The lion plushy was actually transformed using several bits and pieces I had already bought for another transformation project - because obviously, at some point, the Most Patient Husband of them All also needed a fancy chalkbag. And by pure chance, I had discovered just the perfect base for this: A handbag from a costume/carneval shop. In form of a little dragon.
There was still quite a bit of stuff to do for the transformation, though. First of all, it needed removal of some of the stuffing, and alternative stiffening with strips of bendy plastic (intended to be used for corsets or crinolines). There was also the always-lovely and never fiddly task (hah!) of putting in a zipper so the dragon's tail could serve as a bag for holding a few small items.
The original handle was too short and too stiff, so it would have been in he way. Luckily it was also rather wide, so I could take it apart and re-stitch it in half the width and double the length.
Putting in the stiffening band at the top was the fiddliest part, and required a bent needle at the end. I was lucky in finding a nice gold tape to cover the plastic ring, matching the sparkly print of the original rim (and the tail and neck crests).
Next was the fleece liner...
...and the rest will follow tomorrow.