Funky Friends Factory

Products featured in this post were provided to me free of charge. As an Island Batik Ambassador I receive two shipments a year filled with beautiful Island Batik fabric. Included in these shipments are products from industry partners Hobbs Batting, Schmetz Needles, Deb Tucker Studio 180 Designs, Aurifil Thread, Oliso Irons, Funky Friends Factory, ByAnnie, and AccuQuilt.

This months Island Batik challenge features the soft toys from Funky Friends Factory. When the challenge was announced, I was asked to choose a pattern to make. Like any good grandma, I consulted the boss! Wesley liked all the options, but Stu the Sea Turtle was his first pick—and the first of many patterns he would choose.

Stu was really easy to make, in fact, I made it in one afternoon. The pieces are a comfortable size to work with, the pattern was easy to read and their photo tutorial (link in the pattern) easy to follow along. Funky Friends Factory has asked that we do not share images of the pattern itself.

Choosing fabrics for this little guy was so much fun! I asked Wesley what colors he wanted Stu to be, and he quickly answered, “Red and blue!” Easy enough! Fortunately, I still had some Jubilee fabric left in my stash from the Runner Up Blog Hop.

I wish I could share all the photos I took of Wesley as he decided which fabrics to use. As he unfolded each piece, he would say, “One moment while I make it bigger!” I chose this photo because he especially loved the flowers on this fabric.

Hobbs Batting included a bag of their Simply Stuffing in our Ambassador boxes this year. Theirs is my favorite stuffing to use, I especially love their Poly-Down. There is another brand that when a handful is pulled from the bag it’s like, it has dandruff and it’s rough. Simply Stuffing is not like that.

Here is Stu immediately after I finished up. He’s a little roly poly because he hadn’t been used as a pillow yet, lol. Or, perhaps he is overeating.

Wesley loves Stu, he chose a fabric for each body part, I think the pattern calls for 3 fabrics. Remember I said the pieces were large? I was able to fussy cut the fabric to show the eagles on each fin.

Stu’s adventure has begun, and while he no longer lives in a sea of water I think he will enjoy the ocean of toys he is sharing his space with.

That is, if Steve the Crocodile doesn’t eat him.

Additional products used

Schmetz Needles and Aurifil Thread.

Oliso Iron