Are you accepting new orders?
Yes!
How does this work?
Purchase your animal on Etsy, and choose the options from the pull-down menus to customize your animal. After you order, you will receive the address to mail your clothing/fabrics. When I receive your package, I will make your animal & send it back.
How many clothing items should I send?
Up to 12″ animals, please send at least 1-4 clothing items. Up to 15″ animals, please send at least 3-6 clothing items. 18-20″ animals, please send at least 6-8 clothing items. 21+” animals, please send at least 7-9 clothing items. If you do not send enough clothing items to complete your animal, I will fill in with a solid coordinating fabric as needed.
A “clothing item” is generally considered a sleeper, sleep n play, swaddle, bodysuit, pants, dress, etc. You could also send blankets, swaddles, crib sheets, adult t-shirts, etc. You can always send a message if you have any questions about what to send.
What if I don’t have any clothing items, or aren’t willing to send them?
No problem. I know some people don’t have clothing items, or just can’t part with them. I can always purchase fabric for you. Just let me know the color(s)/theme and I’ll find the perfect thing.
Do you send back scraps or extra clothing?
Absolutely! Anything larger than 2″ will be sent back to you with your animal.
Will my animal be the same size as my newborn?
No. While I do make them the same height (within half an inch) and weight (within half an ounce) as your baby, you will notice right away the the animals are much “fluffier” than a newborn! If I made them the same proportions as a newborn, they would lose all the cuteness as a stuffed animal. So while the height and weight will be accurate, they will not be the same size as your baby was.
What is your current turnaround time?
My turnaround time is about 3-5 weeks right now, but is occasionally gets up to as much as 8-10 weeks. You can always message me on Etsy to ask, or just take a peek at the schedule tab to see how far out I’m booked.
Will I receive my animal in time for (holiday)?
For Valentine’s Day, order before mid-December.
For Ramadan/Eid, order before mid-February.
For Mother’s Day, order before mid-March.
For Father’s Day, order before mid-April.
For Grandparent’s Day, order before mid-July.
For Christmas, order before mid-September.
For Hanukkah, order before early September.
For New Year’s, order before mid-October.
What shipping service do you use?
I use USPS Priority Mail Shipping for US. US shipping is included. USPS Priority Mail Shipping typically takes 1-3 days. Occasionally I will use UPS if it is faster.
I use USPS or UPS for international shipping. International shipping will have an additional fee, and can get quite expensive due to the weight of the animals. Canada +$25, most other countries are +$45, and a few are +$60.
Do you ship to my country?
I am located in Columbia, Maryland, USA. I ship worldwide on Etsy. Shipping rates often show up pretty high due to the weight- if I can find a lower rate, you will be refunded the difference. International shipping will be via UPS.
Do you make any other animals?
I roll out a few new animals each January. Let me know if you have a request for the next year. I only make animals with several requests.
What is the smallest and largest animals you can made?
I make animals from 5 to 24 inches.
My original bear can be made from 5-24 inches. All other animals can be made from 12 to 24 inches.
All animals can be weighted up to 15 lbs. My original bear can weigh as little as 0 lbs 1.2 oz.
How long have you been making these?
I made my first memory bear in 2016 & have made over 3,500 since then. I have been sewing various things since the early 2000s, including clothing, costumes, and stuffed animals.
Which animal should I get?
I would recommend the most popular bear. It comes out adorable every time. The bunny, elephant, and fox are other favorites of mine.
Are these toys?
No; these are not toys. They are meant as keepsakes & are perfect for sitting on a shelf, out of reach of children. They are machine sewn with hand-sewn elements and small parts, and are not suitable as toys.
What is your return policy?
I do not offer returns/refunds due to the custom work that goes into each animal. Of course, if something is incorrect about your animal- like the height, weight, or embroidery, I will certainly fix that! Pretty much the only complaint I see from customers is that their animal was larger than they expected. Please see the FAQ “Will my animal be the same size as my newborn?”
Where do I send my clothing items?
You will be messaged/emailed my address after check out. Maryland, USA
Do you sell patterns so I can make my own?
I do NOT sell the patterns for the custom animals on The Pretty Piggy. However, I have created my own line of DIY sewing patterns, so you can make your own memory animal. These patterns include photo and video tutorials with all the tips and tricks you’ll need to make a perfect memory animal. These DIY patterns are a set size (16 inches) and are not intended to make a height/weight bear like my other animals. They’re simply for a regular stuffed animal memory bear. See Pretty Piggy Patterns.