A Moose of an Idea

A couple of months ago, I was working at the quilt shop doing my thing...helping customers and doing what ever needs to be done in the store.  The radio is usually on for background noise and music to fill the air while we work and customers shop.  Occasionally we sing along.  :)

Anyways, on this day, I heard this  advertisement about our local Goodwill Industries having a 'Reinvention Convention'.   Local artists were asked to register, shop at the Goodwill store for items and then 'reinvent' them into art. All money raised from this event benefits Goodwill's Workers on Wheels Program.  How cool...I do this all the time anyway with my denim projects so why not register, give it a whirl and do something to help the community.  Win win situation.

My mind started wandering from denim to cotton plaid shirts to an Up North theme and then stumbled upon a moose!!  A plaid moose.  How cool would that be! Couldn't wait to get started.

A few days later I registered at Goodwill and then started my shopping for this project.  I found a pair of blue jeans, a pair of brown jeans (so very soft!), 5 plaid shirts and a bed pillow.  Here's my before picture...

Next I researched real moose pictures and got the shape of their antlers and hooves.  They also have knobby knees and big soft noses.  With all this in mind I started drawing out my moose and appliqued him on the blue denim popping out of a back pocket.  To keep him company, I designed some other Up North type designs to add on both sides of the moose...pine cone, cattails, bluebirds, trillium, and bumblebees.  What fun!!!  With all the applique done, I started quilting and making the moose into a big pillow.  Big pillows are to wonderful because they are fun to hug, nice for naps and sit up well for decorating! 

When I finished the pillow, I still had a lot of denim and plaid cotton left over so I made a crib sized quilt to match....using a couple of the shirt pockets for fun.  Voila!  Here is a picture of  the finished pillow and quilt.

My husband took one look at the moose pillow and named him Wally.  Here is a closer picture of Wally the moose! 

Now Wally awaits his debut at the Goodwill's Reinvention Convention on May 3rd.  To check him out and all the other entries go here... GoodwillReinventionConvention   You are welcome to vote for Wally or your favorite entry with dollars on the website, at Goodwill or at the Reinvention Convention.  The winning artist receives a prize...but we all win because the money goes to a good cause.  Can't wait to see what everyone else creates!!!