Ties into treasures
Published 12:00 am Saturday, April 5, 2003
One Albert Lea woman is turning old ties into keepsakes.
Delores Glassel has begun taking men’s ties &045; often the gaudier the better &045; and turning them into teddy bears.
Glassel got started making bears out of ties about a year ago, when Lois Hemmingsen of Alden asked her to try to make some out of her late husband’s ties.
&uot;It’s a great way to do something with Grandpa’s, a husband’s or a dad’s ties,&uot; Glassel said.
The crafter said making these bears generally takes two or three days. She begins by taking the ties apart and pressing them.
&uot;One of them I pressed out was nine inches across,&uot; she said with a laugh.
Glassel said she generally doesn’t pay a lot of attention to what’s on the tie unless it’s really special. Her cousin Shirley brought her some and one of them had an &uot;S&uot; on the front. Glassel then gave the &uot;S&uot; a prominent spot on the bear’s chest when constructing it. Another bear was made just out of ties with chickens and eggs on them.
Glassel makes both 18- and 20-inch bears out of ties. It takes seven or eight ties to make an 18-inch bear, and about 10 ties to make a 20-inch bear.
&uot;One woman brought in a 33-gallon container of ties,&uot; she said, adding the woman eventually wants them all sewed into bears.
&uot;It’s just a great way to preserve family ties,&uot; Glassel said, adding the best bears seem to come from ties that are maroon, red and blue. Metallic accents also have a nice effect, she said, adding one tie with a gold accent made the bear look like it was wearing an earring.
&uot;And for all the ties I’ve taken apart, no two have been alike yet,&uot; she said.
Glassel also makes patriotic bears, something she began after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism attacks. &uot;I’ve had a great response to them,&uot; she said, adding she has patriotic bears in Connecticut, Texas and California, as well as Minnesota.
&uot;It makes me feel good that people appreciate my work,&uot; she said.
She started making bears about four years ago. But she’s always sewed, especially for her four daughters. &uot;When our girls were growing up, I made all their clothes,&uot; Glassel said.
She even made Barbie doll clothes at one time, but now limits it to bigger dolls.
Glassel plans to have a table of her bears and doll clothes at the Doll, Toy and Bear Show and Sale, sponsored by the Woman-in-the-Shoe Doll Club, on Sunday, April 27, at Northbridge Mall.