Webkinz sleeping bag tutorial

Start with 2 rectangles of coordinating fabric, right sides together. To figure the correct size, lay your Webkinz (or other pet) on the table in their normal sleeping position and measure their height & width… double the width measurement because the rectangle will ultimately be folded in half. (pardon me for getting so personal here, but Cheese needed a rectangle 9 inches tall and 18 inches wide) Sew all around the edge, leaving a space for turning:

Turn right side out and iron the seams so they’re nice and crisp. You do not have to sew the little gap shut… it will be taken care of when you do the next seam. Fold the rectangle in half so that the outside fabric is together and the lining fabric faces out:

Start at the folded edge and sew a seam on 2 sides, stopping a few inches from the top edge of bag:

Turn the bag right side out and fold down a cuff on one side of the sleeping bag. I didn’t press it down at first, but it kept flipping up onto Cheese’s head when he was trying to rest… I recommend pressing:

The sleeping bag part is done! Make a little pillow with leftover fabric:

All that’s left to do is see how your little buddy likes it:

I made two of these… one for Cheese (who slept like a log last night) and one to send to a friend of mine. They were pretty easy to make; I hope the tutorial is helpful.

I wound up taking a giant nap today (too much fun over the weekend?) and I apologize for the delay in updating my Etsy shop… I’ve a few special orders for threadholders to take care of before I can make more for the shop, but I promise I’ll get to them asap. Happy Tuesday, everyone!

 

Thursday

Recently the whole family I decided it was time to redo our living room and hallway floors in hardwood. (actually laminate, but it looks like wood so close enough) We looked first at the Harvest Oak option,

but Cheese fainted at thought of yet another bit of oak-y goodness in our home. As it happens, I agree with him and so we will be going the Maple route:

For now, installation is planned for the second week in July (because you really should plan major projects during the hottest part of the year) but since that’s a month away I’m not holding my breath.

Yesterday also surprised us with a new pool. We were walking by the pool section at Costco and I was hot and the display looked refreshing, so into the cart it went. It’s just a blow-up pool, but it’s a lot bigger than I thought it would be. (13 x 6) Our annual blow-up pool usually goes in the yard, but I was afraid the neighbor’s toddler would toddle over and drown if we kept this one outside, and wouldn’t that put a damper on our summertime fun?! And no way was I dumping it out each time… I’m no treehugger, but the thought of that much water waste pushed me over the edge.

So, we I decided it would be best to keep it in the garage. (I guess we technically now have an indoor pool?) Of course, now I’m stuck parking outside, but that’s just the kind of mom I am. And hey- Cheese likes the new pool, and really, what else matters?

While in the pool room garage, Cheese spotted Barbie’s Corvette and couldn’t resist taking it for a spin:

We spent 6 fun hours playing in the garage today. Now that’s something I never thought I’d say.

 

new bushes, new threadholders, and a little frog

It finally quit raining for a minute, so Cheese wanted to see how the new bushes were doing. He’s concerned about the middle one (it’s gotten beat up in the storms) and thinks we might need to replace it soon. We’ll see… I’m not all that anxious to re-do yardwork that I didn’t really want to do in the first place and I’m also not going to just take the word of a little platypus.

I made some Quaker-themed threadholders… they are in my Etsy shop. I also recently listed some more de-stash items :)

My daughter found a tiny frog today… the picture is unfortunately blurry (he was a quick little thing) but at least you can see how small he is. We have these all over the yard and they are really cute! I always wonder how many get mashed up when my husband mows the lawn though.

Happy Wednesday!

 

good mail days

Pretty pincushion, made by Mary Katherine, purchased through her Etsy shop. Paula’s newest style of scissors and a packet of Thread Hoops.

Crocheted bookmarks, from the Fortenberries Etsy shop.

Tracy’s designs, Hanky Psanky and Cirque des Cercles and Silks from Vikki Clayton:

I really like the Yawning Mountain silk… I’m planning to use it on Olive’s Peace Band Sampler. I want to finish up my squares for the next exchange (a patriotic theme) before I add a new start.

Thanks for all your comments about little Cheese… I showed them to my daughter, who was so happy that you liked her buddy! I may have to take Cheese along on another trip– thinking about posing him for pictures kept me from dwelling on my uncle’s hospitalization, my missing Katie cat, and the impending Needlework Show. Here’s one more Cheese pic for the road (so to speak):

Party animal that he is, Cheese never missed Happy Hour. Given Sonic’s boast of offering 168,894 possible combinations, it’s no surprise he took his time deciding.

 

the adventures of Cheese

Cheese, my daughter’s Lil’ Kinz, accompanied me on my recent trip to Albuquerque. He was a good traveling companion (for the most part) and as promised, he provided distraction at just the right moments, and reminded me of home.

This was Cheese’s first time in an airplane, and he was so excited! He kept looking out the window, watching the ground crew, until the flight attendant told him he had to get buckled up. Twenty minutes into the flight he already had to go to the bathroom… I took him in, but I wouldn’t let him touch anything since he doesn’t have hands to wash. I didn’t think to take a picture of that, but it’s probably illegal to post those kinds of pictures anyway.

Our first stop was the hospital, to see how my uncle was doing. I let Cheese pose for this picture, but then made him stay in my tote bag so he didn’t pick up all those icky hospital germs. (again, no hands) We visited there a few times until my uncle got transferred back to the nursing home.

I let Cheese drive a bit, but just around the nursing home parking lot, and I had to work the pedals for him. He almost ran over a bird and I got upset, but he gave me his “sad eyes” and I forgave him. No more driving, though.

The NH van driver and I took Uncle Jim to get some new glasses. While we were waiting (and waiting and waiting… a really long wait considering the place was named Eyeglass Express), Cheese tried on several pairs of glasses; he really liked this red pair the best.

Cheese had salsa for the first time and loved it! He ate Mexican food a few times while we were there and (despite the fact that it tends to make him a little gassy) he’s well on his way to becoming a true aficionado.

My uncle wanted Sonic a lot. I bet Cheese and I went through this particular Sonic drive-thru at least a dozen times… surely the employees thought I was the crazy platypus lady who had an unquenchable thirst for strawberry limeades. On this particular occasion, I let Cheese do the ordering and we wound up with cherry-grape slushes instead.

While I never could get Cheese to actually pay for a meal, I was able to talk him into leaving the tip once.

As we buckled up for the ride home, he thanked me for bringing him along and made me promise not to show all of the pictures I had taken of him. Some things are better shared by just two friends, he said.