inspiration behind BEAR-IN-A-BOX!

about me

ownership and Copyright of all site content held in full by Colleen Olson-Bauman

The inspiration behind BEAR-IN-A-BOX!

In December of 1991 I was in a long line in a Ben Franklin store trying
to come up with some ideas for teddy bear Christmas gifts. I saw a
bear up on a shelf sitting next to a gift box. The wheels began
turning. What if I put the bear in the box with his feet sticking out of
the front and his torso popping out of the top. I could cover the box
with Christmas fabric and decorate it.......

TA DA!.....By the time I made it up to the checkout counter I had the
basic design all figured out and went home to make a few. They were
a hit! I decided to join the rest of my family and start my own
business. Within 6 weeks I had sold to a few gift shops and one of
the owners advised me to obtain a design patent to protect my idea.
I found a patent attorney and two years later I was officially an
"inventor". No one was more suprised than me!
Over the years I have added a wide variety of animals and now make
7 sizes of music boxes.

My Dad was a self taught commercial artist who inspired my brother,
sister and me to pursue whatever we wanted to do by doing our best
and to learn by doing. I have done many arts and craft shows in MD,
VA and PA and "show business" has been quite an adventure!

Starting my business has helped me to grow as a person as well as
an artist and allowed me to meet many wonderful people. I
appreciate all the smiles given in recognition of the humor in my work
and especially those who purchased a music box because you gave
me the confidence to make this my full time job!

U.S. Patent #D346,415

BEARINABOX.BIZ