My word, but this week has flown by: but it's good to be back again, and starting off this week's post with the promised photographs sent to us showing Benjie Bear (a.k.a. Teddy Bear Thornton, when he was a patient with us before Christmas last year). These were taken after he'd met his Forever Friend (from the current generation of the Thornton Family) MsAT, What is rather nice is that MsAT has created a biography-to-date, which sums up where Benjie's life is now:
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| On his new seat when at home with MsAT |
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| Sporting his newly provided warm scarf |
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| Sitting on a carpet shortly after meeting his new Friends |
I'm now going to include Benjie's Story up till now, but you know the thing that caught my eye? That is that he's already a centenarian! He's now 104 years old!! Isn't that great?
This is Isobel's main reason for loving restoring toys for use by future generations! Thanks a million to the Thornton Family for both introducing us to Teddy Bear Thornton in the first place - and allowing us to make him ready to face the future!
Now to some Bears who we are hoping will prove as long-lived in another context. Our Clerical Bears were originally created purely as a fund-raising tool to help the St. Barnabas Cathedral Restoration Fund which helps to keep the Cathedral maintained. However, their mission has been extended to being part of the 175th Anniversary Celebrations of St. Barnabas' Opening which begins in May this year. The original 6 Bear Collection has now been expanded with the addition of three new Sister Bears, all of whom are made "in the style of" Orders of Nuns who have served in the Parish during that period. These have included The Sisters of Mercy, Poor Clare Nuns (as they were/are known) and The Little Company of Mary (or The Blue Nuns - for reasons that are pretty obvious: their distinctive blue veils).
So, as they are all made from the same pattern, with just their habits and veils being different, I'll show you pictures of each of them, with a brief description of how they are made:
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| Sister Breda |
Each Sister Bear has a separate body cut out in the same colour fleece as their head, paws and ears. The fleece paws get sewn to the appropriate colour "habit" fabric, and then each arm is stuffed separately, with a plastic disc sewn in to the top of their two arms. The bodies and heads get stuffed, with the eyes and nose being fixed in the head, before the stuffing gets added.
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| Sister Clare |
Then the veils are attached to each head, with each Bear's ears being sewn on, and once each Sister Bear's bodies have been stuffed, the "dress" is pulled over the body, and the arms are fixed in place with a matching plastic disc - through holes in the side seams of "habit" and body pieces. (That's quite an exercise for Isobel's increasingly aarthritic fingers, and now has to have the assistance from a pair of pliers in order to get the arms safely in place.) The arms can therefore move slightly - something that should become easier as time goes by: but currently, their movement is somewhat limited.
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| Sister Mercy |
Once the head and body are sewn together, Isobel then puts the outside collar - where there is one - around the Bears' necks and sews that in place. (The narrower collar is sewn in place before the head gets attached to the body). Then a small plastic crucifix (obtained from the Cathedral Repository as and when needed) is fixed in place with the aid of a piece of double knit yarn. (That's an after thought on Isobel's part, and is easily removed, if the eventual recipient deems it to be a good idea!).
There is also a Pink Nun (in the style of the Order of Holy Spirit Adoration Nuns, who can be found across many States in the United States of America). She was ordered by Coldham Cuddlies' good friend, and multi-buyer, MrSS from Tulsa, Oklahoma (he's also helped Isobel design Cuddlies as well as buying them from us!).
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| Sister Ruth and Sister Rose |
The ladies of the St. Barnabas Cathedral Artisan Arts & Crafts Group (Isobel is a member, and the financial results from the Clerical Bear sales are being calculated with the contributions that the Group makes towards St. Barnabas Cathedral's well-being)) felt that Isobel should give each Sister Bear their own names: one of the original Pink Nuns - like Sister Ruth went to Tulsa, and Isobel made two different versions to become part of the Clerical Bear Collection so that they balance the dual look of our Missionary Bears!
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| Clerical Bears Missionary Staff - still awaiting names! |
All the Clerical Bears Collection are due to once again be displayed after Mass once the Anniversary Celebrations begin in May. The original Sister Rose is the name given to another model like her being purchased by MsMP, a regular at St. Barnabas Cathedral masses - who is determined to have her own full collection of Coldham Cuddlies Clerical Bears. She's bought several already: but keeps finding people to give them away to as presents!! Isobel has reassured her she'll keep making Sister Bears (as well as Padre Bears and Bishop Bears - she has bought those too!) for just as long as she keeps sending in her orders! So, watch this space, folks!!
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| The Clerical Bear Originals in September 2018 on a bench in St. Barnabas Cathedral garden |
It's been some six months since the Clerical Bears were first displayed on several Sundays after the mass celebrations each week. Isobel is intending to combine these appearances, with "spreading the word" about the Sisters (and the Gentleman Clerical Bears as well) with articles in local newspapers, and possibly other media outlets too. She's got a busy few months ahead of her seemingly - oh, and the total sold, including the Vicar Bear who I told you about last week, now is 16! We hope we'll be settling lots more all over the UK and the world, soon too.
See you all next week!
Your Friend, Cy Bear
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