Heigh ho! Back once more - after quite an absence.

Hello Everyone!  Cy Bear here, starting the conversation.

It's been a long time since Isobel and I were here, but we've jointly decided it's about time we corrected the situation.  So, here we go.

2019 was a kind of difficult year for Isobel after her fall in May, when she broke her hip.  Rehab took longer than she really wanted, but it progressed satisfactorily for all the experts involved.   We'd only just re-opened our blogging, when she became very busy with several orders for our Tiger Who Lost His Stripes Arm Puppet,

Our Tiger Without Stripes Arm Puppet in 2019

and more repeat orders for Sister, Bishop and Padre Bears (all of whom were needed as Christmas presents).  We had posted about most or all of  these various toys just before this happened, thus there wasn't much point in repeating ourselves, so we didn't!

There are some newer members of the Clerical Bear Collection needing to be added - see below

Then after Christmas, when orders for any Coldham Cuddlies goods normally tail off, the orders for the Tiger Arm Puppet took off skywards, and Isobel got some unexpected custom orders from people who wanted arm puppets to look like other toys or, even, dogs.

So, as posts can't get written when Isobel is sewing, I've been sitting in my normal place on her bed, waiting to help her in this task, when the time was right. There didn't seem to be much point in telling you all about which Puppet was being done - since you already know how they are made.  Similarly the same can be said about telling you about the Clerical Bears - the Bear bodies are all made the same:  it's only their "uniforms" that change, and you've been told about how they come to be made too.  So, I'm afraid the blog has languished ..... but there are very good reasons now for resurrecting our weekly posts from now on. I'll tell you about that shortly, before I close this week's post.

The real  "Pink Nuns" live and work in several US States.

Now, the entire world has been affected by something called the Covid19 Pandemic - which as a Beaver Lamb Bear really hasn't affected me directly, but it has had quite an effect on Isobel.  No...she's not actually been ill, but because she will be 80 years old later this year, she was told to "self-isolate" so she didn't catch the virus.  That has meant she's been under my feet ALL DAY, every day since the middle of March.  But while she's been very busy finding all sorts of other things to do on the computer,she hasn't had the time to properly sit down and write here either.  Self isolation for her has meant that she's not been allowed out of our flat - not even to visit Clare and her grandson, who live just 3 doors away since the "lock down" (which is how it is referred to everywhere) started. She even has a stranger (who is not allowed to come into the flat) to do her weekly shopping for her.  She can go out once a day - for exercise, and get "essential supplies" like milk (which is done at the local corner store at the end of the driveway to Old Chapel Close).

Our Poor Clare Nun is also not included in the picture of the Clerical Bears either.

The way it works is:  Isobel writes out a shopping list for the week (as she does every week anyway) and posts it (via the computer)  to the Volunteer (as the helper is called) the evening before the shopping is needed.  The Volunteer - a lovely lady called MrsCN - does it (or as much as she can if it's on the shop shelves), and when she's finished packing the items in her car, she rings  to tell Isobel  how much she owes the organisation (Age UK - a really terrific charity!) she works for.  By the time MrsCN arrives at our flat front door, Isobel has a cheque written out to pay Age UK, and hands it over while having a quick word - with at least a 2 metre (6 ft plus) distance between the two ladies, as well as Isobel handing over the previous weeks' empty shopping bags.  Then MrsCN goes off to deal with her next "isolated customer",  Isobel picks up the shopping bags, unpacks the goods and puts everything away.  This has been going on for 11 weeks now - and looks like it will be repeated for several weeks, if not months, to come.

Until a week ago, it also meant that I was perched on the window ledge of the living room window in our flat - bit of a change from my usual perch:

If Isobel had the time, this is the view she gets while she sews the Cuddlies

Shortly after lock down began, all around Kirkby in Ashfield, lots of Teddy Bears and Rainbows popped up in people's windows - in an effort to cheer everyone up as they were walking around the Town.  Even though not many people can see me (as we live on the first floor) and the complex is not directly on a road, some of the Carers who come to look after the other ladies and gentleman who live in Old Chapel Close can see me.  So Isobel thought she would give me a change of view - from sitting on her bed all day, looking at a wall.  It's been fun, but then I've also been needed a lot for farewell photos, as each Arm Puppet (be it a Tiger, Rabbit, Blue Teddy or Teddy Bear Dog - which you'll hear about in upcoming posts) is got ready to be dispatched to their new homes, almost without exception to somewhere in the United States.  Sitting in the window has meant that she hasn't had to carry me from the bedroom to the sitting room every time such a ceremony takes place.  Now the orders have slowed down, I am hoping I can remain sitting in a comfortable armchair in the living room, as there's so much more happens for me to observe - than my usual spot in the bedroom!

Sister Breda, our "Blue Nun" whose community was started, and is still based, in Nottingham is missing too

Meanwhile, Isobel is exploring how to get help from the UK Department of International Trade (DIT) in publicising the Coldham Cuddlies Shop, using a new website (whatever that is) that is being "built" for the Coldham Shop by an outfit called Yell.com - which is known as https://www.coldhamcuddlies.co.uk.  That has actually been in existence for some time, and initially was meant to publicise just the Animal Toy Hospital and the Patients being treated there.  The website is being changed now so that not only the Hospital is highlighted, but also the Shop and this Blog too.  At least I think that's what Isobel is working towards.   I don't know about these things, and suspect Isobel is busy finding out!

Newest addition to the Clerical Bear Collection:  Fr Dunstan Bear, OP (a special order)

It will be easier for the Department of International Trade) when they become involved  to help Isobel in her task of getting us all better known globally.  Which is why Isobel has been so busy on the computer of late. They do the sort of thing she and Peter tried to do when they lived in Canada until 1987 when assisting small companies in Alberta to export overseas - especially, the Middle and Far East.  Both areas Peter knew when he was a International Business Journalist, before he and Isobel got marred, and the family moved to Alberta in 1975.  Obviously exporting stuff from the United Kingdom is very different from Alberta the concept of knowing about the other countries etc is not, so Isobel is keen to get "up to snuff" with what happens nowadays.  After all most of the internet was still being invented when that was going in in the early 1980's!! Isobel used a teleprinter to message Peter and people overseas!   They left Canada to return to the UK in 1987 - and a lot has happened and changed everywhere in the intervening years.

Apparently she's been watching/attending Webinars all about exporting.  Agreed,  that's what we've been doing all along via the  Etsy website, but this way, Isobel and Coldham Cuddlies will be helped to do it with the the DIT's  international resources behind her.  These are world-based via the UK's embassies, high commissions etc, and likely to be helpful in a different way from what is currently available to us via Etsy.com.  The latter have enabled Isobel to hone her selling skills to a mainly United States audience, with some customers coming from European and UK since 2010 -the ten years that ColdhamCuddlies has been in existence.  Now, hopefully, with the help of people who do nothing else but try to help UK businesses - even those as little as ColdhamCuddlies - to sell their goods overseas, Isobel can fulfill her "gypsy tendencies", and  hopefully find more Cuddlies homes in more overseas countries.  Exciting prospect isn't it?

The "new Look" 2020 version of our Tiger Who Lost His Stripes - a story all it's own!

You'll have to wait till next week to find out what more has gone on.  It's so lovely to be back again chatting to you all.

Your Friend
Cy Bear

Another Otter takes off across The Atlantic

Hello there Everyone:  Cy Bear back - on time again! 

Actually, the blog is being prepared a bit ahead this week, because for reasons best known to technology (or even Etsy!), after being on the Shop site all Friday afternoon, when Isobel tried to get back after her evening meal, she wasn't able to access the Team site, so she could finish her daily promotion duties.  So, she thought she would get ahead and allow me tell you about the third Otter Golf Club Cover/Saver - as promised in my last bulletin.

The final look.

As MrLA didn't respond to the invitation to go with our other, more colourful version of our Otter - based on the original pattern by Jenny Mai of Fluffmonger.com - Isobel went ahead and began (as usual) by knitting the handle cover.

Because there had been quite a lot of brown double knit yarn used in the colourful version  -https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/723285529/lucky-the-otter-head-golf-club?ref=shop_home_active_14  our stock was low, and so we faced the usual dilemma of knitters the world over - trying to get an exact match.  One would think dark brown would not be a difficult task to undertake, but because Isobel is still hampered getting about (although she is now able to get places by 'bus, which makes life a whole lot easier), she can't walk as far as she did before the fall.  So, we had to make do with the nearest local supplier - who normally is great!  We got a pretty good match, but ,on the day we searched, we had to make do with the best one available that day - which was in an acrylic double knit wool, whereas we had hoped to do it in wool. (Isobel prefers the texture).  

However, in order to make sure we meet the dispatch deadline we went ahead with what was available, and Isobel melded the wool into the acrylic fibre.   The finished product doesn't look too odd, actually, because she made it look as though the shade difference was deliberate!

If one looks closely, one can see the slight shade difference.

Also, Isobel decided to give this Otter black whiskers and mouth for his facial features - instead of the brown we had used for the previous two versions.  We think we will carry on with this face look, because it matches Otter's eyes better - and the brown silk used for the previous Otter versions didn't really look like Isobel's original vision for them.

Otter No.3 looks a bit stern in this side view, but actually it's a whisker getting in the way of him enjoying his grey satin-look fish (as opposed to the gold fish shown in the colourful version).

Here's one of the latest Golf Club Saver - with club in situ - from the rear view.  After the photo shoot, the latest Coldham Cuddlies Golf Club Saver was wrapped up and posted from the local post office later on Thursday afternoon.  (Just for fun, Isobel has just inserted the Tracker Number for the package into the Royal Mail site, and finds that the package has been received in Chicago, so is well on it's way to the intended destination - Columbus, Ohio).

When Isobel was on line on Thursday after the postal session, she found that FrauAB from Bochum, Germany had left a lovely review about the Brown Sister Bear "in the style of a Poor Clare Nun"- which we'd sent off the previous week.  FrauAB was one of the lovely customers who stuck by Isobel after she had had her accident, and Etsy suggested we cancel the order - so that Coldham Cuddlies didn't fall foul of the dispatch dates not being met "rule" - for which we are very grateful, of course. 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/644247608

We're excited to get it - because it was actually given in German (a first for us), although there was a translation too.

"andrea bauer on 06 Aug, 2019

5 out of 5 stars    

cooles madamchen super idee und sehr "süß" vielen dank!

which was translated (by Micrososft) as " cool madamchen super idea and very "sweet" many thanks!"

As neither Isobel or I speak German, we're happy to accept that translated version! 

So another Clerical Bear goes home to make someone happy.  Isobel is now working on a Padre Bear for one of  our best UK customers.  MsMP  - a fellow parishoner at St. Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham is determined to have the same number of Clerical Bears as we do in the Shop.  Every time she gets one from us though, she finds someone who she thinks would like one even better  - or buys it off her - so she comes back for another!! 

Naturally, we don't mind - we wish there were more folks like her!!  St. Barnabas Cathedral benefits either way - because, as you may recall, 20 per cent of each Clerical Bear sold goes towards the Building Maintenance Fund, and it's Isobel's way of celebrating the fact that St. Barnabas Cathedral was opened 175 years ago this year. 

So that's this week's post done. Our apologies for the change in typeface mid-way - caused by Isobel importing Frau Bauer's review to the page.  We don't know why that happens - nor why the whole font size decreased while we were typing.  One of the many mysteries of technology that Isobel (and I, when she is otherwise engaged) cannot fathom, but carry on with - regardless!

See you all soon - even next week, with luck!

Your Friend, Cy Bear

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.