Faux Fur for a Good Cause
Faux fur is on our minds; animals are in our hearts. We’re conscientious environmental stewards as well and share the story of a lovely Morning Sun, Ohio woman who transforms our faux fur scraps to healing comfort. It began six years ago when Barbara Westendorf was diagnosed with uterine cancer. After surgery, a friend gifted her with a small stuffed bear—appropriate given her love for fiber arts.
In her own words, Barbara recalls, “During this time, I found great comfort in my new little friend.” Hidden in a handbag or tote, ‘Hudy the bear’ accompanied Barbara to every oncologist and radiation appointment. “This is how my comfort/prayer bears began,” she explains.
As her recovery advanced, Barbara began designing bears. Each is unique, 12” to 14” in length, has a name and comes with this message: "I am a little bear and I have been stitched with love and stuffed with prayers. So, whenever you need strength or even just a smile, hold me in your arms and feel the love."
Though Barbara claims to have little artistic talent, her bears say otherwise. Barbara laughs when I point out that assembling a toy by hand is far more difficult than with a sewing machine. “My sewing skills are limited, but I am learning,” she confirms.
Making bears from our fur scraps is Barbara’s individual initiative, with no formal structure. “My goal is to help people in need of comfort. People just find me,” she explains. The time it takes to make a bear varies, Barbara says, “but I can usually complete one in a week. My bears seem to give immediate comfort and the recipient can’t quit touching and stroking the fur. I have witnessed firsthand the power these bears have on healing.”
Bears are just one of Barbara’s voluntary creative endeavors. During Covid, she delighted the ladies in a local nursing home with ‘fur sleeves’ she created from Fabulous-Furs scraps. Extending from wrist to elbow, Barbara’s creations warmed cold hands caused by poor circulation, while providing tactile comfort. Ever the artist, she made them glamorous and fun with pearl and rhinestone embellishment.
Barbara’s largesse has no bounds and her joy in spreading healing comfort and warmth, along with gratitude for six cancer-free years, is contagious. With an endless supply of faux fur scraps, Barbara has added sewing friends to her network to make not just fur bears and sleeves, but patchwork fur lap blankets and muffs. It’s a fabulous win-win-win.
