Our UK Hedgehogs Campaign moves a little further on.....

Greetings everyone.  Cy Bear back again.

As the title implies, things are moving on in the Cuddlies efforts to help save the British Hedgehogs. Isobel has been working on it pretty well all week, and I'm in a position to report on some of the developments.

First of all, here's a picture of the Hedgehog Family taken when Isobel was at  the October meeting of the Ashfield U3A Group on Thursday morning this week.  She only took a few of us, because this was the first time she had gone to a group meeting, and it was more of a "getting to know you" type of  occasion - because she obviously was not the only visitor there.  Another reason was that she had only taken half a coffee-type table as well!

A Cuddlies Selection on display at the Ashwood Centre, Kirkby in Ashfield , 22.10.2015

The Frog's leg is large and floppy - and would not move out of the picture!

She was, however, the only visitor/member who had a table on display and I'm pleased to say that one of the Baby Hedgehogs (seen on the right of the photograph) did get adopted, and so the first 10% contribution towards the Saving UK Hedgehogs Cuddlies Campaign is "in the bag".  Not a large sum, maybe:  but it's a start.

After spending a long time on the internet trying to find where the source of the faux fur fabric she uses for the Hedgehogs originated from (other than from where she used to get it when we lived in Wiltshire) - and not succeeding, Isobel "bit the bullet" on Monday morning and rang The Fine Quality Feather Company in Frome, Somerset to see if they could let her know.  Guess what?  The firm gets ALL fabric they use from a wholesaler which is based here in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, where we now live.  So, most of the fabric we now have in the hall cupboard must originally have come from there in the first place! Serendipity or what?

Daddy Hedgehog, on show at "The Artful Buttoner", Kingsway, Kirkby in Ashfield.

So, then Isobel googled Roma Fabrics Limited, found the correct email address to contact and duly sent a brief description of what Coldham Cuddlies is about, and how we had dealt with Fine Quality Feather Company, by taking off-cuts they didn't want and using them for us Cuddlies.  

Roma Fabrics, being wholesalers dealing direct with the trade, don't do off-cuts!  Isobel responded by saying that she is accustomed to being treated as "Trade" by the plush and tartan fabric suppliers she deals with.  Roma Fabrics, then told  her she could apply to be treated as a Trade customer.  This has been done - and we now await approval of our registration.  (Our application went in late on Friday afternoon, so probably the department concerned with such matters had already shut shop and gone home for the week-end).  

If accepted (one never takes these things for granted), Roma Fabrics' minimum order is 0.5 metres (half a yard, or thereabouts):  most of the other companies we deal with demand a minimum of 1.0 metre (39 inches for those unaccustomed to metric measurements).  I'm told by Isobel that one can get quite a lot of Hedgehogs made with half a yard (width usually being 54 or 60 inches).  We do have some of the Hedgehog special speckled fabric in stock, but Isobel does want to ensure she can get replacements quickly, as and when required.

Mommy Hedgehog - watching what's happening in "The Artful Buttoner"

Kirkby in Ashfield is a very friendly place.  Isobel finds she gets chatting with people even when she's sitting on the 'bus going into Town for her weekly shopping, or to check on whether any Cuddlies have been adopted from "The Artful Buttoner", where the Hedgehogs had been sitting, until removed for the Craft Fair earlier this week.  (They'll be going back again next week)  From our neighbours and Claire Lilley, Owner and Operator of "The Artful Buttoner" (who is more than happy for the Shop to be used for any photographs by the local newspaper - which Isobel has yet to contact) she learned about a Wildlife Sanctuary right here in Kirkby. 

Subsequent Googles disclosed that quite literally it is based down the road and around the corner to where we are based. (Again, what a coincidence, eh?)  There were two email contact address connected with this Sanctuary,  and they handled ALL wildlife needing help, not only Hedgehogs.  Isobel - not knowing either of the personalities involved - not unnaturally chose the first one.

Turns out that, alas, the gentleman is now now longer involved.  Isobel discovered however that he is a print and publicity material designer, likes our idea of helping Hedgehogs, and has offered to help with any publicity material we might need on either a "f.o.c." or at cost basis.  (Isobel presumes that "f.o.c." means "free of charge", and at the moment has responded "Yes please", but no need at present!)

Baby Hedgehog - who was adopted from the Craft Display on Thursday 22.10.2015

However that may now change.  Having tried to contact the other person involved at the Kirkby Sanctuary, and not being made exactly welcome, (almost the first rebuff she's had since moving up from Wiltshire), Isobel was surprised and somewhat bowled over on Saturday afternoon.  While checking one of her two Facebook pages  she found a message sent from one of her Etsy team colleagues about a story run on Friday evening's local BBC TV News programme from the West Midlands (based in Birmingham) giving the name of another lady based near Walsall, in the West Midlands, who is actively seeking funding for her work. 

 Now, Melissa Miller (another funny coincidence, actually, because Isobel's maiden name was Miller!) from Alabama, USA  runs https://www.etsy.com/shop/PoarchCreekBay and she is a fellow member of the Etsy Team https://www.etsy.com/teams/10421/goldenrosecrafters/.  Melissa is a great Anglophile, and has often mentioned items she's seen when watching BBC programmes when she and Isobel are "chatting" on the Team Chat Thread (led for the Team by Isobel, incidentally), but this link is mind blowing.  Having "commented" (as I'm told one does when operating on Facebook, giving a link to my first mention of our Save the Hedgehog Campaign 

http://coldhamcuddliescalling.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/the-cuddlies-go-on-mission-to-help-uk.html ) Isobel  then telephoned BBC Midlands Today offices in Birmingham.  The switchboard put her through to the department who produced the story last night (it hadn't even been uploaded to BBC iPlayer at the time), and was given the contact details of the lady involved.

Immediate contact was made and I'm delighted to tell you that  it's been telephonically agreed that some of the 10% proceeds from future Coldham Cuddlies Hedgehog sales will be going to Joan Lockley, c/o West Midlands Hedgehog Rescue. Joan has been rescuing Hogs for over 15 years, and in that time has taken in over 5,000 animals - never refusing any of them.  Isobel is now going to write a press release (she used to do a lot of this when Peter and she operated a P.R and Publishing Company in Canada called Coldham Press Ltd),  The draft will be sent to Joan to check facts for accuracy before the next steps on this part of the campaign are taken.

These will probably involve contacting the local weekly Ashfield District newspaper and BBC East Midlands and BBC Midlands to officially launch the campaign, and maybe even inviting "The Lady" magazine to come to the party too!  After all, it was the result of an article in the latter, that started all this off, wasn't it?

We've not been inactive in other areas in the interim.  The Hedgehog Family will now be created as a ColdhamCuddlies entity in itself and listed.  The three separate Hedgehog Toys are already listed and featured in our Shop (//www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES)  and every time someone "follows" any or all of them, Isobel writes to tell that person(s) about the need to save our UK Hedgehogs.  So, slowly, it's getting known on Etsy.com too.   Everyone has been very verbally supportive to date - and hopefully, Isobel will be busy sewing lots of Hogs between now, Christmas and beyond.  We'll be telling you all how we get on, obviously, as the days go by.

The Hedgehog Family when they first arrived in "The Artful Buttoner" earlier in the Summer

That's all for this week.  Your Friend Cy Bear

PS:  Isobel has just been able to upload this video all about Joan Lockley and her amazing Hedgehog "Hosprikal"!  Enjoy. (If it works, of course).

https://www.facebook.com/midlandstoday/videos/10153662969479761/

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