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!

Go Get Stuffed!

The Plush Team is ecstatic to present to you our first ever Team Annual, containing 120 pages of plushy goodness!

What is in store for you upon opening this marvelous book:

• An opening by our team founder, Megan Green, describing how our team came to be.
• An insightful, informative, and all-around fascinating account of the history of plush craft by our team co-founder Christina Ward.
• 42 two-page, full color features of our Plush Team members. Each includes  photos of the artist's work, and text written by the artist explaining motivation, process, and inspiration.
• A time line of Plush Team activities through over the years.Profile pages providing a comprehensive list of Plush Team artists, including artist head shots and Etsy shop addresses.
• Photos of PT Stitchy, the team mascot, scattered throughout the book in his various incarnations as interpreted by our team members.

The book is full color, professionally printed, and soft cover. It measures 6.75"x6.75" (or 17 centimeters square). This is volume 1 of our Team Annual, featuring the artists from 2009. Our intent is to make this a yearly publication, updating it each year with our newest members and their incredible work.

Visit the Team Shop today for your copy!

BP Oil Clean Up Solution - Save the Beaches!

The Wisconsin-based textile company Monterey Mills has a big heart - they were one of our generous donors at Maker Faire. They've proposed to BP a huge improvement to the booms being used to soak up oil from the water in the Gulf, but their proposal has gotten lost in the tens of thousands of suggestions BP has received, and BP has yet to respond. Check out this amazing demonstration of what wool can do, then spread the word until BP can hear us.

Come one, come all to the ODDMALL!

Oh, boy, am I excited about this one!  Oddmall, Emporium of the Weird (and really, do I need to say more?) is NEXT WEEKEND!!!!  That's right, I'm the kind of mom that gets her kicks on Mother's Day weekend by peddling her plushy wares in Hudson, Ohio, home of this oddly fabulous craft show.  Andy Hopp is the mastermind behind this extravaganza, and we are smitten with him and his gorgeous family.  This will be the show's 3rd appearance, and my 2nd time participating.

You are nearly peeing in your pants with excitement, I can tell, but wait!  There is MORE.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider and Yummy Pancake, two members of our very own PlushTeam, will be there as well!  This is my first time meeting both these gorgeous ladies in person and I can barely contain my excitement.  We'll be working a corner of Room 1 (specifically, booths 18, 19, and 21) so come join us in our day long hilarity.

Brody and Kalli will be selling their pet rocks again, and maybe pet furballs, too.  Jason will probably be wearing his "crafty girls get me hot" tee shirt.  I will almost certainly say something outrageously inappropriate before the day is through.

Once you've stocked up on all of your plush needs, saunter on over to Mary Moons Designs, because you have simply lived too long without one of her adorable bags.  This sassy, lovely lady is so fun, you'll be delighted you stopped by.

and don't forget Space Dog Studios, where the divine miss Sarah will fix you up right with your handmade book needs.  Seriously, this is the good stuff!  

This Saturday is the Crafty Supermarket!  I am so thrilled about this event, and I'm going to tell you why.  First off, I'm a vendor, and I will be bringing all of my very best plush, designed and sewn by yours truly.  But it doesn't end there - this craft fair is a big step for Cincinnati.  For years we have had two categories of craft show: the country craft show your grandma attended, and the artsy fairs that were classy, wine drinking affairs.  Nothing wrong with either of those, but not quite my style.  

This, my dear friends, is an indie craft show.  The goods at this event will have a bit more edge, be a lot more hip, be made by funky, eclectic folk who have their own, unique ways of expressing themselves.  Here you will find fun twists on all sorts of things you never knew you needed.  Need hand grenade soap?  I thought you did.  How about lego earrings for that special someone?  You'll need a card  to go with that.  Oh, and Mother's Day is coming up, I bet your mama would appreciate some upcycled bling.  And after after all of the fun you've had at the Crafty Supermarket you should definitely write down all your thoughts and feelings.

There is so much more fabulousness at this show I might just pee myself!  Here is the full vendor list.

Details:  This Saturday, the 17th of April

11am - 6pm

The Clifton Cultural Center

(the old Clifton School building)

3711 Clifton Avenue

MAP

I made something just for you, so come and get it!  

Cutting Frenzy

I finally reached the point where I had finished making everything I owed to customers or to folks I was trading with, and I had gone through all of the precut critters I had stowed away, and my fingers were itching to wrap around those scissors and dive into my hoard of fur.  So, for the past few days I have been busy cutting - stockpiling monsters and animals and even fleece sugar cookies that will accompany them as snacks - all ready to be sewn and assembled when the time comes.

I have 4 big craft shows coming up in the next few months (more on that another day) and this is the first step in preparing.  As each month goes by, abbydid seems to creep closer and closer towards a full time job, and my aspirations for what I can produce before these shows creep up may be a bit too high.  But, worst case scenario, I'll have these "critter kits" ready to go after the shows to restock the shop as needed.

Fleece and faux fur are my primary materials.  Fleece is easy and forgiving.  Faux fur - especially the shaggy, long pile variety - prevents it's own set of challenges.  I vacuum constantly.  I vacuum each cut piece of a pattern before I bag it, and then vacuum the entire cutting area in between each variety of fur I use to avoid "cross contamination."  And inevitably I am covered in the stuff.  I laugh at lint rollers.  I have to vacuum myself before heading out the door.  The UPS man will attest to the fact that whenever I open the door for a package I'm covered in some new color of hair.  He must think I have some strange-looking pets (speaking of, that's my dog Kismet).

Once critters are cut, with all their contrasting or accenting pieces accompanying them, I bag them up and get them out of the way.  It's fun to go back to these bags and pull out a creature to begin working on it, only to be surprised by what color combinations I was dreaming up the day he was cut out.  Admittedly, there have been a couple of instances of "what was I thinking," in which case I may switch out some claws or limbs.  

Meanwhile, while I am sequestered in my dining room (aka The Work Space), Roomba is next door tidying up the living room.  I found this guy on clearance for half off.  While he is just a glorified dustbuster on wheels, Roomba is better than nothing, and I love that he merrily rolls along while I make fuschia monkeys and stripey Wibbly Woos a reality.  This is my view through the windows of the dining room.  See Roomba?  Way to go, Roomba!  Keep up the good work.

Schmancy Olympic Challenge

Towards the end of January Plush You!, the annual plush exhibition put on by Schmancy, put out a challenge to the plush world: make a plush in one of 4 categories reflecting the Winter Olympic Games.  Well, I do love a good challenge!  I signed up immediately.  My assigned category was Opening Ceremonies.  

What resulted was a torch with mischievous little flames, each light up, and they even have their own Olympic torch in which to do their impish dance.  

I would have gotten more outdoor shots but my reluctant model needed to pee.

The battery-operated "tea lights" are surrounded in sheer fabrics and "stuffed" with bubble wrap.  The little smirking faces are embroidered on using red, metallic thread and iridecent beads for eyes.

The completely hand-stitched torch is made of stiff interfacing and fleece, with a felt Olympic rings emblem adhered to it with fabric glue. 


 With the Olympics just coming to a close and the Paralympics about to begin, I know we all feel the warmth of the pride and emotion of the games.  I will be submitting this piece to Plush You! for judging, so wish me luck!  The torch and it's 6 merry flames are available in my shop.