Thanksgiving with Mr. Piggles

Mr. Piggles is the happy kitchen companion of my sister, Mimi. This Thanksgiving, he invited some of the Friends over for a special holiday feast together.

This little tea cup is Mr. Piggles' favorite perch.
These little Dutch piggies like to help in the kitchen, too.

Welcome to the feast, Friends!

This gentle giant is Lulu. She was made by artist, Heidi  Bartruff.
Lulu was especially fond of Cubbie.

Look at me everybody!
Barney the giraffe is taking me on a tour of the house!

Boy, Stedman Turtle sure is strong!
Thanks for the ride ole buddy!

Stedman? Can you keep a secret?

I won't tell a soul, Cubbie! Not even Millie.

Mmmmm! Looks like the turkey is just about ready!

Cranberries! Cherry pie! Apple pie! I can't wait for dessert!

Hey... where did everyone go?
 I've been hiding in this basket nibbling on  fresh bread!

I think this serious lady saw me though...
Hope I don't get into too much trouble with Aunt Mimi!

Little Bunny Tutu

Our latest little Friend has gone on adventure with a sweet little girl here in Charleston. I knew she would love the delicate pink dress that this little bun is wearing!


Hello sweet little dear...



My delicate pink ballet skirt is my favorite thing to wear...



This gazebo is a popular place to get married!



I like to imagine I am a famous dancer.





I'm ready for my closeup! Uh-oh... Too close!



I sometimes imagine that I am a beautiful pink butterfly...



Always remember to stop and smell the roses!

Mint's summer memories

Mint is one adventurous bunny!

Have you ever seen such a giant caterpillar? I wonder what kind it is...

Lounging around the pool is my favorite summertime activity!

Ahhh.... Now THIS is the life!

Fresh produce! A perfect snack.

Gotta run, Friends! See you later with more adventures!

Welcome little puppy!

Welcome a new kind of friend! A puppy!

This little guy will watch over a sweet new baby here in Charleston.

Should I try to chase that big, giant horse?

Have you seen my bouncy ball?

Guess I better learn how to use one of these things! Heehee!

The Sugar Cube Tea Party

This week we were treated to a lovely evening at the home of our dear friend, Becky Becker. 

Lemon ginger tea with extra sugar cubes... My favorite!

Becky is an amazing puppeteer and creates the most wonderful shows for young children!

Miss Becky said we can jump on the bed! HEEHEEE!!!

Becky's home is a most magical place... tiny little treasures at every turn.

Cubbie hears a secret from an angel...

Maybe if we work together we can walk across the room in these old boots!

We're all wondering what's inside this magnificent painted box!

For more information about Becky Becker and her puppets, please visit her website!

http://www.beckysboxofpuppets.com/

Millie

Sometimes, I must admit, it's incredibly difficult to send my little Friends off into the world... I became so attached to this little girl, that I decided to keep her as my own. I named her Millie after a character I created in my college days. 

It wouldn't be Charleston without some rainy day fun!

Better grab my umbrella!

Looks like more rain is on the way... More puddle-jumping!

Cubbie HEARTS Millie 4 Ever!

Our Friend Mint wrote to us today!

I've had a wonderful summer frolicking in the sand at the beach!

Digging is really hard work, 
but building castles is one of my favorite things to do.

I should probably dig out a moat for my castle...
Those pesky crabs might try to crawl over and pinch me!

Bobbie

One last picnic before I head off on adventure... You just missed the squirrel who joined us for a little snack!

I've always wanted to learn how to play the piano... Now what should I play for my first performance at Alluette's?

A new Friend is born

Some younger PGF admirers wanted to know just HOW the Friends are made. I thought I'd share the process with you here. Hand-sewing is lots of fun and is a wonderful skill to learn that you will use throughout your life. There are lots of books at the library or favorite bookstore that tell more about it. Or, you could even ask your mom, grandmother, aunt or other favorite grown-up lady to teach you how. But first, here is a look at how a new Friend is born...

First, I pin my pattern to a piece of fleece folded in half...



Then I cut out around the pattern so that I have two of everything. Two bodies... Two sets of ears...



A lot of times, I cut out more than one body so that I can work on another one later, even if I don't have time to do all that cutting. Sometimes, cutting is the hardest part to do. It's not easy to do just anywhere...



The next step is to stitch a face. Next comes the little heart-shaped tail. Then the ears...



Here comes the fun part -- stitching the body! I use a stitch called a blanket stitch to secure the pieces of fabric together. A running stitch holds the ears in place. I used a whip stitch for the tail.



Well, maybe I told a bit of a story back there... The REAL fun begins with the stuffing! I use a basic polyfluff. I've used bamboo in the past, but it does NOT wash well at all. Wool materials are my favorite, but I've found that children prefer the cuddly softness of fleece and fluff.



After I tie-off the very last stitch, I plump and skwish the new Friend. She's all done! This sweetie is staying here with me! I'm naming her Maggy after my little angel dachshund.  :)

All in all, it takes me a bit over an hour to complete a 6" Friend. Sewing by hand is time-consuming, but it is a very rewarding experience. You can take your projects with you wherever you go. Try it sometime!

I'd love to see your little projects sometime if you want to share...