Who is Patches?
When I was pregnant I had the idea to make my child a teddy bear. I grew up playing with hand made toys and stuffed animals from my family. So I felt like it was something I just needed to do, because I remember how wonderful it felt to have that hand made stuffed toy. I didn't know yet if I was having a boy or girl, so I made it to fit both.
It took about six months after my son was born to think of writing the book. My father had just passed away and he always told me how he wanted me to write a children's book. So along came this bright idea. I should write a book about the bear I made for my son. So I started writing. And as I wrote, the stories I was telling were my own. I used the little bugs I played with, and replaced myself with the Patches bear and my son's character. You see, "little Jay Little" is based on my son, Xander Jay. You never see his face in the book, because the book is really about the bear.
There is a part of our far past where stories were handed down from grandparents to grandchildren. Parents to their children. And being as my mother was Native American, I wanted to keep some tradition in my new family. So this book is my past handed down to my child, and someday my grandchildren. And hopefully the real Patches will make it that long.
It took about six months after my son was born to think of writing the book. My father had just passed away and he always told me how he wanted me to write a children's book. So along came this bright idea. I should write a book about the bear I made for my son. So I started writing. And as I wrote, the stories I was telling were my own. I used the little bugs I played with, and replaced myself with the Patches bear and my son's character. You see, "little Jay Little" is based on my son, Xander Jay. You never see his face in the book, because the book is really about the bear.
There is a part of our far past where stories were handed down from grandparents to grandchildren. Parents to their children. And being as my mother was Native American, I wanted to keep some tradition in my new family. So this book is my past handed down to my child, and someday my grandchildren. And hopefully the real Patches will make it that long.
What is Patches Made of?
In all honesty, I made Patches from two old scrub tops. I used to be a CNA, and still had my old tops. So as I thought of how to make a bear I picked out my tan top, a raggedy ann and andy top which was used to make all the patches on Patches, and some buttons off another top. And that is what Patches is made of. Oh, and let's not forget the pillow I cut open to use the stuffing to fill in Patches.