New Novelty Slipper Production now in full swing

Hello once again, Everyone.

 Cy Bear reporting in - and hopefully being able to do things better now that Isobel got the computer seen to on Monday.  It only took the Techy Guy 50mins from start to finish:  goodness knows how long it would have taken Isobel to try and sort it (as was suggested by the system, I believe!) and definitely worth the monthly fee we've signed up to for 12 months hence!!

The business regarding the hiccup on the Etsy Custom Order system was eventually sorted - but not before both sides of the transaction almost gave up on the order system totally.  Actually, we've got one on the official Etsy Order system (which is well under way - you can see where it is at the moment.)

This is the first of a pair of  Polar Bear Novelty Slippers - destined for SnraCF's youngest GrandaughterA, who is now about 12 weeks old.  The picture was taken last night and sent to Italy, just to make sure that it is what SnraCF was looking for. (IT IS!!  So, full steam ahead......!)

The second pair of  Novelty Slippers (this time featuring Panda Bears) are ready to be cut out, once the Polar Bears are complete. (They were eventually ordered between SnraCF and Isobel, via their mutual PayPal accounts!  It does mean that the second pair won't show as an official Etsy Order, but who really cares - when the funds are well and truly in Isobel's bank account!).   Once both items are finished, they will be converted into normal Coldham Cuddlies Novelty Slipper listings, and be added to that Section in our Shop (www.ColdhamCuddlies.etsy.com).  That will take our listings total further forward and nearer the 110 mark, which will be exciting.  

With the success of the Polar Bear slippers, Isobel has had an idea as to how she can use some small Brown Rabbit Heads that she was left with earlier in the year - after someone contacted us, got Isobel to make them, and then disappeared before the custom order was completed.  This time, though, it was not such a problem as it has been in the past!!  (We actually blogged about them here https://coldhamcuddliescalling.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/rabbit-head-shoe-ornaments-new-product.html )  Isobel was never entirely sure that the Rabbit Heads would work as Shoe Ornaments, but we are pretty certain there won't be a problem as Baby Slippers.  So, watch this space - I'm pretty sure they will end up in that role, rather than that for which they were originally produced.

Meanwhile, we've finally  been able to "find" the missing pictures showing how our Gentlemen's Badger Stripe slippers, recently shipped to MrMW in San Franciso, were put together.  (You can see the difference in fabric usage between Slippers for a 12 week old youngster, and needing a slipper to fit a size 9-10 for our gentleman customer!)  You may recall that I told we'd shipped them on Friday afternoon a week ago - so they are probably still en route, as we may have missed a California-bound 'plane from the nearest airport (we're not that far from Birmingham, Manchester and/or Nottingham International Airports) but Isobel has found that packages bound for overseas destinations need to be in our local post office by mid-morning on a Friday, if they're going to make it before the week-end.  I'll let you know when they do arrive safely.

Meanwhile, here are the rest of those photographs I was telling you about:

This photo shows one, almost completed, Badger Stripe Slipper - but giving our customer the choice of a grey or brown satin ribbon trim.  (He went with the Brown, which is what we thought would be the case!)

The grey ribbon will come in handy though because Isobel is making Christmas slippers for her Great Nephews who live in British Columbia, Canada, and they may well need to have special slippers made for them.  Their foot measurements were received during the week, and Isobel anticipates having to make at least a couple more pairs - although, hopefully, some will be met from our existing supplies. Some of the great nephews are healthy teenagers, with feet measurements to match!!!  In all, there are 4 Great Nephews who need foot warmers for this winter- ranging in age between 5-21!  (Isobel is of a generation that one does not become fully adult until you ARE 21!!).

Another view of the slipper and ribbons.

San Francisco-bound Slippers, completed.

The Slippers for MrMW before they were packed for the Journey.

So, that's all for this week, Friends.  Hope to be back with you again next week - with the latest from the Slipper Department of our Coldham Cuddlies Shop!!  Have a good one!

Your Friend, Cy Bear.

A return to Rufford Abbey - this time in Autumn surroundings.

Hello again Everyone - this week, I intend to let Cy Bear take over.

That's because Isobel has got herself into a fix on the computer (YET AGAIN!) and am hoping her friendly Techy Guys from Hewlett Packard will be able to sort her out early next week.  Some things still operate:  but not all!  So, here's an update about what has been possible!!

After a busy week in which a successful MacMillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning was held - and resulted in a total of £500.00 ($620.75 USD) being sent to the Charity.  The actual event raised a little over £280.00 (with the help of our regular Tuesday Coffee Morning attendees, and their friends).  The rest was made up with a contribution from the Old Chapel Close Busy Bees Club amounting to £200.00 and the total being rounded up to the final amount with a personal donation from one of our residents. 

(The Busy Bees meet regularly on a Monday afternoon and consist of a regular group of ladies who "knit and natter".  They create knitted toys, baby clothing, and tea cosies, which get sold on a Womens' Institute stall at nearby Southwell Market each week.  Once the WI have taken their share (ten per cent of any item sold), the monies are returned to the Busy Bees, who then decide once a year on which local charity they would like to support.  Isobel is one of the weekly regulars - but uses the time to do some Cuddlies preparation, as she rarely knits these days.  The Monday Regulars are quite happy with this arrangement!)

Isobel celebrated her birthday on Saturday, spending it with Clare, Alan and Grandson E - involving a stomp around Rufford Abbey Country Park - about which we posted earlier this year - (on 24/04/2016-Rufford Abbey, Part One and 02/05/2016-Rufford Abbey, Part Two).  It was a beautiful, autumnal day, plenty of feathered friends came to meet the Party, and a good time was had by all.

Ever hopeful avian friends

A very regal Swan - keeping an eye on family (out of sight) and friends

A gaggle of  Brent Geese - gathering in anticipation!

Whereas the previous stroll around the Country Park had taken place in the Spring, this time the trees were in full leaf (getting ready to drop in some cases), and the visit concentrated on the lake area, finishing off with a delightful picnic lunch in the Rose Garden.  Here are some more photos of the occasion:

Queen Mother's Walk in full leaf - at the beginning of our visit.

A tantalising first glimpse of the lake, with autumn colours appearing

A view of the lake - with the furthest point in sight

Playing with a new found friend

A last glimpse of the lake at the end of the trail

The clock tower of Rufford Abbey, seen from the Rose Garden as lunch was being unpacked

The rest of the week involved Isobel finishing off the order for a pair Size 10 Mens' Fux Fur Novelty Slippers, which were dispatched on Friday afternoon, and will hopefully be in situ in San Francisco by the end of next week. 

We've also received two custom orders for some Children's Novelty Slippers - from  a returning customer, SraCF, living in Italy.  Isobel has got to clarify something with the Etsy Custom Order system - which doesn't seem to be recording the request as 2 separate orders, largely because we think the client based her Custom Request on the same original Slipper listing.  Isobel may be wrong - but it's another of these things that need sorting........ if only to see that the correct charges are applied!!!. 

So, you could say that this week has been somewhat frustrating on the Coldham Cuddlies front - but overall has been a good one for Isobel.

Hope to be back functioning with All Systems Go next week - I'll close for this week.

Your friend, Cy Bear.