Another Ed Ted update

Just a quick update - before Cy Bear and I begin blogging about Ed Ted's continuing treatment.

Glad to say that the material matching problem is solved.  My nearby source, just 30 miles down the road from here, has come up trumps - BIG TIME.  Ed's ear, which was sent to provide a sample, has been matched SPOT ON and the material has arrived courtesty of Royal Mail.  I'm now in the process of sketching the patterns on to cardboard to make a template for the new cover and will then be cutting the pattern out and the stitching can begin to complete the Ed Ted project.

Before ending for the night though, here is a picture of the leg featured in the last post - on the new material.  Think you'll all agree that it is a pretty fantastic match.

A final update.  Have begun the process of listing on Groove Press and will be doing it in stages.  Etsy will still remain the main site for www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com - but am spreading the Cuddlies wings!

Bye for the moment.  Isobel

Announcement - regarding ColdhamCuddlies' shop and Ed Ted latest

STOP PRESS:

With effect from today (Fourth July), even though I am not an American - by being an Etsian, I believe I have become an adopted one! - I am offering FREE SHIPPING for everyone, anywhere for anything in the shop currently, plus anything that  may be listed between July 4, 2011 and August 31, 2011.  The shipping costs have also been re-calculated so visitors to www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com can see how much they are saving if they take advantage of this offer!

Having spent a great deal of time in the past few days concentrating on Ed Ted and his treatment, I decided to visit my shop (www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com) on Sunday and was somewhat disconcerted to discover that the listing form had changed quite radically since I had last had a proper look.  I noticed I had to fill in a lot more information ABOUT the items when Miss Prim Fox (Etsy Listing #75340524) and Sir Francis Fox (Etsy Listing #75921238) joined the family, but had not realised that the new format applied to everything else that was already in the shop!  Took quite a while to achieve, but managed to do it before retiring to bed last evening.

As a result of the blogging in recent weeks, we are beginning to attract more followers on Twitter, one of which is Groove Press.com.  They have offered to include our shop (www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com) for a six month trial at very favourable terms, so I will also be listing all the ColdhamCuddlies on that site when I have received an answer to a registering question I have posed.   Being the Fourth of July, assume that the folks at Groove Press are enjoying a well-deserved break.  I hope to be beginning the selling process on that site very soon.  Naturally this is going to mean yet another site address - which I will publish just as soon as the new shop is operational.

The business cards I spoke about last week arrived on Saturday, and I'm very pleased with how they look.  Proves that it is better to proof read and design in daylight, rather than just before retiring to one's bed!  Shall be using every opportunity to distribute them from now on (including as a Compliment Slip when using the "snailmail" route for communicating).  As a silver surfer, am still more comfortable using this traditional means of communicating, but realise that social media etc. et al is the way to go.  Can sometimes be uncomfortable being dragged into the 21st Century.

As for Ed Ted:  some of his pieces have been appliqued:  (see above for the reason why that stage of the rejuvenation process has not been completed) and I hope to do some more after posting this blog.  Then we await swatches from my potential new mohair fabric source for a choice to be made for Ed's final covering.  Since he was washed, I would really like to match it as closely as possible.  His legs really are a very lush golden yellow and he would look splendid if he could end up with that as his final appearance.

                                              

Included here is a very rough picture of Ed Ted's legs - it will not be the final shot, because they have only been tacked to the calico sheeting, but it gives one an idea of the difference in colour shades - when compared with one of the original shots of the old fellow.

Ed Ted's original rear view

So, I'll now end this post - and do some sewing!  Bye for this post.  Isobel

Ed Ted's treatment - latest developments

Not too much to report on Ed Ted's treatment today, except to tell everyone that his pattern pieces have survived the washing process, they have all been ironed and I am now in the process of pinning the individual bits onto the calico sheet backing so that I can start the appliqueing process.  I tell you - he's a different colour  now, so it's just as well we did not progress with the potential purchase via FatPumpkinBear - because despite all the choices Karen offered, none of them now match Ed Ted's current appearance!

I do have a tendency to move headlong at things - bull in a china-shop fashion.  One of my many failings.  Many mistakes have occurred in the past, not only with crafts, but in other parts of my life.  Seemingly, I never learn!

Incidentally, there has been a further development in the supplier field for the Cuddlies.  After deciding not to proceed with FatPumpkinBear, I decided to check one or two other UK suppliers I had been recommended to contact.  The search may have ended with my finding a definite possibility which is located about twenty-five miles down the road from where Coldham Cuddlies are located here in Heytesbury.  Now seems to me that it might make much more sense  for us to check out this new connection.   Prices are very competitive, and 25 miles down the road is a lot closer than having to deal with the intracies of international mail services, not to mention the distances caused by the Atlantic Ocean and a lot of the USA as well! The new outfit invited me to send them a sample (half of one of Ed Ted's ears is already in the post!) and a search for a "perfect" match will then ensue.  Obviously, given Ed Ted's age, a perfect match is unlikely, but it would be nice to get as close a one as possible.

Another thing happened this week - the new business cards I ordered a couple of weeks' ago are on their way.  That is really going to help me promote Coldham Cuddlies locally.  Have got the contact details of  the  new gallery in Warminster, and once the cards arrive, the next step is to make an appointment and go meet the proprietor of The Footprint Gallery to see if we have any common ground.  Think the time has arrived for me to also spread the word myself, rather than relying solely on word of mouth - however good that is.

Cy Bear and I will be keeping you in touch as things progress, but now I'm going to get on with the pinning and stitching Ed Ted now requires for the next stage of his treatment.

Will be back soon.   Isobel