Safari friends, Lion

The first thing to say is that I love this little lion. I love the design and concept. However, the quality of the cloth (the linen) left much to be desired. I don't know if the quality is specific to the lion I received, but upon receipt, the cloth seemed to show signs of pilling (little balls). Also, even without much contact, a thread in the linen has come loose, which I am afraid to cut, for fear it will leave a hole. I'm not sure if I had received a returned toy, in the first place, or if this was simply a less well-made item (if so, what happened to quality assurance?). Either way, the amount I paid for shipping does not justify my spending more time and money to return the lion. However, I'm not satisfied as to the overall quality of the toy I received.

It's just so nice to get a well-made, high quality toy like this. So much has changed with so many other companies but Maileg remains so reliable - their toys are just awesome. Today this lion showed up - he's just perfect. I really love the yarn texture they gave the mane - it's a creative choice that makes the mane look almost majestic - especially from afar. You can almost see him as a clay figure, or a cut out photo collaged picture. I just really love him. I'm going to write an illustrated story about him. By the way, I called mine Cubbie.

He is adorable!