"Cordial, what are you looking for?"

"Oh my gosh, did you see that invisible bear just now?" 

"But seriously!!  He swooped in and took a bite out of one of my chocolate covered cherries!"

"Look!  Right there, there are teddy bear teeth marks."

"Oh well, I suppose I'll just eat this one and save the other for my new friend." 

Everyone, I'd love for you to meet "Cordial"....inspired by chocolate covered cherry cordials.  This delightful little boy measures 8 1/2 inches from the top of his fluffy head to the pooffy tips of his appliqued and trapuntoed toes.  "Cordial" is created from a very dark chocolate coloured squirrel fur for his arms, legs ears and fluffy tail, and a sheared deep cherry coloured muskrat for his head and body.  He is completely handstitched, and double sewn for durability.  He's also been properly and fully lined for a lifetime of fun. I have to say, the squirrel fur is amazing in plushness and colour.  Those blue highlights you can see are from the superior quality of the fur.  Super, super soft and fluffy!! 

"Cordial" peers at the world through handblown, German glass eyes.   He is five way hardboard locknut jointed, and as you can see here, it gives him a wide range of poses.  He can stand, but needs help balancing. He's been stuffed with new polyfil, loads of hugs and has a pillow of copper coated steel balls in his tummy for added heft.   I've used a very dark chocolate coloured ultrasuede for his pawpads, and over this is appliqued and trapuntoed a yummy deep cherry coloured Eurosuede with a matching Eurosuede nose.  I've further enhanced the colouring of his pawpads by shading. 

The 'chocolate covered cherry cordials' he brings, one for him, and one for his new friend, are really Fimo clay creations that I've done just for him.  Thankfully I don't think anyone will mistake these for the real thing ~ even a desperate chocoholic or child.  They are formed over aluminum foil bases, and have been completely cured properly in the oven.  If you look closely, you can see tiny teddy bear 'teethmarks' on the edges of the bitten cordial.  Ahem, and that particular one will belong to "Cordial".  As you can see, this isn't the only cordial he's snarfed!    He's on the pleasantly plump side.   

"Cordial's adoption fee is $1,150.  If you would be interested in giving him a home, please email me at debbiediment@yahoo.com