Slipper Production continuing - in full spate!

Good afternoon Everyone!

Another week has gone by, and it's time once again for me, Cy Bear, to update you on what's been happening in the Coldham Cuddlies World.

As the title for this post indicates, the Baby Slippers we told you about last week are well under way. with the White Polar Bear Slippers now completed.

The Polar Bears were joined on Friday evening by the first of the pair of  Panda Bear Slippers ordered at the same time by SnraCF - and Isobel sent her the photo above to update her on the order's progress.  The second slipper is well under way, and we're hoping to get that completed by the end of  Sunday evening.

The basic slipper is complete, and production of the second head is under way.  It needs the black eye patches and plastic eyes to be attached, the black plush ears as well,  and then the pink ribbon sewn on and the elastic threaded through.

All being well, we're hoping that both the Italy-bound Slippers will be en route early next week, well in time for Christmas - which is when SnraCF plans on giving them to her Granddaughters E and A.

Then, it's checking the measurements we've received for the Isobel's great-nephews to see how many new pairs of slippers need to be produced - once we've checked our existing stocks to see if, perchance, we may have some already made that could fit the bill.  At the same time, we'll be checking to see if the intended recipients want to have them with animal heads on

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/162884385/owl-novelty-slippers-brown-fleck-faux?ref=shop_home_active_6

or for them to be just conservatively plain and simple!

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/158936304/unisex-novelty-slippers-badger-stripe?ref=shop_home_active_1

Then, it will be all systems go to see that they're off in time to reach the Williams Lake area of British Columbia, Canada in time for Christmas.

To make sure that we don't run out of the insoles - which form the base of the feet for the bigger slippers (for ladies and gentlemen) - while in nearby Sutton in Ashfield, our next door town yesterday, Isobel stocked up with a new supply of these vital slipper parts. They're made with "memory-foam" and have the different foot sizes printed on one side of each foot template.  Please see below:

We get ten pairs at a time, so that we've always got some in stock - and this is the second time that a stock up has been required since we began making slippers in 2012 (and the first since we arrived in Nottinghamshire). 

Isobel cuts out the pattern size required, and then starts the construction process.  Because we're not sure if the sizes given here are for American or European foot sizes, Isobel is going to cut the Boys' slippers to the measurements (from heel to toe) given us by their Mother, MrsAS- Isobel's niece.  That's the way, we went with SnraCF's grand daughters' slippers, and they should allow room for growth, because as all prudent grandmothers do, she allowed for such eventualities when she provided the vital statistics for the slippers shown above.  (All our Slippers, so far, have fitted their intended owners to date I hasten to add!!)

(As you may recall, being a Beaver Lamb Bear, I always include a lady's - or come to that, a gentleman's - title before their initials when referring to them in a blog post here.  I've also never met MrsAS, so it's another reason for a well brought up Bear to do so here!)

In between times, during the week, Isobel was taken by daughter Clare, together with GrandsonE, to the Our Lady's Shrine at Walsingham - where Peter's ashes are interred.  It's almost four years since that happened, and the family have tried to get there at least once a year to pay their respects. Normally it rains, and the Shrine (pronounced a Basilica by Pope Francis last December we discovered when they got there - because of it's importance in the life and history of British Catholics) is located very close to the East Anglian coast of North Norfolk. (That's the round bit on the right side of a map of Great Britain - for those who might not know where Norfolk is in the UK). It's thus always windy there, and Wednesday morning was no different.  However everything was accomplished in comfortably cool conditions, and the travellers returned home safely, with the driver (Clare) having done a 222 mile round trip in 7.5 hours, with a short break for a picnic lunch in between.

I'll end this post for this week, with a photo of the Chapel of  Reconciliation (a major focal point of the Basilica) with surrounding trees in all their full autumnal glory.  (In the 1970's, Peter was on the Committee charged with the building of this central feature of  the National Shrine - which is why the authorities at Walsingham were agreeable for his remains to rest there)

You can just see the back of  Clare and GrandsonE - on the right of the photo.

Do have a very good week, everyone.  See you all next week - with the latest from the Slipper Department, and whatever occurs in the days to come.

Your Friend, Cy Bear.

New Novelty Slipper Production now in full swing

Hello once again, Everyone.

 Cy Bear reporting in - and hopefully being able to do things better now that Isobel got the computer seen to on Monday.  It only took the Techy Guy 50mins from start to finish:  goodness knows how long it would have taken Isobel to try and sort it (as was suggested by the system, I believe!) and definitely worth the monthly fee we've signed up to for 12 months hence!!

The business regarding the hiccup on the Etsy Custom Order system was eventually sorted - but not before both sides of the transaction almost gave up on the order system totally.  Actually, we've got one on the official Etsy Order system (which is well under way - you can see where it is at the moment.)

This is the first of a pair of  Polar Bear Novelty Slippers - destined for SnraCF's youngest GrandaughterA, who is now about 12 weeks old.  The picture was taken last night and sent to Italy, just to make sure that it is what SnraCF was looking for. (IT IS!!  So, full steam ahead......!)

The second pair of  Novelty Slippers (this time featuring Panda Bears) are ready to be cut out, once the Polar Bears are complete. (They were eventually ordered between SnraCF and Isobel, via their mutual PayPal accounts!  It does mean that the second pair won't show as an official Etsy Order, but who really cares - when the funds are well and truly in Isobel's bank account!).   Once both items are finished, they will be converted into normal Coldham Cuddlies Novelty Slipper listings, and be added to that Section in our Shop (www.ColdhamCuddlies.etsy.com).  That will take our listings total further forward and nearer the 110 mark, which will be exciting.  

With the success of the Polar Bear slippers, Isobel has had an idea as to how she can use some small Brown Rabbit Heads that she was left with earlier in the year - after someone contacted us, got Isobel to make them, and then disappeared before the custom order was completed.  This time, though, it was not such a problem as it has been in the past!!  (We actually blogged about them here https://coldhamcuddliescalling.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/rabbit-head-shoe-ornaments-new-product.html )  Isobel was never entirely sure that the Rabbit Heads would work as Shoe Ornaments, but we are pretty certain there won't be a problem as Baby Slippers.  So, watch this space - I'm pretty sure they will end up in that role, rather than that for which they were originally produced.

Meanwhile, we've finally  been able to "find" the missing pictures showing how our Gentlemen's Badger Stripe slippers, recently shipped to MrMW in San Franciso, were put together.  (You can see the difference in fabric usage between Slippers for a 12 week old youngster, and needing a slipper to fit a size 9-10 for our gentleman customer!)  You may recall that I told we'd shipped them on Friday afternoon a week ago - so they are probably still en route, as we may have missed a California-bound 'plane from the nearest airport (we're not that far from Birmingham, Manchester and/or Nottingham International Airports) but Isobel has found that packages bound for overseas destinations need to be in our local post office by mid-morning on a Friday, if they're going to make it before the week-end.  I'll let you know when they do arrive safely.

Meanwhile, here are the rest of those photographs I was telling you about:

This photo shows one, almost completed, Badger Stripe Slipper - but giving our customer the choice of a grey or brown satin ribbon trim.  (He went with the Brown, which is what we thought would be the case!)

The grey ribbon will come in handy though because Isobel is making Christmas slippers for her Great Nephews who live in British Columbia, Canada, and they may well need to have special slippers made for them.  Their foot measurements were received during the week, and Isobel anticipates having to make at least a couple more pairs - although, hopefully, some will be met from our existing supplies. Some of the great nephews are healthy teenagers, with feet measurements to match!!!  In all, there are 4 Great Nephews who need foot warmers for this winter- ranging in age between 5-21!  (Isobel is of a generation that one does not become fully adult until you ARE 21!!).

Another view of the slipper and ribbons.

San Francisco-bound Slippers, completed.

The Slippers for MrMW before they were packed for the Journey.

So, that's all for this week, Friends.  Hope to be back with you again next week - with the latest from the Slipper Department of our Coldham Cuddlies Shop!!  Have a good one!

Your Friend, Cy Bear.