Trying to get organised

Not easy, because there seem to be so many strings to the Etsy world and I don't seem to be getting the real hang of it all - just bits of it!

However, having started to make some sales (ever so slowly) am now concentrating on replenishing the shop and at the same time working out how I'm going to renovate Little Red Ted in a way that will not upset his long time owner.  Think I've worked it out:  once I've finished all the Baby Rabbits that Cy talked about in the last post (have two and a bit to go!) I'll get going and hopefully be able to do that project, as well as the Big Red Ted in time for April 27, which is when I expect the client to be attending a monthly meeting of the Ladies Section of the Royal British Legion, here at the Hospital of St. John.  By default, I am a member, and the meeting last month was where I was introduced to the Red Ted concept in the first place!

The Baby Rabbits have taken me longer  to do that usual - being so small, it really does work my fingers and thus is harder work than when doing projects like Cy and his Teddy Bear chums.  Haven't helped myself because I inadvertently missed a pattern piece out - which is resulting in the little fellas being smaller than usual.  When ready for the big world, they will be sold at a slightly lower price than the normal baby rabbits.  They will still have their ribbons etc. but are just littler!

Am also wondering what the effect of being interviewed by Mama Melinda for the http://www.InsideEtsy.blogspot.com/ on April 13 will be.  Probably not much, but on the other hand.....one never knows.  Have also followed her link to an outfit called Handmadeology, which is a site linked to Etsy and operated by a fellow Etsian.  His name is Tim Adams, and he seems to know what he's talking about not only about business on Etsy, but also in "the real world".  He runs an internet course which I'm also following, and think it will certainly be helpful in getting me to understand what I'm doing (or meant to be doing!) selling on the net.  See what I mean about "getting organised"?

Must stop now so that I can do some sewing:  am spending far too much time on the computer these days, but it is necessary (or so I keep telling myself).

"Missing Bear" finally located

Hello there:  it's Cy Bear back again.

Sorry for the delay in getting back, but Isobel has been so busy complying with my suggestion that her Etsy shop (http://www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/) should be replenished after the recent departures for Edmonton, Alberta and Nottinghamshire, UK that she's not been able to put our thoughts down in a new post.

The Baby Rabbits are shortly going to be boosted by the addition of 10 more models:  two Black and White ones - they are still in bits:  four Grey ones (two with White fronts) - this time, their fur is a darker Grey and they are sewn together, but need stuffing and the addition of their tails and ears;  and four new Brown ones, two with White fronts.  Two of the Brown ones are stuffed, and one still needs ears, tail and facial features and ribbon added.  Isobel has also been deciding the best way to restore Red Ted to an acceptable state - poor chap really was in a state and in danger of letting down the Teddy Bear team!

Another problem that was exercising Isobel was the "Missing" Bear (this is him in this picture!)  that had successfully completed his journey to Massachusetts.  Although she had seen a picture of him in his very smart new sweater, she was unable to find the illustration when she came to put it in this blog.  She and Etsy have been working on the "disappearance", and this afternoon, she was delighted to find the message from Light Brown Bear's new owner and his picture on her Feedback bit of her Etsy Shop.

An update on the Edmonton crowd that left England a week ago today.  We got a message back yesterday that they, too, have arrived safely, and there was a picture of them too!

Got to go now - after doing this post twice (really, Isobel has got to get to grips with this blogging business!  Bye!  Cy Bear



Just a brief call

The material for RedTed and RedTed11 arrived today - and it was only ordered yesterday afternoon!  Royal Mail can do it.....when they want to.

However, had planned on a few days' grace before its arrival as I listened to Cy's comments regarding the need to replenish the Etsy stock!  So despite the new material having arrived so fast, am now deep into replacing the Baby Rabbits, initially.  The Grey ones are being made with and without white fronts (two of each) using a deeper grey plush fur, the two Black Baby Rabbits are going to both have white chests, and am making four Brown Baby Rabbits, two with white fronts and two without.  Have already got one Brown one waiting to be stuffed, so all being well - the baby rabbits stocks should be up and running by mid-week.  I can then start the RedTeds project and then Hairy Bear (have actually renewed him on the Etsy site - just in case someone else wants one.  If so, the Baby rabbits will have to be pushed down the list!

Getting late now - so will end and Cy can have his say next time around. 

Surfacing once again, following a postal hiatus.

What a day it was yesterday!  Meant to post again, but there was a bit of a problem in arranging the journey of Hairy Bear, Koala and the two Baby Rabbits to Edmonton, Alberta.  Hairy Bear (as well as the other Bears in the Bear Family) are really quite large and it's nip and tuck whether they will pass as a "Small Packet" when being considered for their tickets at the Post Office.  Light Brown Bear, when he recently left for Massachusetts just made it.  Hairy Bear was originally meant to be accompanied by the other three going to the same address - but alas, the dimensions of the packet, as well as combined weight, were just too much for the "system".

So, all of them, still wrapped in their travelling packs - chemical free tissue paper, plus bubble-wrap to save them from the inevitable bumps involved in international travel - had to be separated.  Hairy Bear bravely agreed to travel alone while the other three fitted into a smaller envelope and went at the same time later that day.  Heather in Edmonton has been advised of their departure - we all now wait with bated breath to see how they all got on and hope they arrive by the end of next week.

In the meantime, I've been asked to try and repair a very much loved small teddy bear who is falling apart after many adventures and was (when in his prime) a bright scarlet bear.  He's smaller than the current Bear Family and when finished with his new modern fur fabric coat should be a little bigger than the Koalas and a bit smaller than the Pandas.  RedTed lives just three or four houses down Heytesbury High Street from The Hospital of St. John and I've today made new pattern pieces so that I can cover him and make him smart enough to be on show.  His owner has lots of grandchildren, but was anxious to be able to give one of the latest a scarlet teddy - similar to RedTed - because she had had such fun with him all her life (quite a long one, incidentally, and full of international travel - Army background: need I say more?)

I now have a set of pattern pieces to be used for other similar Little Bears (with RedTed's Mum's agreement), but unfortunately, because RedTed has been sewn up so many times - after adventures with children and dogs -  it's going to be difficult to put him together again. So, I'm going to collect all the bits, sew as many together  as I can and wrap him up carefully when providing a more modern version (with much safer joints, eyes and stuffing) and return him to his home.  Do hope his Mum will be happy!  Meanwhile, RedTed  II will also be made (same size as current Teddy Bear Family) for the grand-daugther.

No pictures of RedTed yet, so will close this post -  with a picture of one of the Baby Rabbits now on their way to a new home.

Wishing everyone a good week-end.  Isobel

Departing Friends

Hello again!  As Official Mascot for the Coldham Cuddlies family, it is my pleasure to announce the departure on March 31 of four more of our Cuddlies - all to the same destination.  Hairy Bear (the Bear on the right of Isobel's introductory picture) is going to a long-time, family friend in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  Here's a separate picture of him - among the daffodils in the garden here at Heytesbury,

The other Cuddlies who are going to Edmonton with Hairy Bear are one of the Koala Bears and two of the Baby Rabbits, one Brown and one Grey, with a white chest.  That means Isobel is going to have to   sit down and get sewing again so that all of them can be replaced - especially as a Black  BabyRabbit  and another Grey one were posted to Nottinghamshire here in England last week.  We're getting seriously depleted - which is, I suppose, the object of this exercise.

She's been so busy today getting everyone prepared for their journey that she's still not told me exactly what being Official Mascot of Coldham Cuddlies is going to involve.  However, I would have thought sitting all of us down somewhere and taking one final picture might have been a good idea?  Maybe, next time:  I'll let her off today, because the weather was not too good, so outside pictures were not an option - and she's still not too confident taking pictures of us inside.  She's waiting to be given a lesson by a friend of ours, next time he is available.  Bye - until the next time!

Introducing the Official Mascot - Cy Bear

Hello Everyone!  I'm the latest member of the Coldham Cuddlies family and am told that I am an "experiment" (?)  Apparently, I am made from the remains of an old Beaver Lamb Fur Coat which belonged to an elderly neighbour here in the Hospital of St. John.  Now the Hospital has been in existence since 1472 - which is old - but the lady who gave Isobel the fur (it was going on the dump, otherwise) is "in her eighties", so I am older than the rest of the Cuddlies.  (You can see them if you visit http://www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/).  Apparently, the top seams on my arms and legs are not "safe" or child-friendly, so instead of being ready to be adopted my future lies here with Isobel, her husband Peter - who does not enjoy good health, but does as much as he can.   I have been appointed as the Coldham Cuddlies mascot.  Not sure what that entails, but am looking forward to finding out - and telling you ALL about it.

Meanwhile  -  here is a picture of me - among the flowers in the Hospital's garden.  See you soon.  Have fun this week-end, wherever and whatever you are doing  Cy Bear

Introducing the Coldham Cuddlies Family

Greetings to Everyone! 

This is Isobel - Toymaker for the Coldham Cuddlies family of Teddy Bears, Foxes (as well as their cousin -  Coyotes) and Rabbits of all shapes and sizes.  In the picture, she is accompanied by two of the Teddy Bears (Light Brown Bear having recently left for Massachusetts, but who has been replaced and is available for adoption).

In the next blog, there will be a photo of Coldham Yogi (Cy to his friends) who has been officially appointed as the Official Mascot for the Coldham Cuddlies Etsy shop at http://www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/.

See you all soon - I hope.  Isobel