Simple things that make those childhood memories...
The Velveteen Rabbit, soft handcrafted blankets and sweaters, the crayon box, favorite pajamas and warm lazy mornings...
You know the things, though they are different for each of us...
We have a little history behind these Panel Pillows. My grandmother used to make these for us...I had a blue teddy bear (which forever made me question the reality of brown bears). One of my sisters had a cow with a big bell on a ribbon around it's neck that my mother used to borrow to put behind her back while driving (before adjustable seats), which flew out the window on the highway one day when she leaned forward to adjust it. So led to endless jokes on how cows really DO fly :)
Anyways, my kids all have had theirs too. I would look around, find a panel, and make them a pillow while I was pregnant.
My youngest daughter wrote me a little heart broken last week, with a photo, saying... "My poor bunny is deteriorating :( "
So I said... "oh...well leave it out and I will see if there is any hope for it when I am there next time."
I have looked before, since her bunny had so many patches it was going to become a patchwork quilt with a bunny face, but for years I could not find the panel again. The company stopped making them, and when I would find them they would sell before I could get it, and often for up to 75.00 USD...
This time, I FOUND ONE!! For 8.00!!!
...and I found a Holly Hobby for 8.00 too, so when the kids come over she can be stingy with her bunny...
These are super simple to make. You basically just cut it out, pin it, stitch around the outline, stuff it and whip stitch it to close the last bit.
What makes these so special, are the memories they seem to create...it never fails, they just seem to pour out heart attachments...
It is amazing to see a new one and realize how loved her old bunny really was...
So one when she was born, and now a new one for her 21st birthday :) I can say, this was Not on my list of possible 21st B-day gifts...but so life goes :)
So there you have it, needlework with a story ;) Thanks for reading!
Please check #needleworkmonday to see all of the amazing needle crafts our fellow Stemians have created this week!