Poppy Appeal Craft Fair - November 2, 2013

Hello there Everyone!

Cy Bear on hand to tell you all about the first of our Craft Fairs for November 2013.  It was held yesterday morning (November 2) here at The Hospital of St. John in aid of the Royal British Legion Women's Section Poppy Day Appeal, and although I'm unable to tell you exactly how much was raised in total, I'm pleased to tell you that the ColdhamCuddlies stall covered their costs and Isobel was able to donate over and above the agreed sum to the Event Organiser.

Setting up the Table, with part of our garden in the background

The occasion was the official introduction in Heytesbury of the whole 2013 ColdhamCuddlies Novelty Slipper Collection, and here is a photograph of their specific display section on the table.

Isobel asks me to tell everyone that the pictures may seem a little over-exposed, but as you can see we have a big window behind the stall, and at the time the stall was being set up, the sun was blazing in! (I'm told that can add to the difficulties of any photographer, let alone one of the "hold up and click" school to which Isobel belongs!  However, we both felt it gives everyone an idea of what the slipper collection in its entirety looks like.)

They aroused a great deal of interest, and were it not for the fact that the potential buyers did not know the exact size of potential recipients of the slippers as gifts, Isobel would have made at least three further sales, to the ones she already has on her books.  All the customers said they'd be back:  we shall wait to see - and in any case, we do have another fair coming up in the Residents' Hall on November 23, and the likelihood is that many of the visitors will be repeat customers at that event, so we may be able to report definite sales at that event!  As the proceeds of that event are scheduled to be given in aid of the St. John's Residents' Social Fund, any donations may be split between the two events, depending on the eventual results!

This shows the ColdhamCuddlies stall fully set up ready for the customers to arrive.  You can get an idea of part of our lovely garden behind the standing-up Cuddlies, prominent among them being Charlie Coyote (Etsy Listing 67039032) and his friend The Country Gentleman Fox (Etsy Listing 59809283), not to mention three of our Cuddlies Bears (they have separate listings, and would take too long for me to give them here!) and the three Tigger Long-Legs (Etsy Listing108763404) - who Isobel tells me are the "very devil to keep sitting down on a shiny window sill"!

One of Isobel's fellow Womens' Section  members offered to take a picture of her on duty at the stall, and if she is looking a little flushed - it's because she had only just managed to get everybody arranged, and the sun was pouring in through the window behind her and she was somewhat hot and bothered as a result! Two of the recently replaced Baby Koalas (Etsy Listing 55190188) found Forever Friends - as First Christmas presents to great-grand children of one St. John's Residents and her sister-in-law. The latter lady also purchased one Black and White Plush Baby Bunny (Etsy Listing # 55187979) for another great grandchild who has just been welcomed to the World.  (So another two Koalas will need to be replaced!)

The ColdhamCuddlies stall was just one of several other stalls, and this one featured Christmas cards and other Christmas novelty gifts - presented by the House Supervisor at St. John's and her friend, and fellow staff member at The Hospital.  They travel around the local area visiting many other Craft fairs over the year.  MrsHJ (the former) often tells Isobel about them, and sometimes is able to arrange for us to be invited to take part in them at the same time.

In the background to this photograph, you can get a glimpse of what is called "The Old Building" (which has been in this spot since 1762).  This houses several apartments on two floors (without elevators!) - so those on the upper floors have to be fit and able to cope with the rigours of every day life!  (I'm so glad I'm merely a Bear made from Beaver Lamb - who gets carried around whenever he is moved from room to room!)  To differentiate from this building, the Resident's Hall is located in "The New Buildings"  (which were erected in 1972!).

Then there was a home baked cake stall - without which no worthwhile Craft Fair (or indeed any local produce stall) is complete was being staffed by another Women's Section member - aided and abetted by her grand daughter, undoubtedly being lined up as a future member of the Heytesbury Womens' Section Royal British Legion, which last year celebrated being in existence for 70 years- thus one of the oldest, if not the eldest, branch in the U.K.

 (The lawn area behind this table is enclosed in a sort of cloister like erection - which form a row of studio bungalows, and another two-storey complex - which were built some few years after The New Buildings.  There is a small Chapel and more apartments housed in these, together with The Administrator's office, but these latter part of The Hospital of St. John cannot be seen in this photograph).

These goodies had all been donated for the major Raffle during the Craft Fair (there was also a Tombola Stall, which featured many similar, but smaller items) and then there was a Raffle for this cake - made by Branch Secretary (MrsMP), who is also Heyetesbury Village Poppy Appeal Organiser.  She's a busy lady! The cake was won by one of the St. Johns' Residents and comprised a sponge cake, filled with clotted cream and home made strawberry jam) and decorated with sugar craft poppies.

Observant readers of this post might notice the lack of curtains to all the windows.  This is because the ones that normally hang at all of them are presently away being re-lined.  The sun had bleached the linings, which had been up for many years, and the Trustees decided it was time that the curtains should be replaced.  However, the outer layers were in such good condition, that it was felt all that really needed attention was the linings.  As always, when one does something like this in a piecemeal fashion, the task takes longer than it was originally envisaged!  (I  suspect the Residents (and no doubt the Trustees) are hoping they will be completed by the time the Christmas Carol Service to be celebrated in our Chapel and following Residents' Tea is held in the Hall on December 13th.)

All the remaining ColdhamCuddlies toys and slippers are now tucked away in their various cupboards in our flat, awaiting their next outing on November 23rd.  Meanwhile, Isobel has begun to make some Tiger Head Golf Club Covers, so she can fulfill an order she has had for some time from MrsHJ (mentioned earlier in this post) who wants  to give it as a Christmas present to a young acquaintance whose surname is Wood (As in Tiger Woods ... doubtless our wonderful Followers will be familiar with the name, if not the actual person.  Afraid it doesn't mean too much to me).

Although Isobel has a stock of Golf Club handle covers ready for use, she has had to knit some different ones for this particular assignment.  Not only did MrsHJ want a stripey cover, but in the intervening period since getting the order, Isobel had used up all the Tiger print plush fabric we had and when she ordered some more - it was a completely different colour.  Isobel is going to make at least two Tiger Golf Club Head Covers so we can list one in the shop, while providing MrsHJ with hers, but she may also have to make another set of Tiger Head slippers, because we're going to have to be able to display them as an alternative to the one already on offer in our shop, which will have to become a OAAK (One of a Kind) Cuddly, which they already are really - because their faces are somewhat different from the original pair - who were sold while Isobel was away in Nottinghamshire recently.  Here is what they now look like!

Etsy Listing #156629069

.So, I'll close this now and enable Isobel to get sewing - and checking out the Shop and her Etsy teams, which she likes to do at least once a day.  Until the next time, do hope you are all keeping well.

Your friend, Cy Bear.

Some additional details - and the promised photograph

Hello everyone!

In his last post, Cy Bear promised you a photograph of our Jubilee Rabbit with her new Forever Friend.  When I was listing the Baby Bunnies who also featured in Cy's narrative, I suddenly discovered the missing picture of MrsCD's little Grandaughter J and here it is!  Jubilee Rabbit has been re-named, I think -Elizabeth (because 2013 is our Queen Elizabeth's 60th Jubilee Year) - and although she's a bit more of a handful than J can accommodate at the moment, am sure it won't be long before they are difficult to part!

And now, here are the newly listed Baby Bunnies - not necessarily in the same order as they appeared in Cy Bear's Post.  However, they do show each one with their specific Etsy Listing.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/166959760/baby-bunny-toys-baby-rabbit-purple?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/166949424/baby-bunny-toys-blue-fleece-boy-or-girl?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/166947912/baby-bunny-toys-pink-fleece-washable?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/166974565/baby-bunny-toys-white-fleece-washable?

Am now off to get on with the replacement Slippers that are required for the upcoming Craft Shows, as well as complete the cutting out and sewing of the three further Baby Koalas that I deem to be required for the forthcoming Coldham Cuddlies' outings.

Until then, here's to the next time!  Isobel

Getting back to Normal - with some way to go!

Good evening, Everyone!

This is Cy Bear signing in once again, because Isobel feels it is time that I did.  She's been back home for nearly two weeks, now, and what with one thing and another, blogging has had to take a back seat.  She's been sewing madly to make up replacements for the sales we were fortunate enough to make while she was staying in Nottinghamshire (plus all those that happened while she was busy creating the 2013 Slipper Collection).  All this while keeping up with all the internet activity that selling from our shop at www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies requires, she's got herself involved even more with Teams.  That  in turn means she gets chatting to one and all, which then means less time for the Cuddlies - and so on......ad infinitum.

However, just after we returned, Isobel renewed contact with one of our Heytesbury friends, MrsCB who had mentioned that she would like to have some Koala Slippers made for her little grand daughter's Christmas Present.  This Little Person is actually now the Forever Friend of our Jubilee Rabbit and we've been given a photograph of her sitting on Granny's lap on her first birthday.  For some reason, Isobel has been unable to transfer it to the blog, and she'll have to see if we can get another one.  If we're successful, we'll include it in a future blog, but meanwhile, where are some photographs of what Isobel has been able to do since getting home.

However in the past few days, progress into the backlog of replacements has been made.  All the fleece Baby Bunnies have been replaced, and we now have four representatives of each of the colours we previously sold under the one listing - Etsy #89020911.  The Baby Bunnies are going to be listed separately this time - rather than being just collected into one single mention in our shop, and you can see the Pink collection above.  The original Etsy number will therefore be deactivated, once the new listings have been published.

Apart from the Pink bunch, we also have four Blue Bunnies

Four more White ones

And, finally, four Purple ones - even though they look like dark blue ones in the photograph!  Apparently, this can happen when some versions of Purple are printed from digiial camera shots.

The Purple Bunnies here are actually showing their "ColdhamCuddlies" printed labels in this picture, which makes at least one of them look a little wobbly.  When they are listed, these will be hidden, but every toy leaving our Shop these days carries his or her tag.

The original collection Fleece Bunnies all had green holly leaf collars on and then had red ribbons attached (they were one of our original Christmas time offerings).  This bunch of pesky critturs (believe me when they are let loose, they can be handful!) are presented collarless, but should anyone want to have ribbons attached - so they can become Pram or Cot Toys - they only have to mention it to Isobel when ordering, and she will endeavour to fulfill their request.  They are also all washable.

Isobel has also been able to finish three (of the six she plans) more Baby Koalas.  Our last one found its Forever Home via MrsPL (Clare's mother-in-law) who in 2012 was the source of several of our Cuddlies, who were originally Patients in our Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinic (Etsy Listing#79124185).  She's hoping to have the other three ready in time for our first upcoming Craft Fair, which is due to take place on Saturday, November 2 in the Residents' Hall here at The Hospital of St. John.

Etsy Listing 55190188

These little fellows always make popular Stocking Stuffers, and with Christmas coming up, Isobel was anxious to ensure we had supplies ready for the three Fairs we have coming up in the next five weeks.

Replacements for the Tiger Head Slippers (Etsy Listing #156629069) are almost complete.   (Thereby hangs an interesting tale - which will be told shortly!) and there are Frogs Head Slippers (Etsy Listing #16076058) to be done before November 2 as well.

Oh, and another thing - also time consuming:   Isobel's writers' block from which she has been suffering was broken earlier today when, after weeks of staring at a blank page and being unable to think of any story to tell, she woke this morning (at 0500 hours) with not just one, but two, possible story lines.  So, they have to be fitted in somewhere, and at least one sent off to the Academy of Childrens' Writers so that Assignment 3 can be judged, commented on and the next stage of  her writing course ticked off.

Time I closed this down, I think - so Good Night, and God Bless for now.  Cy Bear

Goodness, Gracious, Me - as the saying goes!

Good evening everyone.

It's great to be back here posting directly once more - although, don't get me wrong, it's been great to be able to do it when I was away from base as well.  Thanks to Clare and Alan for allowing me access via their wi-fi hub for hours of internet fun while I was with them for five weeks, which passed all too quickly.

Since returning home last Saturday, have been trying to get myself organised - what with the need for replacements for Cuddlies who have found their Forever Homes, picking up orders from where they were left before I went away (the Frog Slippers went to MrsJW - a.k.a. my Podiatrist, who keeps my feet in order!):

I've also received a custom order for a pair of Childrens Small Size Slippers - with Koala Heads.  This is for  a lady from Heytesbury, who is going to be in Australia for Christmas, but wants her London-based baby grand daughter to have some Australian-type slippers for her second Christmas!   Obviously, I cannot show those here yet, but this is what they could look like - but in a smaller size!

Since Monday, I've cut out and completed four replacement Purple Fleece Baby Bunnies (two with white chests, and two completely self colour) and today have managed to sew three all White Baby Bunnies needing to be replaced.  They are currently in their component pieces of ears, cotton-tails and body and will be put together tomorrow.  My fingers were complaining at the end of the afternoon sewing session, so decided to stop and go on line for my daily surfing session.

When all the replacements are finished, I am planning to list them separately by colour.  Not only will this increase the number of listings in our Etsy shop (www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies), but it will make it easier for buyers to find them when looking for Christmas Stocking stuffers (I hope!). Fellow members in the various Etsy Teams I have joined all keep saying that the more listings one has, the more folks will visit one's Shop.  So, that's what this is also all about.

After going on line, though, I am reeling with surprised shock.  I have just discovered that my Cuddlies have been featured in four different Treasuries today!! That's a first.  Am always being told that the more Treasuries one is featured in, the higher the chance of sales appearing - so, here's hoping!!!

www.etsy.com/treasury/MjcwMDExNzR8MjcyNTEyNjcxNg/the-richness-of-go...

www.etsy.com/treasury/MjM3NDMyOTd8MjcyNTEyOTczNg/kingtreasury-232

www.etsy.com/treasury/NjEwNzYyNHwyNzI1MTI4Njc2/kingtreasury-232

www.etsy.com/treasury/NjQ5OTMzNXwyNzI1MTI3ODE4/autumn-greens-kingtr...

If you feel like it my lovely Followers (all 349 of you, not to mention my Google+ ones as well) - and also if you have the time to spare - you may like to click on these Treasuries and see what clever folks we have on Etsy.

It's also a first that I've been able to figure out how to list more than one thing at a time.    It's only taken three years on Etsy to be able to figure it out and now I've finally done it.  Just you wait now, folks:  I'll be posting multiple listings till I'm blue in the face!  It's always been a complete mystery before, so don't ask me how I figured it out today.  St. Barbara (patron saint of computing, I believe) must have been watching out for me.

I'm a bit late today, what with the Treasuries action, as well as sewing three new White Baby Bunnies.  They are in their component bits, ready to be put together tomorrow.  My fingers were complaining of over work by the time I did them this afternoon.

Then, later, when checking another of my daily sites on Etsy, I discovered that the Cuddlies had been featured on yet another Treasury.  Don't exactly know what is happening, but it's not an unpleasant feeling! However, pride must be coming before a fall here;   because I've just tried to create a tab for this last  Treasury, but cannot seem to be able to do it!!!!  Anyway, suffice to say, that I'm chuffed to bits, and if you go through all these Treasuries and heart them (if you can from outside Etsy - not sure if that is possible, but hey - why not have a go!) that will just make my day.

All this has been on top of the unusual, but very pleasant, feeling of being able to pay in a goodly sum into the Cuddlies bank account - which includes the sales made while I was in Nottinghamshire, and about which Cy Bear posted last week.  Cy did a great job over-seeing the empty cupboard while the Cuddlies and I were in Nottinghamshire!  We're glad to be back together again - and all the travelling Cuddlies are back in their accustomed plastic bags - waiting their next appearance at the next Craft Fair (on November 2).!

So, all in all a great day.  Wonder what will happen next?  Until the next time.    Isobel

News from Nottinghamshire - Holiday is almost over!

Hello Everyone!  Cy Bear signing in again, with the latest bulletin from Isobel.

She is getting ready to return home again.  All things being equal, ColdhamCuddlies's life will revert to normal with effect from mid-day(ish) Saturday, October 12.  In the interim, Isobel has deigned to let me (earlier today) that she's had the time of her life with daughter, Clare  and her husband, Alan, and given me some other things to tell you before she gets back to Heytesbury.

While Isobel is away, I thought I'd just slip this one in!  This picture was taken of me just before my friend Bernard Bear left for (his Forever Home (I wrote about him in my last post on September 20, 2013) , and shows me sitting in my flat-guarding position while Isobel has been away for the last five weeks.

 I can tell you that she is returning having sold our Tiger Slippers to MrsPL (Clare's mother-in-law) who wants them for her great nephew, who is awaiting the arrival of his baby sister - expected any day now.

While making replacements for these slippers (Etsy Listing #156629069 - and the largest size for the Childrens' Slippers in the 2013 ColdhamCuddlies Slipper Sales Campaign), there are going to be two more Tigers' Heads made to make Golf Club Head Covers as well.

We've had a request for one of those, for a golfing friend of MrsHJ.   (She is the House Supervisor at The Hospital of St. John (where you will remember Isobel and I live).  MrsHJ has a friend with the surname of "Wood".   One of the Tiger's Heads is destined to be a Christmas present for this young man,  While she has been away in Nottinghamshire,  Isobel has knitted three different versions of a black golf club handle cover, with a choice of orange spots and two different orange or black stripey offerings. When MrsHJ has chosen the one she wants, the other one will be listed in the shop at www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies as another Golf Club Head Cover offering.  The spotted version will likely end up as a Leopard Head Golf Club cover - and both these versions will form a future post here on this blog.

Also, one Baby  Koala has also gone to MrsPL as a "Welcome to the World" gift for her new great neice.  (He's the one on the right of this picture - the one with a very determined look on his face!)  That means some replacements will have to be produced in very short order to re-stock our shop at www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies.  We've almost run out of our Koalas in the Shop!   There is another Craft Bazaar opportunity scheduled for early November and these little fellows do make great Christmas Stocking Stuffers, as well as ideal Baby Shower and First Toy gifts!  They have also been one of our best sellers since ColdhamCuddlies began in 2010.

While she has been in Nottinghamshire, Isobel was also able to visit a long-time family friend who lives in the vicinity.  MrsPC - who was the originator of the Pig Twins (about whom I wrote in our last post) who are now in their Forever Home in Italy.  MrsPC was also the source of the pattern template for our Snowy March Hares (Etsy Listing #125962011) and just happened to be celebrating her birthday earlier in October.  The visit took place the week before the actual date, because Clare and Alan had other family commitments on the actual date.  MrsPC's birthday present from Isobel was a pair of Grey Furry Rabbit Slippers (her choice) -  it's nice to know that they fit like a glove and

The first  photo we've been able to show of ColdhamCuddlies Slippers doing what they are made for!

when MrsPC telephoned to wish Isobel  Happy Birthday earlier this week (the actual date was Ocober 8 for any of our Followers who might like to know!) she said that for the first time, she was "actually looking forward to the cold weather"!  They have been listed in our shop under Etsy Listing  #162884385, and when she has time, Isobel plans to make another pair (although the ribbon might be changed, as we're getting short on the mauve ribbon).

MrsPC just might be getting her wish, because believe me, it's got very cold over  here in  the last few days in the UK as a whole.  I'm unable to comment on what it's actually like down here in Wiltshire , because in our home, Isobel and I are always warm as toast - and in the  bad weather, I don't go out!

I'll end this post now - and doubtless Isobel will be back doing it herself early next week, or maybe, even later in the week-end.  Here is another photo of the latest Slippers - another UK Ladies' Size 5 pair.  I should imagine there will be a blog about them. to back up the listing in our Etsy Shop - to give potential buyers an idea of all the Slipper choices now available in our Shop.

Good night and good bye for the time being.  Cy Bear

Some Cuddlies in their Forever Homes -and our latest news.

Hello Everyone!

Cy Bear back again, even though I'm at home in Heytesbury, and Isobel is away staying with her daughter, Clare and husband, Alan in Nottinghamshire.

Regular readers of this blog should now be aware that Cuddlies can now come in two versions.  The ones Isobel makes, like me - and those she restores to a new life in our Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinic (Etsy Listing #79124185),  Recently, because we both feel the latter become honary Cuddlies while they become Patients, she has called her hand-made ColdhamCuddlies (CC), and those that are treated in our Clinic we have labelled Associate Cuddlies  (AC).  All our Patients qualify, but so do toys like the Pig Twins, who were listed in our shop at www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies until they were invited to go to Italy to meet their new Forever Friends.

The Pig Twins were the first Associate Cuddlies, because Isobel only finished  them off by providing their clothes, as they had originally been made by our good family friend, MrsPC.  It was their arrival that made Isobel decide to create the Associate Cuddly tag - so that everyone who comes to stay with us leaves feeling they are part of our family.

The Pigs left Heytesbury on August 5 this year at the behest of SnraCF who wanted them as a First Wedding Anniversary present for her son DP and his wife, MTC.   She promised to send us photographs of the gift-opening ceremony, which took place over the first week-end  of  September.  You can read more about the Pig Twins in our post dated August 5, 2013 entitled: "The Pig Twins have Flown - to Italy"

Receiving the Present

The First layer removed

The Forever Friends together for the first time

SnraCF is a fellow member of the Etsy Seniors Rock Team, one of the regular Etsy Teams in which Isobel is a participant,  and we've been told that her family are expecting to be joined bya Little Person sometime in April 2014.  Depending on the gender of the Little Person who does arrive, we have been asked to provide a small Piglet to complete the family as a Welcome to the World present sometime in April 2014.  Isobel has a suitable pattern from which to produce either a little Boy or Girl dressed Piglet, so we'll keep you posted, obviously.

Then I was really pleased and excited to hear further news from my friend, Bernard Bear, A.C.  His Forever Friend, MrGS sent us a picture of Bernard sitting comfortably in his own armchair, and Isobel and I thought you'd like to see him.  

Accompanying this photograph of Bernard, was the following message from MrGS:

"Bernard with his two original older friends, Hephalump and Dog who are 

both in a very sad state, but pleased to be reunited."

The following photograph shows Bernard's two long-term friends better, and I'm so pleased to be able to have it remind me of the good time we had together while he was a Patient in our Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinic!

With that, I'll end this post.  Do hope everyone is having a good time - and that everyone is well.  My guardian duties continue while Isobel is away - and it would appear that she is having a great time while staying in Nottingham.  The preparations for the Big Bash are coming together well and the Birthday Girl had a great day earlier this week - by all accounts.

Good night everyone - until the next time.  Cy Bear.

Here Come the Owls - The Final Piece for the 2013 Cuddlies' Slipper Collection

Three months ago - or thereabouts - I set out on a new venture for the Cuddlies - Novelty Slippers,  Having responded to a challenge from one of my fellow Etsians,  LauraC  of EighBoardsFarm, who wished she could have a pair of Yellow Plush Slippers, I was challenged to have a go.  Now, many of you know that  I'm not normally a great one for making ANYTHING without a pattern to work with, but was reminded by one of my daughters that way back in the 1970's, I had made a lot of felt slippers for Christmas presents.  With that reminder as a starter, the Yellow Rabbits became a reality - after a couple of false starts - and the decision to have a selection of slippers in three sizes for Kids, Women and Men - preferably in time for Christmas - was formed.

Having first finished some commissions in our Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinic (Etsy Listing # 79124185),  now - some weeks later -  I can show you the final item in the ColdhamCuddlies 2013 Christmas Slipper Collection.  They are  Owl Headed  UK Size 12 Mens Novelty Slippers made with some of our special, but limited supply, of  Brown and Gold Flecked Plush fabric.

Etsy Listing #162884385

This time, we feature Owls Heads, using a pattern that I've been wanting to use for some time.  They are originally from a vintage pattern for a Glove Puppet made in felt, but I decided to try and convert it into a Plush Head which I could then attach to the Mens' Slipper pattern that LauraC had found for me during our initial conversations about her slippers.  We've already listed https://www.etsy.com/listing/158936304/mens-size-9-to-10-novelty-plush-slippers?, which represent the Mens' Medium Size model and https://www.etsy.com/listing/158098231/mens-novelty-koala-bear-faced-slippers? our Small Size Mens' offering.

These Owl Heads have been hand made in the same fashion as all the slippers.  They both have a Memory Foam insole covered in fabrics which hopefully will prevent slipping on floors.  They are NOT  GUARANTEED not to slip, but as long as care is taken where feet are placed, they should not let the wearer down.  Going outside in them - particularly if the surfaces are wet - is not recommended.  In our view ColdhamCuddlies' Slippers in particular, and all Slippers in general,  are indoor footwear, not outerwear!  In the Owls' case, their foot covering is made with faux leather and the body of the slippers is attached (both on the inside and outside) by ladder-stitching all round the perimeter of the insole.

These are the Owl Slippers seen from their rear view.  The fabric colour is difficult to convey even though they were taken in daylight, with a north facing window behind me.  It was  raining too hard at the time for one to attempt an outdoor shot - and in any case, following my remark about outdoors not being an appropriate place to wear them, perhaps an outdoor setting for the pictures would be equally inappropriate!

As with most of the slippers in the Christmas Collection, the lining has been made with Cream Poodle Fur fabric, and the ankle is trimmed with golden satin ribbon, through which elastic has been threaded to fit the wearer.  Adjustments can be made via the seam positioned in the middle of the back of each Owl Head.  The ends of the ribbon, rather than having a bow (as with our Ladies' Slippers - shown with a pair made not with Plush fabric, but with a moleskin type fabric - https://www.etsy.com/listing/160760658/ladies-novelty-slippers-green-frog-heads?) are crossed under each Owl Head's chin and fixed to the front arch of each foot with a wood toggle-shaped button.

This photograph shows the Cream Poodle Fur  lining and Gold satin ribbon trim, with the elastic seam before the ribbon was tied and fitted to the front of each slipper.

This is the Right Owl Head Slipper - and here is the Left Slipper -

If this Owl Head looks as though it's had a hard night on the tiles, it's because when the photos were taken, neither slipper had been stuffed with the tissue paper that currently replaces the wearers' feet!  As the photographer,  I was unable to undertake having a hand in the slipper to support each head, while actually shooting the frame!  Before they are displayed at the upcoming MacMillan Cancer Greatest Coffee Morning in the World Craft Fair next Monday, September 12 not only will there be some tissue paper in place, but I hope to have a better illustration of both Slippers up in  www.Etsy.com/Shop/coldhamcuddlies as well.

Meanwhile, I'll end this post - not quite sure when the next post will occur, but it could be before the end of the week!  Until then, hope everyone is well, and hopefully enjoying some crisp, fine autumnal sunshine.

Good night and God Bless! Isobel