If you have recently joined us on this blog, the title might be freaking you out right now. You might be thinking: “I thought this was a nice quilting/crafting related blog…is this some type of ghoulish or macabre journal?!?!?”
No, this is a follow up to the 10/10/18 post Mysterious Package, in which I received my 6 year old nephew’s favorite, alas decapitated, bear Marseille for repair:
Well I am happy to report Marseille had his surgery yesterday and he is “recapitated” and all better!
I used a doll needle for the first time, to repair Marseille. This is a very long needle (over 5 inches/2.5 cm). Here is a comparison between a doll needle and a regular needle:
Here is Marseille posing with the needle and the thick thread that I used to put his head back on:
Marseille also had a loose arm so I reinforced the stitches on his arm so he did not suffer any spontaneous amputation of his limb!
Today Marseille flies back to the Eastern Coast of the U.S. to be reunited with my nephew (via the U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail).
I already texted a photo of “recapitated” Marseille to my sister-in-law who shared this with my nephew who is very excited to get his beloved bear back (with a head)!
I must admit, repairing Marseille and working with a doll needle got me interested again in the idea of making “softies” someday. I will put that into my backlog of craft projects I want to work on someday.
Postscript
In addition to repairing Marseille the little teddy bear, I also had to repair Mike the Miniature Schnauzer’s favorite toy “Lamby”.
We do not usually let mike have stuffed/soft toys as he tends to tear them up (his main toys are usually chew-resistant balls). However when my sister-in-laws visited this summer for the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (see post Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show 2018, Part II: Visiting Crafters) they brought his a toy that was allegedly rugged and could handle his chewing – a toy lamb.
We named the lamb “Lamby”. Well Lamby, despite losing two limbs, was holding up and Mike adored his lamb and would nap with it:

But then we discovered Lamby had a terrible and unsightly injury: his crotch was ripped open!
Oh the horror!
I immediately repaired Lamby’s crotch injury and said to Mike: “You must be gentler with Lamby or he has to go away”. I think Mike understood me as here he is keeping post-operative Lamby company:
You should open up a Cuddly Toy Hospital. Great job.
Does Mike have some aggression issues?😉
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Awww – Cuddly Toy Hospital! First I should learn how to make Softies and then I would understand better how to repair them instead of just winging it. Yes Mike has some issues – ha!
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I’m so glad to know that Miarseille came through the surgery alright! I’m moving him from the Prayer List to the Praise List! Congratulations to the surgeon as well!
And of course Mike understood what you told him!!
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Awww thanks for putting him on that list – it worked he is much better now 🙂
I hope Mike understood as I am not sure I could take any more “lamb” violence! Ha!
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Animals are smarter than we give them credit for. I firmly believe my pets understand every word I say–it’s just that sometimes they don’t want to hear it! LOL
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The bear was a happy repair. I can’t keep a stuffed toy for my dogs. The immediate goal is destuff followed by me running around hoping they did not eat/swallow the squeaker
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Thanks for sharing this as I thought Mike was unusually aggressive with toys, I see he is not alone. Yes I am very please with the bear, thanks 🙂
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Ha- a doll needle is probably the only needle I don’t have! Nice repair on Marseille, I must keep a lookout for a ‘surgery’ tool like his. I’m in between canines right now, but every last one of them in the past was expert at dismemberment of their stuffed friends.
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Thanks so much and I see you have experience with dismemberment of toys! 🙂
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Now I know what the really long needle I found in my mum’s stuff is for! Our 12 year old golden retriever has a teddy bear she has had since she was a pup, it’s her comforter, it looks disgusting and most visitors look horrified when they are presented with ‘her baby’. Interestingly the other dogs seem to know not to touch it, any other toy is fair game!
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Ah I see you understand about a dog’s favorite toy! If I was presented with “her baby”, I would totally understand. Glad I took some mystery out of what the big needle was for!
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Yay – nephew’s bear is on his way home in tip top shape thanks to Auntie’s ministrations!
Lamby and Mike look peaceful – they have a good thing going and know it!
😉
Well done, Tierney.
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Thanks so much 🙂
Mike had another incident with Lamby this morning but it is easily repairable 🙂
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He looks brand new Tierney! Nice job!
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Thank you 🙂
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Heehee! You actually timed these posts really well, you know… It IS almost Hallowe’en! It’s good to see Marseille back in one piece again, and Lamby is looking better too!
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Thank you and I will try to keep it less macabre the rest of the month – ha! 🙂
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What a needle. I think you are most courageous to even thread it, let alone use it! Thanks for the chuckles
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Thanks! It was a bit intimidating and it was not the kind of needle you wanted to accidentally stick your finger on! 🙂
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Clearly Mike is nicer than the dogs I know. They rip their toys up and just keep going.
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Ah, I thought Mike was a mean one to toys compared to other dogs, thanks!
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Speaking of softies, I am a softy for this blog.
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Glad you enjoy it 🙂
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OMG! A little warning before displaying ripped out crotches, please! My eyes will never be the same. Excellent job on the surgeries, though. I hear Dr. Frankenstein might need a new assistant with your skills :))
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My apologies, that was fairly graphic! I will check out this Dr. Frankenstein and send my resume 🙂
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That is a huge needle! Hope the poor bear got some anesthesia before you poked him!
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That is awesome – thanks so much for the laugh 🙂
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