Pooh and Brown Bears' Happy Ending

Evening everybody - it's Cy Bear back again.   Was wondering when it would happen, but Isobel has been so busy recently, that blogging has had to take a back seat.  However, I can now tell and show you what has happened to my good friends Pooh and Brown Bears - both recent Patients in the Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinic (Etsy Listing # 79124185).

Pooh Bear is now happily living with his original Friend, MrJA-B and his young son MA-B.  We thought you'd all be interested - so here are some pictures for you to see.

MrsPA-B took the photographs with her Ipad (whatever that might be) and sent them to Isobel.  One of the reasons for the delay in our not letting you know about them before is that it's only this evening that we've (and by that I mean Isobel, of course) figured out how to transfer them here to the blog!  Anyway, better late than never.

"I do love you Pooh Bear - just like Daddy did!"

The caption under this photo was provided by MrsPA-B, and it's so lovely that we felt it should be incorporated here.  (We have got full permission to do whatever we like with the photos, and a copy of this post will be sent to the family after we've published it later!)

After being introduced to the new Pooh Bear,  young  MA-B decided that he needed to be shown round their garden - and the first place they went to was the nearest Hydrangea bush:

Now, we must not forget Brown Bear must we?  Well he was reunited with his Forever Friend MrAA-B and his fiancee MsL (their wedding is later this year).  Apparently, it was MsL who actually saved  Brown Bear from being thrown away because it was feared he was not worth saving.  I mean to say - what a good thing MrsPA-B knew Isobel and had asked if we could have a look at Pooh Bear.   When MsL heard about us, it was speedily decided that  the two Bears would come together to the Clinic.    Brown Bear was not in nearly such a state as my other friend.  MsL is already great friends with Brown Bear - as this photograph proves!

And as I believe they say in all good stories - they all lived happily ever after!

I must say it was such fun having these two Bears staying with us, and I've missed them since they went to their respective homes.  However, it was not long before we were able to get on with treating Bernard Bear, who arrived at about the same time as the other two.   Isobel has been able to treat Bernard Bear now - and he went home to his Forever Friend earlier this week.

Another small Bear, known to us in the Clinic as TJ Bear  arrived here about 10 days ago.  He didn't need as much work done to make him better, and he is going home tomorrow.  His Forever Friend, MrsEJ had always called him Teddy until he met us - but it gets so confusing when so many Bear Patients are called Teddy or Ted.  So, when they met, Isobel told TJ's Friend that we would be calling him Ted Johnson (TJ Bear for short).  It makes telling the stories of their stay in the Clinic so very much easier.  Their treatments will be described in the next couple of posts - coming shortly.

 Isobel meanwhile, has also been busy putting new titles on all 57 toys and slippers now on offer in our Etsy Shop (www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies) and also doing something called "tagging".  Apparently we'd not been doing it as well as we could, and having been given some great help by our friend LauraC - for whom the Golden Yellow Slippers were made, you may recall  https://www.etsy.com/listing/152976020/yellow-rabbit-slippers-novelty-gift-men?  they got done over the past three evenings.  It takes a lot of time to do it properly, and we're hoping that all this work will result in lots of Cuddlies finding their Forever Homes between now and Christmas.

So - with that thought, I'll end this post.  Lovely to be back with you all again - and here's to the next time!  Cy Bear

Latest Slipper Offering - Badger Stripes, with or without the Head: your choice!

Hello Everybody!  Isobel opening up to show you the latest item to be listed in our shop at www.Etsy.com/shop.coldhamcuddlies.  It's the latest in the Slipper offering - a Size 9-10 Man's Slipper - and was listed earlier in the week.

The Slipper production line is taking a temporary break, while our two Bear Patients (featured in our last post earlier this week) receive therapy in the Stuffed Animals Restoration Clinic (Etsy Listing #79124185).  However, after parking the needle and thread, we did list the Man's Size 9 to 10 Badger Striped Slippers - presently headless, but capable of having one added to each one at the request of the Buyer.  Equally, since I now have patterns for a Skunk and a Raccoon, and stripes similar to Badgers in real life seem to be a feature of both, I would be more than happy to provide them instead.

 (Buyers can contact me on the convo section of our shop at www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies to discuss your specific requirements.  To be perfectly honest, I'm eager to have a go at these two animals - it's long been an ambition to make a Raccoon, and I was lucky enough to find patterns for both on offer at the same time earlier this year).

Etsy Listing #158935304

The plush fabric is very soft and tactile, and the slippers have been completely lined - including the sole - using cream Poodle faux fur fabric.  They should keep a gentleman's feet beautifully warm during the winter months - and an initial tight fit at the toe will soon relax to fit the whole foot, as the slipper has been made around a memory foam insole, covered with a fabric which prevents too much slipping.

The Size 9-10 Men's Slippers from the rear, showing the stripes, together with the Brown Satin ribbon binding, which includes elastic to aid a comfortable fit around the ankle.  A gap has been left at the head of the binding on both slippers enabling the elastic to be pulled through - and an allowance has been made for the fit to be loosened or tightened, as needed.

A view of the interior of the slippers, showing the Poodle Faux Fabric lining.  All seams have been sewn by hand so that no seam is actually visible - thus avoiding a potential cause of discomfort to the wearer.

A view from the sides of both slippers, where the badger markings are clearly visible. 

The price of these Slippers listed in our shop (www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies) is USD61.50.  This is for slippers with their heads in place.  Headless, they will sell at USD53.50, a reduction of USD8.00 per pair (or USD4.00 per slipper).

These slippers will be added to the growing collection of Children's Slippers, Ladies Slippers, and Men's Slippers which I will be taking to display (and hopefully take orders!) at various upcoming Craft Sales in the Autumn.  They will all make someone - small, medium or large - a great Christmas present.

Meanwhile, Bernard Bear's treatment has begun.  He's had his bath - and looks a different colour!   Tomorrow, having thoroughly dried - as I type this, there are still residual damp patches at the lower end of each piece of his limbs, body and head - the patching remedial work commences, and hopefully he will be ready for delivery to MrGS's friends by Tuesday,  for onward delivery towards the end of the week.

Good night, everyone!   Hope you're all having a great week!

The Pigs have flown - to Italy: Four Cuddlies have found Forever Homes - and there's a new Patient to treat

Hello Everybody - this is Cy Bear once again.

As the title implies, The Pig Twins have been chosen as a First Wedding Anniversary present by SnraCF  for her son and daughter-in-law and are already en route to Italy.  Funnily enough, their destination is not far away from where my friend Ed Ted and The Italian Mob (**) are now living.  They left us last Tuesday by first class Air Mail, and with luck should be with SnraCF in a few days time.   They are not needed until sometime in September though.

Before they left, the customary farewell photograph was taken -

Now, while awaiting their replacements - someway down Isobel's "To Do" List I think - am delighted to tell you that another Patient was admitted to the Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinc (Etsy Listing 79124185) at the week-end.

 A selection of the Cuddlies - not the usual suspects - together with a sample selection of the Slippper Collection, were taken by Isobel to become a Craft Stall at the weekly Produce Sale in Heytesbury Church. The Hospital of St. John, where we live, was the appointed organiser and when that happens, we are invited to take a stall.  Isobel then contributes 10% of her takings to the overall total sales for the day.   Four Cuddlies found their Forever Homes - and alas, as I wasn't present (I was guarding the remaining Cuddlies, which were strewn across Isobel's bed in their various carrying bags until the roaming Cuddlies returned) no farewell photographs could be taken.

However, we do know a little about where their futures are going to be.  Jubilee Rabbit is going to become the Forever Friend of a little girl, whose first birthday is today.  The Fox Childrens' Slippers are destined for her brother who has a birthday sometime in October, and the third grandchild of the lady resident in the village (who doesn't have a birthday close by, but wasn't going to be left out by Granny) will become Hal, the Baby Hedgehog's Forever Friend.  (He's currently de-activated in our shop at www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies, but will be up again soon - as he doesn't take Isobel very long to make when she gets going!)

The fourth Cuddly - one of the Baby Koala Bears (Etsy Listing #55190188) was bought by one of the S Hospital's Trustees - and at present, we don't know where his Forever Home will be.  Isobel will have to find out the next time she sees MrsC and I'll let you know then.  So, on top of the slipper production to form the 2013 Christmas Sales Campaign, Isobel is going to have to do some rapid replacement sewing - once Bernard Bear's treatment is complete.  That begins today or tomorrow I believe.

Meanwhile, allow me to introduce our new Patient and Associate Cuddly - he belongs to Mrs EJ a lady who lives here in Heytesbury and until Saturday had always been called "Teddy".  So, in order to differentiate between all the Teds or Teddys we've had the pleasure of welcoming to the Clinic, Isobel told MrsEJ that for our purposes, he will now be known as TJ Bear.  It does make things so much easier if our patients can have their own individual names.

Compared with many of our Patients, TJ is in pretty good shape. His coat has very few bare patches, but  he does need re-stuffing though, particularly in his limbs and body.  His head is very hard, and Isobel suspects it is full of wood chippings or something similar, so MrsEJ has agreed that new stuffing should be used there as well.  He needs his nose re-doing and has got a rather slanted smile at the moment.  MrsEJ  would quite like his mouth to be straightened, but we'll see what he looks like when he's completely re-stuffed.  The slant does give him some sort of character doesn't it?  Apparently, he used to have a growler once upon a time. So, while he's getting his body re-stuffed, a new one will go in.  Also, having had a chance to look at him closer, Isobel is going to suggest that we replace  his paw pads and claws at the same time as re-stuffing his arms.

Sitting on Bernard Bear's lap, you can see that TJ is quite a small Bear - as we Bears go.

Here I am - keeping an eye on things, perched on the back of the Lloyd Loom chair where all our Patients wait until their treatment turn comes around - with the fabric that is going to be used to patch Bernard Bear and make him look a smart Bear once more.  The plush actually matches his existing fur a lot better than the pictures shows:  that's because the backing fabric is a lot lighter than Bernard's original one.  A long time has passed since he was first made and dyes have changed;   he's been in a cupboard for many years too, and may look a lot lighter once he's had one of Isobel's regular luke warm baths, before he gets re-stuffed.

Until next time - it's been good to be with you all again.   Cy Bear.

(**)  If anyone wants to know about them, Ed Ted and The Italian Mob featured in several posts earlier in the life of this blog.  Ed Ted was in a dreadful state when he appeared, and it took 9 posts between 28.06.2011 and 31.07.2011 to describe his treatment and rejuvenation:  and the Italian Mob were mentioned in a post dated 02.02.2012.  One of the Italian Mob was Big Koala - whose own treatment was featured in a post published 16.01.2012)

Now the Men have got their own Slippers: introducing the Koala Bear-faced Size 8 variety

Good evening to you all - thought you'd all like to see what ColdhamCuddlies are going to be offering the menfolk in the Novelty Slipper line.  Two more are in the production line, while these two were listed at www.coldhamcuddlies.Etsy.com earlier this week.

Etsy Listing #158098231

These Mens Charcoal Grey, with White Fleck, Plush Bear Faced Size 8 Slippers are made from newly acquired plush fur supplies.  Variations can be provided in different shades of brown, flecked, striped or plain plush fabrics.  I will be doing a post shortly where I hope to be able to give you a look at the variety of plush fabrics that I now have in my stock cupboard:  will have to be moving out myself shortly if I'm not careful - unless, of course, the orders come rolling in, which is the outcome we're seeking of course!

Right Slipper - I think!

The Slippers have a memory insole covered with a light grey backing fabric which helps to prevent slippage - although it may not be foolproof.  This fabric was part of the latest delivery from my local source - Fine Quality Feather Company of Frome, Somerset.  There were three large bags full, and I had a great time sorting everything out - and then had to get the vacuum out because of the excess fur left where the ladies who work at the factory had cut their patterns out.  Anyone who has worked with plush knows just how furry and fluffy the atmosphere can get on such occasions.

So this has to be the Left Slipper

 Every seam is hand sewn so as to be invisible to the eye of the beholder while at the same time providing  comfortable, warm footwear to fight any wintry conditions that may prevail, without any uncomfortable seams to irritate one's feet when wearing them.  The inside lining is made with cream Poodle fur fabric, with the insole matching the outer covering.

 I decided to use the Poodle Fur - left over from the recent Pooh Bear makeover (please visit our last two posts for more information)- just to see how it would work out.  Normally, as you may recall, the linings of our previous slippers have been made with various coloured fleeces.  Am pleased to say that Poodle Fur feels as effective - if not warmer - than the fleece so there is now another option I can offer should anyone prefer Poodle fur to just plain fleeces.

Rear view of the Slippers

For the more conservative gentleman:  if the Bears' Heads are a novelty too far - these Slippers can be provided without an Animal Head attachment (or another animal can feature - using any of the Animal Toys who currently can be found in our shop at www.coldhamcuddlies.Etsy.com.   They can also be made from more traditional plush fabrics as seen at https://www.etsy.com/listing/152976020/novelty-rabbit-slippers-gift-for-men-or?  which were the first slipper examples made for the 2013 Season or with non-plush fabrics that were used for https://www.etsy.com/listing/156616186/kids-slippers-leopard-head-childrens?

Sideways on view - the mark is part of the woodwork!

Should a headless pair of slippers be preferred, there would be a reduction in the overall price.  Please contact me via convo on the Etsy site (www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies) so we can discuss the matter further.  This discussion would also apply if a different animal were to be featured or fabric(s) be requested.

And the other side - face to face

Now the plan is for two more pairs of Mens' slippers to be produced, together with duplicates of the Ladies versions (in Small, Medium and Large sizes) and I will then be in a position to take orders - to be delivered strictly in order of date they are received - for Christmas, Birthdays, Showers or whatever!

Be back to you all soon.  Goodnight and God Bless!  Isobel