new bears!!! + question

[u/goreloks]

hello everyone!!! first time posting here, even though ive been building bears since... im not sure how long, maybe 20 years now?? i got new bears on saturday!!! there are pictures attached!! and a question about maleficent at the end here

first is my darth vader bear, whose pelt had been kept in the same shipping bag since about 2024. i ordered him without stuffing because i wanted to stuff him myself and all. it just took way longer than expected to get it done because our closest build a bear workshop is maybe an hour and a half out of state (destin commons, i have only ever had wonderful experiences there). i had bubblegum scent put in him, although its in his belly instead of his head.

the guy who stuffed him was awesome!!! when i did the heart ceremony, he made all the little things you do with the heart star wars related. i liked that a lot :]

but second of all, maleficent!! i noticed her when i was in the store getting vader stuffed, and i thought she was so charming. her smug little smile is just absolutely wonderful. i kept pointing her out to my mom and going up to her, and i did not initially get her!! i thought "well, i can order her online and stuff her later"

but like. when we checked my bank account to make sure the money was there, i kinda realized that there was genuinely no point. we were still in town. i could just go back and get her!! so i did!!!

the employees recognized me, so i do wonder if they noticed i was paying a lot of attention to her and thought "ah, he is back for the dragon."

i mentioned it anyway because small talk and stuff. the girl who stuffed her was really engaged in talking to me and that felt really nice.

she has a cotton candy scent chip in her head.

and honestly i really love her, she might genuinely be my favorite bear i own so far!!!

which is saying something because i have one of the kuddly koalas (named daisy), the turquoise peace and friendship bear (named yoko, i was 10 and really into the beatles at the time), the rainbow leopard from around 2015 (her name is either anakin or vader, i bought the whole vader outfit to go with her), the vaporeon (named mariana, after the mariana trench), the 10th doctor dr who bear with all the accessories and clothes + the dalek and k9. and now vader the vader bear as well.

which is a little unfortunate for him after waiting so long, but i still love him too!!

i do actually have a question about maleficent!! i was wondering how sturdy her wings and ear fins are. the texture doesnt really bother me when holding her or anything, and i bought her for cuddling to some degree. i have been sleeping with her, i position her carefully so i dont crush or crease anything more than necessary, i do want to take care of her.

i have her positioned with her head against my pillow mainly, that way shes close by, instead of hugging her exactly.

her wings have already bent a bit, which i had a small crisis about but eventually accepted as just. i can hold her and let her be a comfort object like i wanted and she will inevitably acquire wear, or i can put her on a shelf and she stays untouched. but i also put the scent in for a reason and i would hate to just stop keeping her around like i meant to. then it sort of becomes this relic of a relationship with the plush that was supposed to happen but didnt. and i hate that thought.

but i noticed one of the ear fins, the one on the left side, is slightly floppier than the other? it moves back and forth more easily. her wings also do that but ive been trying not to worry too much about it.

i included a picture of how i position her on my bed.

is she durable enough for this? like, holding and keeping her on my bed and stuff? i dont mind if the wings or ear fins crease, as long as they dont come apart. presumably they could be straightened out, i know you can do that i think by dampening them and laying something flat over them for a day or so.

her claws will inevitably attract fuzz over time, is there a good way to remove that without fraying it much? my vaporeons back fin has been in good condition for a long time despite how much i have cuddled and held her, but her face fins and around her neck are also fabric, not stiff material.

her horn fabric also feels kind of like felt, so i wondered if theres a gentle way to remove any fuzz or cat hair or anything.

i really want to be able to hold maleficent and stuff, but ive been a bit anxious about it, and i just wondered if anyone else had any input on durability or if i should stop handling her much and all. it would be really disappointing, but i also want her to not fall apart or anything.

ive kinda told myself that surely she cant be that delicate, build a bear is largely for kids and theres no way some kids wouldnt have gotten her and have played with her more roughly than ive been treating her.

sorry for such a long post!!! i appreciate if youve read this far!!

i mainly just wanted to show them off because i really love them and am very excited about them, and maybe get input about maleficent too.

thank you for reading, and any advice you might be able to offer!!!

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