Well, besides the fact that my coral reef marine tank resides in the same room as my studio, there has been new additions to the sea creatures at my humble abode...only these sea creatures swim on Etsy! Here's the story:
Several weeks ago, I was invited to a baby shower for a new member at our church that just had a baby and nothing for the baby. I was called to bring a gift of plushy toys. Being very reluctant to simply purchase some impersonal mass-produced items that you get a choice of maybe 5 of, I decided to make them for her. Okay...back up about 32 years ago....
We didn't have a lot of money growing up and we never really got what we wanted (I know, who didn't in the 70's, right). Anyway, I loved to make gifts for my family members and plushy toys and pillows was one thing I loved to make. Big problem: I had no access to fabric. Big bummer for a little creator! So, what does the die-hard artist of 8 years old do? ImproVise! I made my plushies and pillows by stapling cut out shapes where you would normally sew. I bet you can't guess what they were stuffed with: balled up pieces of paper! Instant poor-girl plushy! Several years later when McDonald's chicken McNuggets came out (remember those cute puppets?) I did actually sew some for myself, but back to the story. Now, my first real sewing project (with actual fabric) occurred when I was about 10 years old. I wanted to make the most beautiful ballgown a 10 year old could ever have! So I did, sewn by hand without a pattern. It really wasn't a bad first attempt for a 10 year old, however it did itch...and badly! Well, months later, my mother went in the attic in search of the heavy fiberglass drapes for the living room window that were put up in the fall. Oooops....the drapes are now a dress and at that point, I discovered why it was so itchy!!! But I digress.....
So now back to 2008...
And back to those plushies! So, the woman made out with some absolutely adorable marine animals: a coral, sea star, squid, clam, octopus and a sand dollar. They were very well received both at the baby shower and with my grandchildren! There you have it...the birth of the felt marine animals.
To see them for yourself, you can follow this link right to that section of my etsy shop:
Any feedback will be well received!
