasured gift.  I write "Your love matters!" on each one.

If you can't bear the pain or if you don't have the time, you could make them up ahead of time and call your local chapter of Survivors of Homicide and present them for them to take.

If you want to make up a bunch ahead of time, squirt a little "Super Hi-Float" in the balloons and wipe them down with "Balloon Shine."

 




Here's how the Angel Bear is created



 

Inflate a white160Q, leaving about 3 1/2 inches uninflated, and tie it. 

If you want your bear to have a fat little nose, tie the balloon closer to the rolled end. Inflate that tiny section after you tie it closed, and whump!  You'll have a fat, round nose!

 
Then, twist these bubbles in this order:

Head:

 3/4" (nose)
 1" (back of head)
 1" to 1 ½ “ (right cheek)
 3/4" to 1" (right ear)
 1 to 1 ½" (forehead)
 3/4" to 1" (left ear)
 1" to 1 ½" (left cheek) 
And lock the cheeks together at the bottom. 

You should have five bubbles locked together like this:
Run the nose through the center of the five bubbles and then pinch twist the ears to hold it in place. 

Adjust the ears, wipe the nose.
Arms, legs, back and bunchy belly:

Then, twist these bubbles in this order.

 1 ½” to 1 3/4" (right arm)
 1 ½" to 1 3/4" (right leg)
 3" (back) 
Twist top of back to base of neck
 and then continue with these bubbles in this order: 
 1 ½" to 1 3/4" (left arm)
 1 ½" to 1 3/4" (left leg)
Thread the uninflated end through the triangle comprised of the right arm, right leg and back 
and then snap the bottom of the left leg into place making a little bare, I mean, bear butt.

The long uninflated appendage will become his fat tummy and his wings.
 
Fat tummy:

 Turn the balloon a bit (while spreading the legs at the butt end) so that the natural curve of the balloon is fat-tummy like.  Then, make a 3" bubble and snap the top of the tummy into the left side of his neck.   Straighten his arms and legs around his fat tummy.
Now you have a long appendage for his angel wings. 
Wings:

Take the little uninflated nub and wrap it around his neck a few times. 

Find the half-way point of the loop and bring the center of the loop to the center of the bear’s back and twist.  I twist one wing forward and the other wing backward. 
Then, straighten the wings behind the back of his head. Spread the loops in the wings a bit with your fingers and he’s ready for his tag.
View from top of bear, shows back of head (upside down) and wings centered over back-of-head bubble.

View from upper right side of bear

Completed bear from front
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heart Tag for Ear
 
 
 
 

Here's a tray of the materials you need:
Fine gold wire
Tiny glass hearts
Tiny "crystal" beads
Tiny, tiny brass "clamps"
Thread a 3" piece of wire through a crystal bead
Pull the two loose ends of the wire together and thread them bottom to top through a heart, pulling the heart to the bottom at the crystal.
Place tiny brass clamp at open ends of wire and crimp with a pair of needle nose pliers.
Trim excess wire so end is smooth.
Wrap wire around bear's ear.
Kiss bear and mount bear on stick (or don't... up to you, but the kiss is important)