One thing that led to another ... and another ....

Good afternoon, Folks!  Cy Bear back again for another session with you all - cannot believe how long it is since Isobel interrupted our getting-together here on our blog!  Long may it continue.

 

Seem to recall that at the end of last week's post, I said we'd introduced another new Cuddly to the COLDHAMCUDDLIES family and that I'd tell you all about him when we next met.  So - here is his story - or rather, to begin with, the story of both our new Sleepy Koala Bears.

 

To make these little fellows, Isobel used the template she made when she originally treated Little Brown Ted - a small bear that had lived in a toybox kept by Alan's mother, when Alan himself was at an age to play with stuffed toys.  By the time we'd been introduced, he was a Patient in our Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinic, and after creating a template using his plush pieces, we ended up with Little Sleepy Ted, a Yellow Plush Teddy Bear.

MsHG contacted Isobel on Christmas Eve last year to ask if it would be possible for us to make a Sleepy Koala based on the same template pattern, so these two chaps are the result.  We took photographs of both of them, and sent them to MsHG for her to decide which she'd like to provide a Forever Home to, and she asked for Sleepy Koala on the right - and asked that the left-hand Koala be given an extra hug, because she felt guilty at not taking them both!

So, Right Hand Koala was wrapped up and readied for his trip to Torquay, Devon, England, UK - but not before there was our usual farewell ceremony.

Also, before the departing Sleepy Koala was wrapped up, Isobel took some photos of them together so that the remaining one could be listed in our Shop (www.ColdhamCuddlies.Etsy.com). 

 

Because they don't sit up terribly well - unless propped up with pillows (they're not called "Sleepy" for nothing, after all),  we took them propping each other up, and then one showing their rears:

Then, we took a side view of the remaining Sleepy Koala, seen below:

One of him facing the camera, full on

and, finally, one of him with a facial close-up:

Then on Wednesday morning Isobel took him to our local Post Office, where she walks every day - if possible - to get her daily newspaper, and posted him to MsHG.

 By mid-afternoon on the Thursday, we received a convo message from her to say that Sleepy Koala had arrived safely, she sent a picture of him in his new Forever Home and posted it on our Coldham Cuddlies Facebook page and then, in the early evening, Isobel received a telephone call from her.  She was so pleased with Sleepy (which is what she's is going to call him) that she asked if the Baby Koalas we already have in our Shop
https://www.etsy.com/listing/55190188/toy-koala-tree-bear-grey-fleck-and-white? were made with the same fabric as Sleepy.

Having confirmed that indeed they were, Isobel offered MsHG the chance to choose which of the three Baby Koalas remaining in the Shop she would like - we originally had four listed, but one was sold during the Christmas Bazaar in the Kirkby Festival Hall at the beginning of December 2014.  She chose and convo'd Isobel telling her which one she wanted.  But, when Isobel went to get him from his snug, she found that we'd got one of our original Brown Koala's still looking for a Forever Home.

On the off chance that MsHG might like him better, she sent a picture of Brown Baby Koala, together with the one she had chosen (just confirming we'd got the right one).  Well, blow me down, on Saturday afternoon, MsHG came back with the request that she'd like both of them:  she thought they both looked as though they were the best of pals, and she hadn't the heart to separate them - as well as the two Sleepy Koalas.  So, on Monday, we will be posting the two Baby Koalas so they can join Sleepy Koala.  With luck, their journey will end with a great reunion sometime next Tuesday.  (Brown Koala is the last of his line - because Isobel wants to keep the remaining Light Brown Faux Fur so she can make more Big Teddy Bears.   We have a much bigger stash of the Grey/White Faux Fur fabric now.)

So, although there's plenty more to tell - and show - you I'll close this post for now.  See you all soon, because there are some more exciting possibilities on the horizon.  It's all happening here at the moment!

Your friend Cy Bear

 

   

We have a Black and White Cat Puppet to tell you about!

Hello Everyone!  Cy Bear once more signing in, a little later than usual.  But what with Isobel developing bronchitis and then the computer browser having a hissy fit on Sunday - when we normally try to post - there has been no option but to delay this until today.  Still, better late than never! So, where to start?  Perhaps with a reference to the last item in our previous post - the fact that Isobel was having difficulty fitting the newly made Black and White Cat Head (BWC) to the previously made Dry Run Puppet Body.  As it happened, when she sat down and concentrated - after the antibiotics had begun to wreak their miraculous effect, it was quite easy in the end, and we now have a new member of the Coldham Cuddlies family, - the Black and White Plush/Fleece Arm Puppet.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/218473996

The actual puppet body production has been described in earlier posts, so I'm not going to go into too much detail here.  However, making BWC involved making a slightly bigger template for this fellow's head than Isobel originally used for our Ginger Plush Sitting Cat 

Isobel now has this bigger head template in a separate envelope, and it will be added to the animal head collection we are amassing for future puppet and golf club covers - both of which need a similar sized head.  So, having attached BWC's head to  the Puppet Body, we then took some photographs from different angles, and he has been listed in our Shop (https://www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES).

Carefully propped up against a pillow, this shows  BWC at full length - 18 inches (40.6 cms) from neck to base of body.  This bit can be varied, of course, depending on the length of the operator's arm - which is why our Arm Puppets are tagged as being "made to measure".  If any interested party wants a Cat, Tiger or any other Animal from the Coldham Cuddlies Collection, they just have to let Isobel know these vital statistics, and 3-4 weeks after receipt of the information, their individual Puppet will be on its way to them!   (The likelihood is that delivery will actually be earlier than that 3-4 weeks, but Isobel likes to give herself a little leeway, in case she has a lot of other requests for her sewing attention at the time an order is received.  She does not like delivering anything LATE!)

This shows the decoration around the neck which Isobel embroidered by using white embroidery thread and chain stitch.  It just lifts the puppet body a little - and obviously, this too, can be individualised in any future Puppet request.  (It has the added effect of creating a tube around the neck - enabling a draw string (or elastic) to be inserted if that should be requested).

It looks like BWC is trying to climb the pillows, doesn't it?  He's is actually very gingerly balanced on the edge of the Body's base, but we hope it conveys what he looks like from the rear. Finally, Isobel was delighted to discover that she doesn't have to rely on just her gentlemen neighbours here at Old Chapel Close, where we now reside when it comes to "borrowing" a hand to operate our Puppets.  Our usual "model" was unavailable when this was taken, but when Isobel visited the Resident's Lounge to see if she could find a  model for this picture, we found that there are at least three ladies blessed with large hand spans, who were only too pleased to assist.

Even though the photography session interrupted a hand of cards - actual game not known - we are very grateful to our fellow residents for the interest they exhibit in every Cuddly that is produced in our Flat here, and for the way they are always willing to help in any way they can.  They make terrific "critics" when opinions are required, as well. The bronchitis Isobel has been suffering from seems to be well on it's way to being non-existent, but despite it's effects, we've been able to keep up the toy-production schedule.  Yesterday, saw the two Sleepy Koala Bears finished.  They were speedily photographed together and exhibited as a mini-catwalk show to MsHG, their Adopter from Torquay in Devon, England, UK.  She indicated which one she wanted  today - and the selected Bear will be on its way tomorrow - just a day later than intended.  MsHG had begged Isobel not to worry if she was a day or so late in delivery - because she, too, had been the victim of one of the vicious bugs that seem to be going round the UK at the moment, and did not expect her Sleepy Bear to be delivered on time, under the circumstances. I'll tell you all about these fellows next time I post - as well as sharing some rather interesting statistics (not many, I hasten to add!) about this blog and it's progress since we began publishing it four years ago in March.  Also, I'm told, that February this year sees the Fifth Anniversary of the arrival of COLDHAMCUDDLIES on the Etsy.com scene, so I do think it's appropriate that some mention is made of these two facts. Until the next time, then.  Hope everyone is keeping well - and looking forward to being with you again soon.   Your friend, Cy Bear.