My stepdaughter and I went to the Build A Bear store at the Independence Mall in Kingston. Neither of us had ever done one, although years ago I went to a teddy bear factory to make a bear in San Francisco, but it was a factory in the industrial part of town, not a gaily lit store in a shopping mall. Just for grins I googled the Basic Brown Bear Factory in SF and apparently they sued Build A Bear for copyright infringement. So there you go.
I didn't take pics of the store or the process; I wasn't sure if that was allowed. But you go in and there are bins of unstuffed and ADORABLE animals. I could spend so much money making toys. After you pick your animal, you can have things like a scent chip put inside, and even a heart that beats when the toy is hugged. Those are extra. We didn't get them. But you do get a heart that you pick out from a couple of designs. You are then instructed to kiss the heart, hold it to your own heart, then to your head to make a wish for your new pet. Then the lady told us to kiss each other's heart too, I think for good luck and love. The heart is placed inside, along with a tracking number so if your toy is lost, it can be scanned and the owner found! Then she places the toy over a nozzle and you step on a pedal and the stuffing goes inside. After it's stuffed, it's sewn shut. Next you take it over to the 'grooming' station where you step on a pedal and hold the toys under what looks like a shower nozzle but it blows air and you use brushes to fluff their fur all nice.
After that, you shop for clothes and accessories and Oh. My. God. The cutest outfits ever. After you've chosen the clothes, you go to the computer to make the official Birth Certificate, then the toy is placed into a box house, which can also be coloured.
I named my bear Russell, of course.
I couldn't resist getting the little monster on the left; he was already stuffed. I named him Iggy, and that's Russell Bear. I had a totally different outfit on him then I spied the denim shirt and beige pants set which is how my Russell dresses. AREN'T THEY ADORABLE?!?! Totes Adorbs, as the kids say these days. Totes M'goats, even.
This is Val's bear, Edmund, or 'Mundy'. She did a great job of accessorizing him too!
Lookit the ickle sneakers!!!! SQUEEEEEE!
I cannot recommend this enough. Can it be pricey? Yes, but it's worth every penny.
My kids are teens now and somehow we ended up with only 6 stuffed animals from BAB...plenty of clothes though...plenty!
ReplyDeleteI could not believe the selection of clothes. They even had all the local sports teams, including 'Red Sox World Series Champs' shirts!! I am hoping to go back and maybe make a doggie next time!!!!
DeleteThis brought back some great memories of my Peanut and I doing this when she was younger. I don't recall a tracker in hers though. Times have changed and advanced! Your guys are all adorable. Especially Iggy. =)
ReplyDeleteElsie
AJ's wHooligan in the A-Z Challenge
There was another little monster I wanted but I knew this was going to be expensive enough so I'll get him next time. Val actually came up with the name Iggy for him. It's short for Ignatius. lol
DeleteI have always wanted to do this but every time the kids and I go in there we start adding up everything we would want to have for our animal and end up leaving empty handing because it just seems silly to spend that much on one stuffed animal. One of these days I may still break down and do it.
ReplyDeleteThe tinier ones, like Iggy, are cheaper. But yeah, they get you with the cost of the accessories.
DeleteWhy didn't that mall have a Build A Bear when I was growing up?! Saved my parents a lot of money I am sure!
ReplyDeleteYes it did save them tons! lol Back when stuffies only cost like $10.
DeleteWe have those shops here too and I could spend all day in them. I went with my friend and two year old son to buy a bear,we had a great time and he wasn't that bothered,probably a bit too young.And yes you can spend a small fortune.
ReplyDeleteI really had to force myself not to also special order a Seahawks shirt for my bear. It's funny, Val said, 'you picked such a colourful bear but his clothes are so plain!' But the outfit looks just like what Russell wears so that's why I picked it.
DeleteSounds like fun. I've seen these places but never gone in. Probably wouldn't unless one of my grandkids was with me. Love the colors of your bear.
ReplyDeleteLee
Wrote By Rote
An A to Z Co-host blog
I was so torn between the brown bear and the colourful one....
DeleteNo more stuffed animals for this mama, after 30 years of raising kids!
ReplyDeleteI didn't have kids and I've been a lifelong stuffie lover!!!
DeleteI love that you're such a big kid! (Those bears are adorable!)
ReplyDeleteAll the animals are adorable. You should check out their website sometime.
DeleteYour bears turned out so cute! Sounds like you two had an enjoyable day building your bears.
ReplyDeleteValerie
Everyday Inspired
We had to deal with an unpleasant and stressful task earlier in the morning, so we went out for breakfast afterwards and did this to make it a better day.
DeleteOh yes, we did this years ago with daughter at the Mall of America.... so much fun - I was so tempted to do one for myself! We have one here at our Mall too now (back then it was US only) - must stay away!!!
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I'm glad the closest BAB is up in Kingston and not at the local malls. That could be very dangerous!!!!!
DeleteYour bears turned out so cute! Such a neat memory to keep in your heart!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. I didn't get to know the kids till they were already grown, and one has already moved to Ohio so I'm trying to make as many memories as possible before the last two decide to relocate!!!
DeleteOh, wow, that looks like fun! We're so far away from everything where I live - I've never even SEEN one of those workshops, lol!
ReplyDeleteI have quite a few bears, had to stop buying them due to lack of room. My faves are two alpaca wool bears that are so soft you just want to rub your face round them.
ReplyDeleteI think the last time Z allowed me the privilege of taking him to Build-a-Bear was about age 7 (8 yrs ago?!?, ye gads!) but of course I've still got that orange tabby kitty w/the camo gear...
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