Oct 23, 2013

What’s Better Than a Blankie or Binky? Cuddly Bommerscheim Buddies With a Secret (Removable, Washable Fabric Covers)

Some family traditions are made with love yet never shared like the secret ingredient in a delicious recipe. Others capture the American imagination as when Rose and Morris Michtom of Brooklyn sewed plush velvet into the shape of a baby bear and added shoe button eyes. They called it Teddy’s bear — after President Theodore Roosevelt. A new family treasure, cuddly Bommerscheim Buddies ($19.99), was started three generations ago when Midwest sisters Joan and Pat Bommerscheim lovingly hand-sewed a plush long-eared Buddie for each of their babies. But they added a secret — a fabric cover that could be removed, washed (or even replaced) when the Buddie needed to be cleaned.

Think of all the stuffed toys that get dragged along and then washed, because they really need a good scrubbing. What happens? Tragedy in the minds of toddlers (!) as the filling spills out or a button eye pops off due to laundering. Also to their horror, their beloved stuffed animal is out of their arms for a few anxious hours as it is sent away to the washing machine. Those clever Bommerscheim women never caused tears as their Buddies stayed cuddled in bed with an additional cover while just the dirty cover made a trip to the clothesline! 50 years and a dozen kids and grandkids later, Bommerscheim Buddies are now available to everyone. Find these nostalgic friends, still lovingly made in the Midwest, online at www.BommerscheimBuddies.com and choose from over two dozen appealing patterns. The business is known, aptly, as the Bommerscheim Sisters Company.

Of course kids may also favor a blankie so Bommerscheim Buddies offers 6 matching patterned Bommerscheim Blankets ($11.99) that are as soft and cuddly as the floppy-eared Buddies. And new this month are six Ittie Bittie BuddiesTM ($12.99) that are oh-so-cute and perfect for tiny fingers to grasp and little cheeks to snuggle. What an enchanting Christmas gift the combination of matching Buddie, blankie and Ittie Bittie Buddie would be!

With so many dolls and toys on the market, why choose a stuffed animal? A cuddly plush is forever — a first friend, a companion at night, packed in a suitcase while traveling or that familiar “face” waiting on the bed after school. In that tradition, these Made-in-America soft toys are not just loveable but nostalgic. And with the holidays approaching, here is an affordable ($19.99) present to ship to a beloved member of the family (or a baby on the way!) Add a name, up to 13 letters, and pick the color of the thread for only $10 more. How’s that for a one-of-a-kind gift that will be cherished for many years to come?

Safety is very important to this family company. There are no small parts. Every Buddie is made simply of polyester fiberfill then covered with either cotton flannel or fleece covers. Hidden hook and loop fasteners, found under a Buddie’s feet and tail, are the secret trick for grownups to remove the cover. All products are made in a small Indiana shop and exceed all safety regulations, tested by an independent lab.

Recall the expression, clothes makes the man? Well, the right cover makes the Buddie! Would your special youngster prefer Red Travel Flannel, Blue Teddy Flannel, Green Frog Musicians Flannel or Tie-Dye Camo? See them online then choose one, or order an extra. Better yet, collect them all!

Bommerscheim Buddies • Newborn+ • $19.99

The floppy-eared bunny-shaped doll measures 15″ from ear to toe. Its whimsical facial expression helps the youngest tots bond instantly. The large ears are perfect for little fingers to grab and go. The cute “feet” and “tail” designs cleverly hide the hook and fasteners allowing for cover to be removed! When ready, wash the fabric cover on the gentle cycle, then lay flat to dry. Choose from 28 different designs within 5 Collections ranging from Stars to Camouflage.

Covers • Newborn+ • $13.99

Purchase an extra cover in 23 different styles ranging from Blue Sports Flannel to Bright Orange Fleece. All covers are shown online and customized orders are shipped within a few days.

Bommerscheim Ittie Bittie Buddies • Newborn+ • $12.99

Mix or match a big Buddie with this sweet mini-me version of the floppy-eared bunny. Choose from six patterns including Teal Monkeys, Grey Construction Zone or Pink Teddy Bears.

Bommerscheim Blankets • Newborn+ • $11.99

This soft flannel blankie comes in six charming patterns to match a Buddie or compliment the nursery. Choose from Yellow Dinosaur with Yellow/Green/Red plaid colors or Red Traveler with Navy Blue colors to Blue Teddy Bears with Light Blue.

With holiday shopping just starting, these Buddies make an ideal sentimental gift for the special tot in your life. And shopping at the company website has your satisfaction guaranteed! As they state online, “much like our products, the Bommerscheim Sisters Company is built around quality, honesty and integrity. We know that as a small American company with our family legacy at stake, we must over-deliver on our promises. Our cuddle toys are lovable companions your child will have for a lifetime. What does it mean to you? If for any reason the Buddie does not meet your expectation, simply return it, on us! We include a return label with every package we send.”



Take your time when shopping online as you get to choose from five different Buddie Collection styles, with more than two dozen choices of colors, designs and personalities. Find each style photographed and available for purchase online at www.BommerscheimBuddies.com.

As an added incentive, the website offers free shipping on orders over $50. Shop online or at select specialty shops in California, Idaho and Indiana — with more retailers to follow. A full list of stores can be found under the “Find a Retailer” footer menu tab at www.bommerscheimbuddies.com/

Follow the Buddies on social media at Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter to share favorite pictures, stories and styles. Company President Paul Kluempers, who is the son and nephew of the Bommerscheim Sisters, writes a blog about stuffed animals, childhood memories and what’s new with Buddies. To read his blog, shop online or learn more about this family tradition, visit the fact-filled website at www.BommerscheimBuddies.com.

ABOUT BOMMERSCHEIM SISTERS COMPANY

Founded by Paul Kluempers who was intent on sharing his family tradition with the world, Bommerscheim Sisters Company is the creator and manufacturer of lovable, nostalgic cuddle toys called Bommerscheim Buddies. Grandmother Irene Bommerscheim, decided to teach her five daughters to sew. Since she was a skilled seamstress, it seemed like a natural fit. Taking the knowledge they acquired, daughters Pat and her Joan began creating hand-made stuffed animals for their children starting in the early 1960s and then their grandchildren in the 1980s. Three generations and 50 years later, the plush toys are available in a wide variety of fabrics and patterns and feature — most importantly –removable covers that are easily washed. All products are Made in the U.S.A.