Cy Bear back again, and able to update everyone now that Isobel is back from her travels. By the time she got back last week, she was a bit tired. So neither did she attend her Zumba class on Tuesday (having only arrived back early evening the night before), but there was so much to catch up with - in the Shop (www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES), and on other social media sites - that no blog was forthcoming from either of us.
However: it's good to be able to tell you that the latch hook rug is now complete - except for some tidying up of the edging. If you refer to our post about it (08/06/2015 - "A Different Craft for Isobel.....") you'll see how the project started and now here is how it looks today.
The current edging is a plastic tape and was put on to keep the canvas backing from fraying on each edge. Isobel put it on by herself, which did not work very neatly. So she got another reel, and is hoping to do a better job tomorrow - hoping that some of the other residents will be able to help her during the weekly handicraft get together.
Entitled "Busy Bees", most of the partcipants busy themselves knitting (toys, baby wear - hats and matinee sets mainly), These are then sold via a Womens' Institute Market in a nearby town, with proceeds going to a local charity - chosen each year by the residents.
Isobel normally gets on with the latest Cuddly project. But since the beginning of June, every afternoon - for about two hours - has seen her hooking the rug, and it's eaten into her normal activity on the internet on behalf of us Coldham Cuddlies. However, after tomorrow, she'll be back - and has a long "To Do" List to work through for the rest of the summer. (She'll also be exploring how the rug can be raffled to raise the maximum amount of funds of other charitable enterprises, as well as some of the proceeds coming into the Residents' own funds - so that we can organise outings for ourselves around the beautiful countryside that surrounds us here in Kirkby-in-Ashfield).
In the evenings, since she returned from her travels to the South West of the UK (to where we lived until August last year) - she'll blog about that, probably next week - she's got on with the Foxes I told you about in our last post a couple of week-ends ago (05/07/2015 - "More news from the Foxy Production line").
The first stage at the beginning of this week comprised the attachment of shoes to each of the bodies and making the pantaloons with which all our Lady Dressed Toys are provided. (Our Lady Dressed Toys have shoes made with felt, or similar fabric: whereas, most of our Gentleman Toys are given Boots or Shoes made with real Leather).
Then, over the last two evenings, the bodices and arms have been sewn together.
As you can see, Isobel has had yet another change of mind with regard to the fabrics that will be used for each Fox, Wolf, Fantasy Creature or Coyote. (That's the beauty of making lots of toys all at the same time - she can change her mind as she goes along! )
Now all the arms need to be stuffed, and the bodices fixed onto the bodies. However, Isobel needs to do the skirts before the latter actions take place. So - she's off to begin that later this evening.
Meanwhile, it is good be back telling you about our activities in the Coldham Cuddlies world. See you all next week-end.
Your friend, Cy Bear.
