Creature Collaboration

What happens when you combine two monster makers, one pattern from each maker's repertoire, and no instructions? A pretty fantastic collaboration.

Daniel Allyn Lee of Happycloud Thunderhead contacted me a while back and suggested we collaborate in some way. We decided that we would each cut out two of the same pattern, make one ourselves while sending the copy to the other person with no instructions, and see what happened.
It turns out that Daniel and my husband share the same hometown (they were even in the same graduating class—small world!), which we visit quite often, so I suggested Daniel and I meet up this weekend while I was out there.

Daniel is just as awesome as the fantastic plush he creates. We had a great time chatting and playing with our monsters. It's probably fairly obvious whose is whose, but just in case, here's what I made: And here's what Daniel made: I can not stop giggling over what Daniel did with my imp pattern. The hat! The britches! But most of all, the jaunty little bow tie! I think bow tie-bedecked plushies might become my next collection obsession. . . .

It was so much fun seeing Daniel's take on my patterns, and how different the "same" creature could look when our own style was applied to it. I'd definitely do this kind of collaboration again!

Plush Exclusive

I'm thrilled to announce my first-ever exclusive plush design: zomberries! I only made 17 of these sinister fruits, and I made them exclusively for Schmancy Toys in Seattle.

If you're not familiar, each month or so, Schmancy's owner, the stupendous Kristen Rask (also the gal behind the annual Plush You! show), asks a different plush artist to make an exlusive toy sold only in her shop. I was beyond excited and extremely flattered when she contacted me to participate, putting me in the company of such plush superstars as Robyn Fabsits, Michal Wright-Ward, and Leeanna Butcher.

I made two different sizes, with varying levels of decay. You can read more about my inspiration behind the design in an interview on Kristen's blog, and you can buy your very own zomberry in her online shop. But don't delay! Once they're gone, they're gone!

Upcoming Events

I will be a vendor this June at the first-ever Unraveled DIY Festival, an event presented by the MN Textile Center, in conjunction with this year's Surface Design Association Conference. I have no idea what to expect, since this is the first year, but given the narrow focus of the show and the built-in audience of all the conference attendees, I'm hopeful that this will be a good show. If nothing else, it will be an excellent networking opportunity. Hope to see you there!

Details:
Friday, June 10, 2011
6 - 9 pm
Rapson Hall (University of MN)
89 Church Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
You can park in the Church Street parking garage is located across the street from Rapson Hall.

Festival Admission: $3.

Also, I will once again be teaching regularly at Crafty Planet. I'm really looking forward to teaching others how to craft, and excited to stretch my skills a bit and hone my teaching techniques. I'd love to see you in one of my classes! More details to come soon for each class, as I'm still working out my syllabi.

Beginning Needle-Felting
Sunday, June 26
11 am - 2 pm

Make Your Own Plushie
Tuesday, July 19
6 - 9 pm

Beginning 3D Pattern Drafting
Thursdays, August 25 & September 1
6 - 9 pm

Beginning Needle-Felting
Sunday, October 2
11 am - 2 pm

Plush Monster
Sunday, October 30
11 am - 2 pm

 

Crafty Planet Underwater

The large sea monster I made a few months ago now graces Crafty Planet's window, along with a bunch of other fantastic underwater-themed plush. I think Adrienne's totally amazeballs display is her best yet!

The window also features plush from a few fellow Plush Teamers—the sea turtle is by Hibou Cards, the star fish, rocks, and plants are by LeftZ, and the sea horse is by Chris Creatures. The rest of the creatures were made by the talented staff at Crafty Planet. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

The display should be up for at least the next few months. If you live in or are visiting the Minneapolis area, be sure to check it out!

Plushcation

As you may know, I had the privilege of attending the first ever Plush Team retreat last weekend (March 31–April 3). Seventeen Plush Teamers descended on Luray, Virginia, for a 3-day craft fest. As testament to how awesome the Plush Team really is, note that 17 women, all armed with multiple sharp stabby implements, managed to share 3 bathrooms for the whole weekend and no one got hurt. But even cooler, there was so much joy, warmth, and inspiration flowing all weekend long. This is truly an amazing group.

I started my trip early Thursday morning and touched down in D.C. around noon. The super talented and sweet Chris picked me up from the airport (who despite spending about 6 hours in a car with me that day (it's a long story), failed to mention until the retreat was almost over that she's a breakdancer. And was in an episode of Ace of Cakes. See what I mean about this being an amazing group?), and we proceeded to make our way southwest to this gem: which boasted this view: Rough, right?
 
 

The next few days were a whirlwind of hugs, laughter, fluff, sewing, crocheting, needle-felting, tacos, amazing home-baked goods, hilarious stories, plush-stealing (and sharing), memes, and all-around crafty bonding. We all had so much fun, we're already starting to plot next year's retreat. Hopefully more of the Plush Team will have a chance to join us, because I can't say enough good things about this group of people.

Largesse

Last month, the ever awesome Adrienne at Crafty Planet asked me if I'd make a critter for another window display (you may remember she designed a yeti-themed window last winter). This time, she requested a giant octopus. I'd been wanting to make a large version of one of my critters for quite some time, so I was especially excited about this request. Here's the finished result, hanging out in Crafty Planet:

Isn't he fun? He's 24" tall and made of super soft fleece (my first time using fleece for a plush), with a wool face, wool suckers, and wool fish prey (who all have needle-felted wounds). His tentacles are wired for posability.

I had so much fun making this guy, I already cut out another larger octopus. And I'm definitely going to make time for a large yeti before No Coast this year as well. I'm thinking about 4' tall. . . . Frankly, I don't know why I haven't gone large before. The larger the plush, the easier it is to make. It seems counterintuitive, but I often have to fight with tiny parts to turn them right side out and get the stuffing just so. Especially with tentacles. Unfortunately, plushies are a bit of niche market as it is, and I'm not sure there's much of a market for supersized plush. Partly due to the expense, but also, what does a person do with a 2-foot octopus (other than display him in a window, of course)?

Anyway, I'll post pictures as soon as the window is complete. Adrienne has some super fun stuff up her sleeve for this one, and I think it will be the best Crafty Planet window yet. I even got a few members of the Plush Team to contribute, so it will be loads of plushie fun!

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!