Family of Six

My son and daughter-in-law just added a fourth child to their family. To commemorate the occasion with a gift that would represent a family of six, while including parents and children both, I chose kits of velvet foxes, designed by artist Odile Bailloeul and imported from France. I bought them from Renaissance Ribbons, a company I first became acquainted with at a Road to California quilt show several years ago. 

The famille Chanville has a dad, a mom, and a child. Going online I was able to buy enough kits for four children. The kits are for father Leonard Chanville, Amelie Chanville and little Axel Chanville.

The images are printed on a heavy weight polyester velvet so they are very soft, smooth, and generally tactilely appealing. They remind me of petting the tummy of a puppy. Each figure is two sided but not as a front and a back. One side of each fox is wearing clothing appropriate for the city (Ville in French) and the other side is for clothing worn in the country (Champs = fields in French). For the baby foxes I pretended the pink country side was for girls and the blue city side was for boys. I needed to cut out each shape, sew around, turn right side out, and stuff.

With the slender arms and legs, coupled with heavy, durable fabric, turning and stuffing can be a challenge. I have trusty tools that make the task easier. A tube and rod set, gifted from a thoughtful quilting friend, helps with turning. Long forceps-type scissors grip the stuffing to push it deep into the far reaches of the arms and legs. The legs are stuffed first and then inserted into the body cavity before the final stuffing and sewing shut.

  

Here is the fox family modeling their country side. Ya just gotta love the apron and the bib overalls. The lady fox has a chicken image on the chest pocket and the gentleman fox sports a rabbit image on his chest pocket - both dinner options for a fox family. Leonard Chanville also has a pair of spectacles tucked in. The fox girls are wearing pink calico, appropriate for a country print. I am showing the city side of the boy fox to display a masculine deep blue.

The fox family here is sporting their Sunday best. Note the string of pearls and chicken stole the lady fox is wearing. The gentleman fox's vest has a rooster print peeking out from beneath his tailored tuxedo style jacket. I kept the girls in pink and the boy in blue.

 

The lady also has a small shoulder purse with a chicken detail as the clasp.

Since this gift is for the Family Chambers, not the Famille Chanville, I embroidered each member a personalized ribbon bow, lilac for the females and blue for the males: Daniel, Carrie, Vivian, Lillian, William, and newest member, Irene. Since each baby fox is 15 cm tall (6"), it should fit well in chubby little fists. The polyester velvet fabric is machine washable at 30°C = 86°F (cold) water. I realize the ribbons will most likely come off fairly soon but at least for initial presentation they will be there.

 

It is not totally coincidental that this family is foxes. When my son Dan was a young boy, he with his dad was a member of the YMCA Indian Guides. His name in the tribe was Quiet Fox - ironically chosen because Dan was quite talkative. His dad was Sleeping Lion. They wore vests with badges indicating each of their father-son activities together. Here is Dan's vest. Note the fox tail at the bottom corner of the right front. Dan and his Dad collected enough badges together that I needed to add an extension to the back of the vest.

So I am sending fervent wishes that Dan and Carrie's expanded family of six will continue to enjoy as many outings and adventures together as did my son and his dad. Perhaps the Chanville Fox Family will serve as inspiration.