The Story of Trixie... How It All Began
Visiting friends and their daughters, whose parent recently purchased them New Stuff Animals. Playing in their bedroom, I noticed a little girl deciding which doll she wanted. Close observation I notice her using her hands to feel each toy. As I stood in the doorway watching, she picked up a dirty, old, worn, one eye koala.. Placing the koala to her cheek in a motherly loving fashion, announced, "I WANT THIS ONE!"
The little girls laughed at her, one saying, "why you want that old one eye ugly thing? Come play with our New Dolls! The little girl clearly agitated said No!, "I want this one", and I don't think it's ugly.! Replying; old dolls need love just as much as your new ones. It was clear to me she had made an emotional connection with the one eye koala, most likely because she herself had an visual impairment. The little girl was Blind.
Realizing they had offender her apologized, hugged the girl and doll. As they resumed laughing and playing together. I discovered the blind girls name was Trixie , who was on vacation for her birthday. Touched by this experience, I created TWO Greeting Cards. One for her Birthday with HUMAN EYELASHES, BIG FURY BLACK NOSE, with RHYSTONES on the body. Allowing Trixie to discover the Koala Card using her sensory touch The second card, I placed Braille words on the Outside and Inside with plain text. The Secong Card read ; "THROUGH LOVE I SEE". She loved it, and gave me a big smile and hug.
Trixie taught I and the little girls, that Love is not Blind, and Through Love She Sees. Trixie Inspired me to create a Childrens Greeting Card Line, with Innovative design of Koalas for the Blind, Visually impaired and sighted children. The Kubeba Koala Kids Greeting Cards. The word pronounced (Ku-Be- Ba) means (Bear). In the Swahilii Languange of Kenya Africa ,where Trixie was from.
And this is how the Kubeba Koala Brand, Novelties and Plush Bears began.