The Making of Mrs. Fox - Part 2

Hello once again.

I really got carried away last night when sending my news about the production of Mrs. Fox and sent multiple editions to the Facebook link.  Apologies to any Friends who visited my page earlier today, as it must have been a bit of a surprise to see 4 posts saying exactly the same thing!  Giving the information was important, but not that much!  I have since corrected the mistake, and hope that when today's post is ready for circulation the same thing won't happen!                                                                                                                                 

So, to today's post:  having made the body and dressed it suitably, the next step is to make the head.  I do this by sewing the ears with their lining first and then putting the head pattern pieces together.  Once that's done, I put the eyes in and then stuff the head.  Getting the eyes level and in the right spot is very important - because it can affect how the completed toy looks!   It's also important to do it BEFORE one stuffs the toy, because it's impossible to achieve if one doesn't.  Many is the time that I've stuffed the head, got it exactly as I've wanted it, and then realised that there are no eyes!  Frustration is not in it - because one can never get the same result twice:  or, at least, I cannot!

Mrs. Fox's head, minus facial features

I'm told that, having settled down with their friends at the BOSS Federation, Freda and Freddy Fox (www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/#62236267 and #62236009 respectively) office visitors and my daughter do find that they are somewhat "boss-eyed" (pun not intended) when facing them, with one eye being slightly above the other;  when viewed sideways, the problem  is not as apparent!  Since making them in November 2010 and having the problem pointed out, I now make sure that I thread-mark eye positions before inserting them and,  so far, have not repeated the error. 

Once the stuffing is complete, and the neck space sewn by gathering together and then oversewing the resultant seam, the time comes to attach the ears.  Placement of these too can affect the final look of the toy, and in this case, with the addition of a contrasting bonnet, one has to consider where to put the holes in the hat so that the ears can pop through at the end!  I buttonhole-stitch the slits I make in the bonnet, thus preserving the integrity of the fabric.  

I don't always include a bonnet when making my lady Foxes. Since starting my Etsy shop (www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com) I have chosen to put bonnets on those that are to be customised.  In which case, the name of the intended recipient is embroidered on to the shopping bag that Mrs Fox carries on her arm..  If it is to be used as a Mascot, then the initials/logo of the company/school/etc can be embroidered there too.  If Mrs. Fox is to become a companion toy, then she is less formally attired - no hat, no bag, no special labelling! 

Then comes the important bit of putting head and body together, not my favourite bit of the operation, because it's fiddly and my arthritic fingers can (and often do) object to all the digit movement that this can entail.  In Mrs. Fox's case, this time was reasonably easy.  The head is attached to the body using a ladder stictch, which hides the stitches nicely.  Once firmly on. I attach the collar.  In Mrs. Fox's case, it is a plain white felt collar:  some of my other mother toys have decorated collars, or collars that compliment the material from which their dresses are constructed.  This time, as the material is somewhat "busy" and colourful, I did not feel any further decoration is warranted.

Now, as I've yet to transfer the pictures of the final step in Mrs. Fox's preparation from my camera to the computer, I'll end this post and complete the job description tomorrow.  Hoping that the distribution process is more smooth tonight, I'll close.    Isobel

I

The Making of Mrs. Fox - Part 1

Having spent the last few weeks making Bears (two Hairy Bears and Cy Bear himself) decided that I needed to have a change in toy-making procedures.  Since November, when the replacement Foxes for Freda and Freddy Boss Fox ( www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/etsy listing #62236207 and #62236009 respectively) found their way to Western Canada and a new home with my little great neice, I've been meaning to get round to it, but something always intervened.

Making foxes has always been a favourite pastime for me - the first  one made was for my elder daughter, when we were living in Edmonton, Alberta and it was also the first toy I'd made for about 15 years.    She called her Fanny and if memory serves, her dress was made using a small blue gingham printed cotton material.  It was in the late 1970's/early 1980's that this happened, and I don't think this version survives.  On the other hand, I made one a year or two later for my younger daughter, and that one is still going strong! 

So, last week-end, I dug around in my material cupboard - keep forgetting what I've been given., so it was a lot of fun - until I had to put everything back again!  Must  not complain, because I  have really been so lucky with the generous folks hereabouts (even though I suspect I am doing them a favour sometimes - as it's giving them more space in their cupboards).  Having selected some colourful material and cut out the patterns for a Mrs. Fox, I found that the selected remnant was big enough to give me three outfits.  So once the current Mrs. Fox is completed, I may two a couple more - or then, I may do another Mrs. Rabbit ....  In't it wonderful to have the luxury of being able to choose?  Though I'd just as soon welcome some more commissions as well.

Anyway, back to my current story.  Once the pattern pieces are all cut out, then the sewing begins.  One begins with the body, for which I use plain material  - calico, sheeting or something similar for preference.  At this stage, I often resort to my sewing machine to do the seams - takes less time and the seams hold as well as those that are hand made.  I attach the sleeves from the dress to the paws, stuff them and attach them at the appropriate places to the body.  I do two lines of stitches where the legs join the body - the top one with a curve, which allows the toy to sit  Then the body is stuffed.  The pattern for all my lady toys  allows the toy to sit, rather than stand.  Standing is an occupation reserved for the Mr. Foxes.

Then the felt shoes (pale blue fleece type material - again a donation) are sewn up, stuffed and attached to the legs.  Then come the pantaloons, decorated with a pale blue zig-zag braid I had in stock from another commission and the waist is gathered up and the whole thing sewn to the body, both at the waist and ankles.

Showing shoes and pantaloons

Then I make the dress skirt and top.  This is the time that I fix any additional decoration on.  In this case, I sewed on red zig-zig braid to the lower skirt, just above the hem and at the waist - picking out the red parts in the material design.  The dress top is attached to the arms with ladder stitch (resulting in "invisible" stitches) and the dress is completed by being gathered at the neck and stitched to the body.  It is also stitched to the body at the waist, with the top over the gathered skirt.  (This is when the braid is attached to the waistline).

Mrs Fox, Stage 1, with sewing aids

I'll finish the description of how Mrs. Foxes are made with the next post.  Meanwhile, I'll close for tonight.  Isobel

Updating folks on what's happening (or not!)

Cy Bear having done the last two blogs is having a rest!  He performed one of his official duties yesterday when he monitored me packing Brown Hairy Bear - ordered by YvonneB-P from Saudi Arabia for her baby nephew, R who lives in Portsmouth, England, UK.  Having wrapped Hairy Bear in two sheets of chemical free tissue paper, he then had a layer of bubble wrap put around him.  Next, he was slipped into a polyester Royal Mail envelope complete with "FRAGILE" labels prominently displayed.  Hopefully he should arrive at his destination in the next day or two. We took a picture of Cy "waving" Hairy Bear off on his journey, but we won't be publishing it, because the address is too prominent - and we've got to protect such confidential details -  however small the intended recipient may be.

Meanwhile, I've been working on a new Mrs. Fox.  She has her dress on, I'm stuffing her tail and will be completling head, ears and bonnet in the next day or so.  I shall take pictures to show her progress for another post.

She is the replacement for Freda Boss Fox, who is a sample of a Mascot Toy and doesn't now exist in the shop at www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com.  As explained in her description in the Shop, she is now a fulltime employee of the Boss Federation - as a fund-raiser for their benevolent fund.  She and Freddy Boss Fox (Etsy Listing #62236267 and #62236009 respectively) were "recruited" by  my elder daughter, who is General Manager of the Boss Federation (British Office Supplies and Services Federation in full) and is also Secretary of their Benevolent Fund.  Both Foxes attend major industry events and occupy prominent positions on the BOSS stall.  The idea is that if any orders are generated from folks who visit the Boss Stall, then the 10% I usually give to charity is sent to the Fund.  They have received one donation already - and as the Industry Events season is about to start, I'm hopeful that there will be more orders coming from that direction.

The colour scheme for their clothing reflect the Boss Federation corporate ones.  They seem to have attracted a lot of favour with fellow Etsians, as they are often "favourited" by them on the Etsy activity site. Hope that the new ones will be as popular when they appear in the shop.  Had to order more Chesnut Plush fur fabric before I could cut the new Mr. Fox out.  That arrived yesterday, so have no excuse now for delaying their completion (except for the fact that I don't have 48 hours in the day in which to do so!).

Today was the monthly meeting of the Women's Section of the Royal British Legion who meet in the Resident's Hall here at the Hospital of St. John - we had an interesting talk, illustrated by a video, from a gentleman who spent 44 years working fulltime at the Royal Mews in London, followed by a further 11 years as a part-time employee.  His most recent involvement was to ensure that the coach carrying the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge from Westminster Abbey after their recent wedding stopped exactly opposite the red carpet at both the Abbey and Buckingham Palace.  That move necessitated some "fancy footwork" by fast car between the two venues to ensure he was in the right spot in time to help their Royal Highnesses out of the carriage, and clear the other carriages out of the way in time for Her Majesty to alight upon her arrival after the ceremony.  Apparently, some of the bridal attendants, having thoroughly enjoyed the trip back in their carriages, were somewhat reluctant to alight and had to be gently "encouraged"!  Simply fascinating talk, and much enjoyed by all of us (25 plus) who attended.

The point of telling you about this is to say that I was able to donate a further £11.00 to the British Legion funds, making a total of  nearly £20.00 since the beginning of the year, when orders to www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com began to drift in. I'll end by including a picture of both Freda and Freddy, because once their replacements are made, I'll be withdrawing them from the shop.  If anyone needs a mascot for their promotional activities, then any of the Cuddlies would be willing to fulfill that need - just contact us and we'll be happy to try and meet your requirements.

Freda and Freddy Boss Fox

That's it for tonight.  Until the next time.  Isobel

More about the Coyotes

   

Hello again - Isobel has allowed me to continue to tell you some more about our Coyotes.

  Since we last posted, Isobel has recovered the article telling everyone about Charlie Coyote's arrival at the Wylye Coyotes After School Club in nearby Codford.  She also remembered that The Warminster Journal have agreed to our publishing the article in any blogging we did, provided we mentioned them - which we now have!  So, here is the article - just to prove I wasn't talking through my fur!  The picture clearly shows that Charlie in his purple coat, but I don't think you can see the logo that Isobel embroidered on it. (Sorry the picture is not clearer, but it's the best our scanner could do with the picture in The Warminster Journal itself).

While we are on the subject of Coyotes, we also have another version of Chuck, which has been named Light Brown Chuck Coyote (www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/#67039032).  Really think Isobel will have to re-name  him, because I do't think that's terribly original.  The reason he's that colour is that immediately after Charlie left us in January, we needed  a replacement for him in the Cuddlies family.  Isobel was in such a hurry that she pulled out the wrong package of plush fur, and without checking (she has a tendency to go at things in a hurry sometimes) and the final result was a very much lighter coloured version of a Coyote.  However, she liked the finished toy, she decided to name the new chap that, and began another one in the RIGHT colour this time, who is the one pictured in the ColdhamCuddlies shop at www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/#61408931.

This is the Light Brown version of Chuck Coyote.

 We'll have to see what Isobel and I can come up with in the re-naming stakes.  In the meantime, bye for now.           Your friend, Cy Bear. 

 

Talking about the Coyotes

Hello everyone:  Cy Bear back again (wondered when Isobel would let me get my nose in again!)

This is a picture of Charlie Coyote's replacement Chuck Coyote

So, taking up where Isobel left off yesterday - more about my friend Chuck Coyote (Etsy Listing: #61408931/www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com).  He's the American version of Charlie Coyote, who is now the Mascot for the Wylye Coyotes After School Club in a village called Codford, which is about two miles away from where we all live at The Hospital of St. John in Heytesbury, Wiltshire. England, UK - in case you didn't already know!

Apparently, Chuck is an "experiment" like me!  Charlie changed his name when he left the Family, which happened before I appeared on the scene.  But I am told that he started life as  a dressed Bear!  What on earth did Isobel think she was doing, I wonder?  Fancy having dressed bears!  Apparently, that chap's head did not work, so Isobel made a Foxy head, with a different colour plush fur and liked the final result.  So that  is how the Coyote collection began. 

The original Bear which was deemed "unacceptable"

Shortly after he was completed, Isobel saw an article in the local weekly newspaper, The Warminster Journal, about the After School Club and telephoned to see if they would like to have a Mascot.  They asked to meet him, and he changed his name (from Chuck  - Isobel did not realise that there were Coyotes of any kind in the United Kingdom - to Charlie, which is the English equivalent nickname) before he was introduced.  He was invited to become a fulltime member, and Isobel was about to leave, when one of the young members enquired why Charlie did not have a purple top like the Adult Helpers at the Club!  Isobel quickly offered to make him a coat, so honour was thus satisfied!  We do have a picture of Isobel handing Charlie over to the club, complete with his purple jacket which appeared in The Warminster Journal a few weeks later.  However, there are still some issues around permission being obtained from their parents for them to be included in a blog like this, so, instead, we'll include a picture of the Wylye Coyote's After School Club logo, which Isobel copied and embroidered on his coat - so that Charlie really would look like an Adult Helper!

The Coyotes Logo

I am also told that the Coyote Toys are made in a slightly different way from the other dressed toys in the Coldham Cuddlies collection.  Instead of their trousers being made to look like plus-fours or jodhpurs, their trousers are straight and they are made to look slightly less formal than their cousins the Foxes.  They also do not have separate bodies like the other dressed toys.  Their shirts and trousers are all made in one piece, whereas the other dressed toys are more complicated to make, having more pattern pieces to put together.

 

Chuck Coyote's rear view

   That's it for this post folks.  Good to be back talking to you again.  Bye for now - Cy Bear.

Looking on the Bright Side (Continued)

Wow - second comment on the blog!  Thanks Clare - keep up your positivity, just as I am definitely doing now!   It's a real boost to know that someone is actually reading the blog - and finding sufficient in it to comment about.

Actually, you're the second person to do so this week - one of my "new best friends", Yenbo FilipvanP ( a Dutchman, who was responsible for the shop banner at www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com) told me it could take  4-6 months before any comments were forthcoming.  Was in touch with him about getting permission to use the banner as background for my replacement business card design. Bless  him:  his response was affirmative, and he said that he enjoyed reading it, it was good, and to keep it up.  So, two positives in one week is a real bonus!

What about my business cards?  Well, I had 250 printed earlier this year:  guess what?  after distributing well over a hundred, one kind soul took the trouble to come round last week-end to tell me she'd had difficulty finding the Shop at www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com.  When we checked together - the address was incorrect!!!!  No wonder there's been such a little response locally to my attempts at self-promotion.  So, have contacted the printers:  so far no response.  Next week, I'll be going elsewhere, using the Shop banner artwork as the basis.  Much better than the original ones, anyway!

Once I've sussed how to handle all the side bits of blogging, I really will enjoy doing it.  Firefox (whom I am following on Facebook) have just posted something on the internet about them being faster, plus offering a better service.  Have commented - challenging any of their brilliant techies to go right back to basics and be prepared to teach a 70+ silver surfer the same!  It's not that I have'nt checked all the Help Pages on both Google and Blogger:  but they all assume a certain level of understanding (which I presently do not have), and I've never found I absorb the information as well on screen as I do on paper.  Must be my age!  Still, am open to anyone's help, so wonder what response, if any, I'll get?  Am that desperate!

Meanwhile, the soft toy clinic idea is getting legs. Once I've done some more thinking, I'll be expanding about it in this blog:  as well as having had time to practise on a couple of samples.  Two Foxes I made for family members 35 years or so ago, are coming back for a makeover later in the year:  and a long-time friend is sending me his old Teddy for renovation job - hopefully next week!  Have to work out how I'll charge for the consultations and treatments!

Was talking to the owner of "Think Outside the Box" in Warminster today.  This shop is the source of most of my haberdashery needs, as well as some dress-making materials - when I don't have suitable remnants given to me by folks who are clearing out their old collections!   The lady has just become a granny for the second time.  We cover a wide area in our chats, and she was very enthusiastic about the idea.  Apparently a customer came in just yesterday, who doesn't claim to be a sewer, and purchased some felt to renovate the paws of a bear she wanted to give to a smaller relative.  Mrs. G. promised to recommend me to any others with a similar need, plus she mentioned she has an attic-full (which needs clearing out) of stuff - including her daughters' toys - which may well need similar attention!  Offered her a "special price" for any she wants me to rejuvenate - along the lines of Little Red Ted.  She's been very helpful to me in the months I've known her since we moved to the Hospital of St. John, and one good turn deserves another.

Mrs G. and I have a date next week, with me taking in the collection of Baby Rabbits and the Koala selection for her to choose as "Welcome to the World" presents to her grandchildren.  A Rabbit for her week-old grandson (a whopping 9 pounder) and a Koala (possibly) for her grand-daughter, who is just over a year old, so that she doesn't feel left out.

Next week could also be a good one for another sale or two:  am presently waiting to hear back from the Heytesbury C of E Primary school Head, as they have a Foxes class, (as well  an Otter class and I think a Badger class - hence the need for patterns)  I wonder if anyone out there knows of a Badger pattern?  Several primary schools hereabouts seem to have classes named after these samples of local wild life - and I'd like to suggest they use my toy-making skills to get mascots for their classes.  They'd then be joining Charlie Coyote, official mascot to a local After School Club (Wylye Coyotes) in a nearby village.  I'll get Cy Bear to write about him in my next post:  he's beginning to get a bit miffed at not being able to write another post!!  Meanwhile, Firefox is not allowing me to upload pictures of Charlie from my computer.  Will have to check this out - so this will have to be the second post without a relevant picture to illustrate it. 

Looking on the bright side!

Have been having a few bad days recently and not feeling like blogging - largely because I was having trouble getting the word out in the internet world about this blog and the Etsy shop (www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com.)  However, having just received SundayAfternoonHousewife's book, The Blogging Adventure, and starting to read it, have followed up her suggestion of reading some of the blogs I already follow, commenting on them and then drawing their attention to ColdhamCuddliescalling.  Wonder what effect it will have?

I was also recommended to read other blogs and comment on them (have done so - on the Inside Etsy: Storeowner Interview blog by MamaMellyMartin:  she included me in one of her interviews on April 13, just after I'd begun this blog and I was very grateful for the leg-up.)

Another blog I've followed (but never commented on before) is Louise Knits:  think she's very clever with her patterns, but gave up knitting and crocheting some while ago - because it involved too much counting and remembering where I was along a row!  My husband always commented on something requiring an answer from me - and I'd lose my way and have to start again!  Result - project took too long!  But I did ask Louise if she knew of anyone who might be able to create a pattern for an Otter for me to make.  Probably the wrong place to ask, but had to start somewhere, now that there isn't an Alchemy spot on the Etsy site.

Reason I want to add an Otter to my collection in the Coldham Cuddlies family (www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com.) is that I visited my principal source of material offcuts yesterday.  In addition to a whole lot of fur fabric used to make my Koalas and Light Brown Bears, I was given some lovely brown suedette/leather type fabric which I think could make a super Otter.  However, although I'm reasonably good at making toys from an existing pattern, am absolutely hopeless at creating one from scratch.  Don't know how much it will cost - but should think something up to 8USD might be a reasonable start?  Anyone out there who could help?  I'd be very grateful.

Right ... as I blog at night (as well as toy-make then too) .... it's getting late, and I need my "beauty" sleep.  Cheers - and hope to hear from you soon.  Isobel

ColdhamCuddliescalling: An order from Saudi Arabia: for delivery to Port...

ColdhamCuddliescalling: An order from Saudi Arabia: for delivery to Port...: "Hello everyone - Cy Bear calling you, as Isobel has been caught out - and she's not unhappy about it either! Earlier in the week, she'd b..."

An order from Saudi Arabia: for delivery to Portsmouth, England

Hello everyone - Cy Bear calling you, as Isobel has been caught out - and she's not unhappy about it either! 

Earlier in the week, she'd been busy making Hairy Bear III, as a replacement for the one sent to Edmonton, Alberta in April this year.  Well, she got another order - this time from someone living in Saudi Arabia asking for her version of Hairy Bear to go to a young nephew living in Portsmouth, England.  We do like the whole international flavour of being involved with Etsy - it makes everything that much more exciting!

So, as she was mid-way in the production process,we thought we would tell you how Isobel makes us Bears, and she took this picture of the current Hairy Bear, sending  it to Yvonne B-P to illustrate her
Bear's progress:

Ears bottom left:  arms upper left;  head, minus facial features centre; the legs upper right and the body, minus limbs centre right taken on the ironing board.

Then the stuffing process began, with head and limbs being filled first.  Then the joints were applied and the limbs attached to the unfilled body piece.  Ears were attached to the head and the facial features (nose and mouth) embroidered with black double knitting wool.  The next stage is to gather up the neck space of the body prior to stuffing the body with the limbs already attached.  Bears can have joints so that the heads move around like the limbs, but Isobel finds that often the finished toy can have a wobbly head - and she doesn't like that.  So, all her heads are firmly attached  and we all feel (and look) a lot more secure.

Once the body is filled, the lower apperture between the legs is sewn up and then comes the difficult bit -  attaching the head to the body and making sure it is straight and firm.  Sometimes Isobel can do this first time:  with Yvonne's Hairy Bear it took her three trys before she was satisfied.  Here is what he looks like - with me sitting beside him!

Believe it or not - both Hairy Bear and I are made from the same pattern:  it's just that real Beaver Lamb Fur makes a bigger (more handsome - in my opinion, anyway -) Bear than the fur fabric from which Hairy Bear is made.  The fabric used comes from one of Isobel's sources - a soft furnishing factory in a town called Frome, about 10 miles from Heytesbury.  It is an off-cut (from making chair coverings) and if not used to make Hairy Bears, would end up on the local dump.  So you could say, we are environmentally friendly as a shop at www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com. 

That's all for today folks:  see you again soon.  Cy Bear

ColdhamCuddliescalling: Just looking in......

ColdhamCuddliescalling: Just looking in......: "No time for blogging for a few days - working on a new version of Brown Hairy Bear (heard today that there might be an order for him in a da..."

Just looking in......

No time for blogging for a few days - working on a new version of Brown Hairy Bear (heard today that there might be an order for him in a day or two:  a gratifying surprise), getting ready to entertain friends from the village to lunch and still trying to get the details of blogging properly sorted.  Cannot seem to get the hang of moving from this site to other blogs and back again - but will persevere and hopefully, soon, the penny will drop.

At the suggestion of son-in-law Alan, moved my browser to Google Chrome, because he said the whole thing was less cluttered.  Problem is, have got used to clutter when surfing etc, so have returned to Mozilla Firefox, because for some reason or another, my dealings with Etsy started to fail.  So, with the prospect of an order in the offing, have moved back almost to the previous settings.  That's my problem, I have a little knowledge:  and there is an old "saying" that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.  In my case, it sure can be.  I click on invitations to do this and that, and find myself in a whole new world - which may (and in many cases is not) be what I'm trying to achieve!

Have today also managed to link my Windows Live site to RSS Atom feeds, which I've noticed a lot of folks have on their blogsites, so must be something I should be involved with, and while I'm inputting here I notice on the computer's edge something about "transferring data from ssl.gstatic.com" - now, I'm finding that anything with a "g" in front of it usually has a Google connection, and as this blog also has one, hopefully, that too will end up positively affecting my future activities.

Mulberry trees have been mentioned in earlier posts.  This is the oldest one, which might be almost 400 years old

So, rather than ramble on any more, thought I'd end up with a picture showing a view of part of the garden here at The Hospital of St. John - where Peter and I live - and within which most of the current photographs of the ColdhamCuddlies (http://www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com.)  have been taken.  The buildings in the background consist of the Residents' Hall (where jollies take place) and some of the flat (apartments).  We live on the top floor of another wing, built at the same times as these were - 1972 (and they are referred to as "the New Building"!  When other parts of the complex were existing since 1672, I suppose they can be!!

Hope to be back again with, or without, Cy Bear, soon.

ColdhamCuddliescalling: Now for the next project.......?

ColdhamCuddliescalling: Now for the next project.......?: "The Red Teds before leaving for their destination As has become customary since my arrival at Coldham Cuddlies ( http://www.coldhamcud..."

Now for the next project.......?

The  Red Teds before leaving for their destination

As has become customary since my arrival at Coldham Cuddlies (http://www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/.) and becoming the official mascot, one of my duties is to say goodbye to those destined for pastures new.  In this case, for Little Red Ted it was  going Home:  Big Red Ted was the new boy!  Needless to say I'm thrilled that they seem to be happily ensconsed and now look forward to what happens next - especially after the mistake involving Little Red Ted's eyes and ears!  After all the poor little chap had gone through, too!

Isobel has just cut out the pattern pieces for the next version of Hairy Brown Bear - replacing Edmonton Hairy Bear and the room is floating in bits of fur left over 

A Bunny Tree, perhaps?



from the cutting out process!  Bit uncomfortable for folks with breathing problems, which is why most of the sewing involved in the Cuddlies' production gets done in the second bedroom, rather than in the living-room where Peter spends a lot of time.  Then, next on the horizon, in between Isobel trying to fathom how to get other sites' "buttons" set up on this blog - something that is driving her stir-crazy, for reasons I do not understand (nor want to) - are two new Foxes (a Mr and a Mrs - to be named when their final costumes are selected), a replacement Koala (for the one that also went to Edmonton, Alberta) and then, just maybe, another Teddy Bear rejuvenation project.  That's under discussion, so time will tell.

Meanwhile, it's nice to be able to talk to you all again.  Here's another picture with me and the Little Baby Rabbits.  Plans call for me to be pictured with all the other Cuddlies shown on http://www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/ (one at a time) but that's going to have to wait - as the weather seems to be breaking and the light may not allow for the photo-shoots to take place.  Then between us, Isobel and I will introduce them to you in this blog - incorporating the information already included in their Shop descriptions and, where needbe, adding more.

Red Ted Bulletins - Final Posting

Making Big Red Ted was a doddle - compared to the problems encountered with the little chap.  Big Red was made using the same patterns as I've used for all the other Teds in the Etsy shop (http://www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/.)   So instead of taking three weeks to sort Little Red Ted, it was only three days before Big Red was ready for stuffing and having his facial features added.


Here are the Two Red Teds together

Red Ted was made with Red Plush fur and stuffed - as all the Coldham Cuddlies are - with polyester fibre meeting international standards.  As I did not have chamoix leather to use for his pads, I used beige felt instead and the look fits him well, showing off his black, double knitting wool embroidered claws to perfection! 

Although they were not meant to, it's amazing how alike they look in their facial features - almost like father and son, don't you think?  However, as the two preceding posts indicate there is a matter of some 70 years difference in their origins!

Having successfully completed both toys, it was then a matter of introducing them to Mrs. P - something I have to admit to being somewhat apprehensive about (regarding Little Red Ted:  not Big Ted).  When introduced, Mrs. P said she would not have recognised Little Red Ted, but did approve of his new looks!  The shirt, trousers and cummberbund he arrived here with were declared to be redundant - "he now has fur again"!   Here is a picture of Mrs. P with both Red Teds sitting together.  So pleased is she with the final result and this picture that  it may feature as the family Christmas card later this year!  Now that is unexpected praise indeed!

Finally Home

Cy Bear's views on the whole episode will form the basis of tomorrow blog.  Meanwhile that's it for today"

The Rejuvenation of Little Red Ted - Part 1

As promised (or threatened?) recently, am now ready to tell you what has been happening in this field of activity in the life of the Coldham Cuddlies (all of whom are featured  http://www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/).

 Little Red Ted (our name for him:  we don't know what his owner calls him) joined us at the end of March when his owner - I'll call her Mrs. P for this article - and I met at a meeting of the local branch of  The Royal British Legion Women's Section here at the Hospital of St. John.  Having seen pictures of Cy Bear, she asked me if I could do her a Big Red Ted for her youngest grand daughter. (She specified Red, because she had had one as a child herself and loved it to bits!)   When I went to see her to show a sample of the only red plush fur fabric I could find from my current suppliers, she introduced me  to Little Red Ted - who was indeed very much loved, but in such a sad  state of repair that I offered to see if I could rejuvenate him.  She was happy for me to do so.

So, in order to be able to create a pattern to carry out the process, I unpicked the seams - and found some problems.  In order to prolong his existence,  he had been "mended" very often - threads of at least three different colours had been used over the years and the seams were threadbare.  When he was made, hand made toys used very different materials. Polyester fibre had not been invented so he was stuffed with a mixture of kapok and wood shavings (large sawdust) and his eyes were glass with a very thin wire stuck to it (with what I do not know).  When the deconstruction process was complete,  I separated these items - and took this photograph to show what I found.

The wire on which the glass eye was fixed had just simply been shoved into the kapok, which provided a thin lining into which the saw dust had been poured.  No attempt had been made to stop the items from being pulled out and, even if they were the originals, the thought of what might have happened if "little fingers" had been active, is somewhat horrifying.  Mrs. P told me that Little Red Ted has been played with by her, her children, and grand-children, as well as having been attacked by a dog(s) in the past!  As it was, when I attempted to carefully separate the wire from the kapok into which it had been pushed, one of the eyes separated from the wire.

The cotter pins are very much thicker and heavier than the plastic joints which are now used when making Bears or other cuddly toys.  Little Red Ted's body was almost too small to handle five of them (head + four limbs).  So I decided to remove them totally and replace them with the modern versions which are much lighter and less cumbersome.

The next stages were to create cardboard templates from the original body pieces, trim round the edges and applique them on to calico sheeting.  I then cut out another set of pattern pieces in the new red plush fur fabric, laid the appliqued pieces on the matching new fabric pieces and sewed them up to create a new, unstuffed toy.  



                                                     

                                                                  Showing treated head pieces and an arm





The pale "cut out" areas are where the cotter pins had been placed



The next instalment in the rejuvenation process will follow in the next blog.

After the Royal Wedding - what next?

We've spent practically all day glued to the television - watching the crowds in London watching the Royal Wedding.  Was very restrained and did not switch the television when I first got up (the broadcasts began at 0600 BST) but waited till my husband got up and allowed him to put it on instead (that was about 0800 BST) and it stayed on .... and on..... and on. Very moving and thoroughly enjoyable:  makes one proud to be British again.

However, am pleased to say that it did enable me to finally repair the damage to Big Red Ted.  The interrupted photoshoot will thus take place tomorrow, and then I will be in a position to blog about the production of both Red Bears (Little Red Ted's rejuvenation as well as the production of Big Red Ted).

The rejuvenation process was indeed a challenge, but it's given me an idea:  to broaden the Coldham Cuddlies shopping experience (visible by visiting http://www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/)  by offering to rejuvenate the beloved Teds of everyone else.  There are few households around I suspect that does not hold a beloved soft toy (not necessarily just Bears) that is in need of some TLC. Some folks might say the tattered toy has "character"  and it would be shame to lose it - but how about prolonging its existence for a few more years instead?   If I did proceed, dolls would not be included - have never been a "doll person" and I'm not planning on becoming one now!  Have nothing agin them:  just prefer cuddly, furry animals instead.

It needs thinking about - but meanwhile, wonder what the great big Etsy (and others) world might have to say?  While I await - with bated breath - any comments on this idea, I'll end for today with a picture of Cy Bear with all the new Baby Rabbits, four of whom were included in yesterday's post.

New Listing on Etsy as part of the Social Media Blitz e-course

 

www.etsy.com/listing/01234567/light-brown-baby-rabbits is the actual Etsy.com listing (further information regarding these new members of the ColdhamCuddlies family can be found on my shop site at www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com). These little guys replace the former Brown Rabbit who recently left the ColdhamCuddlies family for a Canadian home They are made from the same pattern but look smaller than the original Brown Baby Rabbit because the plush fur fabric from which they are made is thinner overall Also when making them I inadvertently left out a pattern piece However I think they have a better overall appearance than the original Brown Baby Rabbit and will be selling them at a slightly lower price with the pattern piece missing They measure 6" (10.5 cms) from tip of their ears to their sitting position and can be made with a white front or be completely self coloured They come with their own ribbon enabling them to be used as pram or cot toys This ribbon can be easily taken off if needed All baby rabbit toys are made in a smoke free and animal free environment and can be machine washed to 40 degrees Personally I would stick to 30 degrees just in case the dyes in the plush fabric are not fast ones Hang by ribbon to dry although they probably would survive a short tumble drying session

Re-opening the blogging posts

Blogging regularly is about to re-start - in a day or so.  However, yesterday, I began to follow the latest offering from Tim Adams, leader of the Handmadeology Team on Etsy.com which is designed to help those of us who are clueless about Social Media - full-stop!  Believe me - I'm the original  in that department.  Know that there is something called Facebook, have used it to post photographs of my toys being offered in my Etsy shop (http://www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/) but am still not sure that either of the sites talk to each other or how to correct the fault if they do not.  Am a Twitterer, and tweet occasionally (when I remember) and yesterday registered with Digg, Stumbleupon and a couple of other sites recommended by the Social Media Blitz course. 

Was supposed to blog about it yesterday, but I find myself doing all this internet stuff quite late at night, and being a Silver Surfer, can get in a bit of a muddle at times as a result.  Doing it during the day doesn't always work - husband, Peter, often comes in and wants to know what is happening, without really being that interested.  However, he can have a malign influence on my computer - so his enquiries are not always appreciated!

So, having discovered Handmadeology, following my interview on the http://www.insideetsy.blogspot.com/. site earlier in April, I've been trying to keep up with all the helpful hints being provided.  They are wonderfully helpful, but they don't seem to be doing much to assist my problem in making sure that folks are actually reading the blog.  However, now I think about it, I was warned by a fellow Etsian (Yenbo), who was kind enought to create the Shop banner for me,  that it could take 6 months before I began to get regular comments on the blog.  SundayAfternoonHousewife has also been most helpful, and I hope soon to be able to follow her helpful hints too.

This may explain the lack of blogging from me in the last couple of weeks - and I've also been up to my eyes in Red Teds.  Little Red Ted is now fully rejuvenated - and will form at least a couple of future blogs (stage by stage pics will be included) and so, too, is Big Red Ted.  However, this afternoon, the latter suffered an unexpected injury by losing his left arm while involved in a photoshoot.  Until I've re-joined that to his torso, photography has had to be suspended (much to Cy Bear's annoyance - he rather likes his involvement as the ColdhamCuddlies mascot!).  However, it's not such a big deal, and I hope to resume progress in that matter tomorrow - as well as find out a bit more on how to make Facebook and Twitter work for the ColdhamCuddlies product and myself  - from the Social Media Blitz e-course being provided via Tim Adams.

Till then - bye for now.Isobel

News from Nottinghamshire

Hello again:  Cy Bear calling!

Isobel has just had the following message regarding the reception given to the Little Black Bunny that was sent to Nottinghamshire earlier this month.

"Thought you would want to know... Laura's Bunny (the black and white one) was hand delivered on Saturday. She LOVED it. Put it on her wrist right away and danced around the house with it! :) After much debate we decided it was a girl rabbit, and we decided that it would be nice if it were to be called Isobel! :) Sam's rabbit has also been delivered... I think he is going to get his bunny on Easter day though! I shall report back when I know how he liked it! :)"

Isobel tells me that "Laura" is something called a God-Daughter to one of Isobel's own daughters and Sam is her God-son!  We're looking forward to hearing about Sam's reaction to his Easter present:  somehow we don't think it will be to dance around the house:  but you never know! Not much has happened today on the ColdhamCuddlies Etsy site (http://www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/) because it was the  annual clothing changeover (from winterweight gear to their summer wear for Isobel and Peter.  That means ironing shirts, dresses etc. so it may mean there won't be a post tomorrow. Meanwhile, to end today's input, here's  another picture of me and the newest Little Rabbits - Grey, Brown and Black/White.  It was taken with some of us balancing on the trunk of a very old Mulberry Tree in our garden here at the Hospital of St. John - which may (or may not) be nearly 400 years' old.  Certainly, Isobel says the trunk seems to be  made of metal, not wood! Bye for now - Cy Bear

ColdhamCuddliescalling: Further look at the new Baby Rabbits - as promised...

ColdhamCuddliescalling: Further look at the new Baby Rabbits - as promised...: "Hello there - Cy Bear back again! Isobel is really getting going with the Rejuvenation of Little RedTed - and she'll be telling ..."

Further look at the new Baby Rabbits - as promised!

Hello there - Cy Bear back again!

Isobel is really getting going with the Rejuvenation of Little RedTed - and she'll be telling you all about it next time she gets in front of her computer.  She's been taking pictures as she's gone along - she'll include them in her post - so she can remind herself how she did the job.  However,  she's been thinking!  (Always a dangerous sign, her family members might say at this point!)  If Little RedTed's owner is happy with the result, Isobel is thinking of going into a new sideline - setting up a ColdhamCuddlies' Soft Toy Hospital!  Seemingly everyone she talks to has (or knows someone who has) an old bear (or other cuddly toy) that has loved to bits (many times, quite literally) that  could well be made to look young again.  She's thinking about it anyway....

Meanwhile, whilst working on Little RedTed she's been trying to find time to do the other pictures of the Baby Bunnies in their individual colour groups - so they can ben listed on our Etsy site (http://www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/).  Unfortunately, either the sunlight has not be in the right spot, or when it was, the batteries in her camera were too low!  However, she's hoping that everything will be in place tomorrow, so that she can complete the job and concentrate on finishing Little RedTed and then cut out and starting sewing Big Red Ted!

In the interim, I did promise to include more pictures of me with the pesky little rabbits - and here they are!   Until next time......

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).

"Missing Bear" finally located

Hello there:  it's Cy Bear back again.

Sorry for the delay in getting back, but Isobel has been so busy complying with my suggestion that her Etsy shop (http://www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com/) should be replenished after the recent departures for Edmonton, Alberta and Nottinghamshire, UK that she's not been able to put our thoughts down in a new post.

The Baby Rabbits are shortly going to be boosted by the addition of 10 more models:  two Black and White ones - they are still in bits:  four Grey ones (two with White fronts) - this time, their fur is a darker Grey and they are sewn together, but need stuffing and the addition of their tails and ears;  and four new Brown ones, two with White fronts.  Two of the Brown ones are stuffed, and one still needs ears, tail and facial features and ribbon added.  Isobel has also been deciding the best way to restore Red Ted to an acceptable state - poor chap really was in a state and in danger of letting down the Teddy Bear team!

Another problem that was exercising Isobel was the "Missing" Bear (this is him in this picture!)  that had successfully completed his journey to Massachusetts.  Although she had seen a picture of him in his very smart new sweater, she was unable to find the illustration when she came to put it in this blog.  She and Etsy have been working on the "disappearance", and this afternoon, she was delighted to find the message from Light Brown Bear's new owner and his picture on her Feedback bit of her Etsy Shop.

An update on the Edmonton crowd that left England a week ago today.  We got a message back yesterday that they, too, have arrived safely, and there was a picture of them too!

Got to go now - after doing this post twice (really, Isobel has got to get to grips with this blogging business!  Bye!  Cy Bear



Just a brief call

The material for RedTed and RedTed11 arrived today - and it was only ordered yesterday afternoon!  Royal Mail can do it.....when they want to.

However, had planned on a few days' grace before its arrival as I listened to Cy's comments regarding the need to replenish the Etsy stock!  So despite the new material having arrived so fast, am now deep into replacing the Baby Rabbits, initially.  The Grey ones are being made with and without white fronts (two of each) using a deeper grey plush fur, the two Black Baby Rabbits are going to both have white chests, and am making four Brown Baby Rabbits, two with white fronts and two without.  Have already got one Brown one waiting to be stuffed, so all being well - the baby rabbits stocks should be up and running by mid-week.  I can then start the RedTeds project and then Hairy Bear (have actually renewed him on the Etsy site - just in case someone else wants one.  If so, the Baby rabbits will have to be pushed down the list!

Getting late now - so will end and Cy can have his say next time around. 

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