#stuffed elephant

[bugsticker]

Kinder Gund Pink Elephant - 1989 (via)

[doctorbeth]

Red Heart Elephant

Elephant was well loved for many years. So well loved, that when his person outgrew him, his person's mom put him in a box of keepsakes and stored him safely away in... an attic. And he became mostly a memory in his person's mind. Fast forward almost 6 decades and his person was going through boxes of her mom's things and found Elephant! As she said, he'd seen better days, but she had fond memories of their time together and hoped he could be restored and/or rejuvenated. Here are a couple of the diagnosis photos she sent:

As you can see, Elephant had lost his hearing, and had vision issues in one eye. He was a bit discolored from age, had a bit of a slump from stuffing compression, and had lost his tail. He also had a bit of balding, some small wounds, and his internal wire structure was bent out of shape.

His person wanted to think about the treatment options (spa, transplants, etc). She eventually opted to give him new ears, new felt around his original eyes, a new tail, new spa, a small heart transplant for his largest bald spot, a new tongue tip, wound repair, and wire adjustment.

She found this image of one of his relatives, as a reference, but didn't want the red tail with a bell. She opted for a tail to match his torso, and with a string tip.

She also wanted a bit more decorative ears, and so found a nice red minky with white hearts that she sent with him to be used for his inner ears.

So Elephant flew in from Texas, and started, as many patients do, with his spa:

His old eyes were out for the spa not so he could hide, but because, as you can see, the old felt had bled onto his fur (that just happens over time). You can also see he's losing a bit of the antique browning he had gotten from his time in the attic.

Next was restuffing him (once he dried) and of course he got a little heart. I used a lighter fabric because to match his lighter fur.

Next was choosing the fabric for his outer ears and tail. There were many options, because he was kind of a creamy, tan, gray color... his original color was probably a pale gray.

His person made her choice, and surgery proceeded. Hearing restored with new ears, a new tail, new red felt for his eyes to match his inner ears, a small heart patch for his bald spot.

Once he was better, and feeling himself again, he was ready to fly home:

He flew home to Texas and his person was so happy! She sent me his whole story (turns out his name wasn't Elephant, it was "Lel-Ephant") and he hadn't just been a childhood playmate, but also a companion purchased to keep her company during a hospital stay, who then proceeded to be carried everywhere until she started school. He would be left in the rain, and at neighbors, but always came home.

Now both he and his person have survived many years apart, and their own additional challenges, but can finally share their lives together again.

[wanderingmind867]

Have you ever stared off into space so long you make your eyes water? I've done that before. And it's kind of frustrating when I do it, because it conveys to me the emotions that I'm bored and depressed. Part of me wants to go back upstairs so I can lay down for a few minutes. I think I'll do that, actually.

But yeah, I feel existential and emotional a lot. My moods go all up and down a lot. Being 21, having no friends besides my dad, no longer having high school to provide some structure in my life, etc. There's a lot to stress me out, and that probably comes through in my attitude.

I have heartburn again, presumably from the two muffins and granola bar I had for breakfast. I'm laying down upstairs again, just enjoying my bedroom. I've got my blinds open, so I can see the morning light. I'm laying on my side. I've taken my glasses off, and I feel oddly cozy again. Just me, my blankets, my phone and my one stuffed animal I've basically had since birth (a stuffed elephant someone made me when I was an infant or toddler). I... depressingly, you could argue I'm closer to this stuffed animal than I am to anyone (besides my dad).

I'll move back downstairs in a bit. But I'm pretty comfy. I'm making myself feel tired again, interestingly. But I'll try to resist those feelings for now. sigh...

[teddy-bear-naps-and-random-snaps]

[hyperfixationjunkie]

Weighted Pink Elephant

What should I name her?

[blues-of-randomness]

I found the cutest elephants today!

[hood-ex]

Okay so I know Zitka (Elinore???? whichever) is an actually elephant in Dick’s childhood but did he actually have that stuffed animal elephant or was that a fanon idea

It's a fanon idea mostly seen in fics. I think the only stuffed animal we've seen Dick with is a teddy bear in Gotham Adventures.

[dreamdropcompanions]

old art of one of our plush/squishy Ellie