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Hi I’m Pauline, this blog is where I share all the latest Funky Friends Factory News, Giveaways, Competitions plus LOTS of toy-making tips & tutorials to help you sew the cutest soft toys EVER!

Dec 2023 MAKER OF THE MONTH!

Jan 31, 2024 | Blog, Competitions & Giveaways

We had sooooooooooooooooo many awesome feedback photos this month and LOTS of first Funky Friends too! Read down to the end of the post to find out who won.

Let’s take a look…

Beautiful Butterflies!

The butterfly kingdom is full of variety, as are the Belinda Butterflies posted by Funky Friends Factory fans. Courtney Schreiner used sparkly and rainbow Cuddle fabric from Shannon Fabrics for her Belinda Butterfly.

 

Here’s a totally different look for Belinda Butterfly – a keepsake butterfly sewn by Lindsey Mortimer. This precious memory toy is made from sentimental blanket fabrics.

Click HERE to buy the Butterfly Sewing Pattern

 

Need a scrap-buster project?

You can use your fabric scraps to make a ‘patchworked’ piece of fabric and then cut your toy pattern pieces from it. Sue Rowland sewed this stunning Heather Hippo all from scraps!

Click HERE to buy the HIPPO pattern.

 

 

Some of the most realistic looking Funky Friends are made from the Gertrude Guinea Pig Pattern. This Gertrude was sewn by Courtney Schreiner of Monkey in the Mailbox to match a real life guinea pig with a single tan foot!

AND this Gertrude Guinea Pig was sewn by Jill Bailey – from a fur coat!

Click HERE to buy the Guinea Pig pattern.

 

 

This GORGEOUS Raff Giraffe with rainbow spots was on of the most popular toys posted in our Pattern Fan Club Group in December. Lynette Colley ordered some really special custom printed fabric for this special gift toy.

 

AND these Raff Giraffe toys sewn in Tula Pink fabric were Mary Stohr‘s first Funky Friends!

Click HERE to buy the Giraffe pattern.

 

 

This pretty Butch Bulldog was sewn by Janet O’Neil Conlon in doggy patterned fleece. A matching pink ribbon adds a sweet touch!

 

AND this Butch Bulldog keepsake was sewn by Shelly Perrie from baby clothes.

Click HERE to buy the Bulldog pattern.

 

 

Sammy Shark is gaining popularity as a keepsake, too! Sammy has a large side piece that can accommodate logos and patches. Holly Boatright used a sailing shirt logo.

Click HERE to buy the Shark Pattern.

 

 

This sweet Harmony Highland Cow sewn by Shelli Iden Boisture – what a cute face!!!! 🙂

Click HERE to buy the Highland Cow Pattern

 

 

What a glorious Mickey Moose sewn by Carolyn Lewis! I wish this was under my Christmas tree!!! 😀

Click HERE to buy the Moose pattern.

 

 

This sweet Prince Charming Froggy was sewn by Mary Botsis.

Click HERE to buy the Prince Charming Frog Pattern

Frog Pattern

 

 

This cute trio of Daisy DRESS UP Dolls was sewn by Jan Stoner Chrzanowski whose son and daughter-in-law are foster parents to some young girls. Each one is getting a #Daisy Dressup for Christmas!


And this Daisy DRESS UP Doll was sewn by Lindsey Mortimer with silver pockets matching her silver flower!

Click HERE to purchase the DRESS UP Doll Pattern

 

 

We had some super cute memory bears this month!

This Melody Memory Bear Pattern was sewn by Jenell Wilbanks using a baby’s receiving blanket!

 

This pretty pink and green Melody Memory Bear was sewn by Janelle Wyborn.

 

And this awesome Melody Memory Bear Pattern was sewn by Alma Saenz Alaniz from a sheriff’s uniform!

 

Jennie Lockhart sewed her fist Funky Friend – Melody Memory Bear from a $3 fleece blanket! Isn’t that an awesome first teddy bear!!!!


Click HERE to purchase the Melody Memory Bear Pattern.

 

 

This Calico Signature Bear was sewn by Gail McKnight Anderson from a sweater.

 

And this Calico Signature Bear was sewn by Shelly Perrie from baby clothes.

Click HERE to purchase the Signature Bear pattern.

 

 

You can make Buttons the BEST DRESSED Bear as casual or dressy as you like. His shirt and pants are built into his body, and the optional collar, cuffs, button placket, bow tie and vest pieces are included in the pattern. www.funkyfriendsfactory.com/free-patterns Lesley Payne sewed this Buttons Bear with a special keepsake vest to memorialize a family’s recently departed pet horse.

The flat cap is a free pattern!

I have design a flat cap pattern for my teddy bear patterns and there’s a step-by-step photo tutorial so you can see how to sew my FREE flat cap sewing pattern!

 

CLICK HERE for
a FEE Flat Cap pattern & tutorial
!

 

 

Can Buttons be made as a lady bear?

Of course! Michelle Fish left off the collar and cuffs on this Buttons BEST DRESSED Bear and used a beloved mom’s shirt for the clothing. The large paw pads provide a great flat space for embroidery!

Click HERE to purchase the BEST DRESSED Bear pattern.

 

 

This sweet Keep Me Keepsake Bear was sewn by Kathy Ghavimi – this was her very FIRST Funky Friends Factory toy! 💗

Click HERE to purchase the Keepsake Bear pattern.

 

 

This beautiful trio of Kelsey Keepsake Unicorns includes the rare “star-topped” variety were sewn by Sue Fleckney. (I included the star shapes in the pattern in addition to the felt flower instructions because some unicorns are more into astronomy than horticulture!)

 

 

This Kelsy Keepsake Unicorn was sewn by Stacie Elkins who added some luscious eyelashes to her baby keepsake!

Click HERE to purchase the Keepsake Unicorn pattern.

 

 

This fun Ben BEGINNER teddy bear was sewn by Nancy M Ciccosanti using a mixture of cotton and fake fur fabrics – what a cute combo! 💙

 

Lots of first EVER memory bears this month!

This Ben BEGINNER teddy bear was sewn by Kathy Hollembeek who is ‘new to sewing softies’. She sewed this Ben BEGINNER teddy bear as a gift for her mother from her father’s polo shirts.

 

This Ben BEGINNER teddy bear was sewn by Julie Hendry from Harry Potter fabric – look at how clever she was with the fussy cutting – the motifs are perfectly placed – especially on the ears!

 

AND this Ben BEGINNER teddy bear was sewn by Lori Wilcox – he looks so happy sitting on her sewing machine!

Click HERE to purchase the BEGINNER teddy bear pattern.

 

AND this month’s winner is…

Congrats to this month’s winner Karla-Bomlitz-Pollina who sewed this very Christmassy version of Melody Memory Bear.

CONGRATS Karla! You win
a FREE Funky Friends Factory Pattern ~>
of your choice!

Click HERE to purchase the Melody Memory Bear Pattern.

Want to win a
FREE toy pattern?

 

It’s so EASY to enter the Pattern GIVEAWAY!

 

Facebook badge - Pauline McArthur

ALL you need to do is post a photo of a FUNKY FRIENDS FACTORY toy that you have made on the Funky Friends Factory Facebook Page .

At the end of each month I draw a winner and post the winner’s name on the Blog the following MONTH. I have an Album on Facebook for all the MAKEROFTHEMONTH winners. You can check it out HERE!

 

 

NOT on Facebook? ENTER by email! 😀

*** You can send me your photos by email too!

 

So come on! Share your photos ~> The next winner could be YOU!!!


Pauline McArthur - Funky Friends Factory.
Till next time,

Happy Sewing,
Pauline
xxx

2 Comments

  1. Tracy

    I can’t wait to begin sewing my first project. I find all of the pictures submitted so inspiring!

    Reply
    • Pauline

      Thanks Tracey It’s always so hard to decide which toys to include as there are so many cute ones! 🙂

      Reply

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