By Naomi Parris

IN almost every home, having a stuffed animal is somewhat essential, whether it’s sitting in the living room chair, looking at you from the top of a cabinet, or just lying in the bed.

For many of the older folk, stuffed animals or toys can be used as decorative pieces to give one’s home a warmer feel, while for the young it’s a comforter and friend or even a gift on special occasions.

Sometimes finding the right stuffed animal to match one’s specific style, or to send the perfect message can be difficult. However, 28-year-old Milika Stephens has put her creative talents to the wheel and has been making customised stuffed animals and toys from scratch with all recycled products.
Stephens is a registered nurse, but she is currently not practising as she is home with her nine-month-old baby boy. However, with the woes that came with the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, she had to find a way to generate income to assist her family.

It was then that the young woman decided to launch her business, CuddlesomeGy, which sees her making all local stuffed animals and toys from old pieces of clothes and cloth that can be used as keepsakes, gifts, decorations, or just a toy for the little ones.

“CuddlesomeGy makes keepsake animals from previously worn clothing that are of sentimental value to you or a loved one, clothing your child outgrew, something you love from your partner, and clothing from a loved one who passed away. Anything can be turned into a beautiful keepsake you can hold on to it forever.”
The young woman disclosed that she wanted to do something that she would love and which would not take up too much of her time, since her baby is very energetic and is now exploring the adventures the world has to offer.

“The idea for the business came during COVID-19. I was looking for ways to earn that won’t interfere with my ability to take care of my son,” she said.
Stephens officially launched her business during the epidemic, when the virus was at its peak in July. But her initiative and the business plan took off in full swing as it was something new on the market and persons were just as eager to welcome the new initiative. “I was eager to get started, since it’s something we don’t usually see here in Guyana,” she said.

The young woman noted that her spouse’s support and the little savings she had, aided in kick-starting her unique business venture.
Stephens noted that she works late into the nights when her baby is resting and it takes her about two to three and a half hours to sew or make one entire stuffed animal.
“The process starts with ironing the fabric, applying a stabiliser and designing, deciding what goes where on the animals. This can take as little as 45 minutes for simple designs or two hours for those with additional details. Once I’ve decided on the design, I proceed by drawing the animal patterns then cutting,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Stephens noted that the best part of making her cuddlesome teddies is adding the stuffing which pieces and completes the stuffed animal together.
“It’s such a pleasure seeing all the pieces taking shape. Once it’s stuffed, the seams are closed by hand, then I add any additional buttons or ribbons as needed. The eyes and noses are all secured with a tight washer on the inside of the animals, so there’s no need to worry about them falling off,” she said.
Most recently, Stephen has added a new line of creation to her collection, with teddy bears and other stuffed animals that are made only from old school uniforms.
She disclosed that she wanted to gift a young friend who was completing her primary education a keepsake of her old school; hence, she created a stuffed toy only from the young girl’s school uniform.

This she noted became a hit and is now one of her most-requested creations by her fans and customers, as many persons are interested in having some sort of memento of their younger days in school.