New Looks for Old Friends: and updates on New Ones!

Hello Everyone - and a belated Happy Easter, just a week late. Cy Bear delighted to be back again and allowed to share some things that have been happening in the COLDHAMCUDDLIES' world since we last met. First of all, news about Oscar 2:  thanks to the tracker number allocated to him when he was posted from our local Post Office, we've tracked him as his journey to Tulsa has continued.  The Easter holiday having intervened, it would appear that he got held up once he got over the Atlantic Ocean, and has only just begun his trip across the U.S.A.  Last night, MrSS told us that he'd surfaced in "Queen's, New York" on Saturday, and when Isobel opened up the computer this afternoon, we learn that he's now "in transit to destination" (hopefully direct to Tulsa - rather than via Chicago, as happened to one of Isobel's previous commissions for MrSS).  During the week before Easter, Isobel embarked on the Batch of 6 Blue Rabbits on order from the Oxford Against Cutting (OAC) charity - to be used to cheer up the children and young girls who watch the film in which Oscar, The OAC Mascot Rabbit stars.  Photos of Oscar 1 and Oscar 2 can be found in our last blog post (25th March, 2018), and the one below shows the first Blue Rabbit - which Isobel posted to MsKA from the OAC last Wednesday afternoon.  He travelled Signed For Royal Mail parcel, and Isobel found out that the local postman had tried to deliver Blue Rabbit 1 on Friday, but - because the address we have for MsKA is probably her home one - he's probably spent the week-end in the nearest Royal Mail Sorting Office.   We're hoping to hear early this week which body version MsKA and the Charity's Nurse feel will meet the important "cuddly factor" - between Oscar 1 and 2 and Blue Rabbit 1 (the latter having the fuller body).  The Blue Rabbit's fluffier neck also fits better on to the new body, resulting in a Toy that is more evenly balanced all around.  We'll keep you posted on the verdict, but meanwhile, Isobel has decided that she's going to start work on cutting out and sewing the head and ears for the rest of the 5 remaining Blue Rabbits - so that there will not be a mad rush at the end to meet the current deadline (May 1 - with some allowance for a few further days!)

Once Blue Rabbit 1 had left us on Wednesday, Isobel than began work on preparing a lot of new Cuddlies' listings for the Shop (all renewals, because we've not had that much time to think of  - or indeed, make - brand new Cuddlies just recently).  We're hoping that's going to change shortly!  However, while doing this rather boring chore, Isobel decided to do something she's been thinking about for some time.  She picked out Yellow Plush Sleepy Teddy (https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/591139164/sleepy-teddy-bear-cuddly-toy) and Sleepy Koala Teddy Bear (https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/581542311/sleepy-koala-bear-koala-teddy-bear?)  and gave them both a face lift - . Both Toys owe their origins to a Brown Plush Sleepy Bear originally belonging to Isobel's son-in-law, AR (made for him by his talented elder sister, so family legend goes), who had been one of our first Patients in the Toy Animal Hospital (https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/589621523/animal-toy-hospital-toy-bear-specialist?).  That Brown Version didn't actually have a mouth on its face, and when the first Yellow Plush Teddy was made Isobel was still finding her way around the treatment routines (and didn't think about changing the look in subsequent versions!)  This week, though, she decided both should now have new faces - and here are the current "new looks".   First Sleepy Koala Teddy Bear: Before treatment:

And this is how our current Sleepy Koala looks now - with a different nose and a "smiley" mouth:  (this has still to appear in our Shop!):  

Isobel also opened up the eyes more, and has given Sleepy Koala (who doesn't look quite so drowsy now, I think!) a "shave" around his nose and mouth, so they can be seen better (and so HE can see better himself!). We're unable currently to find an old picture of  Yellow Plush Sleepy Teddy - because in her excitement at re-listing the Toy, Isobel forgot to keep one!!  We're sure that somewhere in our records, we will be able to find one - from an old blog post for example - but it will have to wait until another time.  However, THIS is what Sleepy Yellow Teddy now looks like (and believe me, he looks a whole lot happier, as well as not quite as drowsy!!).  They're called "Sleepy", because of the way they're made - sloping backwards against a pillow or cushion is their preferred way of "sitting"!

New Mouth and Nose, and some tidying up around the mouth too

It's still a little early to tell you about any reaction to the publicity activities Isobel has embarked on, and she's been a bit under the weather thanks to an infected tooth this last week too.  She (and I) are sorry for not posting last week - but it was Easter Sunday, there was a family lunch party up the road  to which Isobel was invited (and thoroughly enjoyed too!) so by the time it was over, as well as not having that much to tell you about anyway, we decided a week's rest from blogging was perhaps the best route! Think I've been chuntering on long enough for this week now - so will close.  Hope you're all beginning to get some Spring-like weather wherever you all are:  there's been a slight improvement hereabouts! See you all soon.  Your Friend,  Cy Bear.

More Developments on the COLDHAMCUDDLIES Public Relations' Front

Good afternoon everyone. I'm giving Cy Bear a rest for today - he's been hogging the limelight here for a few weeks now, and we don't want him to get too used to the idea!!  Besides, he's a little sad this week, as one of his long time friends, Jasper Teddy Bear has left the COLDHAMCUDDLIES store for his own Forever Home. 

We always have a tinge of regret when one of our own leaves us, and Jasper has been waiting for a niche ever since he was made. However, we're delighted to say that he's moved to a Forever Home where he could be more than just a Playmate for his new Forever Friend.  I'm going to refer to this COLDHAMCUDDLIES customer as JFF (Jasper's Forever Friend) because to type it out every time would take more time that I currently have at my disposal. JFF, who is still a Toddler,  has some potential developmental problems, which can cause him to get very wound up emotionally at times, and his parents thought they'd like to see if a Big Teddy (larger, as well as heavier and furrier than those JFF already has in his collection of cuddly Bears) might help him calm down when the world threatens to overwhelm him.  Professionals with whom the parents deal, as well as information from the many other channels available to them, suggest that a "tool" Toy such as Jasper can be very helpful in stormy situations, and we look forward to hearing how the new Friendship carries on.   Initial findings are encouraging! There are plans, if required, to make Jasper an even heavier Bear - by sending him back to the Stuffed Animal Toy Hospital  (https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/589621523/animal-toy-hospital) so that I can perform an operation on him and add suitably wrapped-up weights into either his paws or his tummy to make him even more comforting for JFF.   We'll keep you posted as to developments, as we at COLDHAM CUDDLIES would love to help youngsters with special needs to fit into their surroundings more happily - and we believe we can provide other Bears,

a Big Blue (or any other Colour) Whale or two -

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/566375716/bertie-blue-whale

or even a New Cuddly Toy - yet to be made -  to serve in this therapeutic capacity.   Meanwhile, Oscar 2, the second version of the Blue Fleece Rabbit Mascot for the Charity - Oxford Against Cutting (OAC) - has been completed.  We told you about developments on that front last week, and here's a photograph of Oscar 2, before he was wrapped up (in chemical free tissue paper, followed by being rolled up in bubble-wrap - to protect his ears in particular - against the rigours of international postal service treatment!) and then placed in a plastic AIR MAIL envelope ready for his journey to Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.  

Oscar 2 was handed in to our local Post Office in Kirkby in Ashfield yesterday morning at 1015 GMT:   (I've just checked on the Royal Mail tracker site - and Oscar 2 has been "handed over to the Overseas Postal Service for delivery to the United States...")

Just so you, our Followers, can compare the new version against the original, here's another copy of Oscar 1:

The latest version has also resulted in a "fuller" white chested body (hopefully making it more cuddly - as requested by MsKA).  Oscar 2's ears have been stiffened with the addition of some interfacing - similar to the stuff used in stiffening collars in any dress-making project.  His ears are more pricked as a result - and do seem to stand more erectly those of Oscar 1.  Oscar 2's neck has also been shortened, and fits lower on his shoulders, and as a result he's not as top-heavy as his predecessor.  We think, if MsKA of the OAC decides to keep with the original pattern, future Blue Rabbits will need to have slightly sturdier legs (near his feet in particular!) to make sure he's even steadier on "his pins".  
I heard back from MsKA last Monday that she leaves the choice of the eventual pattern to Me!  So, during the last week, I've managed to get the patterns shown in our post last week enlarged - so that, for comparison purposes, the resulting Rabbit Toys will be a similar size to the Oscar Blue Rabbits, and my next task is to cut, fit together the pieces and then stick them onto cardboard to provide me with long-term templates for the alternative Blue Rabbit "look".  I'm not prepared to be the final arbiter for the Charity's Cuddly Blue Rabbit Toys (they have to be "just right" in my view for their important task), so the current arrangement is that the first New Blue Rabbit will be sent to OAC.  Then MsKA and the Charity's Nurse will decide which version they consider to be the cuddlier Rabbit Toy.  Then, every future OAC Blue Rabbit will be made in the chosen pattern. Watch this space, Everyone!
On the Public Relations/Publicity front, there have also been developments.  Our Yell.com advertisement (mentioned last week) went "live" mid-week last week.  Developments, if any, are awaited - but meanwhile, I've been building up the site filling in the blank spots with text and photographs.  The latter still need to be increased - when time allows.  (I think this is the link to the site!  =  https://www.yell.com/0040562964/60)


Then, I've also dipped my toes into the water with a Facebook advertising boost. I'm not sure how this will pan out either, but since Facebook were kind enough to give me a £30.00 advertising coupon, I decided to give it a go!  Have booked a space until April 29th, (and co-inciding with an Etsy.com-wide sale as well) potentially spending £29.00 in total in this "campaign" (advertising a 20% discount on ALL items in our Shop).  Again, developments (if any) are awaited - with interest:  here's that link for you: https://www.facebook.com/ColdhamCuddliesStore/photos/a.374270566005652.81723.235481409884569/1495753120524052/?type=3 Another site to check out as the days go by!!   As it's a "freebie", and this is a FIRST for us, there's NOTHING to lose!! Cy Bear (or I) will be back next week - all things being equal!