Move over Gumball, now there’s something plumpier!
August 10th, 2007
I threw caution to the wind, blew off work and painting to make a stuffed dog today! I don’t know what hit me. I was working on the eternal couch cover project (I’m always altering it, one of these days it will be perfect and then it will be so brittle from the sun constantly beating on it, it will fall to shreds and I’ll have to start all over again) and I just got this crazy hair-brained idea that I should make Baby Bug a stuffed dog. You know, since I’m on this seemingly endless dog kick these days.
Before you go complimenting my sewing, let me just say that I am not a very good seamstress. I am horrid, in fact. Part of it is my sewing machine and the other part of it is that I am just a hack job artist with no attention span to be a perfectionist. If you look close, you will find puckers and gathers and back-tacking where there shouldn’t be back-tacking, knots where there shouldn’t be knots… It’s a big mess. My Aunt Keren, the seamstress, will not be allowed to examine it closely. This, like most of my sewing projects, will put her many years of kind teaching to shame. I’m sorry Aunt Keren.
It’s not all my fault though. My sewing machine doesn’t like me very much. I know this because it makes rats nests with the bobbin thread on a regular basis. This might be because I keep my sewing machine in this canvas tote and every time I haul it in and out of the closet, I think I break it. The tension is whacky. I don’t know what the numbers mean so I don’t even know how to fix it.
The little spool thing that holds the thread is busted off. I have to stick a skewer in the hole, where it used to be, and let my spool of thread wobble around on the skewer unbalanced. It’s really amazing that I bother to sew at all.
All that said, I had a blast making this little stuffed puppy. I used to make these sorts of things all the time when I was a kid and I used to visit my Aunt’s sewing room. And then there’s the Lumpy Cat Ranch of course. I think imperfect sewing is my thing. I know Baby Bug is too young to really appreciate the fun of this but I think someday we are going to really have a ball. Or a puppy or a doll or a kitten… or a truck.
August 10th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Adorable…I love his little tail.
August 10th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
Uh huh, and she is so disenchanted, I can tell.
She doesn’t like her new puppy at all - I mean NOT AT ALL.
I think it is cute Brenda. And again - way to go BB with the swanky pacifiers!
August 10th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
it is WAY cute!
August 10th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
So cute, and she loves it. Wake up from nap = new puppy. Awesome.
August 10th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
It’s a very crafty attempt! I wish I had room for my sewing machine but alas we don’t have space. Maybe soon. Then I can get back to my sewing.
August 10th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
All I can make is pillows, and they suck…..you are way ahead!!!! It is super cute, has the same whimsy as your paintings!
August 10th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Adorable!
August 11th, 2007 at 12:24 am
Your little stuffed puppy is adorable! I love all my imperfect toys. They have more personality.
And the picture of baby bug hugging her mommy made stuffed puppy while sitting in the rocking chair is soooo cute!! And that last picture…she’s getting sooo big. Not a little baby anymore.
August 11th, 2007 at 2:37 am
Ok, so so so cute!
August 11th, 2007 at 4:10 am
You know, the puppy resembles BB a little. I think it’s the eyes. Very, very cute my friend.
You inspire me.
August 11th, 2007 at 4:35 am
I think your stuffed puppy is awesome. They sell some crazy stuffed cats at a couple of stores here (they actually remind me of your lumpy cats) and your puppy looks just as awesome as they do and it most likely didn’t cost you $30!
August 11th, 2007 at 5:53 am
That is so cute. I want one too!
August 11th, 2007 at 6:22 am
Not so very, very, very long ago I made terry cloth robes for your mom and her brother. ..apple green for her, royal blue for him. With the leftovers I made a green kitty and a blue doggie which were loved to pieces.
August 11th, 2007 at 6:54 am
Adorable! and I think you are an amazing seamstress - I would have thrown that sewing machine out the window by now. I possess great patience…..
:-)
August 11th, 2007 at 9:59 am
aw! The face looks JUST like a SAJ original :-)
August 11th, 2007 at 11:02 am
Gumball was a cutie, but as a dog lover, I’ll be honest and say that I think stuffed puppy is absolutely stinkin adorable. You did a great job, SAJ. BB is so sweet with her new pal.
August 11th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
It’s adorable! BTW, I still have my Lumpy Cat Pillow in a place of honor in Maddy’s room. It’s the coolest stuffed animal I have.
SAJ says: Cool!
August 11th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Kids are so amazed that you can put two pieces of fabric together and make them stick. Good job.
August 11th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
I love it, and apparently BB does too!
August 11th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Oh, I love this little guy! Girl, you’re on to something here, what with all the dog stuff. Pet-related things are extremely marketable these days.
August 12th, 2007 at 2:01 am
I think you need a dog. A real dog. I have 5, I’d be willing to ship one out to you, or all 5 for that matter. They’d make excellent models for your painting.
The imperfections are what make this project so cool. And BB clearly loves it, so you did great.
SAJ says: When we live in a real house with a real yard we are SOOOOO getting a dog. I’ve already named him. He’ll be Jake, even if he is a girl.
August 13th, 2007 at 5:35 am
I think the “imperfection” is PERFECT!!!! These are the projects that mean a lot! Adorable!!!! Heh, when are you going to paint some PUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SAJ says: Hmmmm… not sure. I could paint for years but I think I’m wrapping things up soon on this dog obsession. Who knows though.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
And it’s all worth that shot of her hugging it.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:28 am
I think the phrase you’re looking for is “perfectly imperfect”!