Island Batik April Challenge with Funky Friends Factory

 Hi, and thanks for stopping by. 

Have you seen the fun array of animals that the Island Batik Ambassadors have been making this month?  We were asked to choose a Funky Friends Factory pattern and make a stuffed animal.  Or many, as some of the Ambassadors have done.  Multiple moose and many manatees!  I am only making one butterfly, but I've made others in the past.  I actually made the squirrel and the hedgehog in the blog button, for Quilt Market displays in the past.  I've also done bunnies.  

The Funky Friends Factory animals are so cute!  The patterns are well written, and there are extra photos or videos on the website to go with many of the patterns.  You can download and print them out, so you can start right away.  Some use scraps, and others use larger pieces, but if you have buttons or craft eyes, and stuffing, you can get them done for gifts or just because.  I love using Island Batik fabric for them, as the thread count of the base fabrics is perfect for the durability, and many of the colors can be so much fun to use.  

Belinda the Butterfly has quilted wings, and a cute, easy to stuff body, with little antenna and arms.  The pattern suggests the size for the fabrics, but you sew the strips of upper body and bottom together before you cut out the pieces, so that makes it much easier.  The wings are layered with batting, and sewn around the edge, and turned, then some fun stitching is added.  For my wings I used the triple stitch and 40wt Aurifil thread to make the stitching have more of an accent. 

I didn't have the right size eyes, so had to run to Michael's to get them, but think the craft eyes are really cute.  I could have used buttons.  When I'm doing the eyes, I add a layer of fusible interfacing or fuse some fabric using paper backed fusible web, to make the area for the eyes be extra stable.  You have to poke a hole to get the eye shaft through, so the fusible helps prevent fraying and possible loss of an eye.  

Inside the head, extra stabilizer/fused fabric in the eye area.  

Belinda looks a little flat, maybe she needs to find some good flowers!  

She did find an Iris blooming in my yard, and looks much happier now.  

I added the embroidered mouth, according to the pattern, but chose to use a Lazy Daisy stitch to make flowers for the cheeks, instead of a felt circle.  I love using Aurifil embroidery floss for the details.  

Belinda enjoyed a little tour of my garden, but there aren't many flowers blooming yet.  Our hyacinth are past bloom, and the lonely tulip didn't look great, either.  I think she'll need to wait a bit for the roses and lilacs.  

 

I do think Belinda enjoyed meeting my new puppy, Heather, and Heather was happy to meet her, too.  Although they will not be playing together, Heather was happy to pose for a few photos.  Heather is almost 3 months old, and was happy to wait for the treat I was holding in my right hand, with the camera.  Belinda would not survive long as a dog toy, Heather's teething and not allowed soft toys, but I wouldn't recommend a Funky friends for pets. 

Thanks so much for visiting, and I hope you've been inspired to try something different.  Find a new friend soon! 

Please also check out the other Island Batik Ambassador projects.  

Megan Best @ Best Quilter
Jennifer Fulton @ Inquiring Quilter
Connie Kauffman @ Kauffman Designs
Emily Leachman @ Darling Dogwood
Denise Looney @ For the Love of Geese
Claudia Porter @ Create with Claudia
Gail Renna @ Quilt Haven Threads
Brianna Roberts @ Sew Cute and Quirky
Andi Stanfield @ True Blue Quilts
Sandra Starley @ Textle Time Travels
Jennifer Thomas @ Curlicue Creations
Gail Sheppard @ Quilting Gail

Preeti Harris @ Sew Preeti Quilts
Jane Hauprich @ Stitch by Stitch Custom Quilting
Reed Johnson @ Blue Bear Quilts
Leah Malasky @ Quilted Delights
Maryellen McAuliffe @ Mary Mack Made Mine
Lisa Pickering @ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
Pamela Boatright @ PamelaQuilts
Suzy Webster @ Webster Quilt
Elizabeth DeCroos @ Epida Studio
Mania Hatziioannidi @ Mania for Quilts
Anorina Morris @ Samelia’s Mum
Michelle Roberts @ Creative Blonde 

Brenda @ Songbirddesigns

See you soon!