Little Birdie Pillow

This pillow was inspired by this tutorial on UCreate. I didn't follow the tutorial much, but I did steal the idea. I used regular acrilic paint for the branches (works fine, but I think it would lay a little nicer if I hadn't applied it quite as thick), and the leaves are leftovers from this project, and I used the pattern from my little birdie magnets for the bird . I ironed them down and sewed around the edges.



I cut up an XXL shirt that I bought super on sale at Old Navy. It worked out perfectly, because I didn't have to add any buttons or zippers or flaps... I just cut out a square from the front and the back and sewed them together.

It turned out a little too girly to get to live on the couch, but I found it a happy home in The Girl's Room, and she loves it. Now that she's closing in on 2 years, her room is almost decorated to my(I mean her...) liking!

Little Birdie Magnets

My Little One has taken a liking to magnets lately. She's been stealing the magnets off my fridge, so I decided it would be fun to make her some cute, nondangerous magnets she could play with. These Little Birdies are what I came up with. Here is how to do it:

You will need:

Cardstock and a pen

Scraps of Fabric

Batting

Fusible Interfacing

Needle and thread

Embroidery floss or buttons for eyes

Felt for beak

Magnet

Iron

(sewing maching not required, but oh so helpful)

First, draw your pattern on a piece of cardstock and cut it out. It doesn't have yo be a bird, you could do any shape, really.




Trace your pattern onto three pieces of fabric. One for the front, one for the back, and one to make a pocet for the magnet. I used a patterned fabric on the front, solid on the back and an old penstained white curtain for the inside.

Iron interfacing to the inside piece of fabric, peel of paper. This inside piece of fabric is important. It keeps the magnet from getting lost inside the bird.

Iron Back and Inside fabric together with magnet sandwiched in the interfacing. Interfacing isn't completely necessary, but it keeps the magnet from sliding around.

Cut out one little wing for each bird. I used a contrasing print.

Cut out a triangle of felt for the beak.

Use a needle and thread to sew on wing and eye (use a button or just make a knot with embroidery floss). Pin beak on facing IN.

Sew front and back together with right sides facing. This is the part where the machine comes in handy. Sew most of the way around, but leave a gap wide enough to fit the magnet through so you can turn it rightside out.

Turn, stuff with batting, and sew closed by hand.

Back view: Magnet is sandwiched safely between layers of fabric so little ones can't pull it off and swallow it. **Make sure your magnet is strong enough to stick to the fridge with a piece of fabric in the middle.

Front view: No detachable parts that can be swallowed or choked on. **I used a button for the eyes of the first two birds I made. Little Miss has already pulled off one button eye. I wouldn't recommend using buttons unless the birds are going to be used purely for decoration.

She loves them! Three for my Little Miss, three in the mail for a special little girl's birthday, and three Birdies coming soon to my Etsy Shop.