How do I order?
Simply choose what you'd like from the range on my website - but I'm more than happy to have a chat before you place your order. Please contact me using the e-mail address (clare@memorybearcompany.co.uk) or the contact page on my website. Once we’ve finalised your design, you can order via the website or I can send you an invoice and order confirmation with all the information you need. Alternatively, you can use the Shop facility on my Facebook page.
How do I pay a deposit?
Each product has an option to pay a deposit or full payment. Simply choose the deposit option and I will send you an invoice for the balance (see "How do I pay?" below)
What do you need from me?
If you are ordering via the website, please take care to include details about any personalisation you might like. There is not rush for this though, and we can discuss it at a later date. If you are ordering via messages with me, all I need is the details of what you’d like to order (item, size and any personalisation you’d like), the fabrics you’d like to use, and your e-mail address for your invoice and order confirmation. Once you have placed your order, I will e-mail with all the information you need about next steps.
I’m not sure what I want – help!
I’m asked this so many times and I’m more than happy to help with suggestions. Just let me know for whom you’re buying and your budget and we’re sure to come up with something! You can get in touch via my website chat function, Facebook/Instagram page or e-mail.
How do I pay?
The website gives you the option to pay by credit or debit card, or via Paypal, which also allows payment by credit or debit card. If you don’t have an account, you can pay as a guest.
There is also the option to "pay in 3" via Paypal and use Clearpay or Klarna, none of which will not affect how your order is scheduled.
If you are paying a deposit, I will send an invoice for the balance via PayPal. You can pay this invoice in instalments to suit you, no later than 2 weeks before your order is scheduled to be made (this date will be confirmed by e-mail). You can pay the invoice using your PayPal account or as a guest - you do not need a PayPal account. Invoices sometimes end up in Spam folders, so please check there if you haven’t received it. Your invoice should be showing in your Papal account even if you haven’t received the e-mail link.
How do I send my fabrics?
Once I have your order, I will confirm the address to which the garments should be sent.
Please ensure your order number (a four-digit in the subject of any e-mails I send you) is clearly written on the outside of your parcel. It is also included in the postal address within your "Next Steps" e-mail. Please ensure clothes are clean and dry (they may stay in their packaging for a little while) and please fasten all poppers/zips/buttons.
What sort of fabrics should I send?
For quilts and cushions, the choice is pretty much up to you. Patches are in multiples of 5cm (e.g. 20x30cm, 10x20cm, 10x15cm etc), so larger motifs and slogans can be used.
Don’t forget, it doesn’t have to be just baby clothes – why not include some of Dad’s t-shirt, your maternity dress, Grandma’s blouse or siblings’ clothes?
For creatures, many pattern pieces are quite small so it is often difficult to include motifs and slogans larger than around 5cm square. It also helps to have one fairly plain fabric for the face, as eyes and noses etc can be lost in a busy pattern. Creatures like elephants and monkeys have quite large pattern pieces and need at least one 6-9 month sleepsuit, or the equivalent size. The website and pricelist has details of which creatures need the larger sized clothes.
Please make sure any items with strong/dark colours have been sufficiently washed so there will not be any colour run when they are washed after they have been made into your keepsake.
I’ve paid and sent you my fabrics, what happens next?
Once you’ve paid, you will be added to the waiting list. I will have advised you at the time of placing your order how long the wait is estimated to be. I'll be in touch to confirm details when I'm ready to make a start. Once I’ve finished your order, I will e-mail you to confirm dispatch. I post using a tracked and insured service, and your order will require a signature on delivery.
I've missed my date! Shall I still send the clothes?
Yes absolutely, that's no problem and I understand that things happen - sometimes you just forget, sometimes you just can't face sorting through them. You'll sit on my waiting list until I've received the clothes you'd like me to use, then I'll fit you in at the earliest available gap. I'll aim to do this as soon as possible, but at busy times, particularly around Christmas, there may be a bit of a wait.
What happens to my spare fabric?
Unless you ask otherwise, I donate all unused pieces of fabric to charity, where they are then sold to a fabric recycling centre. Any unused, intact items can be returned with your finished order - PLEASE REQUEST THIS. Returning fabrics may incur an additonal postage charge if the weight of the parcel takes the postage into the next price bracket.
I’d love a quilt but I don’t have any spare money at the moment. Can I pay a deposit now and the rest later?
Absolutely! I understand that these keepsakes are treats and you’re more than welcome to pay a deposit to secure your place. Your order will be added to the waiting list on receipt of your deposit and I will send you an invoice for the balance. The invoices I send do not have expiry dates on, so once you’ve received them you can pay them on their due date, before if you’re able to, or (by prior arrangement) later when you’re able to. Your invoice will be set so that you can use the same invoice for all future payments.
PLEASE NOTE: I do not charge a premium for making use of a payment plan.
Where are the orders made?
Your keepsakes are made by me in my office in a little cottage in a little village called Llanfairynghornwy, on Anglesey. I never outsource work and I do not have employees. We are a non-smoking/vaping family and although we have two dogs, they do not sleep in the office and are never in the room unsupervised.
How long does delivery take?
My waiting list usually runs at around 9-12 months but I always keep a little capacity aside for those who need their keepsake sooner. If you need your order more quickly than the standard wait, there is a space in the form during checkout for you to let me know and you can select the priority delivery option at the checkout.
I see postage is included in the price. Is there a discount if I collect my order?
There is indeed! Please use the following codes if you are able to collect your order from Llanfairynghornwy, Anglesey.
1-2 keepsakes - code "LOCAL12"
3-4 keepsakes - code "LOCAL34"
5+ keepsakes - code "LOCAL5"
Are the teddies CE certified?
My patchwork keepsakes are made with clients’ own sentimental fabrics. There is an exclusion in the Toy Safety Directive for "dolls for adult collectors" which means that they do not have to be CE marked as a toy. To CE test an item, it must be made from the same fabrics each and every time and that fabric must be tested (including burning). Meeting the requirements of EN71-3 would therefore not be possible. All fillings, wadding, stuffing, eyes, zips etc conform to British safety standards. Because I cannot fire-test clients’ own fabrics prior to using them, there is no way to CE mark my keepsakes and they are therefore sold to adult collectors as keepsakes only, not toys. They are not made to be played with and I am not liable for any damage or misshaping caused by being handled and/or played with.
My daughter is 19 and I would really like a keepsake cushion for her but I hardly have any of her clothes from when she was small. What can I use?
If I can cut it and sew it, I can use it. Many types of sentimental fabrics make their way into my patchworks, from newborn baby clothes, first ballet outfits, Daddy’s tie to Gran’s favourite blouse. We can also incorporate photographs into the patchwork, along with names and significant dates. An example is our wedding cushions – they can be made to match the wedding theme and have the happy couple’s name and wedding date appliqued onto them.
How do I look after my keepsake?
I recommend you display your keepsake thoughtfully, away from direct sunlight and strong odours.
Quilts and cushion covers can be washed on a delicate cycle. Teddies should be surfaced-washed only with mild detergent. Please also consider the type of fabrics you have included in your keepsake and wash accordingly. It may be a good idea to pop them in a pillowcase before putting them in the washing machine, just to make sure that nothing catches in the drum.
Quilts tend to dry well on a gentle heat in a tumble-dryer, but please take care not to over-dry them as some shrinkage may occur in any trim/binding. If your keepsake has lots of embellishment like bows and buttons, please take extra care and I would recommend hand-washing only in this case.
If your keepsake has printed patches (e.g. names, handwriting or photographs) they must be put in a pillowcase or similar for washing.
Birthweight teddies should only be handled when unavoidable and the teddy should be held at the base, supporting the full weight. Holding the teddy by the head or limbs, or not supporting the limbs, could result in stitching and/or fabric being irreparably ripped. Avoid wetting your birthweight teddy – the metal weighting is encased in pouches inside the teddy but staining to the outer fabrics may occur if the metal gets wet.
The Memory Bear Company cannot be held responsible for any incident occurring or damage caused to your keepsake due to misuse.
