Surfacing once again, following a postal hiatus.

What a day it was yesterday!  Meant to post again, but there was a bit of a problem in arranging the journey of Hairy Bear, Koala and the two Baby Rabbits to Edmonton, Alberta.  Hairy Bear (as well as the other Bears in the Bear Family) are really quite large and it's nip and tuck whether they will pass as a "Small Packet" when being considered for their tickets at the Post Office.  Light Brown Bear, when he recently left for Massachusetts just made it.  Hairy Bear was originally meant to be accompanied by the other three going to the same address - but alas, the dimensions of the packet, as well as combined weight, were just too much for the "system".

So, all of them, still wrapped in their travelling packs - chemical free tissue paper, plus bubble-wrap to save them from the inevitable bumps involved in international travel - had to be separated.  Hairy Bear bravely agreed to travel alone while the other three fitted into a smaller envelope and went at the same time later that day.  Heather in Edmonton has been advised of their departure - we all now wait with bated breath to see how they all got on and hope they arrive by the end of next week.

In the meantime, I've been asked to try and repair a very much loved small teddy bear who is falling apart after many adventures and was (when in his prime) a bright scarlet bear.  He's smaller than the current Bear Family and when finished with his new modern fur fabric coat should be a little bigger than the Koalas and a bit smaller than the Pandas.  RedTed lives just three or four houses down Heytesbury High Street from The Hospital of St. John and I've today made new pattern pieces so that I can cover him and make him smart enough to be on show.  His owner has lots of grandchildren, but was anxious to be able to give one of the latest a scarlet teddy - similar to RedTed - because she had had such fun with him all her life (quite a long one, incidentally, and full of international travel - Army background: need I say more?)

I now have a set of pattern pieces to be used for other similar Little Bears (with RedTed's Mum's agreement), but unfortunately, because RedTed has been sewn up so many times - after adventures with children and dogs -  it's going to be difficult to put him together again. So, I'm going to collect all the bits, sew as many together  as I can and wrap him up carefully when providing a more modern version (with much safer joints, eyes and stuffing) and return him to his home.  Do hope his Mum will be happy!  Meanwhile, RedTed  II will also be made (same size as current Teddy Bear Family) for the grand-daugther.

No pictures of RedTed yet, so will close this post -  with a picture of one of the Baby Rabbits now on their way to a new home.

Wishing everyone a good week-end.  Isobel

Departing Friends

Hello again!  As Official Mascot for the Coldham Cuddlies family, it is my pleasure to announce the departure on March 31 of four more of our Cuddlies - all to the same destination.  Hairy Bear (the Bear on the right of Isobel's introductory picture) is going to a long-time, family friend in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  Here's a separate picture of him - among the daffodils in the garden here at Heytesbury,

The other Cuddlies who are going to Edmonton with Hairy Bear are one of the Koala Bears and two of the Baby Rabbits, one Brown and one Grey, with a white chest.  That means Isobel is going to have to   sit down and get sewing again so that all of them can be replaced - especially as a Black  BabyRabbit  and another Grey one were posted to Nottinghamshire here in England last week.  We're getting seriously depleted - which is, I suppose, the object of this exercise.

She's been so busy today getting everyone prepared for their journey that she's still not told me exactly what being Official Mascot of Coldham Cuddlies is going to involve.  However, I would have thought sitting all of us down somewhere and taking one final picture might have been a good idea?  Maybe, next time:  I'll let her off today, because the weather was not too good, so outside pictures were not an option - and she's still not too confident taking pictures of us inside.  She's waiting to be given a lesson by a friend of ours, next time he is available.  Bye - until the next time!

Introducing the Official Mascot - Cy Bear

Hello Everyone!  I'm the latest member of the Coldham Cuddlies family and am told that I am an "experiment" (?)  Apparently, I am made from the remains of an old Beaver Lamb Fur Coat which belonged to an elderly neighbour here in the Hospital of St. John.  Now the Hospital has been in existence since 1472 - which is old - but the lady who gave Isobel the fur (it was going on the dump, otherwise) is "in her eighties", so I am older than the rest of the Cuddlies.  (You can see them if you visit http://www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/).  Apparently, the top seams on my arms and legs are not "safe" or child-friendly, so instead of being ready to be adopted my future lies here with Isobel, her husband Peter - who does not enjoy good health, but does as much as he can.   I have been appointed as the Coldham Cuddlies mascot.  Not sure what that entails, but am looking forward to finding out - and telling you ALL about it.

Meanwhile  -  here is a picture of me - among the flowers in the Hospital's garden.  See you soon.  Have fun this week-end, wherever and whatever you are doing  Cy Bear

Introducing the Coldham Cuddlies Family

Greetings to Everyone! 

This is Isobel - Toymaker for the Coldham Cuddlies family of Teddy Bears, Foxes (as well as their cousin -  Coyotes) and Rabbits of all shapes and sizes.  In the picture, she is accompanied by two of the Teddy Bears (Light Brown Bear having recently left for Massachusetts, but who has been replaced and is available for adoption).

In the next blog, there will be a photo of Coldham Yogi (Cy to his friends) who has been officially appointed as the Official Mascot for the Coldham Cuddlies Etsy shop at http://www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/.

See you all soon - I hope.  Isobel