Squaring some circles: updates following

Cy Bear here - bet you've been wondering where I've been!  Isobel has been busy recently, what with finishing Mme. Lapin and sending her back to St. Albans for her "After" 360 degree pictures at Outsphere UK & Ireland, and then rejuvenating Mons. Reynard (job now finished - and awaiting Mme Lapin's return so that we can complete the farewell ceremonies - with ME in charge! - before they go back to France and Mrs. IM., sister-in-law to Isobel and Peter.  Although the rejuvenation of Mons. Reynard is complete, Isobel will not be posting about the process  until the departure time approaches, as she feels it more appropriate to include the farewell pictures when she does the piece(s).  Suffice to say, Peter cannot believe "how clean" he now looks!

So, while we wait, Isobel and I feel it right to bring you all "up to snuff" as an English saying goes on what else has been happening in the world of the Coldham Cuddlies (www.etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies).  There seems to have been quite a lot, although the shop is still a little bare - and we hope it will tie up some loose ends for you - as it does for us.

Way back in October last year (in a post entitled "Just checking in - and playing catch up as well! /02/10.11) Isobel mentioned that she was working on some labels for use with us Cuddlies.  Well, it's taken some time, and we've gone to more than one possible source, but Isobel finally decided to try the manufacturer of those name tapes that mothers/children of former, and current,  boarding school pupils will recall - Cash's Name Tapes.  By "googling" that into the computer, Isobel was directed to the site of a company called Woven Labels UK Ltd who not only produce those kind of labels, but labels suitable for crafters too. 

The artwork was sent, a price suggested - which initially was for 500 or 1000 labels!   Isobel responded that given her work rate (at that time, anyway) she could be dead before that final number was reached and wondered if they could give her a price for, say, 250.  They came back - remarkably fast - and a price was agreed.  In the interim, both Peter, Isobel and Mr. RFE (responsible for the original artwork) had had some further ideas, and the artwork was changed a little.  We've now got to the point that we have a sample label to show you - it's been sent back, because they've got the colours a bit mixed up.  But, basically, if the line with "@ tiscali.co.uk" is woven in the same colour as "ColdhamCuddlies", we've got 250 labels shortly on the way.  Now Isobel has got to figure out where she's going to attach the labels to us Cuddlies!  That's her problem, not mine!   Here's what the sample looked like when presented:

Label as presented.

We want, if possible, for the label to  be easily recognisable as the Coldham colours, with its similarities to our banner in this blog and that of the shop (www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com).

As Isobel comments:  "It takes me back to my school days - just before term began, when all the new items needed name tapes to be attached!"  Whilst her mother did some of them when she was first at school, latterly, due to Mother losing her sight, it became one of Isobel's duties! That I believe was between 1951 and 1957!  Well before I was thought of as a  Bear, even though I was then still a Beaver Lamb Fur Coat.

Now for some news about our recent departures:

Hairy Bear (with Light Brown Felt Muzzle) has arrived safely in Sequals (his departure was announced in our post dated 10.02.12).  The last time we heard, he was sitting in the middle of Mr. RFE's sofa and very comfortable after his postal journey.  Mr. RFE's cat, Snow (who adopted Mr. RFE a couple of years' ago and is totally white in colour) has decided Hairy Bear is nothing to worry about.  Having sniffed him, pushed him about a little, he has since ignored him.  So, the presumption is that Hairy has been accepted.

The Panda Bear, destined for Neosho, Missouri also arrived safely at his Forever Home - and has been christened Peter Panda by Mrs. VY, his new Forever Friend. 

Now, here's an interesting anecdote:  during various conversations between Mrs.VY and Isobel, it was established that they both had an interest in Hedgehogs.  Mrs.VY, when a girl of 10 or so, had had two real ones and  has loved them ever since.  Isobel, as you know, has been searching for a pattern for one so she could add them to the Coldham Cuddlies Family at www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com.  Well, a day or so later, Mrs.VY - whose Etsy Shop specialises in vintage toys - sent Isobel a link which provided a pattern for a whole family of hedgehogs!  Isobel clicked onto it straight away, found there was only one available and purchased it immediately.  Result - it arrived in Heytesbury last Friday (February 24), and once  Mons. Reynard was completed (on Sunday), she cut out Mr. Hedgehog.  He has now been finished, and Mrs. Hedgehog is partially complete - the body needs to be stuffed, the head attached to the body, as well as the four feet.  Then Baby needs to be cut out and sewn.  Isobel is really pleased with this addition to the Coldham Cuddlies fold - and will be revealing them as one of her new products at the upcoming  "Spring Shopping Day" being held at the Heytesbury Primary School on Saturday, September 10. They should be quite easy to make up once she has got used to the new pattern(s).  The first editions are always slower than those that follow!

The Rabbits (shown below) that we sent to Mrs.SP in Medford, Massachusetts, although posted a couple of days earlier, only got to their destination at the end of last week.  However, they have been gladly received and more will be heard about them around Easter time (mid-April, I am told) when pictures  of them with  their respective Forever Friends will presumably be taken - and provided to us.  Here's a picture of the whole bunch, before they were packed up and sent off - you may recall, Mrs.SP was given a choice of the Baby Bunnies before they left us, and those selected are shown, with their labels in front of each.

Selected for dispatch to Medford, Massachusetts.

The Spring Shopping Day is turning out to be a lot bigger than Isobel had originally expected it to be.  It's arranged to last from 1000-1600 hours on March 10, which had meant that Isobel might have had to leave early so she could get lunch for Peter (who has complicated dietary requirements which only Isobel can fulfill).  However, Philippa (elder daughter and Forever Friend of Rusty Bear - still waiting for treatment in the Coldham Soft Toy Clinic (Etsy Listing #79124185) and former patient, Tommy Teddy) is coming to visit that week-end and is more than happy to deputise (and well able to meet such requirements).  Thus Isobel will be able to stay for all the time required as, in addition to our stall, there are going to be 15 other sellers exhibiting, with wares on offer covering Jewellry, Homemade Cakes - being provided by the Jubilee Committee (those arranging the village's celebrations of our Queen's Diamond Jubilee in June), Single Estate Extra Virgin Italian olive oil, Ceramics and lots of other specialities, most of whose traders are sited in Heytesbury and it's surrounding villages.

For that reason, Isobel decided that she really needed to make more of an effort to exhibit us Coldham Cuddlies.  Up till now, she's taken us in our respective plastic and other carrying bags, and plonked (that's the best description I can come up with - there's been no attempt at "arranging" us!) us on the table reserved for us.  From now on, we will be shown on a background of emerald green plush velvet covering the table (we should all look good on that!) and the front of the stall will be decorated with a banner that Isobel has recently purchased from BekahJennings' shop - an Etsy shop which specialises in making hand-made banners for all occasions.  This was a customised order for Isobel, and consists of handmade cards with a yellow background and green painted labels spelling "COLDHAM * CUDDLIES" all linked together with a lovely bright orange ribbon.  Isobel intends to drape the front of the stall - with the crushed velvet background - with this banner.  I think it should look good and the Cuddlies Family (or those that currently remain will stand out well.  Isobel is (planning  the replacements!)

This post has gone on long enough.  There are still some more items to update you on, I believe:  in which case, I expect Isobel will be suggesting I tell you about them in the a future post soon.  Meanwhile, cheers for now.  Cy Bear.

The Coldham Cuddlies French Connection(s)

Am having a frustrating few days dominated by car troubles, so in an effort to calm the nerves, have decided to post about the current toy-making projects.  Am well into the creation of the replacement Brown Rabbit destined for his Forever Home with MmeAB in Versailles France.  Have decided, given that he is the  first French connection for www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com that I'll call him Mons. Brendan Lapin for the purposes of this blog at least.  What MmeAB decides to label him upon his arrival (hopefully he'll be on his way by the end of this week) is entirely up to her, of course.

Waiting to be topped and tailed

As it is getting close to the festive season, I've given him some braiding decoration around his cuffs and around the neck of his waistcoat.  His boots are ready for sewing together and stuffing and his head is on its way as you can see by the next illustration.

Still needs a face and ears - not far off!

Completed his white bobtail last night and sewed the ears together.

The latter are due to be attached after I've done this blog and are shown below, together with the boot pieces awaiting attention.  Being real glove leather they do take a bit longer to sew - I don't use the sewing machine, even though my Janome Harmony 2039 model is supposed to be able to handle it and I do have a needle capable of doing the job.  The Coldham Cuddlies are hand made toys, and I'm sufficiently picky as to feel that is what they should be - by and large.  When making up the calico body prior to dressing them, as well as some of the jackets, waistcoats and dresses, I do resort to the machine.  The seams involved make it seem a worthwhile exercise.

Now to the other Coldham Cuddlies French connection:  in the last post I mentioned the arrival of  a Mr. Fox and a Mrs. Rabbit made in the 1970/1980's for my sister-in-law.  Well IM, my sister-in-law, being Mauritian by birth is a French speaker and actually lives in France - and has done for many years.  So, I feel justified in describing  Mons. Reynard and Mme Lapin as French residents as well.  Here are a series of pictures showing them as they arrived for treatment in the Coldham Cuddlies Soft Toy Clinic (Etsy Listing #79124185) last week.

I've taken several other photos, and will post them as I describe their treatment - but here is a taster.  There's no deadine for the jobs to be done, but it's nice for all of you to see them before their transformation.

For toys that over 35 years old, think they are in pretty good condition.  Mme Lapin is in the best condition, both need re-stuffing as I seem to remember I used either cut up foam rubber (highly unsuitable these days) and/or cut up nylon stockings/tights - again similarly unsuitable.  However, I'll fill you in on their requirements as and when I get to them!

In the interim, must close so that I can have a sewing session on Mons. Brendan as planned!  Goodnight and all the best!  Isobel

Just checking in - and playing catch up as well

I cannot believe that it is nine days since I posted here - so think it's appropriate that a degree of catch up takes place with me notifying you of what you're likely to be seeing from both the Etsy shop (www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com) where we have a definite departure scheduled for later this week, and six new listings.  Both items will probably form the subject of at least one blog post.

The Greatest Coffee Morning in the World in aid of MacMillan Cancer's 100th Anniversary took place as scheduled on September 30.  Attendance, according to the regular participants, was not as great as usual.  That  may have been because the temperatures were soaring into the high 70's-low 80's and people's minds were just not focussed on Christmas present purchasing - more likely to be how they could pack the family off for the week-end to the nearest coastal town to bask in the promised sunshine.  Nevertheless, from the Cuddlies' point of view, we had three sales in the two hour session - one of which was a newly-launched Glove Puppet.  I'll be posting a separate blog about all of them, of course, but meanwhile here is a taster:

Six Little Glove Puppets sitting on a Bench

I'll not identify the one on her way to a  2 year-old New Best Friend for Christmas.  That can wait till the blog itself appears.  All the Glove Puppets were received with enthusiasm and have been listed at www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com with their own Glove Puppets Section.  It is my intention to make more of them, once I've sorted myself out.  They are attractive, individual, reasonably quick to make (2-3 days maximum) and I think are an exciting addition to the ColdhamCuddlies family. All five remaining ones have already been favourited by one of my fellow Etsians - and they were only listed late on  Saturday evening!  Even allowing for the fact that the USA is behind us in time zones, think that is a pretty amazing result!

The venue for the Charity Bazaar is a pretty amazing one - Slater's Barn  is a specially constructed facility which presumably is used for outside functions, besides the annual MacMillan Cancer jamboree.  It has it's own kitchen facilities and is carpetted, has central heating (so can be used year round) and good lighting (which was not required on Friday morning - given that blazing sunlight was streaming through the windows).  I know I said I would take the camera with me to take pictures of the display table - alas, in the rush to get out in time to set up, although I took spare batteries, the camera did not make it into the bag!  (All was not lost, however:  one of our neighbours was dragged by his wife to the bazaar, he had his camera with him and he kindly has provided some snapshots - which give an indication of the stall and it's owner!) 

However, I have a cunning plan:  the property owner is a fellow attendee at the weekly Zumba Gold exercise sessions I have recently started to attend.  We had a brief chat at the Bazaar, and this Tuesday, I'm going to ask if I can go round and have a clicking session on my own.  If that happens, think Slater's Barn history would make an interesting change of subject for a future post.  It is set in idyllic parkland, about 3 minutes drive from our home. There are several examples of lovely parkland settings  in this delightfully picturesque village - and provided the weather plays ball (which it looks as though it's not going to!), that can make the fifth future post  lined up for your edification!  Must be something of a record - at least for this embryonic blogger!

Then I'm pleased to say that one of my dressed Male Rabbits has found a new home - in Everett, Washington State and will be on his way early in the week.  It's Uncle Brendan Brown Rabbit (Etsy Listing #56013030) who has been selected, so that's another replacement project to be scheduled in between the rejuvenation of Tommy Teddy and Big Koala - the two remaining patients in the Soft Toy Clinic (Listing #79124185) .  Here is a picture of Uncle Brendan to remind you of how he looks:

There's another potential new development too.  For the past few weeks, I've been discussing with Ed Ted's Best Friend, RFE the possibility of having some special ColdhamCuddlies labels woven. (RFE  is a very capabale Graphics Designer, whom we have known since we returned from Canada in 1987, now based in Italy, but travelling regularly to Dubai and, occasionally, the UK!  Thank goodness for the internet - how did we manage without it for such matters, I sometimes wonder?)  One never knows - sometime in the future, the current Cuddlies might one day become valuable vintage toys - whose value can only be enhanced if there is a recognised label attached.  My husband has been keen to see if the idea was practical and it is increasingly looking as thought it might be!  We've got the artwork, we're in the process of getting quotes - and I hope to be attaching the chosen labels to future Cuddlies in the not too distant future.  That could form the basis of yet another blog, methinks.  I'll have to make a list - or I'll forget what I'm going to do - I'm not immune to "senior moments" these days, alas!

Right, I think I have caught up - will be posting, with Cy Bear's help, in the next few days.  Meanwhile - good bye for the moment!  Isobel