Panda Bear

Oh my gosh, guys, guess what? I sewed something! Let's take a look back through the blog here and figure out when the last time that happened was. March! No promises that I'll be doing this too regularly. 

I used a Dolls and Daydreams pattern that I bought quite awhile ago, and although I've made this pattern four times now, this is the first time I've ever truly followed it. 

I made a punk/goth panda bear from it for my sister and it was so popular among her friends that I ended up making two more. This time, the panda's face is decidedly different and way more like Dolls and Daydreams original design. I have more plans for this bear. Hopefully, you'll see those soon. 

Punk/Goth Bears

I mentioned last week that I was sewing up a pair of punk/goth teddy bears like the one I made for my sister back in March. Her friends really loved hers, so she asked me if I could make them some on the cheap. 

To keep the cost down I used acrylic felt, painted the faces (instead of a combination of paint and embroidery), used almost all scraps and made them about 50% of the size. I still think they came out really good!

Bears altered from this Dolls and Daydreams panda pattern. 

I was already experiencing the beginning of the sinus infection that has me completely laid up today, so I didn't have much patience for photography. I'd find a shady spot and the wind would blow my tree cover away. I got three photos before I said, "Screw it."

Pleated skirts also by Dolls and Daydreams. Fuzzy boots are my own. 

It isn't very clear in the picture above (or this one, really, sinus infection, remember?) but I just had to try to get a better shot of the lace overlay with little red spiders on the web printed skirt. 

I wanted the girls to be on cell phones, texting each other. One was going to be saying "OMG!", while her friend said, "SRSLY?" I couldn't figure out how to do it, though. Polymer clay was my only thought, but then how would they carry them? I ended up leaving well enough alone and shipping them out last night. I can't wait to hear the reactions! 

Free paper piecing patterns and what I'm up to

Have you heard of Quiet Play? I found Kristy completely on accident. I entered a fabric giveaway on another blog and mentioned how my son's favorite toys were LEGO (apparently it has to be typed like that in all caps) and that lovely blogger said, "Have you seen Quiet Play? She's quilting a LEGO mat." 

Kristy and I bonded for half a minute over our about to be five year old boys who carry around LEGO catalogs like Linus carries a blanket and she sent me her patterns to use (I am forcing myself to finish a couple other projects first...it is so hard!). But now, Kristy has spoken to the people at LEGO and they have said she can give them away to everyone! Go check them out, they are amazing! 

Also, I joined Pinterest. I really feel like I don't know how to use it yet, but so far my favorite find has been this lady. She has Cars characters, Hello Kitty, Finding Nemo, Smurfs, My Little Pony...more incredible stuff to paper piece!

In other news, I am shelving my quilt. Ugh! I hate to do that, but I have some birthday gifts I promised my sister I'd whip up, and they have a deadline, where my quilt no longer does. Want a peek?

Yep, this time I'm making two punk/goth bears! This time I'm also making them about half the size, so I'm omitting a few details and painting instead of embroidering. I kind of like the vacant zombie looking eyes, but I probably will add pupils to them and of course the little broken heart bit across the nose. I can't wait to get these together! 

A sewing finish!

Back in March I posted a photo of an embroidered face I had finished for a doll. Recently, a very good friend asked me if I had anything I could finish quickly for an auction to benefit the family of a cancer victim. I love it when things come together perfectly!

I love how she turned out in vintage inspired prints in red/pink and blue! I may whip up something else for the silent auction if I have time, but I have a couple other projects that I have promised to my youngest sister that I need to finish first. 

If you'd like to make your own bunny, the pattern can be found here, as can the skirt. I seriously altered it to make this gathered, aproned number, but the skirts included are so cute! 

A swing and a miss...

I made this. It's one of the dollar Simplicity patterns (2613 to be exact) I picked up at the last big sale JoAnn Fabrics had. I like the pattern, but I don't like the result. It all looked so cute in the store, but it looks muddled to me now.


Despite the fact that three out of the five people I asked for advice about this project loved it, as is, I just don't. The eyes and nose don't stand out enough, the black in the plush makes only half of the mouth visible when I stitch it in...everything just matches a little too much. 

He was supposed to be a gift (and also supposed to be a she, but I think he's a boy). Since I'm not feeling it, I'll still be gifting it, but changing the destination. My step-daughter thought he was really cute and helped me pick out the ribbon at the store, so I think she'll be over the moon when I let her take him. 

Completed!

Last Monday I posted that I would enter the challenge over at Amy's Creative Side and complete my sister's birthday gift. I'm happy to say that I did it! Her birthday was last Tuesday, and I had most of the doll completed by then, but wanted to add all of the little extras. I hope she really enjoys her.

This was really a project for my sister that was also inspired by her. She really liked this:

   

..Which got me to thinking what that might look like. I think I'm a little too far removed from high school to have any idea what goth kids dress like anymore, but I think I did a pretty decent job. I hope! I'll either be getting an elated phone call or a very confused one. 

Panda and pleated skirt patterns are Dolls and Daydreams (who is having a giveaway right now!). Boots and bag are my own. :)

Challenging again

It has been a long time since I have entered one of Amy's challenges, but I happened to see it this morning as I am desperately trying to finish a birthday gift for my sister. I want to finish it on time, but maybe the chance at some thread and fabric goodies will make me finish it on time.

So, hopefully you can come back next week and see what this is!

And possibly, if I am seriously lucky I can finish this little cutie up now that her face is done and off of the hoop! Big goals for me! What will you be up to this week?

Stuffed teeth

Coming soon to a classroom near you...maybe. Probably not very likely, but it would be kind of amazing if they did. I made up these super cute teeth by altering a pattern from the Softies book. Each one has a happy face on one side and a sad face on the other.

My sister, who I visited over the weekend, is in dental school. She's required to do community outreach as part of her training, but just happened to mention to me that the entire dental school has approximately four props to use as teaching aides!

I sent her a picture message of the images inside the Softies book and she developed a really cute teaching idea for young kids. Food flash cards and these teeth. Just a super simple "Is this a happy tooth food? Or a sad tooth food?" with plush visuals to really get the message out to Kindergartners. I can't wait to hear how this goes over! I know that my own four year old has really been into watching them come together!

Vote for your favorite!

There is a little sewing competition going on in blogland hosted by Family Ever After. It's called Sew-vivor and it's really exciting and different. You enter by submitting any one thing you've sewn, from there, judges narrow the entries down to ten finalists who then create one new project per week for four weeks. The twist being that, just like Survivor, one or more finalist is voted out per week by the judges.

It sounds fun, right? And bonus for those of us with little sewing time on our hands, the last four weekly projects are listed on the blog right now so you can make them ahead and be all prepared if you progress to the finals!

The Family Ever After Blog suggests that you enter a project that showcases your talent, creativity and personality. I spent a lot of time on the blog looking over some of my past projects and narrowed it down to ten that I think are eye-catching while showing off at least some of the suggested criteria, but I can't decide which one is best to enter.

So, please do me a favor and tell me your favorite in the comments! And if your favorite wasn't one of mine, feel free to tell me that too!

1. Disappearing 9 Patch Quilt 2. Bohemian Diaper Bag 3. Third Birthday Dress 4. Tuxedo Style Purse 5. Batik Log Cabin Stars Throw 6. Bunny 7. Lollipop Quilt 8. Cupcake Puppy 9. Owl Bag 10. Elvis Costume size 12 months

Monday Moments

I don't think I have mentioned yet, the Lego explosion that has gone on in my house. Over the summer I had a neighbor take Gabe in when I had some of the more intrusive doctor's appointments for the pregnancy. This neighbor has a boy with a huge Lego collection. And Gabe came home obsessed. Before I knew it, he was waking me up at 8:00AM saying, "Let's go to the neighbor's and play Legos."

Obviously, I talked to my son about why you can't just invite yourself into someone's house to play with their toys, but after months of dealing with the Lego problem, I bought him some. They were at the top of his birthday wish list, the top of his Christmas wish list and they are the first thing he grabs every morning.

I took this picture for him. Mainly because I find myself describing my favorite childhood toys and ending up on Google to show the kids. (Most recently The Wuzzles. I dare you to try describing a half lion, half bumblebee to your kids without Google, and Wuzzle Colorforms no less...it's like I'm speaking another language.) I think he'll appreciate this later, and his changing taste in toys is a fun way to see how much he's growing up.

Get inspired!

Today is the first installment of a weekly (or maybe twice monthly) feature here on my blog. I'm going to be posting some coordinating fabrics that I love, and a project idea to go along with them. I'm always really inspired, even when I'm lacking the time. So if you are ever in a rut, this could be a great place to come! And it's a great way for me to keep track of all those ideas!

I fell in love with this bunny fabric and picked out several coordinating prints that could make a really cute small quilt or tote bag for a child, depending on her age.

An aqua bunny made from this pattern, embroidered and embellished to match the bunny on the cotton print would be the perfect thing to pop in your tote bag or wrap up with your quilt! How cute would this be if you could find just the right carrot print for the belly? I'm so in love with this idea for a birthday or new baby gift!

Fabric photos from Fat Quarter Shop. Fabrics pictured are Aqua Tiny Gingham, Watermelon Tiny Flowers, Candy Snack Bunny (all by Michael Miller), Get Together Pink Hearts by David Walker for Free Spirit Fabrics, Coral Sketch by Timeless Treasures Fabrics and Promenade Yellow Dots by Stitch Studios.

E is for elephant

It's finally done! If you have been waiting to see what prompted me to try embroidery in miniature since last month, your wait is over!



It took some trial and error, but I finally figured out embroidery on both sides of the elephant. I almost ended up running out of fabric due to failed embroidery attempts. To be fair to my skills though, I was only using what scrap was left from binding my Fresh Flowers quilt.



Now to just find a box for it and ship it off to its new home.

Dandelion

Well, I didn't finish five bunnies like I wanted to, but I did finish one for each of my nieces before the holiday. The pattern is so simple and adorable! I just have not been feeling well. Ugh...



My son named this one Dandelion. I told my niece she could give her a new name if she wanted, but I hope she keeps it. It's so cute and creative, and really perfect for the yellow print ears and cheeks on this girl. Very impressive since he hasn't seen a dandelion since he was two. How does he even remember what they are?



I've been doing these bunnies from upholstery fabric samples and cotton prints from my stash. I played around with appliqueing plush fabric for the tail again. I love the effect, but it really is tricky given that you aren't supposed to iron that stuff.

Oh, and did you notice that the felt sandwiched between the cottons totally works for getting the ears to stand up? Hooray! The pattern designer told me it would on her Facebook page, but I was still so relieved when it worked out that way.

She's finished!

Yesterday was the perfect day. The weather was gorgeous and it wasn't supposed to be. We were really unprepared. I decided I had better haul a quilt (this one was a gift from my mother-in-law) outside and take photos of my finished bunny while I had the light.



Isn't she so super cute? I love her.



This one is for my youngest niece, who is just at that age where she would pull a tail off of a bunny if I hand sewed one on. The pattern I bought had directions for appliqueing a felt tail to the back, but I didn't have any that wouldn't pill like crazy and I wanted this toy to last. So I tried my hand at applique with minky. I just happened to have two or three large scraps of a perfectly matched purple in my stash. I think it worked out well.



I am disappointed in the ears though. I didn't consider for a moment that the comparably stiff felt the pattern called for would be what held the ears up. I thought that it was somehow in the folding of the fabric. I really should have known better. I like the look of the second cotton print, so I'm wondering if maybe I could layer the felt into the ears like batting and get them to stand in the same way they do on the pattern. I will have to try it with the next bunny I have planned.

A lot less work...

Awhile ago I showed you a different giraffe made from the remnants of a patchwork bag. I got quite a few positive comments on it.



So, when I had to hit the stores shopping for fabric for yet another giraffe, this one to take to a baby shower I was invited to mere days after I finished the first, this print immediately jumped out at me. All the appeal of the other, but with far, far less effort.



I was a little nervous about the fabric I chose for the feet and horns. The blue was a perfect match, but the green is nowhere in the main print. I wasn't too sure if it would be complimentary or if it would turn out obnoxious. I've obviously decided I like it, and I hope the mommy-to-be will like it too.

Puppy Love

She looks so cute and sad, doesn't she?



In the event that the purple polka dots weren't enough to jog your memories this is the Valentine's gift (with cupcake applique) that I posted a preview pic of last week.

I have used this pattern a few times before, so you may recognize it. I first made one as a baby gift for my nephew, then his big sister got jealous and had to have her own. Now their baby sister needs one too.

I thought the puppy initially made the perfect baby gift because my sister had decided on a puppy themed shower. I made decorations and cookies in the shape of dog bones and had to order custom birthday invitations with all of the wording changed to fit a baby shower because nothing was available.

Of course, today I got this e-mail advertising all new puppy themed baby shower decor and favors. Thanks! Too late!

Seriously though, I love Simply Baby Stuff. We ordered the Who Smells the Stinky Doo? game for my oldest niece's baby shower five years ago and it was hilarious to watch people sniffing their cards. They really are a fun site, and would have saved me so much work if they had only come up with the puppy idea sooner!

Repurposed

Almost two years ago I posted my patchwork bag tutorial. Back when I made those bags, I accidentally cut enough fabric for two of the second one. I have had the front and back panel of that bag unfinished in my basement since April, 2009. Yikes!

I went on the hunt through my stash to find some baby girl appropriate fabrics to make a gift out of and stumbled across those panels. I decided that, realistically, I probably wasn't going to make them into another patchwork bag, and brought them out to make one of my favorite patterns.



Mrs. Perkins by Melly and Me! I cannot sing the praises of this pattern enough. It has never failed to turn out adorable, no matter what fabrics I make it in and kids just love the 19" tall giraffe, especially babies!



I like her better with buttons, but I hate the thought of her sitting on a shelf because the baby's mom is too afraid to let her play with it. I stuffed a cat toy deep inside this one, a trick I cannot remember where I picked up. Just a little bell in a plastic ball so she rattles very quietly. And not a choking hazard because the bell and ball are surrounded by layers of stuffing and fabric.

While I'm sharing tips and tricks, let me show you one of my favorite ways to make stuffed animal eyes.



Polka-dot print felt! The irises are already printed on for you to just cut out little ovals or circles. I bought every square of this blue that I could find when it went on clearance at a local craft store. If I ever find more colors (maybe I should Google that?) I will buy them for sure! It's nice to have the option of a shortcut sometimes.



P.S. Some other Mrs. Perkins I have made since the blog can be found here and here.

The cutest!

I made the cutest gift card holder you will ever see. Or at least I think it is.

There is a couple in my family who I have mentioned a few times on this blog, they're the ones who gave me my dog. Well, it was more, "I got this dog and now I can't have her at my place. She is going to die if you don't take her." Because I was in the market for a miniature pinscher or a Welsh corgi and a black lab is totally the same thing.

Anyway, I wrote awhile ago that they were getting married in the fall. This couple truly is a fan of those gifts that keep on giving because they thought it would be an amazing and cute surprise to up their wedding date by nine months. We got an invitation in the mail approximately one week before the big day and had to do some serious scrambling for clothes to wear to the event and a gift.



Which is where the adorable gift card holder comes in. He may look cute, but he has sinister motives. See, I didn't just tell my husband and write on the blog that I was getting these folks a puppy, I told them. To their faces. Panicked faces, that hurriedly informed me that their newest place still doesn't allow pets (obviously they don't want my pain-in-the-rear dog either, even though they promised when we took her over a year ago that they were looking for a new place and would take her back in a "couple months, max"). I just wanted to package up a little reminder that I haven't forgotten my promise.

Or it's possible that they won't get the joke at all and will think that I'm just a nut job who gives stuffed animals to adults as wedding gifts.

Yeah, probably that last one...