Tummy Tags – Squirrel with No Rabies Shot

Tummy Tags is all finished in less than a week.  Once a squirrel gets their choppers in you, there is nothing that can stop you.  Right?!  And thankfully this squirrel didn’t require a rabies shot.  Grand Poobah of Squirrel projects, Wendy, is to blame for this particular project.  When she sent along a fabulous light earlier this month, she included some cute mini-charms.  The fabric had Addison’s name written all over it, and I mean ALL OVER IT.  What are two great-aunties to do but drop everything and make it.  Hence, it perfectly qualifies for another DrEAMi link up at Sandra’s mmm Quilts.

Tummy Time Magic

Ages ago I shared a tutorial for a pattern called Tummy Time.  A good friend, Ashley, made one for her son and it turned out SO cute.  In the back of my mind since then, I knew Addison required this STAT.  But I didn’t have the exact fabric requirements.  What to do, what to do?!  Really, Roseanne, you can’t think of any other pattern off the top of your head to use up these mini-charms.  At 2:00 a.m. one night, I lay there thinking about it.  We don’t need no stinkin’ pattern.  This isn’t our first rodeo.  Exactly how much fabric DO you have anyway?  Math, not my strong point lately, ensued and by the time I fell back asleep a plan was hatched.

Sue, I need your help right away.  Would you put together four patch block suggestions, cut sashing strips, help me make tags and cut a border right away?!!  Who cares what she had planned for the day.  We have a change in plans; we have a squirrel to work on. 

Here’s a closeup of one block, showing three tags.  Also, our alternating sashing blocks before borders were added.  In my haste (naturally), I forgot to add a few of the tags.  What?!!  OMG!  Sue, would you rip these apart for me?  Please and thank you.

Tummy Tags Layered

Since Tummy Tags was altogether in one day . . . the very next morning we layered it.  It was exactly the same size as the beautiful quilt top I quilted for Mary in a day.  What should we use as a backing?  Should we add batting?  What would sweet girl like?  Hmmm.  We decided yes on the batting, and selected an adorable fleece backing.

A simple stippling was the only quilting choice, in my mind, to work easily around all those tags.  Plus it is quick, and Addi needs is ASAP.  She is spending time on her tummy without it after all. 

Stop the Presses

A co-worker suggested an idea for the edges of the quilt.  What?!!  Tags not just in the interior of the quilt but near the binding.  YES!  What a great idea.  Add some of that scrunchy material that makes noise, plus some plush choices like velveteen.  Holy moly.  I think I need to RUN to Joann’s right away, in spite of my annoyance with them.  Do we have scrunchy or velveteen fabric Sue??  We need to make more tags RIGHT AWAY.  Hurry.  We elected not to follow this suggestion mainly because it was snowing AGAIN.  A trip out for small bits of fabric was just not wise.

My mind was changed about the quilting pattern too.  I started in the taupe colored blocks, and saw the hearts.  Why can’t I stitch hearts in the heart-fabric blocks, and stipple in the blue blocks?  So I did!  Then I thought I would give a ribbon candy stitch a shot in the border.  It may not quite be that stitch – I wasn’t sure once I got going.  And I made up a new-to-everyone stitch in the corners, as I had no idea how to turn the corner.  The cute, fleecy fabric has monkeys, elephants, and giraffes.  How perfect is that?

Ta-da!  Now we need a picture of sweet girl and her brother enjoying those tags.  Not that we can share that picture for now.  Darn it – thanks Bloglovin’ and not being able to remove a follower.  I am trying a new linky party called Free Motion Mavericks this week.  I’m hoping to find more FMQ inspiration.

Our other Linky Parties can be found by clicking the link above or along the sidebar on our website for more quilting fun – check out what our friends are up to.  Like/follow us on our Facebook page and you can share your photos of what you’re working on.  We would love to see them!

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