New projects in the pipeline.

Hello Everyone!

Cy Bear back again, with apologies for absence last week-end.  However, you were warned that this might happen, so I'm not feeling as bad about it as I once would have done!

The family celebrations for Isobel's Grandson's 2nd Birthday and Baptism were fantastic - by report. Naturally, being a Beaver Lamb Bear, with duties to perform on the Coldham Cuddlies front, I do not get included in these events!  However, it did mean that not much sewing got done the previous week, so there was not much to write about either.

This week has not been that much better - but towards the end of it, Isobel did manage to begin new projects - largely as a result of two enquiries received during the week via our Shop  (www.etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES).  One is for an actual order for one of our recently produced Baby Monkeys:

One of the three pictured above will be travelling shortly to Buckfastleigh, Devon, UK shortly.  We're not sure which one - yet.  Isobel, when acknowledging the order, enquired whether our Customer would like to choose, or leave the selection to Isobel.  (We're doing this blog before checking if there has been a response, but in order to ensure no delays for sending the order from us this week, we decided to take a photograph - just in case the answer was in the affirmative).

The other enquiry is still just that - but as many Custom Orders begin in this way (but don't always finish with a firm order), we thought we'd tell you how we do these things - just in case anyone out there reading this post might be interested enough to follow through and maybe offer a Cuddly a new home as a result!!

MrAF (the Enquirer) wrote asking if we might be able to make a Rabbit Head small enough to go on a clip which could then be fixed to a shoe.   He phrased the question like this:

Are you able to make the head part as shoe clips at all even if made smaller so they are secure. I want the head to look like Peter Rabbit from the Beatrix Potter books let me know if possible. 

The example he used was this one:

Now, as you know, Isobel is not much good without a specific pattern to work with, but it's obvious to anyone that the Rabbit Head on these Slippers would not be much good.  Also, using too small a pattern for a plush version like these Grey Rabbit Slippers might not be as successful as if they were made with fleece fabric, so she sent MrAF a link to these guys:

At the same time, she offered to experiment to see if it would be possible. (Her thinking is that by cutting the existing pattern a little smaller all round, together with the resulting seams, the head might not be too big for the final clip connection - especially where the ears are concerned.).   Current thinking involves cutting the pattern under the arms in an effort to create something resembling the photo sent back by MrAF , when he agreed that our Blue and White Baby Bunnies look promising, and providing a picture showing the colour he'd like.  

The pic sent to us by our Enquirer

Isobel responded by saying the her arthritic fingers might  not cope with trying to make such small clothing, but she'd like to experiment - not only to see if it would be possible, but also to be able to give MrAF an idea of the final cost involved.  The experiment has been sanctioned and we'e been given an idea of when the product is required (20th August, 2016).   

So, while Isobel continues with her next mobile project - using a mixture of  Blue Fleece Baby Rabbits this time around.  This means using the Baby Rabbits pictured above (and making some Dark Blue and White Baby Rabbits - shown here waiting to be stuffed)

Two versions of our proposed Dark Blue and White Baby Fleece Rabbits 

she's been cogitating the way forward for our Rabbit Head barettes (or hair slides as we know them in the UK).  Two of the hair clips shown on the card in this picture is one possible solution.  At least it's going to be attempted once the Rabbit Nursery Mobile is completed.  Isobel has cut out enough Dark Blue and White Rabbits so that they can not only be used for the new Mobile, but there will sufficient to list them as another member of the Coldham Cuddlies family (and get us nearer to the 100 Cuddlies target) at the same time.  (We're currently at 96!!). 

I'll end this now folks, so that Isobel can get down to brass tacks as soon as possible.  At least it's keeping her busy and out of mischief!!  See you next week - if Isobel can spare the time.  I'll try to make sure she does.

Your Friend, Cy Bear.

PS: Before I go - while editing this week's post Isobel has unwittingly found the solution to a problem that has eluded her to date - getting photographs that she has transferred from another site to remain in the centre of our post!  Hopefully, it will result in our future publications looking a whole lot tidier!!

Coldham Cuddlies Piglets in Production - latest bulletin

Well folks, yet another week has flown by, and here's your Friend, Cy Bear, to share the latest news from the Coldham Cuddlies World.

Isobel is getting on well with the introduction of the new sets of  Piglet Twins, but before going any further, I thought you'd like to know that AJ , the Orange Dragon arrived safely at his Forever Home and his new look would seem to be satisfactory as far as MsLA is concerned.  We received this message to confirm his safe arrival.

"Artist agreed to make alterations to existing plush. It arrived today. It looks so much better and sturdier.  Artist has excellent comms and does excellent work.  Highly recommended".

This equated to a Five Star Review via the Etsy System, for which Isobel is duly grateful - and it's been added to the other 54 similar reviews we've been given for Cuddlies who have found their Forever Homes or Toy Animals (mostly Bears) that have been treated in the Stuffed Toy Animal Restoration Clinic since we started operating in 2010. 

 (https://www.etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES/reviews?r).

Once AJ had left us on Monday morning last week, Isobel got down to the business of sewing and dressing the new Piglet Twins.  Four are now almost complete and will join those that were pictured at the end of last week's post.

You'll notice that the White Boy Piglet still needs his shoes attaching - and gives some indication of the height difference between the Piglets that have been "shod", and the one still going "bare trottered" ( if there is such a word!).  One shoe is ready to be sewn on and other is still in the process of construction.

As for the original Pink and White Piglet Twins, a cursory search for them among the Toy Store has so far resulted in Isobel not being able to locate them!  So, there is going to be a more detailed search undertaken early next week, so that the White and Pink Piglets can be separately listed - along the lines I outlined last week in my post here.  If not, some more White Piglets will need to be made, so that we can have three different colour schemes offered for each Piglet variety!  Then Isobel will return to the production of Nursery Mobiles - so she's got a busy schedule ahead of her. 

However, this week is likely to find Isobel engaged on family matters for some of the time she would be sewing - because her GrandsonE celebrates both his 2nd birthday on Friday, followed on Saturday by his Baptism at St. Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham.  That important ceremony in a Little Person's life is going to be followed by a terrific party at Clare and Alan's home to which up to 120+ were invited. To date, over 100 have said they will be present -,but not all will be at both the Saturday events,   

These activities may therefore also impinge on whether or not a post will happen next week!  YOU ARE WARNED.

In the meantime, mid-week,  Isobel received an enquiry about whether or not she would be prepared to have another - more challenging - attempt at treating an existing toy for someone different;  a Customer who turned out to have a connection  to AJ the Dragon.  The Customer wanted this 8 ft Squid

turned into a Horse-like structure looking something like this, with mane and tail and horn too, if possible!!

The fabric from the Squid would be used - and keeping his eyes, mouth and the letter R.   

The horse pattern is one that is available for download from an Etsy.com shop, and is offered with permission for anyone to use it, provided attribution is given to the source Etsy Shop. Naturally that attribution would have been given had the need occurred.   (There were actually three patterns suggested by our Customer, who was prepared to buy the one Isobel felt she could do the best job with.  The other two had patterns for manes, tails and horns - you all know how useless Isobel is without a pattern!).  In the event, although Isobel was up for the challenge, the Customer changed her mind because she discovered  the Squid to be stuffed with Lavender for some reason or another. (That's a FIRST for us in the time we'd been Toy Animal Restorers!),  

Isobel had suggested that an 8ft fully stuffed Squid could cause immense logistical problems for either Royal Mail, or any another Courier, to handle with ease.  As a solution, she asked if the Customer would de-stuff the Squid - as that way it would not take up as much space.  Also the amount of stuffing (Kapok or otherwise) might pose a problem, or two, of its own for us here - since our rubbish collection arrangements could become somewhat overloaded!!  When the raw Lavender was discovered. our Customer decided the effort wasn't worth it, and Isobel - though disappointed at not being able to have a go - also agreed to abandon the idea.

 (Bless her, the Customer offered to pay Isobel for "wasting her time":  needless to say, the offer was declined.  Not much time was involved, and really it's a part and parcel of the toy-making/replacement/restoration business.  You win some..... and you lose some!)

Meanwhile, we both wonder what might turn up on the Coldham Cuddlies front next week - apart that is from finishing off our Dressed Piglets, followed by the business of listing them in our Shop (www.etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES) and getting on with the Nursery Mobiles. 

Looking forward to the next time we meet - until then, have a good week (or two, as the case may be!).

Your friend.  Cy Bear.