Marie Wakefield

Real bears have to contend with hunters and habitat loss, but there's no sign teddy bears will ever be endangered. If you look through popular magazines, there's always an ad for some limited edition, and you go into a gift shop and there are teddy bear aprons and teddy bear mugs and teddy bear this and teddy bear that.

The teddy bear is so hugely popular, personifying the spirit of childhood-that the citizenry of three countries, America, Britain and Germany, lay claim to inventing them.

Hooked rugs have advanced in the world, from the kitchen floor to the wall as works of art.