Carrying on from where we left off

Greetings Everyone:  Hope you're all fighting fit and well.

Cy Bear back once again, after yet another delay, but this time it's because Isobel simply ran out of time after getting back into the Etsy promoting games rhythm, as well as the fact that she was/still is in a rehabilitation regime causing her to have less time to do everything at the same pace it previously took place.  Daily patterns are returning to normal:  but there is still a way to go, and the next stage in the recovery process begins tomorrow, with her first physiotherapy session - designed, she understands, to get her wounded leg back to it's former strength and fitness (or as near as possible).

Meanwhile, sewing on the Coldham Cuddlies front has proceeded steadily, and the Colourful Otter Golf Club Saver, mentioned in my last post and completed shortly after we posted it, was dispatched - well within the required time - to MrRR in Cambridge, NewYork State, U.S.A.  It evidently caught a flight fairly quickly, and was received safely the following week-end (actually taking the promised 5 Working Days to reach its destination).

This is how he was made -

The finished metal handle cover

Isobel decided on a gold fish this time, rather than our original grey fish for Otter to "nibble".

Isobel then began work on the Otter head and body - and he began to take shape like this:

The back and front pieces of the head have been padded with faux fur leftovers, but Lucky still needs whiskers

Checking that Lucky's Head and Shoulders fit over the Golf Club

Fitting the two Golf Club Saver pieces together on the Club, with whiskers in place!

 and looked when he was finished.

An "official" review has yet to be posted on the Etsy Shop site (these are not allowed for a few days/weeks after their expected arrival date by the Etsy system). 

(This can - and often does - mean they never appear at all!  It also explains the different numbers shown on the Shop site between the number of Sales recorded by the system, and the number of reviews actually posted there).

However, when MrRR emailed to confirm safe arrival of his delayed Otter Golf Club Saver, he also mentioned that he was treating it as his lucky token - for when he returned to his golfing activities after surgery.  The item was also described as being "perfect"!   So, you could say, Coldham Cuddlies has another satisfied customer! (We've decided to name the listing as Lucky, the Colourful Otter Golf Club Saver).

Lucky Otter Golf Club Cover - without the Club inside him

Interestingly, just after Lucky Otter was posted, we received another order for a Golf Club Cover with an Otter Head - using the original (more muted)  pattern for their request.  As the new listing only appeared AFTER this new order arrived, Isobel got in touch with MrLA from Columbus, Ohio - giving him the opportunity to change his mind.  As he'd signed into the Shop as a "Guest", as opposed to joining Etsy as a full Buyer, he may not have received the offer - as it used an unusual email address.  Isobel also often finds communicating via email in this way is not as effective in communicating with our customers, as via the Etsy Convo system.  So, without further instructions,  Isobel proceeded to make the new Otter Golf Club Cover in the original, dark brown colours - together with a grey fish, as opposed to a gold fish.  That's almost completed, and should be en route to Ohio early next week.  We'll post a photograph of Otter Golf Club No.3 (or No.2 - depending on how you want to calculate it, because the two Otter versions are being listed separately in the Shop) before he leaves to join his new Golf Club Bag club companions in Columbus,U.S.A.

The two pieces waiting for the third item to complete Lucky Otter Golf Club Saver

That's it for this week, folks.  Have a really good one - or as good as the weather in your parts allows. After a week of incredibly hot weather here in the UK, we're now seemingly returning to a "traditional" English summer.  That used to be described as "two fine days, and then a thunderstorm":  nowadays, though, we're finding the the two fine days result in very high temperatures:  and the thunderstorms are frighteningly noisy accompanied by torrential rain.  Definitely not the "usual" English rain of old - which Peter used to describe as "the gentle pitter, patter":  that's well into the past.

Your friend.  Cy Bear.

Be Careful What You Wish For!

Hello Again Everyone:  Cy Bear back again after yet another break in communications.

Carrying on the topic of our last post of 19th May, 2019:

Finished Peacock Golf Club Saver - with the protected Club in situ

At least this time, the breakdown wasn't caused by technology.  It was the result of a bad fall Isobel had a couple of days after our last post here.  This resulted in her going to hospital for two weeks, and the rest of the time till now being occupied with her rehabilitation (after breaking her hip in four places).  The exact medical terminology for the procedure - and I quote - "Left dynamic hip screw for neck of femur fracture".  Nearly eight weeks in from the date of the accident, she is now walking with the aid of a two-level trolley inside the home, and a three-wheeler walking frame for outside activities. All the wonderful Social Workers who formed part of the Occupational Therapy Support Teams sent to help her recover have gone their separate ways, as she can cope with daily duties in the home.  She's been to Mass at St. Barnabas twice in the last 3 weeks, thanks to lifts in with Clare and her family, and she now has visits twice a week from a Personal Independence Worker (someone who walks beside her) - watching how she uses the three-wheeler - and gives assistance (if needed) in other activities which hopefully will allow Isobel to be back to her former active self as soon as practicable. 

Full-Length photograph of Peacock Golf Club Saver in use

Meanwhile, the flat, which is already pretty fully furnished - to cope with both Isobel and The Cuddlies requirements - has had mobility aids of different varieties loaned to her by the British Red Cross (for as long as they are required), and it's making for some cramped living conditions.  Access to the Cuddlies toy storage has been limited - which is why there have been no further posts from me!  I'm not even sitting in my usual spot in Isobel's bed - and we're not quite sure when that will happen again!!  

Seen from the Peacock's "best side" - minus feet, which we felt didn't look right on the finished Cover

However, after a week or two at home, the Peacock Golf Club Cover - we've decided to rename them Golf Club Savers from now on, as we feel that is a better description for them - was completed.  

The gentleman who caused the creation of this new Coldham Cuddly did confirm that he was not in fact interested - but we've listed the new creation in the Shop, and Isobel is finally getting round to our weekly blog posts too.  The pain-killing regimen hasn't helped the writing process very much, but even that is improving, so - here's hoping.  

She's not yet got in touch with the Lady Golfer who asked to be kept informed about the Peacock's final arrival - because she's only really just returned to her daily laptop regimen.  It takes up a lot of day light hours simply trying to get completely better after one of these incidents, and Isobel does get somewhat impatient with herself because it all seems to be so slow.  However, everyone around us keeps telling her that she's doing OK - so, hopefully, we'll  get back to "normal" soon.

Rear view of the new Golf Club Saver

Meanwhile, I'm not going to hope "that things go smoothly" as I did at the end of my last contact with you on 19th May!!  It was only two days later, that Isobel had her fall!! (Also, this may explain the title of  the post this week).

In the interim, while Isobel was in hospital and during the weeks since, she discovered that our whole Shop might get closed down by Etsy, because the five orders we had "on the go" - two of whom where "off line" orders, had become well out of date when it came to delivery/dispatch dates.  All our Buyers had been told about Isobel's accident and had indicated they would be prepared to wait until Isobel was back "in business" once more. However, Etsy's automated system closes Shops down when multiple late dispatches get flagged up!! To avoid this scenario, we were told to refund the monies we'd received, and ask the customers to re-order.  We did so - and are pleased to say that all but one of the kind people did re-order, and Isobel is now sewing again as well.

We've finished the first re-order:  for a Brown Sister Bear (in the style of a Poor Clare Nun).  

Sister Bear is wrapped and ready for shipping to Bochum, Germany:  which will be done by Clare on Tuesday next week.

We're working on a new version of an Otter Golf Club Saver.  This will be heading for Cambridge, New York State, U.S.A. as soon as it is completed.  The Buyer on this occasion suggested that Isobel "surprise him with some colours" when re-ordering his item.  During subsequent email conversations, it was decided that the original Otter "body" will remain the same colour, but that the fish and knitted metal handle cover will be where the "surprise colours" will be found.

 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/665288924/otter-fleece-golf-club-cover

The knitting for the latter is well underway, and the item hopefully will be en route by the end of this next week - provided that we don't run out of the wool in the interim!!  Pictures of the latest version will be shown as soon as they are taken.  

Isobel cannot yet board any public transport without help from others, so is reliant on Clare (and our wonderful neighbours) to purchase anything that she cannot reach for herself.  That includes her ability to leave the flat un-escorted.  Being on the first floor, she has to use a built-in stair lift, which can accommodate her, but not the three-wheel walking frame as well, so someone has to carry the latter to the end of each journey before she can set off walking to the eventual destination!!  Frustrating - but doable;  but you can see why Isobel is "champing at the bit" a little!!

The other two orders still to be finished (and they are already cut out, awaiting Isobel's attention) are for another Blue Nun Bear 

and for a Padre Bear. 

Our last Padre Bear (sent just before the accident) got this review while Isobel was in hospital:

"I haven't seen it yet, but my mom loved it. She sleeps with it (she's 84 and in asst living). she likes that it's a priest :)"

Both are off-line orders, which can be handed over in person when completed, as they are both for St. Barnabas Cathedral parishioners and one is not subject to Etsy deadlines, although now they are not a problem, thank goodness.  That takes the overall total of Clerical Bear sales since they were introduced in October last year to 23.  Please keep them coming!  They none of them ever look the same, even though Isobel uses the same patterns for each of them!

Think I've gone on long enough for this week:  hope that we can continue to keep in touch WITHOUT further incidents along the way.  (Think that's a safe enough wish - for now, anyway!).

Your Friend, 

Cy Bear.