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
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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!).
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| 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,
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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
