Where Did That Time Go? We've been SOOO busy, that it's passed in a FLASH!

Hello there Everyone!!  Did you think we'd gone for Good?  Not that I'd blame you, but as the title suggests, Isobel has been so busy with one thing and another, that she's not been able to type the blog on my behalf, so it's had to lapse for a week or two:  we now realise that it's over a month, since we last posted - and it's time we did.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/628782004/vicar-bear

The Free Church Bear, now entitled "Vicar Bear" was duly completed, after the Alternative  Missionary Bear (described in our last post)  and thus completed the present intended collection of Clerical Bears.   They are being Made to Order, so who knows:  someone seeing them either via this post, in our Shop Listings - www.COLDHAMCUDDLIES.etsy.com - or via the St. Barnabas Cathedral website (a link is given below) might suggest another version, and Isobel will be delighted to have a go - provided it doesn't stray too far from our current basic patterns!

Photo taken in part of the Cathedral gardens, with photograph taken by Fr. Kevin de Athaide

They've now all been listed - and have also been highlighted in the St. Barnabas RC Cathedral website - https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dioceseofnottingham.uk%2Fblog%2Fclerical-bear&h=AT2SXRDlFwBirx4CpG3kVeEwQsqfiJo3jgMFVpPCuKnkyu3d3LgUbgg9Tbxw175yQ8gSsuidejeWPt4jRSVVPRoqqqB5cF1Pttkg0r_T4OuydY5OlJw7BlnX  - and Isobel learned that they have a whole page to themselves - all thanks to Fr. Kevin de Athaide.   We're so grateful for his unstinting encouragement and help since he was told about the project at the beginning of the process. (Alas, he's been posted elsewhere by The Bishop, and leaves us tomorrow (09/17/2018) and we wish him all the luck he deserves in this new post as Assistant Priest, based at St. Thomas More, Church in Leicester - where two priests look after four separate parishes!  Isobel and family have just returned from a farewell "bunfight" they all attended earlier today ).


Immediately Isobel had finished sewing the Clerical Bears, she got on with an order that had been waiting in the wings - from a family Friend, MissJP,  who we meet regularly at Mass every week.  These two Teddy Bears will be shortly moving to Papua New Guinea with their intended Forever Friends (2 small boys - who live next door to MissJP).  She wanted to give them something to remind them of her, and the UK, when they fly off towards the end of 2018.


Allow me to introduce first, Yellow Plush Bear:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/629362812/yellow-plush-cuddly-teddy-bear

and his fellow Teddy Bear, Silver Plush Bear

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/629493714/silver-plush-cuddly-teddy-bear

They haven't been handed over yet, because MissJP is currently away on vacation, but we expect that meeting to take place next Sunday before Mass, which is when Isobel usually has a quick chat each week.  Meanwhile, they've been bundled up together to await that meeting,

and a Farewell photograph (as is the custom for departing COLDHAMCUDDLIES  Ornamental Toys) was taken of the three of us together.

We're all made with the same pattern:  it's just that we're made with different fabrics

The Clerical Bears have also appeared officially in public before the 1000 Mass for the past two Sundays, (and the 1115 Mass) as well as being listed and getting their own page on the Diocesan Website, so they are beginning to get known.  So far, we've had 6 Orders, either placed and/or promised.  Four of them will be eventually flying off to Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA - with the first, Padre Bear - hopefully flying off early next week.   Isobel is just finishing off his cassock, with everything else needed for a completed Bear ready to be attached to an already stuffed body. 


Our good friend,  MrSS - who designed the Oscar, Blue Rabbit Mascot for us earlier this year -

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/622319735/oscar-the-blue-rabbit

has told Isobel that he will also be requiring 3 Sister Bears to join Padre Bear, one at a time, once he has got to Tulsa safely.  ( Isobel wanted them to be ordered separately - so that the COLDHAMCUDDLIES shop statistics can benefit by showing the different orders we are currently beginning to get!  And, it's not only of Clerical Bears, I must also add:  this week, we also received a Custom Order for another Tiger Arm Puppet, which I'll be telling you about shortly, when the Tiger order comes to the top of the list - probably in about 14 days time).


Another Sister Bear is going to be joining my good friend, Panda Bear - who found a home with MsMP just before Christmas last year.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/622318049/panda-bear-ornamental-toy

MsMP  did tell Isobel she would be ordering a Sister Bear when she appeared, and happened to see her last Sunday when The Clerical Bears were first being displayed on a table in The Repository area of the Church Hall.  She's been cut out, and will be the next Bear to be worked on by Isobel, after Padre Bear flies off to Tulsa.  As you know, orders received are made in the order they get listed:  we're still waiting for the Tulsa-bound Sister Bear orders, so as MsMP's was received last Sunday - and in "real time" as it were, hers will be the first one going off to her new home.  (Isobel is going to show all The Clerical Bears for the next few Sundays, until they  are booked to appear at a forthcoming Christmas Artisan Bazaar - planned in St. Barnabas Church Hall for 12th and 13th October.) 


So Friends, I've yattered on long enough - but it has been quite a while that we've not been in touch, so I didn't think you'd mind me doing so this time around.  We'll try to be a bit better at keeping in regular touch, and meanwhile, I'm signing off with a sincere wish that all our Followers in the wake of  Hurricane Florence are safe and well, and that everyone else has a great week.  See you all again soon.


Your Friend,

Cy Bear.