Cam's Penguin bean bag chair

For Cam's 2nd birthday, I decided to make a big cuddly bean bag in a playful royal penguin design.

I downloaded a free pattern for a bean bag cover off the web which I used as a guide when I made the body.  I used a soft dark blue material with a white belly.

I made the flippers extra-long and sewed little pockets in the ends, to slip his hands into so he could wrap the flippers around for a snuggle/hug.  I used coloured felt to make the rest (I love the coloured pin feathers).

Even growing up, Cam still loves his penguin

Perfect for watching movies and hugs.

 Also, good to nestle a baby in

Back view

Glow in the Dark Space Blanket for Cameron's 3rd Birthday

I had so much fun making this blanet. 

A design popped into my head for a quilt for Cam and the ideas flowed thick and fast. 

It started with the concept of Graham's profile bottom left, with a telescope in the centre panel, looking at Cam as an astronaut in the top right corner.  

I found some glow in the dark material on line, and some space themed polar fleece locally for the back, and got creative with my embroidery.

Each square had a theme.  I used images and processing them with my embroidery software made them into embroidery files.  I added swirls of quotes, and embroidered clusters of stars as filler.  

Here we go:

Graham's profile panel

The Telescope panel

For Astro Cam I embroidered his body and printed his head from a photo of him in a space costume, onto material which I sewed on the body, then decided to make a 3-D helmet which attached, but could be removed for washing.

The Helmet is complete with a clear plastic face cover.

Important for breathing in space. 

 With the 3 D hemet on.

The Glow in the Dark Material

Elwood of course, and a sign to the star that was named after Elwood's Ball

 A general space panel

The polar fleece backing

  Put it all together

Quilted and backing on

I think Cam approved

Blending Cultures, a Baby Blanket for Maisie with a Totem design project

The family tree baby blanket I made for our grandson Cam was great fun, but for our next Grandchild I thought I'd do something different.

The Plan:

Graham suggested I think outside the square to incorporate the 3 cultures which are blending for this baby. Ilea's Canadian and Australian heritage and Callum is from New Zealand. We thought, talked about it for quite a while, and finally came up with a Totem Pole.

I wanted it to be fun, so went with a bright yellow background, and a purple totem trunk.  My plan is to have 3 panels which will lift up, with images beneath.  A Thunderbird at the top of the totem (Graham and I), a NZ Tiki (Jane and David, Callum's parents), and a Koala it's little joey (Ilea & Callum).

In the corners I'm thinking of embroidering different animals from the different countries, and perhaps sneaking all of our dogs in.

And a cute flannel back with colourful sleepy sloths.

Sometimes I think I make these things twice as I don't use a pattern, and often make part of it, and discard it and try again.

The Making:

I cut 3 layers of batting for the Totem, and Totem shape in purple material.

Next I made the wings out of blue.

Thunderbird panel:

NZ Tiki:

Embroidered, but not quilted yet.

Koala:

This was a challenge. I bought fake fur to make the Koala, then Graham suggested I make one out of fur.  Soooo I bought a rabbit pelt and this is the result. 

I embroidered each familie's pets into the corners of the blanket front material.

And a playful blend of cultures to make the 4th corner.

I quilted them together sewing in little swirls of family names, and loving words.  

Used a sloth flanel piece for the backing.

I also included flaps on the back so it could be hung on a rod, and attached the totem using clear snaps, so it could be removed if it became dusty.

Then made a few more animals out of felt, which also snapped on.

I quilted the totem with a wood grain pattern, and added the siblings family names under the wings and then the photos of us, Callum's parents and Callum & Ilea were sewn in place.

And as there were now 2 versions of Kiwi (Embroidered Tiki and Kiwi Bird) and 2 Koala options, I  put snaps on so they also could be interchanged. 

 I think Maisie approved.