Hello there Everyone: sorry to be late this week, but events in Isobel's life overtook us, and this is the first time we've had a chance to work together on our latest bulletin from the COLDHAMCUDDLIES' World.
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| Our Baby Hedgehogs, taken outside in a garden |
First of all, the latest on the Hedgehog front: Isobel has posted details about our intended campaign on our Shop About Page, (www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES.) as well as in the Shop Announcement section. They are also on the first row of our Shop Page when anyone calls in to the Shop to see what we Cuddlies look like.
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| This is Mommy Hedgehog sunbathing on a convenient wall |
Then whenever anyone shows support for ANY of the Coldham Hedgehogs, they get personally thanked by individual convo message via Etsy.com. with a brief background to the campaign - just in case they had not read about it in our last week's bulletin.
Daddy Hedgehog, among the bluebells
This week, in between other things Isobel has to do (as well as fighting off the cold that she fears is "cooking") she hopes to get in touch with local media (print and broadcast) to see if she can get news about our campaign "out there" in the REAL WORLD: so far it has basically been centred on the internet and other social media. Will report on progress, as it happens - IF IT HAPPENS: that's now down to YOU FOLKs, as well as us!
Now, our title promises you some news about some Old Friends - and official Associate Cuddlies. They tend to have been Patients in our Stuffed Animal Resoration Clinic at one time or another, and this is true of some of those whose photographs I'm including here. They all belong to Philippa. Isobel's eldest daughter, and as do all Bears, each have a story of their own - some more exciting that others maybe.
First of all there's Count Rusty de Benj - Rusty to his Friends. He was originally a raffle prize in the local pharmacy when Isobel, Peter and the girls lived in Canada, and has been with the family since the early 1980's. When Isobel learned that one of her tickets (each time one spent over a certain amount of money, a new ticket for the raffle was issued - and I think there were about 10 that had accumulated by the time it was drawn) the only way Rusty could come home was to be strapped into the passenger seat of the family car.
Having created quite an impression on the way home, at 4ft 6ins from head to foot, Rusty has kept it up ever since. He's travelled with Philippa around the UK each time she has moved for work purposes, and while she was in Belgium, spent some months in storage. During that time, he got somewhat limp and dusty, so when he arrived as a Patient in the Coldham Cuddlies Clinic, (https://www.etsy.com/listing/79124185/stuffed-toy-animal-restoration-clinic?ref=shop_home_active_14) he was de-stuffed, He had polystyrene balls inside him (a pet hate of Isobel's) had a good warm bath and was then re-stuffed. He now resides in the rocking chair in Philippa's bedroom in the UK.
This is Tommy Teddy, and he doesn't look in the slightest bit like he originally did. He was originally made with a blue and pink plush fabric and arrived in Philippa's collection of Bears when she was about 3-1/2 years old. We'd gone to visit some Loretto Sisters in their convent in Manchester (Granma Morrell had been educated by them, and Peter spent his early years in Manchester and was therefore well known to the Sisters).
Mother Superior arranged a mysterious delivery of this big Teddy Bear which at the time was almost the same size as Philippa herself, and he was promptly named Tommy Teddy. He travelled with the Family to and from Canada, and also with Philippa around the UK, with Rusty. He alas did not stand up as well to the same treatment, and indeed is a lot older than Rusty. So, when he arrived in the Clinic he was duly taken to pieces and de-stuffed (he had foam pieces inside him, and that is no longer an acceptable form of stuffing in these days of "Health and Safety"). However, his original skin did not survive the luke-warm bath! Isobel was able to rescue sufficient of the pattern to be able to recreate him in this more modern version using Blue and Pink Fleece, and he now sits with Rusty on the same rocking Chair in Philippa's UK home.
Now the third ursine member in this Bear family picture is known in the Family as "Big Teddy". He was given to Philippa by Peter and Isobel for her first birthday and despite being the oldest member of the trio, really looks in remarkable trim given his age.
When he first arrived, he was a definite favourite with his young Forever Friend: however, shortly afterwards, a favourite Aunt and Uncle arrived from Kenya to meet Philippa for the first time, and brought with them a bright Yellow Plush Teddy Bear who became known as Sleepy Teddy. For some reason - probably because he is a softer, cuddlier Bear - the invader ursurped Big Teddy in Philippa's affections. Sleepy Teddy has been EVERYWHERE with her, even when she used to travel overseas to Australia, America and other exotic places for work, and he's been re-covered at least twice in his life. (Isobel says he needs another new coat, but so far has not been able to achieve her aim of providing it). Meanwhile, Big Teddy continues to sit serenely with his two fellow Bears - looking almost as good as new.
Isobel is busy making Baby Koalas, in between the Hedgehog Campaign arrangements, so hopefully there will be some up to date photographs to show you next week. She's made 6 of them, and they're coming along fine. Currently, its the battle of fixing heads to bodies that is occupying her.
See you all next week - hopefully on the right date this time around. Your Friend, Cy Bear.
