We now have a "Heffalump" among the Cuddlies Family.

Good afternoon Everybody.  Cy Bear here, and hoping you've all had a good week!

As promised in last week's post, I'm going to tell you all about our New Elephant Toy (he's shown below ) today, but will start with an update on non-toy activities that have happened during last week - which seems to have passed at incredible speed - again.  Seems like yesterday Isobel and I were involved in last week's post.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/825844254/

Well, familiarity with the new mobile telephone is proceeding at a slow, but steady pace.  Isobel is taking things VERY slowly so that she doesn't have to waste time after making her inevitable mistakes!  So far, any that have occurred, haven't been "vital" ones, and she's been able to self-correct, although as more things are added, it seems the computer is beginning to "interfere", as well as the situation not being aided by the Operating System (whatever that is) being upgraded, and that's not helping!!.  

Close up of Elephant's face - and only just fitting on the radiator

The exporting research/planning has moved a step closer with a date being set for the one-to-one meeting between  Isobel and the "social media expert"- recently recruited to the East Midlands office of the UK Department of International Trade (DIT) - now in our diary for 11th August.  (She's a replacement for another person, though:  not a brand new recruit!)  Isobel has already been given three possible on-line links to Facebook (something that is always on our minds), one of which will hopefully enable Isobel to sort out our presence on that site - once and for all!  A long message was sent to the first link yesterday - fingers crossed we'll hear back from somebody helpful ere long!  (So..... one link down, and two more to try!)

Front Facial View - shows how fluffy and soft Elephant is, doesn't it?

Isobel was able to finish the latest Panda Bear Golf Club Saver order and it's on its way to Coatesville, PA, USA.  It was somewhat different from our usual one though.  When "chatting" with MrsCC, the Buyer, we discovered it was actually intended for her nine-year old daughter.  As usual, Isobel began by knitting the metal handle cover part of the Golf Club Saver, and woke up the day after beginning to wonder if that meant the final product might not need to be quite as long for the knitted bit as we usually do.  She was right:   the club is eight inches shorter than our usual model - and the club head was about 2" smaller all round too.  While that meant not as much knitting was required, it did mean Isobel was then unable to check at each stage of the sewing process that we were going along the right lines (or size in this case).  Guessing is not Isobel's favourite pastime, but we had no option.  Also, this was the first time that we'd used our "new" way of padding the Animal Heads we use for the driver bit of the club, using our usual Golf Club Saver templates.  (That means using up remnants of our faux fur fabrics instead of making a whole new club cover lining and then putting stuffing between the outer layer and lining).  When the smaller head cover was complete this time it was certainly too small for our existing Club model - which means we'll have to create another template for each future Animal we are asked to use - but Isobel guessed it would be OK for the smaller children's size golf club we were dealing with this time.  The finished Panda Club Cover was also different in that the proposed User wanted the whole thing completely black - instead of in our usual patterned style.  We're hoping it will be acceptable - as it's not due to arrive until the middle of next week. (Because of the operating system upgrade, the photos Isobel took have somehow "disappeared" into some part of the system - so that's another bit of technology to fathom/fight/overcome!  If we recover them in time, I'll post a picture of the new version next week - or whenever!)

Meanwhile, Isobel is back to Arm Puppet manufacture - this time for a Grey Cat Puppet in the style of a famous Cat Puppet of yesteryear - starring in the re-runs of a popular US Childrens' TV programme popular when Isobel and Family lived in Canada, and recently up-dated in the United States of America.  Our Cat Puppet will be "friends" with our Tiger Who Lost His Stripes puppet - because the Buyer actually wants Isobel to make both of them for her Son, who has fallen for both of them. 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/650644825/Tiger-Puppets

Originally, MrsKB  wanted them both together for a mid-August birthday gift for her ten-year old son.  He wanted the Grey Cat made in the same material as our Elephant (which means the "experiment - as far as Isobel was concerned - now needs replenishment!),  but prefered the original fabric for our Tiger Puppet.  (We ran out of that, as I told you in an earlier edition of this blog.  That's now been rectified, so we are hopefully ready to cope with any Orders needed for Christmas onwards!)  However it might mean that the Grey Cat Puppet will be there for the birthday date - or a few days after - and the Tiger Who Lost His Stripes one will be there for Christmas!.

Now for our new Friend the Elephant.  His pattern is to be found in the same book that produced Wonky Pig, and our Frog, Owls and Cat - which can be seen by clicking here - https://www.etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies - previously, and will be used to create our Mum and Dad Lion (complete with a Mane) later this year.  Isobel stuck to the pattern as written in the book, and the final production did not produce any surprises this time around. 

The view from the other side.  He didn't fit quite so well on the radiator so his back foot looks "wonky", but it really isn't!

So, that's how Elephant (or Heffalump - you can choose!) was made.  He's settling in well, and we hope it won't be long before he finds himself a home.

A rear view of  Elephant showing his tail

On the "house-keeping" side of the Shop, we've at last found the right sized manilla envelopes in which we can now store patterns that have to be stuck together (as both Elephant and Pink Pig do) to produce a seamless body to work with.  Isobel plans to put all our pattern files - smaller manilla envelopes - into them as the weeks go by.  (The current "files" are looking rather "tired"- after 10 years' handling).   However the new envelopes take up more space in our bookshelves, so we'll need to rearrange where our other books go because the shelf they now occupy isn't high enough accommodate the new ones.  That's going to be an "interesting" proposition.  I'll have to watch where Isobel puts them, in case it affects my future sitting spaces as well!

Elephant (wrong side) - showing how Isobel oversews all the seams - to keep the fluff under control

That's it for this week.  Have a good one Everyone - and here's hoping it will be more sunny and a little less rainy than it has been for the last few in the UK.

Keep Safe:  see you next week.

Your Friend

Cy Bear.

  

Twin Otters Join the Coldham Cuddlies Family

Hello there Everyone:  Cy Bear back once more, and this time - fingers crossed - with no more technical  hitches, as happened last week.

This week, though, there have been some technical changes that we instigated.   Isobel has decided to finally ditch our first smartphone - which broke completely when the Covid19 pandemic first hit us in the UK, and get herself a new one.  She will need a better, more up to date model if our exporting expansion plans take hold, and she was getting absolutely nowhere with the company she had been dealing with since 2017.  (When we first got a mobile phone - so that she could accept credit/debit cards - whatever they are, when we were selling Cuddlies at Bazaars and Craft Fairs).   Beaver Lamb Bears like me don't need them, thank goodness.  She was intent on keeping our existing mobile number (+44 7414 087192 (she had taken long enough to learn it!) and was unable to do it with the existing arrangements.  So, on Friday she went and purchased a completely new one - and has been gingerly getting to know it and try to make it work. We've still got the important telephone number, and so far, so good.  I'll doubtless be reporting on progress (or lack of it of course) as we go along!

Introducing the Otter Twins

Meanwhile, the Elephant I told you about last week was completed - and has been listed in our Shop (you'll hear about him soon).  At least, she was able to fathom the many seams insisted on by the original designer this time, and our "Heffalump" did not turn out Wonky!  Isobel stuck with the instructions this time all the way through, and there wasn't the mistake we encountered with Wonky Pig, whom I told you about last week.  We knew that Wonky had got to his new home, thanks to being able to track his journey (as we do with every Toy that leaves us for their future dwellings)

This is what arrived in our Review Section in the Shop at the end of last week -

PaulaSweetP on 14 Jul, 2020

5 out of 5 stars    

Such a beautifully made plush piggy. Wonderful communication and I would definitely buy from Coldham Cuddlies again. Everyone should own a Coldham Cuddly.

- it can be seen in our Shop, but I'll repeat it here just to make sure it gets seen as widely as possible!

Now that's last week's round-up done, so I'll continue this week's blog with more about The Otter Twins. Isobel called them that, but of course - because she cannot make two Toys look EXACTLY the same - there are some differences if you want to be "picky".  One is clearly a bit stouter that the other. Although they were cut out using the same pattern.  (One is obviously hungrier - for stuffing - than the other)! 

 They can of course also be sold separately and they were really fun to make.  Isobel was familiar with how the seams worked here because of course the arms upwards form the basis of our popular Golf Club Protectors - with their different colour fishes, and the special Custom ordered White Otter Golf Club Saver

Both patterns have been possible thanks to Isobel being able to download the free original patterns created by Jenny Mai from https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Fluffmonger, and using her "Squeakers" the Otter pattern.  Our fishes replace the original item that Jenny's Otter friend holds - with her permission.

 

This view from the rear definitely emphasises the difference in size of the Twins (just like in "real" life such things can happen!).  Both the Otters are made with Brown Fleece that we now source from a Nottingham fabric supplier, and the material is lovely and tactile.  As usual, we use polyester stuffing that meets the following British and European Standards for Soft Toymaking:

BS 1425 for cleanliness: BS5852 for flammability:  BS EN71-3:2013 Compliance for Soft Toys sold within the European Union.  

Both have been listed (before the newest Shop member - who will form the basis for next week's post here) in our shop - https://www.etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies.

Hoping everyone has a great week, that the weather will finally decide it's summer time here in the UK, and, above all, EVERYONE Stay Safe!

Your Friend,

Cy Bear

Why Being Called "Wonky" Isn't Such a Bad Thing!

Hello there Everyone!

  Cy Bear here again, even though I'd almost given up on being able to chat to you this week - thanks to technology once more rearing it's ugly head.  My system provider has just kindly provided its users with a Brand New (and in our case, quite unnecessary and not required!) upgrade and threw all Isobel's carefully set programmes askew - at least I think that's what happened.  She tried to begin blogging this afternoon to be faced with a screen with lots of hyroglyphics which were totally incomprehensible - resulting in a plea for help from part of our Family Helpdesk team known as TeamACE, being the nearest at 3-doors away!  Fortunately, senior engineer was able, willing and has done the trick, we've had an unexpected thoroughly enjoyable visit from GrandsonE and we're hoping we'll now return to "all systems go" once more.

Last week, I told you about our new Lion Cub Toy (see a later photo):  this week, it's the turn of "Wonky Pig", who was listed in our Shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies - for just 2 hours, before finding itself a new home!.  That's a record sale speed - by anyone's standards I'd suggest,  and something we feel well worth recording.   While over the moon that Wonky Pig found himself/herself a home (in Crewe, Cheshire, England, UK) - it does mean that Isobel now has another New  Toy to make and re-list in the Shop!).  Wonky was posted to his new home (we think that is what he will be regardeas!) and we know he arrived safely on Thursday morning.  MrsPP, the Buyer, told Isobel in one of several messages they exchanged, that she will be sharing the photographs (hers, not ours!) on her own Instagram page - which is a bit of a turn up for us Cuddlies.  We wait to see what happens - or not, as the case may be

Here's Wonky Pig

He/she was sewn up back to front underneath  by Isobel when it was made - and the mistake was only found, when she took the photographs prior to listing it on the Shop website.   

Clearly, something is not right!

 

This was the photo that was the give away - you can see that Wonky's head was far too big for the rest of her body - and the hind-quarters were just far too sleek/slinky for a proper-looking Pig Toy.

Doesn't look too bad from this angle though!

By this time, Isobel decided that as the mistake wasn't too obvious, that the fabric was so lovely and soft that even wrongly made, there HAD TO BE Somebody who would like to give Wonky a good home, so she went ahead and listed it in the Shop  with the following Titles (or tags, as they are called in Etsy language).

"Wonky Pink Plush Toy Pig Pink Plush Pig Toy Cuddly Pink Plush Toy Needs A Home Pink Plush Pig Made Wrongly But Still Safe For Play Pink Pig"

 

There was even a new way to make a tail that Isobel discovered,and it worked first time too.  As well,  there was no need to stuff the tail.  Shows that one is never too old to learn new things.  (Also, that "her way" of doing things is not always the best way!).

Giving an idea of the final Wonky Pig size - against Isobel's Beswick Horse Ornament on one of the bookshelves in our Living Room

Another reason Isobel felt there might be a chance we could find Wonky Pig a new home at sometime in the future (we never thought it would be so fast in this case!) was that in 2018, when we were first working on the Clerical Bear Collection, 

The Original Six Clerical Bears - We now have Ten

Isobel created a Teddy Bear using more than one pattern for the experiment, and also using up scraps of material for what was always going to be a "work in progress". When Wonky Bear was finished, he too look very appealing

 

and although it took a little longer for him to find his Forever Home - about 5 weeks, in his case - it was with someone who had already purchased Three ColdhamCuddlies Teddy Bears.  She was also the Very First Overseas Customer we had - way back in 2011! You can see in Wonky Bear's case, he had arms that looked different from the rest of his body, and again, his head was a little too big for what Isobel was wanting.  Nevertheless, as in Wonky Pig's case, he clearly wasn't a dangerous hand made Toy, and we also hoped he'd find a Forever Home one day.  

Isobel has been busy with sewing New Coldham Cuddlies toys this week - and our Lion Cub has been joined by a pair of  Fleece Otters who were finished (and listed)  https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/836261761/new-brown-otter-twins-with-orange-fish?ref=shop_home_active_3  in the Shop during the week.  She's currently working on a New Elephant, and we're delighted to say we've received orders for a Panda Bear Golf Club Saver.  The Buyer doesn't want it to be exactly the same, though, but with an all-black knitted handle cover, so although we have two ready-and-waiting Pandas with black and white patterned handles, a brand new Cuddly is going to emerge shortly.  So, that's next on the list.  

We've also been commissioned by the daughter of our best American Friend, the late MrSS - from Tulsa, Oklahoma to make a Special Memorial Toy from shirts he particularly liked.  (Alas, he died earlier this year - leaving Isobel and ColdhamCuddlies without a go-to designer for toys we had no pattern or picture for).  So, this is a very special item on Isobel's To Do List, as you can imagine.  

So, plenty to keep Isobel out of mischief:  several future subjects to cover in the upcoming blog posts:  so I think this is a good moment to bow out for this week!  Have a good one everyone - and STAY SAFE!

Your  Friend,

Cy Bear

Coldham Cuddlies come in all Shapes and Sizes

This is Cy Bear calling in once again to say Hi!  

This week, we find ourselves having to get used to a new format for creating our blog posts - because Blogger.com (where we post from) have this week introduced a new one.!  It is designed to make it easier for people to read our stories via their telephones, rather than just their lap tops or other technological inventions.   (I know Isobel finds it difficult to keep up with technology:  can you imagine just how much more difficult it is for a Beaver Lamb Bear?)  So, as we go along, if margins are slightly different, please forgive us - Isobel has got to type this for me, while working out how to fit things onto the screen.  Life isn't easy sometimes.......!

A new photo of myself - together with the newest member of the Coldham Cuddlies family.
Last week I suggested that we might tell you about some new toy projects that Isobel is planning/being asked to consider making.  She's been hard at it this week (when not involved in sorting out a major mistake in one of the new projects).  That's had a happy ending (or will have tomorrow, when the toy in question heads off for his Forever Home, so I'll keep you hanging on to hear about that incident!  I'm hoping that the Buyer will kindly send us a photograph when the Toy gets to her home, which we can then use in the post about Isobel's recent major, but "honest" mistake!  
However, after a longer time than we would have wished, we can now introduce you to the first of our new Toy Friends in the Coldham Cuddlies Shop (https://www.etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies) - our New Lion Cub.

He doesn't have a name - Isobel, in a recent change of policy, has decided not to give any of the Cuddlies a name from now on (for a little while, at any rate).   In the listing for Lion Cub, he's described as "playful", and I do think that is a good way to describe him - don't you?

Here is Lion Cub, sitting on top of Isobel's  Printer.

He's made with the wrong fabric that Isobel first ordered when the Tiger Puppet Premier Plush fabric (called Khaki) ran out.  This Lion material is labelled as "Mustard", and we've got 2 metres (roughly 6.56 feet)) with which to make several more.  As a matter of fact, while she's been selecting other new Toy patterns to attempt, she came across one for a "Daddy" Lion, complete with mane, and thinks she could also make a "Mummy" one too!  This means there's plenty of uses to which the "mistaken" Mustard Premier Plush can be put! Presently, Lions seem to be the most suitable use to which this particular material can be put.  (It's important that we do find such projects, because we still have a pretty full cupboard(s) of fabric with which to make our existing toys, as and when they find new homes - so space is limited!!)

A proper side view of our Playful Lion Cub

This pattern was stumbled upon when Isobel was picking through her Pattern Library, and was actually one that originated from daughter Clare's sister-in-law's collection - when she used to make toys several years ago.    Isobel was given several likely toy patterns when a family cupboard clearance was under way, and this is the first time that she'd looked through the collection "with intent" since they arrived.  (There's one for a dressed Hedgehog as well, which we've been told is "delightful" when made up - so we may be adding that to the "To Do List" as well.  Isobel's Son-in-Law is quite keen on this addition being on that List too!)  

Lion Cub Rear view  - showing his tail off well and the fluffy, soft look of Premier Plush fabric

We've already got an Elephant pattern cut out and ready for placing on a Grey version of the Premier Plush, plus we've got to repeat the "major mistake" I mentioned earlier in this post,but this time without the error!  We've been waiting for this Grey Premier Plush fabric to materialise since February/March.  Somehow, our suppliers were caught out by the Covid19 pandemic that has hit the world (and is still raging by all accounts) and the shipment containing this particular Grey version was held up.  It eventually arrived in the UK in the middle of June.  Our suppliers - Fabricland (of  Bournemouth, England, UK) were as good as their word, and sent our order on to us almost as soon as it arrived in their warehouse.  You can't ask more than that, can you?

Currently, Isobel is nearly half-way through making "fully-grown" Otters complete with their Goldfish.  She cut out two, because they seem fairly quick to do, especially as she's made three or four Otter Golf Club Covers using part of the pattern before.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/743820454/

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/757697515

The Golf Club covers only consist of the Otter "bust" from the arms upwards.  This time Isobel is actually using the entire original pattern she got (from Jenny Mai from  https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Fluffmonger  which is an original downloadable pattern created by Jenny Mai from  https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Fluffmonger.)  Her pattern for "Squeakers" the Otter is just what Isobel was looking for when making her first Golf Club Cover with an Otter Head.  Jenny Mai was only too happy to allow us to make some adjustments to her original pattern.  These included substituting a handmade small fish for the hands to hold, rather than the ornament originally created for the pattern.  Anyone interested in other similar free patterns from Jenny Mai should click here:  http://fluffmonger.net/category/free-sewing-pattern. There's a whole "pattern Zoo" from which to choose.
So, this is all for this week - while Isobel sews busily away in the evenings, she's busy during the day with those plans for trying to introduce the Coldham Cuddlies brand to new markets. (I told you about those in the first post of this series about 5 weeks ago)  She's been watching "Webinars" and learning lots of new things she needs to know about:  and is waiting to have a One-to-One on line meeting with someone from the East Midlands Office of the UK Department for International Trade to discuss the best way to achieve this objective.  
Meanwhile, she's also been working with the technology whizzes from Yell.com, together with our Account Manager, Daniel Forbes on the website - www.coldhamcuddlies.co.uk. Since that was first published, we've been able to add the Shop site to the original Animal Hospital  (for which the site was originally conceived) and this blog now appears on the website, just as soon as Isobel publishes it - when it has been edited and passed as correct and ready for publishing.
It's all systems go - as you see, and it seems to be betting busier by the week!  See you all again, next week
Your friend,
Cy Bear.