Home and Family

The Adventures of 'Arbie'

Arbie was a stuffed toy of Andrea's mother... and much loved.

Andrea couldn't say Rabbit and the name evolved to Arbie once she first started speaking :)

So here is the story of Arbie - Mark 1.

 Andrea's mother died when she was a baby - so we gave Arbie to Andrea when she was about 8 months old.  He was her constant companion and went everywhere with her,  she wouldnt sleep without him! He was so very much loved!

As you can see by his photo - he is well worn. 

He had some special adventures, especially when we went on our annual holidays to Rottnest Island - off the coast of Western Australia.  He was accidently dropped off our push bike and fell between the chain - got covered in grease and of course then was delicately washed! 

He got lost on the road at Rottnest on the way home from a fishing adventure... my eldest DD, who was staying with us, rode off and found him in the middle of the road some way from the settlement (  quite an effort for her as she was 8 months pregnant at the time)  So he was brought home to us again.

Then he was just missing after a shopping adventure!!  and it was evening before we discovered this.  So for one dreadful night we went without him... it was very stressful!!

Next day we went to the police station on the island to tell the nice policeman we had lost our rabbit :) 

No one had handed him in.

We went to all the shops in the settlement... then one of the kind ladies there told us there was a rabbit in the Rottnest Island Authority office...so off we went again - and there, sitting on the top of the counter, was Andrea's precious Arbie.  You can imagine how thankful we were to have him back with us.

As you may be able to see by his photo...he was very squashed especially around his waist - which is where is was held where ever Andrea went!

In time he had many other adventures...and was occasionally sicked on too.

Then he lost an eye!  Time to make a new one.

This is Arbie Mark 2!

I very carefully drafted a pattern from the original - and came up with this one. 

As you can see he too is well worn!  And much loved!

Time for another Arbie - at least this one lasted from aged 3 to 15 :)

The making of Arbie 3.

Sadly I couldnt find the right fur this time - and had almost forgotten how I made him!

Made his nose wrongly and his eyes are a bit crooked!

And I got the ear colours the wrong way round!

Here is Arbie Mark 3 - waiting for Andrea to love him again .

I was not too happy with this one... and will probably do another to make it smaller and softer...

with some fur I found that I had for the second one.

Here are the three together :)

                                                         A bit like the 3 Muskateers

So I guess there is an Arbie Mark 4 around the corner... and maybe even another one for Andrea to give to her child when she is grown with a family of her own.

I am still struggling with getting things sewn!  I am doing lots of frogging...