Welcome to One Menagerie!

Where to begin? First of all biggest hugs and hope to everyone out there right now going through this time! We are together!
Anyone who knows me knows that I have my website for The Floss Inn but that I cannot sit still when it comes to art/creativity/ideas. I began toying with the idea of making stuffed animal patterns last year; stuffed animals that are connected, in one way or another, with endangered animals. My plan, in my youth, was to be a wildlife biologist, to be Jane Goodall of a sort. But life had other plans. So I come back to that in a way?
I started making patterns that could be made simply, from fun furs or other fabrics, but that could also allow the maker to be artistic and creative. I guess I am assuming I am a talented person? Haha. Ok I am! So my goal is to educate in a way and to encourage everyone to play at art and creativity. And, I also thought that these animals could be made simply from muslin and then given to kids to let them paint and color, educating them about endangered animals. I will be sending some to my daughter up in Washington for my grandsons (ages 2 and 4) to color. It will certainly give them something to do at this time when they can't go out to the library etc.
This particular project has been sped up due to our situation in the country right now because I want to share and if I can help anyone divert their attention to something more positive right now that would be incredible! I live very remotely, 14 miles from the nearest gas station, so I do not live somewhere I can make a huge difference in the community. So I am reaching out further with this!
I am getting a camera in the mail today so that I can start making videos of my process of turning my first stuffed animal pattern into fiber art! I will share my thoughts about life, my progress as I figure out what I will do with my animal, and essentially walk you through how to be creative without perfection. That is the plan!
I am no master of any art or craft but I have taught myself most arts and crafts so I am able to bring that all together when doing these animals. I have completed a sloth and am almost done with my elephant. Here are a couple of pictures of my finished sloth.

Here is my elephant in progress.

 I also have a rhino but I have not done any real fiber art play with him. Here is a picture of him using fabric I designed for a Spoonflower competition. I came in top 10 for this one! Not to brag but I was thrilled!

These pictures give you an idea of what you can expect from my blog, animals, art, and videos. I was not going to start this project online until I had 20 animals all done up but now seems a time offer something for people who  may want to learn something! So I start now!
I have many more animals in line in my head that will be created bur for now those are the ones. I will have patterns for those animals soon I hope.
I am starting with the vaquita and offering the pattern for free, complete with instructions. The vaquita can also be made into a narwal whale if you want. There are instructions for that as well.
I did not know anything about vaquitas before I started this. They are in the porpoise family and only live off the coast of Mexico in the Pacific ocean. They are shy and reclusive and are killed in the nets of fishermen. They are killed to the point where they believe there may only be 6 left in the world! They are small, around 4 1/2 feet, and so adorable!

Here are some pictures of vaquitas I have made, including the one I will be embellishing in video, the last picture.

Here is the link to the free pdf pattern. This link will send you to The Floss Inn website, my website, where you will land on the free pattern page. I cannot seem to figure out any other way to get the pattern here! Hey I am old ok! 

And bear with me as I figure out the appearance of my blog and all those details! Thank you!