Wednesday 21 August 2013

Treating Bernard Bear - Part One

Goodness me - it's Wednesday afternoon, and several days have passed since I posted about Pooh and Brown Bears' Happy Endings.  I've been very busy with one thing and another, and although the photographs have all been prepared for publication, I've just not had the time to sit down and write the story about Bernard and his particular problems.

 So... with no more ado, here is what happened to Bernard Bear, who spent some time in the Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinic (Etsy Listing  79124185) before treatment could begin - because a decision needed to be made as to whether he should undergo the full  Coldham Bear Therapy, or merely a partial one.



His arrival actually coincided with that of Pooh and Brown Bears, but as their needs were more easily tackled, and Bernard's treatment was dependent on a decision on his future looks, he remained sitting in the Lloyd Loom chair in my bed-room, which seems to have become the Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinic's waiting-room.


His requirements were pretty obvious:  he'd lost both his ears, he only had one eye, his nose was somewhat disfigured, his mouth needed attention and he had some pretty large holes in his body and head which either required total coverage, or patching.  While a decision was awaited, closer inspection revealed the need to replace all his paw pads - which had become very hard and  needed to be removed, together with separating his limbs from the body, so that the holes could be adequately treated - which ever route was taken.


Given Bernard's age - approximately 40-50 years we believe - and the fact that he'd not been played with for a very long time, spending the time in cupboards, he was not really in too bad a shape.  But the mohair fur definitely showed signs of the loving attention he had received when his Forever Friend, MrGS was playing with him.  It needed to be matched if possible, and a price for the fabric obtained.  Once that had happened, the decision was taken to go the partial restoration route, and so his treatment began.

As usual, with the "Quic-Unpic" - without which such operations cannot happen - at the ready, his head seam was undone from the back, as far as ear level and all the wood chip stuffing removed.  In the head and limbs, the wood chips were mixed up with disintegrated cotton wool.  This often  happened during the period I suspect Bernard was made - because I've had to deal with similar concoctions in some of my previous treatments.  It came away quite cleanly, and I was able to remove the stuffing adhering to the seams with my hand held vacuum, although the cotton wool rapidly fell to bits, and became very dusty.

Then came the main piece to be treated - his body. I decided to try and keep the body as intact as possible, because patching the holes would be easier to achieve.  So, it was the main back seam that was unpicked from the neck to his bottom.  The stuffing here was all wood chipping, and it came away quite easily.


 However, one thing was striking:  the way his seams were created.  Where the seams were clearly visible, they had been machine-stitched.  However, at the extremities, the fixing was very rough and ready. The seams seem to have been held together and string used to wrap it round very casually. then gathered to form a roll,  and then the ends sewn in to the body near the seams. The joins were hidden by the head and limb joints!   I've tried to show this in the following photograph of the seam towards his legs:   the same happened at the end of all the limbs, themselves.


It's not the first time I've come across this way of completing a Bear's seams, but it was particularly noticeable in Bernard's case.   Which makes me wonder if Bernard was originally a hand-made bear, rather than  a mass-produced bear.  All the others where this phenomenon occurred were mass-produced, but the string was only used for a short time.  One will never know - but this is one of the fascinations for me of restoring old,  much-loved bears.  Speculating on how, when, or where they originated, closely followed by their very individual stories.

.

Once the wood chip stuffing had been removed, I then could remove the cotter pin joint discs.  Three (out of a total of five) of them are shown in this photograph, together with the pliers and screw driver with which I tried to open the pins, which had been very firmly fixed, with very thick steel.  (All of the joints were 2-1/2" inches in diameter - perhaps explaining why there were holes near the joint edges in Bernard's coat!)  Two of them defied all my efforts - my arthritic fingers could not cope - so in the end, I had to resort to seeking help from one of my gentlemen neighbours.  Even he had a problem  (which did make me feel slightly less useless!)  He had to resort in the end to using a small hand saw to separate the two layers of cardboard discs by cutting the pins so that we could get the discs out of Bernard. The pins had broken while he and I had tried to twist them undone with our respective pliers and other tools.   In so doing, two of the discs - which are made with very thick cardboard, which had hardened over the years of being in place - were damaged beyond photography!  You can also see the paw pads which had been removed: they, too, were as hard as I suspected and definitely needed to be replaced.   (In all, the removal of the cotter pins took the two of us nearly two hours from start to finish, because we were both anxious not to damage Bernard's remaining coat any more than it had already been).

Once this tricky operation had been successfully completed, Bernard was immersed in luke-warm soapy water to remove the dust that he had accumulated, and spent the night soaking in the bath.


 Next morning, Bernard's pieces were firmly wrung out, carefully shaped and hung up  on the clothes maiden in my work room. His head is in the middle of the back row, next to the body:  his two legs are in the front, and his arms are on the right of the photograph, one behind the other.   You can see that he is a Big Bear!

This seems to be an appropriate point at which to end this post - the next installment will follow shortly, and will probably be handled by Cy Bear.  He does like to be involved at least once in the Bear treatment reports!

Hope everyone is having a good week!  We're looking forward to a Bank Holiday this week-end, the last before Christmas!  Where on earth has this year gone?

Good night - and God Bless!   Isobel






Friday 16 August 2013

Pooh and Brown Bears' Happy Ending

Evening everybody - it's Cy Bear back again.   Was wondering when it would happen, but Isobel has been so busy recently, that blogging has had to take a back seat.  However, I can now tell and show you what has happened to my good friends Pooh and Brown Bears - both recent Patients in the Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinic (Etsy Listing # 79124185).

Pooh Bear is now happily living with his original Friend, MrJA-B and his young son MA-B.  We thought you'd all be interested - so here are some pictures for you to see.


MrsPA-B took the photographs with her Ipad (whatever that might be) and sent them to Isobel.  One of the reasons for the delay in our not letting you know about them before is that it's only this evening that we've (and by that I mean Isobel, of course) figured out how to transfer them here to the blog!  Anyway, better late than never.

"I do love you Pooh Bear - just like Daddy did!"
The caption under this photo was provided by MrsPA-B, and it's so lovely that we felt it should be incorporated here.  (We have got full permission to do whatever we like with the photos, and a copy of this post will be sent to the family after we've published it later!)

After being introduced to the new Pooh Bear,  young  MA-B decided that he needed to be shown round their garden - and the first place they went to was the nearest Hydrangea bush:


Now, we must not forget Brown Bear must we?  Well he was reunited with his Forever Friend MrAA-B and his fiancee MsL (their wedding is later this year).  Apparently, it was MsL who actually saved  Brown Bear from being thrown away because it was feared he was not worth saving.  I mean to say - what a good thing MrsPA-B knew Isobel and had asked if we could have a look at Pooh Bear.   When MsL heard about us, it was speedily decided that  the two Bears would come together to the Clinic.    Brown Bear was not in nearly such a state as my other friend.  MsL is already great friends with Brown Bear - as this photograph proves!


And as I believe they say in all good stories - they all lived happily ever after!

I must say it was such fun having these two Bears staying with us, and I've missed them since they went to their respective homes.  However, it was not long before we were able to get on with treating Bernard Bear, who arrived at about the same time as the other two.   Isobel has been able to treat Bernard Bear now - and he went home to his Forever Friend earlier this week.

Another small Bear, known to us in the Clinic as TJ Bear  arrived here about 10 days ago.  He didn't need as much work done to make him better, and he is going home tomorrow.  His Forever Friend, MrsEJ had always called him Teddy until he met us - but it gets so confusing when so many Bear Patients are called Teddy or Ted.  So, when they met, Isobel told TJ's Friend that we would be calling him Ted Johnson (TJ Bear for short).  It makes telling the stories of their stay in the Clinic so very much easier.  Their treatments will be described in the next couple of posts - coming shortly.

 Isobel meanwhile, has also been busy putting new titles on all 57 toys and slippers now on offer in our Etsy Shop (www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies) and also doing something called "tagging".  Apparently we'd not been doing it as well as we could, and having been given some great help by our friend LauraC - for whom the Golden Yellow Slippers were made, you may recall  https://www.etsy.com/listing/152976020/yellow-rabbit-slippers-novelty-gift-men?  they got done over the past three evenings.  It takes a lot of time to do it properly, and we're hoping that all this work will result in lots of Cuddlies finding their Forever Homes between now and Christmas.

So - with that thought, I'll end this post.  Lovely to be back with you all again - and here's to the next time!  Cy Bear

Thursday 8 August 2013

Latest Slipper Offering - Badger Stripes, with or without the Head: your choice!

Hello Everybody!  Isobel opening up to show you the latest item to be listed in our shop at www.Etsy.com/shop.coldhamcuddlies.  It's the latest in the Slipper offering - a Size 9-10 Man's Slipper - and was listed earlier in the week.

The Slipper production line is taking a temporary break, while our two Bear Patients (featured in our last post earlier this week) receive therapy in the Stuffed Animals Restoration Clinic (Etsy Listing #79124185).  However, after parking the needle and thread, we did list the Man's Size 9 to 10 Badger Striped Slippers - presently headless, but capable of having one added to each one at the request of the Buyer.  Equally, since I now have patterns for a Skunk and a Raccoon, and stripes similar to Badgers in real life seem to be a feature of both, I would be more than happy to provide them instead.

 (Buyers can contact me on the convo section of our shop at www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies to discuss your specific requirements.  To be perfectly honest, I'm eager to have a go at these two animals - it's long been an ambition to make a Raccoon, and I was lucky enough to find patterns for both on offer at the same time earlier this year).

Etsy Listing #158935304
The plush fabric is very soft and tactile, and the slippers have been completely lined - including the sole - using cream Poodle faux fur fabric.  They should keep a gentleman's feet beautifully warm during the winter months - and an initial tight fit at the toe will soon relax to fit the whole foot, as the slipper has been made around a memory foam insole, covered with a fabric which prevents too much slipping.


The Size 9-10 Men's Slippers from the rear, showing the stripes, together with the Brown Satin ribbon binding, which includes elastic to aid a comfortable fit around the ankle.  A gap has been left at the head of the binding on both slippers enabling the elastic to be pulled through - and an allowance has been made for the fit to be loosened or tightened, as needed.


A view of the interior of the slippers, showing the Poodle Faux Fabric lining.  All seams have been sewn by hand so that no seam is actually visible - thus avoiding a potential cause of discomfort to the wearer.


A view from the sides of both slippers, where the badger markings are clearly visible. 



The price of these Slippers listed in our shop (www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies) is USD61.50.  This is for slippers with their heads in place.  Headless, they will sell at USD53.50, a reduction of USD8.00 per pair (or USD4.00 per slipper).


These slippers will be added to the growing collection of Children's Slippers, Ladies Slippers, and Men's Slippers which I will be taking to display (and hopefully take orders!) at various upcoming Craft Sales in the Autumn.  They will all make someone - small, medium or large - a great Christmas present.

Meanwhile, Bernard Bear's treatment has begun.  He's had his bath - and looks a different colour!   Tomorrow, having thoroughly dried - as I type this, there are still residual damp patches at the lower end of each piece of his limbs, body and head - the patching remedial work commences, and hopefully he will be ready for delivery to MrGS's friends by Tuesday,  for onward delivery towards the end of the week.

Good night, everyone!   Hope you're all having a great week!


Monday 5 August 2013

The Pigs have flown - to Italy: Four Cuddlies have found Forever Homes - and there's a new Patient to treat

Hello Everybody - this is Cy Bear once again.

As the title implies, The Pig Twins have been chosen as a First Wedding Anniversary present by SnraCF  for her son and daughter-in-law and are already en route to Italy.  Funnily enough, their destination is not far away from where my friend Ed Ted and The Italian Mob (**) are now living.  They left us last Tuesday by first class Air Mail, and with luck should be with SnraCF in a few days time.   They are not needed until sometime in September though.

Before they left, the customary farewell photograph was taken -


Now, while awaiting their replacements - someway down Isobel's "To Do" List I think - am delighted to tell you that another Patient was admitted to the Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinc (Etsy Listing 79124185) at the week-end.

 A selection of the Cuddlies - not the usual suspects - together with a sample selection of the Slippper Collection, were taken by Isobel to become a Craft Stall at the weekly Produce Sale in Heytesbury Church. The Hospital of St. John, where we live, was the appointed organiser and when that happens, we are invited to take a stall.  Isobel then contributes 10% of her takings to the overall total sales for the day.   Four Cuddlies found their Forever Homes - and alas, as I wasn't present (I was guarding the remaining Cuddlies, which were strewn across Isobel's bed in their various carrying bags until the roaming Cuddlies returned) no farewell photographs could be taken.

However, we do know a little about where their futures are going to be.  Jubilee Rabbit is going to become the Forever Friend of a little girl, whose first birthday is today.  The Fox Childrens' Slippers are destined for her brother who has a birthday sometime in October, and the third grandchild of the lady resident in the village (who doesn't have a birthday close by, but wasn't going to be left out by Granny) will become Hal, the Baby Hedgehog's Forever Friend.  (He's currently de-activated in our shop at www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies, but will be up again soon - as he doesn't take Isobel very long to make when she gets going!)

The fourth Cuddly - one of the Baby Koala Bears (Etsy Listing #55190188) was bought by one of the S Hospital's Trustees - and at present, we don't know where his Forever Home will be.  Isobel will have to find out the next time she sees MrsC and I'll let you know then.  So, on top of the slipper production to form the 2013 Christmas Sales Campaign, Isobel is going to have to do some rapid replacement sewing - once Bernard Bear's treatment is complete.  That begins today or tomorrow I believe.

Meanwhile, allow me to introduce our new Patient and Associate Cuddly - he belongs to Mrs EJ a lady who lives here in Heytesbury and until Saturday had always been called "Teddy".  So, in order to differentiate between all the Teds or Teddys we've had the pleasure of welcoming to the Clinic, Isobel told MrsEJ that for our purposes, he will now be known as TJ Bear.  It does make things so much easier if our patients can have their own individual names.


Compared with many of our Patients, TJ is in pretty good shape. His coat has very few bare patches, but  he does need re-stuffing though, particularly in his limbs and body.  His head is very hard, and Isobel suspects it is full of wood chippings or something similar, so MrsEJ has agreed that new stuffing should be used there as well.  He needs his nose re-doing and has got a rather slanted smile at the moment.  MrsEJ  would quite like his mouth to be straightened, but we'll see what he looks like when he's completely re-stuffed.  The slant does give him some sort of character doesn't it?  Apparently, he used to have a growler once upon a time. So, while he's getting his body re-stuffed, a new one will go in.  Also, having had a chance to look at him closer, Isobel is going to suggest that we replace  his paw pads and claws at the same time as re-stuffing his arms.


Sitting on Bernard Bear's lap, you can see that TJ is quite a small Bear - as we Bears go.


Here I am - keeping an eye on things, perched on the back of the Lloyd Loom chair where all our Patients wait until their treatment turn comes around - with the fabric that is going to be used to patch Bernard Bear and make him look a smart Bear once more.  The plush actually matches his existing fur a lot better than the pictures shows:  that's because the backing fabric is a lot lighter than Bernard's original one.  A long time has passed since he was first made and dyes have changed;   he's been in a cupboard for many years too, and may look a lot lighter once he's had one of Isobel's regular luke warm baths, before he gets re-stuffed.

Until next time - it's been good to be with you all again.   Cy Bear.

(**)  If anyone wants to know about them, Ed Ted and The Italian Mob featured in several posts earlier in the life of this blog.  Ed Ted was in a dreadful state when he appeared, and it took 9 posts between 28.06.2011 and 31.07.2011 to describe his treatment and rejuvenation:  and the Italian Mob were mentioned in a post dated 02.02.2012.  One of the Italian Mob was Big Koala - whose own treatment was featured in a post published 16.01.2012)

Tuesday 30 July 2013

Now the Men have got their own Slippers: introducing the Koala Bear-faced Size 8 variety

Good evening to you all - thought you'd all like to see what ColdhamCuddlies are going to be offering the menfolk in the Novelty Slipper line.  Two more are in the production line, while these two were listed at www.coldhamcuddlies.Etsy.com earlier this week.

Etsy Listing #158098231
These Mens Charcoal Grey, with White Fleck, Plush Bear Faced Size 8 Slippers are made from newly acquired plush fur supplies.  Variations can be provided in different shades of brown, flecked, striped or plain plush fabrics.  I will be doing a post shortly where I hope to be able to give you a look at the variety of plush fabrics that I now have in my stock cupboard:  will have to be moving out myself shortly if I'm not careful - unless, of course, the orders come rolling in, which is the outcome we're seeking of course!

Right Slipper - I think!
The Slippers have a memory insole covered with a light grey backing fabric which helps to prevent slippage - although it may not be foolproof.  This fabric was part of the latest delivery from my local source - Fine Quality Feather Company of Frome, Somerset.  There were three large bags full, and I had a great time sorting everything out - and then had to get the vacuum out because of the excess fur left where the ladies who work at the factory had cut their patterns out.  Anyone who has worked with plush knows just how furry and fluffy the atmosphere can get on such occasions.

So this has to be the Left Slipper
 Every seam is hand sewn so as to be invisible to the eye of the beholder while at the same time providing  comfortable, warm footwear to fight any wintry conditions that may prevail, without any uncomfortable seams to irritate one's feet when wearing them.  The inside lining is made with cream Poodle fur fabric, with the insole matching the outer covering.

 I decided to use the Poodle Fur - left over from the recent Pooh Bear makeover (please visit our last two posts for more information)- just to see how it would work out.  Normally, as you may recall, the linings of our previous slippers have been made with various coloured fleeces.  Am pleased to say that Poodle Fur feels as effective - if not warmer - than the fleece so there is now another option I can offer should anyone prefer Poodle fur to just plain fleeces.

Rear view of the Slippers
For the more conservative gentleman:  if the Bears' Heads are a novelty too far - these Slippers can be provided without an Animal Head attachment (or another animal can feature - using any of the Animal Toys who currently can be found in our shop at www.coldhamcuddlies.Etsy.com.   They can also be made from more traditional plush fabrics as seen at https://www.etsy.com/listing/152976020/novelty-rabbit-slippers-gift-for-men-or?  which were the first slipper examples made for the 2013 Season or with non-plush fabrics that were used for https://www.etsy.com/listing/156616186/kids-slippers-leopard-head-childrens?

Sideways on view - the mark is part of the woodwork!
Should a headless pair of slippers be preferred, there would be a reduction in the overall price.  Please contact me via convo on the Etsy site (www.Etsy.com/shop/coldhamcuddlies) so we can discuss the matter further.  This discussion would also apply if a different animal were to be featured or fabric(s) be requested.

And the other side - face to face
Now the plan is for two more pairs of Mens' slippers to be produced, together with duplicates of the Ladies versions (in Small, Medium and Large sizes) and I will then be in a position to take orders - to be delivered strictly in order of date they are received - for Christmas, Birthdays, Showers or whatever!

Be back to you all soon.  Goodnight and God Bless!  Isobel

Saturday 27 July 2013

Now it's Brown Bear's turn to be treated - Part 3 in our Story of Pooh and Brown Bear

This time, Cy Bear is having a well-deserved rest and I'm taking over.  However, being Cy Bear, he's not far away, and he will be appearing before the end of the story!

However, just to start this report, here is a front view of Brown Bear on the day he arrived in the Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinic (Etsy Listing #79124185) at the end of May - just after I had come back from my wonderful holiday in Normandy.


You can see that he has a large hole where his right eye should be, is missing his mouth and his nose is not as pronounced as a healthy Bear's should be.  His arms were dangling at the seams, as were his legs and he was totally unable to stand up unless propped against the back of the chair - as he is in the next photograph.


Brown Bear's fur coat was not as soft as Pooh Bear's original one was, and although he looks almost as though he was made from the same pattern, and it is a sort of Poodle Fur, when one got close up that was not the case.  The texture was a much harsher one, but it has lasted well nevertheless.  The slit in the back of his head which is clearly visible, looks as though a razor had been applied to it - it was such a clean cut and bore no relation to any seam. Goodness knows what event was taking place when that wound first appeared! So, when the time came for it to be treated, I used a small ladder stitch to sew the gap up, and it didn't show when completed - or, rather it looked like it was a proper seam, and therefore meant to be there!

He needed to be re-stuffed, because he too was filled with Kapok, but he didn't need to be immersed in my usual lukewarm, soapy bath treatment after being taken to pieces and before being re-stuffed.  Like Pooh Bear before him, he had travelled to school with his Forever Friend, AndrewA-B - as he too had a name-tag on his left foot.  I didn't have to remove that when re-stuffing him and attaching the legs back to his body.  Despite the head wound,  he certainly had not suffered as much as Pooh Bear during his younger, adventurous life.

All Brown Bear's limbs were attached at the very end of their seams, which resulted in them appearing to be very floppy - which was not entirely due to the need for fresh stuffing.  So when the time came for me to re-attach them to his body, I sewed his legs in firmly into the seam where he sat down.  As for his arms, I sewed them in such a way that the top of the arms were attached on either side of his side seam (if there had been one).  His body had actually been made with just  one seam - in the front.  That is a different way of Bear-making in my fairly limited experience.  Alas, there was no makers' label anywhere on, or within him, for me to find out where, how or when he was made.   So, he now looks like this - and is actually easier to cuddle now - because, before,  both arms formed part of the cuddle, as it were!


When I replaced his eyes (he does have two, although the one on his right has disappeared into the poodle fur with which he is made - just where his cream furry muzzle meets his face).  However, the hole was such that I had to create a seam in order to keep the new eye and its safety backing in place.  So, when I put in a matching eye for the left one, I created a similar seam there;   and to make him look a little like Pooh Bear, gave him a pair of eye brows as well.  (I did clear that addition with Mrs PA-B before I did it, mind you!).  I also gave him a more appropriate nose and embroidered a mouth that looked like Pooh Bear too.  

I found it easier to do the facial features without anything in the head.  He was then stuffed from the bottom up to his head!  MrsPA-B had specifically requested that both bears not be stuffed too firmly, but Brown  Bear actually feels firmer to the touch, because his material is so much firmer than Pooh's new coat now is (or, indeed, was before the treatment commenced).  Both should now stand up to "reasonable" wear and tear on the part of their new Forever Friends, though, I am pretty sure - especially as their original Friends are well aware of the consequences of not doing so now!

Here are the two Bear Friends ready to be returned to MrsPA-B last week-end.


And, as is the custom whenever any Cuddly - or Associate Cuddly, as these fellow can now call themselves - leaves us, an official farewell photograph was taken with Cy Bear performing the farewell duties.


I'm now very pleased to be able to tell you that Bernard Bear, who arrived in the Clinic at much the same time as these two Bear Patients, is likely to be getting his therapy in the next week or so.  His Forever Friend, after due consideration as to whether he should get the whole body treatment, or merely a thorough patch up, has plumped for the latter.  The matching mohair is currently on order - but our supplier is away on a well-earned holiday at the moment, and no orders are being dispatched from his premises until after July 29.  Once that arrives, I can progress - and hopefully meet a possible deadline of August 15 to get him back home to Bognor Regis in Sussex, where he has been living with his Forever Friend, MrGS for many, many years.  If we can do it in time, it will mean Bernard will travel in comfort in a car with some friends living down the road from us in Heytesbury, who are going to stay for a few days with MrGS.  That would be infinitely more comfortable for him that being parcelled up and sent via the "tender" mercies of Royal Mail.  It would also be a whole lot cheaper too - as Bernard is a Big Bear.


You can see Bernard has been well loved!  He, too, is missing his right eye, has a nasty hole where the left arm joint has rubbed his original fur coat and needs to have new pads on all his paws as well as two new ears!  His stuffing is, I suspect, wood chippings or something similar, because he is not presently a very cuddly Bear.  That problem, though, is easily handled!  Some of the others could be more problematical!  It should form an interesting post - or two.

Right that is that for this evening.  There are a couple of craft bazaars coming up over the next two week-ends, and I'll be telling you something about them as and when (or, indeed, if) anything happens at them!  If photographs emanate from MrsPA-B covering the re-unions between Pooh and Brown Bears and their respective Forever Friends, then they can always be included in another post - can they not?  I felt it was inappropriate to leave the final part of the trilogy too long before it was completed.

Good bye for the time being.  Have a great week-end - wherever you are.   By the way, the number of those who read this blog are going up - and up.   I'm very pleased to say they're over 19,320 now - and that's despite the recent computer hiccups!

 Thanks so much for your support!  Isobel.

Tuesday 23 July 2013

Continuing the story of Pooh and Brown Bears' Treatment


Hello there Everyone!

 As promised a few days ago, here is the next installment of the recent treatment provided in the Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinic (Etsy Listing #79124185) to Pooh and Brown Bears, Forever Friends of  MrsPA-B's two sons, James and Andrew.  Both of them were taken by MrDA-B when he met at least one of his sons in London at the week-end.   We're hopeful that when the re-union(s) take place, some photographs will result and when received, MrsPA-B has said she will send them to us for use in this blog!  That should be great fun, and I'm looking forward to seeing them.

Just to refresh your memory, and because we didn't include this one in our last post, this is how Pooh Bear looked - from the front! - when he first arrived.


Once Isobel had separated all the Kapok stuffing from Pooh Bear and his limbs - which is where I left you when we were together last time - she decided to give him an overnight soak.  Not that he was in any way dusty or dirty - as some of our previous Bear patients have been - but in order to see if we could get his new coat to not look quite such a contrast to his existing one.  Before immersing him in luke-warm soap-suddy water, she removed his left eye using pliers to take off the metal safety backing, which had by this time become very rusty.

The next morning, all the bits were gathered in a towel, squeezed as dry as Isobel could get them and were then pegged out on our clothes airer to dry throughout the day.


All the remaining wetness began to gather at the bottom end of the heaviest pieces (his head and old body - which Isobel decided she would "raid" so she could patch the holes we'd discovered in his arms and legs).

 Normally, when a new coat is provided for our Patients, the old pieces are tacked on the back of the new coat.  But Pooh was originally made in such a way that this could not be done this time).  

 So, half way through the day, Isobel turned them upside down, so they looked like this:


By the next morning, things were ready for the treatment to begin.  The missing eyes were replaced with a pair of matching ones - as near in size and colour as the one that had been taken out. They are actually a little smaller than his original one, but it was either the new size, or enormous ones.  Seemingly in the intervening years, Bears' eye sizes have been re-measured!   Isobel decided the smaller ones looked better - the bigger ones would have made Pooh Bear look terribly surprised!  Then Pooh's nose was re-stitched and his eyebrows and mouth returned to his face.  The original lines for his mouth and eyebrows were easy to follow.  Then the new back of Pooh's head and new body were stitched together and his old face added on.  He then looked like this:


We were a little concerned as to how the overall look would be, but were definitely re-assured by this picture.   We feel that he looks as though he's had a new coat over his existing body - which is just the look Isobel was aiming for.  The limbs were then gathered together, the holes (which were mostly in the area where the seams had previously been attached to his old body) were patched, thus creating a  much stronger fabric with which to attach them to the body.  Then the arms and legs were all stuffed and sewn to the body.  Pooh Bear now looks like this. 


While Isobel was undoing Pooh Bear, and getting out his stuffing she discovered his original label lurking in the depths of the stuffing.  It was a little scruffy and worn at the edges, but it was clear that he had originally been made in "The Republic of Ireland" for a company called The Alresford Craft Company.  Now all ColdhamCuddlies - when we are brand new - all have a label somewhere on us before we go to our Forever Homes, so Isobel decided to applique the old label onto some white seam binding, and sew the new label on just where Pooh Bear sits down!  Thus everyone now knows where his origins are, but no one needs to receive confirmation of it - unless they look very hard!  

You'll also notice that there is a label on his left foot - that's Pooh Bear's Forever Friend, James's name tag when they were both at school.  Isobel removed that while he was being washed and dried, and re-applied it, in about the same place, when the whole treatment was complete.

Now, I'm ending for this evening.  We will wait to complete the trilogy of posts about my Friends' treatment for another evening, when hopefully we'll also be able to include pictures of the reunion of at least Pooh Bear, and maybe even Brown Bear as well.

Until then, do hope you are all having a great week - whether you are at work, at home or on holiday:  or a combination of both. 

 Good night!  Cy Bear.