Some More Tiger Tales - from different American Destinations.

Hello there Everyone!  Cy Bear back again - with latest updates on the Tiger Front.

The Orange Tigers - Puppet and Toy - posted about two weeks ago, reached Brooklyn, New York safely - within the stated deadline:  that doesn't always happen these days, I fear .  From the photograph you'll see that the Toy Tiger was being inspected with interest when that picture was taken:

As the Tiger Toy travelled in the same package as did our Orange Tiger Arm Puppet, we assume that too was approved of, and that the family are now all settling in well and getting to know each other.  Isobel and I are very grateful for the speedy response to the request for this news and wish everyone a really happy life together going forward

While the Tigers travelled quickly to Brooklyn, once dispatched from our local Post Office, Isobel quickly finished off the Tiger Who Lost His Stripes Arm Puppet that our new San Diego-based friend, MrsML had ordered be sent to her best friend's 7 year old grand daughter, MsC living in another part of New York.  That package departed last Wednesday afternoon, and having just checked with Royal Mail Tracking Service Isobel finds that it has left the UK on its way to America, but so far the United States Postal Service hasn't yet received it officially.  Some journeys, even to the same postal City can take longer than others - and in the case of as big a City as New York, may even take longer still (depending on which airline handles the package, and which airport the package lands).  Anyway, we know it's still travelling - and looked like this before being wrapped up and packed into its Royal Mail plastic Air Mail envelope.

It was just before this Tiger Arm Puppet was wrapped up that Isobel noticed that it didn't have the usual black yarn embroidery around his orange nose.  So, before the final wrapping took place (but after this photo was taken) that the missing facial feature was added.  When this Arm Puppet arrives in Sunnyside, New York (isn't that a nice sounding address?) she will therefore look complete, rather than how the photograph shows her.

While still on the subject of our 2020 Saga about our Tiger Arm Puppets, Isobel finally received a refund for one Arm Puppet who got lost in transit during his journey to Medina, Ohio in May this year.  This Tiger was dispatched from our local Post Office together with another one headed for Raleigh, North Carolina.  We had assumed both reached their destinations as usual, but at the end of July, the customer wanting her Tiger Puppet to go to Medina wrote to us (just in time, fortunately) to ask what had happened to it.  She had wanted her grand daughter to receive it for her birthday, but it hadn't arrived.  Isobel learned about this about five days before the deadline for her to make a successful claim against Royal Mail for non-delivery of goods.  When we heard from MrsSG (the Ohio buyer) Isobel naturally refunded her in full - and set about claiming for the lack of service (which is why we ALWAYS send all Coldham Cuddlies via Royal Mail International Tracked/Signed For service)!  What with Covid19 and the usual checks that take place on such occasions, we finally got our payment - IN FULL - at the end of this week.  Next job for Isobel is to pay that cheque into the Cuddlies' Bank account in Sutton in Ashfield (which will happen either Monday or Tuesday of this week).

So, that is all for this week My Friends.  England is going into "full" Covid19 lock down as of Thursday next week, which is almost as severe as it was earlier this year.  Whatever happens, Isobel will still be able to visit TeamACE up the road, and do her shopping. She is currently busy with three Tigers, two of them Toys, and one further Arm Puppet - all destined for Mt Shasta, California.  The Toys are are being made like the New York Orange Tiger Toy, but made in another Plush fabric - I'll show you those, when they're completed - as Isobel goes along.   Also things are moving on the UK Department of International Trade Export assistance front that I told you about earlier this year, so she will be kept busy, whatever else happens.

I'll be back again, next week - meanwhile you all keep safe, my Friends:  wherever you happen to be.

Your Friend,

Cy Bear.

A Little Self Indulgence on Our Part

Hello Everybody:  Cy Bear glad to be back again.

Isobel is currently still busily immersed in making Tigers - whether our Arm Puppets, or more recently Orange Tiger Toys - so she thought you'd like to see what she's been up to when not helping me write this blog.

The former uses the same pattern as our popular Tiger Who Lost His Stripes Arm Puppets  (two of whom have recently found their Forever Homes with a new good friend of the Coldham Cuddlies, Mrs ML). Thus one Orange Tiger Puppet (pictured below)  is currently on its way to MrsML's nephew and wife in New York, accompanied by our most recent addition to the Shop (https://www.etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies)  our Orange Tiger Toy - which is intended for their 6 months old daughter, MsR:

                                                   https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/888344491/

This Tiger Toy is being accompanied by a matching  Orange Tiger Arm Puppet shown below - both of them are travelling in the same parcel via the usual Royal Mail Tracked and Signed For Service and are due to land in their Forever Home sometime next week - all being well.  (In these Covid pandemic times, one can never be totally confident of what is normally a pretty trouble free service!).

                                

                            Ready to be wrapped and packed up to travel to Brooklyn, New York

Although not intended specifically as a Halloween present, we're all hoping that this bundle of potential family fun will get to New York in time for this year's commemoration of all things spooky, even though neither of these toys can be classed in that category!  (Unless, of course, to begin little MsR is a bit startled by the bright colours, and dark stripes).  Equally, not every child is immediately intrigued by toys that don't have their full number of paws/legs! As Toy makers, Isobel and I have to be ready for the odd initial hesitance in accepting a new toy in a family:  although, to date, that has not lasted too long (fingers crossed).

                                    Getting acquainted prior to the start of their joint journey

The lighting for the last two photographs shows that these were indeed taken just before the two toys were readied for their trip (just as Isobel had finished sewing the Puppet, and then going to bed on the evening before they left the UK!).  So not really a photograph:  just a quick snapshot!.

It's been sometime since Isobel has been asked to use this Orange Tiger print fabric, so there was even greater care needed in trying to match the stripes in such a way that everyone didn't get eye-strain with the decorations going in all different directions.  Making so many Tiger Who Lost His Stripes Puppet versions has meant Isobel having  rather lost that skill in a way.  However, we're both satisfied that the final outcome is not too much of a strain for family onlookers and their friends.  

The stripe arrangement for this side of the Tiger Toy was much easier to accomplish on this side!

Our Orange Tiger looks a little fierce (or maybe a bit startled) here - just because of the arrangement of stripes on the side of his face and mouth.  One doesn't want to lose too much fabric in the process of matching up the pattern while creating the toys with existing printed patterning on the material.

MrsML (of San Diego, California) is fast becoming one of the ColdhamCuddlies best customers, because not only did she decide to keep the two Tiger Arm Puppets that comprised her initial order to Isobel, but she's ordered another, smaller version non-stripey Tiger Arm Puppet for her best friend's grand daughter living in another part of New York).  (Isobel is close to finishing this smaller Tiger Arm Puppet).  

Then she has been asked to make two more Tiger Toys (imitating this Orange Tiger, but using the Biscuit Premier plush fabric we use for our original Tiger Arm Puppet), plus another normal-size stripeless Tiger Arm Puppet - with all of them being sent to the same address in another part of California.  You might say, we're inundated with Tigers presently! Its a very good thing Isobel enjoys making these toys!!  Far from being overwhelmed though, we'll happily accept requests from all-comers!

With that, I'll end for this week.  Hereabouts, we are expecting to be put into the highest tier of Covid 19 Lock Down measures in England this week (maybe as soon as Monday, but more likely on Wednesday).  That means Isobel will be more restricted than she has been lately, but she can still visit Team ACE, her family 3 doors away and also do her essential shopping.  She's well prepared, and will continue do her best to keep safe - something we BOTH urge all our friends who read this, and support the Cuddlies, to make sure they do too.

See you again next week!!

Your Friend

 

Cy Bear.

Following on from Last Week's Post About The Grampy Cats

Hello there Everyone!  Cy Bear back again.
As promised last week, here are some up-dated photos of the Grampy Cats, all taken shortly after they had met MrSS's grand daughter, V after arriving at her home in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  
She's been the recipient of many, if not all, the Cuddlies that our good Friend, MrSS purchased from Isobel since they met in 2015, and was indeed intended to be the recipient of THE Memory Cat when MsVS commissioned Isobel for this project.  However, as I told you last week, Isobel decided that there should be 4 different Cats made with the material she'd been given (with permission from MsVS needless to say!) because she felt more than one member of the Family might like to have a permanent reminder going forward.

                                                            An Armful of Grampy Cats 

When the Cats had been unpacked it became obvious that the decision as to who was going to get which Cat might take somewhat longer than initially expected.  V evidently has found it difficult to decide which two Cats will remain in her house, and which two will go to her Grandmother and her Uncle (as well which one will go to whom!).  Here are some of the initial photos showing her getting to know the Grampy Cats - and beginning to consider her options.

                                                                    Grampy Cat No 1

                                                            Grampy Cats 1 and 2

                                                       Grampy Cats with Green garments

                                                            Maybe the Choice is emerging?

                                                        and Being Sealed with a Kiss?

From these pictures, Isobel and I are beginning to think that the initial model of the Cat in her Blue Skirt might be winning the selection process for V, herself.  However, MsVS did say in the accompanying message for the second set of photos that the choice was proving "very difficult"!  Last news was that each Cat was being taken to bed singly - just to show them what they are supposed to when they do meet their Forever Friend, maybe?  After that, there is some mention of a further batch of photos once the decision has been made, and the Cats distributed.  
Once we hear what the results are,  we'll let everyone know!
Isobel is currently  busy with Tigers galore - Orange Stripey ones (https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/690265436/tiger-arm-puppet-kids-activity-toy-made?ref=shop_home_active_18)  and both Arm Puppets and Stuffed Toy varieties in the original brown Stripeless Tiger Arm Puppet versions. Two Tiger Toys - using our latest New Cuddly listing (https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/888344491/new-orange-plush-tiger-toy-stuffed? ref=shop_home_active_3) are going to 2 young brothers using our soft plush fabrics.  (Isobel is currently waiting to hear if the Buyer wants both done in the same fabric, or one fluffier than the other - just to preserve domestic harmony!) .  I'll doubtless be tasked to let you know what their stories are when they're all finished and either at their Forever Homes - or en route them.
See you all again soon.
Your Friend,
 Cy Bear