Great News - We've been nominated for The Liebster Award - again!

Thanks to Vanessa Young  - Captain  of the Etsy Vintage Toy Addiction Team, www.ColdhamCuddliescalling.blogspot.com. has just been nominated for the Liebster Award for our blog for the SECOND time!  Am very flattered, and have told her so - but first let's get things out in the open - Vanessa is a blogging friend of mine, she's been a customer (she's the Forever Friend of a Panda Bear she's called Peter) and we've been in touch on Etsy for quite a long time! (She even found me the pattern for the Hedgehog Family!)  No matter - I value her support, am delighted to comply with the rules associated with the Liebester Award - which seem to feature the Number 11 quite a lot!   So here are my answers to her 11 specific questions about myself - for those who are interested!



Vanessa's 11 specific questions to me were: 
1. When crafting do you prefer music or a movie?
    Music, but am quite happy sewing in silence.  Get more creative ideas then!     
2. What’s your favorite movie?
    Lawrence of Arabia - think I’ve seen it at least 7 times.
3. Favorite song?
    Don’t really have one - am a classical music fan, which tends to be more instrumental
4. Do you have a job outside of Etsy?
    No:  I’m a retired silver surfer, with a dangerous tendency to click on the wrong buttons and then     have to face the consequences.
5.Do you have a pet?
    Not now:  have had  both cats and dogs in the past though.  Like both equally. Offer dog-walking/minding services to the local population!
6.Favorite book?
    Too many to list!
7.Favorite drink?
    Sherry - Amontillado or Medium Dry for preference
8.If you could live in any time period what would you choose?
     Victorian, I think:  their garments concealed an awful lot!
9. Which is the favourite place that you have traveled to?
    Both South Africa and Kenya - just love that Continent.
10.Favorite quote?
    If in doubt, don’t!11.Favorite toy you had growing up
    A Bear called Betty - who disappeared when I first went to boarding school and wasn’t allowed to come with me as she was deemed to be too tatty!  Must be why I'm enjoying rejuvenating old bears in the ColdhamCuddlies Soft Toy Clinic these days

In addition, those of us who are lucky enough to be nominated for the Liebster Award also have to tell folks 11 things about oneself:  at the risk of repeating myself  (it’s a while ago since the first award), here are some facts about this dangerous silver surfer, with a tendency to hit the wrong button - and then have to face the consequences!

(1)    I’m a recent widow - as of May 26 this year.  We would have celebrated 43 years of marriage this  September had Peter lived, although we’d known each other, and been good friends, for 7 years before we tied the knot.

(2)    I’m the mother of two wonderful daughters and a great son-in-law - of whom I am very proud, and consider myself lucky to have their support.

(3)    I was born in Pakistan  72 years ago (then British India - my father was an officer in the British Indian Army) and was orphaned by the age of 10 months - too long a story to tell here

(4)    I was lucky enough to be staying with an Aunt and Uncle in South India when that event happened, so I lived with them until I grew up.  My uncle was a Tea Planter of some note.

(5)    I went to school in Bath, about 20 miles from where I now live.  The school was then known as The Royal School for Daughters of Officers of the Army:  it is now known as The Royal Bath High School.  Whilst I cannot say they were the happiest days of my life, I have always valued the education I received.  It has stood me in good stead.

(6)    After training as a Shorthand-Typist in Norwich, Norfolk, England, I have been lucky enough to work in London, England, Johannesburg, South Africa, and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, ending up helping Peter to operate our own printing and publishing company both in Canada and the UK.  One does not have to be university educated to have an interesting life - although it would have undoubtedly helped!

(7)    We spent 12 years, with the girls growing up, in Canada, and returned to the UK in 1987, because we couldn’t face another Edmonton winter and we wanted the girls to receive their tertiary education in the UK (on the advice of our Canadian educational friends).  We have not regretted it, and still keep in touch with friends made there!

(8)    Our house started to fall down after we’d lived in it for nearly 2 years (despite being built for over 100 years) - the cause being put down to tree roots ruining its foundations. Lesson learned?  Beware Poplar trees!

(9)    The resulting legal battles over the house resulted in Peter’s health breaking down, and he never recovered properly despite battling for 23 years until his release earlier this year.  I was his full-time carer.

(10)    The Coldham Cuddlies world has been a wonderful grounding force for me since Peter left us, and I’m looking forward to blogging, making more new toys as well as replacements for the existing ones in 2013 - and some possible extensions to these activities in the not too distant future.

(11)    On top of all this activity, I’m looking forward to seeing what happens to my wonderful family - and myself - in 2013 and wish everyone a great New Year - hope you achieve everything you wish for yourselves!

Finally - and I hope you’re not all tired out reading after all this - I’m directed to nominate 11 Blogs I follow for the Liebster Award, who do not have 200 Followers or more already.

 I’ve recently learned how to Blog Hop, join Linky Parties and the like, so have collected a whole heap of such sites, and I’ve just picked 11 out at random that qualify.  Please, do go and visit them:  follow them so that they can get noticed by the Big Boys of Social Media and be helped along in the way I have been since being first nominated for the Liebster Award - way back when there was an Etsy BESTeam Blogging faternity (or should that be sorority?).  Both have helped me - so good luck to the following blogs!

1    www.A Fly on our (Chicken Coop) Wall.
2    www.Amanda’s Books and More.
3.    www Channelled Creations.
4.     www.Confessions of a Newlywed.
5.    www.cook-love-craft
6.    www.garden and sea.
7    www.Georgia Dunn Studio
8.    www.Howling at the moon
9.    www.Joie Joelle Creations
10.    www.  i felt like it
11.    www.In Designer Jeans


Planned to blog about other matters, until this happened earlier today!  However, there's always next time.  I'll hand over to Cy Bear then, too!  Meanwhile, all the best - and thanks again, Vanessa!

Now I'm off to informl the new Award winners what's happened to them!  And ask them the following 11 Questions!

(1)    Got your Christmas cards done yet?
(2)    What do you hate most in life?
(3)    Now the opposite - the best thing for you?
(4)    Dogs, Cats or Another Animal?
(5)    Favourite Carol?
(6)    Apart from Wallmart, where do you shop?
(7)    Your favourite food?
(8)    Favourite colour?
(9)    New Year’s resolution yet?
(10)    Christmas this year:  home or away?
(11)    New Year wish?

Meet Percy and Penny, The Pig Twins

Hello Everyone!  Cy Bear here again, and I'm absolutely delighted to be able to introduce you to the latest two members of the ColdhamCuddlies Family - who have been waiting to be dressed and listed for some months now.  Isobel finally managed to fit the dress-making in before doing the last Christmas orders and then starting on the Treatment of the Bear Quintet - about which I will be telling you shortly in another post, not to mention the Christmas Bazaar held at the Wylye Valley Primary School in nearby Codford on Saturday, December 1.  From what I've been able to gather, it was quite a successful venture - which means, I suppose that I'll be losing some of my fellow Cuddlies soon. It's always sad to say Good-bye, but great to know they're going to their Forever Homes!

The Pig Twins, Percy and Penny are actually adopted Coldham Cuddlies - having been originally handmade by a long-term family friend of the Morrell Family.  It was such a long time ago,we've been told, that we don't actually know how old these two really are.  But it's certainly ten years or so that they've been wrapped up in one of her cupboards, and re-discovered when PatC (Fred Bear's Forever Friend - see our posts about Fred's treatment in the Soft Toy Clinic - 18/08/2012 and 24/09/2012) was clearing out her sewing stocks.   (Isobel has now got a huge collection of leather off cuts, trimmings, embroidery silks galore and other things from both PatC and Pat's sister, who was also looking for a home for her sewing stores).   Both ladies are now alas, unable to continue to sew and PatC also donated both Percy and twin sister, Penny, for Isobel to complete their clothes. That  having been, The Pig Twins are now ready to be adopted by a Forever Friend - either together, or on their own.

Percy Pink Pig - Etsy Listing #116181155

If Percy finds his own Forever Friend, he will be charged at £12.50 (20.00 USD).  Should the Forever Friend want to buy both Penny and Percy together, each Pig will be charged at £10.00 each (16.00 USD), a saving of £2.50 (4.00 USD) per Toy.

 

Penny Pink Pig - Etsy Listing #116922925

Both Percy and Penny are  handmade with Pink Fleece fabric, from a vintage pattern - of which Isobel only now has the clothing instructions, although she does have the templates for the Pig bodies and their clothes.  Percy  is dressed with Green and White Candy Striped Poplin Shirt and a Light Green moleskin type dungarees, which are attached with braces - sewn at the back and fixed with poppers under golden, portcullis-patterned buttons.  The clothes are removable - unlike the other Dressed Coldham Cuddlies in our shop (www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies).  He has a very fetching, curly tail.

Penny has a similarly fetching tail, but it cannot be seen until she is undressed!  Her dress is made with Green and White Candy Striped Poplin, with Green RicRac edging at the hem, wrists and neck.  She also has a white Cotton Apron, fixed with cotton cord at the back.  The Apron, and Penny's Dress also have White Lace edging - all round in the case of the Apron, and at her wrists and neck in the case of her Dress.

The Twin's  vital statistics are:

    Height (top of head to tip of toes along the back)  ..    ..    ..  18 ins (40.6 cms)
            Head round nose                                                     ..    ..    ..  16 ins (40 cms)
    Arm tip to Arm tip, across back                             ..    ..    ..  15 ins (30.8 cms)
            Weight  - Percy                                      362 g (c. 13 ozs)
                           Penny                                     296 g (c. 11 ozs)

Percy and Penny Pink Pig - dressed

Percy and Penny Pink Pig - on arrival earlier this year!

The Twins can be created in Pink (the stock version of pink is a more rose pink than shown here!), White, Blue or even Purple Fleece should there be a request for such versions.

Both Twins will be able to travel separately at the Standard Small Packet Parcel rate charged by UK Royal Mail. If they are able to find their Forever Homes together, then they will probably have to be charged a the Higher Small Parcel rate operated by UK Royal Mail.  Customers are always advised prior to posting should there be a change to the listed postal prices.

Right, this is all I can tell you about Percy and Penny Pink Pigs - so until I get back to you, Good Night Everyone! Your Friend, Cy Bear

Welcome to some Handsome Stuffed Frogs, Newest Coldham Cuddlies members

Green Stuffed Frogs - Etsy Listing #116285186

These Handsome Stuffed Frog Toys have just been listed in our shop (www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies) and are the result of a custom order placed in September this year.  They are hand made for folks who enjoy collecting Frogs as a pastime.  Indeed, the customer who suggested they become members of the ColdhamCuddlies Family has a close relative who already has over 40 in place.  I was persuaded to think about it, as the customer was keen  to buy one, even providing a deposit, and suggested that there was definitely a market for such a Toy.  I promised to look into the matter, found  I already had a Vintage Frog pattern in house, so then had no excuse not to have a go.

I have to confess that to date I have never regarded Frogs as being Cuddly - however both these guys have made me change my mind.  They have been great fun to make, don’t take too long and, above all, have provided my arthritic fingers with a real workout during their construction.  I decided to make two versions - to familiarise myself with the production process and to provide my Customer with a selection.  The second version was easier than the first - so I have high hopes of becoming quite adept at Frog construction. 

There are a number of colour combinations already available - they don’t just have to be variations on a theme of GREEN.  They could already be Brown and Orange, Brown and Yellow and Brown and Beige and any other combinations customers might like to suggest.  If they are not in stock, I am happy to go source them.  They could well look good in Fleece, as well as the fabrics shown.

Dark Green Frog has been selected by my Customer, Mr.GS.  He approved of both versions, but felt the Dark Green one was most realistic!  He can be easily replaced (he took me 2½  days to make) and is made from fabric I purchased when a local glove factory (from whom I buy my leather off  cuts) was moving to a new manufacturing site and was having a clear out sale.  The dark green fabric has the feel of a raincoat - very appropriate for a Frog, and actually has a soft black reverse side, which is what attracted me in the first place.  The green velvet look chest actually has a rubber backing.  So this version could well be described as waterproof.  He is, in any case, washable. 

Green and Orange Frog is made from an off-cut obtained from my supplier of such fabrics and feels like felt or moleskin, with a cotton backing (and recently appeared as the trousers for our custom Tweed Coated Coyote, now on his way to his Forever Home in Canada.  The orange chest is made with velvet and the eyes are plastic with pupils that move about  - giving the Toy a realistic look.  The fabric used for this Frog may well not be washable - but could respond to dry-cleaning if necessary.  Crafters  know all about   velvet's fraying capabilities,  Thus, although Dark Green Frog had no worries on this score, I ensured that all seams on both versions were over sewn:  just to reinforce their long-term integrity.

Both Frogs are stuffed with polyester fibre meeting all international safety standards and their vital statistics are as follows

Measurements    Body - Nose to Tail       11 inches (28 cms)

                           Chest - Nose to Tail        7 inches (17.7 cms)

                           Girth - under arms         13 inches (30.3 cms)

                            Body, including legs     22.5 inches (50.6 cms)

                      Weight                        271 g  (10 ounces).

This means that both Frogs will travel at the Standard Small Packet rate charged by UK Royal Mail.  Buyers are asked to bear in mind that as I now no longer drive, I am reliant on local public transport to reach either of the two Post Offices in the vicinity that are equipped to deal with parcels.  This is done every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.  Should there be any question of a tight deadline involved when Buyers are placing an order(s), please take this restriction into consideration.

I've almost finished dressing two more new members of the ColdhamCuddlies Family - and hope to have them listed in our shop at www.Etsy.com/shop/coldlhamcuddlies later this week, so you'll be hearing all about them then - probably from our friend Cy Bear.  I've finally managed to track down some mohair fabric which two of my five Bear Patients in the Soft Toy Clinic (Etsy Listing #79124185) require for their renovation/rejuvenation treatments.  The other three don't need to be matched up - merely thoroughly cleaned up and re-stuffed..

Thus, will close now - and get going on some sewing.  Bye for now.  Isobel

A Prize-winning Collectable Dressed White Plush Rabbit, Handmade in the UK using a Vintage Pattern and Upcycled Fabric

Meet Jubilee Rabbit, a prize-winning member of the Coldham Cuddlies family, complete with the prize-winning certificate awarded by the Wiltshire County Branch of the UK Royal British Legion Womens Section in the soft toy category  of their annual Handicraft Competition.  Jubilee Rabbit also contributed to the Heytesbury Branch  of the Royal British Region winning the Handicraft Cup for 2012.  The award was received November 23, 2012.

This White Plushie measures 18 inches (46 cms) from the tip of her ears, over the nose to the soles of her Blue Felt Shoes.  Like all the other Lady Coldham Cuddlies toys, she has a pair of  pantaloons, with pale blue poplin fabric delicately edged in white lacey trim.

Her Blue Gingham Dress is edged with white RicRac binding, and her white Felt Collar is edged with red white and blue French Knots - to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II of the UK.

This White Plushie comes with a white furry tail - as all good bunnies do.  In addition, like all the Coldham Cuddlies Lady Toys, she has an Apron, which is decorated with red RicRac binding.  It is made with white Muslin and has red white and blue floral print ties.

 Jubilee Rabbit is completed with a juicy orange Carrot topped off with fresh green felt Carrot Leaves.

The final look!