Make way for the Coldham Koalas - Part 2: A Happy Ending in sight

Hello again Everyone - good to be back, after an eventful week (outside the Etsy world) which took more time than intended.  Isn't that always the case when one lays careful plans for maximum use of one's time? Anyway, when we left the Coldham Koalas story last time, I promised you a photograph of the newly made Baby Koalas - with the newest additions all having new plastic noses, as opposed to the wool embroidered ones used to date.  I  like both versions - wonder what everyone else thinks?

Etsy Listing # 55190188

They're all sitting happily among the Aubretia plants edging a flower bed in one of the nooks and crannies that abound in the garden here at The Hospital of St. John. Now to the saga of Colin the Giant Koala - the Cuddlies specimen that I was "persuaded" to produce by a customer who turned out to be what I believe is described a "spammer".  I returned to the conversation between him and I begun before Easter, when he told me he would pay the initial deposit when his pay cheque arrived (due on Good Friday - which is when my suspicions as to his real intent were definitely confirmed!).  When I attempted to renew the conversation on the Tuesday after the Bank Holiday, Etsy informed me that the person "did not exist" - even though there were some 15 or 16 messages between us on record!  So, the entire episode was reported as "Spam" to Etsy.... and life went on. While I try to persuade myself I needn't have gone along with his suggestion, in my last post I described how I responded to the challenge posed by the buyer, because until then I had been quite positive I was incapable of altering an existing pattern.  I'm pleased to say that subsequent events have proved me wrong - which is what the rest of  this post is going to be all about! The first step in creating Colin was, of course to create the paper pattern for him.  My normal patterns are made using discarded cardboard cereal packets. ( I do try to maintain ColdhamCuddlies' recycling credentials as much as possible.)  However, enlarging Big Koala's (BK) original template to become a 24 inches high Bear needed larger pieces of cardboard than was available, so a packet of 2" (5cms) square graph paper was acquired the next time I was in Warminster,  and BK's individual pieces fitted on it.  The difference in overall dimensions between the intended Toy and BK was about 5 inches so I drew the shapes an extra 2-1/2" bigger around all the shapes.  The finished article did look enormous, but the process had begun!  For those interested in vital statistics, these are Colin's  final ones:

                              Height: 27 inches.  Girth (around the base) 48 inches.  Weight: circa 4-5 lbs
The enlarged pattern pieces just fitted on to the Silver Grey Flecked Faux Fur fabric offcuts in my stash.  Making Colin was pretty straight forward - but being so much bigger than the standard ColdhamCuddlies toy it took just a bit longer.  Added to which the beautiful, furry fabric used has a tendency to fray, so every seam had to be over sewn to maintain the Toy's overall integrity.  Still, as it was the Easter week-end, once all the necessary Easter church celebrations were attended to, I had the time, the weather was not that good, and by the Tuesday after Easter I had got to the stage that the Body and Head were sewn together, and the mammoth task of stuffing him was the next step.

This picture shows his body - waiting for the head to be sewn on - sitting on what the family calls the ""Office Chair" (because that is what it used to be when we had an office!).  It  now serves as the place for the stuffing to sit waiting to be used in the toy-making process, as well as being somewhere some Cuddlies have been photographed in the past.   When completed, Colin took over 2 kilos of stuffing - because I wanted him to be a firm armful when completed.  (All stuffing, over a period of time, does relax, and the last thing one wants in a big toy like Colin is for him to go floppy when being played with.)

This is the first photograph  of Colin, perched (without being propped against the wall) on one of my pillows.  The next shows BK sitting just in front of him, to give you some idea of the size difference.  (BK's vital statistics being - Height - 14 ins (30.55cms):  Girth (at widest point) - 21 ins (50.35 cms):  Weight - 15.5 ozs (438 g). 

Both of them didn't fit on the pillow, so they were both placed on my mattress - which had been stripped for the weekly change of sheets!  Not the best shot of Colin, but for the purposes of this blog, it will have to do.   While stuffing was in process, it quickly became obvious that the single leather claws that look fine on BK were simply too fragile to look realistic for Colin.  So, I unpicked the end seams on arms and legs, cut out four more pieces and sewed the leather together - with button-hole stitching around the fingers.  Then each hand was lightly stuffed, and I attached the claws using ladder stitch.  The fluffy faux fur conveniently hides any of the stitching that was used, so no one is any the wiser - except those of you who are reading this post, of course! In the meantime, my daughters were being kept apprised of the saga of the spamming buyer.  When the first picture of Colin was circulated to them, Clare - my younger daughter, who with her husband is currently negotiating the complicated process of adopting a child (or children - a sibling group could be accommodated) suggested that Colin would be the perfect candidate for the Nursery when it becomes a reality.  She reserved him on the spot!    So, later this month, when I am due to go for a week or so to stay with Clare and her husband, Alan, I am being picked up by Clare.  Colin will be strapped in with his own Safety Belt on one of the back seats of her car - together with all the other impedimenta I cannot seem to travel without!!!  (As I'm coming back to Heytesbury by train, that will of necessity have to be considerably restricted.  Because, no matter which way I travel - via London (which I prefer to avoid) or cross-country, there are at least two change of trains involved!!!)  Interestingly, there's not that much difference in the time it takes between a car or train!  It's a matter of convenience, and inevitably, cost! So there is a happy ending.  Colin  will have a Forever Home after all.  His picture will remain in our Shop (www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES)  as a replacement could well be in the offing.  He was such fun to make, although the recent foray to replace the stuffing he "ate"  has indicated that its cost is sky-rocketing, and may necessitate some increases in charges for future Cuddlies.  My source is still considerably less expensive than purchasing from a normal haberdashery store, but even so - these things have to be taken into account! Before leaving this post, here are some other pictures of Colin, frolicking - if someone of his size can do such a thing - in the garden.  Thank goodness the weather is enabling me to take lots of new photographs of the Cuddlies - which are appearing as each is renewed or re-listed.

Sitting sideways in the Coldham Bears' favourite mulberry tree

Trying to climb up the tree - not very successfully

A view from the rear

Colin sitting unaided - with a neighbour's azalea plant to show off his furry coat

And finally, a mug shot - if it should ever be needed!

With that, I'll love you all - and leave you for the present.  Hope to be back soon, probably with Cy Bear at the helm, with some more stories about recently renewed Cuddlies - and, maybe, a description and a few pictures of The Hospital of St. John and its lovely grounds (as requested by several of you lovely Followers).   Until then - Good Night and Good Bless.  Isobel

Make way for the Coldham Koalas! And a sad case of being taken for a ride.

Well it's now been some weeks since I was involved directly with this blog - other than in guiding Cy Bear, of course.  So, having been up to my eyes in Koalas just recently, I decided to write this next post, especially as it's a day or so later than intended.  (Blame email issues this time:  at least it makes a change from computer worries!).  Think they've been resolved, but I'm still somewhat wary! However, back to the Koalas.  You wonderful Followers here will be familiar with our Baby Koalas (Etsy Listing #551901188), many of whom have found Forever Homes around the globe.  Some of you may recall an early patient in our Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinic (Etsy Listing #79124185) who needed to be completely remade - as his original real Koala hide was about to disintegrate, and his owner wanted to preserve him - for old time's sake.  He ended up looking like this and for the purposes of the Clinic, was named Big Koala (not very original I know, but it described the situation as it was!):

 

When completed, Big Koala (BK for short) - together with a bunch of  Baby Koalas and our very first Big Teddy Bear Patient - Ed Ted - all went off  to live with their Forever Friend, MrRE in Sequals, Italy.  Here is a photograph of them waiting for their journey to begin, but minus Ed Ted.  There were actually another eight more Baby Koalas who joined the party later!  

You can see the difference in size between the two Coldham Cuddlies Koala versions.  I've always intended to make another  BK to replace the original model, and took precautions to ensure I had a template of the Patient while he was undergoing treatment.  However, it was not until earlier this year that I decided to go ahead and make him, this time using the same faux fur fabric used for our Koala Head Mens' Slippers (Etsy Listing #158098231) -

No sooner had that decision been taken,  than an enquiry landed in the convo section of our shop at www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES from someone quoting the Etsy Listing for the Baby Koalas, but seeking a bigger version.  To begin with, the idea of  Big Koala in the new fabric seemed to suit his requirements, so I offered to make it and take pictures of the finished article - even though he seemed to be set on an even bigger version.  I was hoping that when completed, BK would melt his heart!!  It seemed unreal that there even could be a Buyer lined up before a Toy had actually been made! To cut a fairly long story short, the new version was made - quite quickly as it happened, because there are not that many different component parts involved.  The new version BK now looks like this:

He's sitting very comfortably on top of a privet hedge in our garden at The Hospital of St. John where we all live and I think has turned out pretty well. (Have to confess though that the faux fur pile on his head is actually lying in the wrong direction, which gives him a somewhat different look to the original Big Koala, but the rest of him has his fur going the right way!)  He's a very cuddly armful, wrong pile direction or not! Now back to the prospective client.  While he was very taken with the final outcome, even allowing for the look, the customer was still insistent that he'd like him double the size!  Now my Friends, I am not the adventurous type when it comes to patterns for my Cuddlies.  I like to stick with what I know and am familiar with.  However, I'm now three years into life with COLDHAMCUDDLIES in its current incarnation, I've made many more Animal Toys - in various sizes and descriptions - and the challenge was just too much for me. I also was beginning to think that perhaps the customer was leading me on somewhat - and I suspected that this could be the basis of a classic spamming exercise.  Nevertheless, because I am blessed with quite a good stash of this particular faux fur, and because I was keen to see if  I could overcome my hesitation about enlarging a pattern, I agreed to go ahead and try to meet his  needs (and believe me - by this time,  he was talking in those terms!) and try to come up with a Koala which was as near as possible to the 24" in height the customer was literally yearning for!  Girth etc. was not mentioned, but that was the ideal height!  I suggested that a down payment of a third of the estimated cost would at least get me started and also stated categorically that I would not proceed until those funds were in my local bank account in Warminster.  The immdiate answer was that was fine, but his next wage cheque was not due until the end of the following week (Good Friday, as it turned out).   However, by this time, my interest having been thoroughly piqued, I had purchased some graph paper with 2" squares and had actually enlarged all the BK pattern pieces - although the customer was not aware of this I hasten to add.  My mind was made up:    I was going to make a Giant Koala come what may.  If worst came to worst, and my suspicions got confirmed, then I'd try to find him a Forever Home - either via the Etsy Shop, or maybe by donating him as a Raffle Prize, or the reward for guessing his name, to one of the Charities I have connected with in the past. I think this post has now gone on long enough:  so I'll complete the Koala Saga next time around.  In the meantime, I've just received a picture of the latest Koala, Kili Whitestar as he is now known, sitting on the end of a table in his Forever Home in Maryland, USA

. MsAW, Kili's new Forever Friend tells me that he is very comfortable perched just there - although he is constantly on the look out to avoid being knocked flying by her cats!  As I said to her in response - that's a very much more exciting life he's now leading.  (He had previously been living in a plastic bag with his other Baby Koala Friends).   The last one of his batch has just been joined by three new Baby Koalas, all of which have got plastic noses, instead of the embroidered ones they've all had to date.  Having come across a local supply, I'm trying them out for size.  They were only completed last evening, and I've not yet had a chance to take photographs of them - but when I do, I'll provide them to illustrate the difference in outcome!   Probably, this will happen in the next installment of The Story of Colin, The Giant Koala - coming soon.

PS:  While searching in my photo files for Kili's picture, I came across this photograph of BK, Ed Ted, the four Baby Koalas and one of our Light Brown Teddy Bears (Etsy Listing #69778158) who formed the initial party en route to Sequals in 2011. (I'd forgotten that Light Brown Bear had formed part of the contingent!) They travelled across the English Channel and across mainland Europe from the UK  in a black garbage bag in the boot of MrRE's Blue Jaguar car, but this photo taken was before their epic journey across the Channel  began.  Followers of this blog can read all about these fellows in posts written in early 2011 by accessing our blog archives. Meanwhile, until the next time - Good night and God Bless!  Isobel

COLDHAM CUDDLIES Spring Cleaning session continues

Hello Everyone! Cy Bear looking in again.

It's lovely to be back, with some anecdotes about more of my Furry Coldham Cuddlies Friends who have recently been renewed in our Shop, www.COLDHAMCUDDLIES.Etsy.com.

With the weather being benign over the Easter holidays, Isobel was able to get out with our Lady Dressed Rabbits and took some new photographs of the Girls in various parts of our gardens here at The Hospital of St. John.  I'm not going to chat about them today, because I've decided to show you the new photographs of some of our Fox Family, beginning with the Buchanan Foxes (Etsy Listing #65456642).

The Buchanan Foxes among the Grape Hyacinths

Originally, there were three Buchanan Foxes all with their dresses made in genuine Scottish Buchanan Tartan, which we'd acquired in our fabric stash as off cuts from our faux fur supplier based in Frome, Somerset - Fine Quality Feather Company.  They all had the same bonnets, and could be singled out because their dresses had different coloured ric rac trimming around the hems.  One Buchanan Lady Fox found her Forever Home in Richmond, Texas - just before Christmas.  We've not heard how her journey went, but she was destined as a surprise for our Customer's Mother, who had originally been a Buchanan before she married. We know she arrived safely at the Customer's home:  we just don't know how the important meeting went!   We are operating under the assumption that in this case, "No News is Good News!!

Sitting precariously on the back of a garden seat in breezy conditions

However, we've had some interesting side episodes as a result of Isobel introducing these Lady Foxes. Just before Christmas 2013, we received an enquiry from MrsMB, a lady living in Toronto, Canada.  She did not want a Cuddly, but had been scouring her local haberdashery sources to find sufficient quantities of the Buchanan tartan for her own craft project - a coat for her daughter's dog.  Apparently she makes several a year, and having seen our Buchanan Fox trio's original photos in our shop (www.COLDHAMCUDDLIES.Etsy.com) contacted us to see if she could buy her requirements from us.
We think it is because the daughter's surname is Buchanan too!

Seated more comfortably among hyacinths and dandelions at ground level

We were, by then, deeply involved with MsJAF, the author of a self-published book "Birthright" - the first of a trilogy of books about some Buchanan Wolves and Isobel decided to find her own unlimited supply of the Buchanan plaid.  This we did - Strathmore Woollens Ltd of Forfar, Scotland - and they've been marvellous;   not only in supplying us with our Buchanan requirements, but also in confirming the names of other tartan off-cuts we have in our fabric stores - intended for future Cuddlies' dresses.  They've also allowed us to deal with them on a trade rate basis too.  Very helpful - and they are so prompt in their responses too.  Anyway, we've purchased a metre (the minimum order) and were able to supply MsMB with what she needed.

We're hoping that when the dog coat is finished, we might get a picture of the dog and coat - but so far none has arrived.  Meanwhile, we have a good stock of  Buchanan plaid - to meet future requirements from MsJAF.  We've posted about the Buchanan Wolves - Agatha and Nick - and anyone interested should go to our post of 16th February, 2014 - The Story of some Special Cuddlies - Nick and Agatha Buchanan Wolf to learn more about them.

Chuck Coyote, next to a Heather Bush

Another recent renewal has been Chuck Coyote.  His head is made in the same way as our Foxes - but  using a different shade of plush fur.  However, his body and clothing are combined.  (Our Lady and Gentlemen Dressed Toys have separately made bodies, and their clothes are also made separately and sewn on.  Chuck also does not have leather boots - but some smart matching tan leather shoes, to go with his leather gilet or waistcoat jacket.  His trousers are straight, as opposed to the riding jodhpurs our other Gentleman Toys sport.  Because there is less effort and fabric involved in Chuck's creation, he (and his Coyote counterparts) are a little less expensive to purchase.

A rear view of Chuck Coyote, who is now out of any possible range of the drain pipe that can be seen in his first photograph!  Isobel was so intent on taking Chuck's picture before he got blown down - we are still experiencing Spring breezy conditions here in the UK - that she didn't realise the pipe was there.  However, you can rest assured that the outlet was at the rear of the bed in which the heather bush reposes, and Chuck was well in front of the substantial heather bush when the picture was taken.  Isobel was the one who moved to get the picture of Chuck's bushy tail.

A sideways view of Chuck Coyote

When Isobel first made a Chuck Coyote, he ended up becoming mascot to an After School Club attached to a nearby Village School.  They are known as the Codford Coyotes.  He has been fulfilling that role now for nearly four years, and  has often appeared in photographs with his Forever Friends in the local newspaper, The Warminster Journal - when they are expanding on their various after school activities or publicising awards that they and their organisers have achieved.  He is actually called Charlie Coyote (because, of course, Charlie is the English version of Chuck).  This naming game can get complicated, can't it?

A Country Gentleman among the daffodils at the foot of our Mulberry Tree

When this Coldham Cuddlies Fox was first made - in the 1970's, while Isobel and Peter were living in Alberta, Canada- she decided to give their daughters a Mummy Fox each for their birthdays in the year that Clare was 4 and Philippa three and a half years older.  Philippa's birthday is earlier in the year, so her's was made first and then Clare got her Mummy Fox six month's later.  They obviously enjoyed themselves together, so Peter  - whose birthday was even later in the same year - asked if he could have a Daddy Fox.

The wish was granted, and Daddy Fox went to work and live in Peter's office in downtown Edmonton - sitting in full view of all visitors and customers who visited on business.  He was a great "conversation piece" and carried out this important function when we returned to England in 1987.  However he is alas no longer - having stopped standing up and looking rather poorly after several subsequent moves around the UK.  One of the Mummy Foxes is still extant however - and may well be pressed into service to entertain another generation shortly.  (Isobel had not yet taught herself how to rejuvenate or renovate Cuddly Toys as she now does in the Coldham Cuddlies Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinic (Etsy Listing #79124185)

Our Country Gentleman's bushy tail clearly shows the white tip to his brush.  All UK Gentlemen Foxes have those whereas their wives don't.  Nor, as far as we know, do gentleman Coyotes.  We now are aware we may well be open to be told otherwise by our wonderful Followers!

So this is all for this issue of our blog.  The weather, alas, has taken a turn for the worse - it's very windy (as opposed to being just breezy).  So definitely no further photo shoots possible today, or indeed for a day or two if the forecast is to be believed.  However, Isobel is renewing our Cuddlies  at the rate of one a day, and I've only so far shown the new looks of five Cuddlies to date.  We've still got several more Rabbits and some Teddy Bears to tell you about, as well as the prospect of two new Cuddlies.  Both are Koalas, but both very much bigger versions than our extremely popular, traditional Baby Koalas (Etsy Listing #55190185) and each of them come with a story of their own that I think you'll enjoy hearing.

Lot's more to come then:  so until next time.  Good bye for now!  Your Friend - Cy Bear.

ColdhamCuddlies Shop is having a Spring Clean!

Hello again Everybody!  
As Mascot to the ColdhamCuddlies, I get involved in a lot of the photographs  taken by Isobel - especially when there are Cuddlies on their way to their individual Forever Homes.  Here are a couple of recent examples of these - taken when one of our Black and White Plush Baby Bunnies  (Etsy Listing #55187979)  left for a new home in Cheyenne, Wyoming -

This little Black and White Plush Baby Bunny  is destined to be a Forever Friend  for a little baby girl called Isla - who is about five months' old and has been very ill in hospital with something called pneumonia - which sounds very nasty at any time, but particularly so, one would think, if you are as a small a Little Person as she is.  However, Mother tells Isobel that she is now well on the way to recovery.  As Bunny is meant to be an Easter Bunny present, we hope to have pictures of the two of them when they get together this week-end.

One of our Baby Koalas (Etsy Listing #55190188) also left on the same day en route to his new Forever Home in Columbia, MD, United States of America.

 

We've just heard earlier this week that both Cuddlies have arrived at their respective destinations and are looking forward to getting some pictures of them in due course.  Koala's won't be taken until sometime next week, when his Forever Friend, MsAW gets out her camera so she can take photographs of her beautifully embroidered Totes - which can be seen at  https://www.etsy.com/shop/StarLadyEmbroidery. (Isobel got a convo message from MsAW yesterday that she has decided to call Koala, Kili - after some one in a book called "The Hobbit".  Hope that means something to everyone - afraid neither Isobel nor I know too much about that subject!)
Now, it's been decided (I wasn't party to the decision, but as always  I am willing to go along and help out when needed), that our Shop (www.etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES) is going to have a Spring Clean.  This means that every one of the Toys are going to participate in a photo shoot.  These will take place outdoors, when the weather is kind.  Isobel has got bored with the same-look backgrounds that we inevitably end up when the pictures are taken in and around our flat here at the Hospital of St. John.  We took a lot of outdoor photographs when our shop was still quite small - say with about 20 Toys in all.  Isobel believes those shots contributed to quite a lot of our original sales, so she's hoping the new ones - where she's had more experience of using her camera - will result in the same thing happening.    (We now have 75 Toys listed, with some more labelled  "Inactive".  That means they are waiting to be resewn and re-listed.  Isobel has begun to make a spread sheet (don't know what that is - but doubtless our wonderful Followers will know what she's talking about!) with facts and figures about us Cuddlies, and she actually has 81 in all.  Some are not likely to be re-introduced in exactly the same way they looked before, because the original fabric has been used up.  (There is a proviso to that effect in our Shop Policies by the way!)
Isobel takes part in several Teams on Etsy (whatever they are!)  As a  Beaver Lamb Bear that doesn't mean much to me - except that it takes up an inordinate amount of her time, when I think she should be sitting in her work-room and making new Cuddlies for me to look after!  However - apparently it is a well-discussed topic in those Teams  that the more items one can have in one's Shops the more folks can come to have a look-see, and if those Buyers enjoy their visit, there is more likelihood that they'll adopt a Cuddly and make them their Forever Friends.  Also, the more one "renews" a shop item, the more the shop should get noticed by social media outlets who spend their lives looking out for such activities.  And one of the ways that these outfits are attracted - is by constant movement within one's Shop.  So, Isobel has decided to try to keep renewing one Cuddly every day (most of us are due for our four-monthly renewal, anyway), and she's also going to try and make some brand new Cuddlies along the way - to intersperse between the daily renewals.  So my suggestion is - look out World!
Last week, the renewal programme began and I don't feature in them yet:  think that will happen when some of the smaller Cuddlies are involved.   I thought you'd like to see them, and I can tell you a little about them as they all go along.  I'm happy to do so - as it can get a bit boring sitting all day long on Isobel's bed without anything else to do!

This is Nicholas Rabbit.  He was originally made as a special Christmas Rabbit.  However, he is just as appropriate as an All Year boy's or girl's gift.  We don't favour gender-specific toys in the ColdhamCuddlies family - and you can find out a lot more about him by clicking on this link.     https://www.etsy.com/listing/86564271/toy-brown-bunny-rabbit-toy-brown-plush?  This picture shows Nicholas standing on a step outside the Residents' Hall at The Hospital of St. John, with some Forget-me-Not flowers and other plants in a nearby flower bed.  He's leaning against another step - the front of which has been painted in white.  That's to try to stop our elderly neighbours from missing the step as they go up and down them to reach the Hall - where they have things like Coffee mornings and where the Craft Fairs we've featured in take place.  They have been posted about here on the blog too.  (See our Post dated 03/11/2013 - The Poppy Appeal Craft Fair as an example).
We've managed to renew several Cuddlies already and I'm not necessarily going to include them in the order in which they have been re-listed.  We've done several Rabbits as well as Foxes and begun to do the Teddy Bears as well.  So, here's one of my Fox Friends, Miss Prim.  Her initial photograph never really did her justice, and I think this one really shows her up well.  Do hope you agree!

There's more information about Miss Prim to be seen if you click here https://www.etsy.com/listing/75340524/toy-lady-fox-chestnut-plush-stuffie-miss?  Isobel posed her in the branch of  a Mulberry Tree that is reputedly nearly 400 years old.  Certainly it has some very broad branches and this is going to feature in several of the renewal photographs - thus keeping us in line with a recommendation that one should be consistent with our backgrounds when taking pictures for on-line marketing activities.  
Right, I think this post has gone on long enough, so I'm going to close for tonight.  As it's Holy Saturday as Isobel types in my words for me, I'll end by wishing everyone a very Happy and Blessed Easter.  Hope you all have a great time, get lots of Easter Eggs (I'm not allowed those!) and I hope to back with some more pictures of my Cuddly Friends - old and new - soon.
Your Friend, Cy Bear

Welcome to a New Cuddly, with news of another on the way .

Good afternoon Everybody - this is Cy Bear being allowed to chat to you! Seems to have been quite some time since we last were together, but Isobel has not been idle in the interim, and of course she has to be available to type what I'm about to tell you, or else it doesn't get done.  Life goes on very quickly here at The Hospital of St. John, and looking at the date of the last post Isobel published, it is already 12 days since it happened.   So, with no more ado, please allow me to introduce George Green, the newest Dressed Rabbit to join our shop at www.COLDHAMCUDDLIES.Etsy.com

Etsy Listing #185804697

This Brown Plush Toy Rabbit is the latest to be made from the vintage toy pattern used for all the other dressed Gentlemen Rabbits.

His matching Green Boots are made from Glove Quality Leather and he is stuffed with polyester fibre fill

meeting all international safety standards.

 Unlike the other adult Rabbits, he has a smart yellow bow tie with pearl button tie pin.  His Aquamarine Striped Jacket is closed with a matching pearl button, which can open to display his very smart Green Satin Waistcoat.  He has a White Felt Collar.  He does not undress any more than opening his jacket.

George Green Rabbit measures 17.5 inches - 40.4 cms (tip of ears to sole of boots) and weighs approx. 7 ounces (205 g).  Isobel did not intend to make George Green Rabbit, because the original plan was to replace another Brown Dressed Gentleman Rabbit, known to his friends as Uncle Brendan.  He had a Green Velvet Jacket and Brown and Cream Striped Trousers, with Tan Leather Boots and versions have found homes in France, Washington State and elsewhere since our Shop opened in 2010.  Because some of the fabrics used when Uncle Brendan was first made have been used up, Isobel was looking through her fabric stocks, found these and decided she'd make George's clothing instead - and  hey voila! to mix my expressions a little - we now have George Green himself.   (We do have two Brown Rabbit Heads ready to be stuffed - one of which could well end up as the next replacement Uncle Brendan, although he may not have the same colour jacket as he originally did.  The trousers are still capable of repetition, as are his tan leather boots).  We're about to be joined by a really new Cuddly - in the shape of  a Big Koala Bear. He is based on Big Koala, who came as a Patient in our Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinic (Etsy Listing #79124185) when it first opened.  He looks like this now he's had his treatment and lives with a host of other Baby Koalas and Ed Ted (all of whom have been written about in our blog at the time of their treatments).

 There's quite a story attached to his arrival, which hasn't finished yet. When he is eventually made, he will not be the same colour as this Koala, because the fabric is rapidly running out and there doesn't seem to be any likelihood of our being able to get any more. Isobel is keen to be able to continue making our Baby  (Etsy Listing #55190188)  with this Light Brown Faux Fur for as long as possible.    The new version is being made with the same fabric was was used for these special Christmas order  Koala Head Kids Slippers.  (Because they were a custom order, they don't have an Etsy Listing, since they weren't sent to our Shop before leaving for their Forever Home).  

When the transaction - if it materialises - is complete, it will make a good addition to our blog posts I can tell you! Meanwhile, here is a final picture of George Green, complete with his White Cottontail in place.

   Right that's the lot from me for this post.  Do hope everyone is keeping well and that I'll be able to tell you all about Big Koala very soon.  In the meantime, please take care of yourselves, won't you?   Your Friend, Cy Bear

How difficult is it to give a Review?

Hello there Everyone - back once again, but this time with a question: 
 Just why is it so difficult these days for one to get a Review published on Etsy.com?   When I started on Etsy way back in February 2010 (that was registration day:  official selling only began in September 2010, because there was a need to build up the shop stock before I felt able to offer Cuddlies to the world) a review was valid once the goods had been dispatched.  The Buyer was expected to give their opinion on the purchase once the product had arrived:  meanwhile I was reminded on almost a daily basis that a review was expected from me.  I usually didn't complete the transaction until the Buyer had acknowledged receipt - at which time, fortunately, they all provided me with five star ones - and every completed order was matched with the requisite review. For my part, I always gave my Buyers a good review, and in turn found a great deal of "comfort" in being able to read what other sellers had said when meeting my Buyers for the first time.  As a hesitant Seller,  unfamiliar with on line business behaviour/techniques, it was helpful to see if the other side was "safe", "patient", "clearly knew what they wanted" etc. et al.  Now alas, that help is no longer available -  because sometime last year, Etsy decided that Sellers need no longer provide their opinion on how nice it had been to work with one's Buyers, and they set some time limits for Sellers to provide these reviews to be published.   In theory they should work well but in fact, as far as I am concerned, they don't.  According to my Shop stats, I have made 50 sales - but I only have 35 reviews, never mind that they are, to date, all Five Star Ones.  What happened to all the other sales' Reviews?  Because I have had some lovely comments from the happy buyers via Convo and/or email - whichever happened to be easier for them - but they weren't converted into the all important Review, which  - I am given to understand - can have an impact on how COLDHAMCUDDLIES is perceived by Google et al.

A fond Farewell from Cy Bear

The problem came to a head recently for the COLDHAMCUDDLIES shop when J.Anne Fullerton (JAF)  - instigator and buyer of Nick and Agatha Buchanan Wolf (shown with Cy Bear prior to their departure). They were subjects of two separate orders  (based on two existing  Foxes in the www.COLDHAMCUDDLIES.etsy.com shop).  JAF found herself unable to provide an official Review, even though she had expressed herself to be satisfied with the Toys on their arrival - quoted in the post published on February 16 in which The Special Story of Nick and Agatha was told.  Please feel free to go to our Archive (right side of this blog) and read the whole story, but for the purpose of this post, I'll repeat JAF's comment:
"Nick and Agatha arrived today. They are, in a word, astounding. I could not be more pleased with the quality of your craftsmanship. I'll be leaving great reviews for you. I will try to get good pics this weekend for you. Now I'm excited to see the rest of the family! I'll be in touch soon. Thank you again."

Time passed, and JAF kept in touch saying that she was trying to find how to give her Review, but still had not been able to.  There is a time limit (I've subsequently found out) for Reviews to be placed on the Etsy system - 60 days after the estimated date of arrival (by Etsy) following notification of the package's dispatch.  So, since it was still within that time I decided (with JAF's full backing) to approach Etsy Support to see what had gone wrong. 

 Now, if you have read the Post already mentioned, you will have discovered that in fact between us JAF and I had well and truly messed up the Etsy buying system.  Because between us we not only had not followed the now established Custom Order route, but also taken far too long to complete the orders (originally placed in October 2013 and not completed until the end of January 2014). The time frame was perfectly acceptable to JAF and myself - but alas the Etsy Purchasing System could not handle it. (Readers and Followers of this blog, with Etsy Shops, please take note!)  Also, Nick and Agatha did not actually have any Etsy reference numbers - other than ones for  Beau Fox (Etsy Listing #128704624) and a Lady Fox dressed in Buchanan tartan (Etsy Listing #65456642), not to mention a different Transaction Number as well!  Talk about working at cross purposes.

Nick Buchanan Wolf - showing off his tartan waistcoat

Thus, the time limit for reviews having run out, the Etsy Support response was :-

"Thanks for reaching out to us here at Etsy.  To clarify, if (JAF) reaches out to our team, her note will be made visible on your account.  However, that note will only be visible by Etsy Admin and unfortunately will not be able to be viewed on your public profile.

Again, when the review option expires on a transaction, sadly it cannot be reinstated.  I hope you understand.

I have been in touch with (JAF) today and recorded their wonderful review on your account.  I hope you find this resolution to be satisfactory.

We're glad to hear you are such a valued member of the Etsy Community! "

(The actual message contained JAF's email contact details:  for the purposes of this post, I have substituted them for the initials - Isobel).

Agatha Buchanan Wolf, with bonnet

JAF's  most recent contribution to this saga is as follows: 

"Dear Sirs,

  I wanted to make certain my positive experience is reflected somehow in her shop as her work is exceptional and I will be a repeat customer. Her craftsmanship, the quality of her product, her willingness to take on new challenges and overall communication were beyond expectation. She allowed me to substitute components and whole-heartedly stepped up to meet my needs. I could not be more pleased with the final results. She is truly an outstanding seamstress and businesswoman. Please relay my sincere gratitude for her efforts so that it can be seen by potential buyers on Etsy. Thank you."

What a Review!!  I couldn't be happier with it - but what to do next? The more folk who can see it, obviously the better it will be for the future of www.COLDHAMCUDDLIES.Etsy.com   Well having obtained the agreement of Etsy Support to use www.ColdhamCuddliescalling.blogspot.uk to publish it verbatim, and encouraged so to do by JAF,  this post is the result. 

In the interim, I have recently joined LinkedIn and a Group called the Etsy Professional Shop Owners.  (As if I don't have enough social media responsibilities already!).  They have a thread - very vocal it is too - which has concentrated on the difficulties involved in getting/giving reviews under the current Etsy arrangements.  Many of the discussion threads repeat my own frustrations - and I have promised to keep them updated as to what happens (or not!) to my specific predicament.  Thus once I've completed the usual promotions associated with this post (on my various Etsy Team Threads, Facebook, Twitter etc.) I shall be posting the link to this post on the LinkedIn site too.

Hopefully it will help to provide comfort/relevant information to potential CUDDLIES buyers as well as to those of us on Etsy who struggle to cope with the current Review system.  You may rest assured that both JAK and I will make sure that any future transactions between us are carried out via the Custom Order route.  Remember the same time limit for giving a Review remains - the Etsy estimated time of arrival of the goods at the intended destination and 60 days after that - will still apply.

There are many good things associated with one's relationship with Etsy.com.  But there are many frustrations too.  My main bugbear (I'm not alone, incidentally!)  is their habit of changing things (allegedly for a better Seller experience!) just as I get used to doing things and the way those changes can be implemented without any warning (unless, of course, one inhabits the many forums that Etsy organise for just such a purpose!).

Thank goodness, many of the Etsy teams to which I subscribe have Leaders/Members who are alert to these changes, and I get to know that way via their pleasantly time-consuming Chat Threads.  But in the interim:  anyone know how to conjure another 24 hours to each day?

Hope everyone is having a great day!  Isobel 

Making replacement Fox Head Slippers - Part 2

Goodness me, time is yet again slipping by and it's definitely time for me to carry on telling you how the Kids' Fox Head Slippers are made.

These are one of the completed pair,  but there's still a bit more of the production process to tell you about before the story is completed.

Both the outer and linings have been tacked together at this point, and I've got all the pieces of the Foxes together as well.  The heads have been sewn together, the ears are waiting to be sewn in place, as is the tail  - on each slipper.  Before going any further - because it can be easy to forget - I  put the eyes in.  With these two pairs, I used the last two brown plastic ones (with their plastic safety washers) and then - because I've run out of this particular size - I used a pair of brown glass button eyes, which I sewed in very tightly. (Normally I don't like using glass eyes - because being shinier than the plastic ones, they can prove tempting for little fingers to play with.)  But these were in stock,  and the next time I was likely to be anywhere near my haberdashery supplier in Warminster - Think Outside the Box - was  4 days away, so circumstance dictated this route. ( I think they came as samples from a supplier that I decided not to use after some unnecessary mix-ups and mis-understandings early on in the Coldham Cuddlies saga.) Once everything has been turned inside out, the heads are stuffed with the polyester fibre  purchased in bulk from my furry plush fabric supplier - Fine Quality Feather Company from Frome, Somerset.  So, too, are the tails.  The outer plush sides of the slippers are then pinned and sewn to the leatherette soles - meeting at the toe end of the slipper.  Then I first sew the lining from the toe towards the top of the foot, with the seams facing upwards (outwards), followed by the plush outer layer.  The lining is sewn up to the ankle edge, but the plush layer is only sewn halfway between the toe and ankle - leaving the seam undone, but facing the lining (so basically you cannot see the seams).

The slippers are now ready for the heads to be sewn on - as shown in the above shot.  The Foxes' neck actually fits snugly between the half-way point and the ankle, so I sew the head onto the lining, with the head seam matching the centre of the upward facing lining seam.  (Again, there are no obvious seams showing). Once the head is fixed in place, I sew up the plush opening and match up the ankle seams behind the Fox Heads.   Then the ribbon edging is sewn round, lining up with the back seam on the Foxes' heads.  The ribbon can match the plush, or, as in this case, be a contrast.  With children's slippers I think a contrast is more appealing - whereas when making adult versions, it depends on what the buyer wants.  They are given a choice when ordering - although most times they leave it to me to do what I feel like.  In the case of Ladies slippers, the contrast option tends to come to mind:  whereas, with the Mens versions, I tend to be  more conservative in my choice of colours.  The Fox Head Slippers all look like this little fellow at this point:

The ribbon is then hemmed into place, providing a tube through which narrow elastic is then threaded.  Usually this measures about 9" (20.3 cms) long - giving me about half an inch (1.3 cms) overlap to join the elastic ends.   I leave a gap where the ribbon seams join, so that if the elastic needs to be adjusted to fit the eventual wearer, it can be pulled through the ribbon tube and arranged to give a smooth edge to the finished slipper - as shown below.  (So far, there has not been a need, but there's always the possibility). 

  The difference in the eyes is not really apparent in this picture - but the glass ones are in the pair on the right, and the left hand pair (shown at the beginning of this post) have the plastic ones.  The right hand pair look like this:

Finally, here is what all four Fox Head slippers look like from the rear, complete with individual tails .

They have now been put away in the Slipper sack and await their eventual wearers!  Before they go to their Forever Homes, each slipper is brushed to make the appearance a smooth coated one. All four of the 2014 Easter Bunnies have been listed and are happily settling in to the Coldham Bunny Warren, and Cy Bear will be posting about them in the next edition.  Meanwhile, I'm doing what was intended to be a replacement Mr. Brown Rabbit - but somehow has become a One of a Kind New Brown Rabbit.   I found some fabric that just begged to be used for this purpose.  I'll do the original replacement one when I've completed this one.  He's got his trousers and waistcoat on, the coat is almost ready to be sewn into place, but I've decided to experiment with his neck wear before completing the coat.  Then, it's forward into the battle of fixing the leather boots in place! See you all soon.  Isobel