Handmade Thursday’s: Stuffed Owl Re-do

I’m a liar.

Wow, that’s a tough way to start a post, isn’ it? Well, it’s pretty true. I wrote Stuffed Owl Re-do a few weeks ago and then at the end told you to come back the following week for an update on how I was doing. But I didn’t give you an update the following week, did I? No. So, I’m sorry for lying. Can you forgive me? I hope so, cause I’m here this week!!!

Last time I shared with you how I gave me little niece Lily a stuffed owl that I made. She has loved it ever since she was born. Loved it too much because it’s falling apart. And mind you guys, she’s only 1 years old. I didn’t make it very sturdy. So, I’m going at it again. I do however want to keep the integrity of the original. Because I want Lily to remember the owl, I don’t want to change the color story I just want to change the style a little bit and reinforce the fabrics so that it will last a long time with a lot of play. So, on my search for a simpler style I came across this beauty from The Paper Source {not paper, I know, but I found it there none-the-less}.

Stuffed Owl Paper Source

I love the simpler base of the owl. Before I tried to do too much. If you don’t remember my original, here it is again.

Original Owl

Little Miss Lily loves this guy, so again, I want to keep the colors and similar idea but as you can see in my owl base, my cutting was uneven, my ears a bit funky and I tried to create a bottom piece to help it stand that that was not only difficult to make but doesn’t do the owl any favors. I think the simpler base of the owl I found above will be mush easier and sturdier.

So I began my journey by measuring and creating templates for cutting my fabric. I know it may be a little hard to see below but I used a thin poster board {not ideal for fabric patterns but had to be done here} that has a grid on it. This way I could be sure my lines were straight and my proportions correct. Here I have the base, the new eyes and nose.

Owl Templates

I didn’t add anything else because I really want to try and keep the floral breast-heart from the original and possibly the wings. I’m also going to try and keep the original eyes to add to the new outer eye template. I don’t know if it will work simply because they are pretty frayed.

As you can see I took those pieces off. Before I did that though I unstuffed the owl. I always hated the way I stuffed it. Not enough or done incorrectly, I don’t know. But I never liked it. Glad to see this stuff out!!

Then as I said, I took all of the pieces off that I wanted to try and save.

Now, it’s just time to see if I want to salvage any of the base pieces. I really don’t think I can based on the size and shape of the new one I want to create so I’m thinking it’s out! Poor thing. It’s looks so sad now. What do I do with it?

That’s for another day I suppose. For now I’ll keep it. But the next step is picking out and cutting all my new fabrics. For the original back here I used a basic green cotton fabric but in the front I used a jersey knit. I wanted it to be soft in front so that Lily could lay on it, use it as a pillow or just cuddle with it and know it was soft. Plus, I think my sister has discovered she may have rosacea, so the softer the better. I’ll stick with that I think. But I dig the thick corduroy of the other owl so maybe I’ll use that for the back. Just gotta find it in green!

Alright kids, I promise I’ll be back next week cause I’m really on a role with this. Have a good one!