Introducing the Kirkby Koalas - and Hedgehog update(s)

Good afternoon everyone - 

Isobel here, giving Cy Bear a rest from posting.  He's been busy elsewhere today, anyway, and one mustn't over work the Bear, must one?

For instance, marshalling the Kirkby Koalas in line is REALLY hard work!

As the title implies, the latest batch of Coldham Cuddlies Baby Koalas (or Tree Bears, as the original pattern designates them) are now ready for listing - and they will be, just as soon as this post has been published, and duly publicised via Google+, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, not to mention just about all the  6 Etsy.com Teams that I'm on regularly.  There's quite a routine to be observed - in the hope that the Cuddlies will get viewed by more and more people.  

They're going to be listed at their current price of £14.50 each, but if more than one is required - and they make great Stocking Stuffers for anyone wanting to fill that empty space this Christmas(or even small gifts at Thanksgiving, Cyber Friday or any of the other upcoming holiday season commercial bonanzas)- a discount may well be available.  Two or three will be able to travel for much the same price as one, because in the end, they don't weigh very much when each goes on the scales. Convo me at www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES, and I'll be delighted to discuss the matter with you.

Talking of blog publicising, I've just checked on today's number of views for this blog and since we began in March 2011 and they amount to 40,871.  Given that I normally just natter about the Cuddlies (with some brief excursions elsewhere), I'm pretty pleased with that result - and want to thank everyone who reads us regularly for this wonderful total.  

Can't help feeling that all the material I'm gathering in all these posts (counting this one, it will be 322) that there should be a way of capitalising on the stories incorporated in these posts - but, frankly (getting over a touch of bronchitis as I currently am) my entrepreneurial spirit is somewhat diminished today.  The antibiotic I've been prescribed is the strongest I've had to date, and while it's doing its stuff, it's taking it out of me a bit as well.  Definitely not firing on all pistons could well describe how I'm feeling today.  Perhaps one of you wonderful Followers - when commenting, as I hope you will continue to do, can give me a suggestion as to how this new venture might be approached?  Thanks in advance.

To return to the Kirkby Koalas (illustrated above)  - they've been made with the current Koala fabric of grey faux fur with black flecks, are as tactile to touch as usual, and ready to be pram or cot toys, mantle piece or bedside table decor or whatever else comes to mind.  They're certainly one of the most popular Cuddlies - and especially so at Craft Fairs and Bazaars we've attended to date. 

I'm due to go to one on Thursday next - if I feel up to it, and can arrange a bit of transport assistance.  It's within Kirkby, and as I'm not taking the entire 88 COLDHAMCUDDLIES contingent, I may actually be able to make it by 'bus (that leaves close to our front drive, and is free to me, as a Pensioner).  The local University of the Third Age group is holding their "Interest Groups Display" for their regular October meeting, and when I met members of the Committee at a local Seniors Forum in town a couple of weeks ago, I was invited to take half a table (at no cost). So, that's what I will attempt to do!  

(In the past, the transportation has been provided by Clare since I moved up - but with the arrival of my small Grandson, she has more than enough to do, and Little One is not yet ready to meet his public full-on - although he does pretty well when we go to Church each week:  but that's a different kettle of fish all together!)

  

Not all of these will be going, but maybe a couple or three will - and they'll be accompanied by some Cuddlies that I currently have in stock (other than those that are already on show in The Artful Buttoner craft shop in Kirkby Town Centre.) 

I took some of our Novelty Slipper selection down to the Shop earlier in the week, just to give a different flavour to the Rabbits, Foxes, Wolves and, of course, Colin, the Giant Koala.  Hopefully, with both Winter and Christmas approaching  (when Slippers seem to attract a lot of attention) some pairs may be adopted this year, especially for the Children's versions.  I like making the adult versions, but somehow they are not as appealing to work on as the smaller ones are - not to mention taking that much longer, and using more of my special faux fur fabrics!  Will have to really work at finding an alternative source for these, similar to the one I had when living in Wiltshire - but that's for another day!

The Kirkby Koalas from the rear

A quick update on the Hedgehog campaign.  Nothing much more to report, other than that I've been working to publicise the attempt.  However, this week's The Lady magazine contains a letter from a reader who found she had been "adopted" by a female Hog, who after being fed with cat food, duly produced a litter of Hoglets.  She writes that she is duly flattered to have been selected as a safe haven.  She has provided two Hog Houses and hopes to be able to host many more litters. 

While still hoping that Cy Bear's post a couple of week's ago will attract some attention from that source, I'm attempting to get hold of the local weekly newspaper to see if they might like the story - and in the process have discovered that there is a local wildlife hospital (which treats Hedgehogs, as well as other animals who need help).  I'll be following up on that as well - and promise further news next week, and in the future, of course.

Until then, have a good week - and hopefully, I'll be feeling a bit more like myself by the time either Cy Bear or I post next Sunday.

Isobel

The Cuddlies' Hedghog Mission - Latest: plus news of Old Friends

Hello there Everyone:  sorry to be late this week, but events in Isobel's life overtook us, and this is the first time we've had a chance to work together on our latest bulletin from the COLDHAMCUDDLIES' World.

Our Baby Hedgehogs, taken outside in a garden

First of all, the latest on the Hedgehog front:  Isobel has posted details about our intended campaign on our Shop About Page, (www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES.) as well as in the Shop Announcement section. They are also on the first row of our Shop Page when anyone calls in to the Shop to see what we Cuddlies look like.

This is Mommy Hedgehog sunbathing on a convenient wall

Then whenever anyone shows support for ANY of the Coldham Hedgehogs, they get personally thanked by individual convo message via Etsy.com. with a brief background to the campaign - just in case they had not read about it in our last week's bulletin.

Daddy Hedgehog, among the bluebells

This week, in between other things Isobel has to do (as well as fighting off the cold that she fears is "cooking") she hopes to get in touch with local media (print and broadcast) to see if she can get news about our campaign "out there" in the REAL WORLD:  so far it has basically been centred on the internet and other social media.  Will report on progress, as it happens - IF IT HAPPENS:   that's now down to YOU FOLKs, as well as us!

Now, our title promises you some news about some Old Friends - and official Associate Cuddlies.  They tend to have been Patients in our Stuffed Animal Resoration Clinic at one time or another, and this is true of some of those whose photographs I'm including here.  They all belong to Philippa. Isobel's eldest daughter, and as do all Bears, each have a story of their own - some more exciting that others maybe.

First of all there's Count Rusty de Benj - Rusty to his Friends. He was originally a raffle prize in the local pharmacy when Isobel, Peter and the girls lived in Canada, and has been with the family since the early 1980's.  When Isobel learned that one of her tickets (each time one spent over a certain amount of money, a new ticket for the raffle was issued - and I think there were about 10 that had accumulated by the time it was drawn) the only way Rusty could come home was to be strapped into the passenger seat of the family car.

Having created quite an impression on the way home, at 4ft 6ins from head to foot, Rusty has kept it up ever since.  He's travelled with Philippa around the UK each time she has moved for work purposes, and while she was in Belgium, spent some months in storage.  During that time, he got somewhat limp and dusty, so when he arrived as a Patient in the Coldham Cuddlies Clinic, (https://www.etsy.com/listing/79124185/stuffed-toy-animal-restoration-clinic?ref=shop_home_active_14)   he was de-stuffed,  He had polystyrene balls inside him (a pet hate of Isobel's) had a good warm bath and was then re-stuffed.  He now resides in the rocking chair in Philippa's bedroom in the UK. 

This is Tommy Teddy, and he doesn't look in the slightest bit like he originally did.  He was originally made with a blue and pink plush fabric and arrived in Philippa's collection of Bears when she was about 3-1/2 years old.  We'd gone to visit some Loretto Sisters in their convent in Manchester (Granma Morrell had been educated by them, and Peter spent his early years in Manchester and was therefore well known to the Sisters). 

Mother Superior arranged a mysterious delivery of this big Teddy Bear which at the time was almost the same size as Philippa herself, and he was promptly named Tommy Teddy.  He travelled with the Family to and from Canada, and also with Philippa around the UK, with Rusty.  He alas did not stand up as well to the same treatment, and indeed is a lot older than Rusty.  So, when he arrived in the Clinic he was duly taken to pieces and de-stuffed (he had foam pieces inside him, and that is no longer an acceptable form of stuffing in these days of "Health and Safety").  However, his original skin did not survive the luke-warm bath!  Isobel was able to rescue sufficient of the pattern to be able to recreate him in this more modern version using Blue and Pink Fleece, and he now sits with Rusty on the same rocking Chair in Philippa's UK home.

Now the third ursine member in this Bear family picture is known in the Family as "Big Teddy".  He was given to Philippa by Peter and Isobel for her first birthday and despite being the oldest member of  the trio, really looks in remarkable trim given his age.

When he first arrived, he was a definite favourite with his young Forever Friend:  however, shortly afterwards, a favourite Aunt and Uncle arrived from Kenya to meet Philippa for the first time, and brought with them a bright Yellow Plush Teddy Bear who became known as Sleepy Teddy.  For some reason - probably because he is a softer, cuddlier Bear - the invader ursurped Big Teddy in Philippa's affections.  Sleepy Teddy has been EVERYWHERE with her, even when she used to travel overseas to Australia, America and other exotic places for work, and he's been re-covered at least twice in his life.  (Isobel says he needs another new coat, but so far has not been able to achieve her aim of providing it).  Meanwhile, Big Teddy continues to sit serenely with his two fellow Bears - looking almost as good as new.

Isobel is busy making Baby Koalas, in between the Hedgehog Campaign arrangements, so hopefully there will be some up to date photographs to show you next week.  She's made 6 of them, and they're coming along fine.  Currently, its the battle of fixing heads to bodies that is occupying her.

See you all next week - hopefully on the right date this time around.  Your Friend, Cy Bear.