Thursday, June 21, 2007

What would you do with an orphan panda cub?

You know after telling Finn there was no way I could play her orphan game because I just don't seem to make orphan blocks what do I find but a little baby panda all alone and abandoned - aaaaaahhh!

Going back to before my youngest started school almost six years ago we said a fond farewell to the mums and toddlers group I'd been going to for nine years with one or another or more of my three kids


It was held at a local evangelical church each Wednesday afternoon and was (and still is) run by the members of the congregation, partly as an outreach of the church, and partly as a facility for local families. It was more than your usual mums and toddlers, they helped if you were ill, sent a present for any newborn arrival in your family and were massively supportive to me when I had post-natal depression after the birth of my youngest

We'd had some very happy memories and I was so sad to stop going once mine had all gone to big school.

Not surprisingly the group was called 'Noah's Ark' so I made them a Noah's Ark wallhanging as a thankyou for all the support, fun and fellowship they'd given our family over the years.


The only photo I have of the finished object is on paper and as our scanner isn't working I can't really give you a particularly clear picture of it


This is the best I could do with a photo of a photo


The whole thing measured about 2'6" wide by 4' tall and had Noah's Ark buttons fastening the top tabs


The animals, rainbow, sun and ark were all hand appliqued and the creatures all came from various animal fabrics I had in my stash


Originally when I decided to make a wallhanging I thought about paper piecing various animals but only got as far as completing the panda - that took long enough and I felt sure I would lose the will to live if I were to make a whole arkfull hence changing to plan B to go down the applique route.

As far as I know it still hangs up in the stairwell of the church, nicely out of direct sunlight but where all the children can see as they go to do messy activities in the lower room.

The other day on rooting through one of my craft drawers one of the children pulled out the poor little orphaned panda from the original plan A - he didn't even have any facial features then


I merrily drew his face and thought he'd make a splendid start for another kiddies quilt for the Womens' Refuge


And here we are so far - it now measures about 2'6" across so I'll have to persuade someone to go into the loft and retrieve some more bright green, red and yellow fabric while they're up there looking for my little blue dutch fabrics to enable me to make it grow to a more useable 4ft square.

It's always nice to make something out of newly re-discovered treasure

13 comments:

Kim West said...

It's a cute block even if it is an orphan.

sewkalico said...

Funny, just last night I was looking through Margaret Rolfe's book "A Quilter's Ark" with the animals from the ark and I thought I might give the sheep and cows a go being here in the country and all LOL
The panda is very cute and his black bits are pretty zany.

jovaliquilts said...

The panda block is adorable! I love the idea of playing with orphan blocks, really sparks the creative juices. People in my guild often donate orphan blocks for us to make charity quilts with, and some of our most wonderful quilts have started that way!
Cheri

Sew Create It - Jane said...

Can't wait to see what you'll do to finish it...I'm sure it will be spectacular orphan!

Doodlebug Gail said...

That's a cute wall hanging and yes, I'd have to agree with you that paper piecing an ark-ful of animals might have sent me over the edge as well.

Cute little panda bear.

meggie said...

I so agree about making something from newly discovered forgotten things! lol!

And I agree with the comments you left on my blog about the peadophiles. I too believe they can never be cured, & should remain in jail... or be put to 'sleep.'

Unknown said...

It really is a cute panda you got there. You will show us how you finish it.

atet said...

An adorable block and that wall hanging is lovely! Though I have to agree about the paper piecing. I will do it if I have to to get a look I want (and I've got to want the look awfully badly)-- otherwise, um, might have to hurt something, or someone.

Clare said...

I love the Ark. It is a beautiful quilt. Paper piecing - ugh. I haven't got the patience to do it. It was that that put me off quilting years ago when I used to rummage through the Laura Ashley remnants boxes and there were all these hexagons waiting to be pieced together. Does Laura Ashley still have a remnants box or is that, like so many things these days, a thing of the past?

Joyce said...

Noah's ark is very cute and i like what you are doing with the Panda.

Suzie Sews At DOTTY RED said...

The panda is too cute, and the Ark is stunning.
Suzie Sews
PS Sent you a couple of emails this week and they have bounced back. Hope all is OK:-)

Shelina said...

Anne, this is a sweet panda, and I'm sure you are able to put it to good use. I really liked your star table runner too. I love the idea of combining quilting with stitchery, and you chose such pretty stitchery to add to it. Hope it helps keep the horizontal surfaces clear.

Fiona said...

You never know what you'l find at the back of a drawer! The Noah's Ark quilt looked glorious - I'll bet it really brightened up that stairwell.