Unexpected contact - needing information

As a relative newbie to Etsy, I was amazed to get an e-mail a few weeks ago, from a lady living in California.   Now I don't know many people who live there and the enquiry related to the foxes in my shop (http://www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/.).  (I was very encouraged that I could be reached in this way!)  ValerieW is her name and the message read "...I was just looking on the Internet for information on some old toy foxes that I have.  I found your web page with Ferdinand and Freda  and Freddy Fox (illustrated below)  .

Fred and Freda Boss Fox were made as Mascots



Ferdinand, a Hunting Gentleman Fox

Valerie went on to say that she also has a fourth fox - "named Flossy."  She wanted to know a bit more about their background.

Having replied, I got another message saying that she reckons her foxes were sent to her "in Texas, from my auntie living in Manchester, probably around 1953.  They have travelled with me to Oklahoma, South Carolina, back to Texas, to Turkey, back to England and then to California...."  Now apart from being well travelled, they are also long-lasting! 

One of the tags I use in all my toys' listings is just that - "long-lasting".  The longest lasting Fox that I have been responsible for is now over 35 and still going strong!  Think on.....as "they" say" and the Cuddlies look forward to welcoming you for a visit sometime soon!

Introduction of new members of the ColdhamCuddlies family

Hello again, folks!   It's Cy being allowed to have a word and hopefully Isobel and I will be able to start blogging again (alternate posts) in a more regular way.

Finally the 10 new baby rabbits are finished and almost ready for listing in the Etsy shop.  Just need to take some more pictures of them in their colourful groups, rather than en masse as the picture below shows.

There are ten of them altogether, and believe me, they are a handful when they get together!  We had a photo session in the garden here at the Hospital of St. John and although the sun wasn't shining as brightly as when the other pictures of me were taken, think this gives an impression of the happy handful.
Isobel says that they are little smaller than her other Baby Rabbits - because she left out a pattern piece!  Careless, or what?  However, she's happy with the way they've turned, will probably be offering them at a slightly lower price, and hopefully they'll soon find new homes.  Because they are littler than usual, Isobel's silly fingers took longer to cope with the seams etc - hence the length of time spent making them!

Some other pictures were taken elsewhere in the garden too, and another one is posted below:

There were a couple more, but I'll save them for another day.  Time to end this post - wishing you well for the upcoming week-end.  Cheers.  Cy Bear



Trying to get organised

Not easy, because there seem to be so many strings to the Etsy world and I don't seem to be getting the real hang of it all - just bits of it!

However, having started to make some sales (ever so slowly) am now concentrating on replenishing the shop and at the same time working out how I'm going to renovate Little Red Ted in a way that will not upset his long time owner.  Think I've worked it out:  once I've finished all the Baby Rabbits that Cy talked about in the last post (have two and a bit to go!) I'll get going and hopefully be able to do that project, as well as the Big Red Ted in time for April 27, which is when I expect the client to be attending a monthly meeting of the Ladies Section of the Royal British Legion, here at the Hospital of St. John.  By default, I am a member, and the meeting last month was where I was introduced to the Red Ted concept in the first place!

The Baby Rabbits have taken me longer  to do that usual - being so small, it really does work my fingers and thus is harder work than when doing projects like Cy and his Teddy Bear chums.  Haven't helped myself because I inadvertently missed a pattern piece out - which is resulting in the little fellas being smaller than usual.  When ready for the big world, they will be sold at a slightly lower price than the normal baby rabbits.  They will still have their ribbons etc. but are just littler!

Am also wondering what the effect of being interviewed by Mama Melinda for the http://www.InsideEtsy.blogspot.com/ on April 13 will be.  Probably not much, but on the other hand.....one never knows.  Have also followed her link to an outfit called Handmadeology, which is a site linked to Etsy and operated by a fellow Etsian.  His name is Tim Adams, and he seems to know what he's talking about not only about business on Etsy, but also in "the real world".  He runs an internet course which I'm also following, and think it will certainly be helpful in getting me to understand what I'm doing (or meant to be doing!) selling on the net.  See what I mean about "getting organised"?

Must stop now so that I can do some sewing:  am spending far too much time on the computer these days, but it is necessary (or so I keep telling myself).