Squirrel Kalaedescope - You Choose between the Blacks, Reds and Greys!

Greetings everyone - and apologies for the absence of last week's post.  Several reasons for it, including the fact that our Black Squirrels (mentioned by Cy Bear in his last post a couple of weeks ago) had still to be completed, and also because I  have been unexpectedly away from base. (While this still continues to be the case, hopefully all will be restored to "normal" soon).

In the interim, because "home" is not far from where I find myself at the moment, I've been able to retrieve the necessary fabric and other haberdashery needed to complete the Coldham Cuddlies Squirrel project.  So, this post will serve to introduce the three latest members of the Coldham Cuddlies family:

First - even though he/she is/are the newest members of the Squirrel clan - meet Basil:  so called because the name rhymes with Cyril Red Squirrel and Sybil Grey Squirrel, who were alluded to in Cy Bear's last post two Sundays ago. (My word, doesn't the time fly by:  here we are, already mid February 2016!):

https://www.etsy.com/listing/268063642

Basil (R) has a felt acorn sewn on between his front paws, while Basil (L) does not:  just to give interested parties a choice of how their new Coldham Black Squirrel might look when thinking about adoption procedures!

This is Basil Squirrel (R) with his acorn - currently upside down, but ready for turning the right way around if required.  Cy Bear, in his last post, did mention that I was wondering how to sew the facial features on to this very black toy - because, of course, for most of my other Cuddlies, they have them sewn on with Black DK Yarn.  Eventually, I decided to go with light Brown DK Yarn for these boys, and think it works quite well.  White was just a little too stark a contrast.

Here is Basil Squirrel (L) giving a better side view of his shape.  The tails curve round at their ends, quite realistically, but being black, they don't show up as clearly as they do with the Grey and Red Squirrels.  They're all on sale at £20.00 GBP ($29.00 USD), are made in a totally smoke free and animal free environment and make really Cool Toys for Toddlers, Tots and even Grown-ups too!  

To be quite honest, I'd never heard of Black Squirrels prior to beginning the Squirrel project - one that had been on my "To Do" list for some time, (at least 3-4 years ) since receiving a Birthday (or even Mother's Day) gift from daughter,Clare.  

(This particular toy publication has been responsible already  for  https://www.etsy.com/listing/99686556 (Barney, Barn Owl) and our Frog - the current version being a Brown and Yellow Toy to be seen at https://www.etsy.com/listing/116285186. )

https://www.etsy.com/listing/265274960

I'd taken the first versions of the Grey and Red Squirrels to show friends after Mass one week after they had been completed, and during the conversation after their revelation, not only was the suggestion made to name them "Sybil" and "Cyril" respectively, but mention was made about there being Black Squirrels in existence in parts of America (with California mentioned as being where they were most prolific).  Since most of my Cuddlies seem to find Forever Homes in the USA, it thus seemed a logical move to find out more.  

My research (thanks to Google and Wikipaedia) told me that Black Squirrels derive from the Grey Squirrels and are about the same size as the Greys.  The Reds, are not only smaller, but they are now more often to be found in pockets of  the UK and, since the introduction of the Greys to our island, they are diminishing fast.  Because the Reds are more susceptible to a "squirrel pox" carried by the Greys (who seem to be largely immune to the disease), as well as being unable to stand up to the invasion by the bigger North American species.  The Black Squirrels are not just limited to California, but are commonly to be seen in the northern American States - across the whole Continent, as well as the southern Canadian Provinces north of their shared borders.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/265276978

However, curiously, there is an isolated colony of  Black Squirrels in the UK - in the vicinity of the town of Letchworth, in Hertfordshire (north of London).  Why they remain there, without having spread around the rest of the UK raises some interesting queries - as well as why we don't know more about them. 

Basil Black Squirrel - a view of the rear

When the move back home takes place, I'll take pictures of the three different coloured Coldham Cuddlies Toy Squirrel colony together, but meanwhile, here is one of the Reds and Greys to be getting on with.

Together with that photograph, I'll  also be going back to my Hedgehog obsession - starting to tell you more about the Christmas-time visit made to Tiggywinkles Hedgehog Hospital, one of the two Hedgehog charities the Cuddlies and I are trying to help in the fight to halt the decline of the UK Hedgehog population.  Permission has been received to use my photographs - as a reminder of that visit - and arrangements have been  put in place as to how the three Hedgehog Toys I donated to the Hedgehog Hospital Trust could be used to possibly increase our contribution to our fund-raising efforts.  All will become plain in coming weeks.

Sybil Grey Squirrel - rear view

Meanwhile -this week, nationally in the UK,  there were some developments in the overall fight for our Hedgehog Population.  Some moves are afoot to give Hedgehogs the same protection currently on offer to our Red Squirrels.  Both species are also among the contenders to be declared the National UK Animal.  You'll not be surprised to know that I'm solidly behind the Hedgehogs: although, I do admit to having torn loyalties were it to end in a race between the Hedgehogs and the Red Squirrels.  (Foxes and Badgers have been mentioned as well, for those who might be interested!)  What about the Grey Squirrels, I hear folks enquire?  Well, there are moves to try to remove them all together - because of their effect on our native Red Squirrels.  They are not native to our islands.

Watch this space - developments on all fronts will, of course, be reported as and when they occur.

Finally, Cyril Squirrel - from the back

Be back again, hopefully in normal surroundings, next week.  Cy Bear is on guard, as ever, when I'm away from base.  See you all then.

Isobel

Two Cuddlies have new Forever Homes and there are Two Cuddlies to Introduce.

Hello Everyone!-

This is coming from Kirkby in Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, England, UK on a very wet and - so far at any rate - less windy afternoon.  We've had some terrible winds here in the UK (not not that bad around our flat fortunately.  When it does blow, the living room window rattles, and being on the top floor of the building, the effect is even more pronounced).  We're expecting another storm to blow in across the Atlantic Ocean tomorrow, so we're all hunkering down and keeping our heads down.

MrsPB from Warrington, Lancashire was as good as her word and earlier this week sent us several shots of our Yellow Plush Dressed Rabbit  the subject of the last two week's blog posts.  Here is our Rabbit getting to know her new friends, Daddy and Mummy Gingham Rabbit:

We were actually sent three pictures in all, but this one was the clearest when all the transferring photographs from Etsy,com. to Download file on this computer,  and then to here was accomplished. (The other two were a little out of focus).  It's interesting to see the difference in how they've come out - because our Yellow Rabbit is actually smaller - although all three are obviously based on a similar original pattern.  MrsPB said that so far she's not got a name but that "that will come in time"!

There's some great news to report about Barny Barn Owl - who, together with Ollie Owlet, a bunch of Hedgehogs and the other Yellow Plush Bunny were taken to be displayed at The Ark Book Shop in Kirkby for the first time at the end of last week.  Isobel had about 10 minutes to spare on Wednesday morning - after doing some of her weekly shopping in the local supermarket - and dropped in to see how things were going (and to check that the Cuddlies had been behaving themselves, too!)  She was delighted to learn that Barny was purchased and taken home on Saturday (the day after he'd arrived).

We're not sure which of these two pictured is the one who is in his new home, but I'm delighted to be telling you about his good luck.  Isobel's arrangement with MrsSQ, our contact in The Ark Bookshop, is that she'll keep dropping in, and once a month, they'll meet.  The money from any sales will then be given to Isobel -minus the agreed 20% commission for the display space.  When visiting the Cuddlies on Wednesday last week, they'd already been moved from the back of the Shop to a shelf in one of the Shop's front windows!  (So,..... watch this space!).  None of us expected quite such a fast result.  (In case you were wondering:  a branch of the Cuddlies bank is situated just across from The Ark Bookshop, so it's just a hop, skip and a jump for Isobel to be able to pay any funds in straight away!)

Isobel has not been feeling as well as normal this week, and hasn't ventured outside the flat too much as a result.  But it has meant that she's been able to do quite a lot of sewing - as well as doing a lot of admin. work for the Shop.  All 89 items in it are having their tags(labels) changed - from references to Christmas (which is now over, of course) to some new ones referring to Easter - be it gifts, presents, bunnies/rabbits or eggs (although to date, we don't feature the last item - though one never knows!).  She's about a third of the way through, and is re-reading the descriptions for each Toy as she checks the item, so it's something that cannot be rushed.

However, we now have two examples of two new Cuddlies - listed last week-end, but yet to be described to you.  They are currently sitting in one of the chairs in the Living room, waiting for the third member of the trio to be completed.  So, meet Sybil Grey Squirrel

https://www.etsy.com/listing/265274960/

and her cousins, Cyril Red Squirrel

https://www.etsy.com/listing/265276978

The felt acorns are currently "fixed" in place with velcro and are a little fragile.  However, as they are an "additional" item, and not really part of the Toy, when they go to their Forever Homes - hopefully before too long - the"decorative items" can easily be removed and each toy then becomes a cuddly armful for a new Forever Friend.  (Mind you, that might change ere long:  the acorns keep becoming unstuck from one or other Squirrels'  front paws, and Isobel could well get fed up with putting them back in place - before that happens!)

There is already one Black version made (to be called Basil Black Squirrel ) but waiting for his nut to be fashioned, and to have some facial features added.  Isobel normally uses black double knitting wool to produce these facial features on all us Cuddlies, but when one has a completely Black Squirrel, she's debating how to sew them in such a way that they can be seen, but not stand out too much.  By next week, hopefully, the problem will have been satisfactorily solved.

So, until then - this is Cy Bear (Cy does stand for Cyril, too - but as you all know I'm Cy Bear to all of you, My Very Good Friends).  In our Red Squirrel's case, not only was Sybil named first (by a lady who attends the same Mass at St.Barnabas Cathedral in Nottingham as do Isobel and The Family, but she also suggested Cyril - because "he looks like a Cyril"!  Who am I to argue? (Basil Black Squirrel has got his name, because it goes well with the other two!)

See you all next week - Cy Bear signing off:

Moving onwards - in all directions.

Hello again, Everyone.

I am very pleased to be able to tell you that the Yellow Plush Rabbit we spoke about last week as being en route to St. Helens, Lancashire  duly arrived, because we got a message back from MrsPB that the Traveller had arrived and was "already becoming a favourite".  We've been promised a picture for this blog, hopefully being taken some time this week-end.  When it arrives, we'll include it in a future post.

Now back to the production of our Yellow Plush Rabbits - with their new feature:  ear linings that match the fabrics of their dresses.  The idea is taken from the two sample Rabbit photos provided by MrsPB when she gave us her Order in December, 2015, and it's one that may well become a regular feature in future Coldham Dressed Rabbits - (does make a bit of a change from the usual brown satin linings, don't you think?)

Anyway, having made the pantaloons for both Girls - and added a white lace edging to each pair of legs - Isobel then went on to make the two dresses.  This is done by gathering up the fabric and arranging the pleats evenly around the Toys' waists and then sewing the skirt in place.  Before she does that though, we attach a "Coldham Cuddlies" embroidered label to the back seam of the skirt.  It gives our Toys some provenance, and putting it inside the skirt is a discreet spot to do it. 

To give the skirts their individual look(s), Isobel attaches two rows of ric rac trim to each dress, by embroidering them to the fabric with individual French knots.  The skirts then look like this.

Then we fit the bodice on to the Rabbits' bodies (to which each Toys' arms have already been sewn in).  The combined bodice/arm structure is then fitted over the gathered dress waistlines and attached to the skirt with invisible hem stitching, so that they now appear like this:

Having completed the front of the dress, we must not forget the all important Rabbits' bobtails. These are placed at the back of each frock, just under the waistline and sewn on firmly,  They have to withstand a fair bit of pulling, as being fluffy, it's understandable that the Forever Friends of our Rabbits are drawn to playing with them - they are so soft to touch!

Then we cut out and make the aprons, this time made with polyester fabric, which proved to be a little tricky for Isobel's fingers to handle easily.  We only got a small supply of the fabric this time around, and she doesn't think she will be using it again, because it's very slippery to handle, and doesn't really like being stitched with anything.  Putting on the individual patch pockets (which match each dress) was quite an undertaking.  (Next time around, she'll be looking out for organdie - or some similar material, which isn't quite so slippery).

The the final touches include sewing on the Heads - which have already been made with ears attached, and the eyes and facial features added,

and then, last, but by no means least, the apron is made,   Isobel created a waistband for both Rabbit Girls using blue satin ribbon and tied it to fit under the Rabbits' tails.  Previously, we used to sew the apron in place, but this time around - with a firm, juicy-look carrot in the pocket of each Toy - Isobel decided to allow the Forever Friend (or Mum) to untie it (a sort of undress feature) so that the Toy is more cuddlesome.  They thus ended up looking like this, minus the carrot:

and then finally ended up looking like this (as you all saw, if you read our post last week!)

So, what has happened to the remaining Yellow Rabbit you may be wondering.  Well she is now displayed on a high shelf at the back of another small shop in Kirkby in Ashfield.  A couple of weeks ago, Isobel was approached by a lady called MrsSQ, who works in a bookshop, which specialises in selling books - mainly childrens' religious material, and also music videos and odds and ends.  She is anxious to increase the shop's footfall, and while both Isobel and MrsSQ were having their hair done two weeks ago, she learned about us Cuddlies (as ladies apparently do when they're doing such activities) and asked if she could have some to use in her shop windows and on shelves too.  

Now, our arrangement with "The Artful Buttoner" is due to come to an end in a couple of months, and although Isobel has been happy to be associated with them - and may well continue to be in future (but only for the smaller Cuddlies - like the Baby Bunnies, and Baby Koalas - and any other small toys that may appear in our online Shop www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES), we're going to see what happens when some of us Bigger Cuddlies - like the Foxes, Big Koalas and Frogs - and our new Red and Grey Squirrels (as well as the Black ones, when they're made) grace the shelves of "The Ark Bookshop".  Over the coming weeks, the bigger Cuddlies still on display in "The Artful Buttoner" will be coming back (Isobel will be bringing them back in the shopping trolley each time she is in Kirkby). 

We now have no Baby Bunnies  in stock here at home in the flat.  Those we did have were taken to "The Artful Buttoner" during the week, as the basket in which they tend to stand was literally down to the last four!  So guess what Isobel will be doing in the coming weeks - making lots of Baby Bunnies of one colour variant or another.  That's after she's made some Black Squirrels, to join the Red and Grey Squirrels that have just been listed in our Shop earlier this afternoon, together with Yellow Plush Rabbit we've talked about here. (I'll  post about them next week, maybe - or very soon, anyway).   She's also got to make another Daddy Hedgehog to replace the one sold from "The Artful Buttoner" in December - so there's no excuse for her to be sitting idly in her arm chair each evening - whether watching TV (not often these days, because there's not much to interest her at the moment) or listening to Classic FM on the radio - which she thoroughly enjoys. 

Not only does "The Ark" sell books, but there is space in the Shop for three or four tables, where coffee and biscuits can be consumed - and it's very conveniently situated not far from the 'bus stop Isobel uses to get to and from Kirkby on a very regular basis.  Although the service is very good (normally), there can be times when there is a bit of a wait before the next vehicle arrives, so it's good to be able to drop in, keep warm and meet more local customers in comfortable surroundings.  A group of Hedgehogs, Yellow Plush Rabbit on the Left, and our two Owls, Barny, the Barn Owl  and Ollie the Owlet are now sitting on the shelf overlooking the counter at the back of "The Ark," and I'll keep you posted as to how things happen (or not!) as the case may be.

Hopefully, there will be something more to tell you about the Hedgehogs soon - although we did send off the two cheques I mentioned last week, on Friday of this week.  We actually managed to send even more than the £10-£15.00  each I mentioned last week - I'll tell you more next time around.

Until then, have a great week Everybody.  

Your Friend.  Cy Bear.