toys that became real
March 28, 2022 11:32 AM Subscribe
Much Loved, intimate portraits of threadbare companions. Flopsie, Bobo, Daddy Bunny, Teddy Tingley, Peter Rabbit, Panda, One Eyed Ted, Edward, Patsy, Gerry the Giraffe, Pierre, Brownie. A collection of portraits of stuffed animals and the stories of their relationship with the people who own them. Photographs by Dublin based photographer, Mark Nixon.
Bonus links:
The Velveteen Rabbit
Or How Toys Become Real
by Margery Williams
"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." [previously]
Teddy bears as psychological comfort objects.
Bonus links:
The Velveteen Rabbit
Or How Toys Become Real
by Margery Williams
"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." [previously]
Teddy bears as psychological comfort objects.
10 years ago my wife found me carefully photographing a stuffed cat in my son's room. She asked me what I was up to. I told her "Robert Kitty won't look this good forever."
I was right. Robert Kitty is still beloved. He's not quite so fluffy, and has had his stuffing touched up multiple times. Our son is nearly 12, and still brings Robert when he travels.
I am loving this photo gallery but also finding it weird, as Mark Nixon is my dad's name...
(At one point it was a toss up whether Robert was his favorite, or the puppy - Robert won. The puppy doll remained in much better shape!)
posted by caution live frogs at 12:50 PM on March 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
I was right. Robert Kitty is still beloved. He's not quite so fluffy, and has had his stuffing touched up multiple times. Our son is nearly 12, and still brings Robert when he travels.
I am loving this photo gallery but also finding it weird, as Mark Nixon is my dad's name...
(At one point it was a toss up whether Robert was his favorite, or the puppy - Robert won. The puppy doll remained in much better shape!)
posted by caution live frogs at 12:50 PM on March 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
These are adorable.
Under his hat and clothes, Teddy Moore is held together with tights. Although he looks like he was in a fire, in Daragh's own words, she kissed the fur off him.
posted by Dip Flash at 12:59 PM on March 28, 2022
Under his hat and clothes, Teddy Moore is held together with tights. Although he looks like he was in a fire, in Daragh's own words, she kissed the fur off him.
posted by Dip Flash at 12:59 PM on March 28, 2022
I was a blankie girl, not a teddy girl, but my brother's childhood teddy resurfaced recently, and his kids were playing with it and it would fit in on this site.
His son is a blankie boy, like his auntie. His daughter is 9 and she's juuuuuuust about done with her cat in the hat stuffie -- but only just about. Cat doesn't need to go absolutely everywhere with her anymore and she can sleep without him, but sometimes she's anxious and then Cat makes things better. Cat (and owner) are fortunate that Grandma is good with a needle and thread or Cat would be in even sorrier shape than he is.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:07 PM on March 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
His son is a blankie boy, like his auntie. His daughter is 9 and she's juuuuuuust about done with her cat in the hat stuffie -- but only just about. Cat doesn't need to go absolutely everywhere with her anymore and she can sleep without him, but sometimes she's anxious and then Cat makes things better. Cat (and owner) are fortunate that Grandma is good with a needle and thread or Cat would be in even sorrier shape than he is.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:07 PM on March 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
An excellent companion to this would be the teddy bear repairer segments from The Repair Shop, which was on Netflix. Many happy tears, many tears of joy. I love everyone on The Repair Shop, but I love the stories involving the teddy bear repairers most.
And since I just went to find a clip I found out that there are new seasons, and the BBC ran this from one of them: "The adorable story of Billy and his broken teddy bear". Unfortunately it doesn't include the actual repairing part - just the beginning of the story and the resolution - but still worth the 5:01!
I tell you what though, some of the ones with the elderly folk are even more touching than that.
If you want to see some of the actual handiwork: Toy Bear Gets a Century Over-Due Makeover. But really if you haven't, watch the show.
posted by Glinn at 3:38 PM on March 28, 2022 [5 favorites]
And since I just went to find a clip I found out that there are new seasons, and the BBC ran this from one of them: "The adorable story of Billy and his broken teddy bear". Unfortunately it doesn't include the actual repairing part - just the beginning of the story and the resolution - but still worth the 5:01!
I tell you what though, some of the ones with the elderly folk are even more touching than that.
If you want to see some of the actual handiwork: Toy Bear Gets a Century Over-Due Makeover. But really if you haven't, watch the show.
posted by Glinn at 3:38 PM on March 28, 2022 [5 favorites]
My daughter will be 21 in a little under 8 weeks. Her best friend Nappy Bear has lived his whole life with her. He's gone everywhere we have gone in these two decades. He did get lost one time for several days until we found him perched in a tree in Cambridge, where someone had found him and put him for safekeeping until we could recover him. At the ripe old age of 21, Nappy's ears have rubbed down to nubs, he's been restuffed a couple of times, his nappy fur (which gave him his name) has gone smooth, he has an arm that occasioanlly has had to be reattached, and he has a little calico heart sewn on that was not there originally. He is as loved and as real as anyone or anything I have ever known.
posted by briank at 6:14 PM on March 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by briank at 6:14 PM on March 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
I own this book and reading it has broken my heart many times. Glinn, I too have shed tears over the stuffed animals on The Repair Shop, including a tiny 130-year-old papier-mache tiger automaton who lost his roar.
Adding to this list The Mouse and His Child by Russell Hoban, one of my favourite books, which is guaranteed to make me cry every time I read it, as the abandoned toys get tattier and more run-down.
I went through a stage where I rescued a few beloved old teddies and bunnies from estate sales. They'd be sitting there, stuffing coming out, heads lolling; their owners had passed away and nobody knew how important they'd once been. I knew the sad little beasts would be put in bin bags at the end of the day. Now they're on top of the shelves in my wardrobe -- is that a better place for them? I don't know, but I hope they feel safe for now.
posted by Orkney Vole at 1:29 AM on March 29, 2022 [8 favorites]
Adding to this list The Mouse and His Child by Russell Hoban, one of my favourite books, which is guaranteed to make me cry every time I read it, as the abandoned toys get tattier and more run-down.
I went through a stage where I rescued a few beloved old teddies and bunnies from estate sales. They'd be sitting there, stuffing coming out, heads lolling; their owners had passed away and nobody knew how important they'd once been. I knew the sad little beasts would be put in bin bags at the end of the day. Now they're on top of the shelves in my wardrobe -- is that a better place for them? I don't know, but I hope they feel safe for now.
posted by Orkney Vole at 1:29 AM on March 29, 2022 [8 favorites]
This is lovely. I've always felt there is something very special about a stuffed toy. I still have mine, two frogs wearing clothes named Croaky and Croaker. Relatives used to tease I'd take them to college with me, but joke's on them, I did, and have taken them everywhere since. Right now they're on a shelf where I can see them often.
I'll be asking for this book for a Christmas gift!
posted by fiercecupcake at 6:55 AM on March 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
I'll be asking for this book for a Christmas gift!
posted by fiercecupcake at 6:55 AM on March 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
Please, please, please, if you have a beloved old bear, sew a tile or an AirTag in him today.
Signed a mourning middle aged woman.
posted by Iteki at 2:48 PM on April 18, 2022
Signed a mourning middle aged woman.
posted by Iteki at 2:48 PM on April 18, 2022
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One Eyed Ted is the best. As is Teddy Tingly. As is Pierre.
There's something so warming and joyous about seeing a much-loved animal. I have a few much-loved animals, and several rather like-new ones; it takes a lot of hugging and carrying-everywhere for a bear to become much-loved.
This is a wonderful book, and a wonderful post. Thank you so much, nickyskye!
posted by kristi at 12:32 PM on March 28, 2022 [2 favorites]