Second Annual Plushcation!

Last weekend (May 10-14) was the second annual Plush Team retreat. Just like last year, there was so much joy, warmth, fun, laughter, and productivity all weekend. I'm sure it sounds like a tired refrain by now, but seriously, I can never adequately express just how awesome this team is, and how lucky I feel to be a member.

This year's retreat was in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and was organized by the amazing Yummy Pancake. Though there were six fewer of us who made the trip this year, it was no less fun. I'm not sure I ever laugh quite as hard as I do when I'm with this group.

Our view this year was very idyllic and peaceful. Most of us spent a few hours taking in this view each morning while sipping our tea or coffee.Two geese families lived on the pond, and each day we were visited by deer, hawks, vultures, herons, bald eagles, and all manner of backyard birds.

A few bird families even lived in the walls of the cabin. Unfortunately for me and Ann-Claire, this was directly behind our beds, and we were awakened to a chorus of very loud cheeps every 20 minutes or so starting just before dawn.

One of the highlights of the trip was the PA Fabric Outlet. It wasn't quite as big as S.R. Harris here at home, but the wall of buttons and trims was much more impressive. And cheap!

We also explored downtown Lititz, which was incredibly quaint. We had the most amazing meal there at the Tomato Pie Cafe (if you are ever offered tomato pie, eat it! You will not be sorry. It was so delicious that most of us became obsessed with it the rest of the weekend, plotting ways we might get it shipped to us or how we might make it ourselves.) and had a great time exploring the little shops and reading plaques on all the historic buildings.

Back at the house, there were tacos once again, Amy's famously delicious margaritas, and waaaaay too much sugar and chocolate (between the Amish homebaked goods we picked up at the Green Dragon farmer's/flea market and the chocolates from the Wilbur Chocolate Factory, we were guaranteed weekend-long sugar comas).

Of course there was much crafting, as well, including the awesome group-produced giant plush taco you can see in the first photo of this post. There were zombies, moss balls, poopsticks, appliqued onesies for the Moon Bun in the Oven, caged gouda, angry panties, and so much more. . . . We also once again participated in a white elephant swap and the goods were so amazing that actual tears were shed when certain items were stolen.

But none of these things were quite as amazing as all the laughter. The conversations were hysterical and often we laughed until we cried.

I sincerely love this whole group, and I can't wait for next year's retreat!

Happy Corduroy Day!

Yes, folks, today is national Corduroy Appreciation Day, since 11|11|11 is the day that most resembles that glorius fabric, corduroy.

To commemorate this momentous date, the Plush Team has teamed up with the Corduroy Appreciation Club. Eleven members of the Plush Team created a collection of 11 corduroy-inspired plush. These pieces will be displayed at the grand meeting celebrating all things corduroy at the Desmond Tutu Center in Manhattan on this most auspicious date. These pieces are available to the public to celebrate this every man's fabric in their own private collections. They may be purchased in the PlushTeam's Etsy shop.

I had the pleasure of being one of the 11 artists, and I created a "waling" banshee for this event.

According to Irish folklore, banshees are fairy women (or ghosts of women who died, commonly in childbirth) who wail when death is nigh. Their wails are most often heard at night near woods.

My banshee is dressed in baby corduroy, or pinwale, for a play on the word "wailing." Her tattered dress is accented with ribbon and lace, and her split dagged sleeves feature a silk blend lining (because I still can't get Game of Thrones costuming out of my head). Her body is made of 100% wool felt, and her hair is mohair locks needle-felted into place. Her arms and fingers are wired and jointed for full range of motion. She comes with a doll stand.

I love my banshee. Seriously LOVE. I did not want to ship her to New York, I loved her so much. I haven't been this in love with one of my plush pieces since, well, probably ever. Which means I will definitely have to make more banshees in the future.

All the pieces my fellow Plush Teamers created for this event are amazing. There's a Woody Allen plushcature:

A nasty ass honey badger (if you don't understand this reference, click the link to watch the video NOW. Seriously, now. I'll wait.):
And a plethora of amazing whales:

And if that weren't enough awesomesauce for you, last night, Rachel Maddow of MSNBC purchased that nasty-ass honey badger, and then FEATURED THREE PLUSH TEAM PLUSH ON HER SHOW, including my banshee. How amazing is that?!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Big, big props to Abby of Abbydid for organizing all this plush corduroy awesomeness.

About the Club:
The Corduroy Appreciation Club is a social club which wishes to cultivate good fellowship by the advancement of Corduroy awareness, understanding, celebration and commemoration of the fabric and all related items. Club events are held on dates which resemble Corduroy.

All Hail the Wale!!!

Plush You! 2011 Review

Last week, I had the pleasure to attend the Plush You! show for the third time. I think the collection of plush on display, from about 60 different artists, was the best yet!

I helped Kristen set up the show on Thursday night, which meant I got first dibs on buying a plush. I had such a hard time choosing which one to take home, but I finally settled on this handsome viking dude by Pepper Stitches:

The Plush Team was, of course, very well represented, including Cutesy but Not Cutesy, Plush Goodness, Hibou Cards, Weird Bug Lady, Moons Creations, Yummy Pancake, Talkproof, Pterodactyl Pants, Green Elevator, Yermit, Scrumptious Delight, Chris Creatures, ThEm DoLLz, Green Star Studio, Needlings, Cretur Fetur, Squirrel Momma, Lowell and Son, and Out of the Frame (I think I mentioned every teamer in the show; apologies if I've left anyone out!).

My dudes looked pretty awesome in their little cubby, keeping good company with Moxie's awesome e-textile monsters.

I even got to chat with Moxie for a spell, and she is as supremely awesome as her critters are.

I also met Anisa from Nonsense Institue (she's so sweet!):

And another plush-maker from Minnesota! She even lives in my neighborhood! Meghan and her husband were so fun to chat with, and I can't wait to get my craft on with Meghan sometime. Her toys are not only cool to look at, but they're interactive too!

Aside from the show, I also visted the Seattle Art Museum, Olympic Sculpture Park, Bainbridge, the Asian Art Museum, the conservatory in Volunteer Park, the Japanese Gardens, the Arboretum, Fremont Market, and Pike Place Market. I would say Bainbridge and the Japanese Garden were the highlights for me this year.

You can see many more photos of the show and my adventures around Seattle on Flickr.

My Pet Stegosaurus

The Plush Team did a Russian Christmas plush swap this year, and I was lucky enough to receive a super awesome stegosaurus from Mary of ArtTales/LeftZ!

Stinson (as I'm calling him) instantly made friends with one of my cotton candy yetis.

Each one of Mary's unique creations is eco-friendly. She repurposes thrift-store finds for their bodies, stuffs them with recycled plastic bags (you'd have no idea if she didn't tell you! They're stuffed really firmly and are super cuddly.), and their "good" eye is made from layerd vintage buttons.

"Good eye?! What does that mean?" you might exclaim. Stinson isn't shy, he'll show you:

Hee hee! I love the wounded eye. It gives Stinson so much character.

Thanks again, Mary, for my wonderful stegosaurus! He will be cherised!

 

Get Your Plush Team Annual!

The Plush Team is ecstatic to present to you our first ever Team Annual, containing 120 pages of plushy goodness!

What is in store for you upon opening this marvelous book:

• An opening by our team founder, Megan Green, describing how our team came to be.


• An insightful, informative, and all-around fascinating account of the history of plush craft by our team co-founder Christina Ward.


• 42 two-page, full color features of our Plush Team members. Each includes photos of the artist's work, and text written by the artist explaining motivation, process, and inspiration.


• A time line of Plush Team activities through over the years. Profile pages providing a comprehensive list of Plush Team artists, including artist head shots and Etsy shop addresses.


• Photos of PT Stitchy, the team mascot, scattered throughout the book in his various incarnations as interpreted by our team members.

The book is full color, professionally printed, and soft cover. It measures 6.75"x6.75" (or 17 centimeters square). This is volume 1 of our Team Annual, featuring the artists from 2009. Our intent is to make this a yearly publication, updating it each year with our newest members and their incredible work.

Visit the Team Shop today for your copy!

Off to Maker Faire!

The Plush Team will be storming Maker Faire in a little over a week! I wish I could attend in person, but I've had to settle for sending some plush in my stead.

 
If you live near the Bay Area, go check out the fair! Lots of amazing plush and other handmade items will be there, and you can attend many awesome classes as well.