Twin Otters Join the Coldham Cuddlies Family

Hello there Everyone:  Cy Bear back once more, and this time - fingers crossed - with no more technical  hitches, as happened last week.

This week, though, there have been some technical changes that we instigated.   Isobel has decided to finally ditch our first smartphone - which broke completely when the Covid19 pandemic first hit us in the UK, and get herself a new one.  She will need a better, more up to date model if our exporting expansion plans take hold, and she was getting absolutely nowhere with the company she had been dealing with since 2017.  (When we first got a mobile phone - so that she could accept credit/debit cards - whatever they are, when we were selling Cuddlies at Bazaars and Craft Fairs).   Beaver Lamb Bears like me don't need them, thank goodness.  She was intent on keeping our existing mobile number (+44 7414 087192 (she had taken long enough to learn it!) and was unable to do it with the existing arrangements.  So, on Friday she went and purchased a completely new one - and has been gingerly getting to know it and try to make it work. We've still got the important telephone number, and so far, so good.  I'll doubtless be reporting on progress (or lack of it of course) as we go along!

Introducing the Otter Twins

Meanwhile, the Elephant I told you about last week was completed - and has been listed in our Shop (you'll hear about him soon).  At least, she was able to fathom the many seams insisted on by the original designer this time, and our "Heffalump" did not turn out Wonky!  Isobel stuck with the instructions this time all the way through, and there wasn't the mistake we encountered with Wonky Pig, whom I told you about last week.  We knew that Wonky had got to his new home, thanks to being able to track his journey (as we do with every Toy that leaves us for their future dwellings)

This is what arrived in our Review Section in the Shop at the end of last week -

PaulaSweetP on 14 Jul, 2020

5 out of 5 stars    

Such a beautifully made plush piggy. Wonderful communication and I would definitely buy from Coldham Cuddlies again. Everyone should own a Coldham Cuddly.

- it can be seen in our Shop, but I'll repeat it here just to make sure it gets seen as widely as possible!

Now that's last week's round-up done, so I'll continue this week's blog with more about The Otter Twins. Isobel called them that, but of course - because she cannot make two Toys look EXACTLY the same - there are some differences if you want to be "picky".  One is clearly a bit stouter that the other. Although they were cut out using the same pattern.  (One is obviously hungrier - for stuffing - than the other)! 

 They can of course also be sold separately and they were really fun to make.  Isobel was familiar with how the seams worked here because of course the arms upwards form the basis of our popular Golf Club Protectors - with their different colour fishes, and the special Custom ordered White Otter Golf Club Saver

Both patterns have been possible thanks to Isobel being able to download the free original patterns created by Jenny Mai from https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Fluffmonger, and using her "Squeakers" the Otter pattern.  Our fishes replace the original item that Jenny's Otter friend holds - with her permission.

 

This view from the rear definitely emphasises the difference in size of the Twins (just like in "real" life such things can happen!).  Both the Otters are made with Brown Fleece that we now source from a Nottingham fabric supplier, and the material is lovely and tactile.  As usual, we use polyester stuffing that meets the following British and European Standards for Soft Toymaking:

BS 1425 for cleanliness: BS5852 for flammability:  BS EN71-3:2013 Compliance for Soft Toys sold within the European Union.  

Both have been listed (before the newest Shop member - who will form the basis for next week's post here) in our shop - https://www.etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies.

Hoping everyone has a great week, that the weather will finally decide it's summer time here in the UK, and, above all, EVERYONE Stay Safe!

Your Friend,

Cy Bear

Why Being Called "Wonky" Isn't Such a Bad Thing!

Hello there Everyone!

  Cy Bear here again, even though I'd almost given up on being able to chat to you this week - thanks to technology once more rearing it's ugly head.  My system provider has just kindly provided its users with a Brand New (and in our case, quite unnecessary and not required!) upgrade and threw all Isobel's carefully set programmes askew - at least I think that's what happened.  She tried to begin blogging this afternoon to be faced with a screen with lots of hyroglyphics which were totally incomprehensible - resulting in a plea for help from part of our Family Helpdesk team known as TeamACE, being the nearest at 3-doors away!  Fortunately, senior engineer was able, willing and has done the trick, we've had an unexpected thoroughly enjoyable visit from GrandsonE and we're hoping we'll now return to "all systems go" once more.

Last week, I told you about our new Lion Cub Toy (see a later photo):  this week, it's the turn of "Wonky Pig", who was listed in our Shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies - for just 2 hours, before finding itself a new home!.  That's a record sale speed - by anyone's standards I'd suggest,  and something we feel well worth recording.   While over the moon that Wonky Pig found himself/herself a home (in Crewe, Cheshire, England, UK) - it does mean that Isobel now has another New  Toy to make and re-list in the Shop!).  Wonky was posted to his new home (we think that is what he will be regardeas!) and we know he arrived safely on Thursday morning.  MrsPP, the Buyer, told Isobel in one of several messages they exchanged, that she will be sharing the photographs (hers, not ours!) on her own Instagram page - which is a bit of a turn up for us Cuddlies.  We wait to see what happens - or not, as the case may be

Here's Wonky Pig

He/she was sewn up back to front underneath  by Isobel when it was made - and the mistake was only found, when she took the photographs prior to listing it on the Shop website.   

Clearly, something is not right!

 

This was the photo that was the give away - you can see that Wonky's head was far too big for the rest of her body - and the hind-quarters were just far too sleek/slinky for a proper-looking Pig Toy.

Doesn't look too bad from this angle though!

By this time, Isobel decided that as the mistake wasn't too obvious, that the fabric was so lovely and soft that even wrongly made, there HAD TO BE Somebody who would like to give Wonky a good home, so she went ahead and listed it in the Shop  with the following Titles (or tags, as they are called in Etsy language).

"Wonky Pink Plush Toy Pig Pink Plush Pig Toy Cuddly Pink Plush Toy Needs A Home Pink Plush Pig Made Wrongly But Still Safe For Play Pink Pig"

 

There was even a new way to make a tail that Isobel discovered,and it worked first time too.  As well,  there was no need to stuff the tail.  Shows that one is never too old to learn new things.  (Also, that "her way" of doing things is not always the best way!).

Giving an idea of the final Wonky Pig size - against Isobel's Beswick Horse Ornament on one of the bookshelves in our Living Room

Another reason Isobel felt there might be a chance we could find Wonky Pig a new home at sometime in the future (we never thought it would be so fast in this case!) was that in 2018, when we were first working on the Clerical Bear Collection, 

The Original Six Clerical Bears - We now have Ten

Isobel created a Teddy Bear using more than one pattern for the experiment, and also using up scraps of material for what was always going to be a "work in progress". When Wonky Bear was finished, he too look very appealing

 

and although it took a little longer for him to find his Forever Home - about 5 weeks, in his case - it was with someone who had already purchased Three ColdhamCuddlies Teddy Bears.  She was also the Very First Overseas Customer we had - way back in 2011! You can see in Wonky Bear's case, he had arms that looked different from the rest of his body, and again, his head was a little too big for what Isobel was wanting.  Nevertheless, as in Wonky Pig's case, he clearly wasn't a dangerous hand made Toy, and we also hoped he'd find a Forever Home one day.  

Isobel has been busy with sewing New Coldham Cuddlies toys this week - and our Lion Cub has been joined by a pair of  Fleece Otters who were finished (and listed)  https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/836261761/new-brown-otter-twins-with-orange-fish?ref=shop_home_active_3  in the Shop during the week.  She's currently working on a New Elephant, and we're delighted to say we've received orders for a Panda Bear Golf Club Saver.  The Buyer doesn't want it to be exactly the same, though, but with an all-black knitted handle cover, so although we have two ready-and-waiting Pandas with black and white patterned handles, a brand new Cuddly is going to emerge shortly.  So, that's next on the list.  

We've also been commissioned by the daughter of our best American Friend, the late MrSS - from Tulsa, Oklahoma to make a Special Memorial Toy from shirts he particularly liked.  (Alas, he died earlier this year - leaving Isobel and ColdhamCuddlies without a go-to designer for toys we had no pattern or picture for).  So, this is a very special item on Isobel's To Do List, as you can imagine.  

So, plenty to keep Isobel out of mischief:  several future subjects to cover in the upcoming blog posts:  so I think this is a good moment to bow out for this week!  Have a good one everyone - and STAY SAFE!

Your  Friend,

Cy Bear

Coldham Cuddlies come in all Shapes and Sizes

This is Cy Bear calling in once again to say Hi!  

This week, we find ourselves having to get used to a new format for creating our blog posts - because Blogger.com (where we post from) have this week introduced a new one.!  It is designed to make it easier for people to read our stories via their telephones, rather than just their lap tops or other technological inventions.   (I know Isobel finds it difficult to keep up with technology:  can you imagine just how much more difficult it is for a Beaver Lamb Bear?)  So, as we go along, if margins are slightly different, please forgive us - Isobel has got to type this for me, while working out how to fit things onto the screen.  Life isn't easy sometimes.......!

A new photo of myself - together with the newest member of the Coldham Cuddlies family.
Last week I suggested that we might tell you about some new toy projects that Isobel is planning/being asked to consider making.  She's been hard at it this week (when not involved in sorting out a major mistake in one of the new projects).  That's had a happy ending (or will have tomorrow, when the toy in question heads off for his Forever Home, so I'll keep you hanging on to hear about that incident!  I'm hoping that the Buyer will kindly send us a photograph when the Toy gets to her home, which we can then use in the post about Isobel's recent major, but "honest" mistake!  
However, after a longer time than we would have wished, we can now introduce you to the first of our new Toy Friends in the Coldham Cuddlies Shop (https://www.etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies) - our New Lion Cub.

He doesn't have a name - Isobel, in a recent change of policy, has decided not to give any of the Cuddlies a name from now on (for a little while, at any rate).   In the listing for Lion Cub, he's described as "playful", and I do think that is a good way to describe him - don't you?

Here is Lion Cub, sitting on top of Isobel's  Printer.

He's made with the wrong fabric that Isobel first ordered when the Tiger Puppet Premier Plush fabric (called Khaki) ran out.  This Lion material is labelled as "Mustard", and we've got 2 metres (roughly 6.56 feet)) with which to make several more.  As a matter of fact, while she's been selecting other new Toy patterns to attempt, she came across one for a "Daddy" Lion, complete with mane, and thinks she could also make a "Mummy" one too!  This means there's plenty of uses to which the "mistaken" Mustard Premier Plush can be put! Presently, Lions seem to be the most suitable use to which this particular material can be put.  (It's important that we do find such projects, because we still have a pretty full cupboard(s) of fabric with which to make our existing toys, as and when they find new homes - so space is limited!!)

A proper side view of our Playful Lion Cub

This pattern was stumbled upon when Isobel was picking through her Pattern Library, and was actually one that originated from daughter Clare's sister-in-law's collection - when she used to make toys several years ago.    Isobel was given several likely toy patterns when a family cupboard clearance was under way, and this is the first time that she'd looked through the collection "with intent" since they arrived.  (There's one for a dressed Hedgehog as well, which we've been told is "delightful" when made up - so we may be adding that to the "To Do List" as well.  Isobel's Son-in-Law is quite keen on this addition being on that List too!)  

Lion Cub Rear view  - showing his tail off well and the fluffy, soft look of Premier Plush fabric

We've already got an Elephant pattern cut out and ready for placing on a Grey version of the Premier Plush, plus we've got to repeat the "major mistake" I mentioned earlier in this post,but this time without the error!  We've been waiting for this Grey Premier Plush fabric to materialise since February/March.  Somehow, our suppliers were caught out by the Covid19 pandemic that has hit the world (and is still raging by all accounts) and the shipment containing this particular Grey version was held up.  It eventually arrived in the UK in the middle of June.  Our suppliers - Fabricland (of  Bournemouth, England, UK) were as good as their word, and sent our order on to us almost as soon as it arrived in their warehouse.  You can't ask more than that, can you?

Currently, Isobel is nearly half-way through making "fully-grown" Otters complete with their Goldfish.  She cut out two, because they seem fairly quick to do, especially as she's made three or four Otter Golf Club Covers using part of the pattern before.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/743820454/

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/757697515

The Golf Club covers only consist of the Otter "bust" from the arms upwards.  This time Isobel is actually using the entire original pattern she got (from Jenny Mai from  https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Fluffmonger  which is an original downloadable pattern created by Jenny Mai from  https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Fluffmonger.)  Her pattern for "Squeakers" the Otter is just what Isobel was looking for when making her first Golf Club Cover with an Otter Head.  Jenny Mai was only too happy to allow us to make some adjustments to her original pattern.  These included substituting a handmade small fish for the hands to hold, rather than the ornament originally created for the pattern.  Anyone interested in other similar free patterns from Jenny Mai should click here:  http://fluffmonger.net/category/free-sewing-pattern. There's a whole "pattern Zoo" from which to choose.
So, this is all for this week - while Isobel sews busily away in the evenings, she's busy during the day with those plans for trying to introduce the Coldham Cuddlies brand to new markets. (I told you about those in the first post of this series about 5 weeks ago)  She's been watching "Webinars" and learning lots of new things she needs to know about:  and is waiting to have a One-to-One on line meeting with someone from the East Midlands Office of the UK Department for International Trade to discuss the best way to achieve this objective.  
Meanwhile, she's also been working with the technology whizzes from Yell.com, together with our Account Manager, Daniel Forbes on the website - www.coldhamcuddlies.co.uk. Since that was first published, we've been able to add the Shop site to the original Animal Hospital  (for which the site was originally conceived) and this blog now appears on the website, just as soon as Isobel publishes it - when it has been edited and passed as correct and ready for publishing.
It's all systems go - as you see, and it seems to be betting busier by the week!  See you all again, next week
Your friend,
Cy Bear.

Post Tiger Invasion; What Happened Next?

Hello there!  Back, as promised, to carry on with the Tiger Who Lost His Stripes Saga you learned about late last week.

Well, Isobel did not want to find herself in the same position of having orders, and no way of meeting them.  So, when the Honey Plush purchased from Plush Addict of Peterborough had proved a suitable substitute for our favourite, Khaki Premier Plush, she went back to the new supplier, and ordered the normal 2 metre length we go for when stocking up.  It arrived, again, almost by return of post, but because the material comes in a different roll width, so we didn't get as much to work with for the long term, but sufficient for the time being. 

 

The New Look Tiger Who Lost His Stripes:  slightly smaller  -due to the different fabric weight.

As we still had one more outstanding order for a Tiger Puppet, this time heading for Franklin, Wisconsin, Isobel set to and cut out the entire new Coldham Cuddly using the current Honey Plush fabric (making a bit of a dent in our supply).  After 14 repeat Tiger Orders, she'd got into a good working routine for these Activity Toys, and the remaining order was completed in two evenings and dispatched early in June.  MrsSD, who had been kept informed about the dramas happening before her commission arrived at the head of Isobel's "To Do List" - and was equally  happy to accept the new-look Puppet  - has yet to respond as to whether the toy has arrived safely.  However, as we always send our Cuddlies by International Tracked and Signed For service offered by Royal Mail, (the best travelling route available) Isobel has just checked the Tracker Number under which the Wisconsin Tiger travelled, and sees that it was safely delivered on 13th June.  Now that is somewhat longer than our toys normally take to reach their destinations in the United States, but all international travel is taking longer under Covid 19 Pandemic restrictions than it once used to.  (So far, too, all our packages sent to the United States have got to their addresses:  some people around the UK, have not been as lucky!)

The New Look Tiger Puppet has ears that have a furry lining, rather than the usual silky look

However, it has meant that our Listing in our Shop - https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/650644825/tiger-puppets-without-stripes-tiger?ref=shop_home_active_55 needed to be up-dated, with photographs of the New Look Tiger, rather than the original ones.  You can see some of them interspersed with the story here today as well.  There are still some of the Old Look Stripe-Less Tiger Puppet - because Isobel does intend to return to the original arrangements - mainly because we get more fabric for our money, than with the new version.  

The Honey Plush is narrower in width, so we don't get as much for 2 metres of that material, whereas Khaki Premier Plush comes in a much wider format.   Also, this week, we learned that we'll not be able to travel to the Peterborough Warehouse for the foreseeable future, as the firm has decided that they're going to carry on supplying customers on-line for the time being, as they were not sure it was the right modus operandi for them to have people in their building as happened previously.  The Pandemic basically showed them the way forward, so we might as well carry on getting our supplies from old, trusted sources.  

Another view of the New Tiger Who Lost His Stripes, minus its usual Operator's Arm/Hand

So, while all the Tiger orders were coming in, Isobel also began to get more requests for Clerical Bears.  We made a Bishop Bear for starters (one of two orders that arrived on the same day!), after the Wisconsin Tiger left for its Forever Home (or rather the Buyer's home), because like most of the Activity Toys, they tend to be presents for younger members of the buyers' Families and often far distant from the Buyer's actual home.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/628372290/bear-novelty-collectable-fun-gift-for?ref=shop_home_active_1

The destinations for the two Bishop Bears were well apart from each other.  One went to Parkville, Maryland and the second was, this time, not too far away from Cuddlies HQ in Kirkby in Ashfield, Notts.  He only had to travel to Evesham, Worcestershire, England,UK.  Isobel applied her newly acquired skill for making multiples of the same toy, and both of the Bishop Bears were sent off within a day of each other.  

One side-effect of all these dispatches, is that Isobel's injured hip is having more exercise than usual - as we now can walk to our local Post Office, whereas, since May 2019, she's been going to the Town's more central Post Office, which has meant reliance on the local 'bus service to access the services needed.  It is taking her about 40 minutes each time she does the round trip, and it's not a flat surface she walks on either!  (Now that the local 'bus service has resumed, she will have the choice!).

While Bishop Bears production was under way, we received an order for a Treasure Yellow Rabbit - from Isobel's older daughter, Philippa.  Fortunately, we still had one in stock, so he/she was on his/her way within a day or so.

These live in the Coldham Rabbit "Burrow", and replacements for many of our Baby Rabbits are now required, including these!

Incidentally, the very first Yellow Baby Rabbit was actually made for her when she was a baby and it was named "Treasure", because that was what her Grandmother called her at the time! The name has stuck ever since for this particular version of our baby plush rabbits. (https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/coldhamcuddlies?ref=seller-platform-mcnav&section_id=18803204)

 At the same time, out of the blue, another order arrived - this time for one of our Halloween Spiders.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/587570247/yellowblack-spider-finger-puppet?ref=shop_home_active_2

This one - which we then found was the last one in the Shop, for the time being - is on its way to Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA - because MsVQ saw it while she was visiting and "liked the look on its face".    So, the replacement To Do List is now getting longer, although we're planning on adding some new faces/toys to the Shop before we attack that particular task.    

We've got two new additions to tell you about as well - one is a Clerical Bear, which was a Custom Order for one of Isobel's fellow Members of the St. Barnabas Cathedral Arts & Crafts Guild, as well as a brand new Toy - made with one of the "mistake" fabrics recently purchased while the Tiger Saga was under way.   Isobel has got patterns for at least another two more new Cuddlies she wants to make, so as you can see, she's been kept on her toes over the past three months while the Lockdown  has forced her to stay within the confines of our Flat.   

She's still somewhat restricted - by official edict, as well as her walking ability.  In November, thanks to one of our vigilant doctors at the local Surgery, she discovered that her injured leg is now 2.2cms shorter than the other one. (No wonder she'd been walking like Donald Duck and beginning to walk with a stoop!)  But it now means she has to have any future new shoes altered to account for that difference, so that she can walk upright.  Because she'd been going from side to side while getting over the May fall, her pelvic bone was tilting in the direction of the shorter leg, so recently she's had to almost re-learn how to walk again.  It's still painful, but she's getting there.  Being "confined to barracks" during that time has therefore not been too much of a problem for her, although it has meant that she's not been able to see her local family as much as normal - which hasn't been nice for anyone concerned.

I'll be back to tell you more, next week - hopefully.  Meanwhile, stay safe, everyone and have a good one!

Your Friend

Cy Bear