Sealy's makeover

The love for a best friend, stuffed or not, can last a lifetime.  Some of us have favorite blankets when were infants or toddlers and eventually may grow out of the attachment, especially if mom and dad throw the old thing out. This is not the case for me and my special childhood friend, Sealy.  I was in 2nd grade when I remember reaching up above my head from under the covers to grab one of my many stuffed animals to pull under the comforter with me and snuggle.  My hand reached around and the first fuzzy I felt, I grabbed and brought to my face.  It was a seal that I had already owned for a while but at that moment it became different as I whispered to him “your name is Sealy” and I, well I suppose we, fell sound asleep.

I’ve had so many amazing and special toys through out my child, and adult, life but Sealy is my constant.  He is my travel companion.  He makes a great pillow especially for flying.  His curved body is perfect for putting behind the neck and substitutes for an over priced neck pillow from the airport.  

Sealy at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, CA

Here is is with his sleeping bag returning from our road-trip.  You can his nose boo-boo.

When I was in grade school, he would be with me 24/7.  He tagged along with me to school, summer camp, and outdoor adventures.  We would throw birthday parties and have little picnics in the back yard with tea sets and hors d'oeuvres made from dandelions and birch leaves.  

I grew up in a beach town and we had boardwalk and pier that was enjoyed by everyone during the summer months.  Sealy joined me on those walks.  Sometimes, I would make him a special collar and leash and he would “walk” behind me.  

I can’t make this stuff up if I tried! Ok, I could make this up. But I didn’t.  I’m an only child with a huge imagination, and my ability to interact with all things stuffed and hug-able knows no bounds.

It goes with out saying that Sealy has been through a lot with me and through the years has aged as we all do.  He has stayed in pretty good shape, thankfully! But a couple months ago, after my summer road-trip, I noticed that the little mauve threads that lace across his nose had become to loosen.  With in a few days, some of the stuffing started to poke through his face.  

I knew it had to be fixed but I wasn’t sure how.  I wondered about perhaps sewing a button to the nose, to hold the stuffing in, but he was just to good for a button. His whiskers may be bent and furrowed, his fur may be matted and grey, but he still has a sparkle in his eye and simply sewing a button on his face didn’t seem right.  

After showing my husband Sealy’s boo-boo nose, he racked his brain in concern of what our next step should be, as Eddie has grown just as attached to the seal pup as I have. 

“surely there must be some one out there that specializes in restoring or repairing old stuffed animals”, he bemused.

exhibit A of Sealy's nose

exhibit B of Sealy's nose

After doing some light researching online, I found this article.

On a side bar, I just love the articles I've found on this site.  I think I've featured one in a blog post before...oh here is the article I'm thinking of.  I don't know if I posted it on a blog, but I remember finding it while going through horrible withdrawals from my Paxil.  If I haven't yet, this is something for sure that I need to devote an entire post to.

When I found the XO Jane story about getting her Lamby fixed, I immediately went to the page of the company that fixed her stuffed buddy.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered it was a one woman show doing this work from her home, and best of all, she lives in the bay area! I didn't have to mail Sealy off somewhere.  I was delighted to find out after contacting her that my husband and I could drive right to her home in a gorgeous Los Altos Hills neighborhood and meet the animal doctor in person!

Here's the website for Realms of Gold, Inc.  The good Doctor Beth even has her own blog where she shares each animal's story with loving care and gives a great synopses on what will happen to your best stuffed friend while they are in her care.

After emailing her about what needed to be fixed, I also needed to decide if I wanted him to washed or not.  Well of course I thought immediately that doesn't sound like a bad idea.  But here's the catch: all of his stuffing is replaced.  Which makes sense.  But when one thinks about the stuff childhood friends are made of, one may wonder if that not where all the love and memories are held, in the stuffing.  Well, Doctor Beth had this very sentiment already planned for.  She explained to me how fresh stuffing would be put inside my refreshed seal pup friend, but some of the old stuffing would be placed into a heart placed inside his chest.  How adorable is that?!  Still, it took me a couple nights of thinking it over before I decided that Sealy deserved the day at the spa.

a photo sent to me, among many, during the hospital processes.  Here he is in the spa! Afterwards, he would be dried by a sunbeam from an overhead skylight.  and Yes, I saw the skylights and spa area in person when we dropped him off, and it was so serene.  Her craft room was in the back of the house off the garden and was home to two pet turtles who were lumbering around in there giant aquariums. 

the dreams that hearts are made of

open heart surgery 

all better!

she sends a couple of pictures showing the fluffiness of the skin against the stuffing in order to insure that he is as hug-able and snug-able as he was before his make-over.

he looks great to me! and look at that nose! much better than a button!

I highly recommend Beth and her Realms of Gold, Inc for all of your stuffed babies needs!