ABOUT LEITH TOY HOSPITAL
Leith Toy Hospital grew out of Picture to Puppet, a custom puppet and toy making business started in 2012. Leith Toy Hospital officially opened its doors in 2017, and has been growing in popularity ever since. Leith Toy Hospital and Picture to Puppet coexist in a cosy workshop at 64 Constitution Street, where new puppets and repaired toys can be seen sharing space in the window. Our soft toy repairs range from dog-mauled favourites to antique teddy bears. We also restore dolls in various states of ill health ranging from cracked porcelain to broken eyes. Come visit the studio and see us at work!
What Happens at the Teddy Hospital?
You can either bring your toy in or send him/ her special delivery in the post. When your toy is admitted, they will be tucked into one of our little beds and looked after by our nurse Millie. We will chat through some different repair options with you and fill out a form. We will give them a careful operation (under anaesthetic of course) and let you know when they are ready (anything between a few hours and a few weeks from their admittance). When teddy is ready to go home from the toy hospital, we will tie a fresh ribbon around their neck fill out a sick note stating what they need to do make a full recovery!
The Leith Toy Hospital Repair Team
Emma Forrest is our senior teddy surgeon who has a wealth of experience restoring antique soft toys antique soft toys. Originally a textile historian, she’s hopelessly devoted to her patients and treats each one dignity and respect.
Our doll specialist Katy Powell works with all types of plastics, porcelein, bisque, and composites to give her patients a new lease of life.
She is in the studio Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 10-6.
Polymath Charlotte Abbott is our mechanical and electrical technician. She’s also the main contact with the outside world and the IT support department!
A former (human) nurse, Ruth Marin has transferred her expertise to becoming a teddy nurse! She says it’s similar but the teddies complain less.
After a lifetime of working in haute couture for humans, Kiaz Trepte now makes classy made to measure outfits for the toys, well as recreating lost toys.
Helen Scott is our admin and finance person, she sorts everything out for us, checks the patients in and out and makes us tidy up after ourselves.
Juan Lebron is our leather man, he fixes all the leather and sheepskin teddies.
Mari Jones is the founder and director of Leith Toy Hospital. She works on custom builds and also repairs the knitted toys. She also runs Picture to Puppet, our sister company which makes custom puppets and soft toys to order.
You can find the team at work in the repair shop at 64 Constitution Street, Monday-Saturday, 10-6. Bring your favourite toy along and come and say hello!
Contact Leith Toy Hospital to ask about repairs
See examples of some miraculous recoveries!
Find out more about Picture to Puppet here!
