Mario Head Pillow

 I'm back!  I have been sewing, but just not as much (baby takes up most of my time, and I do need to clean house every once in a while).  And what I have been sewing, I haven't been taking pictures so that I can post on here.  But here are some {crappy} iPod pictures of a very fun project I did a few months back.  Its not clothing I know, but the sewing machine played a vital role in producing this, and fabric was involved as well, sooooo...here ya go.  A big Mario head pillow!

First of all, copying was involved.  I'd prefer to call it "inspiration" and "thriftiness"

^^ my son really wanted this Mario head pillow.  He's obsessed with Mario Bros.  I didn't want to shell out money for something I could make myself and pay a fraction of the cost.  Besides, it was very fun to make.  My boy really enjoyed watching it get put together and was so so excited about the whole process.  I didn't have the needed fabric in my scrap pile, so I did have to go to Joann's and buy some proper fabric for this project.  It added up to $5 or so.  I bought some soft yet stretchy skin-colored fabric and some soft stretchy red fabric (they were both fleece-like material).
I didn't use any pattern; I made my own.  I would upload the pattern pieces here so others can use them, but I haven't the darnedest idea how to do that, so sorry.
Here are some pictures of the progress, and the final item.  I do NOT have an embroidery machine so yes, the stitching around the eyes is a bit wobbly, but my little guy did not seem to notice and I don't think it takes too much away from the complete look. The eyes were the most time-consuming part, but after they were finished, the project came together fairly quickly and easily.  The only mistake I made lies within the pattern itself--I should have made the brim of the hat (the part that rests against the head) curved instead of straight.  It pulls a little bit, making it not lay right.  Not too noticeable though.  I think in all it turned out great, but most importantly, my son was (and is) super happy with it.  He loves it! Yay!