![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_an7-Om1NoEI/TEn2T3_oDRI/AAAAAAAAC1w/wPLY8llkxag/s400/emilee.jpg)
ok, so i was totally wrong about this whole summer thing...
i thought that once the long lazy summer days arrived i would have the whole day to post my artful thursdays projects and tutorials. i guess i didn't remember what summer was like having 4 kids home all day (3 teenagers!) with friends over, eating constantly, needing a ride here and there, staying up late talking and watching movies. i must have forgotten how fun it is and that i would want to be doing everything with them.
so i am giving myself a break, letting myself off the hook a bit and will just decide to be happy with posting a photo of what i am working on instead of feeling like i have to photograph and post a complete tutorial every thursday. there you go, i now have permission to have all kinds of fun these last 3 weeks before i am back teaching again and having thursdays to myself again.
it is very hot here, nearly 100 degrees every day. july really feels like a desert. it is cooler downstairs and a great place to sew. my daughter marina has been sewing a stuffed army of these little guys, i had to make one.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_an7-Om1NoEI/TEoBRhK0J6I/AAAAAAAAC2A/fO2JtgXML6w/s400/army1.jpg)
the supplies are so simple to make your own tiny stuffie:
a piece of cotton fabric, some stuffing, and embroidery floss. it is fun to add beads and other little bits like ribbon and a little pink balloon. dig through your stuff and use up whatever you have left over.
step 1. draw a little outline for your animal on tracing paper. everything shrinks when you stuff it so plan for a little shrinkage.
step 2. sew around your outline leaving a little opening for turning the thing inside out. cut out and tear off the tracing paper.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_an7-Om1NoEI/TEoCT7kNOPI/AAAAAAAAC2o/dh58vdd1ENI/s400/cat07.jpg)
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_an7-Om1NoEI/TEruPlfsiVI/AAAAAAAAC2w/XF3tGT_cJWo/s400/cattear.jpg)
step 3. turn you little guy inside out and stuff with stuffing. sew the opening closed with a needle and thread
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_an7-Om1NoEI/TEoCShs_w7I/AAAAAAAAC2Q/nr_xVDMOAFE/s400/cat2.jpg)
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_an7-Om1NoEI/TEoCS4pgmII/AAAAAAAAC2Y/VNeec-gYcuA/s400/cat3.jpg)
step 4. with a needle and embroidery thread sew on a nose, mouth, whiskers, add eyes or use beads with little french knots in the centers.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_an7-Om1NoEI/TEoCTiA4QII/AAAAAAAAC2g/3rYbkYhZwqc/s400/cat5.jpg)
step 5. decorate with a collar, ribbon, balloon, birthday hat, or tiny sundress. have fun!
happy summer wishes, julie
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_an7-Om1NoEI/TEoBRa2nCsI/AAAAAAAAC14/goauUMoQDOo/s400/bunnyup.jpg)