Showing posts with label PlushTeam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PlushTeam. Show all posts

Friday, November 11, 2011

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











Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Steampunk Challenge - the Steam-powered Sewing Machine

As I've probably mentioned a million times, I'm a member of the PlushTeam.  This international guild of plush artists comes up with a Team Challenge every couple of months to keep us on our toes and get those creative juices flowing.  I try to participate in as many as possible, and occasionally I even win something as a result, but I always come away from it inspired and having tried something crazy, different, and out of my comfort zone.

And so, it is my pleasure to present to you my entry for the PlushTeam Stempunk Challenge (in the gadget category)- the entirely steam-powered sewing machine of the Victorian Age!  Or at least what I imagine it probably looked like with that little abbydid spin tossed in.

Please visit www.plushteam.com the week of April 18-23 to VOTE for my Steampunk piece if you think it is the plush best exemplifying the glory of the Steampunk Era! Oh, and also, buy this piece and display it proudly for all to see!  It's located in the PlushTeam Shop for your perusing and/or purchasing pleasure.


But, Abby, tell us more!  This bad boy is made of hand sculpted foam core covered in a variety of up-cycled upholstery fabrics, sourced from leftover samples from interior decorators that were headed for the trash. Clock hands serve as sewing needles.  Metal bobbins, a necklace chain, and the mechanics of a wind up duck make up the inner workings inside the panel.  A pressure gauge accompanies some bobbins and doodads at the top. The side wheel is a faucet spigot.



Wait, did she say a wind up duck?  And is that a duck foot I see in there?  Why, yes, yes it is. 

Measures 13"x9.5"x6.5", approximately the same size as a standard sewing machine.  And that concludes our glimpse for the day into the oddly wondrous place that is my brain.  Carry on:)

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Have you met Big Bunny?

Right, so, here's what happened.  I was sort of bored and was wondering just how BIG I could make something.  I set to work, and sometime in the wee hours late one Saturday night, Big Bunny was born.  The next morning, I emerged from my den of slumber to find Big Bunny sitting on the couch, right where I had left him, only now he had two children draped around him.  They declared we were keeping him, he was not for sale, and that was that.
The morning after.  See that face?  That face is saying, "you will take him away only over my dead body."  We do not mess with her when she makes that face;) 
So, Big Bunny is a member of the family.  He is my mascot, and he comes with me to meet the people.  But he is not for sale.  We can talk about how you can get your own Big Bunny, if you like.
Our 2010 Christmas Card.  Boy, Girl, Bunny.  Not necessarily in that order.

Big Bunny is the strong, silent type.  While he isn't much on words, he is an excellent snuggler, and everyone always seems happy to see him.  Who can blame them?  There is just an aura about him, just a happy, relaxed vibe.  It's all good, as far as Big Bunny is concerned.

The Mascots at PlushTeam's Candyland Show.  Big Bunny is accompanied by Tyler Poncho and Froderick.

I have more photos of Big Bunny hanging around town over at my flickr page, go check them out!  And better yet, come meet him in person at one of my upcoming shows.  

Speaking of, my craft show schedule is shaping up quite nicely, and I have some dates to announce:

The City of Wyoming's Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 16, 2011
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Along Wyoming Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio

Crafty Supermarket
(you know I love me my Supermarket!)
Saturday, May 7, 2011
11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Clifton Cultural Arts Center
3711 Clifton Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45220


INDIEana Handicraft Exchange
Saturday, June 11
12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m
The Harrison Center for the Arts1505 North Delaware Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202


That's it for now, kittens!  I'm off on a weekend retreat with my sisters in plush-making - EIGHTEEN of us in a cabin in the mountains of Virginia!!!  PLUSH RETREAT!!!  WOOT!!!  You can rest assured, you'll hear all about it ;)

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Upcoming Shows

As usual, I've been neglecting the blog.  Bad Abby.

Anywho, I have a couple of Cincinnati shows coming up that are in neighborhoods I just love, and would be ever so touched if you came and cuddled some of my plush:)

First up is the Covedale Arts and Crafts Fair at the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts.  This will take place on Saturday, August 21st from 10am until 4pm.  You won't miss me, I'll be the one in the parking lot in the fantabulous tent with the monster banner;)

Back in the day, this was a movie theater, and I remember having my dad drop me and my friends off to watch one of the two movies they would be offering.  I remember dragging two girlfriends to see Robert Downey Jr. in the Pickup Artist, thinking it was about an artist.  Well, turns out it was, but not about any artist my little 12 year old brain understood at the time.  And there you have a glimpse into the miseducation of Abby.  

Next up will be the Westwood Art Show, presented by the Westwood Town Hall Recreation Center.  This will be taking place on Saturday, September 18th from 10am until 4pm. There will be wine tastings thanks to Henke Winery, music, food and drink vendors, and lots of local artists (say, about 40 of us) selling their handcrafted goods to you, our legions of adoring fans.   

Westwood Town Hall, in all her glory.

I just wrapped up a happy, hot summer of Second Sunday shows in Over-the-Rhine, and look who stopped by - Mayor Mallory!  It was lovely to meet him, and I was flattered he chose my booth to visit.  Of course, he didn't have much choice, Jason pretty much shoved him in so as to get a photo op;)
Mayor Mark Mallory wonders what he's gotten himself into.

I made a big bunny.  The kids won't let me sell him
(seems he's been taken in as a sibling),
but he likes to come along to meet the people.
Can you guess which one is my tent?  I bet you can't:)

So, my kittens, that's all I have for you today.  Please come out and visit me if you can, if not, go *like* me at my facebook page, where I'm much more active than I am here on the blog, and of course, buy up all of my plushes and provide them with good homes here at the etsy shop.  Cheers!


Friday, October 2, 2009

PlushTeam wants to save the boobs!

These fleece-covered bouncy balls really do bounce, yes indeedy.
"She has a silk dress and healthy breasts that bounce on his Italian leather sofa."
- Italian Leather Sofa by Cake
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and to raise funds and awareness about this insidious disease, the members of PlushTeam have created mammary-themed plush. They can be purchased at the PlushTeam shop, and 80% of every purchase goes to the Susan G. Komen Institute. Check out PlushTeam's blog to read more about all the fabulous creations.
Okay, now, kiddies, I know you're all going to be disappointed, but the bouncy boobies have already sold and are on their way to California. But! If you sweet talk me I may just make another pair:) It is for a good cause after all. Perhaps a different skin tone this time? Hmmm...