Merry Russian Christmas!

It is that time of year again when the Plush Team draws names and sends each other plush gifts for the holiday. Instead of celebrating at the "western" Christmas time we choose to do a Russian Christmas because it is celebrated a little bit later in the season (January 7). This gives us crafters a little more time because most of us are the busiest during the holidays. In addition it is a secret swap so no one but the person in charge knows who has who. It is so much fun to anticipate what kind of plushie goodness you will be receiving.

This year guess who was in charge of the swap? Meeeee! Unfortunately because I drew the names I knew who got me but the good news was I couldn't have been more pleased with who it was. I almost felt guilty because if I was going to cheat she is probably who I would have picked because I have been a huuuuuge fan of her plush for a loooong time. Luckily my Mom has pounded a guilty conscience down deep into my soul and there is no way I would do something like that! It is better when it works out honestly anyway right?

Before I show you what I got let me tell you what I gave. My swapee partner was Anne-Claire of Hibou Cards. I was so swamped leading up to the send date that I didn't really get a chance to make something special but I had a couple octopodes sitting around that have really really wanted a home. I decided to send her this guy because he was/is my personal favorite. Luckily she liked him!!!! Read all about how he is settling into her home here. Here is one of her pictures in case you don't want to click over. She has an awesome pirate parrot that is his buddy now.

Now on to the present I received! Like I was saying I have been a huge fan of Becky aka Scrumptious Delight for a long long time. I received my package from her yesterday and had been sitting on pins and needles waiting for it because she had told me she was working on something special. I spent my time waiting wondering if it would be a cotton candy or perhaps some pickle preserves. I received a hint from Becky's husband because him and I have been working on a super secret project. He said that it was special and awesome and I would love it. Errrr I was stumped.

As you can imagine I ripped the package open as soon as it arrived. I took the time to read Becky's adorable card and then ripped the paper off the plush! I never could have imagined something so clever, amazing and thoughtful. I really think she should make more because everyone will want one! Here it is!

Becky used small rectangles of velcro to give the "wall" a brick look. Not only is that a clever use of velcro but it serves the purpose of holding up the felt graffiti and the totally awesome spray cans. All the pieces are removable and can be stuck on where ever you want!

I know that the graffiti lettering was done by her talented husband Aymeric so I really appreciate his contribution as well! Now I am going to have to work more on some felt graffiti so I can add to the wall! Did you also notice it says "Boom" which stands for my other shop Boom! Plush!? So personal and sweet!

Well what do you think? Is it not the most awesome plush ever!!!?? A big thanks to Becky for making my day/month/year.

Mac The New Graffiti Monster and Going to Gallery

First I have to say I might be losing my marbles. The holidays are always crazy and I forget every year until the panic sets in and I am running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I like being my own boss but I really need to stop piling so much on my plate during the holidays. Most days I have 10,000 more things to do than I can complete and I stress SO MUCH about the things I won't get to. Also my studying is suffering and that is just unacceptable! So it feels good to complete such a big project as this and know that one huge thing is off my list.

Remember the graffiti monster I made over the summer? I had started a second one and then had to put him aside (see above paragraph). Well then I got wind of a gallery in Chicago that is putting on a plush show in December. The gallery is called Oh No! Doom which I think is just about the coolest name ever. Lana Crooks is coordinating the show, which is called Soft Served, and she makes the coolest plush ever! I mean look at this and this. It's insane (and admittedly intimidating).

Anyhoo they are letting me in and it is the first gallery show I have ever done. It has been a goal of mine for a long time to get into doing gallery shows but I never seemed to have the time. I like it because it allows me to be creative and work on a design I have never done before. After all that is my favorite thing about making plush!

I decided to send Mr. Lucius the first graffiti monster as well as finish the second one. I had not really done much on the second one so I had a looooong way to go and I have been working on him for what feels like forever. You know me and my details. He's finally done though and I just took some photos of him.

This is the doodle of him when he was first conceived (like a plush baby haha).

And here he is done!

As you can see I changed a few things about him and to be honest I haven't looked at his original picture until I started to write this post and now I wish I would have looked at it sooner. I think I would have done a couple other/different things. But I am really going to stop obsessing about it!

Raaaaaaawwwrrr!

Wanna know a little bit about him? Well he is about 20 inches tall and 13 inches wide. He is made of fake fur, felt and fleece. His eyes are glass and hand painted. I painted in some blood looking spots. The eyes are wired and can be bent in different positions. I love how they came out. He wears a knit beanie and has 12 arms/legs. His paint cans all have paint with three of them standing out as spray.

Blood eyes

Side View

If you are interested in Lucius or Mac check out the Oh No! Doom gallery in December.

Mac does graffiti.

Lucius wants one more photo taken.

Thanks for reading! I have to get back to sewing now!

Graffiti Monster and More Fall BeBes

Just thought I would share some of my recent creations. Not much else going on around here but sew, sew, sewing! This is Graffiti Monster, I caught him in an alley by my house.




And here are some Halloween/fall inspired Bundle BeBes I listed today.

Graffiti!

I had this idea a while back and I never really got around to doing it until now. I had the idea that it would be fun to turn graffiti into plush. While I realize graffiti can be controversial in my opinion really well done pieces are so amazing. My favorite thing is all the bright colors. I started by searching to see if anyone else had done anything like this and the only other plush graffiti I found was by a fellow Plush Team member Chris Creatures. But also when I searched I found this picture on Flickr. Not only was it graffiti but it said plush! And not only did it say plush but it was from Portland Maine where I was in May for Sarah's wedding! It was like fate or something haha.

I started by creating a pattern and in the process I realized that there was no "S" in the picture. I stared at it forever trying to figure out if I am just a doof or if there really is no S. I really didn't want to change the artists work but I figured if I wanted it to say plush I wouldn't be the only one that realized there was no S. I decided to add it myself and I hope it didn't ruin it. I am in the process of trying to contact the actual artist because I don't plan to sell it unless the original artist approves and receives compensation.

I used some of the skills I learned in my quilting class when I pieced the colors together. I was happy about that! My hope is that I can find a graffiti artist (or a couple) to work with on some more pieces. I really think it is something I would love to work on and maybe do a gallery show? I don't know.... one can dream.

My fingers are killing me from all the hand sewing and I am glad it is done. A little bit about it: It measures about 33 in. by 10 in. at the biggest spots and around 3 inches thick. It is made of cotton and all of the accents are wool felt. I had to change some of the accents due to the pattern naturally changing from paper to fabric but I did the best I could to keep it the same as the original. I took it around the neighborhood this evening to snap some photos that I hoped would look realistic. These are the two I liked best.

Do you know a graffiti artist that would be interested in working with me? Let me know! I hope you like my new work...could you imagine soft graffiti around town? I think it would be cool but I would never give one of these away to the city...too much work! It makes me appreciate the work that graffiti artists do that will most likely be painted over if it is out on the streets.

Sunshine Adventure With Maisy Part 2

Remember when I said there would be an adventure with Maisy part 2 and we would walk the other way at Alton Baker park? Well we never did it over spring break but we did today! Over the past week we, here in Eugene, have been hammered by a storm that has given us a ton of rain, wind and even some hail/snow. The weather has kept Maisy and I from going to the park but this morning when we got up the sun was shining and the news said it would be in the high 60's today. Even though I had a ton of homework we couldn't spend the day inside so we headed to Alton Baker and started at the duck pond.

The pond is funny because it is all cement with lots of poop. I was pleasantly surprised to find a fence up because they are remodeling the pond to be less poopy and more natural. Once my Mom and I brought one of my little cousins to the pond when he was around 3 and he slipped on the bird poop and rolled into the pond. It was pretty funny (the water is really shallow and it shocked him more than was dangerous). Anyhoo I thought this sign was funny as if anyone would attempt to swim in the slime. The seagull on top is cute.

Off we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was super hard for me to get a picture of this graffiti because it was under the bridge and like I said before Maisy is afraid of everything especially the noise of cars zooming by overhead. I liked it but I wondered if the blue was covering up a cool face.

Maisy was ready for dip when we reached an old boat ramp on the river.

Halfway bridge!

Pretty view of the river from the bridge.

Geese!

So I forgot to bring a poop bag and Maisy was acting like she was about ready to unload one so I was taking her off in the bushes in the hopes that should the time come she would discreetly excrete where no one could see her. You know how dogs always go at just the wrong time (like right in front of a bike cop or in the park sand box just as a daycare center arrives). Well anyway while we were traipsing through the bushes I found this stencil and I thought it was pretty cool. Guess you never know what you will find when you are on the hunt for a perfect poo spot. Oh and p.s. she never ended up going.. whew..

Hope you had fun coming with us on our adventure walk! Sorry about all the talk about poop!