Plush Team Mythology Challenge

The Plush Team periodically hosts challenges centered around a specific theme. The latest challenge theme was world mythology; I couldn't have asked for a better theme for my first challenge! The challenge went live today, and boy is everyone's work amazing! I don't know about you, but I'm going to have an awful hard time voting for my favorite.

I entered my kelpie:

 

I named him Merric, which is Gaelic for "ruler of the sea."
Kelpies are sea monsters from Celtic folklore. Known to appear on land
as beautiful horses, kelpies lure people, especially children, onto
their backs. Having lured a rider, the kelpie's skin becomes adhesive
and escape is impossible. The kelpie returns to the sea and drowns and
devours its rider, eating all but the heart or liver.



I made Merric out of suede with a mohair mane and acrylic safety eyes. I gave Merric's tail
and mane a thin coating of pearlescent acrylic that glimmers in the
sun, and his arms are jointed for posability. Merric's stand is pine with acrylic
paint.

I originally intended to enter my newest dragon (below), but decided the kelpie was more interesting.

Here's a sneak peek at just a few of the other amazing entries:

Argus. Image © BeBe Babies and Friends.

Icarus. Image © Plush Goodness.

Ceiling Cat. Image © Yummy Pancake.

Head over to the Plush Team blog to cast your vote now! Pretty please?

Schmancy Olympic Challenge is Complete!

Kristen assigned me the bobsleigh/bobsled category for the Schmancy Olympic Challenge, and I knew right away that I wanted to turn one of my yetis into the bobsled. I also knew that I wanted him to look like he had just been commandeered by a rider and coaxed down the hill, rather than looking more like an actual bobsled with yeti features.

Since the challenge is judged on a photo submission rather than the physical plush, my original concept was to set a whole scene. I wanted to make two bobsled teams; one the yeti, the other a traditional bobsled. I wanted the photo to include both bobsleds going down a big hill, with the yeti sled in the lead. The softie in the traditional bobsled would be looking over at the yeti sled with a terrible look of dismay, like "how on Earth is the nontraditional sled beating me?!" 

Alas, life and my own tendency to procrastinate got in my way and I was only able to complete the yeti sled. But I still think he and his Eskimo rider are pretty cute! Stay tuned to the Plush You blog over the next few days as Kristen posts all the entries and the judging begins!

I Heart All of You

Thanks to all of you lovelies, my yeti won the HandmadeMN January team challenge! You guys rock! I have now earned a month  of free advertising on the HandmadeMN blog. Yay!

Thanks also to everyone who has voted for me so far in the Poppies. I can't say enough kind words about all of you! Please know that I truly appreciate everything you do to support me and my work.

Speaking of work, I've added four new plushies to the Etsy shop. Two froglets and two giraffes. More frogs, froglets, owls, and owlets to come later this week or early next!

Handmade Olympics

The Winter Olympics are right around the corner. Not all of us get too
excited about sports, but if you're a lover or maker of handmade, there
are several fun ways you can get involved.

First, the lovely Kristal from RikRak Studio has put together a fun event that even non-makers can participate in. She has a whopping $2,000 in prizes to give away to winners of eight different events (including a $50 Plushroom Soup gift certificate!). Head to the RikRak blog for details and to nominate your favorite shop, item, or blog in each category.

Next up, the always awesome Kristen of Plush You! and Schmancy fame has come up with an Olympic Challenge for plush makers. She's assigning all participants a particular sport, and they'll each make a plush inspired by that sport. Think your plush could take home a Gold, Silver, or Bronze medal? Click the Olympic Challenge link above for details on how to enter what is sure to be a fantastic event!

Vote for Me!

Head on over to the HandmadeMN blog to vote for my Purple Rain Unicorn in the August monthly challenge. Pretty please?