Spring Bunny Cushion

I made this cushion for my son Ben to take to nursery for his afternoon naps.  It has stood up incredibly well to boisterous play (for all it’s delicacy it has a robust foundation) and was featured in Quiltmania spring 2019 “Benedicte’s Bunny”. On this workshop you will learn how to make Benedicte’s Bunny cushion.  We will do hand stitching only in the class, and it will all be in the form of seam-turned-in applique (no bondaweb or raw edges).  

If you would like to work on a pieced background, please make the background beforehand. You will need to join together a block 10 squares x 10squares of 2.5 inch squares (2 inch finished) with final dimensions of 20.5 x 20.5 inches. I used a jelly roll from Laundry Basket Quilts, and used the reverse side of most of the fabrics. I posted a number of videos about making this cushion on my Instagram account in March 2019.  Please look at these videos for the details of how to press the seams open for a pieced background @annevarley  
We will do lots of tacking. After you have drawn and tacked the outline of the applique shapes, you will applique them onto the background fabric of your choice. I will have the drawing for Benedicte’s Bunny and the drawings of other bunny cushion designs to help you.
You will learn how to make perfect circles, applique leaves and stems and how to make the bunny through dressing a fabric model and then embroidering on the face.  We will discuss finishing and I will demonstrate how to make the cushion backing.  I will bring some card circle templates for students to use, but if you have Karen K Buckley templates that is preferable (these are available in the Cowslip shop).
If anyone would prefer to make one of the other patterns I have released through Quiltmania, I would be delighted to help them work on that project instead, but please let me know beforehand so that I come prepared. 
 
Requirements
Everything you need can be purchased in the Cowslip shop.
For needle-turn Appliqué you require:
Sharp to the point scissors 
Scissors for paper cutting
Lead pencil and sharpener
Frixion pen or chalk / Appliqué pencil
Karen K Buckley perfect circles (optional but recommended)
Short applique pins
I use size 11 black or golden-eye needles to appliqué but you use what suits your hand.
I use basic beige ,cream ,and greeny grey thread to appliqué – use whatever you prefer, but I would caution against anything lighter than a 50wt thread if the cushion is to be actively used. 
A few embroidery threads for the face and flower details
Fabrics
Fat quarter background / pieced background
I chose to use a very muted scheme for my cushion, but some students choose instinctively and some work with a definite palette. @laurencehesry made her cushion with bright oranges (May 2019).  I used the reverse as well as the front of the fabrics.
Lots of scraps for leaves and pots
A fat 1/8th for the branches – I used a fine floral with a brown background
A fat 1/8th for the circles
A small piece c 10×10 ins of light weight wool fabric for the bunny face, legs and hands (it will be available to buy)
A piece of Hexiform fabric by Ashmead Designs for the bunny base (this will be available to buy).
Backing and fabric for side of cushion