Reversible Throw Pillow: Advice from a Bear X Your True Nature

Ilam Shair, a renowned storyteller, has imbued this throw pillow from Your True Nature with fun and accessible wisdom, making it a great gift for your friends or even for yourself. The roots of the company behind this product, Manual Woodworkers and Weavers, can be traced back to the entrepreneurial spirit of Thomas Lemuel Oates, who founded the business in 1932.

Oates and his brother used to farm the mountain areas of Bat Cave in western North Carolina, and they would also assist their mother in finding materials for her crafts. The brothers began to make wooden whistles, buckets, and bird-houses, which they would sell alongside their mother's crafts to the people from Charlotte who passed through in their horse-drawn buggies on their way to the mountains.

Later, Thomas Oates found employment at the Ashville Postcard Company. However, when the Great Depression hit, he lost his job, which inspired him to venture into business and sell crafts, such as cornhusk dolls and woven pieces, that were produced by the local women. Oates had learned about the wholesale business while working at Ashville, and he used this knowledge to expand his enterprise.

One of the key innovations Oates introduced was the construction of a waterwheel to generate electricity at a mill, which allowed him to begin producing his own products and open a shop. Over the years, the company continued to grow, and Oates' son, Lemuel Oates, who would eventually take over the management of the business, worked in the company from a young age.

Lemuel explained that the products were made from cotton scraps left over from the production of socks. These half-inch circles were looped together to form a variety of products. Lemuel Oates went to college and later settled in Richmond, but in December 1973, he returned to Bat Cave and assumed control of the company.

In 2007, Lemuel's son Travis and his daughter, Molly Oates Sherrill, took over the business, carrying on the legacy of Manual Woodworkers and Weavers.

The throw pillow featured in this story is a reversible design that showcases the wisdom and humor of naturalist and poet Ilam Shair. One side features the advice "Look after your honey," while the other side suggests "Take a long nap." This woven decor accent, measuring 12.5 x 8.5 inches, is made in the USA and serves as a charming and thought-provoking addition to any home.

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