They say a gift is most special when it reflects thought and a degree of effort. It can be in the form of someone making a bouquet of your favourite flowers, purchasing a rare perfume, or even presenting you with an engraved timepiece. But Cuddlesome.Gy goes above and beyond this. This company, owned by 29-year-old Milika Stephens, creates teddy bears from scratch, using your loved one’s most valued piece of clothing, thereby preserving a special memory that will last a lifetime. These “memory bears”, without a doubt, win the prize for the softest, most sentimental gift you can present to a loved one or friend.
During an exclusive interview with Guyana Standard, Stephens provided insight into how she got started with this company that is arguably, the first and only of its kind within these shores.
The young woman shared that before creating the company she was a hardworking member of the health sector. The young businesswoman said, “I became a Registered Nurse at St.
Joseph’s Mercy Hospital and my nursing career had taken me to the Caribbean Heart Institute, then later to Woodlands Hospital where I worked in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab and ICU.”
Stephens added, “I became a mother in 2019 and just as I was about to return to work, COVID-19 turned everything upside down.” When the pandemic had hit Guyana, Stephens said she decided to put her career on pause to remain at home with her son.
The 29-year-old shared that being a stay-at-home mom was and is difficult for her since she is accustomed to working for most of her life. Stephens said many times she simply felt the urge to do more and eventually, she consulted with “good ol’ Google” for some ideas. Stephens said it was during this process that came across the idea to make keepsakes.
After doing some extensive research, Stephens said she decided that it is something she could do. “No one else here was doing it, so I was even more determined to get it out there. I got my first sewing machine and after a bit of practicing, I was able to sew something that made sense,” she shared as a chuckle escaped from her lips.
The young mom told Guyana Standard that she officially began taking orders for memory bears and stuffed animals on July 17, 2020.
Stephens said that her memory bears are made mainly from worn clothing or used blankets that customers provide. She said these are usually items that hold special meaning to her clients, for example, clothing from a loved one who died, clothes a baby has outgrown, or old uniforms. Stephens noted that her bears would usually take four hours to make if she is undisturbed.
Thus far, the young mom said the support has been heartwarming while noting that she has received countless compliments about her work and quite a few referrals from previous customers. “Knowing my work is appreciated makes me incredibly happy,” stated Stephens.
Furthermore, the Registered Nurse said Cuddlesome.Gy holds a special place in her heart when she considers the comfort and joy it brings to her customers. She said, “As a health-care worker, I’ve had a front-row seat to loss and the immediate(sometimes long term) effects of losing a loved one, so each time I’m given clothing from a person who has passed away, I feel extremely honoured to be trusted with something so precious and to experience the grateful and emotional response after the finished items have been received.”
Stephens added, “…that’s definitely the most fulfilling part of this journey with my business for me. And I intend to keep on pushing with it.”
If you’re interested in having a memory bear made by Cuddlesome.Gy you can make contact with Stephens via 6505732.
To purchase a few readymade items, Cuddlesome.gy has a shelf space at The Babe Cave located at 129 A Duncan Street.
