Sanders in Tassie: 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.