A new Coldham Cuddlies line appearing - and starting a visit to Newark, Nottinghamshire.

Hello there Everyone - Cy Bear calling in, before Isobel takes over! It's been a while, but just because I don't appear every time doesn't mean that I'm not on duty on behalf of the Cuddlies and over-seeing what should be happening in the Shop (www.etsy.com/Shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES - just in case any of you had forgotten! - while Isobel has been visiting venues all round us here in Kirkby in Ashfield (and there's more to come later here).  
However, Isobel has almost completed work on a prototype new Coldham Cuddlies offering - Nursery Mobiles.  She's spent a few evenings recently making furry Baby Monkeys, which look a little like Orangutangs - but we're going to continue calling them Monkeys (the other name is a bit difficult to spell, let alone type!).  While the Baby Toys have worked well, she's not quite so sure about the mobile frame, but is almost satisfied.  We thought we'd give you a sneak preview, before finally listing them in the Shop in the next few days - after a bit more work has been done on the mobile frame.

The Baby Monkeys are going to be strung up by 3mm Yellow Satin Polyester Ribbons, one of which you can see at the top of the mobile frame in the photograph taken above.  The lighting is not all it could be, but it was taken late in the evening a couple of nights ago, just to be able to show you what is in the process of arriving in the Shop.

The loop from which the whole mobile is strung from in this picture is being held in place with the first thing Isobel could think of using when she was producing the frame - thumb tacks.  Now anyone who knows anything about those will know that they don't take stress very well, even if there are four of them in the same area!!  Also, if they are removed, there are then holes left in the frame (made from polystyrene)  where they had been fixed!!!  So, Isobel did try to sew some covering stitches to hide the holes, and also give the hanging loop some strength.  While that has worked to some extent, the stitching is not to her high standards, and some further work is needed to hide even that attempt.  (It may result in this first attempt being throw away in the end - but that's what protypes are all about, I'm told!!)
The mobile is also not strung from a hook (Isobel has purchased plastic ones, with a sucker fitting for use on ceilings when purchased, which will accompany the final product).  The photos above show the product hanging from one of the side lamps in the living room, which is also providing the spotlight effect - not altogether successfully!!  However you get the drift?  Hopefully!
Now to some pictures taken recently during a visit made by Isobel, Clare and GrandsonE when going to meet with a very good friend of Clare's who works in the Town of Newark, Nottinghamshire - which is about an hour and a bit's drive from where we all live.  It's a Market Town with Roman origins (according to Wikipaedia) and situated on the old Roman Road called The Fosse Way.  The Town is built around a Castle - now a ruin - and used to be the centre of the wool and cloth trade many moons ago.  Nowadays, it is on the East Coast Main Line railway from London to Edinburgh, and the A1 road between London and Scotland.  
That's enough of the background, I think.  So, I'll hand the rest of the post today (and probably for at least another bulletin) to Isobel.  Good being back with you, even though it is for a short time!!
Your Friend, Cy Bear

Hello there!  
Cy Bear mentioned Newark Castle just now, and here is a picture of one of the aspects of what remains of the original building.  It lies beside the River Trent, and is not far from a newly opened Civil War Museum - which features the story of the Cavaliers and Roundheads led respectively by Charles I and Oliver Cromwell.  (That's another story all together!!).  You can see cars parked on the side of one of the roads into the Town, and we were approaching this from a car park situated on the near side of the picture.

The inside of the Castle grounds now feature lawns and gardens, and on the day we were there, there were several parties of primary school children being led and guided by a mix of teachers and parents.  There was also a wedding taking place - because the Town's Registry Office is situated on the Town side of the Castle grounds.

This picture of the front of the Registry Office is actually taken from the street that runs in front of the building, and forms part of the Inner Road around the Market Place and other shopping areas of the Town.

This is the rather impressive entrance to the Registry Office - making a rather imposing background for wedding photos, although the day we were there, the wedding party chose to have theirs taken on the Castle garden side of the building.

  This is the first view of the Castle one gets when entering the Gardens on the eastern side of the site, and gives one an impression of how grand it must have been in its original existence.  This picture, together with the photographs that follow, are courtesy of Clare's mobile - thanks to my camera batteries choosing to close down, and my forgetting to have spares handy for such an occasion!!

Had you walked round the left of the last picture, this is the view that one would have!  Given that these walls were built in the 1500's (I think - my history is getting a little hazy these days!), they've lasted pretty well, really, have they not?

This is the wall and garden from the opposite end - from that shown in the second photograph of the Newark Castle series - (taken by me, after we'd walked into the Market Place and I'd purchased some replacement batteries).  You can see the little groups of children sitting on the grassy bank and it was lovely to see some of them dressed  up for the occasion!  School seems to be so much more fun than I remember it being!!

If you walk to the railings, you look over the River Trent and towards the northern side of the Town.

So that this bulletin doesn't get too long - and so that we have something to blog about next week, I'll close this dissertation down for today.  Hope you've enjoyed our trip to Newark Castle as much as we did - we were jolly lucky in the sunshine, although the wind was pretty strong and still very chilly. 
(Incidentally, when Peter and I first returned to the UK with Clare and her sister, Philippa, after 12 years spent in Alberta, Western Canada, we actually bought a house about 6 miles down the A1 road from Newark, towards London.  As often happen, even though we visited the town on an almost weekly basis, this was the first time that I'd really spent any time in the Castle Grounds - and we left the area in 1998!!!)  So this visit to the Castle and its grounds was long over due!)
See you all next week - hope you all have a great one, and that everyone of my many American Mother Friends have had a great Mother's Day today.  As I type this on Sunday evening, it's heading towards 1730 hours BST, so it's probably just beginning for many of you across the Atlantic!
Isobel

Rufford Abbey Part Two,coupled with some Cuddlies news too.

Hello Everyone!  

Apologies for this being a day later than normal, but life was somewhat hectic in the latter stages of last week. Sundays are always busy, and yesterday we had the 80th Birthday of a fellow church-goer to attend, which meant that the normal blogging schedule and other Etsy duties had to be postponed for some hours, because upon returning home, the Sunday paper had to be read too.

Then one of my Etsy Teams, (https://www.etsy.com/teams/24793/etsy-friendsrus)  had organised a massive "hearting session" between 9000-2100 EST. The event, known as the "Heart Attack", is a regular monthly event,  and is a great way to highlight one's Etsy Shops.  I always get in a muddle when participating - and this time was no exception.  But, contrary to other forays into this kind of Etsy Shop promotion game, we actually received an Order!  It came in circa 2300 BST - and I picked it up circa 1245 BST this morning - so on top of missing a blog spot, I also missed out on my "beauty sleep".  However it's great to know that hard work on Etsy "hearting" and promoting other folks' Shops on one's teams can have a positive payback!!
This is the Cuddly item who will be dispatched to a new Owner at the end of May - and thus moves to the top of the Replacement Schedule as a result.  Have contacted the Buyer to ask for whom the items is intended, and if any changes in ribbon colour are required, and if the finished item is to be wrapped up in any special way with an accompanying card -for which there is usually an additional £5.00 GBP (USD 7.35) charge.  (Have forgotten to ask for the exact size needed, but will be sending a follow-up query as and when I receive an answer to my initial enquiries).

https://www.etsy.com/listing/164183200/grey-rabbit-head-slippersilver-fox?ref=shop_home_active_1

Now, as promised last week, I'm going to continue my description of a recent visit to Rufford Abbey Country Park which was started in last week's post.  This is a view from one of the window's of the ruined buildings which were featured last time.

It conveys the expanse of beautiful garden areas through which the public can roam and having taken it, Clare, GrandsonE and I retraced our steps through the entrance way - and were met with this vista, showing another expanse of the Country Park area.  (One of the car parks adjacent to the Park's entrance can be seen on the left of the photograph)

Turning right at the end of the entrance parkway, we proceeded to tramp our way around a formal pathway - the Queen Mother's Walk - planted to celebrate one of the major birthday's of the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.  (The weather was not too helpful that day, and alas the plaque showing which major milestone it was - I think it could have been her 90th Birthday - doesn't show up that clearly, either.  I'll have to try and take it again next time I have occasion to go there)                                        .

Not sure who is leading whom:   but GrandsonE and Mummy keep up with each other!

The pathway is easy to walk and we all proceeded at a smart pace, coming upon  trellised lime trees on either side, giving a pleasing avenue-look to the surroundings.  Do hope I'll be able to visit the Park again when all the trees are out:  it must be a terrific sight.

As you can see there are plenty of benches for visitors to take advantage of any sunshine - which was in very short supply on that particular day admittedly.  However, it was dry enough for one to enjoy the gardens and to admire the beautiful and ancient trees that are planted at strategic intervals along the route.

The Cedar Tree here, surrounded by wood paling fencing is one of many around the park, and are of some age too - as indicated by the notice on the fence.  (The fencing is put up to ensure visitors are not easily injured should there be any branches blown down - or fall down, because many of these trees are several hundred years old).

The pathway eventually doubles back towards the Abbey buildings and there are several tantalising alternative routes one can take if the weather and one's walking capabilities allow.  One we followed took us around what is called the Reg Hookway Aboretum - consisting of a small walled garden area - where there was a collection of plaques dedicated to several individuals.  

Who they are, and why they happen to be commemorated there is still somewhat of a mystery:  but one that remains as an object of future research.

This appears to be centre of the Aboretum area, and one then goes off to the left and finds oneself on a pathway that leads back towards the Orangery - and the inevitable Shops and eating areas that are an essential part of any Important Property these days.

For a little fellow, still to reach his second birthday, GrandsonE kept up well with the brisk pace dictated by Mummy.  The weather may not necessarily have been to the grown-ups' liking, but nothing seems to daunt him!  
Before closing for this week's post, a brief update on the new Cuddlies offering.  Four new Baby Monkeys have been made and await their destiny as parts of a Nursery Mobile Toy offering.  The ring from which they will hang has been decorated with suitable satin ribbon.  The present question is exactly how said Baby Monkeys will now be attached to the platform ring and what materials will form the hanging mechanism for the Mobile to be displayed.  More anon!  
Have a good week everyone.
Your Friend, Isobel

Reverting to the "Alternative Subjects" Agenda - Rufford Abbey, Part One

Hello once again.  Isobel in charge of this week's post, with pictures and description of another family sortie to another nearby Place of Interest - also with a link to the Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury of yesteryear (the latter being as well known by the title "Bess of Hardwick").   

Bess of Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury, looking not unlike her Queen!

Rufford Abbey is now owned and preserved by Nottinghamshire County Council but in its heyday was the property of the same Earl of Shrewsbury, husband of Bess, whose family name was George Talbot. 

The first view a visitor gets as one drives into the park setting

 A fact I didn't include in my two posts about Hardwick Hall (published on 28/03/2016 and 04.04.2016 respectively) is that George Talbot was responsible for the care and custody of  Mary Queen of Scots on behalf of Queen Elizabeth 1 until she was beheaded at the Queen's command. 

A portrait of George Talbot, Earl of Shrrewsbury himself!  There are similar portraits at Hardwick Hall of  the Earl and his wife, but they would not have reproduced half as well as these do.

 (The grand daughter of  Bess was Mary's niece by marriage by virtue of being the wife of Mary's nephew Charles Stuart and therefore a strong contender to be a successor to Queen Elizabeth I - but lost out, as well as her head, when Charles died before the Queen!)  Such was the incestuous relationship of the wealthy in Elizabethan times - really not that much different to that carried on in modern times really!

Daughter Clare and Grandson E walking from the Car Park

Anyway back to Rufford Abbey - which is situated in 150 acres of lovely parkland (Rufford Abbey Country Park), just a few miles north of  Nottingham itself.  The site is among the top 10 Country Parks in England and is open to the public all year round.  One just has to pay for parking and one can walk around at one's own pace.

Approaching Rufford Abbey's Main Entrance

The Abbey was founded as a Cistercian Foundation over 800 years ago.  The Order still exists. and is known as a "Closed Order":  which means the members live in their monastery - spending their lives praying and working to maintain their properties and don't mix with the general populace.  After the Reformation (King Henry VIII's legacy to English History) it was transformed into a grand country estate (as part of North Nottinghamshire's "Dukeries" - Hardwick Hall, Welbeck Abbey (another nearby Stately Home still exists and is somewhere worth a visit! - in other words, watch this space!)

Entrance to the Abbey Remains

On the right hand side of the walkway to the door, one sees the current Rose Garden.  (The buildings in the background house  the Orangery and Apsidal Gallery - which we left for another visit - possibly when the seemingly ever-present rain makes an indoor visit more acceptable!). 

Then, as one walks up the steps, through the door and hallway, one is faced with a space with strong walls, but now without a roof.

The picture above is taken about mid-way in the room, which has a basement - now used as a  -Restaurant and a Library.  There are "interesting looking steps down to ground level from this space.   (We decided not to try the stairway at the other end - not shown - of this space:  particularly as they didn't appear that easy to negotiate:  at least for a Little Person and his Granma!  To be fair to them, Mummy isn't that keen on claustrophobic spaces either - and these certainly gave that impression!) The walls surrounding the space are in pretty good condition for their age, and have their fair share of windows (without glass - unlike Hardwick Hall's collection!) and an interesting feature are the decorative gargoyles to be seen at the top of many of the openings.

Well, what with all the illustrations, and descriptions to date, think this post is long enough.  So, I'll close for this week, and I can show you just part of the beautiful parkland setting in which Rufford Abbey lies next time around. Meanwhile, the Baby Rabbit replacement list has been reduced somewhat - as I've been able to sew more easily back home this week.  All the elements required are in the same room!  I'm also embarking on a new range of  Nursery Toys which I hope to be offering shortly.  Yesterday, I purchased the materials I'm thinking of using to make Nursery Mobiles - which seem to be pretty popular toys at the present time, and will be using my current Plush and Fleece Baby Rabbits, as well as three new Cuddlies.  I've re-discovered the patterns I've had all along for Baby Teddy Bears and am going to have a go at Baby Monkeys and Baby Lambs as well.  (I've had the patterns ever since I first began making Cuddly Toys in the 1950's).  Am thinking that perhaps its about time I actually made some!! See you all next week - God willing!  Meanwhile, have a great one Everyone. Isobel

The Replacement List Grows Longer

Greetings once again, Everyone. Cy Bear back on duty once more.
Isobel has not yet moved back home on a permanent basis, but for a sufficiently long time for her to allow me back here to post this week's bulletin from the Coldham Cuddlies World.  While she's been away, the Shops in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, where some of the Cuddlies have been on display have been busy on our behalf, and been able to find Forever Homes for one or two of us.  

One of the Baby Hedgehogs was sold from The Ark, and Isobel took down a replacement yesterday, together with an example of our Red and Grey Squirrels (the Black one will form the vanguard of the next Cuddlies "invasion"!!).  That means that ten per cent of this Baby Hedgehog sale, (together with a donation from MsDM - who gave our two Baby Bunnies their Forever Home as we wrote about in our Blog "Baby Bunnies en route to Florida" - 13/03/2016) will be added to the third tranche of funds which will soon be sent to the Two Hedgehog Hospitals we're raising funds for.  (To remind you who they are - Tiggywinkles Hedgehog Trust and West Midlands Hedgehog Rescue).    Our Black and White Plush Kittens were also taken down to The Ark

and the new delivery was completed with Percy the Penguin being sent down to see if someone would like to give him a Forever Home.   MrsSQ, who is the person Isobel deals with at The Ark says that lots of folk like Penguins, so we're hopeful that Percy will not be on display for long.  Actually when the handover was taking place, a lady having a cup of coffee in the Shop got quite excited by the White Kitten, and almost purchased it there and then.  Don't think she had enough cash on her though, so the sale fell through.  But Isobel feels the lady might well come back ere long!  Here's hoping. 
(The Ark sells teas, coffees and biscuits every weekday and Saturday mornings between 0930 and mid-day. They also offer all sorts of religious books and kids games - the toys being a recent addition. They are being targetted at people who are organising baby showers, christenings and so on.  Toys have only been on offer since the beginning of the year, so the Cuddlies are hoping to "start something").   Isobel also met the lady who bought Barney Barn Owl the day after the first batch of Cuddlies were introduced in January.  (She said she'd bought him because she not only loved Owls - of any kind - but also couldn't resist "his facial expression"!!)  We're not sure which one of these is the lucky Owl, but the other Barney representation is sitting "pretty" on a shelf at the side of one of the Shop's front windows, so hopefully, he will be finding a Forever Home soon too. At the end of the week before last - the days are going by so fast this year! - Isobel got an email notification that Cuddlies had been sold from The Artful Buttoner, the Kirkby in Ashfield Shop we'd originally had Cuddlies on display.  We still have them there, but because the shop is a bigger one than The Ark, but very many more crafters seek to display their wares there, than there is space for them, Isobel and MsCL, proprietor of The Artful Buttoner have agreed that our Baby Bunnies and Koalas will continue to be sold there, while our Dressed Rabbits, Foxes, Teddy Bears and larger Toys will come home.  We've got some of the Dressed Rabbits in The Ark, and they will be exchanged on a regular basis there, but we're going to rely more on our Shop www.COLDHAMCUDDLIES.etsy.com to find homes for them.   (Having Cuddlies on display in shops undoubtedly helps to raise their profile:  but shops tend to be places where the dust of cars, people and other road users can prevail, and Isobel is not keen on her Cuddlies getting dustier than is absolutely necessary!) While Isobel was in Kirkby yesterday, and because The Ark and The Artful Buttoner are not that far from each other (although they are far enough for them not to encroach on each other's customers too often) she called in to find out who had found their new homes - to be told that a Baby Koala was one, and that a deposit had been paid for Big Koala - who is presently sitting in the back of The Artful Buttoner waiting for its Forever Friend to get better from an unexpected ailment.   Four more Baby Koalas were taken in to "The Artful Buttoner" to replace the one sold, and while she was there, Isobel purchased 12 pairs of eyes for the new Baby Bunnies she's working on.  She likes to ring the changes with the eyes for these guys:  making some of them with double knit yarn, as well as using the plastic safety eyes.  That gives our potential customers a choice when it comes to purchasing our Baby Rabbits.  She's been using her plastic eye stocks of late because she's found making the yarn eyes tricky with her fingers getting stiff and painful.  However, with the onset of warmer weather (hopefully!), she's hoping to be able to make more of them as she continues the Rabbit replacement programme.  (She's been able to use the safety eyes, thanks to help from son-in-law, Alan - who has come to the rescue when even these have proved difficult!  Thanks to Alan!) Meanwhile, having returned home for most evenings, Isobel is now able to settle down and get on with that replacement sewing for the Baby Rabbits who found homes over Christmas and the New Year.  That replacement list has now been swelled by the need to replace these Cuddlies I've told you about here today.  The stories about the local Stately Homes and Historic Buildings will be added to in the next couple of bulletins, because Clare, Isobel and GrandsonE went for a long walk during last week - and several photographs were taken of another local landmark.  Folks apparently have been responding well to this change of  topic, and as the Baby Bunnies come along, we'll be telling you about them too.  There are plans for them to used in Nursery Mobiles, too - a new departure for this Shop.  That means more Baby Rabbits than would normally be made at one time, in any one colour.  So, folks, just watch this space - Isobel is going to be very busy!. Good to be back chatting with you.  See you soon.   Your Friend, Cy Bear.

Recalling another recent visit to a nearby UK Stately Home

Once more, greetings to one and all.  It's been a beautiful Spring day, with lots of sunshine here in Nottinghamshire today, even though there was a keen breeze to lower the temperature somewhat.  While still living out of two places, I've still not been able to motivate myself to sew Cuddlies - even though there are many to do - but I have been able to visit another nearby Stately Home - and thought you might like to see some pictures of the brief visit - regrettably cut short by a sharp April Shower (or two!).
This time we visited Newstead Abbey, once owned by the famous English poet, Lord Byron - and now in the care of Nottingham City Council.  

South side of the Abbey - looking over the stream linking two lakes

Lord Byron inherited his title when his great uncle died in May 1798 at the age of 10.  He became the 6th Lord Byron of Rochdale, and with the title came Newstead Abbey - which was in a state of disrepair - so much so, that Byron's mother leased it out to various people during her son's adolescence.  Much of the Abbey remains in a ruined state even now - but there's enough land to accommodate several mansion type residences (mostly privately owned) and a magnificent acreage of parkland, around the Abbey. These are open to the public and  one can to go for long walks -accompanied by children and dogs (on leads);  because there are free-roaming peacocks, as well as many ducks, geese, moorhen and other water birds which frequent the area around a couple of lakes, linked by a stream and water fall.  (On this occasion, we heard, but didn't see the pea fowl - but they have to be taken seriously when one comes upon them - apparently).

Some Canada Geese and a lone Moor Hen - beside one of the Lakes

Parts of the Abbey interior can be visited too, but it wasn't on the agenda this time around.  We did visit the Abbey Shop - where I purchased a post card to send to a long time family friend whose late husband used to run a Restaurant in London's Carnaby Street area - called the Lord Byron, where beautiful home made Greek food was to be found.  The card will be on its way to its intended destination on early next week - hopefully to remind our friend of good times had in days past.

The Abbey Shop doorway is located in the corner of this view of the Abbey.

Clare, Grandson E. and myself decided to take advantage of a bright sunny day earlier this week, and drove to the Abbey (which is located a short distance from were both our homes are located) and with the aid of a annual family pass, drove right in to the car park along a road with rhododendron bushes on either side.  They're going to look fabulous in a week or so when they come into bloom and I'm hoping to be able to visit the Abbey grounds again - when they are at their flowering best; and maybe post a picture of two here when that happens.

The Abbey view from the left of the Entrance to the Shop

This is how the Abbey looks on the immediate right of the Abbey Shop entrance.

We didn't see too much more of the gardens - due for the most part to the onset of a sharp April Shower, but also because we had a Little Person with short legs with us - who kept up the pace admirably, but after a 40 minute brisk walk was understandably tiring.  So, on the way back we admired the garden view - in front of this aspect of the Abbey.

A weeping willow shrouding the stream linking the two lakes over-looked by the Abbey view in the first photo

On the left of this picture, you can see a waterfall from the lake the other side of this daffodil decorated slope.

A head-on view of the willow tree, with the stream into which the waterfall goes

 After admiring the budding rhododendron bushes along the long driveway from the main road to the Abbey itself, the view shown below is the one  we got as we drove into the Car Park area.

There's a cricket ground nearby, as well - so one can see why the grounds are so popular for the local visiting public.  It's also great that we can take advantage of the space - and believe me, we certainly will be doing so, provided the capricious English Spring weather allows us so to do.

While I may not have been motivated to sew Cuddlies this week, I have spent some time tidying up the way our Cuddlies Shop is arranged - to take advantage of the overall Etsy.com "New Look" for all our Shops.  I've also taken advantage of an offer to create a website for the Cuddlies.  It's something I've been thinking about for some time - but having purchased the domain name (to be revealed shortly), I'm now not sure how to go about linking it to this blog, and the Shop as well. Assistance has been sought from Team Members and Etsy Support itself - and  I hope to be proficient in this new look Cuddlies era soon.

Until next week, folks - hope this find everyone having a good time and keeping well.

Your friend - Isobel,