Sunday 1 March 2015
Dressed Toy Production Line - Foxes and Wolves as a start
Sunday 22 February 2015
A Bear Beauty Parade - Meet Hairy Bears 10 and 11
Tuesday 17 February 2015
Production of the Hairy Bears in progress - Introducing Hairy Bear No10.
Hello Everyone!
Cy Bear back to tell you all about a new Friend of mine - Hairy Bear No10. He's just been finished and is awaiting the completion of Hairy Bear No11 before we organise a Bear Catwalk Parade, so that MrsTB from Missouri, U.S.A can decide which one she'd like to adopt.
Cy Bear back to tell you all about a new Friend of mine - Hairy Bear No10. He's just been finished and is awaiting the completion of Hairy Bear No11 before we organise a Bear Catwalk Parade, so that MrsTB from Missouri, U.S.A can decide which one she'd like to adopt.
This close-up makes it look as though he doesn't have a mouth: but, because there's SO MUCH fur around his face, the black yarn Isobel uses to embroider noses and mouths doesn't really show up that much.
We managed to find the polyester hollowfibre stuffing Isobel was looking for in High Wycombe, and have just opened one of the bags she purchased to finish No10 off yesterday afternoon, after some hiccups along the way. This is what the two Bears looked like before we started to stuff them.
One head is slightly bigger than the other, because MrsTB specifically requested that her Bear had a big head: she finds that very appealing in a Teddy. So, hopefully, that is what will end up happening. I think, but cannot confirm, that the one on the left of the picture is No10. As this post is being prepared, No11 has got all limbs attached to the body, and the arms have been sewn up. Just the legs need to be finally stuffed and sewn, and then will come the inevitable battle involved in getting the head attached to the body.
(This post is being prepared while we have floor laying experts in our home re-laying the floors in our kitchen and bathroom - so everything in the flat is upside down and all about! Isobel cannot reach anything in the kitchen, and she's not sure she will have access to the bathroom this evening, so emergency arrangements are in hand for her to sleep over at Clare's. She's dining there this evening at any rate!)
These Hairy Bears are so hairy, that when it comes to putting the limbs together and attaching them to the body, there can be a real problem deciding the right way they should be facing. On this occasion, all four limbs were fixed on, but Isobel then found the arms were facing one way, and the legs the other! So, as we need to make a fairly substantial hole in the fabric to pass the plastic discs through, one leg had to be re-sewn entirely. Whilst we could have got away with darning the hole and allowing the hairy fur to cover it in some cases, because there is so much fur involved, here we had to cut away the top layer of pile around the hole (on both the body and limb) so that they can move slightly when fully made. (To begin with, the limbs are very stiff - but as the years go by, and they become less firm - a natural maturing process for Teddy Bears - that stiffness will relax.)
These two pictures demonstrate just how hairy, No10 really is! And you can see his mouth a bit better in the one above, from this angle too!
He looks a lot bigger than me standing up, and he does it better than I do too - when he's not on the duvet on the bed! But when both of us are sitting down, there's not that much of a difference - except in fluffiness! But then, Beaver Lamb fur is not as fluffy as faux fur fabric can be - and my hide is nearly 100 years old to boot!
I'm very pleased to be able to tell you that the Tulsa-bound Puppet Bodies dispatched by Isobel before she left for High Wycombe actually arrived at the end of last week - their journey taking a few days longer than they were supposed to, but a jolly sight faster than the previous three packages did. So, the result is that for the remaining two puppets we have to make and send, we will be using the Royal Mail International Tracker route.
That's about all for me to tell you today - we are both sorry for this post being a bit late, but until Isobel had managed to sort herself out after getting back from High Wycombe, plus dealing with one or two other things that interrupted her planned life, in the end there was nothing much to tell you until, No10 was finished yesterday.
We think we're going to be able to tell and show you how some of the Puppet Bodies have been used too, as MrJS has sent us photos as and when they've been completed, and Isobel has requested permission for us to post and talk about them here. So that could account for a couple more posts here, at least.
See you all again soon. Your Friend, Cy Bear.
Sunday 8 February 2015
Patience pays off - Little Ed Ted finds his Forever Home.
Good afternoon Everyone - just dropping in while staying away from base with daughter Philippa in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire - which is not far from London, for those of you unfamiliar with the UK.
Being driven here by daughter Clare last Thursday meant that I was able to bring more sewing paraphernalia with me that I would have been able to manage had I travelled by train, and so far one Hairy Bear is ready to be put together and stuffed, while the other one has two legs and two ears sewn together. (The head, body and two arms remain to be produced (hopefully later this evening and tomorrow). Plans call for me to be driven back to Nottinghamshire on Wednesday this week, and so far despite the weather forecasters' gloomy forecasters for biting cold etc. the temperatures have not be that bad - and we've managed to achieve everything we needed to outside without being uncomfortably chilled.
I've brought some stuffing - but insufficient to fill two Bears of the Hairy Bear dimensions. I'm researching the local haberdashery stores in this vicinity, but so far have not managed to get into the shop I'd identified. When Philippa and I called at the shop this Friday, the proprietor was otherwise engaged - at Friday Prayers. We'd intended to go in yesterday, but alas, some domestic upheavals required me to stay in so that the washing machine's hiccups could be checked. Hopefully, on Monday or Tuesday, we'll be able to find sufficient polyester fibre for me to finish both Bears, and then one Hairy Bear will be off to somewhere in Missouri, USA shortly after I return home.
Cy Bear remains in charge of the Cuddlies - sitting on my bed at Old Chapel Close in Nottinghamshire, but I did manage to take photographs of the latest farewell ceremony for a Cuddly en route to his Forever Home - Little Ed Ted. (Now, of course, that is what he is called when he is with us: his new Forever Friend may well choose to call him something quite different: that is their privilege, and hopefully we will find out a bit more when they eventually meet).
Little Ed was posted to his Buyer who works at a Museum in Oxford, England, UK. The lady wanted him as a gift for her Mother, so we hope that he will settle in well when they eventually meet. He's been in our Shop (www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES) waiting for a new home for quite a long time and has an unusual story as to how he came to be a member of the Cuddlies Family.
The Steiff Schulte Mohair fabric with which he is made was left over from one of the first Patients treated in our Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinic - Ed Ted. Ed was quite a big bear, and as I was still new at the restoration process, I over-estimated the amount of fabric needed for his extensive make-over. Just before I treated Ed Ted, I'd been asked to give a small Bear some much-needed recovery treatment, and as he was a Red Bear, and a small one, for the sake of my records, I christened him Little Red Ted. (Incidentally, this little chap was the first Bear I'd ever treated - and became the inspiration for that part of the Coldham Cuddlies Shop services).
The mohair fabric left overs looked as though they could be used for a smaller Ed Ted version - so I used the template created for Red Ted after he'd had his usual restorative bath. Little Red Ted had a somewhat longer neck than most Bears I've come across, so I decided to give Little Ed a scarf . Digging through my yarn supplies produced pattern using royal blue for the main scarf , and providing light blue and white stripes at each end of the finished item. There was a little yarn left over, which were made into tassels, which were added with a crochet hook.
Because he is made with Mohair - made from a cashmere goat - there is a significant difference in the cost of the fabric - when compared with either plush or faux fur equivalents. Can't help but think that was one reason why he didn't find his Adoptive Home earlier. We at Coldham Cuddlies are so pleased he has now found a Forever Friend for whom he can become a Cuddly Companion.
When ending our last post, I mentioned that I had yet to hear from MsHG regarding the safe arrival of the two Baby Koalas that left us the week before. As is my wont, I had sent a copy of the blog post in which their departure from the Coldham Cuddlies Family home was described - and learned that the reason for that uncharacteristic omission was that MsHG had been away from her office all week. Subsequently, a message arrived. The parcel was indeed in her office, but with a birthday coming up in a couple of weeks, she was reserving the pleasure of actually meeting her two new Companion Toys until that anniversary arrived. Watch this space, as I'm sure there will be some pictorial evidence to show the re-union with Sleepy Koala and the two Baby Koala Bears.
One final update on previous blog posts. The reason for the delays in arrival of parcels posted to Tulsa, Oklahoma from Kirkby-in-Ashfield could be that the address to which they have been posted to date includes a Post Box Number - rather than an actual brick-and-mortar address. The Royal Mail route I had inadvertently selected doesn't "do" Post Box Numbers, so despite the higher postage paid, the parcels had travelled at the standard international airmail speed. The last package sent to Tulsa this week, and written about in our post last week, was sent International Tracked Air Mail Parcel rate - guaranteed to arrive within 5 Working Days of departure, and capable of being tracked at both ends of the journey. That fifth day is either Monday or Tuesday of this coming week - depending on when Royal Mail chooses to start counting! So, watch this space for an update about this too.
Don't sit up and waiting all day or night though! Because I'm now about to close down and get on with the manufacture of the Hairy Bears mentioned earlier in this chat. Until next time then, when Cy Bear may well be posting, Good Night and Good Bye.
Isobel
Sunday 1 February 2015
A little bit of this.... and a little bit of that ..... latest ColdhamCuddlies update
Hello everyone - I'm giving Cy Bear a rest, so he doesn't think he's going to take over the blog duties for good! But really there's been so much happening in my world that is very exciting, as well as time-consuming, and I felt I should share it with you myself.
February 10 is the fifth anniversary of the ColdhamCuddlies registration on Etsy.com - which amazes me, I have to say. That was the date we officially signed up: but as there was no stock in the shop, it didn't begin functioning until September, by which time we had about 10 different toys on offer - mainly Teddy Bears and the Dressed Rabbits (Ladies and Gents). Prior to the Craft Fair at the beginning of December we had over 70 different Toys, but what with Craft Fairs and more recently a steady supply of orders we are now down to the mid-60's. So, there's a replacement schedule that needs to be put in place - and I've got some lovely patterns for some new Cuddlies to join the Family!
February 10 is the fifth anniversary of the ColdhamCuddlies registration on Etsy.com - which amazes me, I have to say. That was the date we officially signed up: but as there was no stock in the shop, it didn't begin functioning until September, by which time we had about 10 different toys on offer - mainly Teddy Bears and the Dressed Rabbits (Ladies and Gents). Prior to the Craft Fair at the beginning of December we had over 70 different Toys, but what with Craft Fairs and more recently a steady supply of orders we are now down to the mid-60's. So, there's a replacement schedule that needs to be put in place - and I've got some lovely patterns for some new Cuddlies to join the Family!
Meanwhile, Cy Bear did tell you about the impending departure of two of our Baby Koalas, dispatched to join the Sleepy Koala that went to live in Torquay, Devon, UK a week or two ago. Before they left, he insisted on supervising their departure - as is his wont - and here's the picture to prove it!
We have not heard if they did arrive, and I've been so busy with other things, that I've not yet checked. Am pretty sure, given the speed at which we were contacted when Sleepy Koala arrived at his Forever Home, that had they not reached their destination, we would have been contacted.
Think they were pretty pleased to be travelling together, anyway.
The rest of the week has been spent cutting out, and sewing the second batch of Puppet Bodies for dispatch to Mr.JS of Tulsa, Okalahoma, as well as finishing the three pairs of felt hands that he required for some other members of his Puppet Theatre.
This time around, three more white fleece bodies - all lined with calico fabric - and a baby blue fleece body were needed. (It was a black body and three further white ones that were dispatched at the beginning of January - and I was pleased to learn they finally arrived in Tulsa at the beginning of this week). So the dispatch experiment that was discussed a couple of posts ago here didn't work - the parcel took as long to reach Tulsa this time around as did Grandpere, and this time around there wasn't the excuse of the Christmas rush. Before posting this second batch of bodies, am going consult with Royal Mail as to how I can ensure the package taking less time when the Buyer is paying for a faster delivery. I don't think it would have gone much slower had I sent it by ordinary International Standard Airmail Parcel delivery - and would not have been as expensive for MrJS.
These are the three pairs of hands - and I've got so much felt left over from the two sheets I used, that I'm actually in the process of making three more pairs: just in case they are needed when MrJS comes to sew them onto the puppets at the other end. (The felt was provided by MrJS - and is a much better flesh colour than anything I could source on this side of the Atlantic) It's rather a long way for him to get replacements should they be needed fast! The fingers have all been machined: I just need to button hole stitch around the edges, and that can be done tomorrow evening, once I've cut out our next project - two versions of our Hairy Teddy Bears, one of which will be headed to Missouri in the next couple of weeks.
I'm off for a few days to stay with daughter, Philippa, in High Wycome at the end of the week. At least one of the Hairy Bears will be accompanying me so I can keep my fingers from getting stiff - although I have to say, that even with the intense cold weather we are having at the moment, the arthritis does seem to be reasonably passive at the moment. Long may that situation continue - it does make life easier.
Now before closing just some interesting statistics - at least they are for me! I've told you about how many toys are now available in our shop at www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES: this blog - started in March 2011, has now had 30,654 page views, over 287 posts (not counting this one). That's really amazing considering the content is little more than descriptions of our Toys, and the patients in our Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinic - which might be getting a new patient shortly: if it happens, this will be the first since I moved up from Heytesbury, Wiltshire, where I think all the Village Bears needing treatment had been welcomed at one time or another!!
An unexpected enquiry, which reached me last week-end via the Royal Mail Redirection service came from a lady in Buckinghamshire - who had read about my Clinic when I'd written to The Lady Magazine about our services (just about a year ago). Coincidentally, the Royal Mail had written to remind me the same day that my redirection arrangement was due to end on February 11 (which means we've been up in Nottinghamshire for 6 months from that date - my word the time flies). Needless to say, I've extended my re-direction arrangements for another six months - just in case there are more letters looking for me, although I have to say, there are not that many now. Most folk who are in regular contact now know where I now live.
Some further stats - which thrill me, I have to say, because being a gypsy at heart, it really gives me a charge to think about where my blog is being read. About nine months after I began posting regularly, early in 2012, I found a site called Flag Counter - you can see it on the right side of this post - and since joining, there have been 7,331 page views, of which 3,019 (or 61.7%) are based in the United States. 84 different flags have been collected - from countries as widely dispersed as the Philipines, Turkey, Brazil, Russia, as well as the United Kingdom (which account for 15.5%) and many of the other countries of the English speaking world, such as Australia and Canada. Cy Bear and I are most grateful for your support - we like to think of our posts being treated as bedtime reading - and look forward to continuing and building on this amazing collection of friends.
Think I have waffled on long enough for tonight - must get ready to complete the other hands and then pack them up for posting to Tulsa on Tuesday morning.
Awaiting the three other pairs of hands |
All the best - and thanks again for all your support. Isobel
Sunday 25 January 2015
One thing that led to another ... and another ....
Good afternoon, Folks! Cy Bear back again for another session with you all - cannot believe how long it is since Isobel interrupted our getting-together here on our blog! Long may it continue.
Seem to recall that at the end of last week's post, I said we'd introduced another new Cuddly to the COLDHAMCUDDLIES family and that I'd tell you all about him when we next met. So - here is his story - or rather, to begin with, the story of both our new Sleepy Koala Bears.
To make these little fellows, Isobel used the template she made when she originally treated Little Brown Ted - a small bear that had lived in a toybox kept by Alan's mother, when Alan himself was at an age to play with stuffed toys. By the time we'd been introduced, he was a Patient in our Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinic, and after creating a template using his plush pieces, we ended up with Little Sleepy Ted, a Yellow Plush Teddy Bear.
MsHG contacted Isobel on Christmas Eve last year to ask if it would be possible for us to make a Sleepy Koala based on the same template pattern, so these two chaps are the result. We took photographs of both of them, and sent them to MsHG for her to decide which she'd like to provide a Forever Home to, and she asked for Sleepy Koala on the right - and asked that the left-hand Koala be given an extra hug, because she felt guilty at not taking them both!
So, Right Hand Koala was wrapped up and readied for his trip to Torquay, Devon, England, UK - but not before there was our usual farewell ceremony.
Also, before the departing Sleepy Koala was wrapped up, Isobel took some photos of them together so that the remaining one could be listed in our Shop (www.ColdhamCuddlies.Etsy.com).
Because they don't sit up terribly well - unless propped up with pillows (they're not called "Sleepy" for nothing, after all), we took them propping each other up, and then one showing their rears:
Then, we took a side view of the remaining Sleepy Koala, seen below:
One of him facing the camera, full on
and, finally, one of him with a facial close-up:
Then on Wednesday morning Isobel took him to our local Post Office, where she walks every day - if possible - to get her daily newspaper, and posted him to MsHG.
By mid-afternoon on the Thursday, we received a convo message from her to say that Sleepy Koala had arrived safely, she sent a picture of him in his new Forever Home and posted it on our Coldham Cuddlies Facebook page and then, in the early evening, Isobel received a telephone call from her. She was so pleased with Sleepy (which is what she's is going to call him) that she asked if the Baby Koalas we already have in our Shop
https://www.etsy.com/listing/55190188/toy-koala-tree-bear-grey-fleck-and-white? were made with the same fabric as Sleepy.
Having confirmed that indeed they were, Isobel offered MsHG the chance to choose which of the three Baby Koalas remaining in the Shop she would like - we originally had four listed, but one was sold during the Christmas Bazaar in the Kirkby Festival Hall at the beginning of December 2014. She chose and convo'd Isobel telling her which one she wanted. But, when Isobel went to get him from his snug, she found that we'd got one of our original Brown Koala's still looking for a Forever Home.
On the off chance that MsHG might like him better, she sent a picture of Brown Baby Koala, together with the one she had chosen (just confirming we'd got the right one). Well, blow me down, on Saturday afternoon, MsHG came back with the request that she'd like both of them: she thought they both looked as though they were the best of pals, and she hadn't the heart to separate them - as well as the two Sleepy Koalas. So, on Monday, we will be posting the two Baby Koalas so they can join Sleepy Koala. With luck, their journey will end with a great reunion sometime next Tuesday. (Brown Koala is the last of his line - because Isobel wants to keep the remaining Light Brown Faux Fur so she can make more Big Teddy Bears. We have a much bigger stash of the Grey/White Faux Fur fabric now.)
So, although there's plenty more to tell - and show - you I'll close this post for now. See you all soon, because there are some more exciting possibilities on the horizon. It's all happening here at the moment!
Your friend Cy Bear
Tuesday 20 January 2015
We have a Black and White Cat Puppet to tell you about!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/218473996 |
Sunday 11 January 2015
Puppet Bodies are Tulsa Bound - plus news from the Coldham Front
There are 4 Bodies here, but one White One isn't showing! |
Sunday 4 January 2015
Old Friends Renewed - and the latest from the COLDHAMCUDDLIES world.
Newly relisted Baby Kolas sending New Year greetings too! |
Well, the snow has all gone - but not before it apparently caused a lot of problems in and around the grounds of where we Cuddlies now reside and the surrounding streets. Being a public holiday (what ever that is) no gritting crews came out to put de-frosting stuff on the roads, and as a result lot of people slipped around and some hurt themselves. Isobel was firmly told NOT to walk to get her daily paper, once the shops opened after the Christmas holiday, and it was delivered to her by Alan and Dotty, who took their early morning walk in a direction which made it feasible for them to pick the paper up en route homewards.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)