Whiplash entry!

DILEMMA: What on earth do you give as Christmas presents to a tribe of your beloved's nieces and nephews when

a) you've never met them

b) your limited contact with small people means that you have no idea what kids are into these days

c) the assortment includes males and females between the ages of 2 and 10

d) time and money aren't endless?

ANSWER: you whip up a bevvy of customised aliens!

This is a pattern I drew up some time ago for these little green men of the Hungry Zine 'space' issue...

It has been modified in a couple of ways. I used safety eyes ringed with felt instead of detachable-and-chokeable-onable buttons due to the age of the recipients. I also made them smiley because I was worried that they might be a little spooky for young folks when they had their original penetrating stare.

They are made from various scraps of vintage and appropriated fabrics - curtains, clothing, and furnishing fabric. They are stuffed with polyester in their extremities and a belly full of bulgar wheat so that they have a satisfying bean-bag feel when you throw one at your sibling.

Here they are mid-assembly when I was putting them together during a train journey...

...and all completed, adding intrigue to an otherwise ordinary bunch of Christmas lilies...

They were a real hit with their new owners (except the youngest, who liked her Fisher Price truck much more because it had buttons that made noise) who instantly wanted help to make them clothes. The pink one with blue eyes ended up as an angel called Talia with a pink felt dress, and pipe cleaner halo and wings. The green one became a bad-ass bikie with a black waistcoat and bandanna with eye holes. The purple one became a super-alien with belt and wings.

Next mission: make some aliens for myself that I actually get to keep!