Catching my Breath - having survived the English Channel crossings

Well, I'm back after three wonderful days with family and their friends in Normandy and whilst I didn't see too much of the surrounding countryside - the weather gods were not being friendly, and we were surrounded by sheets of rain until the morning we left - the unfamiliar shops and beautiful cheese and wines more than made up for it.  So much so that plans are afoot for a repeat visit - but not until the official Spring time - when,hopefully, the Sun will have re-discovered where both Normandy and South West UK are situated (because it was evidently not much better here in Heytesbury while I was away with Philippa.)

The Channel was benign - especially on the outward journey:  coming back there was a bit of a swell, but as I was concentrating hard on sewing calico bodies for future dressed Lady and Gentlemen Toys for the shop at www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies and the sensation was somewhat similar to aircraft turbulence (which has never worried me!) all's well that ends well.

Now, having caught up with all the social media tasks, read some of my favourite blogs and linked up with some of my favourite linky parties, I'm ready once more to start blogging here again, having caught my breath - and started to sample some of the cheeses purchased while I was away.  So, it's once again, somewhat of an update blog again today.

The Arts in the Park Craft Fair result was somewhat of a mixed bag.  At the moment, it looks like I have suffered a small loss - although two of my Fleece Baby Bunnies (Etsy Listing # 89020911 - a Purple/White and Pink/White one) found new Forever Homes.  Selling them did not quite cover the cost of the table on which the Cuddlies were displayed.

However, there were  two expressions of interest about possible purchases of Golf Club Head Covers - one already in stock and one using a Tiger Head based on the Tigger Long-Legs variations (Etsy Listing #108763404).

 Alas, I was not sufficiently fast on my feet to get a deposit from either potential buyer, so whilst expectant, I am not that hopeful.  Had I been a more persuasive seller, I would then have been able to claim that the event was a profitable exercise.  One lives and learns - and at least, I have been invited to attend a Primary School Christmas Bazaar in Codford, a nearby village, on December 1.  That is a direct result of my recent increased activity via Facebook, so all my social media blitzing is beginning to have some payback, it might seem.

In my last post (Now for a Miscellany Update -04/10/2012) I mentioned that ColdhamCuddlies had been selected to feature in an article in The Warminster Journal following the Slaters Barn Coffee Morning Craft Sale:  it's pleasing to tell you that apart from a photograph of the Organiser of the event, the only stall selected from that particular event was indeed our stall.  As ever, the scanner was unable to reproduce a legible copy of either picture or article, so you'll just have to take my word for it!  (Not my scanner's deficiency:  but the paper on which the publication is produced!)

The next items on the production list are the completion of the Wombat Christmas order - the two completed ones were taken home by Philippa yesterday,  (This saves me having to haul all four when I go to visit her at the end of October).

Two done:  two to go!

I have the third Wombat needing the addition of eyes, ears, nose and stuffing and the fourth still in pieces.  Then I've got to make a replacement Baby Hedgehog, as the latest one is destined for a  Forever Home in Chessington, Surrey as a First Birthday Present for a young lad who arrived in the World last December on Peter's birthday.   (So that's a very special present, as well as needing a replacement:   rumour has it one of my fellow resident neighbours has an eye on at least another one!).  I have also been asked to provide a Coyote for daughter Clare's best friend in Canada  She is expecting her first child early in December (where has this year gone?) and I've also said I'll make a dressed Rabbit for a competition entry from the Heytesbury Branch of the Royal British Legion Women's Section to the National Handicraft competition.

So I had just better close all this blogging down for now - and start sewing!  See you all soon.  Isobel

Now for a Miscellany Update

One thing I've learned as I've gone down the blogging route is that one needs to be flexible.  The best laid plans of mice and men (as happened earlier this year) have a habit of interrupting mine - and this week has been no exception, other than that this latest hiccup was a minor one!

 The modelling session for Loppy Lugs the Arm Puppet (LL) did not take place - the models' Dad, who works from home, had double-booked and it was not convenient for them to come earlier (because I had indavertently forgotten I was due at the doctor's for a minor consultation and could not be sure when the 'bus would deliver me home!)  I'm still find my way around the time-table, which seems to have a habit of changing almost at the whim of the driver!  When challenged this time, the driver rapidly got out his laminated sheet - to prove that he was actually only 5 minutes later than scheduled (whereas I had got there at least 15 minutes too early!!).

Thus, as I am now not sure when, or if,  a modelling session can be re-scheduled,  I've taken this photograph of  LL which actually shows how the extensions work as arms and legs.

I'm keen to send the Nottinghamshire-based loaned toys back home to their Toy Box with PamL, so having shown you a picture of the rejuvenated Loppy Lugs, as promised by Cy Bear in his last post, they will probably be parcelled up and sent off before the week-end.  I badly need the space, so that I can make my versions of the Arm Puppet, as well as get on with replacing some items in the Shop at www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com!  Perhaps by that time, I may have found other models to show the Arm Puppets working.

Next, as the title for this post implies - being a miscellany means I'm taking the opportunity to introduce two potential new members of the ColdhamCuddlies Family - Percy and Petunia Pig!

 These two were actually made by Fred Bear's Best Friend, too long ago for her to remember exactly when!  She's having a major clear out of sewing items at the moment, because of failing eyesight, and it looks as though not only will I benefit from the addition of these two, but there's going to be a whole lot of decorative odds and ends coming my way too!  The hand-over will take place at the end of October when I am due to go and stay with Fred and Best Friend, PatC.  These guys, though stuffed, do need more filling in order to stay upright - they're presently lying flat on their backs, because after this picture was taken, their legs gave way under them.  That won't be a problem to fix though, and they also came complete with patterns for trousers and dress, respectively.

This project will have to wait until I return from a few days staying with Peter's brother, MartynM in Normandy, France (which happens to also be the home of Madame Lapin and Mons Reynard - both of whom featured in posts earlier this year during which their rejuvenation treatments in the Soft Toy Clinic were described in some detail). 

That jaunt takes place this Sunday, when elder daughter, Philippa and I take the Night Ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre - returning the same way, but during the early evening, Thursday, October 11.  This will be the first time I've been to France, so it's quite exciting - or will be, once I've got off the Ferry.  As one who can suffer sea-sickness on the Serpentine (a lake in Hyde Park, London - for those who might not be familiar with this site) the prospect of 6 hours on the English Channel is daunting indeed.  Am just hoping that as I shall be lying down, hopefully lulled to sleep, I shall be OK - just keep your fingers crossed, please!  Coming back, it's only 5 hours, because of the time difference,  but we are expected to be sitting up .......hm!!  Enough said, methinks!

The final batch of photographs shows the Cuddlies Stall at last Friday's Greatest Coffee Morning in the World in aid of MacMillan Cancer.

Some official photographs were taken for submission to The Warminster Journal  and I've tonight received a note from the photographer that the picture of us she submitted has been published in this week's edition.  I shall be picking it up from our Post Office in the Village tomorrow morning.  It's quite a record appearance, actually:  items submitted to the publication can take up to 6 weeks to be mentioned!  To be in within the week must mean they are clearing the decks for stories about the upcoming Warminster Festival - which begins on Saturday for two weeks - or they have been short of suitable material!

The Coffee Morning was more productive than I had expected:  two more Bears have been booked in for renovation therapy  for later in October, with the deposit for one already in the Bank!  Black Gorilla found a new home, initially at one of the Village pubs, The Red Lion.  However, the landlord was having his own Coffee Morning for MacMillan Cancer (with the proceeds being added to the Slater's Barn event the previous day) and BG was the prize for a competition to give him a name! (I had not told him what BG had been labelled up till then)  He ended up being called Banana, and was won by the owner of Slater's Barn, who happens to have invited me to lunch just the other day!  Not sure what is going to happen to Banana, aka BG,  now!

I have also been commissioned to make a Frog for a gentleman who is anxious to give it to his sister-in-law (who is apparently "mad about Frogs" - she has at least 40 of them around her house!)  Not only that, she has friends who are equally enamoured.  So on the basis of there being a potential market for these toys, and my having confirmed that I do have a pattern for one, these too will be added to the Cuddlies Family.  (Must admit, Frogs have never featured on my radar - I just don't like them, and they cannot really be described as "cuddly", can they?  However, who am I to argue with a persistent customer - who has already paid a deposit for the estimated cost and is prepared to wait until mid-to-late November for delivery!)

By the way, the Coldham Cuddlies stall will be repeated at the Arts in the Park show this Saturday, which is one of the opening features of the Warminster Festival.  A report on that - which will also include the result of the Go Bustards competition (another recent feature in this blog) - will have to wait until I get back from France.  I just will not have the time before I leave.

Thus, there will be a short gap in sumissions here.  Do hope you will continue to read and Follow us.  We're certainly getting more views (over 8,000 at the last look) and the number of Followers has risen to 215. Thanks, as ever, for the support!

Bye for now - from both Cy Bear (who will be staying at home) and me.  Isobel

Now for the Rejuvenation of the Lop Earred Rabbit Arm Puppet

Good evening again Everyone:  Cy Bear being allowed to tell you about the treatment of the last Nottinghamshire-based Patient in the ColdhamCuddlies Soft Toy Clinic (Etsy Listing #79124185).  Isobel has been calling him Lop Eared Bunny Arm Puppet and he, too, has spent the last few decades living in PamL's Toy Box and being played with when Little People visit her.

Now in my view, that is a very  long name to repeat every time one speaks about a chap, so  I’ll call him Loppy Lugs. (Peter always used to refer to his hearing aids as his “Lugs”, and this Rabbit’s ears were certainly floppy when he arrived.  Isobel has given him some new velvety linings and although they don’t stay upright all the time, they are certainly firmer than they once were, so Loppy Lugs (or maybe even LL for a briefer reference) is how I’ll carry on referring to him for this post.

As with all the Patients in the Clinic, once he had been taken to pieces  he found himself immersed in lukewarm, soapy water and left there overnight.

The pieces had been rinsed at this point

Isobel had always intended to take a template from him, because he is the first Arm Puppet (as opposed to Hand Puppet) she has ever come across.  She feels there may be some customer interest in him when he gets listed in the shop at www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies.   So next morning, she hung LL up to dry out and once that result had been achieved, she drew round each piece on cardboard and cut out the pattern.  These are now in their special filing envelope and will be developed after the Craft Fairs that are coming in the next two weeks, and once Isobel has been to France for a few days at the beginning of October.

Then the sewing together began and here is a shot of the first stage - both ears put together, beside the original very faded lining used originally for LL.

 Isobel says that basically, LL is a pretty simple toy to make.  His body is a rectangular piece of material, folded over to have a front seam.  The sides have two holes cut in them at the top and bottom of the resulting fold.  These make what passes for LL’s limbs, which are basically two smaller rectangles of the same length, with one of the rectangles cut into two equal pieces.  The long, uncut one becomes his arms and the two shorter ones his legs.  The ends are then pulled through the side seam holes and sewn in.  Hopefully the pictures show this clearly.

When complete, the “arms” are looped over the playmate’s head and shoulders.

 Once the legs have had the same treatment, you can see that the legs are joined together with white elastic.

That's because these have to expand to go over the playmate’s lower body and allow sitting,  if necessary.  It is difficult to explain, which is why Isobel has decided to find a child model and photograph LL and playmate together - giving everyone an idea as to how he is made to work. (It may well be that the elastic will have to be shortened - the bit from which the length was measured had expanded and lost it's elasticity!)

It's great to be able to tell you that Isobel has been able to borrow a child from the Village.  He is actually the Best Friend of a Bear that was an earlier Patient in the Soft Toy Clinic.  The Patient was called Teddy, and Isobel just needed to give him some more stuffing - he’d been loved so much by AdamW (the Best Friend I’m talking about) that he’d got very scraggy.  Also the seam on Teddy's back had come adrift.  It only took Isobel about half an hour to mend him, so he was not a proper Patient.  

 However,  when Isobel was going to get her newspaper from the Village Shop yesterday, she met AdamW’s mother and asked if she would mind lending him.  No problems:  so the photographic session is set for Tuesday evening next week, and then we hope to write the “How To Use Loppy Lugs and Enjoy him properly” post - probably by Isobel, this time.  (Lucky encounter actually:  as getting just one model if Isobel had gone to the School might have been a problem:  lots of children might have wanted to be models, and making a choice could have been difficult!)

Isobel did find that LL had not really been sewn terribly well, and she has high standards - as you must by now realise!  So, she has neatened all the seams involved by using straight seam binding - which should mean LL can last for even longer once he returns to Nottinghamshire.

When the body was ready for attaching to the head, Isobel then had to sew the head together.  Here is LL - from different angles, and also showing LL’s neck, which is where the hand goes to manipulate his head when a Best Friend and LL get together.  

 LL now has more stuffing in his head then he had, which means there is not as much room for the hand to fit in if an adult is working LL, but Isobel hopes it will be fine as it is for when AdamW has a go during the modelling session next week.  (It's another reason for having this modelling session - so we can iron out any snags for future Arm Puppets).  As you can see, LL has a nose, but no mouth - so Isobel is going to add a mouth, which may not show up as well on LL as it does on our other toys - because, as you can see, his fur is very fluffy.

Once the head was complete, both bits of the Puppet were sewn together, and LL is now in a chair waiting for the final photos to be taken.  When he was originally introduced to you early in July, the photograph Isobel took of him was not very good -  because he is so floppy and there was no way to show him properly.  Which is the reason Isobel decided on the modelling route.  So, you’ll all have to wait until that session has taken place to see the completed Loppy Lugs!

The plan then is for Isobel to wrap up all the Nottinghamshire toys, place them in an envelope and send them home to their Toy Box.  Then, the next thing on the agenda, before Isobel begins on the Christmas commissions (6 of them so far), she is going to attend to Blue Bear - whom you may have forgotten about.   Must admit, I had:  because he’s been in another room all this time.  He’s a Big Bear - like my friend Tommy Teddy and Golden Teddy - so was sitting down in a big chair out of the way, while Isobel attended to the smaller toys' treatment.

Until the next time then:  hope you’ve enjoyed hearing about this new Friend of mine.   Cy  Bear.

Kittens Ahoy - Black and White Furry Kittens are looking for a New Home!

I've recently signed up for a Etsy Team Handmadeology e-course to help in marketing the Cuddlies.  Thus, from time to time, when listing new Members of the Cuddlies Family, I shall be immediately posting here - as suggested by the tutors on this course.  Be warned, there may be similar postings appearing shortly on my Facebook pages, as well as on Pinterest and other marketing sites - again, as recommended by the Course tutor(s).

Etsy Listing #110444487

These Black and White Furry  Kittens, jointly featured under the title  Kittens Ahoy, are both taken from the same template, which I created while the original Sleepy Kitten model was a Patient in the ColdhamCuddlies Soft Toy Clinic (Listing #79124185).  He was one of four toys requiring treatment who have now also become models for Coldham Cuddlies in the last few weeks.   Sleepy Kitten’s original home is the Toy Box kept by my son-in-law’s Mother, PamL, for visiting Little People to play with:  as result  he had become somewhat care-worn before arriving for attention in the Clinic. 

Sleepy Kitten originally was only going to have a wash and brush-up:  however, while staying with the Cuddlies Family, he was seen by a neighbour looking for a present for her newly-arrived grandson and I have been asked to do a Black version - but with blue eyes.  The Black Furry Kitten here has brown ones - even though they are not as visible through the Black Plush as are the eyes on the White Furry  Kitten.  It may well be that the Blue eyes will continue to feature in future.  The Furry Kittens are easy to make and both versions together took  just two evenings’ work.  They will make ideal first toys and could feature at Baby Showers, as well as be Christening gifts - although older children will find them a comforting armful.

This is the Black Furry Kitten

and now, White Furry Kitten

If Buyers are interested in reading about Sleepy Kitten’s treatment regimen, before these two Cuddlies appeared on the scene, there is post about them on our blog at www.ColdhamCuddliescalling.blogspot.com/09/12/2012.


Measuring 8 inches (20 cms) high (middle of head to base over nose) and 11 inches  (20.8 cms) round their backs to the junction of their tails, a further 7  inches (10.9 cms) can be added for their tails, which are not stuffed.  Using Black and White Plush fabric, with Crystal Safety Eyes, both versions are stuffed with polyester fibre meeting all international safety standards and have facial features sewn with Double Knitting yarn.  There are no sharp edges, so are fairly described as a safe toy.  Both Furry Kittens are made in a smoke free environment - as are all the Cuddlies.

The next photographs show each Kittens' rear views:

They weigh 5.5 ounces (165 g) and can therefore travel at the Standard Small Packet rate charged by United Kingdom Royal Mail, as they will fit easily into a medium-sized airmail envelope.  Buyers should be aware that I no longer have ready access to a car, and am dependent on public transport to reach the nearest Post Office willing to handle most of  the packages produced by the wrappings used to encase a travelling Cuddly.  I live equi-distant between two such Shops:  and usually travel on a Tuesday and or Thursday or Friday each week to one of them.  Customers with a deadline to meet should therefore take this arrangement into account when ordering.

This marketing lark certainly requires a lot of work!  But then, who says social media is easy?  It will be interesting to see if doing this each time one lists a new item in the shop at www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies results in a higher sales figure!  Will keep you posted:  meanwhile, wish us luck, please.

All the best for this evening.  Cy Bear will be back soon - I'm hoping to borrow that elusive child model Cy Bear was talking about in his last post, tomorrow (unless we've all drowned in the downpours we suffering at the present time:  although I have to add we're not getting it as badly as some of the other parts of the United Kingdom are - thank Heaven!).

Good night:  and God bless.  Isobel

The Rejuvenation of Fred Bear - Part Two

Good evening everyone!  Cy Bear back once more - thought Isobel was never going to let me have another chat with you again:  but she has been busy sorting out the Clinic Patients, so there has been a reason.  Anyway, she did say last week that I could tell you about the rest of Fred Bear's treatment so here goes.

There has been quite a time lag between Part One and Part Two of Fred Bear's rejuvenation.  Isobel first told you about it in our post on August 8th this year.  Since then, Fred has been in a plastic bag keeping the dust off him, so this is how he looked as Isobel began to treat him about 10 days ago.  (He's been home for nearly a week now, but this is first time I've been allowed near the computer!).

On the ironing board, without any stuffing

 With no filling, Isobel found it easier to get to work on Fred's face to begin with.  His ears needed stitching in place, and Fred's Best Friend had requested that the "wonky ear" be sewn back where it was when he came to us - as she'd got used to how he looked with it that way.  Then there were several holes that had developed over the years all over his face, but principally around the muzzle area.  Isobel carefully darned these and filled in the gaps.  Then she got some fresh black Double Knitting yarn and sewed the eye area exactly as it was when Fred arrived, after she had taken out the existing black wool - which had faded and got rather threadbare.  Fred was also given a better nose and a mouth - which looks a little crooked, but the area where the stitch had to go was very thin, even though it had been darned, and the heavy black yarn sunk into the darned area.  PatC, Fred's Best Friend, said he'd always had a crooked smile, so she was quite prepared for that when she saw him again!

You can see the darned areas - a little!

Once the face was finished, Isobel stuffed the head, and sewed the seam at the back of Fred's head using ladder stitching.  That way, there was not too much of a seam to be seen.  Overall, it was Fred's head that had lost most of his fur over the years. We think he's nearly 100 years old, because he was not a new bear when he came to live with PatC and she's older than Isobel by quite a few years - or so I have been told!  (Us Bears are far too polite to mention our Best Friends' age, even if we know it.)

Then the paw pads were cut out, using the existing ones as a pattern, and Isobel very carefully removed any remaining vestiges of the last two variations on each paw.  She stuffed each limb from the end (she had left all the limbs attached to the body as the cotter pins used to fix them were so thick and stiff that she would have been unable to reuse them had she taken them off.  She did with some of our other Bear Patients, but did not want to damage Fred's existing coat in any way.  Here are some pictures showing the limb treatment in progress.

The pads were made with chapagne coloured chamoix leather

Then came the Growler.  This next picture shows Fred with his arms and legs stuffed and re-padded, and holding the growler before Isobel fixed it in his stomach, surrounding it with stuffing so that it cannot be felt from the outside. 

Growlers are "big" pieces to go inside a Bear's stomach!

It was fitted, again at PatC's request, so that Fred "spoke" when he was tilted forwards.  I'm told that you can have them fitted so that Bears talk when they lean backwards too!  Isobel just needed to position the growler in a special way to achieve the required result.

Once the growler was in place, Isobel stuffed Fred's body very firmly, to allow for the usual relaxing that happens after us toys get the polyester fibre inside us, and Fred was ready to be sent home.  Here are some more photographs of him before he was wrapped in chemical free tissue paper, and then had a covering of bubblewrap to keep everything in position when placed in the large polythene envelope for his journey home.  He was posted on a Tuesday - when Isobel goes to Zumba class, in the village where there is a Post Office that will handle parcels of Fred's size - and he arrived back home in Lincolnshire the next day.

So ends another successful treatment in the ColdhamCuddlies Soft Toy Clinic (Etsy Listing #79124185).  I'll be back soon to tell you how Lop Eared Rabbit Arm Puppet got on with his treatment - but Isobel needs to find a child model so she can demonstrate how the puppet works.  It's slightly more complicated than the Glove Puppets.  I believe she is going to visit the Village School later this week - when it decides to stop raining - and ask if she can "borrow a pupil" for this purpose.  Who knows, she might get some orders for the ColdhamCuddlies version of the Puppet - because, of course, once the pictures are taken, Lop Eared Rabbit, Long Legged Tiger, Sleepy Kitten and Little Brown Ted can then return home to their Toy Box home with Pam L.

Good night.  I'll be back soon - promise!  All the best.  Cy Bear.

Christmas Came Early, together with an update or two

March 9th, 2013:  While going through my Posts to refer to an old Post about Fred Bear, discovered I had somehow now posted the following draft.  Was absolutely sure I had.  So, just to boost the number of posts on file, here is a post that should have been published in September/October 2012.  Sorry about that!


Having got Bustards out of my system, the time has now come for me to bring some updated news of Cuddlies' friends, currently Patients in the ColdhamCuddlies Soft Toy Clinic (Etsy Listing #79124185) who  have recently featured in my daily activities here in Heytesbury.

Fred Bear - has been undergoing long-term treatment in the Clinic:  when his initial assessment and treatment were described on August 18, the post ended with his being de-stuffed ready for his new polyester fibre innards to be added and his paws replaced.  I had sent three sample fabrics which were in my stock for Fred’s Best Friend to  choose from. In a follow-up post, mention was made that Best Friend, PatC’s older sister was going to provide more suitable fabric, but there would be a time lag before that could be supplied.  He spent his time in a plastic bag, to keep off any fluff from my other projects, and once the chosen leather had arrived (last week just as I completed the treatment of Sleepy Kitten - September 12).  This is how Fred looked  prior to his treatment beginning again.

But before any further updates, I thought you’d like to see what I’ve recently received in the form of new fabrics for future Cuddlies.  Presumably, like me, you love the materials with which you craft in all your wondrous ways.  Yesterday, I had to replenish my polyester Fibrefill stocks and was kindly driven to my stockist, Fine Quality Feather Company in Frome by one of my fellow residents here at The Hospital of St. John.  There, together with four kilo bags (8.8lbs) of the fibre, I found an equally large bag of off-cuts ready for me to rifle through once I had got home.  This is what I mean by Christmas coming early!  There’s nothing more satisfying in my book than pulling out pieces of material, feeling their quality and imagining them as completed Cuddlies!

Here are some photographs of my haul from this quarter:

Velveteen and Tweed fabrics

Selection of Furs and Velvet, with Fat quarters of poplins

Rolls of Tweed and velveteen, with more Fat Quarters

But, it didn’t just finish there!

Daughter Clare had a birthday earlier in the week and decided, as part of her day, that she would like to have a wander around a Fabric Warehouse in a town where she went to school when we returned from Canada in 1987.  She’s developing a crafting business of her own, and is also in charge of a Memory Quilt project in which different versions will be recycled using Peter’s old shirts, ties, and pyjamas.  These are destined, when completed, for her sister, herself and me, and, depending on how the materials stretch, to other members of our extended family. 

In addition, her passion for crochet and knitting is going to form the basis of an Etsy business, which is in it’s infancy, but will be undertaken with a good friend of hers based in Nottingham itself.   But, I digress:  whilst the Warehouse did not come up to expectations on her behalf, she found some interesting fat-quarters of cotton poplin which she thought would make great dresses for the Lady ColdhamCuddlies - and they too arrived yesterday!  They can be seen on top of the Frome materials, pictures of which follow.

Then today, Fred Bear’s Best Friend, PatC sent me two semi-complete Pigs (requiring dresses - one a girl and the other a boy) which currently need to have their heads and bodies sewn together and their clothes made.  PatC is regrettably losing her ability to sew these days (without divulging her age, she is well over a decade ahead of me - and is, alas, suffering from  Macular Degeneration) so has donated the Pigs, and their cut-out apparel,  requesting they be treated as ColdhamCuddlies.  Of course they will be,  and PatC has provided the pattern for future editions as well. (She has just informed me that I can look forward to further supplies of leather and other suitable fabrics and edgings (from her sister), as well as similar goodies from her!  My - what to look forward to?  Just hope I have enough space to accommodate it all!)

Accompanying these two newbies, were bags of multi-coloured leather off-cuts (many sufficient for pairs of boots!) and felt pieces (suitable for Lady Cuddlies shoes) - which I have not photographed, but will appear as costumes for future members of the ColdhamCuddlies Family. 

I am now pleased to tell you that Fred’s treatment has been completed and he left Heytesbury on Tuesday, September 18 to travel back to his Forever Home in Sleaford, Lincolnshire.  A full description of his further treatment will form a blog shortly, which will be in the capable paws of Cy Bear, who has not had a look-in of late:  and is letting me know about it, as well!  (Fred has arrived home safely, is sitting happily in his favourite chair and has growled his satisfaction to have completed his treatment)

The Lop Eared Rabbit Arm Puppet has been taken to pieces, had a bath and is now almost re-sewn:  his treatment has been photographed too, and he too will feature as a full post shortly.  Cy Bear may well be in charge of that bulletin as well.  Meanwhile, here is a shot of him lying in his luke-warm bath!

So, no more for this evening!  Cy Bear will be with you shortly, and I’ll get back to my sewing.  Good night, and God Bless!  Isobel

Following the Go Bustard Trail - A follow up post

Having recently waxed lyrical about Buttons, the Bustard (September 7, 2012 post), one day last week, when the autumnal weather was at it’s best - sunny, but not too warm, but above all - dry)  I decided to give the toy-making a rest for a few hours and set off, using my trusty Free ‘Bus Pass to get me to Warminster, in order to follow what is known as The Go Bustard Trail.

First place of call was to “Think Outside the Box”, where Buttons resides.  There I was given the official form which lists all twelve entrants in the competition - which I now find actually ends with the prize-winner being announced on Saturday, October 6 - the first day of the Warminster Festival.   The entrants all have their names in one column and their Post Code (Zip) in another.  Great, if one knows how to decipher Post Codes.

 (October 6 also happens to be the day that the ColdhamCuddlies will be exhibiting at the Craft Fair being organised as part of said Warminster Festival - the biggest event so far in which we’ve taken part ).  
 
Thus, once off the ‘bus from Heytesbury, my first port of call was to the local Tourist Information Centre.  Whilst very willing to help, they did not have as much information as my next port of call, the Warminster Library, conveniently located on the other side of the Central Car Park.  As I was one of the first people in that morning, the staff were not as rushed as they can be later, and one was kind enough to put all the 12 postcodes into her computer and I was thus given most of the likely spots where  the Great Bustard statues could be found.  Some are located outside Warminster itself, so I decided that all within walking distance might give me an idea about Buttons’ competition  - so off I set.

The first one did not require too much of a hike:  he was located just next to the computer from which the post code locations were spewing forth.  He is called Percy and looks like this.

Green and Gold  is the theme of this Great Bustard entry:  green background and signatures of library customers and their friends (for which a small fee was levied - this being the  Library’s fund-raising venture.)  Destination of the funds raised were not divulged, but could well be for the Bustards re-introduction project I mentioned in my previous post about Buttons.

Percy from a different angle

Just a few steps away, in one of the small shopping malls in Warminster, I came across “Jigsaw”.

His picture is somewhat blurred because he is located in an empty shop window, and the only way I could photograph him was through the glass window.  We all know what happens when one does that - and this is no exception.  However, you can get an idea of what he looks like - and there was a helpful notice placed nearby which says:

“Jigsaw, The Great Bustard, is a result of a project involving Warminster Police Community Support Officers, Youth Development Centre (YDC) and W.A.V.E.   (Sorry, but I don't know what this acronmym stands for, but a Community Support Officer forms part of the local police force, but without the full powers of a qualified police officer).

The Warminster Area Board were approached for funds to purchase the bird and they readily approved the grant application.  Coates and Parker (publishers of The Warminster Journal, as well as the only Stationers in town) contributed some of the paint for the project and two local artists assisted in overseeing the painting. 

Members of W.A.V.E  and the YDC were asked to submit designs for Jigsaw and were then given the opportunity to paint their designs in the puzzle piece.  All designs are relevant to Warminster and the exciting year of 2012.” 

(In the UK, we’ve had the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, as well as the Olympic and ParaOlympic Games in 2012, not to mention various local projects as well, so to call 2012 an exciting year is a fair enough description, methinks!)

Just a short distance from Jigsaw I came across Cordath.

He was placed on the pavement, outside the Town’s ironmonger (a wonderful shop  - a veritable Aladin's Cave - where one can get everything but the kitchen sink, including supplies for D.I.Y. and sugar craft, to name but two items).  He’s on the pavement, closely padlocked to a convenient lamp post  - which may be useful to keep him in place, but makes photography a somewhat difficult undertaking, especially when the lamp post is next-door to scaffolding.  However, I did manage to get a couple of pictures of him.

He, too, had a convenient notice giving some interesting facts about him -

Artist:  The Frostick Family.  Sponsors:  SL. Cordons (the ironmongers), Le Café Journal, Warminster and District Film Society, Athenaeum Limelight Players, Kumon Study Centre, Athaeum Masqueraders, Warminster Philatelic Society, The Athanaeum Friends and the Athenaeum Trust.

 (The Athanaeum is the local Theatre - a historic building - which is the venue for many town activities, some of whom are included as Cordath’s sponsors.)

The next port of call found me looking for the Minster (one of the four Anglican churches in Warminster) Primary School, which was somewhat further towards the “other end of town”.  Having remembered the location of the street where the school is situated, (The Tourist Centre had kindly shown me a town map) I eventually found it, and then had to find my way in.  Getting into schools can be quite difficult, if one does not have a connection, but fortunately my visit coincided with the morning break, and the children were haring about in the courtyard getting rid of surplus energy. (Wish I had some of it, these days!) 

Going up to one of the adults supervising this energy, I was told I’d have to ask the Head Mistress if a photograph could be taken, because Emwell spends all his time in the School Assembly Hall.  The helpful adult kindly took me towards the Head’s office, but we met  as she was on her way out.  Having established my credentials and requested her permission, she was kind enough not only to let me in to see Emwell, but was also prepared to have her photograph taken beside him.  (Is it just me, or are Head Mistresses getting to look more like their charges than I ever remember any of mine ever doing?)

Anyway, here is Emwell in all his glory - he will be returning to live in the Hall once the competition is over - and is the product of the childrens’ designs, which were converted into how this Great Bustard now appears by a local artist, Hilary Jackson - who often just happens to sit behind me in St. George's R.C. Church (so, perhaps this one could also be described as an Ecumenical project?)!  I think the children did a great job, as did Hilary in preparing Emwell for exhibition.  (The school is situated in Emwell Street, so, presumably, hence his name?)

By this time, it was getting rather close to the time for me to catch my ‘bus home to Heytesbury.  All the walking round town had got my appetite going and it was getting a bit close to lunch time!  However, the next destination was on my way to the ‘bus stop, so it was no hardship to call in at the Civic Hall and make the acquaintance of Bertie Bloomer, the Great Bustard.


He is the product of an artist named Maureen Lakey and he has been decorated to raise funds for MENCAP and Gateway - two mental health charities:  one national (the former) and the other, a local one.

Here are another two views of Bertie.

 I have to say, even though my support still remains firmly behind Buttons, Bertie Bloomer does run him a very close second. If there were to be a third place, I think it would go to Emwell.    I’m just glad I don’t have to make the ultimate judgement.

Buttons - just as a reminder!

Wonder what your thoughts are on these splendid artistic creations?  I’ve managed to find, and visit, six out of the twelve.  The others are either not visible at times that I am in Warminster, or are located in premises in the surrounding villages which are not accessible by my local ‘bus service, and thus require a car to reach them.  However, six out of twelve is a sufficiently representative selection for me to make up my mind, so I shall be submitting my vote before the September 30 deadline.  They have to be placed at either Coates & Parker (see above - in Jigsaw‘s descriptive paragraphs) or the Library, where Percy reigns supreme.  Indeed, if you look at Percy's portrait, there is a box on his plinth, where some folks have already deposited their votes.  There is also a prize for the member of the public who both picked the winner and saw the most entrants.  The actual prizes are a Family Day Out either at The Hawk Conservancy (as the name suggests, a local tourist attraction) and seeing the real, live Bustards in their habitat on the Salisbury Plain.  A "family" is defined as two adults and two children, so that rules me out!

The competition result will be reported after October 6 - and will probably feature in my post about the Craft Fair on that day at which, hopefully, some of the ColdhamCuddlies will be finding their Forever Homes.

This is a monster post - but it's difficult to see how it could be presented in serial form.   Normal service - latest on the toys, both old and new, and  less voluminous content - will be forthcoming shortly.  Meanwhile, cheerio for now!  Isobel