It has been a lovely weekend in Calaveras County and we have enjoyed seeing the frog statue everywhere in town. Angel Camp is forever tied to frogs because of the Samuel Clemens’ short story.
Samuel Clemens, the brilliant American humorist and storyteller, spent a short time here in Calaveras County in the winter of 1864-1865. He was told a tale at the Angels Hotel in downtown Angels Camp. He later embellished into it into short story titled, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” which he published under the pen name of “Mark Twain.” This story was about an episode of dastardly duplicity in a wager involving a frog. I don’t want to ruin it for you so I will not retell it here.
This might be the last family reunion with my mother (we say this every year at the family reunion and again on her birthday.) I wanted a momento to remind me of the trip. The perfect project is a little fleece frog especially since I found the fleece in the remnants bin on my outing to Jo-Ann yesterday. (I thought we had already established that on road trips I travel with my sewing machine.)
What you need to get started
Pattern (this is a purchased PDF pattern from Me and My Sister Designs)
Fleece remnant
Poly stuffing beads or other filing
Pins, scissors
Eyes, buttons, or small pieces of felt
Step one Download the PDF pattern and follow the instructions. Pin the pattern to the fabric and out the pieces. Sew the center seam in the top of the frog. When my sister and I were auditioning our choice of eyes at this stage we got into a discussion on whether we should attach the eyes before or after he was filled. I have made the pattern before and I feel it is easier to do it when he is in this stage. My sister is a rule-follower and felt we should follow the instructions. Her rational was that it would be easier to determine placement once he was stuffed. I felt he would have more personality if he did end up kiddiwampus.
Auditioning the eyes
Step two Attach the eyes. (I’m the older sister. Anyway it is my frog, so my way.)
Step three Attach the top to the bottom of the frog. Sew the wrong sides together. (No turning.) Leave a small opening in the side of the frog torso to put in the beads.
Step four Fill the frog as desired. Close the opening by machine.
Almost 4 cups of poly beads went into this little guy
Such a sweet little fellow! He will be my special souvenir of this weekend with family in Angels Camp!
Amy says
What an adorable froggie….my little guys would love this! Nice story too! Stopping by from Grandma Ideas Linkup and enjoying your posts. 🙂
Maria Perez says
Thanks, Amy. I really like this little guy, also. It is a good stuffie for boys or girls. Thanks for stopping by.
Kelly says
This is so cute! I love that your included all the pictures and the step-by-step directions. Thanks for sharing on #SocialButterflySunday this week! Hope you will link up again this Sunday 🙂
Maria Perez says
Thanks, Kelly. I’m looking forward to the next party.
Julia Nyanyo says
He’s just lovely and the eyes turned out perfectly (older sister knows best!)
Maria Perez says
Thank you. In this case it is a bossy younger know-it-all sister. LOL. I love her to death though.