Stuffed Animal Talk

Sock Monkeys are Making a Comeback

Sock monkeys are a classic type of stuffed animal that have been enjoyed by generations of children. The traditional type of sock monkey featured a gray animal with a bright red mouth and ears. While this is the picture most people have in mind when they think of these animals, there are some newer versions that are also popular.

In addition to gray monkeys, there are now dark brown and tan ones. These monkeys have a white face with a stripe across the front which is the same color as the rest of their body. They are also wearing a solid-colored stocking cap with a bright red ball on the end.

Other sock monkeys are more whimsical. Some may be made from brightly colored socks rather than solid-colored ones. The socks may have rainbow stripes or stars on them as well. These monkeys may also have a pink mouth rather than a red one.

Sock monkeys are also used to make stocking hats, gloves, or mittens for both children and adults. These vary a great deal in color and pattern as well. Ones made for ladies may have red or purple pom poms on them, while those made for men could have a Mohawk instead. Children’s gear is more likely to be brightly colored or contain extra accessories such as moving eyes.

These classic toys are also being made into Easter baskets. These include the face of a sock monkey on the front of the basket and a plain-colored handle made of sock material. The renewed interest in sock monkeys mean that people of all ages can relive their childhood by discovering these animals in a number of brand new ways.

Classic Creatures at Bargain Prices

If you’re interested in finding vintage stuffed animals or want to collect ones made by certain designers, a good website to go to is www.stuffedanimalsforless.com. Here you can choose from many different brands including Pound Puppies, Webkinz, Limited Treasures, Melissa and Doug, Dan Dee, Fisher Price, and Jellycat to name a few.

Stuffedanimalsforless.com offers a wide selection of Coca-Cola bean bag animals. Many are different sized polar bears wearing Coca-Cola t-shirts or holding bottles of coke. There are also several different turtles to choose from. Many of the animals are new and still have their tags, but others are only slightly used.

If you like to collect a variety of stuffed animals, you can also check out their mixed lots section. Here you can find sets of animals such as the Hershey valentine bears or a lot of frogs or flowers. There are also a few different Veggie Tale characters offered here. Sock monkeys are a classic favorite, and there are a few of these available as well.

How about some Warner Brothers cartoon characters? You can choose from an oversized Tweety Bird, a Christmas-themed Scooby Doo, or other popular favorites such as Bugs Bunny, Sylvester the Cat, Porky Pig, and Speedy Gonzales, to name a few.

In addition to offering a wide variety of stuffed animals, this website also has other toys for sale. These range from collectible TV and movie toys, to action figures and toy trains. The selection varies, so if you don’t see what you are looking for be sure to check back with the website so you will know if your item becomes available.

Child Victims of Crime Benefit from Stuffed Animals

Children are naturally nervous whenever they have to go to the doctor or emergency room. This is true even more so when they are being examined after sexual abuse. In order to help provide comfort and support for these children, the Franks Foundation began Operation Fuzzy in 2012. Operation Fuzzy provides a stuffed animal, child-themed pillowcase, coloring books, and crayons to children coming to the emergency room at St. Mary’s hospital in Richmond, Virginia.

Several types of animals are offered, and the child is allowed to choose the one he or she likes best. There are several advantages to giving children who are crime victims a stuffed animal. One reason for doing so is to allow the child to show medical personnel where he or she was harmed by pointed to that part of the stuffed animal. Nurses also use the stuffed animal to explain how a medical exam will take place by doing the same thing.

Being able to hold the stuffed animal while in the emergency room seems to give the children comfort. If they are required to stay in the hospital, the child-themed pillowcases can help brighten up their stay as well. The coloring book and crayons give them something to do in order to keep their minds occupied so they will be less frightened.

All of the items given to the children are brand new. Polly Franks, the founder of the Franks Foundation says that it’s important to give new items to the children so they do not feel second-class during this time. Once the children leave the hospital, the stuffed animal and other items in the comfort kit are theirs to keep indefinitely.

Unique Ideas for Making Stuffed Animals

What's old can be new again

Making stuffed animals can be an enjoyable activity for people of all ages. Best of all, you can create a one-of-a-kind treasure that is sure to become a family heirloom. If you’d like to make your own teddy bears or other unique animals, here are a few ideas you may want to consider:

Crocheted animals-You can find a number of patterns by going to http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/animals.php. The selections range in difficulty from easy to advanced so even beginners can find something they can do. Some of the choices include bears, farm animals, marine life, horses, and jungle animals to name a few.
Why not make a stuffed teddy bear from an old pair of blue jeans or corduroy pants? When your favorite dungarees are too worn to be useful anymore, you can still preserve them by making them into a stuffed animal instead. Sew one of the pockets onto the chest of the bear for an extra touch of flair.
Make stuffed animals out of old suit coats. Remove the lining first and then cut out your pattern. When you’re finished, use some of the buttons for the bear’s eyes and nose. You could even make a miniature jacket for your bear to wear out of the jacket’s lining.
Use old quilts, blankets, tablecloths, or curtains to make teddy bears or rag dolls. Don’t worry about worn spots, as these will actually give your creation a unique twist that no one else will be able to duplicate.

Giant Stuffed Joy

"If your child likes exotic animals, you can choose from a white tiger, panda, giraffe, or tiger to name a few."

Oversized stuffed animals are a hit during Valentine’s Day. Extra large teddy bears holding a heart, candy, or flowers are sure to make anyone’s heart melt. While giving oversized animals is a Valentine’s tradition, very large stuffed animals can be a hit any time of the year, especially with children. One website that specializes in these toys is www.gianstuffedanimals.com.

A collection of dogs begins at 18 inches tall and ranges up to 36 inches tall. There are many breeds to choose from including beagle, poodle, golden retriever, husky, and dalmation. These stuffed animals are very realistic-looking, many having long fur, pointed or floppy ears, and a tongue that is hanging out.

Other stuffed animals in the collection are bears. In fact, the largest animal offered by this company is “Big Ben the brown bear”. This teddy bear is a whopping 7.5 feet tall and a chocolate brown color. If Ben is too big, you’re also in luck because his two brothers are also for sale. Brother Ben and Brother Bart are 4.5 feet tall and a golden brown or black color.

If your child likes exotic animals, you can choose from a white tiger, panda, giraffe, or tiger to name a few. These animals are all very plush with realistic markings throughout; some even have long fur over parts of their bodies. Collecting a set of oversized stuffed animals can be a great way to decorate a bedroom or classroom, or these creatures could even be ideal props to use when putting on a play.

Keeping Clean

Stuffed animals can be especially troublesome for people who suffer from allergies. Fortunately it is easy to clean stuffed animals to remove dust mites and dander. All that is needed is a net laundry bag and some mild laundry detergent.

Start by removing any clothing or jewelry from your stuffed animals. Check them over for any rips or tears, as these could cause the animals to become damaged. Now you are ready to place the animals inside the net bag. Fill the bag loosely until it is about 2/3 full.

Place the net bag into the washing machine. Try to place it so that the animals are evenly distributed throughout the machine. Next you can add a capful of mild laundry detergent to the machine and then close the lid.

Set the washing machine on gentle cycle for about four to six minutes. Use a warm water wash and cool water rinse. Do not add stain removers, fabric softeners, or bleach to the detergent, as these will usually damage the fabric.

Once the wash cycle is complete, you are ready to dry your animals. You can either hang them on a clothesline or set them on a counter with plenty of air flow. They can also be dried in a dryer by placing them in the same net bag used to wash them. In fact, this is the preferred method to rid the animals of fleas, head lice, or other parasites. This should ideally be done once or twice a year in order to prevent allergens.

Stuffed Sleepover

Getting children interested in the library and learning to read can sometimes be a daunting task, but a Connecticut library has found a way around this. They are using stuffed animals to encourage children to come to the library as well as to get the message across that reading can be a fun experience.

The city library in Darien, Connecticut recently hosted a slumber party for stuffed animals. Children were invited to bring their favorite toys to the library for a bedtime story and then leave them with staff members for the night. Once they had departed, the animals were in for the time of their lives.

Library personnel allegedly photographed stuffed animals reading books and playing on the computer. Many of them made new friends, and some of the larger animals even gave piggy-back rides to many of the smaller ones. A few of the animals even had snacks of candy before hitting the sack. Caretakers photographed the evening’s events much to the delight of the children who picked up their animals the following morning.

By hosting a stuffed animal sleepover, the library is hoping to send a message to children in the area that the library is a safe place with lots of fun activity. No doubt the children were pleasantly surprised to see what their “babies” had been up to while they were away. If you’d like to see pictures of the stuffed animals and their adventures during the sleepover, you can do so by visiting http://www.darienlibrary.org/2011/12/20/goodnight-sleep-tight.

Building Friendships

Whether you’re interested in making a unique stuffed toy or helping a child build fond memories, Build-a-Bear Workshop can be just the place to visit. This retailer will allow you to create your own teddy bear from start to finish. Best of all, you can host a party here so all your friends can join in on the fun.

The first step in creating your bear is to select one of the many unstuffed ones available. Next you will choose your bear’s voice. This is done by either recording a message to use as a greeting or by selecting one of the pre-recorded ones the workshop has to offer. Once you have the bear and the voice picked out, you are ready to do some stuffing.

You will fill your bear until he is completely stuffed. Workshop personnel recommend you give your friend the “hug test” just to make sure. Once you are satisfied that the animal is full, you are ready to stitch him together. This doesn’t require any special sewing skills, as each bear is pre-laced to make this easy. Since no needle or thread is required, even children are able to complete this task.

Choose a name for your new friend and then workshop personnel will create a birth certificate for you. Your bear will also be registered in the “find-a-bear” registry, which can help your bear find his way home should he ever be lost. After being issued your birth certificate, you are ready to choose an outfit to match his personality and then take him home to be with you forever.

Stuffed Animals for Shelter Animals

An animal shelter in Yukon, Alaska is finding that stuffed animals are comforting to many of the dogs housed there. This shelter holds around 200 dogs at any given time, which means the canines often live in overcrowded and stressful conditions. Some time ago, a local thrift store began donating stuffed animals to the shelter with remarkable results.

Many of the dogs there are puppies who have a great deal of energy. Puppies also have a need to chew on things and may not get ample opportunity to do so. Shelter workers like to give the puppies stuffed animals which do not contain buttons or other objects sewn onto them. That way, they can chew on them to relieve teething pain and also help them burn off extra energy.

Even older dogs can benefit from having stuffed animals. When dogs are under stress they may develop a need to chew more than at other times. Having a stuffed animal handy to sleep with is also comforting to many canines that are used to human companionship. Many of the dogs carry these stuffed animals around with them or place the toys next to them in their beds.

The shelter is also home to around 150 cats, many of which also like to play with stuffed animals. Workers and volunteers at the shelter sometimes hang some of the smaller animals from the tops of the cages so cats can bat them back and forth. This works to keep the cats entertained and reduce their stress level as well.

Combining Coins and Bears

If you have a passion for collecting teddy bears and coins, you may want to start a collection of State Quarter Bears. Timeless Toys began offering these animals in 2001, coordinating the release of each state bear with the corresponding state quarter. Although all the bears have finally been released, you can still find these treasures for sale at antique malls or online auction sites. When purchasing these bears online, you can generally choose between buying individual bears or sets of five.

These teddy bears can be found in either a bean-bag or plush stuffed type. Two sizes are available, a standard-sized 8.5 inch bear and a limited edition 18 inch bear. Each one is marked with the state’s name, the year of statehood, and year of state quarter release. There is a small vinyl pocket on the right side of the animal’s chest which is just large enough to hold a state quarter (not included). An American flag is embroidered on the bottom of the bear’s right foot.

While most bears are solid colored, a few of them contain more than one color. For example, the Michigan state bear is gold and black while the Florida bear is orange and blue. The New Mexico and Louisiana bears are multi-colored. Blue is a very popular color among these bears, and a few states that feature blue bears include New Jersey, North Carolina, and Oklahoma. Arkansas and Massachusetts sport red bears, Georgia a pink one, white for South Carolina and Alaska and dark brown for California to name a few.