quarterly update

I was reminded today I have a blog.  I was all like, I do?  And then I looked, and sure enough, there it is!  A blog!  So I've dusted it off and decided to add a little something to it.

It's not that I don't have things to say.  I do.  All sorts of things.  I mostly say them in my head, however, and occasionally to actual people.  But that leaves you out, dear imaginary audience!  So let's rectify that.

First off, I have a website now.  It's really very beautiful.  You can look at it right over here: www.abbydid.com

Isn't it amazing and wonderful?  I'm so pleased.  It really helps that I sleep with the guy who made it for me.  Reeeelaaaaaax.  I'm married to him.  And before you go asking to have him make you one, too, let me just say it took me FOUR YEARS of said sleeping with to go from asking for a website to actually having a website up and kicking.  Not sure how fair a trade off that is.

Next up, GUESS WHAT?  I have my first solo show coming up this spring!  This is quite a departure for me, as it is not plush-related at all.  Well, just barely.  You'll see.  I love my creatures, and I love finding them good homes with happy folks like you, but it was time to venture off into a more introspective, explorative direction.  Mark your calendars for the opening on April 14th at Fabricate.

So, while I have been stitching away, the results have been of a very different nature.  I have butterflies in my stomach venturing out into unchartered territory like this, but it makes me happy and I really like what I'm doing, so it is my fervent hope that it will inspire similar feelings in all of you.

For an idea of what's in development, here's a piece I created for Fabricate's anniversary show last November.  It's entitled "Home Base" and it depicts one of the places I love most in my hometown of Cincinnati, the Union Terminal.

Here's a closeup.  What I do is take a photo, tweak it on the computer to amp up the colors or distort them to my liking, then print it onto fabric.  After that I back it in batting and start stitching away.  It's sort of like doodling, but muuuuch slooooower.

The plushmaking continues, as well, but not at the break-neck pace it once did.  I'm learning to balance things a bit better, not just run in all welly nelly.  Hooray for personal growth!  What this means is craft shows are out of the picture for now, but probably not forever.  Fabricate and my etsy shop are the best places to find my work, and you know if you ask nicely I'll make you something special.

One new creation in the shop is the Whipper Slapper.  I LOVE this guy, he's ridiculously fun.  He's a monster slap bracelet, and I highly recommend you snatch one up today.  Personal monster protection is all the rage for 2012, my friends!!

So that's it for now.  I love you all, my kittens, and hope your new year is off to a good start!

All Things Corduroy -or- A Little Plush From a Few of My Friends

As I mentioned in my last post, I've had the privilege to curate a corduroy plush show for the Corduroy Appreciation Club's big meeting on 11|11|11.  I am here to share with you this incredible work.  I'd like to say, it has been such a pleasure working with these 11 extraordinarily talented artists, and I'm grateful to have such wonderful friends who do such incredible work.  Work that will be available for sale November 12th at noon at the Plush Team's website.  Buy some.  

Pinwale Pin Whale by Squirrel Momma

Meet the Pinwale Pin Whale.  The Corduroy Appreciation Club’s main public symbol is the whale. The whale is a homonym of wale. Wale, or wales, is the raised portion of Corduroy fabric—its most distinctive trait and what makes Corduroy, Corduroy. Whales also possess attributes the CAC and its membership wish to exude: strength, endurance, intelligence, sociability, and mystery. The Whale should always be facing left.

About the Artist:

Squirrel Momma, who sometimes goes by the secret identity of Amy Williams, is a fiber artist living and working in West Michigan. Trained as a metalsmith, she has now turned to soft sculpture and is fascinated with bringing to life tiny creatures and making sure each and every one gets to tell the world his bizarre and amazing story.  Find more of Squirrel Momma's work at www.squirrelmomma.etsy.com.

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Cordelia by ThEm DoLLz

Meet Cordelia, a pensive lady who has spent hours upon hours reflecting upon a sense of fellowship rooted in the historic and culturally significant fabric known as Corduroy.  

About the Artist:

This piece is created by Jen Musatto of ThEm DoLLz.  Each of her dollz are handmade with love using new or recycled clean fabric, buttons, safety eyes, and new polyfil. Each one is a one-of-a-kind creation, as she does not use a pattern. Cordelia is signed by the artist on her back patch to assure authenticity.  To find more work by ThEm DoLLz visit www.themdollz.etsy.com.

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Wavy Wade by Patti Haskins

Wavy Wade is the Whale of Wales.  Wade thinks those cords are so groovy he styles them everywhere he goes.  The Corduroy Appreciation Club’s main public symbol is the whale. The whale is a homonym of wale. Wale, or wales, is the raised portion of Corduroy fabric—its most distinctive trait and what makes Corduroy, Corduroy. Whales also possess attributes the CAC and its membership wish to exude: strength, endurance, intelligence, sociability, and mystery. The Whale should always be facing left.

About the Artist:

Patti Haskins is a self-taught artist and her work reflects her love of animals and her goofy sense of humor. Whether crocheted, sewn, painted, or computer generated, chances are the subject matter she portrays will be animal. Most likely, cat or dog; but fish, bunnies, squirrels and ferrets and now a whale have been known to leap out of her studio.  See more at pattihaskins.com.

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"Waling" Banshee

"Waling" Banshee

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.

About the Artist:

Jessica Puckett, the creature creator behind Plushroom Soup, sees no reason why plush can't be a little strange, like most of us. And even though she wears corduroy at least twice per week, this is the first time she's dressed a plushie in wale.  It will not be the last.  Find more of her work at www.plushroomsoup.etsy.com.

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Dapper Whale by Chris Creatures

Dapper Whale comes with a corduroy driver cap and removable corduroy vest, making him in full compliance with the "two item rule," the Corduroy Club mandate that all members where a minimum of two items of corduroy to gain admittance to the meeting.  

About the Artist:

Chris Hwang a plush artist living in the DC Metro area.  ChrisCreatures are inspired by simplicity, humor, and hip hop.  Find more here: www.chriscreatures.etsy.com.

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Honey Badger Doesn't Give a Sh*t by Fuz Frenzy

This faux taxidermy sculpture is paying tribute to several honorable entities at once.  First, the crochet method used creates ridges, thus forming the wonder that from this day forward shall be known as CORDUROY CROCHET!  

As if that weren't enough, the subject matter the artist has chosen is that of the fearsome honey badger, the same one we all know and love for not giving one sh*t, depicted here in an eternal struggle with a cobra.  The honey badger is a favored mascot among the members of the Plush Team, primarily because of the infamous youtube video by Randall.

About the Artist:

Jennifer Clayton is the mastermind behind fuzfrenzy.  See what happens when you go to art school and end up crocheting monsters and whatnot.  www.fuzfrenzy.etsy.com

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Hipster Wholphin by Christina Ward Creatures

Introducing Hipster Wholphin.  One side smile, other side smirk, this marine mammal is wearing a scarf made of vintage Wisconsin flannels and corduroy.   He is an expert in all things indie, totally vegan, and knows way more about Wes Anderson than you do.   This hybrid combines the best qualities of the dolphin and the whale, elevating his cool factor to unfathomable heights.  His parents make an unlikely couple, having met at a gallery opening of moronic art while sipping krill-washed bourbons.  

About the artist:

Christina Ward is a stoic dilettante making ridiculous animals out of fur, fleece and yes, corduroy. She lived in the LES of NYC in the 1980's but now lives in Milwaukee; making her an ur-hipster. 


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Woody Allen, Corduroy Enthusiast by Plush Goodness

A famous lifelong Corduroy wearer and unconscious ambassador for the "everyman's fabric", you may also know of Woody Allen for his writing, directing, and sometimes acting in almost 70 feature films. Resplendent in his corduroy blazer and pinwale corduroy pants, Mr. Allen is fully compliant with the CAC's rule to wear 2 pieces of corduroy minimum.  

About the artist:

Plush Goodness (aka Leeanna Butcher) is a freelance textile artist, fabric collector, and plush-aholic living and working in Northern California. She received her degree in Character Animation, and now uses that training to make her drawings come to life in plush form. When not busily sewing new creations, she spends her time with her scruffy dog and equally scruffy artist husband.  Experience more of her work at www.plushgoodness.etsy.com.

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The Squid and the Wale by Plushinator

Amid the pod of whales we find a shining star, or rather, squid.  As everyone knows, the whale is the mascot of the Corduroy Appreciation Club, but the cephalapod is equally worthy of your adoration, sporting his baby wale in a most glorious combination of plum and pink.  Sometimes it really is preferable to stand out from the crowd, isn't it?

About the artist:

Lana Crooks loves the antique, the creepy, the cute and the mysterious. She began her artistic life as an illustrator, but became a sculptor of fabrics and found objects. She constructs all kinds of creatures (commonly those from the deepest oceans, but even the ones from under your bed).  Explore more of her work at www.plushinator.etsy.com

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Grow a Pair by Scrumptious Delight

title: "Grow a pair"

description: corduroy capsule vending machine

dimensions:20" x 10" x 10"

materials: corduroy (of course!), vinyl, capsule vending balls, felt.

the idea:  This handmade vending machine will happily dispense to you for the incredible price of .25 a capsule containing one pair of miniature corduroy flare pants.  To "grow a pair" just add water and -voila- slip into your full-sized pants.  

Becky Gould is the artist behind  Scrumptious Delight.  She is originally from Bournemouth in the UK but has roved the world, from Portugal, Spain, France and has now settled in Vancouver.  Becky has created plush since she was a child, but felt her passion for sewing really ignite after her son was born ten years ago.  Since then she has exhibited her work internationally and enjoyed recognition in various media outlets, including the cover of Stuffed magazine.  Visit her at www.scrumptiousdelight.etsy.com.

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11|11|11 by Raggy Rat

the work

a triptych, actually

comprising of - 

'the day'

'the month'

'the year'

and being three sets of paired number one plushies, all in cord.

This plush piece's title is a poem honoring the grandest of Corduroy Appreciation Club dates, 11|11|11.  Meetings of the CAC occur only on dates which resemble Corduroy, which includes 1|11 and 11|1.  Also worthy of excitement are the times 1:11 and 11:11.  I think you get the gyst.  

About the Artist:  

The Raggy Rat is a place where you will find all kinds of goings on, although not all of them are based around rats and mice!


Cat Owens enjoys working in many ways, but always come back to fabric and stitches. These days she even sticks fabric on her canvases! She enjoys private and community commissions as well as picking an idea and seeing where it takes her, and creates anything from costumes and puppets, to miniature toys.  www.raggyrat.etsy.com

What on earth have I been up to?

I've been oddly quiet for far too long, I know.  It's been a strange year that way.  Lots of covert operations going on over here, but I'm here to share some of it with you.

First off, there's a really nifty facebook app I'd like you to check out.  I can't take credit for any of the handmade plush featured in it, but let's just say I have extremely intimate knowledge of every piece in there.  One of them was replicated 100 times for promotional  purposes.  I imagine that whoever had that project must have been very busy indeed!  But, as I said, legally the artist responsible for this work cannot publicly take credit for it.  Whoever she may be.

Feel Better Friend!  An app full of handmade plush.  By someone really awesome.

What I'm pretty sure I CAN take credit for is that adorable baby girl in that photo.  I totally made her.  Isn't she gorgeous?  Okay, quit staring and go play with the app.

Next up, there's a very special date approaching.  11|11|11 is NEXT WEEK, and I've been making preparations for a few months to celebrate this grandest of dates in high style with the Corduroy Appreciation Club, a social club based in New York City that celebrates this every-man's fabric and its related items.  They hold spectacular meetings on dates that resemble corduroy, and this upcoming date of 11|11|11 is the date that most closely resembles corduroy of ALL TIME!

Not one to miss out on grand events, I will be packing the family into the minivan and trekking out to New York to attend this meeting, which is reported to be the last of its kind.  I have this on authority, as my brother and his betrothed help run the organization.  A multitude of wondrous events are planned, some of which are still being kept under wraps, but suffice it to say we have a very personal reason to attend this meeting that celebrates all things corduroy.  I wouldn't miss it for the world.  Once it's over I will regale you, not to worry!  Many, many pictures with hilarious descriptions will rain down upon you, dear reader.

The whale is the mascot of the CAC, and should always be facing left.  

 But I've had another role to play as well, that of Plush CORDinator (get it?  get it?).  I'm cultivating a small exhibit of 11 plush pieces by 11 plush artists from my beloved Plush Team.  These soft sculptures are incredible to behold, and will be displayed one night only at the CAC meeting held at the Desmond Tutu Center on 11|11|11.  Alas, the event is sold out, so if you don't have your ticket you're out of luck to see the exhibit in person.  Not to worry!  These pieces will be available for purchase on Saturday, November 12th beginning at noon at the Plush Team's etsy shop, so that you may add one of these amazing creations to your private corduroy collection.

Look at my fancy membership card!  Backed in CORDUROY!!!  Jealous?

To attend a CAC meeting you must be wearing a minimum of two items of corduroy, which for this most auspicious date has been raised to THREE items.  I've been making dresses, ties, helping with spats, scouring vintage shops, and I think we're good to go.  Jason even has a pair of cordarounds, whose horizontal wale greatly diminishes crotch friction.  Fancy!

So, while I put all the final details on our preparations, check out Plush Team's blog, where I've been celebrating 11 days of corduroy, revealing a different plush piece from the show each day.  Also peruse the CAC's blog, as they have their own 11 days of corduroy to help you get into the spirit.

A sneak peek at a special project I made for the CAC.

ALL HAIL THE WALE!!!

How to be cool like me.

I've been asked time and time again, "Abby, how can I ever be as cool as you?"

Actually, I have never once been asked this, but I know you are all thinking it and are merely too intimidated by my unmitigated awesomeness to ask.  Not to fear!  I've taken the liberty of answering your unspoken question for you.  And here we go:

1.  Have purple hair.
2.  Get people's names wrong.
3.  Have an extended family that is straight out of a Woody Allen movie, but not in a funny ha-ha kind of way.
4.  Name inanimate objects.  For example: your sewing machine, your minivan, etc.  I've named mine Sappho and Black Mamba, so those are taken.
5.  Watch way too much Dr. Who.
6.  After half of an alcoholic beverage curl up on the couch like a little kitten and fall asleep.  In other words, be the life of the party!
7.  Assume everyone loves you.
8.  Assume everyone hates you.
9.  Argue with your cat.
10. Be perpetually inappropriate, ideally while using catch phrases too often or completely wrong.
11. Live on the West Side.  Booyah.
12. Marry a dude who is artsy and sweet and shy and is totally smitten with you.  Extra bonus points if he lusted for you from afar for several years.  I can't recommend this highly enough.
13.  Eat greek yogurt.
14.  Walk around with your own personal soundtrack in your head.  Randomly dance to it.
15.  Do not leave the house for days on end and when you do it's to go to Target.

There!  See how easy that is?  Soon you too will be a raging badass like myself if you follow these simple steps.  You're welcome!

Looking for me? Here I am!

abbydid at The City Flea in June.

I've been keeping a low profile as of late, tis true, and it's been a good thing by and large.  But I've missed all of you darlings!  So I'm here to tell you there are 3 more craft shows where you will be able to find me should you desire some plush love and my delightful company.  

I will be partaking in two shows this September and one in October.  There will be NO SHOWS in November, and I may pop up a time or two in December, but that still remains in flux so no promises just yet.  Meanwhile, I will do my best to keep Fabricate in Northside stocked, so that you can always find goodies there.  

As always, custom orders are welcome and even encouraged, though the earlier we discuss those plans the better, ideally before Thanksgiving.  The etsy shop is a bit threadbare, so if you don't see your heart's fondest desire give me a shout, I'm sure I can hook you up:)

There are some fun, funky things coming up to share with you, so some of my absence will make more sense when they begin rearing their heads.  In the meantime they are to be kept secret.  Oh, I do hate the suspense, don't you?

Come get a prize from the craftball machine!

And now, without further ado, where to find me over the next few months:

The City Flea

THIS SATURDAY!!! September 3rd, 10am-4pm

Central Parkway and Vine Street at the Cincinnatus Mural

Cincinnati, Ohio

This is the last City Flea of the summer, so be sure to hurry down!  This has been such a fun show, I've loved being a part of it, both as a vendor and an attendee.  I had the chance to visit the Brooklyn Flea last week, which inspired our own City Flea, and I have to say I like ours better:)  Don't miss it!  So much fun...

Westwood Art Show

Saturday, September 24 · 11:00am - 5:00pm Westwood Town Hall (outside) 3017 Harrison Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio Welcome to my neighborhood!  I couldn't let this pass by without being a part of it, it's just such a lovely day filled with good music, good food, good finds, and good company.

Second Sunday on Main  - Foodie Fest

Sunday, October 9 · 12:00pm - 5:00pm Main Street between 13th and Liberty Cincinnati, Ohio The last Second Sunday of the year!  This is the first year for the events to extend into October, making for a lovely fall day downtown with nice, cool temperatures.  Jason generally insists we be located across from the beer truck, so look for us there.  Be sure to enjoy the excellent food vendors and check out the celebrity chef demo.  The chefs and cocktologist from Senate (which I hear is AMAZING) will teaching you the tricks of the trade.  How can you pass that up?  You can't.

Did you spot the blue polka-dotted nailbiter in the July Cincinnati Magazine?  He's famous!

Now, some of you eagle eyes may have noticed this means NO CRAFTY SUPERMARKET.  I know!!!  Can you believe it?  My schedule in November just isn't allowing for the time to make the inventory I'd need.  BUT!!!  Don't you dare miss it!!!  I plan on being a volunteer and attending as a civilian, and if Fabricate has a table, as they usually do, I'll ask extra nicely that they include my plush fro their shop.  Also, I'll make something nifty for the swag bags they hand out to the first 100 in the door.  

Hope your summer has been gorgeous!  See you soon:)

Team Ta-Tas

I was approached this summer by Team Ta-Tas to create a few pieces for a special event.  Team Ta-Tas is a Cincinnati-based organization whos goal is to raise breast cancer awareness as well as raise funds for the Susan G. Komen For the Cure.  They are a fun, zany group, and it was my absolute pleasure to create something just for them.

This Friday, August 5th is Pink-a-POLOoza at the Polo Grille in Mason, Ohio from 6:00-10:00pm.  Browse the various silent auctions and vendors, all there to help raise money for this worthy cause, while sipping a TaTaTini!  And wear your pink.  These ladies do love PINK!  I know I'm hoping to make it, so I'm sure I'll see you there:)

And now, what I have made for this fine event:

Mini TaTa, a little mascot for the group!  As you can see, Mini TaTa and her sisters have championed the disease and are celebrating their victories wearing boxing gloves, championship belt, and newly sprouted hair after going a few rounds with chemotherapy.   

And some of you may recall the bouncing boobies from when the Plush Team was holding a Plushraiser for the Susan G. Komen Institute a couple of years ago.  Well, they're back!  Yes, they really bounce, and they will be for sale individually or by the pair, whatever your preference may be.  

The proceeds from these items will go to Team Ta-Tas, and I will have these pieces listed in my etsy shop soon as well.  

A little, possibly unneccesary, explanation of what I'm up to. Or not up to, as the case may be.

So, I've been on a bit of a plush hiatus.  I was starting to get anxiety attacks whenever I sat down to my dear machine, so I knew something had to give.  The timing of this wasn't ideal, but perhaps not a surprise.  I had signed myself up for 4 shows in June alone, and June is already a bit of a madhouse for me, what with the boy and the manchild BOTH having birthdays, along with 5 other members of the family, plus Father's Day, PLUS both kids being home with me all day long on summer break.  What has resulted has been a general melee of Abby attempting to do too much too fast and thus the pressure cooker that is my head.

Lately I've been getting that sinking feeling.

For those of you who don't know, I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD.  I was diagnosed 4 1/2 years ago, but I'm fairly certain I've had it since at least high school.  I am almost constantly experiencing some level of anxiety in my body, and it manifests itself in all sorts of interesting ways when I don't give it healthier outlets.  One of the scarier ways it rears its ugly head is in the dreaded migraine.  I'll save you some of the gorier details of this, but for me a migraine means a minimum of 4 hours of being completely out of commission, and up to a week of feeling lethargic and vulnerable to a rebound attack.  I have had three in the past year, all of them right before a craft show.  The last one was a little over a week ago, before a night time show down on Fountain Square.  Luckily for me, I have a husband who loves the indie craft show scene, and has stepped in for me all three times to peddle the plush in my stead.

But clearly something needs to change, and so I cancelled my last show this month and don't have another scheduled until August, giving me a chance to regroup and reevaluate.  I'm catching up on some orders I hadn't been giving proper attention.  Once I'm caught up I'd like to focus on restocking the two shops I'm currently working with, perhaps approaching a third I've heard might like to do business with me.  My poor etsy shop was looking a bit neglected, so I'm slowly giving it some love as well.   

Sometimes I feel I'm too small too fill what I see as enormous shoes.

I'm reading books.  I'm spending time with my kids.  I've put away the piles and piles of work waiting to be sewn so I don't feel overwhelmed, and instead I've actually made myself a little dress this week, and have a couple of other personal projects I'd like to do.  I'm making gifts for a few unsuspecting folks, which is something else I've had on my to-do list for ages.  Workouts were beginning to get dropped, which is very bad as exercise is key to keeping my anxiety down and has been my replacement for the anti-anxiety meds I weaned myself off of in February.  So cardio is getting factored in again, and yoga needs to be in the mix as well.  I've dropped taking classes, which I've loathed doing, but need to at least resume my yoga practice at home.  

The hardest part of all of this is feeling like I've had to retreat, like I've admitted some sort of defeat and ducked away with my head between my tails.  I don't ever like to concede I have limits, that I'm not up to a task, so to say it's time to back down is painful for me.   I want to be all things to everyone all the time, which is not realistic at all.  And it often results in me being too little to too few, primarily my kids and my husband. 

I forget I'm just one person, not a team of people capable of lots of tasks at once.

I have known for awhile I have been struggling mightily with burn out.  I was quickly losing all the joy in my work.  What once was a very therapeutic activity for me was becoming the source for much of my anxiety.  There needs to be a middle ground somewhere here, and I'm treading carefully to find it and do this all properly. 

Added frustration comes in that I feel I am at the cusp of turning abbydid into a real full time job, a real business that truly contributes to my family's income.  It has been more than a hobby for quite a long time, but has hovered in that limbo of almost being the real deal (at least in my mind) for awhile.  But in reality, this is a one-woman show, with a very supportive husband and understanding kids, but still it's all on me.  And abbydid is only going to be as good as Abby can do.  This little biz has been built on my passion and love and quirkiness, and it has to be allowed it's own good time to grow and develop naturally.  I can't hold myself to artificial standards, projecting what I believe success to be.  I need to proceed carefully to be true to the spirit of abbydid, true to myself, true to my family. 

Just breathe.

And so, I need to get my house in order.  And by house, I mean my head.  I can't beat myself up for struggling with GAD.  I need to be forgiving of myself, accepting of my capabilities, and mindful of where I need to be.  I saw this gorgeous dish on etsy the other day, and I think it sums things up nicely.  Here it is:

Bowl by mb artstudios