I provide a detailed non-obligatory quote before undertaking any work in repairing or restoring any precious bears, which means that I can only accurately quote having met the bear in person! There is a £25 minimum charge. For any work that totals more than this, prices will revert to the guide below:
Postage home will be in addition to the cost of restoration.
Handwashing
I quite often empty and handwash teddy bears (also children’s soft toys) Obviously this is discussed with the owner and depends on the fragility of the bear. The outcome is always good and your bear that looks like it has spent the last few years in the loft (and maybe has) will look and feel so much better. Refilling with new wood wool is a good option for your bear because it’s more malleable and therefore less brittle than old wood wool which inevitably has become dry and spikey.
Emptying and handwashing from £40.00
Quite often a surface wash is all that’s required and these vary to the size of teddy bear: costs from £30.00
Paw Pads
Whenever possible my preference is to restore from the inside as they would have been originally made, it makes for a neater finish, old paw pads can be popped inside his tummy if required. Where a bear is very fragile then obviously I work from outside sewing new pads over the top of old or non existent ones.
Some small paw pad damage can be repaired without the need to replace the paw pad entirely, this would be discussed and where possible work carried out to save the original paw pad.
I use various fabrics, wool felt, cashmere plush/velour, faux suede (painted Calico to look like Rexine) etc.
- Small/Medium Bear – £30.00 each
- Large Bear – £40.00 each
- Card-reinforced inner soles – £15.00 each
Joints
Rejoint Head
- Small/Medium Bear – £40.00
- Large Bear – £45.00 – £60.00
- Possible extra charge for lining/reinforcing the area
Re-attaching a joint Arm or Leg
- Small/Medium Bear – £45.00 per joint
- Large Bear – £55.00 per joint
- Tightening up existing joints – £8.50 per joint ( some will and some won’t and if they are brittle old nails they definitely won’t tighten and will need rejointing)
Ears
- Re-attach existing ears- £10.00 each
- Replacement ears (pair) – £50.00
- Single Replacement ear – £25.00
- Replace missing ear ‘split ear’ technique – £60.00 (using one remaining ear and extra mohair to create a pair of ears)
Filling
- Re-fill (full or part)
- Woodwool / Kapok – £30.00 – £50.00 really depends on the size of the bear.
- Polyester, used mostly on children soft toys – £15.00-£30.00
- A full replacement of foam crumbs is a ghastly job of work so depending on the size of the bear and whether there are joints to dismantle there will be a surcharge of between £40.00 and £80.00
Nose, Mouth and Claw Embroidery
- Re-embroider nose/mouth- £15.00
- Re-embroider claws on four paws £24.00
Eyes
Eyes used are mainly glass eyes of various colours with black pupils. Also plastic safety eyes for children’s soft teddies or toys.
Eyes, glass are £15.00 per pair (fitted). Plastic safety eyes are a little more at £25.00 a pair (fitted)
Voices
Growler – traditional growler protected with calico to stop stuffing getting inside
Small/Medium/Large- £15.00
Music boxes -£30.00 fitted (I can usually obtain various tunes to suit)
Grafting and lining areas with damage
Burns, rips, bitten off noses by puppies! Other mysterious injuries, holes, missing and broken limbs, are all individually quoted. This work can be very time consuming and I work on giving the bear back as close to his original feature that has been damaged as possible.
Sheepskin bears are notoriously tricky to work with because of their fragility and ease of tearing. (Many restorers wont work with them). I have a passion for these and have good results.
Missing Limbs
Priced individually are sizes and choice of mohair will differ
Monkey Hands & Feet
Also restored from the inside
Reattached to plastic hands and feet – £50.00 per single hand or foot
Dolls
Dolls calico bodies – From £130.00 each.
Missing or damaged cloth doll limbs subject to viewing.
However, I can only accurately quote having met the doll in person.