Restoring Teddy Bears And Stuffed Animals

For the first time ever, professional restorers Christel and Rolf Pistorius share their techniques, tips and advice in this informative, instructive and charming book. The German couple provide easy-to-understand, step-by-step instructions for repairing and restoring old and new teddy bears and stuffed animals. More than 200 detailed colour photographs guide the reader in tasks such as: selecting and caring for materials; cleaning; replacing voice boxes, applying ears and stitching noses and mouths. This is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in preserving or restoring their plush toys.

The collector's guide to selecting, restoring, and enjoying new and vintage Teddy bears.

Medieval robots took such forms as talking statues, mechanical animals, or silent metal guardians; some served to entertain or instruct while others performed surveillance or discipline. Medieval Robots explores the forgotten history of real and imagined machines that captivated Europe from the ninth through the fourteenth centuries.

Award-winning photographer Mark Nixon has created a trove of quirky and nostalgic portraits of teddy bears and other stuffed animals that have been lovingly abused after years of play. MuchLoved collects 60 of these images along with their accompanying background tales. An exhibit in the photographer’s studio led to a small sensation on the Internet when a few of the pictures circulated unofficially on scores of blogs and on many legitimate news sites. Viewers have been intrigued by the funny, bittersweet images and their ironic juxtaposition of childhood innocence and aged, loving wear and tear. When you see these teddy bears and bunnies with missing noses and undone stuffing, you can’t help but think back to childhood and its earliest companions who asked for nothing and gave a lot back. Praise for Much Loved: “Much Loved is impossibly endearing in its entirety.” —Brain Pickings

Teddy bears are an iconic symbol of childhood. They are often our first and best-loved toys right through to adulthood, often passed on to our own children to enjoy. This beautifully illustrated, comprehensive guide takes you into the magical world of teddy bear making and shows you how to create your own traditional bear to hand down through the generations. The book begins with a short history of the teddy bear, followed by detailed information on tools, materials and essential bear-making techniques. There's guidance on finding design inspiration, and three complete step-by-step projects to get you started. There's then detailed guidance on how to create different eyes, ears, noses and mouths to give your bear a unique personality, and sewn outfits to dress them in. The book ends with notes on care and repair, ensuring your treasured creation will last a lifetime.

This technique-filled workshop for creating soft toys, with 16 projects and 52 lessons, covers everything from the basics to advanced construction elements.

This highly practical guide contains three original patterns of varying complexity, all accompanied by detailed instructions. A complete beginner will be able to create really professional bears in a very short time.