i want to make a baby activity mat with stuff hanging above, so i get something unique, recycled, and cheaper than the 50 quid or so that they seem to cost.

for the mat, i was planning to use quilting and applique to give different textures, and pad it so that it can be put on our wooden floor and still be comfortable (the bought ones are very thin and need to be used with a cushion underneath).  i thought i would do a border with some toys attached by cords or velcro, for when the baby is playing on its tummy or later on, sitting up. 

Any suggestions for the most suitable filler to use would be welcome - i want the whole thing to be washable but ideally also to be able to wipe up minor messes without washing the whole thing - should i use something waterproof as an inner layer and if so, what?

What i am really stuck on though, is how to do the hanging stuff.  The ones i have seen have two flexible poles (inside fabric tubes, kind of like in a tent) that cross over above the baby's head, and you can hang toys and bells and stuff from them.  any suggestions for where i could get these kind of poles?

Hope this makes sense!

thanks!

My second sock monkey, with more stuffing and neater stitching, although I should have kept with a darker colour.  They went down well this Christmas! 

a cowboy stocking for my tiny and gorgeous brand new nephew - and last post in what was a very crafty day

a present for my other grandma, not super exciting but a productive afternoon all the same.  bargainous ikea fabric means it cost about £2 to make! 

OK so it's not very rock and roll, but i am pleased with how this turned out.  Grannie is cracking on a bit so I don't think she'd go for skulls or anything.  Got to love cheap IKEA fabrics!

My first sock monkey,one ear sewed on upside down but i still like him.  I got the tutorial from the fairy sock monkey posted a while back.

Here are three quilts I have made for all the babies that my friends have been having recently...

   


this one was my first ever - I backed it with part of a pale blue fleece blanket.

Here was one made with lots of kente cloth 



And this one is for my almost-arrived nephew - I got a bit carried away and it became enormous.  I like to think he will grow into it.  I really wanted to use Cath Kidston red fabric with white stars but couldn't get any     i think to do one like this I should maybe get a proper rotary cutter rather than a metal tape measure and scissors...



thanks for looking, feedback/tips would be great!

first ever post - let's see if this works...here is a bag i made from kente cloth for my mum.  the fabric is really stiff (starched?) and so great to work with.  I used the same fabric to line an unlined leather bag that was shedding bits on my stuff.