We now have a "Heffalump" among the Cuddlies Family.

Good afternoon Everybody.  Cy Bear here, and hoping you've all had a good week!

As promised in last week's post, I'm going to tell you all about our New Elephant Toy (he's shown below ) today, but will start with an update on non-toy activities that have happened during last week - which seems to have passed at incredible speed - again.  Seems like yesterday Isobel and I were involved in last week's post.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/825844254/

Well, familiarity with the new mobile telephone is proceeding at a slow, but steady pace.  Isobel is taking things VERY slowly so that she doesn't have to waste time after making her inevitable mistakes!  So far, any that have occurred, haven't been "vital" ones, and she's been able to self-correct, although as more things are added, it seems the computer is beginning to "interfere", as well as the situation not being aided by the Operating System (whatever that is) being upgraded, and that's not helping!!.  

Close up of Elephant's face - and only just fitting on the radiator

The exporting research/planning has moved a step closer with a date being set for the one-to-one meeting between  Isobel and the "social media expert"- recently recruited to the East Midlands office of the UK Department of International Trade (DIT) - now in our diary for 11th August.  (She's a replacement for another person, though:  not a brand new recruit!)  Isobel has already been given three possible on-line links to Facebook (something that is always on our minds), one of which will hopefully enable Isobel to sort out our presence on that site - once and for all!  A long message was sent to the first link yesterday - fingers crossed we'll hear back from somebody helpful ere long!  (So..... one link down, and two more to try!)

Front Facial View - shows how fluffy and soft Elephant is, doesn't it?

Isobel was able to finish the latest Panda Bear Golf Club Saver order and it's on its way to Coatesville, PA, USA.  It was somewhat different from our usual one though.  When "chatting" with MrsCC, the Buyer, we discovered it was actually intended for her nine-year old daughter.  As usual, Isobel began by knitting the metal handle cover part of the Golf Club Saver, and woke up the day after beginning to wonder if that meant the final product might not need to be quite as long for the knitted bit as we usually do.  She was right:   the club is eight inches shorter than our usual model - and the club head was about 2" smaller all round too.  While that meant not as much knitting was required, it did mean Isobel was then unable to check at each stage of the sewing process that we were going along the right lines (or size in this case).  Guessing is not Isobel's favourite pastime, but we had no option.  Also, this was the first time that we'd used our "new" way of padding the Animal Heads we use for the driver bit of the club, using our usual Golf Club Saver templates.  (That means using up remnants of our faux fur fabrics instead of making a whole new club cover lining and then putting stuffing between the outer layer and lining).  When the smaller head cover was complete this time it was certainly too small for our existing Club model - which means we'll have to create another template for each future Animal we are asked to use - but Isobel guessed it would be OK for the smaller children's size golf club we were dealing with this time.  The finished Panda Club Cover was also different in that the proposed User wanted the whole thing completely black - instead of in our usual patterned style.  We're hoping it will be acceptable - as it's not due to arrive until the middle of next week. (Because of the operating system upgrade, the photos Isobel took have somehow "disappeared" into some part of the system - so that's another bit of technology to fathom/fight/overcome!  If we recover them in time, I'll post a picture of the new version next week - or whenever!)

Meanwhile, Isobel is back to Arm Puppet manufacture - this time for a Grey Cat Puppet in the style of a famous Cat Puppet of yesteryear - starring in the re-runs of a popular US Childrens' TV programme popular when Isobel and Family lived in Canada, and recently up-dated in the United States of America.  Our Cat Puppet will be "friends" with our Tiger Who Lost His Stripes puppet - because the Buyer actually wants Isobel to make both of them for her Son, who has fallen for both of them. 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/650644825/Tiger-Puppets

Originally, MrsKB  wanted them both together for a mid-August birthday gift for her ten-year old son.  He wanted the Grey Cat made in the same material as our Elephant (which means the "experiment - as far as Isobel was concerned - now needs replenishment!),  but prefered the original fabric for our Tiger Puppet.  (We ran out of that, as I told you in an earlier edition of this blog.  That's now been rectified, so we are hopefully ready to cope with any Orders needed for Christmas onwards!)  However it might mean that the Grey Cat Puppet will be there for the birthday date - or a few days after - and the Tiger Who Lost His Stripes one will be there for Christmas!.

Now for our new Friend the Elephant.  His pattern is to be found in the same book that produced Wonky Pig, and our Frog, Owls and Cat - which can be seen by clicking here - https://www.etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies - previously, and will be used to create our Mum and Dad Lion (complete with a Mane) later this year.  Isobel stuck to the pattern as written in the book, and the final production did not produce any surprises this time around. 

The view from the other side.  He didn't fit quite so well on the radiator so his back foot looks "wonky", but it really isn't!

So, that's how Elephant (or Heffalump - you can choose!) was made.  He's settling in well, and we hope it won't be long before he finds himself a home.

A rear view of  Elephant showing his tail

On the "house-keeping" side of the Shop, we've at last found the right sized manilla envelopes in which we can now store patterns that have to be stuck together (as both Elephant and Pink Pig do) to produce a seamless body to work with.  Isobel plans to put all our pattern files - smaller manilla envelopes - into them as the weeks go by.  (The current "files" are looking rather "tired"- after 10 years' handling).   However the new envelopes take up more space in our bookshelves, so we'll need to rearrange where our other books go because the shelf they now occupy isn't high enough accommodate the new ones.  That's going to be an "interesting" proposition.  I'll have to watch where Isobel puts them, in case it affects my future sitting spaces as well!

Elephant (wrong side) - showing how Isobel oversews all the seams - to keep the fluff under control

That's it for this week.  Have a good one Everyone - and here's hoping it will be more sunny and a little less rainy than it has been for the last few in the UK.

Keep Safe:  see you next week.

Your Friend

Cy Bear.

  

Twin Otters Join the Coldham Cuddlies Family

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

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

Introducing the Otter Twins

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

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

PaulaSweetP on 14 Jul, 2020

5 out of 5 stars    

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Your Friend,

Cy Bear

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

Hello there Everyone!

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

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

Here's Wonky Pig

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

Clearly, something is not right!

 

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

Doesn't look too bad from this angle though!

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

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

 

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

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

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

The Original Six Clerical Bears - We now have Ten

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

 

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

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

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

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

Your  Friend,

Cy Bear

Coldham Cuddlies come in all Shapes and Sizes

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

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

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

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

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

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

A proper side view of our Playful Lion Cub

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Post Tiger Invasion; What Happened Next?

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your Friend

Cy Bear

An Inundation of Tiger Arm Puppets - And Some Consequences

Hello there Everyone:  Cy Bear back once more, and a little later than intended.  Nevertheless, we are back again.

In last week's post I said one of the reasons we stopped posting last October was because we began to get several orders for our Arm Puppets, most of whom were based on our Tiger Who Lost His Stripes. ( https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/650644825/tiger-puppets-without-stripes-tiger?ref=shop_home_active_7    Well, while preparing this week's chat, Isobel went through the orders she had received, made and sent to their various homes (all over the United States of America), and we thought we would share the locations of where these members of the Coldham Cuddlies family now find themselves:

Listed in the order in which they left us - starting in October 2019, the Stripe-less Tigers are now living in:

          Perkassie, Pennsylvania
          Boyds, Maryland
          Longboat Key, Florida
          Indianpolis, Indiana
          Iowa City, Iowa
          Saint Louis, Missouri
          Lancaster, Pennsylvania
          Flushing, Michigan
          Raleigh, North Carolina
          Medina, Ohio
          Walkersville, Maryland  - where two now live together

All of them were made with what has become Isobel's fabric of choice for making our Arm Puppets (where possible), Premier Plush - except for one, which is what this post is going to be about.  We normally get this from the fabric shop Isobel used to frequent when she and I lived in Wiltshire, prior to moving to Nottinghamshire in 2014.  Called Fabricland, they have several "brick and mortar" shops in the West of England, and she used to buy the materials needed for Cuddlies over the counter from their Salisbury Shop mostly.  She could easily reach it using the local 'bus service  then. Since arriving in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, thanks to the internet, we've been able to maintain our links there with no problems - until now. 

Because our flat is considerably smaller than where we previously lived, storage space is more limited, so Isobel buys replacements in 2 metre (just over 6.5 yards) at a time.  Due to the orders coming in at such a rate, and with the arrival of the Covid19 Pandemic in the UK, our usual supply line became somewhat less reliable.  Being a fabric warehouse, materials needed for the specialist needs of the UK National Health Service understandably had a priority rating for the Fabricland staff, who were working with fewer people in their Warehouse as well.

That seems to have coincided with Isobel having a "senior moment" on two different occasions.  First time around, she ordered the wrong colour:

A selection of the fabrics from which Isobel usually buys for our Tigers taken from the Fabricland online Shop site.

The colour we usually go for is called "Khaki" and is shown here on the right side of the photo, next to the white version.  For some reason, and we can only think it was because Isobel ordered it just before going to bed that time, we ended up with what is called "Rose", next to the Red and Black versions.  Quite understandably, when fabric is cut out, and the customer makes a mistake, he/she has to take what arrives, and get on with life.  Isobel was cross with herself and when checking to see which WAS the right colour, again she must have been not concentrating, because the replacement for the replacement that  arrived looked  like the fabric on the other side of the red material shown in the photo! 

That, we discovered is called "Mustard", and Isobel cannot for the life of her understand how the mistake happened once again (except that it could have been in the evening again, and colours look different when seen under electric lights these days).  It was her fault, as she had clearly ordered "Mustard", rather than Khaki.  We had to accept that the mistake was once again ours  So, valuable space was being taken up by 4 metres of potentially non-usable material!  (However all is not lost .... that could mean at least another blog post or two!!)

However, back to the Tiger saga:   Fabricland were unable to guarantee the second replacement delivery in the time needed, because they too were awaiting delivery of the Khaki fabric! (Another possible reason for the wrong colour choice:  the Khaki having been temporarily withdrawn while delivery was awaited?)   Isobel just HAD to find matching material for the back of the second Tiger Who Lost His Stripes that was due to head for Walkersville,Maryland! within days.   Thus we were faced with the dilemma of all Crafters worldwide.  Matching exactly fabric from a different source, whose dyes and original fabrics might not be an exact match. All knitters regularly face this problem: but so far, in the 10 years that COLDHAMCUDDLIES has been operating, this is the first time we've had to! 

Not really an exact match, was it?

Following a frantic on-line search (aided and abetted by daughter Clare) Isobel was able to contact a fabric warehouse which is located about 1.5 hours drive from us - rather than almost the other side of the country, as is Fabricland!  However, the lock down regulations in place in the UK meant that we were unable to actually drive to the new fabric source.  We had to rely on their judgement about the colours we were only able to provide via the internet - not always the most reliable medium when one needs a perfect match.   Driving to Fabricland HQ, located in Bournemouth, on the South Coast of England,  would have meant at least  6-8 hour drive, even with the wind behind us - and equally forbidden in present circumstances.

Isobel contacted the Mother of the two children who were looking forward excitedly to getting their own Tiger Who Lost His Stripes to play with and explained the situation.  MrsLB was wonderfully understanding, and more than open to the possibility of having one Puppet look slightly different from the other.  (Fortunately the missing piece would actually be on the back of the finished Puppet).  So, Isobel went ahead and ordered just enough of the "Honey" plush fabric stocked by the new supplier, Plush Addict - based in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.   Prior to this  "hiccup", Isobel had offered to embroider the initials of each child in the lining of each Puppet, so that there would be no mistaking which Tiger belonged to which youngster.  Now, with one with a slightly different coloured back, there COULD be no argument!

The Plush Addict replacement:  definitely more acceptable

We were lucky in that the material arrived almost by return of post - and when actually compared to the original front of the Puppet (and its arms) the new arrival was not that different, and certainly unlikely to worry a young man, intent on playing puppets with his bigger sister!!  Whew!!!
The project was eventually finished and both puppets travelled together early the next week after all the excitements.  Our usual Farewell Ceremony took place, and here's a photo of the three of us before they were packed up and dispatched on their way to their Forever Home.

So what happened next?  Well, I think I've said enough for this week - and if I'm going to get back into our usual publishing regimen, you'll only have to wait a couple of days (instead of a whole week) to find out!

Until there, do hope everyone has a good end of week - and see you all again, (hopefully) on Sunday.

Your Friend,

Cy Bear

Heigh ho! Back once more - after quite an absence.

Hello Everyone!  Cy Bear here, starting the conversation.

It's been a long time since Isobel and I were here, but we've jointly decided it's about time we corrected the situation.  So, here we go.

2019 was a kind of difficult year for Isobel after her fall in May, when she broke her hip.  Rehab took longer than she really wanted, but it progressed satisfactorily for all the experts involved.   We'd only just re-opened our blogging, when she became very busy with several orders for our Tiger Who Lost His Stripes Arm Puppet,

Our Tiger Without Stripes Arm Puppet in 2019

and more repeat orders for Sister, Bishop and Padre Bears (all of whom were needed as Christmas presents).  We had posted about most or all of  these various toys just before this happened, thus there wasn't much point in repeating ourselves, so we didn't!

There are some newer members of the Clerical Bear Collection needing to be added - see below

Then after Christmas, when orders for any Coldham Cuddlies goods normally tail off, the orders for the Tiger Arm Puppet took off skywards, and Isobel got some unexpected custom orders from people who wanted arm puppets to look like other toys or, even, dogs.

So, as posts can't get written when Isobel is sewing, I've been sitting in my normal place on her bed, waiting to help her in this task, when the time was right. There didn't seem to be much point in telling you all about which Puppet was being done - since you already know how they are made.  Similarly the same can be said about telling you about the Clerical Bears - the Bear bodies are all made the same:  it's only their "uniforms" that change, and you've been told about how they come to be made too.  So, I'm afraid the blog has languished ..... but there are very good reasons now for resurrecting our weekly posts from now on. I'll tell you about that shortly, before I close this week's post.

The real  "Pink Nuns" live and work in several US States.

Now, the entire world has been affected by something called the Covid19 Pandemic - which as a Beaver Lamb Bear really hasn't affected me directly, but it has had quite an effect on Isobel.  No...she's not actually been ill, but because she will be 80 years old later this year, she was told to "self-isolate" so she didn't catch the virus.  That has meant she's been under my feet ALL DAY, every day since the middle of March.  But while she's been very busy finding all sorts of other things to do on the computer,she hasn't had the time to properly sit down and write here either.  Self isolation for her has meant that she's not been allowed out of our flat - not even to visit Clare and her grandson, who live just 3 doors away since the "lock down" (which is how it is referred to everywhere) started. She even has a stranger (who is not allowed to come into the flat) to do her weekly shopping for her.  She can go out once a day - for exercise, and get "essential supplies" like milk (which is done at the local corner store at the end of the driveway to Old Chapel Close).

Our Poor Clare Nun is also not included in the picture of the Clerical Bears either.

The way it works is:  Isobel writes out a shopping list for the week (as she does every week anyway) and posts it (via the computer)  to the Volunteer (as the helper is called) the evening before the shopping is needed.  The Volunteer - a lovely lady called MrsCN - does it (or as much as she can if it's on the shop shelves), and when she's finished packing the items in her car, she rings  to tell Isobel  how much she owes the organisation (Age UK - a really terrific charity!) she works for.  By the time MrsCN arrives at our flat front door, Isobel has a cheque written out to pay Age UK, and hands it over while having a quick word - with at least a 2 metre (6 ft plus) distance between the two ladies, as well as Isobel handing over the previous weeks' empty shopping bags.  Then MrsCN goes off to deal with her next "isolated customer",  Isobel picks up the shopping bags, unpacks the goods and puts everything away.  This has been going on for 11 weeks now - and looks like it will be repeated for several weeks, if not months, to come.

Until a week ago, it also meant that I was perched on the window ledge of the living room window in our flat - bit of a change from my usual perch:

If Isobel had the time, this is the view she gets while she sews the Cuddlies

Shortly after lock down began, all around Kirkby in Ashfield, lots of Teddy Bears and Rainbows popped up in people's windows - in an effort to cheer everyone up as they were walking around the Town.  Even though not many people can see me (as we live on the first floor) and the complex is not directly on a road, some of the Carers who come to look after the other ladies and gentleman who live in Old Chapel Close can see me.  So Isobel thought she would give me a change of view - from sitting on her bed all day, looking at a wall.  It's been fun, but then I've also been needed a lot for farewell photos, as each Arm Puppet (be it a Tiger, Rabbit, Blue Teddy or Teddy Bear Dog - which you'll hear about in upcoming posts) is got ready to be dispatched to their new homes, almost without exception to somewhere in the United States.  Sitting in the window has meant that she hasn't had to carry me from the bedroom to the sitting room every time such a ceremony takes place.  Now the orders have slowed down, I am hoping I can remain sitting in a comfortable armchair in the living room, as there's so much more happens for me to observe - than my usual spot in the bedroom!

Sister Breda, our "Blue Nun" whose community was started, and is still based, in Nottingham is missing too

Meanwhile, Isobel is exploring how to get help from the UK Department of International Trade (DIT) in publicising the Coldham Cuddlies Shop, using a new website (whatever that is) that is being "built" for the Coldham Shop by an outfit called Yell.com - which is known as https://www.coldhamcuddlies.co.uk.  That has actually been in existence for some time, and initially was meant to publicise just the Animal Toy Hospital and the Patients being treated there.  The website is being changed now so that not only the Hospital is highlighted, but also the Shop and this Blog too.  At least I think that's what Isobel is working towards.   I don't know about these things, and suspect Isobel is busy finding out!

Newest addition to the Clerical Bear Collection:  Fr Dunstan Bear, OP (a special order)

It will be easier for the Department of International Trade) when they become involved  to help Isobel in her task of getting us all better known globally.  Which is why Isobel has been so busy on the computer of late. They do the sort of thing she and Peter tried to do when they lived in Canada until 1987 when assisting small companies in Alberta to export overseas - especially, the Middle and Far East.  Both areas Peter knew when he was a International Business Journalist, before he and Isobel got marred, and the family moved to Alberta in 1975.  Obviously exporting stuff from the United Kingdom is very different from Alberta the concept of knowing about the other countries etc is not, so Isobel is keen to get "up to snuff" with what happens nowadays.  After all most of the internet was still being invented when that was going in in the early 1980's!! Isobel used a teleprinter to message Peter and people overseas!   They left Canada to return to the UK in 1987 - and a lot has happened and changed everywhere in the intervening years.

Apparently she's been watching/attending Webinars all about exporting.  Agreed,  that's what we've been doing all along via the  Etsy website, but this way, Isobel and Coldham Cuddlies will be helped to do it with the the DIT's  international resources behind her.  These are world-based via the UK's embassies, high commissions etc, and likely to be helpful in a different way from what is currently available to us via Etsy.com.  The latter have enabled Isobel to hone her selling skills to a mainly United States audience, with some customers coming from European and UK since 2010 -the ten years that ColdhamCuddlies has been in existence.  Now, hopefully, with the help of people who do nothing else but try to help UK businesses - even those as little as ColdhamCuddlies - to sell their goods overseas, Isobel can fulfill her "gypsy tendencies", and  hopefully find more Cuddlies homes in more overseas countries.  Exciting prospect isn't it?

The "new Look" 2020 version of our Tiger Who Lost His Stripes - a story all it's own!

You'll have to wait till next week to find out what more has gone on.  It's so lovely to be back again chatting to you all.

Your Friend
Cy Bear