Stuffed Toy Restoration in Calgary?

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

We have a 25-year old Charity Bear from the Bay that's definitely showing its age, whose fur we'd love to have cleaned and restored. I checked online and couldn't find any such service in the Calgary. Does anyone know if this exists in the City?

Edit: Wrong section. can someone move to Off Topic for me?

[DownInFlames]

Build A Bear would be my first stop.

[LIP MAN]

We will rebuild!

Build a bear won't be any help. They don't do cleaning. It's just a bunch of 16 year olds that stuffs bears with fluff.
I have no idea of who could help you. Likely some aging guy in Switzerland.

[RougeUnderoos]

If you find someone who does this, he might be busy.

[Titan]

I don't have a guy but I did find a DIY vid on the 'tubes. Hope it helps:

[Northendzone]

You need to find stuffed bears artisans working in the medium of stuff.

There is a teddy bear picnic in Wpg where they repair bears, but I don't reckon it is what you are looking for.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

I have bits of transformers and gi joe. I can rebuild your bear using the sum of all those spare parts. Just drop them off at my place

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

I'm tempted to start calling around some local tailors to see if they can do anything. I really didn't expect it would be this difficult to find someone.

[awildermode]

you might want to look on etsy for someone local who works with plush

most seamstresses will know how to repair any torn seams. of course this depends on how damaged the seams and fur backing are.

for cleaning, what kind of fur is it?

if is is synthetic, you can just throw it in the washer on gentle cycle. put it in a mesh bag (or pillow case with zipper) first. let air dry, do not use dryer. i have done this with plush that is over 30 years old and they come out fine. this will not deep clean it, but it will clean it.

you will need a fur brush, any fabric store should have it, to fluff the fur back to original. again, this depends on existing damage.

i have no experience with cleaning natural fur. i would guess the same technique as above would work.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Originally Posted by awildermode

you might want to look on etsy for someone local who works with plush

most seamstresses will know how to repair any torn seams. of course this depends on how damaged the seams and fur backing are.

for cleaning, what kind of fur is it?

if is is synthetic, you can just throw it in the washer on gentle cycle. put it in a mesh bag (or pillow case with zipper) first. let air dry, do not use dryer. i have done this with plush that is over 30 years old and they come out fine. this will not deep clean it, but it will clean it.

you will need a fur brush, any fabric store should have it, to fluff the fur back to original. again, this depends on existing damage.

i have no experience with cleaning natural fur. i would guess the same technique as above would work.

The biggest issue are the bald spots. I'm not sure if this requires cutting out the bald parts and putting in new fur, or if it's just a matter of sourcing some loose fur and stuffing into the bald spots with a needle. I'm guessing it's not natural fur.

[awildermode]

Originally Posted by Teh_Bandwagoner

The biggest issue are the bald spots. I'm not sure if this requires cutting out the bald parts and putting in new fur, or if it's just a matter of sourcing some loose fur and stuffing into the bald spots with a needle. I'm guessing it's not natural fur.

bald spots are tough. best to leave as is, live with it, and try to keep it from further damage.

do not recommend cutting out and patching. it will look like patches. bald spots look way better than a toupee

you could try to root the fur back in. this is a lot of work and might not be worth the labour involved.

another option is to (have someone with plush experience) make you a new parts (like replace an arm, leg, etc., or worse the whole toy) with all new materials, using your existing plush toy as a pattern. of course, new/current materials are way different from 30 year old stuff. and, you would not have an 'original' toy. a good plush person can make a pattern and make you an identical plush without having to un-stitch the toy.

will this be for display or for a child to play with? if display, i would just clean it and leave the bald spots as is.

if for a child, either let them have it as is and hope it does not get destroyed, or get them something they can play with.

hope that helps, good luck

[Mccree]

http://www.teddybears.org/repair.htm

[darthma]

Originally Posted by Mccree

http://www.teddybears.org/repair.htm

http://www.teddybears.org/gorillas.htm

This joke did it for me. I'm going to find a teddy bear, love it, then send it to these guys to fix. Just for posting this joke.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by darthma

http://www.teddybears.org/gorillas.htm

This joke did it for me. I'm going to find a teddy bear, love it, then send it to these guys to fix. Just for posting this joke.

I can't say I saw that ending coming. Great joke

[Yellefan]

Originally Posted by Teh_Bandwagoner

We have a 25-year old Charity Bear from the Bay that's definitely showing its age, whose fur we'd love to have cleaned and restored. I checked online and couldn't find any such service in the Calgary. Does anyone know if this exists in the City?

Edit: Wrong section. can someone move to Off Topic for me?

Apparently Wai's alterations on 4th st does this kind of thing

http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald...1-d67e1033f511

[JonDuke]

Originally Posted by Teh_Bandwagoner

We have a 25-year old Charity Bear from the Bay that's definitely showing its age, whose fur we'd love to have cleaned and restored. I checked online and couldn't find any such service in the Calgary. Does anyone know if this exists in the City?

Edit: Wrong section. can someone move to Off Topic for me?

Is your name Ken King?