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Woo Bears
Its crazy, but I have been looking for over 2 months and have not been able to find a Canada source for excelsior! I live in Toronto, shipping is fine, but everyone says they've been out of it and out of it for awhile.
How can this be?
Has anyone else experienced this, or have a tip on how to get some?
If you work without it, what do you use to pack a teddy nose nice and tightly, and to create a slightly crackly feel to the bear's body?
I usually use a mixture of polyfill, excelsior a bit of shot or pellets to weight the bear here and there.
There are 6 bears' sets of body parts lying around my workroom and its like I can't finish until I can get some darned wood wool! (The other bears in the house are looking at me like I'm a serial killer because of the state of their friends - they seem to forget I'm putting them together, not taking them apart!)
Hope someone can help!
Cheers and thanks
Brenda
Teddy Retirement Home
Past Time BearsHi, Brenda. Do you have a Wal Mart, Joann's, Hobby Lobby, or any other type of store that has craft supplies? Those places have excelsior usually in the floral arrangement section. Good luck
desertmountainbearI recently purchased some from a shippig supply company in the US. It was cut in a hunk from a block, it is fine and supple. Here is the link
http://www.uline.com/BL_1972/Excelsior
Joanne
Hi Brenda,
Yes, check the floral dept of any craft store such as Michael's, although it is likely pricey there. I recently found some small bags locally here is N.S. (somewhere :redface: ). I think it was another craft store. I would he happy to pick up a couple for you if I can find more to help you out . I don't know if all excelsior is all the same , but this is very stiff and straw like .
Just let me know , and I'll go shopping 
Back Road BearsYou might check wholesale floral/garden supply places. Its often used to pack bulbs in.
Hi Brenda,
I e-mailed you last night with the name of a Cdn supplier - hope it helps, but checking out Michaels and Wal-Mart is a great idea!
Woo BearsThanks so much, everyone!
Strangely, the Michael's around here don't have any. I've tried shipping supply places, too, but no luck, so far. I'll keep at it!
S'Truth: I even contacted a couple of local taxidermy stores as they use it to stuff "things", and boy, did I get some weird answers! One fellow told me he takes it out of another place's garbage, and he wouldn't tell me who or what kind of company's garbage he was pilfering because he didn't want his supply to dry up cos I might get there before his next visit! I'm so glad I didn't go in person to his shop to speak with him.... I think he might be an alien :)
What do people use to produce nice, hard noses for their bears that keep their shap perfectly and are easy to embroider?
Cheers and thanks
Brenda aka teddy retirement home
The Littlest ThistleI've always used Boucifill stuffing for mine. Do love the idea of raiding that guy's garbage supply before he gets there though :crackup:
I recently purchased some from a shippig supply company in the US. It was cut in a hunk from a block, it is fine and supple. Here is the link
http://www.uline.com/BL_1972/Excelsior
Thank you for this link, Joanne. I ordered 5 pounds of the un-dyed version (the smallest quantity they have), and it's lovely excelsior -- not overly dry.
Becky
Woo BearsUpdate:
Uline is in Canada as well, and they ship either via UPS or Canada Post. Their customer service is WONDERFUL, and my 5 lbs of undyed fine aspen excelsior is on its way to me right now!
If anyone in Canada is looking for excelsior, I highly recommend them - and their prices are lower, even with shipping, than the specialty craft stores.
Cheers and thanks to everyone for your help! :)
Brenda
teddyretirementhome
