Three_Little_Bears

The Three Little Bears Cottage Store was born as a mixed convenience, book, and consignment store in the fall of 2013. In truth, there were only two “bears” (Ian and his wife, Diana), although their many dogs, cats, and parrot-family birds have also participated in their own ways, so they share the rotating role of Bear Number Three. The store’s name was inspired by Bear Island, which is within view of its former small community of Smith’s Cove, Nova Scotia. Ian and Diana had operated a convenience store/takeout not far from their new location, overlooking the Bay of Fundy, but Ian, in particular, wanted to try something different that didn’t require 12-plus hours a day, seven days a week. The Three Little Bears Cottage Store was transformed into a pet store and farm business the next year after another move due to a family matter. Ian rekindled his long-held love for candle-making, producing scented paraffin-wax and beeswax candles in different shapes and sizes, many of which he hand-painted. He also discovered that he had a knack for designing bumper stickers, decals, postcards, calendars, and license plates. Ian and Diana began attending various local markets to sell his creations. In the summer of 2022, Ian and Diana, their pets, and the refocused Three Little Bears enterprise moved to the southwestern corner of Manitoba, where Ian increased his candle-making activities. Diana took over most of the gardening activities, planning to eventually sell seeds from a variety of primarily bee-, butterfly-, and bird-friendly flowering plants. For many years, she enjoyed writing fiction and began designing book covers. This led to other digital design activities, and she began selling small, economical gifts, such as coasters, fridge magnets, keychains, buttons, and stickers. She hopes to expand her designing activities through print-on-demand. Ian passed away in April 2025, but Diana continues the Three Little Bears venture and its growing number of offshoots.