At first, I couldn't decide if this was a "Sew What?!" project or a just another Crazy Craft. When I examined the fundamentals, I realized that the only supplies involved were cotton fabric, thread, batting/fiber fill, ribbon, and some pom-pom fringe - no yarn, hot glue, beads, popsicle sticks, felt, rhinestones, feathers, foam, puffy paint, or sequins. Furthermore, the only techniques involved were machine and hand sewing - this was definitely a sewing project!
Mary and I have been invited to perform at a private event, to be exact, a baby shower (a co-ed baby shower, no less). I know that we are paid entertainment, but I have a hard time showing up completely empty-handed to a party. Not knowing the host and hostess (the expectant parents) very well, not knowing the sex of the unborn baby, and not knowing if/where they're registered, I figured that I could put my stash-busting skills to work and make something that was mostly gender-neutral and suitable as a small token of congratulations for the proud mama and papa-to-be.
| This is what I came up with. I started making these stuffed animals and then, for some reason, decided that they needed to be wearing bathing suits. The cool cat wears jams and the dainty elephant wears a floral, yo-yo bikini edged in pom-pom trim. They were all ready in their bathing costumes, so I had to take them to the beach. There are many unusual sights along the Southern California coastline, none so strange as the fully-grown, fully-dressed man laying down in the sand to spread out tiny towels and a miniature umbrella for his stuffed animals. Would it have been less weird if I had made a little picnic too? |
| Sun worshippers! "Everybody had matching towels!" |
Aware that I have already shared this song multiple times, I couldn't help but include "Stuffed Animal" again, both for its thematic relevance as well as my love for the bizarre lyrics as so eloquently delivered by Annette in a 1960's peignoir.
"Stuffed Animal" - Annette Funicello
So deep in the thick of stuffed animal making, and excited by the fact that the cutest nephew in the world was coming to town, I decided to make yet another miniature mammal.
| This particular kid is obsessed with three things: pumpkins, trains, and PIRATES. I thought it would be fun to make a pirate elephant...and it was. I started with the same blue, floral material used to create the bikini-clad elephant's body but used a red-and-white stripe for the legs. Sticking with the red, white, and blue color scheme, I used navy-and-white polka dot fabric for the pants and eye patch and a red bandana for the head scarf (the ears go though machine-made buttonholes), and multi-stripe grosgrain ribbon for the sash. A PATRIOTIC PIRALEPHANT!!! I gave it to him when we picked him up from the airport and he loved it (a welcome surprise from a kid who likes something for one minute and then throws it in a corner never to acknowledge its existence ever again). He even asked to sleep with it at night. Yahoo! |
After all of these baby elephants (and one cat), there was really only one other song that would underscore this post perfectly.
"Baby Elephant Walk" - Henry Mancini
as performed by The Lawrence Welk Orchestra
I hope the recipients of these animals will like them. My favorite part of this project was that it required zero trips to the fabric store; I used only what I had on hand! Have you ever made a stuffed animal? What do you think of homemade gifts? Are they corny or cool...or both?
| Here's hoping that the waning days of summer (Northern Hemisphere) are treating you well! |
Cheers!
Mr. Tiny