MAKING BEANIE BABIES FOR POLLY

By Joe Klaas

Mollie Nagel, impresario of California's Sonoma County Queen Bee Beanie Baby and Bear Show, and Morgantown, Pennsylvania's Sally Winey, world-famous designer of the Beanie Babies that shook the world, have joined forces in the most imaginative way yet to raise funds for the KlaasKids Foundation.

Designing a New Beanie Bear
A Santa Rosa, California, mother of 8-year-old Annie and 10-year-old James, Mollie came up with the idea and tried it out on Sally.

"Why don't you make your most valuable Beanie Baby to date a signed, limited-edition Winey Bear for Polly?" Mollie suggested. "I'll offer them to collectors at Sally Winey events and give half the proceeds to the KlaasKids Foundation."

"A great idea," Sally agreed. "I'll make them in Polly's favorite color. They'll be cuddly little Polly Beanie Bears of fine purple mohair."

Their inspiration quickly produced five different designs of Teddy Bears for Polly from Sally's renowned' Winey Bear Collection. Each Polly Bear's left paw is signed by the designer who started the Beanie Baby rage that overtook the 1990s. Attached to each of the 500 limited edition Polly Bears is a small certificate of authenticity bearing the name "Polly" and an identification number followed by the signature of "Sally A. Winey."

Supporting the KlaasKids Effort
"We sell each bear for the usual $150 price of an original Winey Bear, but half of it goes to support the fine work for children being done by the KlaasKids Foundation," Mollie said. "I have two children of my own, and it's so comforting to know that the Foundation Is making America safer for our kids."

Teddy Bear magazine's October 1999 edition features 128 pages of pictures and articles about Bears and BB Bean Bags. The cover story is titled, "Sally Winey: From Artist to Manufacturer." It's obvious that the Beanie Baby designer who created the most popular dolls in the world and her companion in charity have hearts as warm as those of their new Polly Beanie Bears.

Where to Buy Your Polly Bear
Looking for great Christmas presents for your family and friends? Polly Beanie Bears may be obtained from Mollie at her Queen Bee Distributing Company by calling (707) 792-1610. For Northern California collectors, Queen Bee presents A Beanie Baby and Bear Show every first and third Thursday at the Sun Plaza Resort in Rohnert Park, California.

Half of the $150 purchase price ($75) for each Sally Winey Polly Beanie Bear is deductible as a charitable contribution to the KlaasKids Foundation.

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