Pups are us.... I wish....

I have emailed so many pics of this little guy today that I can't keep him a secret.
This is the click pic I took from Skype today.
Getting excited now about holding a new pup.... why do pups make you all gooey ?
Same with kittens.


My daughter won't thank me for this pic, one of them is called "Chops"....

Amie, before anyone asks doesn't always sit on the floor.
Amie is a lap dog.
Always has been and always will be.
Always our NO 1.... she is also approaching her 13th birthday... nearly made it Ames.
In the next post there will be lots of pics of Amie Soto Blossom, at the moment she is busy inspecting the inside of her eye lids.

We think it likely tomorrow when Amie and Chops meet they will both look at each other and then fall asleep.... I'll make sure I have the camera.

Have a good Sunday guys, we are off with the fairies, ah sorry, that should be off to be with our kids. Might try and sneak the pup home, I think Amie would sniff him out. She is very forgiving, but not that forgiving. I think there is one pup that has fallen on his paws and going to be a lucky lad.

Button in Ear.

1910/1911 Steiff button made from nickel-plated iron.


After the last post mentioning a well known Teddy bear maker, it would be a fair thing for me to mention plagiarism. There is so much of it that goes on that it has to be said "nothing" is that safe when you have an a new idea.
Plagiarism isn't new. There are so many ways that are tried to stop someone else copying, Some don't appear to have much effect.

Steiff used tags to distinguish Steiff animals from their competitor toy makers as early as the 1890's.


If I start to bore you, let me know. Once I start to talk about Teddy Bears it's hard for me to stop. No matter who the maker is. If by chance I get my facts wrong, let me know...


The Steiff button was an idea thought up by Margarete Steiff's nephew Franz Steiff.
The little elephant with his S-shaped trunk made an appearance on Stieff products from 1897.


Although over the years the design of the button has changed it's one that is still easily recongnisable as a Steiff product.

DON'T REMOVE YOUR TAGS from your bear.


No matter how large the bear is.


Or how small.
This little guy is mine, but his tag show who made him.
Not a Steiff !


Some, like Frank


and Mew know their place.


Some know their place better than other's.

Mark's Quilt and Becca's bears... bunny

You know what they say about planing things... actually I can't remember, but from Soggibottom Cottage's point of view ...... DON'T plan, go with the flow of what ever the day brings ......



I was half way through making this bunny on Friday night. It's a baby comforter.
I am also going to admit, that the idea came from a very well known bear maker who shall be nameless. Their baby comforter's look very good, very thin and a bit straggly. So forgive me Steiff for making my own.... Ops !


This is a very cuddly little guy, you can really get your arms around and he is totally washable.
Made of the very best of everything that I can think. I would be very happy to have given him to my own children and my grandchildren as babies..... I'm a bit of a stickler when it comes to child safety....
There are artist bears and there are child safe things..... I have made bun to be child safe.
Not, a you know who, but a Soggibottom.
I will be making a few of these, from no one's pattern only my own.... but what a good idea .....
I know there are other child comforters made by other companies apart from you know who.
I like this bunny........... The other companies child comforters look a bit thin on cuddliness.
This is a cuddly little guy.


We have had so many cuddles around the cottage this weekend.


Only one, messed around with a computer....
I'm O.K. now as our grand kids have gone home. I can sit on the arm of a chair and play on the computer "me thing". Stay up late and burp... if I really wanted to.....
Have to add here, that Jake didn't..............


We have been trying on antique lace.....
We never had time to have a lesson in how to spin wool though.
There is always another day.



In the mean time,
I haven't seen this quilt for ages.
I used to wash this quilt when Mark brought it home from Uni.
Once I had the pleasure of removing ink. Not just a few drops, but a whole big splodge.

It took a whole year to sew. So what were a few ink spots....
You will notice it's nothing sporting or frilly. It was made for Mark. Mark wanted green, Mark got green. HARD WEARING GREEN.......

No machine, all hand sewn with paper cut outs behind the squares. I made hard work for myself, but pleased Mark and Becca still have it.
Now I have passed Mark's washing onto Becca
The joys of becoming a Mother-in-law.
Thank you Becca for sending the pics, also thank you from freeing me from washing duties. How I have resisted putting a smiley here I don't know !
It's a MUM thing ! mumble... mumble ......


The cottage has suddenly become very quiet after a busy weekend.
My intended "thread" for Soggibottom's blog completely gone to pot !
I know, I haven't been around to half, let alone all of everyone I wish to visit...
I know blog land is very forgiving.
If you really want retribution... Ames (no pics, as she has her legs up in the air and not a very lady like pose) is snoring loudly. She has had a blissful weekend, with company that she loves.
Children what else ....... Have to add here we also have two very sleepy cats.... TWO VERY WELL BEHAVED MOGS..... kids, dog, cats... Can't wait till the weather warms up.

How to surprise Mum and Dad

When we have unexpected visitors at Soggibottom Cottage, it's pure joy.


Especially when the unexpected visitors haven't visited for a very long time.
Tilly May, Jacob, Kiann, Karina and Jason.


In the depth of Winter and grey days.... it's so good to have some energy back in here.


Even though they look tired.


Some have had a full days work and then driven for three hours and more just to be here.
Thanks Jason...............
Been to school and have been up early, then travelled to see us.


Does it show ?


Looks like we are going to have a busy weekend.


Love it...
Looks like Mew does too................... Have a really great weekend.
Not sure about the penguin, I think it can't keep away.
There are some things money can't buy..... we are very, very rich, with that I will leave it to your imagination.

Vintage dolls, new bear, Lead fox and hounds

What else is there to do in the Winter, except make the most of a warm fire and play around with mohair.
Instead of waiting for a supply of plain white mohair to dye, I thought I would have a whirl with what I had. This is pale blond, painted with Kool Aid. Now I have had a chance to play with Kool Aid I'll dye the next batch of mohair properly. Thank you LAURIE for taking the time and effort to send me packets of Kool Aid. Before you ask... NO SUGAR was added here .........


There have been a few things happening, apart from Amie's (Amie Soto Blossom Blossom) facebook entries about her diet. Her never ending stories about her tea.
Amie's point of view obviously.


We came across another little dog this week.
This one has been made in Germany,I know as he has a label. I haven't a clue how old. Definitely older than Amie, although he is only two inches high, Amie's a little larger.


Lead fox and hounds and hunters.


I made sure the fox was chasing the hounds.
Too good to keep in a cupboard in a box.
This displays fox hunting not quite our kind of thing down here in the cottage.
We would be trying to save the fox.
Go fox get the hounds. See how easily we all slip back to childhood when there are toys around.


Dolls, loads of them. My kids are great they come across something and think that because it's vintage it should live at Soggibottom. I often think they are trying to tell us something.
Apart from anything that looks old lives with us.
I did say loads of dolls.. here are only a few.
Most of them in mint condition and in original boxes.


This has got to be my favorite doll, although not the prettiest. I'm not that good knowing about dolls. Much more bear knowledgeable. If you know how old she is or anything about her or any of the other dolls here please share your knowledge and I will blog the dolls again. With all their facts and figures.
The young lady above has moving eye's, a cloth body and she is fairly heavy. I think she has real hair which is a bit spooky.


This one is slightly damaged, filled with straw, it looks as if she has her original clothes (nothing I can do about these ref soap powder and hot water). No box.... Again, I haven't a clue about her.


Unlike this Chad Valley doll, who has her original box.
If your collecting anything it pays to keep the box.
Chad Valley labelled their toys and boxes. "Hygienic Toys Made in England by Chad Valley Toy Company Ltd".
After 1938 they were labelled "Toy Makers to H.M. The Queen".
Which changed to "the Queen Mother" after Queen Elisabeth's coronation in 1953....

This doll's box has "Hygienic Toys Made in England by Chad Valley Toy Company Ltd".
Her box helps to date her to the 1930's. If you know different I will be quite happy to know.
She also has a Chad Valley label inside of her dress.



I haven't a clue how old this doll is, maybe 1950's.
Who made her?
I thought she had a pretty face.


Which brings me back to bears, or at least to this one.
She has a Soggibottom label. The first bear of 2011.

Around her neck she has one of Polina's Russian creations.
I have lent it to the bear for her first photo shoot.
It compliments this bears mohair perfectly.

Even the Soggibottom bear had Christmas present from Polina this year.
Thank you POLINA It's nearly time for me to change the bear into his very bespoke Russian costume you made him last year.

Blessed with good friends, and far too many dolls.

Victorian - Edwardian lace and beadwork

Different posting than the normal Soggibottom, to start the New Year.


I promise, it will lead to something else during the next few weeks. One thing will lead to another eventually, you will see as the weeks go on.

My lace iron, that's the one on your left, normally lives on a shelf in the kitchen.
The 2011 iron is the one I use normally on the right. Too good an opportunity to miss not to display the old lace iron among beautiful lace.


The embroidery is mine, by the way, it's a table cloth that only comes out at Christmas.
Another good opportunity to show as it was in my ironing heap/pile/climbing the walls mountain.


Back to lace.


All this came to in a plastic bag and the great colour of dirty mud.


It's been soaking for a very long time, I'm sure a Victorian - Edwardian lace expert would have had a pink fit to see me soaking and trying to hand wash this lot.


It's now as clean as I think it can possibly be.


This is only a small amount.


I love to look at other people's art. I normally have to keep my hands in my pockets as I always want to touch. This lot has had hands on cleaning.


Lace and silk collar.


Beautiful Lace work.


Also bead work.


Closer look.


Now what to do with it all ?


Eye's off the Albanian cut work tablecloth, it's another that only comes out for Christmas, it's just about to be put away for next year.
Love Christmas, hate taking everything down. Always great to see special things when they come out again though.

How old is all the lace ? Not really sure.
Beautiful, clean and ironed, it even smells good, well better !
Just about to be put away.... for a while.
It seems a shame to decorate a teddy bear with, unless you have other idea's. I'm sure you all have.