Pin Bear

My Pin Bear

That is what I call a stuffed teddy bear I dressed with one of my daughter's infant tops. I then attached the pins as I collected them. I got the idea from my cousin. She had a peg board in her kitchen with buttons pinned. Her buttons are from places she has been and causes she supported.

I found out early on that places you visit have a variety of pins for purchase commemorating your visit. At about $3-$5 each it was an inexpensive hobby. They could be easily be slipped into my purse. They were more convenient than the souvenir music boxes I previously collected. The tiny blouse is covered with pins and buttons. I put a bandana from a company picnic around his forehead. There are beads from the New Orleans Hotel and a couple of medals I was awarded around his neck. He sits in a basket a friend gave me after my first mastectomy surgery.

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I looked at the various pins and buttons today. I am not a world traveler, but I have been to 49 of 50 states. (Alaska). Some of the pins are the San Diego Zoo, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone Park, and Red Rock Park. Pins from the walk-a-thons most notably for the March of Dimes and my Girl Scout and Toastmasters member pins. Aloha from Hawaii, Virginia is for Lovers, Avon Lady. The Smithsonian, Disney World, Chicago, New York City, San Francisco Giants, Santa Barbara, and Santa Anita racetrack. That was the first day I saw thoroughbreds race. The list goes on.

I am happy to display the pins. I just carry the basket to my desk and revisit places I have been. They spark many of my most precious memories. I noticed the blouse was in dire need of cleaning. I removed every pin, button, and the beads and awards around his neck tonight. For fun, I listed each thing pinned on the pin bear.

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Complete List (83):

4 Aces Las Vegas
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Airline pilot wings
Aloha
American Express (Hot air balloon)
American Express Volunteer
American flag (3)
Angel (7)
Atlanta Coca Cola (shaped state of Georgia)
Avon
bare feet at the beach
Bobcat Cub Scout pin
Boothill
Brownie and Girl Scout pins
California OES reaching for the stars in 97
CHICAGO My Kind of Town
Cinderella’s Castle-Disneyworld Florida
Circle Pin with blue crystal
Cold Spring Tavern Santa Barbara
Delta Airlines pilot wings
Desert National Wildlife Refuge
DIAMONDBACKS Opening Day April 4, 2005
Eisenhower Home, Abilene, KS
Elephant
EPCOT
Ft McHenry, Baltimore, MD, 1814
Fun & Sun California Santa Barbara The Golden State (license plate)
Gingerbread man
Gold bar with five masonic emblems
Gold daisy
Goofy’s character buffet Disneyland Hotel
Happy Anniversary 7 years
Hard Rock Café Memphis
I HOT AIR BALLOONS
I am loved
I am the heart of the TSC
I heart AZ
I heart Glendale
I’ve been to Graceland
Idaho
Indiana Jones the temple of the evil eye
Jerome, Arizona
Johnson 51
Just Another Avon Lady button
Las Vegas Hockey Thunder 1993-1994
Lifesaver
Manilow
March of dimes Walk America I did it!
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Mushroom with turquoise stones
Myrtle Beach
NASA (Kennedy Space Center, Florida)
Neil Diamond Tennessee Moon Tour button
New York City (large apple)
OES 25 year member
OK Corral Tombstone Arizona
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Pink ribbon (3 breast cancer awareness)
PISMO BEACH
POLA casino spa Resort
Prospector
Red apple (New York City)
Red ribbon (3 heart awareness)
Red Rock Canyon Las Vegas MV
Rock Café Save the Planet
Route 66
San Diego Zoo
San Francisco Giants (baseball)
Santa Anita Park Where Champions Meet
SEA WORLD
Second Place Y-4 Evaluation Contest
Shamrock
Silent Heroes of the Cold War National Memorial
Solvang Danish Capitol of America
Star volunteer pin
Sue The Field House
Together the possibilities are Endless-Christopher Reeve paralysis foundation
Tortilla Flat AZ population 6
United Way
We Appreciate U
Welcome in 5 languages with American Express green card
Wildlife World Zoo
Zion National Park
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