Sunday 29 June 2014

A Bevy of Bunnies - Dressed for a Party

Greetings again everyone - now, could someone please tell me where this last week went to?  I've been moved with normal regularity from the bed to my perch on the bedside table each evening, and back to my sentry post for the day, and it only seems like yesterday that you and I were getting together so I could  tell you about our new Brown Plush Rabbit Hand Puppets last week-end.   https://www.etsy.com/listing/193890786/rabbit-glove-puppet-brown-plush-animal?  How the time does shoot by!
This week, Isobel and I decided that I should tell you some more about my good friends, the Coldham Cuddlies Lady Rabbit Toys - beginning with Jemima Rabbit 

Etsy Listing 112432364
This version of Jemima is a recent one - because as of January this year, all Lady Rabbits are supplied with their own juice carrot.  They can come looking like this - holding the carrot and looking as though it's ready to be eaten, or they need not have a carrot at all.  In which case, the overall cost of the Lady Rabbit will be slightly less.
(We still have a couple of  Lady Rabbits in stock that didn't have carrots when they were made - but it doesn't take long for Isobel to make one, so anyone interested in giving a "carrot-less" Lady Bunny a home just needs to tell us and it will be provided.  They, too, will be slightly less than the published price if no carrot is required.  Have a conversation with Isobel when you are making your decision, and she'll be happy to accommodate you.)
Esty Listing #103038453
Now this White Plush Dressed Lady Bunny doesn't have a name as such (and she's one of the carrotless specimens I've just talked about!).  She's dressed in colours that Isobel thought are particularly associated with Halloween - but as this picture shows, she looks great in Spring or Summer sunshine too.  Her dress is made with an unusual Black and White Gingham fabric, which has a floral overprint - if you look closely at the photo, you can just make it out below the nylon apron, which has a bright orange ric rac trim.  The apron waistband has been made with an orange print ribbon and Isobel embroidered the edge of her white felt collar with orange and black French Knots just to complete the outfit.  You can also just see her black felt shoes peeping out from under her skirt.  (By the way, the dress fabric is in limited quanitity too - enough, Isobel thinks for two more versions.  So, one could describe this Lady Rabbit as being a Limited Edition I suppose.)
Etsy Listing # 72168846
Those of you who study these things will realise from the Etsy Listing number that these two White Plush Rabbits appeared in our shop quite early in the COLDHAMCUDDLIES  operations.   They were one of the early members of the Cuddlies Family of which I am the proud Mascot (in case newer Followers of this blog are not aware of my  official status).  
Versions of this Cuddlies Toy can be found around the UK and the last one was originally destined as a friendly gift to a new Mum, but in the end, because - alas Isobel had sold out, and hadn't replaced them - she was replaced by our Green Candy Striped Dressed Rabbit - who I'll tell you about in a moment. 

Etsy Listing #63369098
Its really curious to me that Toys Isobel makes using the same fabric can look so very different, but this is certainly the case with my next Rabbit Friend, our Grey Plush Lady Rabbit.  Her dress is made with the same fabric that the Purple Dressed Rabbits are shown wearing  - and yet Grandma Grey Rabbit looks as though her dress is made with a Blue Print fabric.  Whether it's the grey plush used for her head and paws, or the fact that she has a White Collar - rather than the Purple ones adorning our other White Lady Rabbits - I do not know.
However, this example of the Coldham Lady Rabbit family is another One of a Kind offering.  Her grey
 plush fur is very limited - there may just not be enough for a Big Bunny:  although we might just be able to squeeze a Baby one (or may be two) with a white chest from what we have left in our fabric stash.  Another reason for her being special is that the dress fabric is getting short on supply too.  It was a remnant given to Isobel when she first began the business in 2010 - from a lady in the village, who was trying to clear out her own handicraft supplies!  We're just surprised that we've managed to get as many Lady Rabbits - Grey or White - out of the remnant.  We think there may be just enough dress fabric for another one.
Etsy Listing #60491625
Finally, and perhaps one of the most popular of our Dressed Lady Bunnies,  is Belinda Brown Rabbit.  She had a sister at the end of last year (when Isobel was  making the Purple Rabbits above.  But one went to Queensland, Australia and was accompanied by a Panda Glove Puppet https://www.etsy.com/listing/91356474/panda-handglove-puppet-art-activity-toy?  The puppet was intended for the expectant Dad - so he could entertain the new Baby Girl,  and one of the Pink Fleece Baby Rabbits https://www.etsy.com/listing/166947912/baby-bunny-toys-pink-fleece-washable? also went too.  
(That's certainly been the biggest consignment of Cuddlies in one go that Isobel has had the pleasure of posting since our enterprise began.)

Now there's somewhat of a scarcity for this Brown version of my Rabbit Lady friends, because for some unknown reason Isobel cannot get the plush fabric in that shade of Brown anymore.  She's been trying for ages - so she can make some for Rabbit Head Ladies Novelty Slippers, but without success.  So, with the assistance of Philippa, we've now re-supplied ourselves with a golden brown plush - so future versions of this Candy Stripe dressed Lady will look a little different.
Right that's the end of this catalogue of my Lady Friends:   if you get the idea that Isobel enjoys making these particular Cuddly Toys, it's fair to say you'd be on the right track.  She likes making the gentlemen too, but the girls are not as fiddly as the coats, linings etc that come with Gentleman Rabbit territory and I suppose she can let her sewing creativity run riot too!
With that thought in mind, I think I've rabbitted (the pun is intended!) on enough today.  Good to be back and I hope to be with you again next week.  Isobel does have some other things to attend to in the upcoming weeks, but is going to try to ensure that we don't lose touch completely.
Good night my Friends - have a great week!  
Your Friend Cy Bear