tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70846592262039422422024-03-04T22:55:35.710-08:00plushyouinterviewsSchmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-37219785233204082262009-03-24T14:14:00.000-07:002009-03-24T14:55:43.899-07:00Cakespy Interview and Giveaway!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRolmvZ8jZQc5teDqqR2PUqeVZGYo-mCvW59qaOBAkSXVgZw_lCpZ6mH0bTx2PXaxs_1lDEpyqd1fs_DGOtQnSFZ4-F_vevYS7pQ9eigbukglZBKmJ_5_N4WHbEY7vU429MSdIL53bNRN4/s1600-h/3100639401_f1bc9af11a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRolmvZ8jZQc5teDqqR2PUqeVZGYo-mCvW59qaOBAkSXVgZw_lCpZ6mH0bTx2PXaxs_1lDEpyqd1fs_DGOtQnSFZ4-F_vevYS7pQ9eigbukglZBKmJ_5_N4WHbEY7vU429MSdIL53bNRN4/s320/3100639401_f1bc9af11a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316876031463191570" /></a><br /><br /><br />So unless you are a weirdo, you can't go to <a href="http://www.cakespy.com/" target="_blank">Cakespy's</a> website without 1) salivating immediately 2) spending a lot of time reading and drooling over Jessie's creations of the edible and not edible sort 3) feel inspired. The brainchild of Jessie Oleson's is a story that has inspired many artists and business people alike. And there are so many reasons why. I know this is not plush but I find her story so inspiring that I wanted to share it with all of you. Please leave a comment here with contact info for your chance to win a surprise gift package from Jessie herself. Enjoy sweeties. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lOS-lF7ODxMFpDpTc4DgSbfmaX5lWnDNDmTX_geJU5sFjuTZ5keJfrPo_juqT7shIIyx85BeHCr_BXcH8kpCQDyRxl__w_GuW5XWNdZj_uA5IKiS0MOptnJj8BHpo8610kSjq3srjdiU/s1600-h/-2.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lOS-lF7ODxMFpDpTc4DgSbfmaX5lWnDNDmTX_geJU5sFjuTZ5keJfrPo_juqT7shIIyx85BeHCr_BXcH8kpCQDyRxl__w_GuW5XWNdZj_uA5IKiS0MOptnJj8BHpo8610kSjq3srjdiU/s320/-2.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316869213739286898" /></a><br /><br />S- To start, for our readers that may not know who you are, can you please explain the basics. Who, What, Why?<br /><br />Cake- Helllo plush buddies! My name is Jessie Oleson (pronounced like the twins, even though it's spelled funny), and I am the Head Spy at a dessert detective agency called CakeSpy. I have a website where myself and a group of family and friends write about bakeries, recipes, and baking experiments; it's all sweetly punctuated by my original artwork, which consists of anthropomorphic baked goods, which I also sell. The motto of the site is "Seeking sweetness in everyday life", and I like to think you can find a lot of sweetness on the site!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjL6tWFlqEFMHN7JgZBLyVDwd1GArnE9aTxyel9D6SwlOD8Gubm0Zq_sAUU6_1U4JH7NnTB7g7RVFLs7XYBNrL6Mv9m4U_cn29XlNPp5UVRBPqp8IeKsAY3jsHek8gOfjqMdiJRmny63Z4/s1600-h/-4.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjL6tWFlqEFMHN7JgZBLyVDwd1GArnE9aTxyel9D6SwlOD8Gubm0Zq_sAUU6_1U4JH7NnTB7g7RVFLs7XYBNrL6Mv9m4U_cn29XlNPp5UVRBPqp8IeKsAY3jsHek8gOfjqMdiJRmny63Z4/s320/-4.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316870813484477090" /></a> <br /><br />S- At our last Grassroots meetup, I found it really interesting that you get so much mail. That is so fun! Can you tell us about a few of the more unusual things you have gotten? Favorites?<br /><br />Cake- I love getting mail! Most recently, some of the highlights have included cupcakes shipped from Fields of Cake in Maine (alas, they were NOT OK upon arrival), cupcake dental floss from Archie McPhee, a condom-holder with cake artwork on the outside...and as a wild card, a biography of the woman who started POM Wonderful. Let's just say the mailman regards me with slight suspicion.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAi4ES_vsVSQp7OR0zVRjOP6qgeN8i1vBvHKo8u4hdkp5t5uO2cRsSLkEMDyvRydF_Ja8PZcfHF_NeAb-lbOtr5Vd_PwIA5cyfDDf_WUxzZf7_QplLBhjhys2wzZiS0DvWpFbU5POZyqSj/s1600-h/-1.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 305px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAi4ES_vsVSQp7OR0zVRjOP6qgeN8i1vBvHKo8u4hdkp5t5uO2cRsSLkEMDyvRydF_Ja8PZcfHF_NeAb-lbOtr5Vd_PwIA5cyfDDf_WUxzZf7_QplLBhjhys2wzZiS0DvWpFbU5POZyqSj/s320/-1.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316868882079707378" /></a><br /><br />S- You recently did the street art installation in Seattle. Can you tell us more about that and how that worked out for you?<br /><br />Cake- About a month and a half ago I made a big batch of fake cupcakes to which I affixed flags with uplifting sayings and placed them randomly throughout the streets of Seattle--I kind of thought of it as a big happy pill going out to the world. It got a great reaction and so now I am doing it on an ongoing basis whenever I have time to make a batch, and have posted a <a href="http://www.cakespy.com/2009/03/sweet-art-tutorial-on-how-to-make-fake.html" target="_blank">tutorial</a> on how to make them in case others want to bring the project to their own town or city. So far I hear that people have been making them in Portland and NYC! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmr03EB18hb56QP-Dj7IzSM5DjJPXPaZu1VgbV0yKFpstcFyt4foidySlgRRco8Plg3ys4JgCA3LdgmetCinJrGBKhQMOUkvVszcqO7HyJeU0r4kSUoqZ38jkUKBwbjgdtDlXmzTC01XPi/s1600-h/-3.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 119px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmr03EB18hb56QP-Dj7IzSM5DjJPXPaZu1VgbV0yKFpstcFyt4foidySlgRRco8Plg3ys4JgCA3LdgmetCinJrGBKhQMOUkvVszcqO7HyJeU0r4kSUoqZ38jkUKBwbjgdtDlXmzTC01XPi/s320/-3.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316870369496454818" /></a><br /><br />S- I think your story is so inspiring because you are now working solely on your Cakespy project. When you started did you know what to expect? Did you have goals and ways to make yourself bigger or did it just grow organically?<br /><br />Cake- When I first started, all that I knew was that I wanted some sort of outlet to combine my loves of writing, illustrating, and baked goods--I thought, why not start a blog while I figure out what I want to do? However, what I didn't count on was the blog becoming what I actually do--leading to a webstore, and basically becoming its own complete sweet community with all sorts of baked good related content and artwork. It's basically heaven.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGcdVnzASGXxl2WNSyQ4NYGnkLZHdC3NFTYFVmveFsrwCI-Z9N8lF8OhREr9ZPVVqeXe9w23VwJ4C_rBd5tZJFTBdbamoFBDFGbzhn8qGhyphenhypheneKi8d2n4pZQtSlUa0t7-IiJvDhgWhsGHGe/s1600-h/-5.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGcdVnzASGXxl2WNSyQ4NYGnkLZHdC3NFTYFVmveFsrwCI-Z9N8lF8OhREr9ZPVVqeXe9w23VwJ4C_rBd5tZJFTBdbamoFBDFGbzhn8qGhyphenhypheneKi8d2n4pZQtSlUa0t7-IiJvDhgWhsGHGe/s320/-5.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316871122158501058" /></a><br /><br />S- You have done a lot of grassroots marketing to grow Cakespy. Can you tell us what has been more effective for you? Things that did not work?<br /><br />Cake- For me, what has really seemed to work in terms of promotion is when the projects we do on the site go "viral". While I can't say what the formula is for this, I think that it really has to do with having unique content, or doing something that will register with people. For instance the cupcake art installation got a lot of attention on blogs and on the radio, which translated into more hits on my website, and hence, more hits to my webstore. Other posts that have gotten attention have been my cupcake shipping experiment , Twinkie murder spree and candy salad tutorial . I also send out and randomly leave a lot of postcards with my artwork and mission statement around the city and really, everywhere I go--so that people can come across CakeSpy in sweet and unexpected ways. I mean, if I randomly found a cute postcard or cupcake sculpture out on the street, I'd be pretty psyched, so I can only imagine that others would be too!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwPAeGb03hx2D41FsH_GT7_fNc1nXg2T4bc24lQPj5y6ji2fg9zIdp5H2_FSo-T_fUql4juZ4g9ZfysHRYzyLYxVXZDRfQf0VFjH18ue0HUp70mNhLIvzkZvbWRm68ey7PSJjWfXA9xzW/s1600-h/3280227743_74f23df05f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwPAeGb03hx2D41FsH_GT7_fNc1nXg2T4bc24lQPj5y6ji2fg9zIdp5H2_FSo-T_fUql4juZ4g9ZfysHRYzyLYxVXZDRfQf0VFjH18ue0HUp70mNhLIvzkZvbWRm68ey7PSJjWfXA9xzW/s320/3280227743_74f23df05f.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316872438888543298" /></a><br /><br />S- You share some great recipes. How often do you make new baked goods? (oh and if you ever want to share...well you now know where to go)<br /><br />Cake- I don't bake every day, but I would say maybe 3-4 times a week. I don't consider myself a great baker, but I am an enthusiastic baker and I love to try new recipes. If I'm to be completely honest though, what I love best is eating other people's baked goods. I'm so lucky to be in Seattle--there are so many great bakeries here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyR4X13V9eWP-Me9PQXWvfE6cVp7RlNO_TP3ufPIGIPLYmNTzhB-XppP_Z3viZYTjFjgOUK8AhoUPrMKstbU83DitY1cmhRsfgVT0giNUdwQUXiVeXEk8gNmw46UhN0I2to0I4SKxtPRel/s1600-h/3199400061_f5de8f7c25_o.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyR4X13V9eWP-Me9PQXWvfE6cVp7RlNO_TP3ufPIGIPLYmNTzhB-XppP_Z3viZYTjFjgOUK8AhoUPrMKstbU83DitY1cmhRsfgVT0giNUdwQUXiVeXEk8gNmw46UhN0I2to0I4SKxtPRel/s320/3199400061_f5de8f7c25_o.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316874122617131954" /></a><br /><br />S- What new products might we see from you in the future? <br /><br />Cake- I'm currently working on more apparel--tees, baby onesies, etc--and some new stationery products like little notebooks. On the horizon--i.e., when I gots cash, I also want to source and produce a figurine of my most popular character, Cuppie the Cupcake. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbuw0zwl2Ob0ahTtNIJ0nn7MN-IaIGkqN_sv3I7-_lRQwwRdWsBWrRtbysDwZCi3LLuHc_9JMUYV7_9HAUT5Hv5vxS-7gAti5pHh4fhrx4tCql6pkkwzeEEAMxDQa-23WTAVlL2dwLgeq/s1600-h/3139472690_e514245094.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbuw0zwl2Ob0ahTtNIJ0nn7MN-IaIGkqN_sv3I7-_lRQwwRdWsBWrRtbysDwZCi3LLuHc_9JMUYV7_9HAUT5Hv5vxS-7gAti5pHh4fhrx4tCql6pkkwzeEEAMxDQa-23WTAVlL2dwLgeq/s320/3139472690_e514245094.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316875161086913874" /></a><br /><br />S- You have done some great interviews. How often do you do them and how do you approach folks for them?<br /><br /><br />Cake- Whenever I come across a baker or bakery that intrigues me, I will usually ask for an interview; generally I will tell them about the site and send them links to a few of the other interviews I've done in the past so they can see what it might be like, and then we take it from there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEODaX3WZLHI25oGsouAcEUDozNbYOhw-vUyNnwQqZUKAm3rBYv9TxysM1cJsKdP6K_oZI51oVnfXwHukWsNTglDbPoZEphf0SPN3wdHICZogwb67KvEXXZsdSeuyIslX3g8yI8b6xRFSF/s1600-h/-6.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEODaX3WZLHI25oGsouAcEUDozNbYOhw-vUyNnwQqZUKAm3rBYv9TxysM1cJsKdP6K_oZI51oVnfXwHukWsNTglDbPoZEphf0SPN3wdHICZogwb67KvEXXZsdSeuyIslX3g8yI8b6xRFSF/s320/-6.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316871531274549826" /></a><br /><br />S- What are some of your big goals for the rest of 2009? <br /><br />Cake- Businesswise, I really want to start setting up more wholesale accounts; I just printed up a flyer of my products so I'm pretty excited to get that out there; I'm also pretty keen to start working on a children's book with my baked good characters (fingers crossed!). Baking-wise, I seriously want to make the 15-layer cake (some crazy Southern thing a friend told me about), and in terms of travel, the RoadFood feature on <a href="http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=5020" target="_blank">"Heavy Crumb Cake" from Hackensack, NJ</a> really resonated with me, so I definitely want to go there! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgggWrBOxtOEx5sjQrxNwMgeFX_EEcHJEl5jCSWYk9-5QQqUIPzzH1dR0nqDrx6QyNtbrPNG5btCy_6j1EDr6kAC9d70Ktme9IvZaqU2drK3sccjH0y9GmIJTc2V7dRn8elISeJPovIHd/s1600-h/3361151030_2c13113148.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgggWrBOxtOEx5sjQrxNwMgeFX_EEcHJEl5jCSWYk9-5QQqUIPzzH1dR0nqDrx6QyNtbrPNG5btCy_6j1EDr6kAC9d70Ktme9IvZaqU2drK3sccjH0y9GmIJTc2V7dRn8elISeJPovIHd/s320/3361151030_2c13113148.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316872637197924834" /></a><br /><br />S- What is your all time favorite dessert? What is your favorite cupcake?<br /><br />Cake- Shh--don't tell cupcakes, but my true favorites are birthday cake (something about the middle layer of frosting in addition to the top layer!), crumb cake, black and white cookies and--weird, I know--corn muffins.<br /><br />As cupcakes go, as psyched as I am to try all of the crazy varieties out there these days, my favorite is--and will always be--vanilla cake with pink buttercream frosting.<br /><br />Thanks Jessie for the awesome interview! Don't forget to leave your info here for your chance to win your own sweet treats from Jessie!Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-1246120280575783482008-12-11T15:18:00.000-08:002008-12-11T16:08:44.271-08:00Alicia Paulson Interview and Book Giveaway!Do you ever read a blog and just think I wish their life was mine? Even if you like your life, there is just something about those photos and all the pretty that they surround themselves in...Well this is how I feel about <a href="http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com/posie_gets_cozy/" target="_blank">Alicia Paulson</a>. She has the gift to make every thing look beautiful, peaceful and calm. Just how life should be! I am sure she has her ups and downs just like everyone but looking at her blog makes me want to run home and sew and make my house pretty. I had the pleasure of finally meeting Alicia this past weekend at <a href="http://www.urbancraftuprising.com" target="_blank">UCU</a> where she did a book signing. She is just as pleasant in person! It was so nice to finally meet her and have her signing her amazing book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307406261?ie=UTF8&tag=plushyou2coms-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0307406261">Stitched in Time: Memory-Keeping Projects to Sew and Share from the Creator of Posie Gets Cozy</a>. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Speaking of which, leave a comment here with contact info for your chance to win your very own copy!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IMtj7WB_NhSpxG8NOP2JocM_abGGoE9eu2HPttgiKpQ2jO3WcF1o21yD3ZtQcrkQvcW_KGX1DdQEPNWJX39NTk3d0fCNM4UBHC0raODxxZ837JD50RS4kp4fLYJkxiHEcBFjanPaNByP/s1600-h/pho_BookCover600.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IMtj7WB_NhSpxG8NOP2JocM_abGGoE9eu2HPttgiKpQ2jO3WcF1o21yD3ZtQcrkQvcW_KGX1DdQEPNWJX39NTk3d0fCNM4UBHC0raODxxZ837JD50RS4kp4fLYJkxiHEcBFjanPaNByP/s320/pho_BookCover600.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278688429783433218" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">S- </span>For anyone who might not know about you...can you just give us a little bio on yourself?<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">AP- </span>I am a craft designer – sewing, embroidery, and crochet – living in Portland Oregon. Since 2000, I have designed a small line of one-of-a-kind gifts and accessories called Posie: Rosy Little Things (rosylittlethings.com). Lately, I have been working on books, and publishing my own craft patterns and kits, so that keeps me out of trouble. And I try to write daily at my blog, Posie Gets Cozy (rosylittlethings.typepad.com). AliciaPaulson.com is sort of the traffic circle that keeps the things that I do organized.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2w4hzc2a4kVCBPgAzN5ACZaV9HkMWxorfxuVbWXwAOKfKqW1Mpm9tMOYFyzSQu2uR36UA1q455S8q3vWyGn1-Wfi4QTUJoRzN4GFoA_ac1yTBOciuH52RttcJhXDAU-tz-Ph-FDznVi6/s1600-h/apron1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2w4hzc2a4kVCBPgAzN5ACZaV9HkMWxorfxuVbWXwAOKfKqW1Mpm9tMOYFyzSQu2uR36UA1q455S8q3vWyGn1-Wfi4QTUJoRzN4GFoA_ac1yTBOciuH52RttcJhXDAU-tz-Ph-FDznVi6/s320/apron1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278686090020869250" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">S- </span>Your book, Stitched in Time, recently came out (which again...is amazing!). Can you tell us more about the book and how it came about?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">AP- </span>Thank you! The idea first came my way back in January of 2007, when I was approached by a literary agent who knew that Potter Craft, the publisher, was wanting a book of "memory crafts." I had a bunch of other stuff going on, so doing a book wasn't really anywhere in my mind at that time, but as we started discussing the potential concept I just knew that that was my book. I started working on the proposal, and a couple of days later the agent called and said that the publisher had called her and asked her if she knew me – so it was sort of like other people saw this theme in my work before I did. But as soon as I started developing the idea it just grew and grew, and it all felt exactly right for me, and allowed me to express all the things I really care about when it comes to design.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUU_LT6nPSXqb8tUzFhXdSOig4wrVPvmn3Sw3SCqAA1RyQqjRAtZ2yIXSQKbN4FH28XhjB673M8lvuwnaDAMGB_YnsDAQ3L6x7rf-FQkI24J4-p9ka8fTqYLN4rUB3_ILWDajW8l-AlEX/s1600-h/book9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUU_LT6nPSXqb8tUzFhXdSOig4wrVPvmn3Sw3SCqAA1RyQqjRAtZ2yIXSQKbN4FH28XhjB673M8lvuwnaDAMGB_YnsDAQ3L6x7rf-FQkI24J4-p9ka8fTqYLN4rUB3_ILWDajW8l-AlEX/s320/book9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278686713189610018" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">S- </span>I believe that craft books are often a resource of inspiration more than anything else. Your book is so pretty. Just looking at it makes me want to drink a hot cup of tea and sew. Were most of the photos taken in your home or elsewhere? Did you have a lot of control with the photos?<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">AP- </span>Thank you again! Yes, almost all of the photos were taken here at our house. A few of them were taken at my friend Sarah's house and garden – the ones that feature her children. But everything else was done here, and I had total control of those images, both technically (for better or worse) and aesthetically – I styled and shot all of the photos myself, including the process shots. It was a huge but exhilarating job – from sourcing the locations and finding the models, to figuring out what everyone was going to wear and what the props would be. It was a bit overwhelming at times, with no one but an occasional husband assisting. But of course, once I'd done it, and had that experience of being able to totally control my vision (for better or worse!) I was hooked, so I'll do that again on my next book. Hopefully this time with a little more help and some different locations, but I am really excited about project photography. At some point, when you're making the items for the book, you realize that no one but you is going to be able to actually hold those items – the photo is really all they have.<br /><br /><br />And the design of the book – which I had absolutely nothing to do with – was just perfect. I couldn't have been happier with that!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYc_V_s-OBJRb8O014txGcwk3Q01TOY5MCmN592E2vK3YNnHkl92gw48MUSflJkU-ZzqBfB0l7KYIz1_eXqsGaypROp-07Sm396Xxz4rWkrQWxNHgxp7vovffwlqOpIwZ7Cu0UZFeMDMs6/s1600-h/clafoutis2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYc_V_s-OBJRb8O014txGcwk3Q01TOY5MCmN592E2vK3YNnHkl92gw48MUSflJkU-ZzqBfB0l7KYIz1_eXqsGaypROp-07Sm396Xxz4rWkrQWxNHgxp7vovffwlqOpIwZ7Cu0UZFeMDMs6/s320/clafoutis2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278686930345058130" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">S- </span>What are your biggest sources for inspiration?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">AP- </span>Well, it's funny – I get asked this question frequently, and I realize that my inspiration changes but also stays very much the same. I am always inspired by fabric – tiny calicos, reproduction prints, historical motifs. Right now I'm researching folk art, so everything in my mind is red and blue, hearts and flowers, birds and trees. There is so much out there – old things that have been forgotten, but look, to me anyway, as fresh as anything contemporary I know of. I am so excited about reinventing some of these classic motifs. The possibilities inherent in them are really energizing me right now.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ktVO3ixx7BrQzL0BOHiFrDc4OPr2QI6Uhkpv-rjoybWs0j69bAKP6M_-gkYbMr-6RhqsKt__N2huy3yPrZ6rIc7WIHt2cmnDuljnLRH5JiDVuUuu4xEpcuBniP1JKfuIF4E0BVd7QIEz/s1600-h/dinner20.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ktVO3ixx7BrQzL0BOHiFrDc4OPr2QI6Uhkpv-rjoybWs0j69bAKP6M_-gkYbMr-6RhqsKt__N2huy3yPrZ6rIc7WIHt2cmnDuljnLRH5JiDVuUuu4xEpcuBniP1JKfuIF4E0BVd7QIEz/s320/dinner20.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278687454250581954" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">S- </span>What are some of your favorite things to make?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">AP- </span>Right now, I am making several dolls for Christmas from the pattern on the cover of Stitched in Time. I've made six of them in the last couple of weeks, and every time I make one I am anxious to finish her so that I can see who she is. I like making things like dolls and animals because they have personalities that reveal themselves to you as you stitch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51bsKouw9x6418E8RDLsaPIYr_o8dY3l95gO5mmKuK2WVcw0yQGBvrpV3jirb0VAgMSz0zbXczWkU8-3uFH6rpN7lNy3eyaC2PUpJcHTjeImNxSQd5dHwd7XjJu4Mii1yBpznTiBe-Yep/s1600-h/decor10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51bsKouw9x6418E8RDLsaPIYr_o8dY3l95gO5mmKuK2WVcw0yQGBvrpV3jirb0VAgMSz0zbXczWkU8-3uFH6rpN7lNy3eyaC2PUpJcHTjeImNxSQd5dHwd7XjJu4Mii1yBpznTiBe-Yep/s320/decor10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278687203230663874" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">S- </span>Since the holidays are right around the corner and your house looks all nicely decorated...what is your favorite time of year and why?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">AP- </span>I like Christmastime a lot – although the day itself is not my favorite, ironically. I like this season with its sparkles and red details and quiet moments. But I miss snow terribly, so I'm always a bit fraught with longing, which, you know, that's the downside of December. I miss the light reflected off of snow in the front yard – in Oregon is just mud, all brown and gray.<br /><br /><br />I would have to say my favorite time of year is late spring – before everything begins, when it's all ahead of you. Spring in the Pacific Northwest is like a fairyland. I wait all year to open those bedroom windows and wake up to the sound of birds singing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKEhSUo47S3JsaU9Ljq7RC5ZBThO_oEFzXsXwY90F_A4XsPPiiNJg4eW7A6XkhWs6MWYSBCfaaRp7aLDvmBfFK8iZYvQtfyn63rHlCjJony1x0qB4S4iD2REa28QjXqwCjTT1-mvKNIi1H/s1600-h/3098346275_db593e03bd.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKEhSUo47S3JsaU9Ljq7RC5ZBThO_oEFzXsXwY90F_A4XsPPiiNJg4eW7A6XkhWs6MWYSBCfaaRp7aLDvmBfFK8iZYvQtfyn63rHlCjJony1x0qB4S4iD2REa28QjXqwCjTT1-mvKNIi1H/s320/3098346275_db593e03bd.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278685818462345058" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">S- </span>You were in Seattle this weekend to sign your book at Urban Craft Uprising. It was great to see such a big line of fans for you! What are some of the best parts for you in meeting your fans? Any crazy fans?<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">AP- </span>Oh my gosh, I love to meet everyone. Sewing and working on books is, for me, a pretty solitary endeavor – I spend a lot of time by myself, in my own little stitching trance, and can go for days without having a conversation with anyone other than Andy, or the puppers, or the blog. So coming out and getting to put faces with names and see peoples' smiles – it's really wonderful. I love it. Everyone is so incredibly nice, and I am just so flattered that anyone is interested in what I do. It never gets old. I've gotta get out more.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDaACKV3lA-D2N30iGU1SP5J9zAbMmcZI9DFhZdxnHz2pWPGrkZnmTX9a9oe78h6PGfnEybE1lhIXb8Wzt_BiwAsRM7qK8-ZIg6hE6smccKS9FR4XlKCTUomoNnSgLaDA5GcNf661P06-/s1600-h/hangingvalance2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDaACKV3lA-D2N30iGU1SP5J9zAbMmcZI9DFhZdxnHz2pWPGrkZnmTX9a9oe78h6PGfnEybE1lhIXb8Wzt_BiwAsRM7qK8-ZIg6hE6smccKS9FR4XlKCTUomoNnSgLaDA5GcNf661P06-/s320/hangingvalance2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278687681107089842" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">S- </span>For those that get distracted in their crafting, what do you think are some of the most important things to do to keep motivated and active?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">AP- </span>Well, let's see. I can relate to this a little bit – when I'm working on books, sometimes I sort of lose my spark, and feel like my efforts are uninspired, but I have to keep going (I think) because I'm on a deadline! I don't have the option of taking time off. But honestly, I think that just pushing through when you aren't feeling it is actually the wrong tack – I always try to do something completely different if those feelings start creeping in. Go to the library and get a big stack of books and just look through them. Cook. Take the dog somewhere good. Just take a break for a while, until that motivation starts bubbling up again, and you get an idea, and you can't wait to get home, and . . . You know what I mean. Sometimes you just have to not worry, and wait for it. It always comes back. But sometimes I think you just have to let yourself forget about it all for a while, so inspiration can sneak up on you again. It's a coy mistress.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xCIM8XCnNdsOxNUx09vfaiMeNKiLnKKoArrl09xuPn7Jnd1HfosGTaxi7sc6MhXFLj999MWcB-B0ynYBRgyt34a5j4jtp5PvJGrSwkvez5JxoWwznuM4PZJI-q4oqU7ujJ0ICpbzMRFz/s1600-h/megan.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xCIM8XCnNdsOxNUx09vfaiMeNKiLnKKoArrl09xuPn7Jnd1HfosGTaxi7sc6MhXFLj999MWcB-B0ynYBRgyt34a5j4jtp5PvJGrSwkvez5JxoWwznuM4PZJI-q4oqU7ujJ0ICpbzMRFz/s320/megan.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278688092621654066" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">S- </span>Do you have any news you would like to share with our readers?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">AP- </span>Actually, yes! I haven't officially announced it yet, but I am working on my next book, which will be a collection of embroidery patterns – including "regular" embroidery, cross-stitch, and crewelwork. The book is basically a scrapbook of my favorite designs, applied to everyday objects in new, fresh ways. It has a very folksy, historical vibe. It will again be published by Potter Craft, and is due out in Summer 2010. I'm beside myself with excitement about it. My deadline is April 15, so I am working on it like mad.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrm9feLZniyzMj_tuHVlNh66yuQnY-0CaqhKK5_CufKv_v8oxhNg6qiPcDjgNk7uxOCDzhby4CNNAH6uuSqdPqApbw6y2y-LUNAvHXZmlWfHXnfsidBDBs0n3hROdLkZAhsVQuCncZFLlB/s1600-h/mainimagelabelweb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrm9feLZniyzMj_tuHVlNh66yuQnY-0CaqhKK5_CufKv_v8oxhNg6qiPcDjgNk7uxOCDzhby4CNNAH6uuSqdPqApbw6y2y-LUNAvHXZmlWfHXnfsidBDBs0n3hROdLkZAhsVQuCncZFLlB/s320/mainimagelabelweb.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278687934476085970" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">S- </span>What is your favorite craft supply?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">AP- </span>Ooooo, good question. Favorite craft supply. . . . I'd have to say that I'd be absolutely lost without my rotary cutter, ruler, and self-healing cutting mat. And my embroidery hoops. Not original, perhaps, but I use these guys every day, so it's nice to be able to give them props – thanks!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwqYgV2KxGmkg0Trl3RIUV7A2-z5mDxmh4kG4xkVg2kY2CaS5uIgEeiOnAlfqjy6B7-XIyPOgaBmw9bjUUq83WSGcCahJjWgOL1P9Rm9YUmx4l7xsG0MJ9322fjcHrpaCzwkCBkIH4nPR/s1600-h/patchworkpillow1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwqYgV2KxGmkg0Trl3RIUV7A2-z5mDxmh4kG4xkVg2kY2CaS5uIgEeiOnAlfqjy6B7-XIyPOgaBmw9bjUUq83WSGcCahJjWgOL1P9Rm9YUmx4l7xsG0MJ9322fjcHrpaCzwkCBkIH4nPR/s320/patchworkpillow1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278688613454795938" /></a>Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com109tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-90949892658285393502008-12-05T14:45:00.000-08:002008-12-05T15:14:38.317-08:00Wonder Thunder Interview and Giveaway!I have only recently had the pleasure of discovering the magic of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=98142" target="_blank">Wonder Thunder</a> but I am sure glad I did. They are a little bit like magic you know? <span style="font-weight:bold;">Leave a comment here with contact info for your chance to win a 2.5" mini plush toast made by the WT team!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">PY</span>- How did Wonder Thunder come about?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WT</span>- Wonder Thunder was assembled out of loose scraps, dirty screens, loose morals, and long winter days. We felt the need to fill our already busy days and nights with as much stuff as possible. The rest is history.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHgjR7GKDs9RlXKmW1entUy1kRyNvJ2Wovx4_kbb2wT7YZ1dZ-D6Hjt3N_Imm2IW7CkrSWkhCg9oZRm4gKlZfBp__9yPoxaDWLp4TbAsT2aHR6TFNHt3MnI3aetGMt1WN7jWeHi629DMo/s1600-h/il_430xN.47974039.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHgjR7GKDs9RlXKmW1entUy1kRyNvJ2Wovx4_kbb2wT7YZ1dZ-D6Hjt3N_Imm2IW7CkrSWkhCg9oZRm4gKlZfBp__9yPoxaDWLp4TbAsT2aHR6TFNHt3MnI3aetGMt1WN7jWeHi629DMo/s320/il_430xN.47974039.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276447947965648562" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">PY</span>- Are you from a State that actually has thunder?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WT-</span> Our lives in Tennessee were riddled with thunder storms, something we miss dearly here in the pacific northwest. Tennessee is known for it's sporadic tornado outbreaks, crashing trees, and volatile weather.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXgA3RuSSXGP7KLpJXEFHVDp3lW_Kbapk_Fg4gy7eVL6-LZx-aa2Ddd7eLqduyx9jcTzcAza9dIKdzspdct7V0mM4gHnHGXLFeWIZq8t3c4hxdLTq9Wd5zbSUT_x46iaba-DQrZeeZSlt/s1600-h/il_430xN.47742901.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXgA3RuSSXGP7KLpJXEFHVDp3lW_Kbapk_Fg4gy7eVL6-LZx-aa2Ddd7eLqduyx9jcTzcAza9dIKdzspdct7V0mM4gHnHGXLFeWIZq8t3c4hxdLTq9Wd5zbSUT_x46iaba-DQrZeeZSlt/s320/il_430xN.47742901.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276447767627911218" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">PY-</span> You guys have a diverse collection. Who does what in your duo?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WT-</span> We both come up with ideas and the illustrations, we typically draw things by hand then manipulate the drawings on the computer. Sasha screen-prints, Meagan sews. We both do the cutting, ironing, stuffing, embroidering, washing, folding, and cooking.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPtndE19SOHJTENmnpBBsMICtjy5TGitzSkQH1cLxsdeeYeqraopZgcIZj2EhKI1lA3SERHUv3dIa7tg4YJsCnU27Asu4eQhEXPdumN7NUJ0QKcrc1hdMlh8MUDoDzcV9vXBaAaDpLuMM/s1600-h/il_430xN.47715384.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPtndE19SOHJTENmnpBBsMICtjy5TGitzSkQH1cLxsdeeYeqraopZgcIZj2EhKI1lA3SERHUv3dIa7tg4YJsCnU27Asu4eQhEXPdumN7NUJ0QKcrc1hdMlh8MUDoDzcV9vXBaAaDpLuMM/s320/il_430xN.47715384.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276447601507770690" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">PY-</span> Do you guys work on Wonder Thunder only or do you have "regular" jobs?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WT-</span> Meagan works as a sculpture fabricator for a local glass artist, Sasha works part time at a couple record companies and does freelance design. Once the Wonder Thunder empire reigns supreme we plan to buy a vintage yacht and world peace.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrE5rEAjatEcIVjovzIbcPuDplRRu6LKlYhsOfSxL4tzmXOrSqsrvPt1g-rsMDUzpkOD6hAR2B3OY-PlJdtKzlw5eqk4iTug3lhsnoZVs2Y1g1rAKjMvN1q-CX1WZngp60qSQ-KAaGjSIA/s1600-h/il_430xN.47430249.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrE5rEAjatEcIVjovzIbcPuDplRRu6LKlYhsOfSxL4tzmXOrSqsrvPt1g-rsMDUzpkOD6hAR2B3OY-PlJdtKzlw5eqk4iTug3lhsnoZVs2Y1g1rAKjMvN1q-CX1WZngp60qSQ-KAaGjSIA/s320/il_430xN.47430249.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276447208072223042" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">PY-</span> What is your favorite WT item currently?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WT-</span> We celebrate the entire collection.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJm6rm5VSxMkUQZUVaLuFXB1uN7brsCGoRA08Wm3BJq_HF-mMEmkHXmBAPguNHyUFsw71Lg0mcHrktkVD9GKqZ1WZjwPTd7a9VqLc7pSig7PTSyGHokRoKL-z2cqKfaO7hZ6qnU3RmAAX_/s1600-h/il_430xN.46112559.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJm6rm5VSxMkUQZUVaLuFXB1uN7brsCGoRA08Wm3BJq_HF-mMEmkHXmBAPguNHyUFsw71Lg0mcHrktkVD9GKqZ1WZjwPTd7a9VqLc7pSig7PTSyGHokRoKL-z2cqKfaO7hZ6qnU3RmAAX_/s320/il_430xN.46112559.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276446836145857346" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">PY-</span> What do you expect to be your big holiday seller?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WT-</span> We'd like to sell out of everything. Honestly. Then we can pack up for the equator with empty consciences. We've been making lots of pillows the last couple weeks, it would be great to sell them. They are oh so soft.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAn4s6ecU8AYtv1dmFAoZQRFI4wEB_B26xmElFstvTxwZZEuTYNnianHdiCXeN4ZmcpK20bP7AmIiCdOoH1-2IEENsaw9gi4cM1B7VjV0x5xfkIIOfpJftT_IhWq8t7yoX2k5KaYXBM2Ix/s1600-h/il_430xN.46689529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAn4s6ecU8AYtv1dmFAoZQRFI4wEB_B26xmElFstvTxwZZEuTYNnianHdiCXeN4ZmcpK20bP7AmIiCdOoH1-2IEENsaw9gi4cM1B7VjV0x5xfkIIOfpJftT_IhWq8t7yoX2k5KaYXBM2Ix/s320/il_430xN.46689529.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276447071922599570" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">PY-</span> What do you guys listen to when you make stuff?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WT-</span> Documentaries from the library, Dr Dog, The Band, Foals, Minus the Bear, Midlake, Murder by Death, Jenny Lewis, Black Moth Super Rainbow, NPR, This American Life, and Meagan plays MIA and Dan Deacon when Sasha's not around.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpynGOZIrJBPwcPKYbaFNvYbntOs7w1WETk8s6dFYtdx8gKi5MBUsP-AyJJMKoardXIa5IZZ_m9J7GhMZSyza1CDYqjwejnCfR2io1Q12GQl0DnAsVccB3MBWfJRn10MApsHT4K7trixz/s1600-h/il_430xN.45083751.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpynGOZIrJBPwcPKYbaFNvYbntOs7w1WETk8s6dFYtdx8gKi5MBUsP-AyJJMKoardXIa5IZZ_m9J7GhMZSyza1CDYqjwejnCfR2io1Q12GQl0DnAsVccB3MBWfJRn10MApsHT4K7trixz/s320/il_430xN.45083751.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276446664082489954" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">PY-</span> What are some plans for 2009?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WT-</span> We plan to expand into the pickle market. Seriously. We'll probably keep making different things as they come up.... shower curtains, lamps, paw paw witches, one apron, abridged autobiographies, and some other junk to peddle to the people.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8GFLtUWh7y72zzYRCAIRMQCYuISsKuehbydppAf7OjXQRxAgp5m3Y2Pe4wek2Kp9FeVn1hsRWNd1RvUC5ZpFua1oKv_MlF-rOD2zyKKx8SlgfJa-EfsXF8tgW207gqiA8RxIbJAiAKSq/s1600-h/il_430xN.40269264.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 303px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8GFLtUWh7y72zzYRCAIRMQCYuISsKuehbydppAf7OjXQRxAgp5m3Y2Pe4wek2Kp9FeVn1hsRWNd1RvUC5ZpFua1oKv_MlF-rOD2zyKKx8SlgfJa-EfsXF8tgW207gqiA8RxIbJAiAKSq/s320/il_430xN.40269264.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276446456300862738" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">PY-</span> Where can people find your work?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WT-</span> Online at wonder-thunder.com; in Seattle at Blue Bottle, Schmancy(soon!) & 20twenty(also soon!); in Brooklyn at Fact and Fancy; in Columbus, OH at Wholly Craft; in Murfreesboro, TN at Sugaree's; and in Portland, OR at Fontanelle. We'll also have some prints at Giant Robot SF during December.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bKF6vNeFWYD2oGOsry_ujKkcnBq7gd8ogbjlk6vSnYzFIUkOtqOo2IeTe7oNyldSMdlekSkDfxNLqkX7ipu9l3RieHNA1w6o-EyHVv931fAd8SfYBDKmZawlRaLEmdicgSKedenac_sf/s1600-h/il_430xN.34873924.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bKF6vNeFWYD2oGOsry_ujKkcnBq7gd8ogbjlk6vSnYzFIUkOtqOo2IeTe7oNyldSMdlekSkDfxNLqkX7ipu9l3RieHNA1w6o-EyHVv931fAd8SfYBDKmZawlRaLEmdicgSKedenac_sf/s320/il_430xN.34873924.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276446034088148978" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">PY-</span> Funniest selling experience for 2008?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WT-</span> That dog don't hunt. I mean, we don't have one.<br /><br />Don't forget to enter here for your chance to win this guy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjOz0PFw28RwgCtXfrzFfieJDxpjSv5Qf1xrL7V9BSvLEeWtF-IbF7VEKmDK6WTNcU0S7NKIw8YE6CrYRrELG9-02Mrk3PM3c4YLodCSGqusZmE24pc-8fdNb1kiFtURTN3x0YkuVGxvr/s1600-h/il_430xN.40267969.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjOz0PFw28RwgCtXfrzFfieJDxpjSv5Qf1xrL7V9BSvLEeWtF-IbF7VEKmDK6WTNcU0S7NKIw8YE6CrYRrELG9-02Mrk3PM3c4YLodCSGqusZmE24pc-8fdNb1kiFtURTN3x0YkuVGxvr/s320/il_430xN.40267969.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276446252994552850" /></a>Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-84692599020286703692008-10-28T14:26:00.000-07:002008-10-28T15:33:05.369-07:00Kayte Terry Interview and Giveaway!After a recent correspondence with <a href="http://thisisloveforever.com/blog/" target="_blank">Kayte Terry</a> I have been totally addicted to her blog. I like to think that I am also an omni-crafter so I really enjoy the variety of amazingness she has there. It is very inspiring! Kayte has made really amazing and unique pieces for the last few Plush You shows and did a really nice writeup of the show last year for Adorn Magazine. Her awesome book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580114016?ie=UTF8&tag=plushyou2coms-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1580114016">Complete Embellishing: Techniques and Projects</a> is equally as inspiring. Full of fun projects that any omni-crafter will enjoy! <span style="font-weight:bold;"> Leave a comment here with contact info for your chance to win!</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33afahKmmbu-Dyb_pa7N6Y8Okj1GUt9xv7oi7bzcjrsVWNhyphenhyphen44dgbHEbqjjc9kbv8ma0F98WrsqgKNshNg4zamaY2m0oEQG_4dbbrIT2knJnhUxAa_XXyRThaBSWlMoPkPqFS42Fx_jYo/s1600-h/watermelondetailsml.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33afahKmmbu-Dyb_pa7N6Y8Okj1GUt9xv7oi7bzcjrsVWNhyphenhyphen44dgbHEbqjjc9kbv8ma0F98WrsqgKNshNg4zamaY2m0oEQG_4dbbrIT2knJnhUxAa_XXyRThaBSWlMoPkPqFS42Fx_jYo/s320/watermelondetailsml.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262333876747012338" /></a><br /><br />S- Can you first let our readers know a little bit more about you?<br /><br />KT- Sure! I am a stylist/writer/crafter living in Brooklyn, NY. I love everything about making things and have been crafting for pretty much my whole life. I am definitely an omni-crafter and like making all sorts of different things but I am no good at making multiples. I like to use a lot of vintage materials so most of what I craft is one-of-a-kind. My favorite things are japanese craft books, paint by numbers, Liberty prints and the color pink.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwrTyvXgfZ4w3TVQJNUzmpD6aWE-lqS7zlg52cjRkW2kB7H4ElrGlxVt7CXlgzDs0znadQJtOM57fn5knQKGVNixPrsEwvD23su9Nf3htvDv1dji1dOc66_dddXd5z1QdAZ0yZ1ovXmjC/s1600-h/birdskirt1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 251px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwrTyvXgfZ4w3TVQJNUzmpD6aWE-lqS7zlg52cjRkW2kB7H4ElrGlxVt7CXlgzDs0znadQJtOM57fn5knQKGVNixPrsEwvD23su9Nf3htvDv1dji1dOc66_dddXd5z1QdAZ0yZ1ovXmjC/s320/birdskirt1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262323571714974162" /></a><br /> <br />S- You do a lot of writing for various publications on various crafty things and events. How did you get into freelance writing?<br /><br />KT- I wrote a lot in college and always imagined that I would write really lofty art theory books after I got out of school. Of course, I totally stopped writing after college and didn't really pick it up again until I started blogging. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed writing. After that, I started writing a bit for Get Crafty and for the Adorn Magazine blog and eventually more jobs came in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0hbNzmsrX2_OcBNdqr7kJ99NU_wZcRcXc4T4BLi0Xx_6Y1ZQFn_geCguIdXmhq0FNZ16nvOclJ-lvXZpqKvOI9u7csCawruH6-ImroFzXb7S9CBCBWZPOtkQJqQmHoIxfTZFkLk4wpUy/s1600-h/card4tryagain.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0hbNzmsrX2_OcBNdqr7kJ99NU_wZcRcXc4T4BLi0Xx_6Y1ZQFn_geCguIdXmhq0FNZ16nvOclJ-lvXZpqKvOI9u7csCawruH6-ImroFzXb7S9CBCBWZPOtkQJqQmHoIxfTZFkLk4wpUy/s320/card4tryagain.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262324469493017074" /></a><br /><br />S- Because you do a lot of writing I imagine you get exposed to a lot. How has that fostered your craft? Has there been any negatives because of it?<br /><br />KT- Yes, I am definitely always reading, researching, going to museums and shows...mostly I think it has a very positive effect on my craft because I have so many inspiring resources at my fingertips. I think that, as a crafter, it's really important to know what's out there, what the trends are and have a sense of the history of my craft.<br />There is definitely such a thing as inspiration overload though; sometimes it's hard for me to focus on one project and I always have to make sure that my own work isn't too derivative. Sometime I just have to turn off all the outside stimuli and focus on my on work.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtzqZTbi8Tnd9KWILhXG3z4T3sONVQagbXNFGYMfnpWam8Mv_FhQnZRUra-DyF8gPmmz4OAKO4VDlFOD8cZB2RW6otFb6fIwiVxaAQ2VoC1ZGqOtW5m3HyXbcCtqwdwsPxexd3tzcTsOc/s1600-h/redsnapper1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtzqZTbi8Tnd9KWILhXG3z4T3sONVQagbXNFGYMfnpWam8Mv_FhQnZRUra-DyF8gPmmz4OAKO4VDlFOD8cZB2RW6otFb6fIwiVxaAQ2VoC1ZGqOtW5m3HyXbcCtqwdwsPxexd3tzcTsOc/s320/redsnapper1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262325910112698770" /></a><br /><br />S- How long have you been making plush? How does it differ for you than other mediums?<br /><br />KT- I started making plush about five years ago. My first plushies were semi-deranged rabbits inspired by my very own bunny/muse Potato. After that, I experimented with pincushions. I made a few cupcakes and pears and I was hooked on making food.<br />There's something kind of ridiculous and impractical about making plush food that I love. I like challenging myself with more complex shapes and elaborate meals. Since most of my plush food takes a really long time to make and is therefore pretty expensive to sell, I make them for my own joy. When you craft for a living, it's nice to make things that you don't really think of as "product".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-xmIIlpLwMkTNQIanVUW3_xcPIN-KCQGP1joQgomS2la_p8QDzeP3lf8pzLMAyJYOWyM1A7jLn7lRmPG2jIL4vxw0T7a0uGpWlzeHcrZX2s5VqlTkX4a04IeuNOziiLGUOTJbJXLrzox/s1600-h/comp-embellishing_1.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-xmIIlpLwMkTNQIanVUW3_xcPIN-KCQGP1joQgomS2la_p8QDzeP3lf8pzLMAyJYOWyM1A7jLn7lRmPG2jIL4vxw0T7a0uGpWlzeHcrZX2s5VqlTkX4a04IeuNOziiLGUOTJbJXLrzox/s320/comp-embellishing_1.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262325049848023138" /></a><br /><br />S- You book, Complete Embellishings: Techniques and Projects is really fantastic! How did that come about? What are some of your favorite projects in the book?<br /><br />KT- Thanks!<br />It kind of came out of the blue. Collins and Brown, the British publisher that put out the book, contacted Christina, the editor at Adorn magazine (where I was working as a stylist and crafter) and asked if they had suggestions for a person who would be good for a cool book about embellishing. She suggested me and I started working with them on a Table of Contents.<br />I have always been a big fan of embellishing and sent them a bunch of pictures of things I have done to my own wardrobe plus projects I have made for magazines. I love the idea of taking something boring from your closet and making it amazing and cool again. I have been known to do some crazy renegade embellishing to my clothing when I am getting dressed to go out so it was a subject I was really passionate about.<br />My favorite projects are the Victoriana Cardigan and the Prize Ribbon Skirt but it's hard for me to choose just two! I like both of these because at first, when I started making them for the book, I wasn't really sure how they were going to work out. Especially with the Prize Ribbon Skirt, it started as one of my least favorite projects and morphed into a favorite as I tweaked and redesigned it.<br />I like the idea that embellishing is an organic process and I hope that each reader feels free to make each project to their own tastes. I really wanted to provide people with tools to embellish different things but I don't want to tell people exactly what fabric or trims to pick or which colors to choose.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBz1DKQkoOtaaVxrozgdXy4NLJl53Eg6mOEpwnFzq48QqctWTi9MyScSuTiilmh32AAJ2GY9XlEk_F9MOJggFflFgS44XOzyOQG9EcOSE0CqPYp75B7H22L0xnvvg7lCj_XT7zgquT7hxF/s1600-h/cardigan.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBz1DKQkoOtaaVxrozgdXy4NLJl53Eg6mOEpwnFzq48QqctWTi9MyScSuTiilmh32AAJ2GY9XlEk_F9MOJggFflFgS44XOzyOQG9EcOSE0CqPYp75B7H22L0xnvvg7lCj_XT7zgquT7hxF/s320/cardigan.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262324828571568018" /></a><br /><br />S- Are you working on anything new in the book publishing side of things? <br /><br />KT- Yes! I have a book coming out with Chronicle books next fall. The book will be all about appliqué and features 35 projects with some great contributors! Otherwise, I have been writing for the Craft Stylish blog and working on their magazine too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78hHjyDFpkIJDojjHPsuAtNyK6G3j61fJ2CiK9MkkRGUB2qWxnKAMRayDH-Qsr8PeNdPfHJIVtKgkgqs1w1YTGcIYd5TSUzop54Mgaalsa_XdIesCgKCHNP2rEkgK93dedrpjlQL2x18m/s1600-h/mobile1_lg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78hHjyDFpkIJDojjHPsuAtNyK6G3j61fJ2CiK9MkkRGUB2qWxnKAMRayDH-Qsr8PeNdPfHJIVtKgkgqs1w1YTGcIYd5TSUzop54Mgaalsa_XdIesCgKCHNP2rEkgK93dedrpjlQL2x18m/s320/mobile1_lg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262325456494185762" /></a><br /><br />S- Do you have any advice for folks that are interested in getting published?<br /><br />KT- Do some research: go to a book store and see what's out there, what can be improved upon and what crafters seem to be really into now. If there are twenty books written on the same subject, you might want to tweak your subject matter. If there are none, you want to ask yourself if there is a wide enough market for the book. If there are a few, then you are probably in pretty good shape. Make sure you can show why your book will be different and/or better than those books.<br />Get a book about writing a non-fiction proposal or, if you have a friend who has written a book, get their advice. A book proposal should convey the tone of the book and give a little peak into what the rest of the book will be. You should write a sample chapter or two and be prepared to make a few samples of projects. Also, you should tell your publisher what you can do to help promote and market the book.<br />Writing a book is a team effort from start to finish.<br />You don't have to get an agent but I really recommend it. They do take a percentage of your advance but they will help you get a better deal so it usually works out in your favor. One more thing: don't expect to make a fortune, especially on your first book. It is a ton of work but it is really rewarding too! (S- I second that :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4_xE8MuDydcAsmc0z5xzdDaGnmccy1vFFvbVJdG3ka7pf9MoZL3hbwCi3w5QpDT1HFoklWnQOkovc-ucbS69PlJvWkbkT-7SceAXoAF0eMdCw2TVNt1q6IXJ71VnsoPTY9yyeCeUuFHn/s1600-h/newartdetail.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4_xE8MuDydcAsmc0z5xzdDaGnmccy1vFFvbVJdG3ka7pf9MoZL3hbwCi3w5QpDT1HFoklWnQOkovc-ucbS69PlJvWkbkT-7SceAXoAF0eMdCw2TVNt1q6IXJ71VnsoPTY9yyeCeUuFHn/s320/newartdetail.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262325650599557154" /></a><br /><br />S- What are some of your favorite crafty resources?<br /><br />KT- I love Etsy of course and buy a lot of my craft supplies on Ebay too. My favorite fabric store is definitely Purl Soho here in New York and I love all the stores in the Garment district. I love getting lost in the craft section of Kinokuniya, purveyor of wonderful Japanese books. I read a lot of craft, design and art blogs too and enjoy getting lost in the blog spiral, where you just click from link to link to link. You never know what you're going to find!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYw2MumNMDJ4FPG2pZMxmlJjfiaHJKoM0fekW00-dAFJ_FyLEQUh3Aie1DHCAWOsOjVgfDUr2Jj0kM0Hk39GiSZN41hR1i82tB0F-rfJQZxmhcFafdhHLMkniF5Nyycc_z6XAOKUr2LYKL/s1600-h/pillow4.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYw2MumNMDJ4FPG2pZMxmlJjfiaHJKoM0fekW00-dAFJ_FyLEQUh3Aie1DHCAWOsOjVgfDUr2Jj0kM0Hk39GiSZN41hR1i82tB0F-rfJQZxmhcFafdhHLMkniF5Nyycc_z6XAOKUr2LYKL/s320/pillow4.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262332339815556370" /></a><br /><br />S- Where do you see your business in the next 3 years?<br /><br />KT- I would love to have another book or two in the works. Writing books has been so amazing and satisfying. I would like to do some more styling for other people's craft books too; I styled my own book and Diana Rupp's book and I really love it.<br />Someday, I want to be on Martha's show too! That's when I know I have really made it!<br />(S- I second that one too!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZz2r9Y3_Veenn1Q8KOOsRXNx13LHr8P6pAzXnFdjkbq0J4rTL0KeA6EJgX_xY5x99zd_cvNib_erpyiIL6tPiyRLy5xMULSKCEF0JQHnQliTkDHYUKo012Gr6IRnVMjw86SF2o0ZOk70/s1600-h/quiltpiece2.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZz2r9Y3_Veenn1Q8KOOsRXNx13LHr8P6pAzXnFdjkbq0J4rTL0KeA6EJgX_xY5x99zd_cvNib_erpyiIL6tPiyRLy5xMULSKCEF0JQHnQliTkDHYUKo012Gr6IRnVMjw86SF2o0ZOk70/s320/quiltpiece2.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262333064881868674" /></a><br /><br />S- Anything else exciting you might like to share with our readers?<br /><br />KT- I am just so happy to be able to do what I love to do. Even though I work eighty hours a week and almost every weekend, it's totally worth it.<br /><br />Don't forget, leave a comment here with contact info for your chance to win Complete Embellishings signed by Kayte!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-xmIIlpLwMkTNQIanVUW3_xcPIN-KCQGP1joQgomS2la_p8QDzeP3lf8pzLMAyJYOWyM1A7jLn7lRmPG2jIL4vxw0T7a0uGpWlzeHcrZX2s5VqlTkX4a04IeuNOziiLGUOTJbJXLrzox/s1600-h/comp-embellishing_1.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-xmIIlpLwMkTNQIanVUW3_xcPIN-KCQGP1joQgomS2la_p8QDzeP3lf8pzLMAyJYOWyM1A7jLn7lRmPG2jIL4vxw0T7a0uGpWlzeHcrZX2s5VqlTkX4a04IeuNOziiLGUOTJbJXLrzox/s320/comp-embellishing_1.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262325049848023138" /></a>Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-71098176038979744902008-10-07T11:39:00.000-07:002008-10-07T12:30:57.763-07:00Look What I Can Do- Interview and GiveawayI thought it would be appropriate to have a Plush You! loyal this week as it IS the WEEK of Plush You! It still blows my mind. Anywhooo, <a href="http://plush-a-holic.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Dawn</a> is one of my favorite people on Plush Planet. She came into <a href="http://www.schmancytoys.com" target="_blank">Schmancy</a> when I just opened with a HUGE bag full of the most amazing plush creatures I had seen. It's been a pleasure to see Dawn grow in the plush community, the craft community and in her art. Her work is similar in a lot of ways to when she started but now it's just more fine tuned and perfected. It's no wonder that she has received a lot of attention. Her work is fantastic! It is my great pleasure to feature <a href="http://plush-a-holic.blogspot.com/" target"_blank">the plush-a-holic</a> herself for this special week of Plush You! <span style="font-weight:bold;">Leave a comment her with your contact info for your chance <br />to win your own creature picked by Dawn herself!<br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nE2vTdEM9STG94ymBvJVK_Z5fF1Xrh_oXB8qCVRmA30YWa7-TxCVVCsK_qLjw8mFREQzrg_lHdOELTfwj-rcyKc4FoAoG9te-d_MLSjrvmIrVcVgyukF0yVg0i1F1N77BI6_TZi7GRBk/s1600-h/2896466209_b7dfdc2cfc.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nE2vTdEM9STG94ymBvJVK_Z5fF1Xrh_oXB8qCVRmA30YWa7-TxCVVCsK_qLjw8mFREQzrg_lHdOELTfwj-rcyKc4FoAoG9te-d_MLSjrvmIrVcVgyukF0yVg0i1F1N77BI6_TZi7GRBk/s320/2896466209_b7dfdc2cfc.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254496188740638562" /></a><br /><br />S- Why don't you first tell us all a little bit about yourself and how you started your business.<br /><br />DR- I was home with my daughter and started to sew her some creatures. She had such fantastic reactions to my Plush Art and she was THE reason I was inspired to begin and keep sewing. Plus my friends and family saw them and kept telling me I should sell them. So after a bit of time I decided to open my Etsy shop, January 9th 2006. Etsy was not really that well known at the time, hard to believe now, so I really had to promote myself. I started reading a lot of craft/art related blogs and was really inspired to start my own blog too. That's when www.Plush-a-holic.blogspot.com was born July 22nd 2006 the same day I became a part of the Flickr community and both have really changed my life. I am also an amateur photographer and went to school for almost 4 years for photography so I absolutely loved being a part of flickr (still do) and I really missed the thrill of creating. I used to spend hours and hours in the studio and color darkroom. Sewing changed my life. It made me so happy and gave me a sense of purpose agian. It was something I could do while my daughther was home with me and still feel connected to something bigger than myself. Something I could do for me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWc99mY0P75_UwSSOelL4zvI-1-g4i8q2a5ew4eGZToDNfRqnZmLXqEoPHI7Eur8rZR2wglyd73j0VQyVoyFeU7MKLyu7nX8Mec48ZODHMCOw7mLZJJf9lRwefSONQ5hU-E7vOMWFMw9p/s1600-h/246214955_949a450aab.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWc99mY0P75_UwSSOelL4zvI-1-g4i8q2a5ew4eGZToDNfRqnZmLXqEoPHI7Eur8rZR2wglyd73j0VQyVoyFeU7MKLyu7nX8Mec48ZODHMCOw7mLZJJf9lRwefSONQ5hU-E7vOMWFMw9p/s320/246214955_949a450aab.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254493748315243698" /></a><br /><br />S- You have two kids now but you still amazingly make stuff, update your site, your flickr, etc. How do ya' do it?<br /><br />DR- Well, if you look at my shop you will see that I have been a bit slow lately. Having a new baby really makes it hard to have the energy to create. I guess I am just driven to keep going so that I feel a part of something bigger than myself and if I am being really honest I don't want to disappear from the Plush Community. I have worked very hard to be involoved in it. The connections I have made in the craft/art world are really, really important to me. Plus I am addicted to making Plush Creatures. I really enjoy the process and the finished product too. It's all so exhilerating!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIoHoOEi3ruT_yPRISed1hs75EM1WAV5ykxmEI0a3xQfYhVJsOjYP77U-UxSblfwixsDbssCLXgknweFZwHJkBPfp8t29m0YruAp2NNB617kcKkglsQAxSBaqeTIA9Rmr-5L0WOa20wrR/s1600-h/195769545_b994bd7ab9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIoHoOEi3ruT_yPRISed1hs75EM1WAV5ykxmEI0a3xQfYhVJsOjYP77U-UxSblfwixsDbssCLXgknweFZwHJkBPfp8t29m0YruAp2NNB617kcKkglsQAxSBaqeTIA9Rmr-5L0WOa20wrR/s320/195769545_b994bd7ab9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254492398009147634" /></a><br /><br />S- Since I have had the pleasure of seeing you "grow" in the craft world, I feel so happy to see how well received you have always been. Unfortunately I have also seen some people obviously rip off some of your style. How do you deal with that?<br /><br />DR- Honestly I was not prepared for that part of sharing my craft/art. At first all these really nice people would email me on Etsy alerting me to folks that were doing stuff that was similar to mine. I thanked them of course and just tried to not let it get to me. I mean really we all make stuff from our hearts and if you are just copying someone else you really won't be successful. There is a fine line between stealing someone's ideas and being inspired. So I just keep doing what I do trying to grow and improve as I go and I don't really get involved in any weird stuff. I actually feel really good that people say I have my own 'style and I truly feel I have worked very hard to be recognized in the craft/art community.. We are all inspired by others and as long as we make our craft/art our own and it is coming form within us it will all be good.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YzXPQ4Mj6RFfPROYmQrUZQVQxNeli8X5FBhRmsIP2A8qwJPrT75MjZb_nPVGoPd5jO7pWAQBAgSyVZa1gJoZF7WTqAr4TlcwgRH5KduOUhC_WFgXM1qG7ENcuohtPzaTD0HG8S6WMXRf/s1600-h/229508813_627b2b8948.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YzXPQ4Mj6RFfPROYmQrUZQVQxNeli8X5FBhRmsIP2A8qwJPrT75MjZb_nPVGoPd5jO7pWAQBAgSyVZa1gJoZF7WTqAr4TlcwgRH5KduOUhC_WFgXM1qG7ENcuohtPzaTD0HG8S6WMXRf/s320/229508813_627b2b8948.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254492826648829906" /></a><br /><br />S- You have also made some amazing friendships in the craft community. How do you foster these virtual relationships and how has it helped your business and creativity?<br /><br />DR- I am not very good at networking in real life(although I am getting much better) so when the inter web came into my life to my surprise I was really comfortable with making connections. Being a stay at home Ma can get really lonely especially if you are not a joiner and sadly I am not. So I love Virtual friends and meeting them in real life has been amazing. I really am so very very grateful to all the love I have rec'd from the craft/art community via the web. It has changed my life in so many ways and continues to do so. As far as helping my business or creativity it actually helps me to keep going. It shows me that people think what I do is worth doing and I just love sharing so very much.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvrSykGok2rnzHQufawX-y0zCigCs8ORlVFx-AG07ESArr8RhgjH9sb83wcmobPJQe-0Dj41qApGQ47D2yzO_WDa2JidE1n6kpc8r4OagPyFGeen0x4mSG3E22AoHw0sFufcSS2SEwZ-Uy/s1600-h/291190983_8bf874a3d5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvrSykGok2rnzHQufawX-y0zCigCs8ORlVFx-AG07ESArr8RhgjH9sb83wcmobPJQe-0Dj41qApGQ47D2yzO_WDa2JidE1n6kpc8r4OagPyFGeen0x4mSG3E22AoHw0sFufcSS2SEwZ-Uy/s320/291190983_8bf874a3d5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254493980072367346" /></a><br /><br />S- Since you've started, what have been some of the fondest memories you have had in your business?<br /><br />DR-My fondest memories really all have to do with the people I have met. I love seeing where my Love=Creatures end up and the folks out there that collect my work and send me gifts. Geez...I could have never imagined any of it. It is truly amazing to connect with so many people. I also love being in Plush You, this will be my 3rd year. Seriously it is such an amazing show and getting to be part of the book was AMAZING. Thanks so very much Kristen for all the opportunities you have given me and so many other Plush Artists.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBmai_ELU0ZjyGO0iDKBGYptYSQYSCQ_Afw9QJjDg04Ccf0PdlIKGSM5ODvU-xcWGzE6YYr_EC40ClV1UyPZx-kxoIi-K0OHwP8OS3_h1rKbyNqpvsttYFvQj6ymyOlM5wJ1-o3ykAOyL/s1600-h/293586340_ae6e2b3bf3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBmai_ELU0ZjyGO0iDKBGYptYSQYSCQ_Afw9QJjDg04Ccf0PdlIKGSM5ODvU-xcWGzE6YYr_EC40ClV1UyPZx-kxoIi-K0OHwP8OS3_h1rKbyNqpvsttYFvQj6ymyOlM5wJ1-o3ykAOyL/s320/293586340_ae6e2b3bf3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254494167556395746" /></a><br /><br />S- If you and your family were to go on a 3 week road trip, what craft supplies would you have to have with you?<br /><br />DR- Well....a bunch of sewn bodies that were stuffed and ready to detail, lots of thread and needles of course!! :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rlTGFgkP3hF389ixLWef1BpKcHFd0RBgnlg3v1bnn3tqn4CVxyuiNvNkumZnlGUzLQ1D7QSi8Y_1RVTFp4oqQo4XwAFJUlrwfylrJEP785KXoU7F60MnpkNARhVK6ElXE8tJ357SSBvo/s1600-h/383534341_26243152bb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rlTGFgkP3hF389ixLWef1BpKcHFd0RBgnlg3v1bnn3tqn4CVxyuiNvNkumZnlGUzLQ1D7QSi8Y_1RVTFp4oqQo4XwAFJUlrwfylrJEP785KXoU7F60MnpkNARhVK6ElXE8tJ357SSBvo/s320/383534341_26243152bb.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254494362095213714" /></a><br /><br />S- What do you look forward to for 2009?<br /><br />DR- Obama as president, sleeping more, having a social life, more time with family and friends, going out with my hubby...oh you meant in my Plush Life....<br />Having more time to make all the ideas that are swimming around in my head come to life. Acquiring more sewing skills to bring some of my ideas to a different level. Meeting more and more folks from the craft/art/flickr community and maybe someday getting to be in another book. Mostly though I just want to sew more :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGt-jHqhyL9Abq5XgE49W44vucU_uLA9W7uzHMZgMjgUZeV1-rpW0Q6WjJHU_DeK2-4RK0Wj34Jkm1iL1PiatG5_mW_FkLD8CUoCkIdDVyWRStvhlZQr8UHy9CG98iXWtkR-Oi2Z2LfpU/s1600-h/383534348_f4acc9c2ed.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGt-jHqhyL9Abq5XgE49W44vucU_uLA9W7uzHMZgMjgUZeV1-rpW0Q6WjJHU_DeK2-4RK0Wj34Jkm1iL1PiatG5_mW_FkLD8CUoCkIdDVyWRStvhlZQr8UHy9CG98iXWtkR-Oi2Z2LfpU/s320/383534348_f4acc9c2ed.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254494559545066882" /></a><br /><br />S- Where to you see your business in the next 5 years?<br /><br />DR- I see me being able to have the time to fill up my shop more often and diversify. I am nowhere near ready to stop so all I can do is go forward and progress.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQnKaDnNC5f7bN0AD2OKNNlbxGFLvlW_sT2I3qYNMGJMqGGCaLfpEHCn2XmcJ0daVCQryaO08tZN1z8pRpwXdeCtBbg_-6AWz5vOgCuwyS7Fs17VUOp-So-SJA4qX-0sJhyphenhyphenb2pEzXQGrj/s1600-h/394889516_b59349b523.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQnKaDnNC5f7bN0AD2OKNNlbxGFLvlW_sT2I3qYNMGJMqGGCaLfpEHCn2XmcJ0daVCQryaO08tZN1z8pRpwXdeCtBbg_-6AWz5vOgCuwyS7Fs17VUOp-So-SJA4qX-0sJhyphenhyphenb2pEzXQGrj/s320/394889516_b59349b523.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254494720857864930" /></a><br /><br />S- Where can people find your work?<br /><br />DR- www.LookWhatICanDo.Etsy.com. www.Plush-a-holic.blogspot.com and again sooooon at www.Supermaggie.com<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnA8wJj6sqhvoYO1YeFsybEQDWP0ClL3fL2NEbfPgGbpjDYAscRTecCq5aHrMFt9NOeGlM0x0URPC57cKPgIW9G9w315J0w_Z81Wbg0JinEjB8118oSXqvkrv2G-H4-EJ5P96gNoVzNkb/s1600-h/500558603_457a568ff6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnA8wJj6sqhvoYO1YeFsybEQDWP0ClL3fL2NEbfPgGbpjDYAscRTecCq5aHrMFt9NOeGlM0x0URPC57cKPgIW9G9w315J0w_Z81Wbg0JinEjB8118oSXqvkrv2G-H4-EJ5P96gNoVzNkb/s320/500558603_457a568ff6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254494969938985474" /></a><br /><br />S-Since Plush You! is this Friday, how do you think shows such as this one, has helped your business grow?<br /><br />DR- First of all Plush You ROCKS!!!!!!!!! It was one of the first shows of it's kind and I feel so very lucky to be a part of it. It enables you to meet a bunch of Plush folks and really see what they are up to and it definitely gets your work out there where tons of folks have access to it. Sometimes Plush Art gets kind of lumped into a hobby/craft category and shows like Plush You showcase it as an art and I really like that. Thanks so much Kristen for bringing so much attention to all the Plush and Plush artists out there. We Plush You xo<br /><br />Thanks again <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/plushaholic/" target="_blank">Dawn</a> for all your kind words and insight into your work!<br />Don't forget, leave a comment here for your chance to win your own Look What I Can Do creations!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZnhTsBAdRhJm6ynhWm4yxQWK1aMzlQE8OZSvYIu8y1zDV3lgWo1AX4HfVjxMuqznPRJF3R-2NexWRgBrOcXbXksK8rzkDmpgmwhk4V2Qp1lWnkVEeCk7tHjxCuoYBIeQu9xeZwws-X71/s1600-h/882325956_74d89b43d6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZnhTsBAdRhJm6ynhWm4yxQWK1aMzlQE8OZSvYIu8y1zDV3lgWo1AX4HfVjxMuqznPRJF3R-2NexWRgBrOcXbXksK8rzkDmpgmwhk4V2Qp1lWnkVEeCk7tHjxCuoYBIeQu9xeZwws-X71/s320/882325956_74d89b43d6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254495278094750898" /></a>Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-62715330708479372322008-10-01T11:15:00.000-07:002008-10-01T12:10:53.952-07:00Steff Bomb Gives away her SoleI discovered <a href="http://www.myspace.com/imakemonsters" target="_blank">Steff Bomb</a> when I started carrying her toy, Mr. Lertchman. She makes monsters and who can't appreciate that? I was so glad to see that she had applied to this year's Plush You show (which is next Friday btw??!!!!!). <span style="font-weight:bold;">Leave a comment here with your contact info for your chance to win her Sole.</span> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXu42NMmP0Zv_AOeVTyW6OdUcTrKEWb56vuBb7oTqJnbmNBJcwgpD8NIE2nw2tCdkgvR77WqRYnUttFYVUwbbnPPy9W4-oEVJP1vMsBcegEbFNYnR98ijQV42bYWCQ4d8rmqchficWK7lD/s1600-h/l_a3de14f69fb2597af7b95ded19577466.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXu42NMmP0Zv_AOeVTyW6OdUcTrKEWb56vuBb7oTqJnbmNBJcwgpD8NIE2nw2tCdkgvR77WqRYnUttFYVUwbbnPPy9W4-oEVJP1vMsBcegEbFNYnR98ijQV42bYWCQ4d8rmqchficWK7lD/s320/l_a3de14f69fb2597af7b95ded19577466.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252264402632285202" /></a><br /><br />S- First tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into making plush toys?<br /><br />SB- My name is Steff Bomb & i like making things? ha. i guess that pretty much sums it up. my favorite food is vegetarian corn dogs, my favorite color is brown, i love my boyfriend (his name is Evan & i think he is a dreamboat), and umm...i am allergic to cats (but i will snuggle them anyway).<br />i got starting making plush toys a few years ago when i lived with a bunch of friends back in Philly. i read about an all plush show called Plushtastrophe, in Pencil Fight #2. the show was amazing and oddly enough, it never dawned on me that you could do something like that. i have been drawing all of my life but never had a medium that i felt comfortable with...but after reading that article, plush just made sense. the next day, i bought a cheap sewing machine from a wholesale liquidator and i have been sewing ever since.<br />so, i guess, thank you <a href="http://grasshutcorp.com/bwana/" target="_blank">Bwana Spoons</a>. as it turns out, he is the 100% indirectly responsible for who i am today.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABeIgmBpPLDSWBtJw6oCC1xmv_SO4fu_EDeY5P61S-7t7EsT_mia01WVzmyjRO8-y38kMZJKufCHJ0aj-WxCYIpstmn97vLIsh-l6Wd-pfqGesAJJ8HSQvGEO0A4PdKr2KCUkNI9R5YSL/s1600-h/l_2a07c479f117a5b9f5827398933beafb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABeIgmBpPLDSWBtJw6oCC1xmv_SO4fu_EDeY5P61S-7t7EsT_mia01WVzmyjRO8-y38kMZJKufCHJ0aj-WxCYIpstmn97vLIsh-l6Wd-pfqGesAJJ8HSQvGEO0A4PdKr2KCUkNI9R5YSL/s320/l_2a07c479f117a5b9f5827398933beafb.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252262373547510050" /></a><br /><br />S- You haven't updated your site in awhile. What have you been up to since Oct. 2007?<br /><br />SB- oh...you noticed that too, huh? heh...<br />i've realized that i am much better at keeping up with <a href="http://www.myspace.com/imakemonsters" target="_blank">myspace</a> than i am with my <a href="http://steffbomb.com/" target="_blank">website</a>, because i can update it on my own. i have never really been good with computer stuff. my friend Meghan Ansbach has been kind enough to offer to help me spruce up my website and even make the "news" section more of a blog...so that even with my lack of computer knowledge, i will be able to update it regularly.<br />i've been up to a lot, but its all sewing. actually thats pretty much all i have done since...but i am definitely not complaining. ha. i've also very very recently moved from Philly to Chicago. before this year, i have never even left the east coast. i have to be honest, as much as i love living in Chicago so far...i love Philly pizza much better.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lPigBSQW8_VWs3b-8a-N6Tg92KeO2s5x6lAn_ORK3vVC6923vSDTK6XNkeYTZosEV_Jm0mVyfqzn348xgLz6VtOTVjCrW4QnpyTO_nWwnlbNL6RMY5mvD6bVWSK1xn3mQWI5ydNDDQWN/s1600-h/IMG_9848.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lPigBSQW8_VWs3b-8a-N6Tg92KeO2s5x6lAn_ORK3vVC6923vSDTK6XNkeYTZosEV_Jm0mVyfqzn348xgLz6VtOTVjCrW4QnpyTO_nWwnlbNL6RMY5mvD6bVWSK1xn3mQWI5ydNDDQWN/s320/IMG_9848.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252260961168791394" /></a><br /><br />S- One of your toys, Mr. Lertchman had an international release through ESC-Toy. How did that come about and how did that change your plush making career?<br /><br />SB- oh man, it changed everything. completely and totally. late 2006-ish, i received an email from Erick Scarecrow basically saying that he likes my work and was wondering if i ever thought of mass production. coincidentally around that time, i had starting researching mass production because i wasn't able to keep up with orders. i thought it over, decided "what the hell", and starting saving. by April 2007, i had enough money to pay for the production costs. i know it's not the the best toy in the world...but i collect toys too, so it was surreal to actually see mine in stores all over the world, on the same shelves as Friends With You and Uglydoll's. it's opened so many doors for me too. i still cant get over that i get to be in awesome art shows...let alone alongside people that i have admired for years. i am not going to mention any names (cough cough <a href="http://www.mypapercrane.com" target="_blank">Heidi Kenney</a> cough cough)...but i still get all giddy about that stuff.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOQ7ZrABsQrna_6hB3PI_jfVnzE9AZKc6h46-yZumPKcaf-otovoE4eIzjLio14m-dcBGd-0nT5Itpuoel-eoJ7Py6c8oDNKX_NFUYedc2Ub0-YaU0ra6JndhOCuKu5zSx1F53d6FXaCm/s1600-h/l_b052612d26e2258799009bd22e7a29ee.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOQ7ZrABsQrna_6hB3PI_jfVnzE9AZKc6h46-yZumPKcaf-otovoE4eIzjLio14m-dcBGd-0nT5Itpuoel-eoJ7Py6c8oDNKX_NFUYedc2Ub0-YaU0ra6JndhOCuKu5zSx1F53d6FXaCm/s320/l_b052612d26e2258799009bd22e7a29ee.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252262730192599266" /></a><br /><br />S- You also do crochet. What are your favorite crafts right at the moment?<br /><br />SB- if eating junk food, snuggling, and napping are crafts, then they are my favorite. i am not so good at crocheting, but i do knit. every winter, usually after the holidays...i need a mini-brake from sewing, so i will pick my knitting back up for a bit. also, before i moved, i rented out sewing space in my friends' print shop. so from time to time i would screen print on work, like the top & front of a pizza box i had stitched.<br />...but no matter what, sewing will always be my number one favorite.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLJLQlB0ReKNE4-6GsxYdFgREB_wURMcJVJnydaVrZx-bqbsg9QKAtDunDUZ1GDbFRz-kbSeIlb9L3niWdUupG-O4_-fYyRsGwHmB78q015qzzzB5Dwi2DDf8wELAhY8EfN0moavet-hn/s1600-h/l_504fc715a68205c3622da5c23bd4fd2e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLJLQlB0ReKNE4-6GsxYdFgREB_wURMcJVJnydaVrZx-bqbsg9QKAtDunDUZ1GDbFRz-kbSeIlb9L3niWdUupG-O4_-fYyRsGwHmB78q015qzzzB5Dwi2DDf8wELAhY8EfN0moavet-hn/s320/l_504fc715a68205c3622da5c23bd4fd2e.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252262548733116194" /></a><br /><br />S- Where are you selling your work these days?<br /><br />SB- hmm...i know that Jinxed in Philadelphia carries my toys, along with Rotofugi in Chicago...but i am not too sure where else off of the top of my head. i will admit that after the Mr. Lertchman release, i totally googled "Mr. Lertchman" to see where he was being sold. i have a webstore but its kind of half-assed. that will definitely be updated too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXEudQ_xOCDHMywP_ZPFEVCUwZ3ja0_Cp-WF8LGTrccHsJplC0rw5MXa3YwTzUr5UJaF4QOpemZaFk_CDZwhry1Y0teQJSsVquXGx9Vg-KORyH0y4-K9KDFo9MO05eUuT9zAUay9f4eg9/s1600-h/l_3130d69f9a03e5edeeb2becf7273ad1b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXEudQ_xOCDHMywP_ZPFEVCUwZ3ja0_Cp-WF8LGTrccHsJplC0rw5MXa3YwTzUr5UJaF4QOpemZaFk_CDZwhry1Y0teQJSsVquXGx9Vg-KORyH0y4-K9KDFo9MO05eUuT9zAUay9f4eg9/s320/l_3130d69f9a03e5edeeb2becf7273ad1b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252262916393900178" /></a><br /><br />S- I am writing these up while I watch Project Runway. Where do you find your biggest inspirations?<br /><br />SB- my friends. hands down. they inspire me and keep me motivated, even when they are currently 12 hours away. i love them and wouldn't be where i am today without their constant help and support. that and food. all i think about is eating. that's why most of the things i sew are food related. i'm just hungry.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3t-UntUKBPM8n3HPsYsPVF3lQ-sXxM2Cl0M165AuHMtExsXDQMfGRaxfXbIkoRPE2wPgMIjcasPthfLuikx8lokcHS5a-Kmb-em-OVlqHxN37AapiC6IteHLRBfJY6hd9XDEBckyqW1k6/s1600-h/l_bd87dfffc70e886e5f96f00f6e5ee915.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3t-UntUKBPM8n3HPsYsPVF3lQ-sXxM2Cl0M165AuHMtExsXDQMfGRaxfXbIkoRPE2wPgMIjcasPthfLuikx8lokcHS5a-Kmb-em-OVlqHxN37AapiC6IteHLRBfJY6hd9XDEBckyqW1k6/s320/l_bd87dfffc70e886e5f96f00f6e5ee915.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252263113286923346" /></a><br /><br />S- You have had some great press. How do you contact folks to tell them about your new work?<br /><br />SB- i am a big wimp & i am very easily intimated, so i usually don't...with the exception of <br /><a href="http://www.plasticandplush.com" target="_blank">Plastic and Plush</a>, sometimes i will write them an email if i sew a new product. they are super nice. i also just started to post new art on the Rotofugi forums, but that's about it. generally, i have been really lucky with all of this. i am still shocked whenever someone else is interested in what i do.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvi5bocRgAOoetn-c5CNTGPPQe4DFLSr2HrjSbKWUEyv9EX3pvtVGNQ0dp8SesrFhtw74-oWPrSWQ-9I1KsrUVuUXcc27b6ZYmHg7e1iw6XwL6X7rQcasJWeRcUcEg1O71JXdI2rLa8waJ/s1600-h/l_d9ef45babfef4dc49fc54c375eb76ec7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvi5bocRgAOoetn-c5CNTGPPQe4DFLSr2HrjSbKWUEyv9EX3pvtVGNQ0dp8SesrFhtw74-oWPrSWQ-9I1KsrUVuUXcc27b6ZYmHg7e1iw6XwL6X7rQcasJWeRcUcEg1O71JXdI2rLa8waJ/s320/l_d9ef45babfef4dc49fc54c375eb76ec7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252263348511214898" /></a><br /><br />S- What are you goals between now and the end of the year?<br /><br />SB- ooh...finally catching up with all of my work would be amazing, updating my website finally, cooking my first Thanksgiving dinner, and surviving my first Chicago winter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfUMFxcRtJVWnJM0WcsF66fh5iQixkrZDipiMFytn_W6Rq476RHr5OfpVB8iohEatFAN8-JVJ0D8s5UrfmUq5KElzoU3PXAUWnnX4UkrbGWSWWeqIJoRZ_G0-i28OzmC1ZIFdDas00Sv7/s1600-h/l_e3444709c697a5a62db43dcb1ca9d0bc.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfUMFxcRtJVWnJM0WcsF66fh5iQixkrZDipiMFytn_W6Rq476RHr5OfpVB8iohEatFAN8-JVJ0D8s5UrfmUq5KElzoU3PXAUWnnX4UkrbGWSWWeqIJoRZ_G0-i28OzmC1ZIFdDas00Sv7/s320/l_e3444709c697a5a62db43dcb1ca9d0bc.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252263535307699794" /></a><br /><br />S- What are the top 5 albums in your player while you work?<br /><br />SB- currently it's:<br />Belle & Sebastian - "Dear Catastrophe Waitress"<br />The Notwist - "Neon Golden"<br />Into It Over It - "52 Songs"<br />Tristeza - "Spine & Sensory"<br />Engine Down - "To Bury Within The Sound"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrtb3vbw-bYVeG0qC0lMjKJhz5Ndwia7EoD9l_143aGsnh_bHrPFVVx34wbVZE_2nCRiFvS7R9rkWJW8RKXtN8JVDTmULAWX328DOLlEAPbdIJTQSV98MI6LYyCci3R3R-uOTRW7_aerK/s1600-h/l_a0a3a4479421dbce26cb0eb887dad4bc.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrtb3vbw-bYVeG0qC0lMjKJhz5Ndwia7EoD9l_143aGsnh_bHrPFVVx34wbVZE_2nCRiFvS7R9rkWJW8RKXtN8JVDTmULAWX328DOLlEAPbdIJTQSV98MI6LYyCci3R3R-uOTRW7_aerK/s320/l_a0a3a4479421dbce26cb0eb887dad4bc.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252264169864855922" /></a><br /><br />S- Would you like to share anything else with are readers?<br /><br />SB- if you love Tyra Banks animated gifs as much as i do, you can send your favorites to steff@steffbomb.com & i will send you a funny one of Arnold Schwarzenegger eating a carrot or something equally as amazing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyb1w6LFAtTi_Ss2EE092BaHU2WDC-_5Y3MMkzD_lY8blBuXMkgXQZkuoQVcGhwjJrvdjkHh_HKvuBOImAqvQ22uAUhqGszthvHyJ5AhaaEP_iT5sC_eobTSDntTrqyZIEv0YDmyWxa6LC/s1600-h/-1.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyb1w6LFAtTi_Ss2EE092BaHU2WDC-_5Y3MMkzD_lY8blBuXMkgXQZkuoQVcGhwjJrvdjkHh_HKvuBOImAqvQ22uAUhqGszthvHyJ5AhaaEP_iT5sC_eobTSDntTrqyZIEv0YDmyWxa6LC/s320/-1.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252259479469876546" /></a><br />Don't forget to <span style="font-weight:bold;">leave a comment here with your contact info for your chance to win her Sole.</span>Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-43752338008729333632008-09-17T12:18:00.000-07:002008-09-17T14:48:08.966-07:00Hine Mizushima Interview and GiveawayThe second I saw one of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop_sold.php?user_id=5124044" target="_blank">Hine's pieces</a> I immediately gasped and smiled. When I asked her to be in my button book and she said yes, I immediately gasped and clapped my hands. The second I read that she had also applied to Plush You! I gasped and jumped up and down. Her work is simply amazing. She is one of those people I think a lot of people are watching and on the edge of their seat wondering what she is going to come up with next. I really enjoyed interviewing her and hope you enjoy reading it. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Leave a comment here with contact info for your chance to win one of her amazing camera camera cases!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfzehiB6WNe62NEclUJpfr8Eu9v4ouGvSBg9c3zPRYVHloBEnumuTXodyICu_bfT2-t4HZssqEnTz6HGJTvPBYezIIf3lpKQdtRtAMeLzMHSJWnySQWQ1F2opBy2Dn-GZ0kBbNNIgo58t/s1600-h/2804397386_9e9469a50a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfzehiB6WNe62NEclUJpfr8Eu9v4ouGvSBg9c3zPRYVHloBEnumuTXodyICu_bfT2-t4HZssqEnTz6HGJTvPBYezIIf3lpKQdtRtAMeLzMHSJWnySQWQ1F2opBy2Dn-GZ0kBbNNIgo58t/s320/2804397386_9e9469a50a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247106000391424370" /></a><br /><br />S- For those Plush You readers who might not know who you are, can you give us a <br />little background information on you<br /><br />HM- Hello! My name is Hine (pronounced [hee-neh]) Mizushima. I was born and raised in Japan. I majored in Japanese traditional paintings at an art university, and worked as a designer/Illustrator for paper products in Tokyo. Then after I met my husband, we decided to move to Rome, then Paris, then NY. And two years ago we moved to Vancouver, Canada with our lovely son, and at the same time my creative life was completely changed! I was always just an Illustrator, but now I'm a PSMAVA (Puppet-Stop-Motion-Animation-Video-Artist) and a (slow) crafter as well, and I just LOVE to make things..<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXHr2mMKQjcEigfaG1WicMtJR5JCdZUjiJXBv0QixvBqLru_FRuZ9BtpwZr1CzOCKT5lRqxTXnnnY43aOXFkwH3CW3vj22zKraooUEGn6bJeMM7P6lH9nsafeJbTFQGhNBToT41ZfA1px/s1600-h/2036149825_8c171c24b0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXHr2mMKQjcEigfaG1WicMtJR5JCdZUjiJXBv0QixvBqLru_FRuZ9BtpwZr1CzOCKT5lRqxTXnnnY43aOXFkwH3CW3vj22zKraooUEGn6bJeMM7P6lH9nsafeJbTFQGhNBToT41ZfA1px/s320/2036149825_8c171c24b0.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247106131494448626" /></a><br /><br />S- You have had various bouts of fame, with your video for They Might Be Giants, to your plush creations making the rounds on various craft sites. Why did you decide to get into plush work?<br /><br />HM- I've never thought of getting into plush work before. I didn't even know what "plush" meant! But when I started to work on the second stop-motion music video for a They Might Be Giants kids DVD a year and a half ago, the wife of one of the band members, Robin, who is a talented musician and also a super crafter, made some great needle-felted number-shaped puppets for the video. So I wanted/needed to make other characters and the props with the same materials to go with them. That was the beginning. It was actually a lot of fun and easy to create 3D stuff with felting wool! Since then, I have been getting into plush work little by little. My plush always has wire inside, so you can pose them however you want!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tzwse_PrYYX020BCQOiCGOo-DJb-MVAm5VkmHlp9uBayNsuYeMe3pcXNcltEm021btrB_R7ATRdh1F0PqY0goIKLWXKkVd-Kq-yZaSYIe4fFeMRW_wxkdIxbWLk2bk8w8yZEheSJotta/s1600-h/hine-giant-squid.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tzwse_PrYYX020BCQOiCGOo-DJb-MVAm5VkmHlp9uBayNsuYeMe3pcXNcltEm021btrB_R7ATRdh1F0PqY0goIKLWXKkVd-Kq-yZaSYIe4fFeMRW_wxkdIxbWLk2bk8w8yZEheSJotta/s320/hine-giant-squid.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247107739662882290" /></a><br /><br />S- How did you start working with They Might Be Giants?<br /><br />HM- First of all, I have to say that I REALLY love their music! One day, I stumbled upon 'How to make stop-motion video with your digital camera and iMovie' on the Internet. So I made a video with tiny puppets for their music, just for fun. Then I tried to post it on their My Space page, but I didn't understand how it works. Then I found 'send message' button instead, so I simply sent them the link of my video. Then a few days later, they contacted me, asking me to work on a video project with them! I REALLY freaked out, of course.... I'm working on a different project with them now.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsAZz0rN-w0nXYEUMLXuucuXZEXmqzDCxcOBfijlEC0-tSmrEgYoEROrw7aN3h1rimGRG7QWyenl_nqQiUklCDlJtwLiz5j54d4nA8I2h8Ty9wqapT_XpE8muc16-B_CgUGDn4aXSaNGD/s1600-h/2284715175_e6e88b89b8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsAZz0rN-w0nXYEUMLXuucuXZEXmqzDCxcOBfijlEC0-tSmrEgYoEROrw7aN3h1rimGRG7QWyenl_nqQiUklCDlJtwLiz5j54d4nA8I2h8Ty9wqapT_XpE8muc16-B_CgUGDn4aXSaNGD/s320/2284715175_e6e88b89b8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247106671262638482" /></a><br /><br />S- Do you favor any medium over another?<br /><br />HM- Felt, felting wool, wool yarn and printed fabric. I also like matt color paper and printed paper.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6U_BUCt4SYkjK3fBiHGa0upcHi-983qhwjyKRkvz2O1kvbSbnjeuRMXPKVFc_77XU7gDXQpTJfTIMLw7lh6kyVTnW0hJeuVkxWQSbOihjrN85FV0q6rRAzuAmzyzNFjBD1LWQHW-TYjxB/s1600-h/2036150149_8665a77a25.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6U_BUCt4SYkjK3fBiHGa0upcHi-983qhwjyKRkvz2O1kvbSbnjeuRMXPKVFc_77XU7gDXQpTJfTIMLw7lh6kyVTnW0hJeuVkxWQSbOihjrN85FV0q6rRAzuAmzyzNFjBD1LWQHW-TYjxB/s320/2036150149_8665a77a25.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247106276231217154" /></a><br /><br />S- How often do you try to make new products?<br /><br />HM- I don't have any scheduled plan, but I always have new ideas in my head and on my sketch book. So if I have time, I try to give my ideas shape. But usually it doesn't work well at first time. So I let it sit, wait until it's ripe, and then try again.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FxLsFQFOaNEahuMl6H6OYs7gWzS_YRbiGIjC0kKdGFi_Q72NahoWvN2TGXlCoY8f7eLo0slR830DGzRgnSdSs5qDn53GttmKtvrMkr7s7nMik97XnXThYoi8CPgRb4ho6sC_D2pKuLy0/s1600-h/il_430xN.11380449.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FxLsFQFOaNEahuMl6H6OYs7gWzS_YRbiGIjC0kKdGFi_Q72NahoWvN2TGXlCoY8f7eLo0slR830DGzRgnSdSs5qDn53GttmKtvrMkr7s7nMik97XnXThYoi8CPgRb4ho6sC_D2pKuLy0/s320/il_430xN.11380449.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247107104536938898" /></a><br /><br />S- Your camera camera cases and Phone iPhone cases are amazing! How fast did those sell out? How do you market your new products?<br /><br />HM- Thanks! Usually those sell out in a few hours. But it probably wouldn't happen if I could just list more items on my Etsy store on a regular basis! And I'm ashamed to say I don't market now. But I often upload pictures of my new products and artwork on my Flickr page, and actually many customers come to my Etsy store from there and end up buying. And fortunately many people write about my cases on their websites and blogs. It helps me a lot, and I really appreciate that :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh402RUzyJyEOBwdZEjpYx3fOwlkcsbJnHcqcwWOhsmqy1F-IUA9ydkCc2EHg9hki-GY5cqys0Bqr8LpFmUWpOSL0kYdgRF0ZGvo9aE8Vjf_FafMIHxGw0cucLslZZ6u1mABdfnANi-Zj2c/s1600-h/2053313392_e6cb7b1ab2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh402RUzyJyEOBwdZEjpYx3fOwlkcsbJnHcqcwWOhsmqy1F-IUA9ydkCc2EHg9hki-GY5cqys0Bqr8LpFmUWpOSL0kYdgRF0ZGvo9aE8Vjf_FafMIHxGw0cucLslZZ6u1mABdfnANi-Zj2c/s320/2053313392_e6cb7b1ab2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247106459111484994" /></a><br /><br />S- Your attention to detail is impeccable. Has this come with a lot of practice or have you always been a perfectionist?<br /><br />HM- Umm...., if you could see my desk (aka chaos), you would not think I'm a perfectionist! Recently I just happened to find a hand-sewn felt camera case which I made once for my camera 4 or 5 years ago. I was so surprised because it was so ridiculously bad! So it seems I'm getting better now. I always like to make small things. I think it is in my blood from my mother.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4N1uXOuqW3T5tGHryw1lBzwmK9eyAiWx_ML42V8a5b1TRYU4E7msesACtwzs5tkXIu0IFJEd7JyKSZiylUjpZDx6Q3GSpbwpY2012R2W-9PPQc-JzKq4Svmh6GWEFnVjpul1ZwNx_85j/s1600-h/il_430xN.16322961.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4N1uXOuqW3T5tGHryw1lBzwmK9eyAiWx_ML42V8a5b1TRYU4E7msesACtwzs5tkXIu0IFJEd7JyKSZiylUjpZDx6Q3GSpbwpY2012R2W-9PPQc-JzKq4Svmh6GWEFnVjpul1ZwNx_85j/s320/il_430xN.16322961.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247108226894661538" /></a><br /><br />S- If you could spend more time on one thing, what do you think you would spend it on?<br /><br />HM- Creating the same more plush dolls in the series that I made for the Plush You show, and making a short stop-motion video with them, or .... cleaning my desk?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFq9OAGuOdLndykuKu8j-RIIX_EYVdxlglAjuV-ptULNPKBnYmhO_dPVgyGZJymhhLouc31WZWdhOKrZgiUztO9fdBfCu_bDzZZJ-ZCKQJFdUqWu2T79fKgyrMIueY_jPdjFBzr-qKGaEN/s1600-h/il_430xN.11575658.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFq9OAGuOdLndykuKu8j-RIIX_EYVdxlglAjuV-ptULNPKBnYmhO_dPVgyGZJymhhLouc31WZWdhOKrZgiUztO9fdBfCu_bDzZZJ-ZCKQJFdUqWu2T79fKgyrMIueY_jPdjFBzr-qKGaEN/s320/il_430xN.11575658.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247107957817309522" /></a><br /><br />S- What do you want to see for your business in the next few years?<br /><br />HM- I would love to have a solo show and publish a book of my artwork, and while I have had a few series of zakka produced in Japan, I would love to be able to do the same thing in outside of Japan. But first, I have to make more pieces!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WkBb6FK5uSRW3qCSXAGl-7A_AzSVuGnqW9f8d8RVgvt9VIWzVYfT4f2kBCrZBDsEAnKSoaJn7zYjPYYuovTlI7eMdWHSHiQuYSU20YpBmVB6VqUw_noSjTnRrL2kILYiD6LQjZE9DLJV/s1600-h/2803552179_82ab4ae671.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WkBb6FK5uSRW3qCSXAGl-7A_AzSVuGnqW9f8d8RVgvt9VIWzVYfT4f2kBCrZBDsEAnKSoaJn7zYjPYYuovTlI7eMdWHSHiQuYSU20YpBmVB6VqUw_noSjTnRrL2kILYiD6LQjZE9DLJV/s320/2803552179_82ab4ae671.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247106836594951426" /></a><br /><br />S- Any place folks can find you other than your etsy shop?<br /><br />HM- <a href="http://web.mac.com/sheishine/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html" target="_blank">My artwork website</a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheishine/" target="_blank">My Flickr</a><br /><a href="http://hennageijutsu.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My blog (in Japanese!)</a><br />You can also watch one of my videos, "The Secret Life Of Six" with many plush (puppets) for TMBG kids music here (my actual video starts at the 1:00 mark) <a href="http://video.aol.com/video-detail/tmbg-the-secret-life-of-six-and-puppet-fibber-island/2640148118" target="_blank">here</a><br /><br />Don't forget, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Leave a comment here with contact info for your chance to win one of her amazing camera camera cases!</span>. Leave your favorite colors too! Winner will be chosen on Sept. 30th.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOyDyieqviQ8yFfm579IswmYyloKcQV0yzvE1a1w3g84UDDd423wgPBIxM-KJ5clu0rXXDYOnxGDMkdxugf0Q7K9RshIYChxtNPQDwuBIk7RaHNOBC6KLgHSpl00knydUpTHVCVzparHK/s1600-h/il_430xN.38106933.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOyDyieqviQ8yFfm579IswmYyloKcQV0yzvE1a1w3g84UDDd423wgPBIxM-KJ5clu0rXXDYOnxGDMkdxugf0Q7K9RshIYChxtNPQDwuBIk7RaHNOBC6KLgHSpl00knydUpTHVCVzparHK/s320/il_430xN.38106933.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247076988978578098" /></a>Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com122tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-88787364451305058642008-09-10T10:00:00.000-07:002008-09-10T10:00:02.160-07:00Full of Fluff InterviewThis will be the second year <a href="http://fulloffluff.com/wordpress/" target="_blank">Carey Huffman of Full of Fluff</a> has participated in Plush You! I LOVE her work! It's amazing, sells really quickly and each piece has tons of personality. This year's pieces are AMAZING!! I am so glad we finally were able to learn more about the woman behind this work. Enjoy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAA05m2we9xLa1cXNlj0kC4G_ny2YzhV4dhvxvgDm8LwPN7BQBJ1ysvLF049mjPZ4Xsd0i1o1Sh-LiaAo2rzV9eTqE2MGrBuWoYcrrEeuLZGW1GLU2G-cVG4IP-ixdm-_9_2UseBW-yoQ/s1600-h/2808625093_3b5ca81aaf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAA05m2we9xLa1cXNlj0kC4G_ny2YzhV4dhvxvgDm8LwPN7BQBJ1ysvLF049mjPZ4Xsd0i1o1Sh-LiaAo2rzV9eTqE2MGrBuWoYcrrEeuLZGW1GLU2G-cVG4IP-ixdm-_9_2UseBW-yoQ/s320/2808625093_3b5ca81aaf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242652648468616754" /></a><br /><br />S- First tell us a little bit about yourself and how you started Full of Fluff.<br /><br />FoF- I started Full of Fluff a year or so back while I was working in my first job as a graphic designer right out of school. I needed more creative stimulation than what I was getting at work and I thought that blogging would force me to do more crafting and write about my work. I have always loved toys and I started making more and more just before starting the blog. Toys are fun and a great way to make art where the only standard is how warm the smile of the viewer is. I chose the name Full of Fluff because toys are literally filled with fluff and my intent is that the blog would always be light and fluffy no matter what I am making.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_KaVgB2Q0enPHlYLtup4S_BB1Vr16dulWn0oLkZHaqAtbbVVfm0zpwx2u-gKsWSNu_FP7WoA0s7flM57aVpNwB-fJjN0bozQhr4999EiRy9c9DxGx9saSfNI3K9H2dfVyGw_abkfyEwh/s1600-h/2328123311_c6e1b71125.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_KaVgB2Q0enPHlYLtup4S_BB1Vr16dulWn0oLkZHaqAtbbVVfm0zpwx2u-gKsWSNu_FP7WoA0s7flM57aVpNwB-fJjN0bozQhr4999EiRy9c9DxGx9saSfNI3K9H2dfVyGw_abkfyEwh/s320/2328123311_c6e1b71125.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242651931337795218" /></a><br /><br />S- What is your favorite organizational tool?<br /><br />FoF- Pegboard. I love that thing. I can quickly look at all my craft tools and find what I need. I like how there is no right and wrong place to put everything, most everything tends to go on the closest hook to my hand when I am working.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nMQjpaHf9p1GV4Z4A6mzENTIREBI6OagvJwIWcsIoooevP9seX71LGNfbLtF9omNCnHjSQyIAnAQJ32TOGI46ixXIhD8mGfC-OElHbpO7C1QDdFk8JquRWhZnXURUsbdLdf5i7inAXti/s1600-h/532451078_87db48da7f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nMQjpaHf9p1GV4Z4A6mzENTIREBI6OagvJwIWcsIoooevP9seX71LGNfbLtF9omNCnHjSQyIAnAQJ32TOGI46ixXIhD8mGfC-OElHbpO7C1QDdFk8JquRWhZnXURUsbdLdf5i7inAXti/s320/532451078_87db48da7f.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242651405808428898" /></a><br /><br />S- How much time do you get to dedicate to your crafts?<br /><br />FoF- It never feels like enough but I am sure many would think of it as too much. I work a full-time job but most evenings and weekends I cram in some craft time. I also try to carry a small working project in my purse. It can be surprising when you have some unexpected down time where you can get some work done. I also come up with a lot of my ideas while in meetings.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicr90RzV0eg-C5IM0OPK-BnZy8oVt4YI6mBf30_mUwIaAel4128zidoixqNlV-qIPYb8_rOWwyeGQfWzUQNRgu_vv1j2d9wP1v01YpK9j4JLJ6s8SM58p4HkewoyuH1qBPl9aQo6nOsj0h/s1600-h/1803774264_0d3c8ca90a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicr90RzV0eg-C5IM0OPK-BnZy8oVt4YI6mBf30_mUwIaAel4128zidoixqNlV-qIPYb8_rOWwyeGQfWzUQNRgu_vv1j2d9wP1v01YpK9j4JLJ6s8SM58p4HkewoyuH1qBPl9aQo6nOsj0h/s320/1803774264_0d3c8ca90a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242651781244467842" /></a><br /><br />S- How do you promote your work?<br /><br />FoF- I keep a blog and use flickr and craftster. People also love free stuff so whenever I post a free pattern I get a ton of traffic to my site.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGQhNhsI7VCkp2E9EiGVJSPRjVqCxdV1CZ8D7Ia3l7252F5X0ZcoNI9C4LWKPRguzL0e55X-mwlhI7yucTOdJeZsDQV24olQ1Sl_lR9rsb7698JdcamgulZXVEadYUV1V7ir7p2W8tDgz/s1600-h/411827824_9f56609fe1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGQhNhsI7VCkp2E9EiGVJSPRjVqCxdV1CZ8D7Ia3l7252F5X0ZcoNI9C4LWKPRguzL0e55X-mwlhI7yucTOdJeZsDQV24olQ1Sl_lR9rsb7698JdcamgulZXVEadYUV1V7ir7p2W8tDgz/s320/411827824_9f56609fe1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242651231607813970" /></a><br /><br />S- What has been one of your most popular characters?<br /><br />FoF- My biggest hit is my crocheted pacman but that is not an original character of mine. People like my Kitsume and what I am now calling my imps.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8UaKfkFiRomlJBw39ep7qgrT-bhyphenhyphenTcQWabbtfZSsghD5I6RxSHpSwfs9Aw-yKbpbtaZ9n55u6_SYl0_GcaUWpLNwAmn6w8c64hQ4VxGfSMIuSCUVnZ5vc8UDcPJ292Zpue-bq_OvXuzR/s1600-h/2804195208_86b64e0bc7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8UaKfkFiRomlJBw39ep7qgrT-bhyphenhyphenTcQWabbtfZSsghD5I6RxSHpSwfs9Aw-yKbpbtaZ9n55u6_SYl0_GcaUWpLNwAmn6w8c64hQ4VxGfSMIuSCUVnZ5vc8UDcPJ292Zpue-bq_OvXuzR/s320/2804195208_86b64e0bc7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242652317458468322" /></a><br /><br />S- How long does it usually take you to make a guy from conception to final product?<br /><br />FoF- That depends on the project. My fast time was about 3 hours where I made a sleepy kitty one lazy morning but it took me almost a year to make the right whale.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVY9XJVGmZtjFxHo4Bws-5btCBHYZ3zmR754J3btX3WrrV6h4JdjfmU_SbMNL57RfZctTbD_IjpfHn1ZT5GGHuKEkkaE3drEehwSH9xJ0X8Z2nWJWREsmIMx_WTXFO4gFaxmW3cFAwBvy/s1600-h/2800060880_0c6fde6a59.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVY9XJVGmZtjFxHo4Bws-5btCBHYZ3zmR754J3btX3WrrV6h4JdjfmU_SbMNL57RfZctTbD_IjpfHn1ZT5GGHuKEkkaE3drEehwSH9xJ0X8Z2nWJWREsmIMx_WTXFO4gFaxmW3cFAwBvy/s320/2800060880_0c6fde6a59.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242652105484842818" /></a><br /><br />S- What is your favorite craft supply?<br /><br />FoF- I have a real soft spot for cotton anything. Maybe it is the Georgia girl in me. I like how cotton does not pill or fuzz and looks nice and crisp. One of my favorite tools is a nostepinne, also known as a ball-winder-stick-thingie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHn0HhmEJ_yjrcs5b2CwVip_A72qLNbppaduzdgk1f3HGJtrcJquCU5gCiDYpe3iSj1pLsWus5A6Ygp5GmwixBozKKQCEDJE41rwB3dXQPho93sFxQ2edaAAe9Lpu_4shcx-qa7uGmIjR/s1600-h/1334551053_5644b7ec20.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHn0HhmEJ_yjrcs5b2CwVip_A72qLNbppaduzdgk1f3HGJtrcJquCU5gCiDYpe3iSj1pLsWus5A6Ygp5GmwixBozKKQCEDJE41rwB3dXQPho93sFxQ2edaAAe9Lpu_4shcx-qa7uGmIjR/s320/1334551053_5644b7ec20.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242651554641529922" /></a><br /><br />S- What is one of your biggest guilty pleasures?<br /><br />FoF- I think I visit <a href="http://www.cuteoverload.com/" target="_blank">cuteoverload</a> a thousand times a day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_85A4iQRFDsKbDxFsQgjTjAH4njPKUOJEhsDa78TcXvDQLDJ1D0vft6Y0d-PET1zCuhN7YoDDlrSN6dEch1CKx9S4W-hhHoVHIEdl83RazSbfDSKZNHuXoJHyBGDFNYAPYUsoyM3tXdJr/s1600-h/435273846_982d0bf31e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_85A4iQRFDsKbDxFsQgjTjAH4njPKUOJEhsDa78TcXvDQLDJ1D0vft6Y0d-PET1zCuhN7YoDDlrSN6dEch1CKx9S4W-hhHoVHIEdl83RazSbfDSKZNHuXoJHyBGDFNYAPYUsoyM3tXdJr/s320/435273846_982d0bf31e.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242653088959058258" /></a><br /><br />S- Where do you see Full of Fluff in the next 2 years?<br /><br />FoF- I hope to be more productive. I want to start making more toys and selling them on a regular basis. I also want to start writing more patterns so people can make their own toys and other fun stuff.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KdVtagO0mrzcy-OuSAfZD8Nc7m2pz0GREYnqh3pK2RxH8BZyRpi_bFden1WXM4mTVHui5qbWhiglT07MtxfWNmFwRj8N90HAgZH_rbY4Ky46c3X23QjcOVyb9_sbjQi_F9eo2Qsb-UdI/s1600-h/822986340_4f4277bfe1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KdVtagO0mrzcy-OuSAfZD8Nc7m2pz0GREYnqh3pK2RxH8BZyRpi_bFden1WXM4mTVHui5qbWhiglT07MtxfWNmFwRj8N90HAgZH_rbY4Ky46c3X23QjcOVyb9_sbjQi_F9eo2Qsb-UdI/s320/822986340_4f4277bfe1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242653300436289122" /></a><br /><br />S- Any news you would like to share with our readers?<br /><br />FoF- I hope to have my first for sale pattern up on my site soon.Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-88255337767107498932008-09-03T10:00:00.000-07:002008-09-03T10:00:00.322-07:00Fluffels Interview and Giveaway!<a href="http://www.fluffels.com" target="_blank">Fluffels</a> are sometimes fluffy, often times adorable, occasionally sinister lookin' little creatures by Mariska Vos-Bolman. Mariska will be showing once again at <a href="http://www.schmancytoys.bigcartel.com" target="_blank">Schmancy</a> for this year's Plush You show! I love these little guys and hope you do too. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Leave a comment here for your chance to win your own Cute Kitty Kit. Don't forget to leave contact info so we can tell you you won!</span><br /><br />S- In case our readers don't know who you are, can you please briefly describe what Fluffels are and how you got started?<br /><br />F- Fluffels are crazy but very cute soft toys. I try to give my creations a lot of character that will put a smile on your face. The name Fluffels is a combination of the dutch word for soft toys: Knuffels and the word Fluffy. Two years ago I bought my first sewing machine, after looking scared at it for two weeks (I was sure I was going to hurt myself) I tried my first project, a pillow. Then I made a Soft toy and there was just no stopping. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuLLgJAbt79yHQ-ssfZbBF59Ei07gY9-UZ93lKCk0jD-sTgrPxup9Ft1MHdOf42vgZgWval2dVsw-7SW29UWDkchYW6Cjla5qJflhvaqV1Qonu0m-GhDHpoFkgJIilFnmkTxsRZbvI4W2/s1600-h/-3.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuLLgJAbt79yHQ-ssfZbBF59Ei07gY9-UZ93lKCk0jD-sTgrPxup9Ft1MHdOf42vgZgWval2dVsw-7SW29UWDkchYW6Cjla5qJflhvaqV1Qonu0m-GhDHpoFkgJIilFnmkTxsRZbvI4W2/s320/-3.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239245316286048018" /></a><br /><br />S- In 2007 you quit your Video game job to be a full-time plush artist. What made you take the plunge?<br /><br />F- I wasn't enjoying myself at my old job anymore. I was doing the same thing for years and was pretty bored, I was making soldiers all the time. The Company itself was great, wonderful people. But I really needed a change. I already started making plush and selling them to several shops around the world. Doing this was so much more fun for me that I thought I'd give it a try. I won't say it isn't hard. But I'm enjoying myself and It is going better every month.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aQ9VNCLXgvi2DfqDGhQXhdwBFiLkov7EmuKCNNHY22sKj2ouayrTDvEsKM8nNZX0po3VgZ82B7bT4SM9sElV97ZY5lxq9uwL5ZdN2Z23vYFIQ_HzQyRn6Y4sG3O4eKJRlKI9AGiSJZ8U/s1600-h/-1.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aQ9VNCLXgvi2DfqDGhQXhdwBFiLkov7EmuKCNNHY22sKj2ouayrTDvEsKM8nNZX0po3VgZ82B7bT4SM9sElV97ZY5lxq9uwL5ZdN2Z23vYFIQ_HzQyRn6Y4sG3O4eKJRlKI9AGiSJZ8U/s320/-1.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239245039197806754" /></a><br /><br />S- How have you marketed yourself to reach new audiences?<br /><br />F- Enter lots of plush shows :) . You have to do a lot of marketing. Sent your creations to blogs, make a Flickr page. Don't expect to just start selling without doing any marketing. Hand out your business card to anyone you know, they might know someone that can help you do a bit of marketing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLZJbmjiLNiuHop2PrsTiqG2ZB-9k4RkhvTGP3eLq3IHdHdg3w-ADXh077cZ60EL2GeMAvtSa3Cab8uFsJSAzy6m1EbdB9d7e6hxy2dhYTFmOwHwrMTNi_-DDPWmSoHyUj5Q8RPbCbVwX/s1600-h/boris_seattle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLZJbmjiLNiuHop2PrsTiqG2ZB-9k4RkhvTGP3eLq3IHdHdg3w-ADXh077cZ60EL2GeMAvtSa3Cab8uFsJSAzy6m1EbdB9d7e6hxy2dhYTFmOwHwrMTNi_-DDPWmSoHyUj5Q8RPbCbVwX/s320/boris_seattle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239247701323823890" /></a><br /><br />S- Your gallery section is awesome! I love the Seattle pics! Do you have regular fans sending you their guys in their homes and whatnot?<br /><br />F- Thank you! Some of them are sent to me by people and some I found on flickr and asked them if I can put them on my website. I think it is really cool when people send me a photo of their Fluffel! Some of the photo's are made by myself, I carry the Fluffels around to lots of places.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLpoVx_47hDE8bbwFeEHBRNNdAWlJn7GiwLsA2DsKbCgbcxjJulqC251DQS9JEEsS5a842-5cZ-9NFyeeC-U3GY7GTwkmL86dXnPdGcaxOJM0mSATBEdX9f_-rcJ4DSd_jb1p9ChFJVMF/s1600-h/-2.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLpoVx_47hDE8bbwFeEHBRNNdAWlJn7GiwLsA2DsKbCgbcxjJulqC251DQS9JEEsS5a842-5cZ-9NFyeeC-U3GY7GTwkmL86dXnPdGcaxOJM0mSATBEdX9f_-rcJ4DSd_jb1p9ChFJVMF/s320/-2.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239245155329671154" /></a><br /><br />S- It seems like you have participated in a lot of plush shows. What have been some of your experiences with doing shows such as Plush You?<br /><br />F- I love doing plush shows! It is so much fun to have Fluffels showcased in a show!<br />I see photo's appear on Flickr and that is so great! Most of the shows are in the USA, and since I'm in the Netherlands I just can't visit them. That is a shame, I hope to visit one one day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1u2WkCa8O7Y9JpA1PhUPMMPEcfqrwQ7j_86Uo6b8b7nRsdPJ_fI6VVFPH0LETvAC5A2z-pDaT4goqCba-kxBWIaBwxlBc1tuqeCoiTxSfuE8V44VxgS47YG0BnFe79-yKRKUWNoQNo87/s1600-h/2421277498_c07f91137a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1u2WkCa8O7Y9JpA1PhUPMMPEcfqrwQ7j_86Uo6b8b7nRsdPJ_fI6VVFPH0LETvAC5A2z-pDaT4goqCba-kxBWIaBwxlBc1tuqeCoiTxSfuE8V44VxgS47YG0BnFe79-yKRKUWNoQNo87/s320/2421277498_c07f91137a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239246844855829666" /></a><br /><br />S- You do really awesome DIY patterns as well. When did you start making them and how has it been giving out your patterns?<br /><br />F- Thanks! I start making them a few months ago. I call them DIY Fluffies, because the style is a bit different then the normal Fluffels. The idea of people that are being crafty with my patterns is just great! I already had a lot of positive feedback and I'm planning on creating many more. For the tutorials I was inspired by the Japanese craft books, I loved the way they make illustrated tutorials to explain everything. You don't even have to understand Japanese and you can still make them. That's is exactly what I wanted to for my tutorials. Not much reading but cute clear illustrations.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetBYABkmZ7R-yoNbgPQ99YW1EwArTDk-UC-l_DG0gyRvaSJ13byaFbA5ZlMOITKFxJwCh_SHDumta-xRpkvAOiQh2ZbpA5Z0klsGp5i59GOL8vQsUsfa29vg8xCI_OIltUCTwCjat1pzj/s1600-h/-6.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetBYABkmZ7R-yoNbgPQ99YW1EwArTDk-UC-l_DG0gyRvaSJ13byaFbA5ZlMOITKFxJwCh_SHDumta-xRpkvAOiQh2ZbpA5Z0klsGp5i59GOL8vQsUsfa29vg8xCI_OIltUCTwCjat1pzj/s320/-6.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239245458623430738" /></a><br /><br />S- How often do you create a new design?<br /><br />F- I try to create a new design a least twice a month. But I'm pregnant now, so things are going a bit slower then usual. The baby comes first. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7uyPe0SlGucgIkQAqn_J4-P4Npi6PsMSA4etdbBjbLZRyhqIuimvu-ZKj_88eCmbmqxN_DZCdGB3oXpgSfStzyGTbm6iIPfAw8CkGrgUpMBqzZY6Jk4BO-ioXqVLij-aX1-W3SeWWkKc/s1600-h/2421346590_0ca0f787aa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7uyPe0SlGucgIkQAqn_J4-P4Npi6PsMSA4etdbBjbLZRyhqIuimvu-ZKj_88eCmbmqxN_DZCdGB3oXpgSfStzyGTbm6iIPfAw8CkGrgUpMBqzZY6Jk4BO-ioXqVLij-aX1-W3SeWWkKc/s320/2421346590_0ca0f787aa.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239246180596978066" /></a><br /><br />S- How often do you do custom work?<br /><br />F- Almost never, only different color version of the Fluffels. I did do them in the beginning, but I prefer making my own designs. It takes up a lot of time and I have to many ideas of my own that I want to create.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVlMhiPzd1mBqZZZYP_cnDiImNvBQY21I_2kO7d7Tzjmi1-e97KtXfSckK8lFkG6unvt-ClMdokGz0sAI9tBtTyKaoCVGLYvCtx7iaBfh0vu6LF08DEuw2uZcGgZdKYZrVqJWzRrbTQNO/s1600-h/2369183222_e50fcdbd38.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVlMhiPzd1mBqZZZYP_cnDiImNvBQY21I_2kO7d7Tzjmi1-e97KtXfSckK8lFkG6unvt-ClMdokGz0sAI9tBtTyKaoCVGLYvCtx7iaBfh0vu6LF08DEuw2uZcGgZdKYZrVqJWzRrbTQNO/s320/2369183222_e50fcdbd38.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239247084487140002" /></a><br /><br />S- What are your goals for the new year?<br /><br />F- If I have enough time I would love to create a soft toy tutorial book. But that will take up a lot of time, first some more Fluffels, DIY Fluffies patterns and kits.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8bV49nLGIGv9WOnuigDmJcmexcVmm1QEa6Rk-1EbyD0CRKZO3t7E234KfmHfNn7hq8eCowb-c4Iq4-JavLifbMKqSB_R8ilDpl0fxTDyUIKUTVUfzDPq0q2UY8mbR2L5zjoJ49vmTTyV/s1600-h/2302660444_6658e85a5f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8bV49nLGIGv9WOnuigDmJcmexcVmm1QEa6Rk-1EbyD0CRKZO3t7E234KfmHfNn7hq8eCowb-c4Iq4-JavLifbMKqSB_R8ilDpl0fxTDyUIKUTVUfzDPq0q2UY8mbR2L5zjoJ49vmTTyV/s320/2302660444_6658e85a5f.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239247342534392562" /></a><br /><br />S- Where else can people see your work?<br /><br />F- <a href="http://www.fluffels.com" target="_blank">website</a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/fluffels" target="_blank">flickr site</a><br /><a href="http://www.diyfluffies.etsy.com" target="_blank">patterns on etsy</a><br /><a href="http://www.mariska.etsy.com" target="_blank">etsy shop</a> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Comment here with your name and contact info to win your own Fluffels Cute Kitty Kit</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBAshZNBnBm7tx5xjbA0K9y66qjmj48PYWbG-tECY5NmakygwrYRs4Khv5NeqLNljbd8CLIbb48KHqR5wqLshMpVDxcv8KmY8BBjLvczsYp0wMvocs6R9TFJK8wUYkE2GaQyC3MPdn3nZ/s1600-h/-7.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBAshZNBnBm7tx5xjbA0K9y66qjmj48PYWbG-tECY5NmakygwrYRs4Khv5NeqLNljbd8CLIbb48KHqR5wqLshMpVDxcv8KmY8BBjLvczsYp0wMvocs6R9TFJK8wUYkE2GaQyC3MPdn3nZ/s320/-7.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239245755436193570" /></a>Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-16588407638278892022008-08-26T11:26:00.001-07:002008-08-26T11:46:15.405-07:00Geek Freeks InterviewOne of my all time favorite shows is called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001EQHXO?ie=UTF8&tag=plushyou2coms-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0001EQHXO">Freaks and Geeks - The Complete Series</a>. I might have already mentioned that. Something about freaks and geeks always gets my goat. I love the work that the folks behind <a href="http://www.geekfreeks.com" target="_blank">Geek Freeks</a> have been doing. It's another geek freak combo that is too hard to resist. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY28-4hvSGmVR-WR0zKuMsEePkUmy3yKhi7AytO4mFkL9VIsL4VPmRcqmFHxsnavZnhRXysF4wzmbXvyfNHouQVsF0uUAf_NY3jEoIXhaWylvdRDVwONnSOM24Fvz0vXbGjfhoZwDiQ4BJ/s1600-h/teeveeyellow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY28-4hvSGmVR-WR0zKuMsEePkUmy3yKhi7AytO4mFkL9VIsL4VPmRcqmFHxsnavZnhRXysF4wzmbXvyfNHouQVsF0uUAf_NY3jEoIXhaWylvdRDVwONnSOM24Fvz0vXbGjfhoZwDiQ4BJ/s320/teeveeyellow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238899421840698050" /></a><br /><br />S- Please explain who Geek Freeks are for our readers.<br /><br />GF- Geek Freeks are the little critters we make out of felt, polar fleece and stuffing.<br />They are designed by Xander and then sewn together by Karla.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPdqG_TxOImBv9dAn91AQOnpzoD8Vffq0xhwuTXanI1EvncovrvEWvBLaCOHUOGVjHoOt0iboUXKkl8DEth9s27oDNd_E1HmVzxwITMtlgCr-Si9fxai3RmxEuGAtPKEv86wFW6qJKhhs/s1600-h/beeba.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPdqG_TxOImBv9dAn91AQOnpzoD8Vffq0xhwuTXanI1EvncovrvEWvBLaCOHUOGVjHoOt0iboUXKkl8DEth9s27oDNd_E1HmVzxwITMtlgCr-Si9fxai3RmxEuGAtPKEv86wFW6qJKhhs/s320/beeba.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238894738328823858" /></a><br /><br />S- How did you get interested in the plush medium?<br /><br />GF- Through our many many hours of blog exploring we'd discovered lots of talented<br />people out there who were producing really cool styley and original plush toys and thought "We can do that!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtT7j-6HQ7NDf56UxSsIf_VQCA5c3SQQX-XWNyhokb0sPYEBklk1a2LV7D71bjYjkHA24oyHwibet9aQ4wjiIJoVr-UlhTa2RWj2GY2c80gXfLj9M1yy7qejw60bhArToDKLEcC0WuzW8c/s1600-h/cosbybabyflannel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtT7j-6HQ7NDf56UxSsIf_VQCA5c3SQQX-XWNyhokb0sPYEBklk1a2LV7D71bjYjkHA24oyHwibet9aQ4wjiIJoVr-UlhTa2RWj2GY2c80gXfLj9M1yy7qejw60bhArToDKLEcC0WuzW8c/s320/cosbybabyflannel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238894910176922562" /></a><br /><br />S- You both have other full time jobs, what do you do and how do you<br />balance plush making with your day jobs?<br /><br />GF- Karla is a Tattoo Artist here in Auckland (www.artofkarla.blogspot.com) and Xander is an animator/character designer (www.mukpuddy.blogspot.com)<br />The balancing part can be really hard, especially with our day jobs being so involving. It does help that those jobs are also creative so we're bringing different influences to the table. There's definietly alot of late nights and weekends taken up sewing and cutting out toys, it can be very tiring but thankfully we still enjoy it, and it's very rewarding when people want to buy your stuff!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXdv3PPhLj8L479n2QN2nZWKWiS4gkJwYMltkQMdCWib9P7b84Dpbr0O6sToTBtIk8fpz8YlZUNsBmxV5wF89GbFUbUUP4ZlKyZNK_TxNxSmJynS9AZ8yO6XSTPbGxwTf_ACI2Y8oabQJ/s1600-h/fillipblue.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXdv3PPhLj8L479n2QN2nZWKWiS4gkJwYMltkQMdCWib9P7b84Dpbr0O6sToTBtIk8fpz8YlZUNsBmxV5wF89GbFUbUUP4ZlKyZNK_TxNxSmJynS9AZ8yO6XSTPbGxwTf_ACI2Y8oabQJ/s320/fillipblue.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238895194358349058" /></a><br /><br />S- How is the craft/art community in New Zealand?<br /><br />GF- Well, as you'd imagine it is pretty small but there seems to be a resurgencence in craft making worldwide recently, especially with young people and we, as well as, a bunch of others down here in NZ, are definitely trying our best to do our bit. Karla and her friend City have just started organising a craft market here in Auckland, Kraftbomb (www.kraftbomb.blogspot.com) to help launch and showcase local crafters...It's gonna be huge!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9qWH8uMIphJ5B3afLYoEBla5wUsUfIAoP6XSjWvkQ9nse55F1Ab8MovoUUtDCybT8trRVKVUy2kIeMO0TGjqdZU_4UFbvdF_k_KSv0FFeV3rx5goO8nrskWapfjWfn6cIeUPrNxG2CFF/s1600-h/merrymumforddotface.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9qWH8uMIphJ5B3afLYoEBla5wUsUfIAoP6XSjWvkQ9nse55F1Ab8MovoUUtDCybT8trRVKVUy2kIeMO0TGjqdZU_4UFbvdF_k_KSv0FFeV3rx5goO8nrskWapfjWfn6cIeUPrNxG2CFF/s320/merrymumforddotface.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238895358180761906" /></a><br /><br />S- As you are both surrounded with art, what are some of the most<br />inspiring things you encounter?<br /><br />GF- As the designer behind the plushies Xander derives alot of his inspiration from cartoons and things from his childhood like "The Muppet Show" and the awesome toys he grew up playing with in the 80's.<br />As for Karla, she gets inspiration from her day job as a tattoo artist (you will be able to see this in our latest Plush You entry!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkX1JWHe7cFg3yUz7hxVdEDP-qvh5OxI4cOe0uAAfG0BwD7SnzLrOXqBJ2ibRzlIxWhGuKNIG3-7atAZt58ooQ_6dNhKgfin9VKrhlcYNBcDTYeCY87kGfwh2gsFgW-xmLMKixX-iGT-p/s1600-h/missgeekpurple.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkX1JWHe7cFg3yUz7hxVdEDP-qvh5OxI4cOe0uAAfG0BwD7SnzLrOXqBJ2ibRzlIxWhGuKNIG3-7atAZt58ooQ_6dNhKgfin9VKrhlcYNBcDTYeCY87kGfwh2gsFgW-xmLMKixX-iGT-p/s320/missgeekpurple.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238895548619729666" /></a><br /><br />S- Where would you like to see Geek Freeks in the next 2 years?<br /><br />GF- That's a hard one, obviously we want to be successful in whatever we set out to do. But it's a really hard thing to do part-time, especially when everything is completely hand stitched (that's right, no machines are used in the making of our toys) I think the main thing is we just hope to still have fun doing it! If it stops being fun then I think we'll find something else to do!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_kcPU-HJ5ESBjdnTPhghWnwAJfUICGQQMrWwcFwPhD89AdAPqR68Ugo7TlviK8iVyJyIsOA6U9IWraUxO9gD1KgZKhPZyCCZKyBQ1W0BTs1rUQHsqrdaHcAaZv8DNMP_uiuihoWPSO3a/s1600-h/pheebgreen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_kcPU-HJ5ESBjdnTPhghWnwAJfUICGQQMrWwcFwPhD89AdAPqR68Ugo7TlviK8iVyJyIsOA6U9IWraUxO9gD1KgZKhPZyCCZKyBQ1W0BTs1rUQHsqrdaHcAaZv8DNMP_uiuihoWPSO3a/s320/pheebgreen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238895744441449394" /></a><br /><br />S- If your guys could give advice to the world, what might they say?<br /><br />GF- "Don't judge a plush by its cover!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenAKyUmuIiQHWHZEwFaO8XIJe_HVsl5qsonxoFeFk7aTz5yQiVB6cvcR34WfMZnL5YR-Z1iVfHYSx_zKwEa3K2cq-MQLkteQ2BItx4Ysjz_iQyW7ViaE5gtO36mtU8IlpPVrsHfAAYPBk/s1600-h/cosbycamo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenAKyUmuIiQHWHZEwFaO8XIJe_HVsl5qsonxoFeFk7aTz5yQiVB6cvcR34WfMZnL5YR-Z1iVfHYSx_zKwEa3K2cq-MQLkteQ2BItx4Ysjz_iQyW7ViaE5gtO36mtU8IlpPVrsHfAAYPBk/s320/cosbycamo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238895047686345682" /></a><br /><br />S- Where would you guys go on holiday if you could go anywhere in the world?<br /><br />GF- Right now it's the middle of a miserable winter here in NZ (it's been raining almost every day since May) so we've been dreaming of going to a tropical island somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and just lying on the beach for weeks sipping cocktails! Yum!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43GEq8p3oQM92_8Nyfx0BB0Cy2Tpcso4ius60OKr1q4FUn8dU2Jam89RuwAERLx98U_HsxJQ2uXVTVEZVzJoWrDiQmVvr5bAkZ4uB_nXmySeI5i28OgRSuf8tqHflDBeWXw_0PftIwnJ9/s1600-h/teeveestripey.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43GEq8p3oQM92_8Nyfx0BB0Cy2Tpcso4ius60OKr1q4FUn8dU2Jam89RuwAERLx98U_HsxJQ2uXVTVEZVzJoWrDiQmVvr5bAkZ4uB_nXmySeI5i28OgRSuf8tqHflDBeWXw_0PftIwnJ9/s320/teeveestripey.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238896076214175762" /></a><br /><br />S- What are some of your favorite plush artists?<br /><br />GF- Geez, there are so many, but here are a few off the top of our heads: Lauren Faust, Jared Deal, Jen Rarey, Heidi Kenny, Anna Chambers, Cutesypoo.......<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupUPhO_NZPaDszgaxnU-Ng2mXyXhqTwjeFzPtNe6ApIqARmugWKDv3Y0rV0UXciWEFT5yQLn9O5bSXaDFrek9dJcH5-Cxd1cfcDzMVqYmdsZqZ-6SIjlxvo11knm9cKMPnZNxeWYlKJGM/s1600-h/toys+close.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupUPhO_NZPaDszgaxnU-Ng2mXyXhqTwjeFzPtNe6ApIqARmugWKDv3Y0rV0UXciWEFT5yQLn9O5bSXaDFrek9dJcH5-Cxd1cfcDzMVqYmdsZqZ-6SIjlxvo11knm9cKMPnZNxeWYlKJGM/s320/toys+close.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238896211952869858" /></a><br /><br />S- Any places our readers might be able to see your work?<br /><br />GF- <a href="http://www.geekbooteek.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Geek Freeks blog</a><br /><a href="http://www.geekfreeks.com" target="_blank">Geek Freeks website</a><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/geekfreeks" target="_blank">Geek Freeks on Myspace</a>Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-31416903644605506182008-08-12T14:36:00.000-07:002008-08-13T11:38:45.550-07:00Beeper Bebe Interview and Giveaway!I really like the work by <a href="http://chezbeeperbebe.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Beeper Bébé</a>. It's really cool to think that this woman has only been making toys for three years now! Her work is really amazing. It's my great pleasure to interview Holly this week. <span style="font-weight:bold;"> Leave a comment here for your chance to win your own Woodland Baby Beasts, Your choice of which animal you would like too! Leave a comment along with your contact info.</span> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisd3XJYRgoWRVvwJjKOPKEghd3985hGmmrKO_cCFwoQVdaYFu_rUu7klDaZzzj3bX_-r3ISzEBYubo89c2ObZZ6jZn-foxRK2qBVHGTzQFaSBUSdjGSnW4ApNv1IwJu6dL6TMODMnGF8ya/s1600-h/2484868005_da9bf0604d.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisd3XJYRgoWRVvwJjKOPKEghd3985hGmmrKO_cCFwoQVdaYFu_rUu7klDaZzzj3bX_-r3ISzEBYubo89c2ObZZ6jZn-foxRK2qBVHGTzQFaSBUSdjGSnW4ApNv1IwJu6dL6TMODMnGF8ya/s320/2484868005_da9bf0604d.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233753948039542210" /></a><br /><br />S- How long have you been making plush?<br /><br />BB- I’ve been making plush since my son was about 1 year old—which is the marker in my mind because his birth really gave birth to my interest in making toys. I have always been crazy about toys—although it was largely in secret from my friends and family because I felt it was kind of weird to be an adult and still love plush toys so much. Then, I had a friend who offered me the opportunity to participate in tandem with her in a neighborhood art crawl so I thought I would finally give it a try and make some patterns for some plushies. And they sold really well, and it all evolved from there. So, all said, I guess I have making toys for about 3 years now.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBICZwwTLhEV1cW5LtcmBLib94GTiP3AQig-CWzmgCqYaZXHYeyUQcl5oMqY-cdt_Cb-iaQq1m_qU6me-QxCBlh1YGKm6RVPfyoVpsWr96W6THmgV8luf7XWWlevw3j7A9mg0VnK6yR8iB/s1600-h/2245050442_6395134d20.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBICZwwTLhEV1cW5LtcmBLib94GTiP3AQig-CWzmgCqYaZXHYeyUQcl5oMqY-cdt_Cb-iaQq1m_qU6me-QxCBlh1YGKm6RVPfyoVpsWr96W6THmgV8luf7XWWlevw3j7A9mg0VnK6yR8iB/s320/2245050442_6395134d20.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234073505808144034" /></a><br /><br />S- It seems like you use a lot of recycled materials. Where do you get most of your supplies?<br /><br />BB- I do use a lot of recycled materials. I have utterly fantastic thrift shops in my neighborhood in south Minneapolis and I buy almost all of my stuff from one in particular—Savers. Although, I do have friends who offload their old sweaters and crafting miscellany to me knowing I will find a use. But I buy loads of wool and cashmere sweaters at my local thrift store, and unused fabric that they always seem to have in unreasonably large pieces (especially fleece), wool tweed suit coats, and then anything extra I might be looking for to make a particular piece. And I find a way to use most of the items I thrift—for instance, with a cashmere sweater, I will save the cuffs and make little scarves and cardigans and hats for my smaller plush, then I make little cashmere hats for babies from the bottom portions of the sweater with the ribbing, and will make larger plush from the body and arms of the sweater—and scraps that are smaller are made into smaller plush like my Beddy Bye Beasts, or if they are too small to use, I toss them in a sack and use some of these in combo with fiberfill to stuff my plush. So it is really like the native American philosophy of using the whole animal and wasting as little as possible.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ77V9BXHpgV_VtTJwYK_NyB3NMIor0kW6HfTl8MGeNXW7OGBVvpAGhOqanUwejalhtwdM8puSYV5Z0N1-B574AzosfJozkU-rz5GwyYkvqEp2Afee7sa-esfJIuj2BSgUf2G1zMaBzcVZ/s1600-h/2682934453_cc2d2a9c56.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ77V9BXHpgV_VtTJwYK_NyB3NMIor0kW6HfTl8MGeNXW7OGBVvpAGhOqanUwejalhtwdM8puSYV5Z0N1-B574AzosfJozkU-rz5GwyYkvqEp2Afee7sa-esfJIuj2BSgUf2G1zMaBzcVZ/s320/2682934453_cc2d2a9c56.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233754265911238194" /></a><br /><br />S- You have been making those adorably small bitty bebe's a lot more. Is a lot different making items that small? Why did you choose to go so small?<br /><br />BB- I chose to go small because I personally love bitty things and think when things are smaller, they are somehow more adorable. And I had this image in my mind of a little hand sized doll I had when I was 6 years old and her little clothes and how easy it was to carry her around in my little purse and always have her with me— I always found having to my toys with me to be comforting. So I wanted to create something that could create that experience for other kids.<br /><br />Certainly, working smaller has its challenges. It required a whole new set of tools to be able to turn out all those little corners smoothly and firmly stuff the doll. And I also had to trace my patterns onto the fabric (rather than pin them on as I usually would) because such little pieces require much more accuracy in shape or you end up with blobby, instead of bitty, baby parts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7X2zhJtztB5AHPYVUGqXB4VdQnXAvzuo6WZp5T_FWvZ4n2h5HjlcCa4lfUCNRpBD3lme-2eEkrRaY4Wpg-GsncpG2-rB4EhsOiFbYyyVj-j2Ekv34HhmzQPMXbmH-zdkTE_BPAuovqoh/s1600-h/2683761324_86389d6b21.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7X2zhJtztB5AHPYVUGqXB4VdQnXAvzuo6WZp5T_FWvZ4n2h5HjlcCa4lfUCNRpBD3lme-2eEkrRaY4Wpg-GsncpG2-rB4EhsOiFbYyyVj-j2Ekv34HhmzQPMXbmH-zdkTE_BPAuovqoh/s320/2683761324_86389d6b21.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233754414853487810" /></a><br /><br />S- Where do you get inspiration?<br /><br />BB- My son inspires me. All the time. I started with making plush animals of every variety because my son is MAD about animals of all varieties and creed. I love to observe his creative play because it always inspires me. It just so funny how he will have a Batman action figure interacting with a rubber alligator (hugging it, for instance), inside of a vintage Little People hospital or something. I also get a lot of inspiration from nature--my woodland Baby Beasts were actually inspired by the real animals you can find here in the forests of Minnesota.<br /><br />And of course, other plush makers inspire me. It is an ever evolving list of who I find inspirational, but Jess Brown, Eveluche, November Moon, Fern Animals, Flying Star Toys, and Clive + Sunshine are who I am in love with right now. And I always love Lizette Greco—everything she makes and how she makes it is phenomenal.<br /><br />On a non-plush related note, I also find this sight about thrifting and living greener to be both hilarious and inspirational: Secondhand Nation.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQoNTnCRdxRCVEtNq5f0LH9B12wuKllS1qwtV_-jjGqaP_Brqe50vI8_ehYGxisQJr19gdT8_4AHPWbEdCIdbeFiDcPbOfoLlgtVscpS24DDLsZqg_XeA7b2R1wT3xeGzE-EmlwHmw1HE/s1600-h/2703127217_6de0064534.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQoNTnCRdxRCVEtNq5f0LH9B12wuKllS1qwtV_-jjGqaP_Brqe50vI8_ehYGxisQJr19gdT8_4AHPWbEdCIdbeFiDcPbOfoLlgtVscpS24DDLsZqg_XeA7b2R1wT3xeGzE-EmlwHmw1HE/s320/2703127217_6de0064534.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233754659552259602" /></a><br /><br />S- If you told a stranger what you make, how would you describe your work?<br /><br />BB- Handmade dolls and plush made from other people’s unwanted stuff. That’s it, in a nutshell.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijC8T05L3Q9a1n6s1gTmIX1WrWQLRbNWQAPZZneZYk-93Uc-97SpExzSu63KwMePdjIQ84W6dktPE6gqgOt2ydm1z5_NPrPOvwaRAfTA7X_pIm19Cj1CyYw6yhw43Qp56fPar8k0nUlb73/s1600-h/2703128927_5579d2e1f0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijC8T05L3Q9a1n6s1gTmIX1WrWQLRbNWQAPZZneZYk-93Uc-97SpExzSu63KwMePdjIQ84W6dktPE6gqgOt2ydm1z5_NPrPOvwaRAfTA7X_pIm19Cj1CyYw6yhw43Qp56fPar8k0nUlb73/s320/2703128927_5579d2e1f0.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233754819812657778" /></a><br /><br />S- When are you the most productive?<br /><br />BB- Anytime I can find a quiet hour or two in my workshop—usually during my son’s naptime, or at night, with a cup of green team beside me, maybe a little piece of dark chocolate. I also go into productive overdrive about a month before I am in any sort of art fair—I tend to procrastinate and find the pressure of impending deadlines to be, well, hastening to the need to SEW NOW.<br /><br />And I do a lot of hand sewing and embroidery work on airplanes while I am held captive by the airlines for my day job—although I do find that the motion of a needle is unnerving to fellow passengers—and I do get various sewing implements confiscated by security from time to time (seam rippers, bigger needles, etc).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsdHQjab0HQIAJuagQlVsyKEIoCCSLl_tVDvsna-CWD-M_55Nj2aj0IPld3WoXgefexRdeSEL9mPO90LyCqdUNnGcv-H0NksIwPoy8ceE0KPYZ5pfVH4ochO0aamybhTxuGe98xKHTTtG/s1600-h/2703141343_b73ecbb81a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsdHQjab0HQIAJuagQlVsyKEIoCCSLl_tVDvsna-CWD-M_55Nj2aj0IPld3WoXgefexRdeSEL9mPO90LyCqdUNnGcv-H0NksIwPoy8ceE0KPYZ5pfVH4ochO0aamybhTxuGe98xKHTTtG/s320/2703141343_b73ecbb81a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233755011205798690" /></a><br /><br />S- What do you like most about working in this medium?<br /><br />BB- I love working with reclaimed materials most—it aligns with my values around using what you have in the interest of using fewer resources from the earth. We are a total throw away culture so there is loads out there to work with. And it is always a surprise what can be found at the thrift store and this in and of itself brings me inspiration—I mean, a shaggy white faux fur vest? How could I not find inspiration in that (it became a Woodland Baby Beast bird, by the way)?<br /><br />But I love making plush because I like to think they can offer comfort, innocence, happiness, and creativity to the world. As sappy as it is, I like to believe the caring I have in making my plush, are somehow felt on the other end with the kids who receive them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaHtUx0hmj3BZ5UIAUnEocADL86FZFz-GA6RcRpHNbKHX2lCmKPJ0arSFSYwEn_dn6_lP9kLl-UsXSSaFBoTylZoB63UCSAL0wmXjcwpIPOVV918weEsg5lc4-OwCaTNGiXB00n-Cc5vf/s1600-h/2703949576_f5bfc2f8d7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaHtUx0hmj3BZ5UIAUnEocADL86FZFz-GA6RcRpHNbKHX2lCmKPJ0arSFSYwEn_dn6_lP9kLl-UsXSSaFBoTylZoB63UCSAL0wmXjcwpIPOVV918weEsg5lc4-OwCaTNGiXB00n-Cc5vf/s320/2703949576_f5bfc2f8d7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233755181044051954" /></a><br /><br />S- Where do you live and how long have you lived there for?<br /><br />BB- I live in Minneapolis and have lived here for almost 10 years now. We own a great old house that was built in1920, that is in the midst of a diverse neighborhood. Minneapolis is a truly cool city—it has a great music scene, has a deep dedication to the arts, and there are loads of parks to get out and enjoy the seasons in. There are so many art fairs that take place here, and so many galleries to peruse, and also, great ethnic restaurants. Although we do talk about moving away to the “big woods”, I am not sure we are honestly prepared to leave the opportunities of the city behind.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEili3Chyi5AV_tKI71GZem5Am8pA_HRZL2S_uOXUMHaTY1CLndArTY-4gaRFrQTSs5rAFQlWLh-jyfi5OULzQ3mxzsE4OlX2OIjgV3CuooaqkgoNPApLFViLac6nxnd6c591jzacDKzYXef/s1600-h/2484866405_74b21f1f4c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEili3Chyi5AV_tKI71GZem5Am8pA_HRZL2S_uOXUMHaTY1CLndArTY-4gaRFrQTSs5rAFQlWLh-jyfi5OULzQ3mxzsE4OlX2OIjgV3CuooaqkgoNPApLFViLac6nxnd6c591jzacDKzYXef/s320/2484866405_74b21f1f4c.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233755649613401138" /></a><br /><br />S- What are you most excited for in this year?<br /><br />BB- Being in the Plush You show—really, I am! And I am excited about working on several new plush designs—I have a whole 5 page list of ideas just waiting to be designed and sewn up. I want to make some plush based off some of my childhood drawings I recently blogged about, and I have at least 2 new dolls designs, and I want to make a snake that can swallow some things because my son is crazy about snakes, and I have some all new animal designs I am working out…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCRHPlrCxW9Jwo6vG-7DiR4cGKvcGWuJU7KrDVlKL8vPGIehdWKacMEhSlk87-bbf1I_KxjXBgOkZC-0z3tQr5s4M6tqwNtAEY1Cde7mlk2wTURjhROEASTxcpZvOR4DyFkeoLyfPuqWv/s1600-h/2485684348_09452a5dd6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCRHPlrCxW9Jwo6vG-7DiR4cGKvcGWuJU7KrDVlKL8vPGIehdWKacMEhSlk87-bbf1I_KxjXBgOkZC-0z3tQr5s4M6tqwNtAEY1Cde7mlk2wTURjhROEASTxcpZvOR4DyFkeoLyfPuqWv/s320/2485684348_09452a5dd6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233755821253547858" /></a><br /><br />S- Any news you would like to share with us?<br /><br />BB- News? Well, I have a blog I just started a couple of months ago and am still working out the flavor—it is evolving. It is called Chez Beeper Bébé. It really covers my life as a plush artist, my home life (lots of cooking and recipes), and some of the more fantastic parts of my boring corporate day job (mostly the travel part).<br /><br />I am anticipating being in the No Coast Craft O’Rama again this December, so am already preparing for that. I love the vendors at the sale and I love the shoppers—and the location is just a few blocks from my home. And the girls who run the sale rock. One of my best friends joined me last year to help out in my booth, and we just chatted and drank coffee and ate coconut popsicles from the Latino grocery in the marketplace where the sale is held, and watched the ocean of holiday shoppers. I am hoping she will join me again this year because it was a blast. Popsicles and plush with a friend—does it get any better?<br /><br />Don't forget, leave a comment here for your chance to win your choice of one of these!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGbjn_Ivplcyoy9smfV05jU0BZ701aas1AkLvkpF6f24e3Ypq8HLa27h4izb_EVRdmoWa5GiQRmy3hk_cyIVS33Yk2iR66rjFSOSqW6Xj0cIZhCkuQkvvMY-PZc4jbbkaAAlg2MNfh4ee/s1600-h/2484867493_31672e39cf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGbjn_Ivplcyoy9smfV05jU0BZ701aas1AkLvkpF6f24e3Ypq8HLa27h4izb_EVRdmoWa5GiQRmy3hk_cyIVS33Yk2iR66rjFSOSqW6Xj0cIZhCkuQkvvMY-PZc4jbbkaAAlg2MNfh4ee/s320/2484867493_31672e39cf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233753600568544066" /></a>Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-15829823600526301702008-08-05T13:28:00.000-07:002008-08-05T14:02:27.207-07:00Love and a Sandwich Interview and Giveaway!I have never met <a href="http://loveandasandwich.etsy.com" target="_blank">Chelsea</a> but I sure would love to. Chelsea sent me the sweetest email along with her answers that put a smile on my face. I forget that some folks have been reading this little blog of mine for awhile and it's nice to know that it has inspired folks. I started seeing all of Chelsea's creations on our flickr pool and each time she updated a photo I thought, man I wish I felt ok about talking about her again! It is my great pleasure to have her up for an interview. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Please leave a comment for your chance to win your own monster made by Chelsea herself along with your favorite color and contact info. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1LvbHvvfVPooJXCbGfTvY_f-OybKOkhalcVc_ugdsoiQD_QwptmIGWXFOJtOk-XuAWWRUGQX_1MduwtMgWgTFUv463oE25pDAN9_sSpyAe9ztJrTll8p0TOEHpd7RftONbNDuiTNK9wP/s1600-h/2513216082_8f5b482187.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1LvbHvvfVPooJXCbGfTvY_f-OybKOkhalcVc_ugdsoiQD_QwptmIGWXFOJtOk-XuAWWRUGQX_1MduwtMgWgTFUv463oE25pDAN9_sSpyAe9ztJrTll8p0TOEHpd7RftONbNDuiTNK9wP/s320/2513216082_8f5b482187.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231140887389392786" /></a><br /><br />S- What was the first plushie you created? How did it go?<br /><br />LAAS- I think my first ever plush was in my home economics class in middle school. I chose this super difficult cocker spaniel plush to make. The pieces were all there and all I had to do was sew them together, but I got bored of it real real fast. My mom finished it for me so I guess that doesn't count, haha. After that I tried it when I was 18, and I made this panda pillow out of an old tshirt and some night sky fabric from an old crafty christmas present. Oh boy was that horrible. It took me a good 10-12 hours to finish it, and it was lopsided and more bordering the lines of scary than cute. I gave it to my little sister. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiy9U_aIEKQKhr9MCGAffpjyrXNp3754_RXkZHfZFHFR55jaUEKQ1LWszGAEthNjDZF5C3Kym7wOD3LF-keU0aMaxCKU87r-Z6sS7dcq1bogf-AkldrDKNOYceCPLErjoknHR2WDanOP8k/s1600-h/2552955382_cf3d767a1c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiy9U_aIEKQKhr9MCGAffpjyrXNp3754_RXkZHfZFHFR55jaUEKQ1LWszGAEthNjDZF5C3Kym7wOD3LF-keU0aMaxCKU87r-Z6sS7dcq1bogf-AkldrDKNOYceCPLErjoknHR2WDanOP8k/s320/2552955382_cf3d767a1c.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231138876756300306" /></a><br /><br />S- How long have you been sewing and how did you learn?<br /><br />LAAS- A little less than a year, actually, haha. I picked it up last summer while I was working at a craft store. One of my favorite artists, Brandi Milne, had started making these creepy cute dolls and I thought they were awesome & wanted to try it myself. I didn't know how to sew at all, I knew the basics of a straight stitch just from stitching random things to my clothes or to my backpack. So I took out some embroidery and doll making books from the library and taught myself! It took a lot of trial and error, and I learned a lot from plush specific books. I've made one (or more) almost every day for the past year. I still haven't mastered the art, but everyday I get faster & learn more. It's like anything else... the more you do it, the better you become. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1fKRt7hMxdlhtWseVVgCzHHZsF18CQSbffAYp82MDYyCimJCwubHJsU9rzdVsMiB2qS30Wx4WJqMLDxEoQKS10Qby5lmdtzJjOrw04RQjyWgqbX2pK9LMSTsOWTBtXO-9RPkQQHzVYWZ/s1600-h/2678645362_bf77ea9b17.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1fKRt7hMxdlhtWseVVgCzHHZsF18CQSbffAYp82MDYyCimJCwubHJsU9rzdVsMiB2qS30Wx4WJqMLDxEoQKS10Qby5lmdtzJjOrw04RQjyWgqbX2pK9LMSTsOWTBtXO-9RPkQQHzVYWZ/s320/2678645362_bf77ea9b17.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231137292099897090" /></a><br /><br />S- How is your alphabet project coming along? What made you do that?<br /><br />LAAS- I finished it! A little less than a week ago. I put them all together in a nice little digital collage to show them all together. I started it because I wanted to have some sort of plush-specific goal to work on. Something that would take awhile but I'd have a lot to show for it. Plus I've just always loved projects revolving around the alphabet, because I'm always thinking things like "oh man, what are they gonna do for X!? or Q! Those are toughies!" Things like that are exciting to me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCObqE20A_avUnY5XMl6VLJd13jgjTLkfsjhKiW_ot4n0AO7zBusRdL-DtCRzL1TbdnTWfCX3pjq3i9DnIzWckyMTNNQ-IOKdWmEnnBUbxNwmj2FCMehyMhrjVcXfTEuCTJxNYjeB6z_2b/s1600-h/2697231176_cf28c11249.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCObqE20A_avUnY5XMl6VLJd13jgjTLkfsjhKiW_ot4n0AO7zBusRdL-DtCRzL1TbdnTWfCX3pjq3i9DnIzWckyMTNNQ-IOKdWmEnnBUbxNwmj2FCMehyMhrjVcXfTEuCTJxNYjeB6z_2b/s320/2697231176_cf28c11249.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231137611934505010" /></a><br /><br />S- How do you promote your work? What do you think has helped you the most?<br /><br />LAAS- I try to be active on as many sites as I can find. I'm a part of myspace, craftster, getcrafty, indiepublic, livejournal, deviantart, flickr, conceptart, etsy and probably some others I can't think of. I contribute, enter contests, update often. I figure the more places I'm on, the more chances of getting noticed I have. Probably what has helped me the most was updating so often, and keeping my work fresh in peoples minds. I was always working on new things and updating, and I think that always helps a lot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJxzH9Os3TxyEeV6QrlH1wQFmYGZOE67R9Tq-opmAyEBsc_zwYcPO1k8WaJDIV3LzJ3sPxjXM17wvqXuEErw1ltpNFhg_tW0JLG00BzVm7O1vRBaAvllzi80lo1g3EqxcAhk6BnBFlMG5/s1600-h/2596504506_fd3412f573.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJxzH9Os3TxyEeV6QrlH1wQFmYGZOE67R9Tq-opmAyEBsc_zwYcPO1k8WaJDIV3LzJ3sPxjXM17wvqXuEErw1ltpNFhg_tW0JLG00BzVm7O1vRBaAvllzi80lo1g3EqxcAhk6BnBFlMG5/s320/2596504506_fd3412f573.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231139139610981074" /></a><br /><br />S- Have you made more mini plush earrings? Those were super cute!<br /><br />LAAS- Haha thank you! I havent made too many recent ones, but I remake the popular old ones because they sell really well. I've remade the yeti ones a little less than 20 times. I do want to come up with new designs, and this reminded me! I probably will real soon. I didn't realize how popular wearing little fuzzy guys on your ears would be. I've made about 15(?) earring monster designs, plenty of room for more.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHcJQ3e06NtrCNOjqjrnbOBvU8W7nJpvbQJlDO_JdRVWP6MD2JRycaxtWcv03nuRuW-s4ZVmG5CgtZ0JxDwnhlMDiu6RrbE0IPGhYhVQvjRiUAXFTit7aQZFnAxujT2iiNbr_aZ7htsSS/s1600-h/2539226580_ed50ecc97c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHcJQ3e06NtrCNOjqjrnbOBvU8W7nJpvbQJlDO_JdRVWP6MD2JRycaxtWcv03nuRuW-s4ZVmG5CgtZ0JxDwnhlMDiu6RrbE0IPGhYhVQvjRiUAXFTit7aQZFnAxujT2iiNbr_aZ7htsSS/s320/2539226580_ed50ecc97c.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231140166469007666" /></a><br /><br />S- What is your most popular character? What is your favorite character?<br /><br />LAAS- My most popular is probably my first big monster, Weeko. I've remade him about five times, two were special orders. They were my most expensive monster by a longshot, and every time I listed one they were gone so fast! One of the special orders I did was a 2 foot tall Weeko! And he had a 3 foot antlerspan. It was excitingly huge & the biggest plush I've made (so far).<br />Oh man, I couldn't choose my favorite plush, that's like asking a mom to choose their favorite kid! But if I had to choose I'd probably choose one of my 90s rappers bears I made for the Crammed Organisms shows. I worked on them so hard. Fresh Prince of Bear-air probably was the best, because the name just worked so perfectly & he had the best accessories. A huge flat top, shutter shades, neon striped hoodie and an attitude problem.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsAis76tKKApP8bE7LzqqEqJwdGBR2TT1O5JBxLdnxdBpTH7ajxyIDAgTv2gtTa4NpcZh_0xR8Mhr1pbZ_QAdCXEm_DFy2WpUHUtgIVK6ZXA6LmVxuWefywbVxjKXEnn3BFYUNXA6U05m/s1600-h/2546477787_f7c6989966.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsAis76tKKApP8bE7LzqqEqJwdGBR2TT1O5JBxLdnxdBpTH7ajxyIDAgTv2gtTa4NpcZh_0xR8Mhr1pbZ_QAdCXEm_DFy2WpUHUtgIVK6ZXA6LmVxuWefywbVxjKXEnn3BFYUNXA6U05m/s320/2546477787_f7c6989966.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231139640165065074" /></a><br /><br />S- Where can folks find your work?<br /><br />LAAS- on my shop! http://loveandasandwich.etsy.com or my blog http://threeeasysteps.livejournal.com<br /><br />or on a lot of sites, but I update & post the most work on<br />http://loveandasandwich.deviantart.com &<br />http://flickr.com/photos/loveandasandwich<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JoJw1GNh2KPnhzgYpQ8lFakVdPe84TtkLG6duVbYU8yqaJ74t2_It4UFiIBBiUwRuAgPhcQUR5lA6imhguSKR6GFjhKSkth94WoHHPIliy2TGgm1nEhyuO_Zh00b5sXY7fRTvqX-qdpH/s1600-h/2706936127_97cb46cf4b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JoJw1GNh2KPnhzgYpQ8lFakVdPe84TtkLG6duVbYU8yqaJ74t2_It4UFiIBBiUwRuAgPhcQUR5lA6imhguSKR6GFjhKSkth94WoHHPIliy2TGgm1nEhyuO_Zh00b5sXY7fRTvqX-qdpH/s320/2706936127_97cb46cf4b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231137767571636786" /></a><br /><br />S- Name the top five albums played during your plush making.<br /><br />LAAS- Chromeo= Fancy Footwork<br />Daft Punk= Alive 2007<br />The Essential Michael Jackson<br />Run DMC Greatest Hits<br />Any album by The Knife<br /><br />I also listen to a looot of audiobooks. Roald Dahl books are the most fun to listen to. Especially when read by a very old british man.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcPE-4io2hXrAv1w6ATHUf9e3vlWbsaqEjEZYOEs1VNdWhyphenhyphen0wv7jlfV5ilZiEqU7V1yFOGWFCvB3IVKAixcRKdhvUxYLB7AAWyfa0rs0w5KMv34I4T5jgCfVH5JITGUGiL1gJxFSVBcnO/s1600-h/2548991593_89d5a6ff95.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcPE-4io2hXrAv1w6ATHUf9e3vlWbsaqEjEZYOEs1VNdWhyphenhyphen0wv7jlfV5ilZiEqU7V1yFOGWFCvB3IVKAixcRKdhvUxYLB7AAWyfa0rs0w5KMv34I4T5jgCfVH5JITGUGiL1gJxFSVBcnO/s320/2548991593_89d5a6ff95.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231139015600260818" /></a><br /><br />S- What is your favorite part of making plush?<br /><br />LAAS- It used to be writing their mini life stories & giving them names. But I recently moved from a plain flat city in Illinois to a green mountainous small town in New Hampshire, and now my favorite part is filling up a backpack of my monsters and taking them around to rivers and up mountains to take pictures of them in their "natural habitat". Or just thinking up cute scenes for pictures in general. I really want to make a monster photo book.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhU8mdHIfacOO4WkMWhmMSMds07yuzuYCxhZWQa01K6QieEIC6wSpc90QCnb_ABeZrI0Hwp_2R2HEcn8F0TvRbFbbuuC2y6z5GqoLe45Q5RcSHm8A1BSBQJQhNKZpWogD13gubHcS4vig/s1600-h/2658424391_10809799df-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhU8mdHIfacOO4WkMWhmMSMds07yuzuYCxhZWQa01K6QieEIC6wSpc90QCnb_ABeZrI0Hwp_2R2HEcn8F0TvRbFbbuuC2y6z5GqoLe45Q5RcSHm8A1BSBQJQhNKZpWogD13gubHcS4vig/s320/2658424391_10809799df-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231136895292371458" /></a><br /><br />S- Any exciting news you would like to share with us?<br /><br />LAAS- I have a website in the making! loveandasandwich.com Right now all it is is an enter page, but it's a damn good one! It's fairly close to done, it might even be done by the time this interview is posted! But probably not.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaSchNXRT14ZTYlo9gQLFEhbTrLOhPn-S5JquXmBxfGbhHaF4IcvOTy1iGMPEFzI17DOah7zspYmSeJ7T6FgrZhLZ9DRuWZ77rN41JkumA6YKXTMVJyS85ZlthD4qmlaH-e18faaCauBR/s1600-h/2665991301_d93740deb3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaSchNXRT14ZTYlo9gQLFEhbTrLOhPn-S5JquXmBxfGbhHaF4IcvOTy1iGMPEFzI17DOah7zspYmSeJ7T6FgrZhLZ9DRuWZ77rN41JkumA6YKXTMVJyS85ZlthD4qmlaH-e18faaCauBR/s320/2665991301_d93740deb3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231137148812161698" /></a><br /><br />Thanks again for wanting to interview me!<br /><3ChelseaSchmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-77330707800142061942008-07-29T11:51:00.000-07:002008-07-29T14:43:26.657-07:00Serena Kuhl Interview and Giveaway!I have had the pleasure of working with <a href="http://serenakuhl.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Serena Kuhl</a> for several Plush You! shows along with her contribution to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1581809964?ie=UTF8&tag=plushyou2coms-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1581809964">Plush You!: Lovable Misfit Toys to Sew and Stuff</a>. She has always been supportive, inspiring and her work is funny to boot. I am so glad we finally have her for an interview. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Leave a comment here for your chance to win your own cannibal bunny! Don't forget to leave contact info!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFN4KWZOHOMrcuDweXobDFdBkuGmPFUQBfN6YzW5F163OoF2yzojvFc5zUslrbyQYUn2EPC_d7Byf_3ErmR2LnyDYYPjNm96iDppLW8NKXW_-CrJr7tkW6Adh2JZ-_r8NXbkpjMtdRxTIw/s1600-h/almost+headlesssmall.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFN4KWZOHOMrcuDweXobDFdBkuGmPFUQBfN6YzW5F163OoF2yzojvFc5zUslrbyQYUn2EPC_d7Byf_3ErmR2LnyDYYPjNm96iDppLW8NKXW_-CrJr7tkW6Adh2JZ-_r8NXbkpjMtdRxTIw/s320/almost+headlesssmall.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228549016801664754" /></a><br /><br />S- Can you first tell us more about yourself and how you got into sewing plush toys?<br /><br />SK- My mum taught me to sew when i was really young, I used to sew a lot of pillows! I'd get sick of doing it half way through and then start making the stitches bigger and bigger! Then when i started school I was shown how to make these snake characters out of old tights, you were supposed to put them in front of doors to stop the draughts, so I ripped a lot of my stockings so i could make a legion of them! I didn't really make toys again until i was at art school. a bunch of female students were asked to respond to the theme "Male" in a sculpture, so i made a pile of pastel coloured phallic objects out of plush, and have been making them ever since<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AqF3XIxkOZnkjBlc7MmRAhYL6Faj365iT5oI7YGjaE83V5ncmLU3xfLoU58I64l4HL6DkkUEHKe0iZZ1XmwbMqx7vJlWQo_J82pyKb4GmBiuC3-VOBqQ1h2Qin5yt9YgqefkL_zB8Zou/s1600-h/1532574704_c7dcdcdf14_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AqF3XIxkOZnkjBlc7MmRAhYL6Faj365iT5oI7YGjaE83V5ncmLU3xfLoU58I64l4HL6DkkUEHKe0iZZ1XmwbMqx7vJlWQo_J82pyKb4GmBiuC3-VOBqQ1h2Qin5yt9YgqefkL_zB8Zou/s320/1532574704_c7dcdcdf14_m.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228552564820325794" /></a><br /><br />S- I feel like since our first encounter you have really expanded your work and your customer base. How have you reached galleries and shops so far away?<br /><br />SK- Myspace is suprisingly helpful. It appears it's useful for something other then helping teenagers hook up! People have seen my work and requested it, or I send an email off to them. You get as many rejections and acceptances obviously, as there is a core crew who are operating at a professional level, and you find their work in every toy shop known. Ugly Dolls are a good example of this. A lot of shop owners are wary of investing space and money in something outside of the well exposed artists. and as I'm in a very isolated pat of Australia, everywhere is a long way away from me! So sending stuff to Sweden, the US or Melbourne doesn't really make a lot of difference.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUChBWKxmkO0yyUwwAbnt6DQZAokyg2pnjElR5E76jLZMtSwvc9Ai-hjnO3_vbth3QWQ0Q55t038saFzKWEI2BlPvePT5j0ZXrj7EVcrpT-kpyPQOFpy-sS_vOc5o26XawSPvd5YR3Z-f/s1600-h/1653208103_921b927a09_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUChBWKxmkO0yyUwwAbnt6DQZAokyg2pnjElR5E76jLZMtSwvc9Ai-hjnO3_vbth3QWQ0Q55t038saFzKWEI2BlPvePT5j0ZXrj7EVcrpT-kpyPQOFpy-sS_vOc5o26XawSPvd5YR3Z-f/s320/1653208103_921b927a09_m.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228552714096130738" /></a><br /><br />S- You have also started curating your own plush shows. Can you tell us a bit how that came about and how others can get involved?<br /><br />SK- Obviously i was influenced by you and the incredible success of the Plush You shows! I had had an idea for awhile about using the same format as the vinyl figure custom shows in plush, and then artists like Mju and Cupco got their versions out there, so I thought i better get on it! We have a Flickr group and a blog which has all the details, currently there is a lot of artist's profiles being posted, so it's another source of plushy info, along with the great Plush You blog. It's at http://plush-it.blogspot.com. Currently we have a full roster of artists, but if we decide to hold the show again next year, we'll send out a call to artists.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPms68fNEbd1JslKAHKTfDhVuILoTrBR2NEdrEPlc3kLtHiqdktapYY-rn8Dxt9DcabEwusbMF0vQcqXonPeyhqRYP7mIo2GnSuXp3TkTnsBVuW8in_X9fgRovpL8rj5aa2nQibY89qx-5/s1600-h/black+and+white+polter.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPms68fNEbd1JslKAHKTfDhVuILoTrBR2NEdrEPlc3kLtHiqdktapYY-rn8Dxt9DcabEwusbMF0vQcqXonPeyhqRYP7mIo2GnSuXp3TkTnsBVuW8in_X9fgRovpL8rj5aa2nQibY89qx-5/s320/black+and+white+polter.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228549157837904274" /></a><br /><br />S- What are some of your most popular characters?<br /><br />SK- Gimp bunnies, Poltergoost, and Bunbun. The first two I get, the last one is a weird looking pink bunny, and i don't understand it's appeal at all<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrzGULGfDsAKMSBY1WQlmmXCdx0aSana5jLlTcoLSvlEX7slXe8ErYH2OpDIe6N4aTg5_8ZLvwj970zfHEmB4Lq0EDe9_CXEak5RwTZi9L5CMtFcjQSEh8CZpO6Oh7RMlezU7bPq7Y8c7/s1600-h/1531663665_5d83bfbd17_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrzGULGfDsAKMSBY1WQlmmXCdx0aSana5jLlTcoLSvlEX7slXe8ErYH2OpDIe6N4aTg5_8ZLvwj970zfHEmB4Lq0EDe9_CXEak5RwTZi9L5CMtFcjQSEh8CZpO6Oh7RMlezU7bPq7Y8c7/s320/1531663665_5d83bfbd17_m.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228551509736759170" /></a><br /><br />S- I love the blood and whatnot you add to some of your characters...of which you did a fantastic tutorial for Plush You! book. Do you experiment a lot with various materials and how has that helped make your products unique?<br /><br />SK- Actually no. Originally i was trying to make a clear drool with the silicon you use to seal windows, and that didn't work out too well. I then found dimensional paint. i used to use it just to embellish my plush, then i made the first Cannibal Bunny and it all fell into place very easily. You could say I'm just a natural at fake blood making!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cmDuiBlK2jKxfR_Woa_WtZSKfeEgIih8C6VlQuHyIi3R3oi8V8FAy-kCa2SjbwTwNH7WjkWtdv0hC4ZRY4GmzugLlIEI2eYYoWfSwuP6qm3LdSFScLJUYlDbpk3qCKoahy72ckTuz-N5/s1600-h/1353973409_4e16b3cf2b_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cmDuiBlK2jKxfR_Woa_WtZSKfeEgIih8C6VlQuHyIi3R3oi8V8FAy-kCa2SjbwTwNH7WjkWtdv0hC4ZRY4GmzugLlIEI2eYYoWfSwuP6qm3LdSFScLJUYlDbpk3qCKoahy72ckTuz-N5/s320/1353973409_4e16b3cf2b_m.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228551300855708530" /></a><br /><br />S- I know you are a school teacher, have you made plush toys with your students and have any of them gotten into the plush movement?<br /><br />SK- I don't really do plush at school. I assist any student whose interested, but kids get very leery when you try to push what you're into in a class. I also have classes with a lot of boys in it, and it's hard to sell plush as a manly thing to 15 year olds. Funnily enough, they're much more accepting of plush ideas when visiting artists suggest it. But we do do a lot of character design and stencilling, and my insane streak gets full range there<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcHyz8YrgC2yOjZikAfNAN9krBYR4lNGdFjFQ5cTODJTdkW8sRwA_i3ceW0FaXRXkmXHcKOkBizDO5Pu9EJflsZnJ3szG6gtJe0iMJN8zXRiLmI-elzZhr7qU2SnciluApaNPbXDB15vD/s1600-h/2067767003_0c76bef7ba_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcHyz8YrgC2yOjZikAfNAN9krBYR4lNGdFjFQ5cTODJTdkW8sRwA_i3ceW0FaXRXkmXHcKOkBizDO5Pu9EJflsZnJ3szG6gtJe0iMJN8zXRiLmI-elzZhr7qU2SnciluApaNPbXDB15vD/s320/2067767003_0c76bef7ba_m.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228552927018141138" /></a><br /><br />S- Because you have a full time job, how often do you even get to spend on creating new characters, participating in shows, etc.?<br /><br />SK- A lot, but that's because I don't have a life! We have recently bought a house, so we can't afford to do anything except clean and renovate or hang around the house, so I spend my time making critters and coming up with new ideas. Luckily my partner is incredibly supportive, he assists with ideas and back stories all the time<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5UOYkRUzsYsroLqdToOf8FSaSTuB90u8jkD7j67RuD8wWAZxE-zlNVVGFD0pT-h0JM-97Q3XvbUo015eF8jkT7NDtT_2ELbYVkD_srGPL2PQAlmUnjKsrscv7Yv_9fJMSRq2CjkFWjgp/s1600-h/489521614_d557d2dfae_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5UOYkRUzsYsroLqdToOf8FSaSTuB90u8jkD7j67RuD8wWAZxE-zlNVVGFD0pT-h0JM-97Q3XvbUo015eF8jkT7NDtT_2ELbYVkD_srGPL2PQAlmUnjKsrscv7Yv_9fJMSRq2CjkFWjgp/s320/489521614_d557d2dfae_m.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228554581838385746" /></a><br /><br />S- What would you like to see for the plush movement at large?<br /><br />SK- Maybe get a little more acceptance? Plush seems to be almost the poor cousin of vinyl. Looking at artists like Robyn Fabsits, her work is beyond what a lot of vinyl artists are creating. she rocks!<br /><br />S-Where do you see yourself in the next 2 years?<br /><br />SK- Getting a website together....yeah that might take 20 years<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI74-sZQ6-M4AfXiVjkiZNkWcpFE_QMuaE9p2r15NXSnk95iSta60DbAWZUlwnsn5rt7PHg523DRWas9zpUYIiShGCoyj_nvEYSpicWW4ucI2D1XJySlW1celWhxdoOMzySnq_5979abC7/s1600-h/882418535_8bfb55bb0a_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI74-sZQ6-M4AfXiVjkiZNkWcpFE_QMuaE9p2r15NXSnk95iSta60DbAWZUlwnsn5rt7PHg523DRWas9zpUYIiShGCoyj_nvEYSpicWW4ucI2D1XJySlW1celWhxdoOMzySnq_5979abC7/s320/882418535_8bfb55bb0a_m.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228554776976470210" /></a><br /><br />S- Any places we might find your work in the next few months?<br /><br />SK- I have several pieces going to a Monster show in Sydney Australia, at Ruban Rat Gallery. Gallery 1988 in San Fran was kind enough to invite me to be a part of their monster show as well. Larry's Corner in Sweden just bought a shipment of my stuff, so Scandanvian buyers can get stuff from there, and Gallery 696 in Melbourne Australia has also just stocked my stuff as well<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Don't forget, leave a comment here for your chance to win your own Cannibal Bunny!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pHUBMtRPq7dbINIL-WQikZNftNpkey59vFiD_dGuCpspqcjIUVrwm6nqlv7ak-6pzx8NyUL1xuloLJVPOq7K8BhM6EXreLQfiQIag_8ff1uusJN9o9_aGH80KD1Yux0kHHJWOyX7WVCx/s1600-h/170233232_ed5320af7f_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pHUBMtRPq7dbINIL-WQikZNftNpkey59vFiD_dGuCpspqcjIUVrwm6nqlv7ak-6pzx8NyUL1xuloLJVPOq7K8BhM6EXreLQfiQIag_8ff1uusJN9o9_aGH80KD1Yux0kHHJWOyX7WVCx/s320/170233232_ed5320af7f_m.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228554328658906786" /></a>Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-35774282831919473002008-07-16T16:53:00.000-07:002008-07-17T15:10:05.145-07:00Coco Howard InterviewI am trying to remember the first time I saw <a href="http://softlifeindustry.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Coco Howard's</a> work. (I went over the questions and now I do) I had heard of her because her son Atticus shopped at <a href="http://www.schmancytoys.bigcartel.com" target="_blank">Schmancy</a> and told me his mom made some plush creatures. All I can remember in my sleep deprived state is how much I was in awe of her work when I finally got to see it in person. I do remember emailing a bunch of folks telling them about it and how they had to see it! It's really amazing-that's all there is to it. I am thrilled that she will be showing this year at Plush You! and so excited to see what she does next. Until then, here's more information about Coco for you. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Leave a comment here (with your contact info please) for your chance to win your very own Coco Howard design!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJ9ooOisBKev0RAzo8jmnhq_KS_HrgZuyWF_-hllZRG-92gGsoE0Iul5lwL872cA5qtvK2lI_gPC0jjoM7mGR5CwLGZX_hc5dbB8kMGh6xPxXDjDcIMTn4D6_KYanXXy6d12GlWCr77oL/s1600-h/2658272063_33d87b3620.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJ9ooOisBKev0RAzo8jmnhq_KS_HrgZuyWF_-hllZRG-92gGsoE0Iul5lwL872cA5qtvK2lI_gPC0jjoM7mGR5CwLGZX_hc5dbB8kMGh6xPxXDjDcIMTn4D6_KYanXXy6d12GlWCr77oL/s320/2658272063_33d87b3620.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223777429258417442" /></a><br /><br />S- Where to begin....Well for our readers that might not know much about you yet, can you please tell us more about you and your work?<br /><br />CH- I grew up in Hawaii but have been living in Seattle for the past 20 years. At age 21 I had my first child, Atticus. He started drawing at an early age, and his artwork was my original inspiration for getting into character design. When he started school, I volunteered so I could be with him more often, and it was there that I got the opportunity to start an art therapy program. The program focused on plush toy making, and seeing what the kids made inspired me to start making plush on my own for fun. I’d been selling and giving creatures to friends and family, and a lot of people told me that I should try to sell them professionally, but I never thought it would be practical. Then last year I became a single parent and now I need to financially support my family on my own. My hope is that building the <a href="http://softlifeindustry.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Softlife</a> business will allow me the flexibility to parent while earning an income at the same time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxD32TsvnB1pfsb5RTqEZ1nSAikIvxwN6bKA98dG0rUF1-KPd301oXNS_BJ86EVAo8aX8u5GFaWYttiB2t8sevZuRVC9o5qmMs4WPzKiMBuHGhq1nhARdHSWR3lLkH9BQlBOj31qhnUkNX/s1600-h/2579016217_1eb6f431b0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxD32TsvnB1pfsb5RTqEZ1nSAikIvxwN6bKA98dG0rUF1-KPd301oXNS_BJ86EVAo8aX8u5GFaWYttiB2t8sevZuRVC9o5qmMs4WPzKiMBuHGhq1nhARdHSWR3lLkH9BQlBOj31qhnUkNX/s320/2579016217_1eb6f431b0.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223771345880192130" /></a><br /><br />S- The first things I saw of your work were your amazing needle felted wall art at Anne Bonny. Since then, you have moved on to HUGE installations, recycled materials, various animals and creatures. Was the needle felting where it began or just the first stuff I saw?<br /><br />CH- My first plush were felted dolls and creatures made from recycled sweaters that I made with the kids in my art therapy program. It wasn’t until I started making things at home on my own that I developed the felted paintings, which are my real passion, although they’re extremely time-consuming!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6U-kGIHzjYGal3VkD_Duy-D3SCiCHYsXhcs5uxQt6RohV_O17DCUT69Fqy4-X7AevWpDilpMHxSCr9DG9uSKh-kfWU633NZ902Lxh7fzlx_LP698ram4knEYbQHB9q8cDxdwCa7dI24wB/s1600-h/2296375587_0f0c5c8f14.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6U-kGIHzjYGal3VkD_Duy-D3SCiCHYsXhcs5uxQt6RohV_O17DCUT69Fqy4-X7AevWpDilpMHxSCr9DG9uSKh-kfWU633NZ902Lxh7fzlx_LP698ram4knEYbQHB9q8cDxdwCa7dI24wB/s320/2296375587_0f0c5c8f14.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223769959296417618" /></a><br /><br />S- You started a blog sort of recently. I love looking at it to see what you are up to and read all the cute stories, see the clever pictures and whatnot. How much time do you spend on your blog daily and how has that helped you as an artist?<br /><br />CH- The Softlife blog started in February, sort of on a whim. I had an idea to do a daily creature blog and started it the next day. I think I spend 3-4 hours a day on the blog, including making creatures, taking photos, and writing the story. Sometimes I feel limited by all the time that I have to devote to it, but it’s also good because it keeps me disciplined and forces me to create a steady stream of a variety of characters in order to keep the blog fresh. I’ve also really developed as a photographer, which I had no experience with before starting the blog.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGOXThZmTgOgcz2r8fj7avuHnKLf54bbVnVskl7dE8LFR3PbIAOaD8U47PvOg-WvMZjYE8VXHVnDqd_-pF5u8exCvrCtefOoiTFdTdpGJ9GeE8YxQZv-9lbG0jdrW4pQrKUqFU-GLlzku/s1600-h/2634542553_d05c56f419.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGOXThZmTgOgcz2r8fj7avuHnKLf54bbVnVskl7dE8LFR3PbIAOaD8U47PvOg-WvMZjYE8VXHVnDqd_-pF5u8exCvrCtefOoiTFdTdpGJ9GeE8YxQZv-9lbG0jdrW4pQrKUqFU-GLlzku/s320/2634542553_d05c56f419.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223769471893301282" /></a><br /><br />S- Your work has a Japanese feel to it. Like your creatures belong in Miyazaki films. Where do you get your inspiration from?<br /><br />CH- Japanese character design has been a huge influence on me. As a child of the 70s growing up in Hawaii, I was exposed to Japanese character design like Sanrio early on. Aranzi Aranzo has been a big influence on my work. The idea for the blog was inspired by an early Aronzo photo book that I found in the 90s. My kids really love Miyazaki and I’ve watched all his movies with them. His work is incredible. My biggest source of inspiration continues to be children’s art. I like things that blend light with dark to create a sort of mystery or surrealism.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0oBpAgtl4mFaEW0EgZ9jSt0erxtoIKj6M9qK_WSmWWtLKhuFDi4Ak4sf71fZ7xDG_3bKPZpSeyS9nMaWKfvyGwp-Eekt4YyRX54O8ASFQDynNzAkSyB5UDcmPC8RbCaPylZ5uGscQz7c/s1600-h/2596799372_e9319c3b45.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0oBpAgtl4mFaEW0EgZ9jSt0erxtoIKj6M9qK_WSmWWtLKhuFDi4Ak4sf71fZ7xDG_3bKPZpSeyS9nMaWKfvyGwp-Eekt4YyRX54O8ASFQDynNzAkSyB5UDcmPC8RbCaPylZ5uGscQz7c/s320/2596799372_e9319c3b45.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223771820481427714" /></a><br /><br />S- You have some big pieces up in Seattle but you mentioned recently that you would like to do larger installations. How long do those big guys take and do you sell them?<br /><br />CH- It takes me about 2 full working days to complete one of the 5-foot tall Denizens. The tough part is finding materials to fill them with. The Denizens that I make have inspired me to do larger things. My dream art project is to do life-size plush environments. I’d also really like to do needle-felted murals.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVX2AemTjYeaSsjnu0TOT0l8DW45CTeUqMIl-HpTniPeDPlHrCvB8YXFK_q69QW3knyVZQWVCEtRZCQgXuSMqlNOrFCger344czqG2e-btidwLl6HaAq9Zs_qRV7jIQRmBzBzFtEYO5-ET/s1600-h/2172524913_40c2d52528.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVX2AemTjYeaSsjnu0TOT0l8DW45CTeUqMIl-HpTniPeDPlHrCvB8YXFK_q69QW3knyVZQWVCEtRZCQgXuSMqlNOrFCger344czqG2e-btidwLl6HaAq9Zs_qRV7jIQRmBzBzFtEYO5-ET/s320/2172524913_40c2d52528.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223774799260541362" /></a><br /><br />S- What have been some of the great unexpected pleasures you have received since you started crafting?<br /><br />CH- In just the first year of starting Softlife, I’ve met a ton of other artists. It’s been really fun to share ideas and get inspiration from them. I’ve also been amazed at how much positive feedback I’ve gotten from people. Another thing that’s surprising is the fact that the more I do, the more ideas I have for new things I want to do.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIMdupbc6A3B34t8-br5HpMOmfhUSYAchTjq1hVVS4724BwYfgDF1NmxLbTtlaIDCPXepTZffzAUUz-R4GRaRLlrsKwGHj1VhVAyohPrAWsWk5HBN6X5aFFTm0cl5OIw2EE3cVK0QbSwd/s1600-h/2594746254_4eee55443c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIMdupbc6A3B34t8-br5HpMOmfhUSYAchTjq1hVVS4724BwYfgDF1NmxLbTtlaIDCPXepTZffzAUUz-R4GRaRLlrsKwGHj1VhVAyohPrAWsWk5HBN6X5aFFTm0cl5OIw2EE3cVK0QbSwd/s320/2594746254_4eee55443c.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223771569542626978" /></a><br /><br />S- Your pictures are great. I especially loved June 19th with the slug. Have you ever thought of making a little book or something for all of them?<br /><br />CH- Doing the photography for the blog has opened up a whole new world that I’m really enjoying. One of my motivations for doing the daily creature blog for a year was the collection of photos that I’d have when I got done. I’ve recently begun to toy with the idea of putting together a photography show of photos from the blog, and I’d love to make a book out of the blog one day. If anyone out there wants to give me a book deal, I’m ready!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclhfgPPRH4bRd1B-VHFrOUSmzuPSv8h3WJwzelZZpX7FpWPhiYEQX8VPLUIV88DiFy3wY-NxI0DnXCcwKX2ZpLfEssUiN3IhbG_BqT5dSEtBKrCq7BNy5J1BhgI3NC4hcxz04vK8S4Js5/s1600-h/2507900444_e9e0246c9b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclhfgPPRH4bRd1B-VHFrOUSmzuPSv8h3WJwzelZZpX7FpWPhiYEQX8VPLUIV88DiFy3wY-NxI0DnXCcwKX2ZpLfEssUiN3IhbG_BqT5dSEtBKrCq7BNy5J1BhgI3NC4hcxz04vK8S4Js5/s320/2507900444_e9e0246c9b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223774375686353762" /></a><br /><br />S- What are some of your big goals as an artist for this year?<br /><br />CH- I have a lot going on this year. I’m doing the Plush You show in Seattle, as well as the one in San Francisco. Then there’s a third show in New York with Gallery Hanahou. A big goal of mine is to get the Softlife business up and running, and to expand awareness of it. Keeping up with the blog is another big one. I also want to look into getting grants that would allow me to do larger installations.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0V0YaqLtAH24G132V5TzS-QL1MSybDShTYbkt8khyphenhypheneMKM3ZubBKW17GhXTWaRntNFYbTpm87bUnS0FRmySSKpnqwIgCEtO9_rJUP9AXVW7WpGACQZ7OvFJvUR5qm6uNCJ31IeTWF96TAu/s1600-h/2485485344_a8cf58878d.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0V0YaqLtAH24G132V5TzS-QL1MSybDShTYbkt8khyphenhypheneMKM3ZubBKW17GhXTWaRntNFYbTpm87bUnS0FRmySSKpnqwIgCEtO9_rJUP9AXVW7WpGACQZ7OvFJvUR5qm6uNCJ31IeTWF96TAu/s320/2485485344_a8cf58878d.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223775480286851858" /></a><br /><br />S- What are you most excited for in your career thus far?<br /><br />CH- What I’m excited about in my career is the idea that this could be a career at all—that it might be possible to do something I love and make a living at it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdn1C6zyJ_2efBT3eO2-9GIp9OZ-38D26ynVVyo3zJ1jWz75eU4Ee1zPeaoiyhGelxkNhbBK0NV-UMxdHM3iK_cEEwRBe_PwFv68Su6P2yeI0JTandggHpwJcfVgVlWSLVeZ3NKgGNRqo/s1600-h/2488546618_0ccda2e139.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdn1C6zyJ_2efBT3eO2-9GIp9OZ-38D26ynVVyo3zJ1jWz75eU4Ee1zPeaoiyhGelxkNhbBK0NV-UMxdHM3iK_cEEwRBe_PwFv68Su6P2yeI0JTandggHpwJcfVgVlWSLVeZ3NKgGNRqo/s320/2488546618_0ccda2e139.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223775210808285394" /></a><br /><br />S- Where else can Plush You readers find you?<br /><br />CH- Anyone can find me at my open studio at the Anne Bonny in Capitol Hill. I’m usually here for a good portion of the day, Tuesday through Sunday. I love to talk to visitors and share ideas. I’ll also be at the 3 shows I mentioned—Plush You Seattle on October 10th, Plush You San Fran on November 7th, and Lovable Huggable in New York on January 7th. You can also communicate with me on the Softlife blog (http://softlifeindustry.blogspot.com/) that I’m working on everyday.<br /><br />Friday Coco brought me this! I sure am one lucky lady.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3F1ZGHRhyAl_UnNA-O8eZKq9k3SnbFKqHA0PXT28Nju21DmX7tfyVE-bm9RfBrAmAceM0BKD-vqaOKSuqzQ4USmXVpOAUZtrretxAjTaaZHk8p9HNdSpNN4S4Vh1MjliMu6IaWQZtO-_Q/s1600-h/2549131575_d5c6d68b69.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3F1ZGHRhyAl_UnNA-O8eZKq9k3SnbFKqHA0PXT28Nju21DmX7tfyVE-bm9RfBrAmAceM0BKD-vqaOKSuqzQ4USmXVpOAUZtrretxAjTaaZHk8p9HNdSpNN4S4Vh1MjliMu6IaWQZtO-_Q/s320/2549131575_d5c6d68b69.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223773639835659890" /></a>Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-21578668898080435122008-07-08T17:43:00.000-07:002008-07-08T18:07:38.068-07:00Devout Dolls Interview and Giveaway!I believe that <a href="http://www.devoutdolls.com" target="_blank">Sara Lanzillotta</a> is one of the old school plush ladies out there. She makes amazing plush dolls from her Hollywood plush portraits to her two headed dolls. She's super talented, super sweet and I am glad she is finally up here with an interview. Leave a comment here with your <span style="font-weight:bold;">contact info</span> for your <span style="font-weight:bold;">chance to win one of her owls.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6HFut3F7l0gJdZQ6PB-a6b_NLnMMEO8wBZl3TbXALrBfRN0qClqFofb01gHCoQX44kd7jDqq1lDcnBOn5nJPvFg32MktK4yYKigwZbjs6qBmF9H19PiO_WrJgGOW9ZjnRDSRWMgP6Gbi/s1600-h/-1.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6HFut3F7l0gJdZQ6PB-a6b_NLnMMEO8wBZl3TbXALrBfRN0qClqFofb01gHCoQX44kd7jDqq1lDcnBOn5nJPvFg32MktK4yYKigwZbjs6qBmF9H19PiO_WrJgGOW9ZjnRDSRWMgP6Gbi/s320/-1.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220811943717797410" /></a><br /><br /><br />S- How did you start sewing? When did you start developing toys?<br /><br />DD- My mom tried to teach me to sew when I was pretty young since she was a sewer as a profession and my grandmother was a sewer. I, however, was way too impatient and stubborn and didn't want to learn so I managed to avoid it until I was about 20 when I started teaching myself. I used to draw a lot and eventually started coming up with ideas for dolls and stuffed things that I wanted. Since they didn't exist in the world, I realized I would have to make them myself. I didn't have a machine back then so I was doing hand sewing. Eventually it lead to me getting my own machine. Once I had all the knowledge and accessories I went to town and made as many different things as possible. There was no looking back!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBdNN-MXoD9Lc3L15LQ2W66DiOQgtNqXSWRXxfRLnl9-N-sU7PZinsQxTVmAXr3UkGNYIxgT3733DV7JkgpgsF7ejmG14RWNGdQ-laIhITu9p8strQYDEpD4dJrCexWfSGhzRoru9aNV1/s1600-h/gallmovieliza.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBdNN-MXoD9Lc3L15LQ2W66DiOQgtNqXSWRXxfRLnl9-N-sU7PZinsQxTVmAXr3UkGNYIxgT3733DV7JkgpgsF7ejmG14RWNGdQ-laIhITu9p8strQYDEpD4dJrCexWfSGhzRoru9aNV1/s320/gallmovieliza.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220812488744924946" /></a><br /><br />S- I see you at craft fairs all around town. Have you ever done shows outside of the PNW? Where can people find ya'?<br /><br />DD- I occasionally do shows in Los Angeles. I'm from there so I get to cheat and use it as an excuse to visit family while I'm back. I do a lot of group shows as well that are across the country. It is easier to keep my shows close to home though so I tend to stay here a lot. If you're in Canada, you can find my things at The Lounge Collection in BC (www.theloungecollection.com). In Oregon I'm at Jaminga (www.Jaminga.com), and in Los Angeles I'm at Monkeyhouse Toys (www.monkeyhousetoys.com) Also, you can check out my "Stores and Events" page on my website. I list all my upcoming gallery and craft shows there. www.devoutdolls.com/stores.htm<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmQZFuhQS-7vJlhBgcMYPfXGe7EoM6j2vziUN73f3dnuIoDiKCMo5A8Y3ZWX8qyOKLOCixy7ml_s0mKQBn_tzDaLPKCFFv-zkPudPHT0Nfck7BRSRDWm7Z_1nyVgK9e_Qt53Qeni6q4sY/s1600-h/deer2enddkbrwngroup.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmQZFuhQS-7vJlhBgcMYPfXGe7EoM6j2vziUN73f3dnuIoDiKCMo5A8Y3ZWX8qyOKLOCixy7ml_s0mKQBn_tzDaLPKCFFv-zkPudPHT0Nfck7BRSRDWm7Z_1nyVgK9e_Qt53Qeni6q4sY/s320/deer2enddkbrwngroup.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220813583728124098" /></a><br /><br />S- Your squeakems, two headed dollies and mini pins seemed to really put you up on the list of plush makers. But your other dolls; such as the silver screen dolls, etc., are also really amazing. Which came first? How much time do you spend on both?<br /><br />DD- I started with something more like my "floppy doll", very simple with clothing sewn straight onto the doll. My sister and I thought it would be funny to have a pretty doll in cute clothing but it would have something wrong with it like an extra head or extra arms and legs. I had so much fun making that first batch I just had to make more. The dolls led into me making plush monsters and then eventually into more structured art pieces. I split my time between the art dolls and making simple plush. I kind of have two businesses in a way. Half of it the easily reproduceable (but still one of a kind) plush and dolls that I sell to stores and on my website and the other half is more detailed soft sculptures for art shows and custom pieces.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikF7i0P62n3PBCIm5Hs6HfEKquY8-DLuJlmJNYiJIDrMOQys8YMCIznaEtKTrq08LIB3JWlD4xN8XweXeNXHS9MahuNnBNWujW5I0tqSOso7Ug_n6-a-mZfd6d_Gvvr_dKjVO8vk-1jvB0/s1600-h/gallsailorocto.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikF7i0P62n3PBCIm5Hs6HfEKquY8-DLuJlmJNYiJIDrMOQys8YMCIznaEtKTrq08LIB3JWlD4xN8XweXeNXHS9MahuNnBNWujW5I0tqSOso7Ug_n6-a-mZfd6d_Gvvr_dKjVO8vk-1jvB0/s320/gallsailorocto.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220812776743342930" /></a><br /><br />S- You are also apart of the Blythe Doll club here in Seattle. I see that you are making and selling clothes for Blythe. How did you get into the Blythe Doll? Any suggestions on good sites to learn more about her?<br /><br />DD- I saw the book by Gina Garan called "This is Blythe" many years ago and instantly fell in love. I started looking at Ebay at Blythe dolls and decided that $40 was just too expensive for an original Blythe. Ha! If I had only known what it, and I, was going to turn into! An original Kenner Blythe now goes for thousands! Takara (a Japanese toy company) is re-making Blythe now so it's much more accessable and you have many doll styles to choose from. I currently own 10 Blythe and am completely addicted. For fun in my off time I make doll clothes (yes, while I take a break from sewing for work, I sew for fun, what a nut!). I started selling my clothes at different doll shows and now have them on my Etsy site as well. I'm also part of a Seattle Blythe club. We meet about once a month and bring our dolls and take photos. It's really fun!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmkiNqVb2s69fmDfr2GNNZ71IEGbTV3yLEDGY1PG_K8Fe1mT1xfRpvjV-BUW58-Zr5FAHfJH30ZMOU4BMWlAVVZ0EIUUZpZZYjsNqyn_X1Ps9YI7ES8zYPbUN37n-hw4F4WmDlLCVqpzz/s1600-h/pindeerdkbrwnpink.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmkiNqVb2s69fmDfr2GNNZ71IEGbTV3yLEDGY1PG_K8Fe1mT1xfRpvjV-BUW58-Zr5FAHfJH30ZMOU4BMWlAVVZ0EIUUZpZZYjsNqyn_X1Ps9YI7ES8zYPbUN37n-hw4F4WmDlLCVqpzz/s320/pindeerdkbrwnpink.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220813769833736546" /></a><br /><br />S- At the last IHR, you had a new owl design that is adorable. How often do you try to come up with new designs?<br /><br />DD- I'm constantly thinking of new designs and new ideas. You have to in order to keep up with everyone else but also, to keep me from getting bored. I have so many ideas all the time, most of them don't get a chance to be made but I'll occaisionally go back to an old sketch and try it out. It's such a tedious process to come up with a new piece, I don't have the time to do a lot of them. I do try for at least one new line a year though. I think you need new items to keep people excited and to keep your business growing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZz2fAwN9Rg8kl7x5IxNT7U3HjebAMziQ48cx9fPlXN7_D8XT4yqFQxyNay1UYRfBEK_G7OXlJWMJ1Hs_3LWH-XEI_VRjr3rfPPmOlgU1RFa7yEp4KT6qPZHmi2G3dv_yuUEMxLgDSSgZM/s1600-h/gallgnomes2h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZz2fAwN9Rg8kl7x5IxNT7U3HjebAMziQ48cx9fPlXN7_D8XT4yqFQxyNay1UYRfBEK_G7OXlJWMJ1Hs_3LWH-XEI_VRjr3rfPPmOlgU1RFa7yEp4KT6qPZHmi2G3dv_yuUEMxLgDSSgZM/s320/gallgnomes2h.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220813444217063650" /></a><br /><br />S- When you are not selling your work in fairs, how do you advertise your work?<br /><br />DD- I am very spoiled and really do no advertising at all. I usually have more work then I know what to do with so I've stayed away from advertising fearing it would suddenly give me too much to handle. I've also slowed down the ordering off my website by not having a shopping cart. I still like to do things the old fashioned way I guess and have people write me for orders. That way they have the choice to really customize things and I make sure they get what they really want.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DoJ3uWWQBzEFWRkVEyaLjx8WL_iNSMFR2NCt4DggD1u90u-i6ttbn8Tr7WAAoyzspFA1uSGLmDBKuF2lWSOLpdXCRWMOK2_fB5fUxZp2Aa4tdthU-gQU0vB2cg0V58WBJ1xMtcRVgKA3/s1600-h/squeak2hmonkbrown.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DoJ3uWWQBzEFWRkVEyaLjx8WL_iNSMFR2NCt4DggD1u90u-i6ttbn8Tr7WAAoyzspFA1uSGLmDBKuF2lWSOLpdXCRWMOK2_fB5fUxZp2Aa4tdthU-gQU0vB2cg0V58WBJ1xMtcRVgKA3/s320/squeak2hmonkbrown.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220813989752021634" /></a><br /><br />S- What is your favorite thing about designing toys and your line of work?<br /><br />DD- My favorite thing about all of this is that I actually get to do it for a living! It's a dream come true, I still just can't believe it. I absolutely love being able to go into my imagination and create a character and then build that character out of fabric. I feel like I'm doing a magic trick every time. I've been able to create my own little world with all of the crazy characters involved and, better yet, people like them. So, my make-believe world is living on through other people's minds when they adopt the creatures, and in that way, adding to the story.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0we_D0TX9cHGn01FmfEaOz_xqbdU4iQimvMgoYjaAzC7n3-ukJDsunDoVXZkBY_KTrXv6_T-3TSkT8TTN-Bur-4JZYwhGGUjOZh_WBCdXvok-Kxfr7CrSr0gdBd3Dd9M5qUwEff9aXkH5/s1600-h/floppy-2h-pink-cherries.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0we_D0TX9cHGn01FmfEaOz_xqbdU4iQimvMgoYjaAzC7n3-ukJDsunDoVXZkBY_KTrXv6_T-3TSkT8TTN-Bur-4JZYwhGGUjOZh_WBCdXvok-Kxfr7CrSr0gdBd3Dd9M5qUwEff9aXkH5/s320/floppy-2h-pink-cherries.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220814251779187426" /></a><br /><br />S- What are some things you would like to see for Devout Dolls in the future?<br /><br />DD- I've thought about having a line of toys made by a larger company where I can just do the designing but, I go back and forth on that one. I have mixed feelings about it. I think, ideally, if I can just keep this up for as long as possible and still be able to live off of it, that's enough to keep me happy. I have very simple goals, that way I always accomplish them. I also believe in fate taking the reigns sometimes. If something big is going to happen, I welcome it but I don't really go looking for it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WfchATupLnzBInWrdaO7QDVcJH3LNfJTe842r1KPcQoQBvBhGkVca_7ezlWGhI-YNrP4zruxZkt2TW9cnZq5rWkuNEtgTSNAMrO8HXzlE0SD4DJKB_Z4JOyIdKp4M_QQfcO2NLprU0Uz/s1600-h/tiniesveravoodoo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WfchATupLnzBInWrdaO7QDVcJH3LNfJTe842r1KPcQoQBvBhGkVca_7ezlWGhI-YNrP4zruxZkt2TW9cnZq5rWkuNEtgTSNAMrO8HXzlE0SD4DJKB_Z4JOyIdKp4M_QQfcO2NLprU0Uz/s320/tiniesveravoodoo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220814539925240194" /></a><br /><br />S- What is on the horizon for you and your company?<br /><br />DD- Definatley more gallery shows in the future, they're a lot of work but they keep my juices flowing. I'd like to do more animal/doll hybrids I think. I love animals and I love making doll clothes so I'm thinking of doing a cross between those two. Also, more accessory type items. I make scarves and pins now but I'd like to add some bags to that as well. And, of course, more Blythe clothes! I'm addicted, what can I say!Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-88459226692915936402008-07-02T16:01:00.000-07:002008-07-03T12:10:19.020-07:00Dreamlets InterviewI met the fantastic folks behind <a href="http://www.dreamlets.com" target="_blank">Dreamlets</a> awhile ago now and thought they were delightful. I was so happy to see Amy at <a href="http://www.velocityartanddesign.com" target="_blank">The Lab</a> last week...and she even brought me a present :) Anyways, they were so nice to answer some very last minute questions so we could have our weekly interview. Leave a comment <span style="font-weight:bold;">with contact info</span>, for your chance to win <span style="font-weight:bold;">TWO</span> of your favorite dreamlets!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01do-l5fIaKgAc89rQ9dw8M2qII1GaSByNy1vjN7vUDxesMYV4tIg9fpHCroDVlJbGgv5UtSuRT03FkzXKLzEnyu8ZxH96FC9fXatbNjJ6zZ3JYbIjNopVZR4TluR3J7VgEsntyhrC-JS/s1600-h/1536942250_d7b7b0f6e3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01do-l5fIaKgAc89rQ9dw8M2qII1GaSByNy1vjN7vUDxesMYV4tIg9fpHCroDVlJbGgv5UtSuRT03FkzXKLzEnyu8ZxH96FC9fXatbNjJ6zZ3JYbIjNopVZR4TluR3J7VgEsntyhrC-JS/s320/1536942250_d7b7b0f6e3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218578910545886034" /></a><br /><br />S- We've read about your business online and love your work... can you explain a little more about who Dreamlets is?<br /><br />D- Amy: Dreamlets is a company, a brand, and a line of designer plush characters created by my business partner and beautiful designer, Matty Harper. We started the company in 2006, and have been actively selling Dreamlets since the beginning of this year. The name Dreamlets is inspired by a reference in Geek Love, a book by Katherine Dunn, but also speaks to one of our ideals - that dreams do come true and anything is possible.<br /><br />Matty: "Dreamlets" is "Let's Dream" flip-flopped. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4NJQ8qs5ESVl7GHy-SVZr9178VhjBokM8iPqUK7Z8q3GillUY_hDzVA7LJLqsyZhQf53wnfexDlPFQZEVHu4Mt30KHcLCfK_X-Mbrb2IQYMMm_ix-NVEyQGjV_UwSZvDKp3PeUKe6TTg/s1600-h/Ceecee.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4NJQ8qs5ESVl7GHy-SVZr9178VhjBokM8iPqUK7Z8q3GillUY_hDzVA7LJLqsyZhQf53wnfexDlPFQZEVHu4Mt30KHcLCfK_X-Mbrb2IQYMMm_ix-NVEyQGjV_UwSZvDKp3PeUKe6TTg/s320/Ceecee.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218578397236775362" /></a><br /> <br />S- How long have you been making plush? What got you interested in creating your own line of dolls?<br /><br />D- Matty: I made my first plush in 2004 (it was really horrible). It was a mangled body with a barely connected box head made from cotton sheet fabric with a bad floral print. Stanley was born just a week later... he was pretty cute considering. <br /><br />I've been a graphic designer for 16 years now, and a lot of my clients sold "solutions" or software, things that really have no visual presence. It made me crave real physical products; industrial design is where my brain has been heading for a while now. I'm also an illustrator and felt like plush was a really accessible way to bring illustrations to life or off the page.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVL73ZquMkbmZ7D3b9IAjtrLKhvYAVJLaPfJqquGr8oqVJaQTUfoufoN-u5dbUtWfSCPrX9z9LUnynjFH4CLf1JTlSAMkIUbGsByqdAvIZG8KxmHzGhEhlsWbwwgnMJwiIDxped4CMBNy9/s1600-h/Qoindo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVL73ZquMkbmZ7D3b9IAjtrLKhvYAVJLaPfJqquGr8oqVJaQTUfoufoN-u5dbUtWfSCPrX9z9LUnynjFH4CLf1JTlSAMkIUbGsByqdAvIZG8KxmHzGhEhlsWbwwgnMJwiIDxped4CMBNy9/s320/Qoindo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218578604186264082" /></a><br /><br />S- When I first met you two, you were just gearing up to launch your site (which is fantastic, by the way). Since then, your business seems to have really taken off! I've even noticed your work in a few higher-end stores, like Velocity. Is it still just the two of you running the show? Or has your company expanded to include more people?<br /><br />D- Amy: Thanks for the complement on the site we like it too, kinda... Matty is actually in the process of totally redesigning it. We feel like we are already outgrowing it (bad planning:) <br /><br />Yeah, we've been shooting for high-end stores, we love it when people appreciate Dreamlets for their design ascetic, so it's a natural fit to have them with a bunch of other museum quality pieces.<br /><br />Matty: Dreamlets is growing like crazy beans. We have so many wonderful people. We bought this huge building in the middle of downtown Seattle to hold all these people and a private gym and daycare and stuff.... We have an office in Paris too, its a little smaller than the one in Japan. I'm constantly amazed at how much money there is in stuffed animals. <br /><br />Amy: Matty seems to be confusing the dream with reality; really living the brand. But right now it's just the two of us...though we do have a couple of super smart interns that keep us on our toes, without them we tend to work really slow, they provide inspiration. <br /><br />Matty: Our interns are real sexy too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_cxgIH28YuzsrDSQuYwOGDwgNBcop9zvpemJ4KbTKv4WWy3Vp1y7iBqpDOQYNJv_Zi_KZJ8Kol2zjHslIW8nuA9PepqRgMn0VQzzsoKQhZNGcoGT1itHx79R9Deeug5HToK6JkrhVEho/s1600-h/Uncle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_cxgIH28YuzsrDSQuYwOGDwgNBcop9zvpemJ4KbTKv4WWy3Vp1y7iBqpDOQYNJv_Zi_KZJ8Kol2zjHslIW8nuA9PepqRgMn0VQzzsoKQhZNGcoGT1itHx79R9Deeug5HToK6JkrhVEho/s320/Uncle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218577807562635730" /></a><br /><br />S- Also, given your success thus far, do you have any advice for folks looking to succeed in the plush industry?<br /><br />D- Matty: Try to focus, and as odd as it might sound, don't be scared of success... This probably applies to anything you do. Also allow more time than you think for everything, it will all get to were you want it as long as you know where you want it and make steps, even small ones, toward it. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCvd8tXK55D-RyYnsDWdC7lU8c4_0fgzk-myLaXe0nhnG7_v8gCDF-B2FtfrGl1yghermYshrUwgAdV4baNeW7nG0dW4rnWxZzS0e7He7tKRXrBUlF8_o2M6KEBya98X3LqtlKVg4zzmv/s1600-h/510c21b907dc42e9def7c137ec6adfee_medium.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCvd8tXK55D-RyYnsDWdC7lU8c4_0fgzk-myLaXe0nhnG7_v8gCDF-B2FtfrGl1yghermYshrUwgAdV4baNeW7nG0dW4rnWxZzS0e7He7tKRXrBUlF8_o2M6KEBya98X3LqtlKVg4zzmv/s320/510c21b907dc42e9def7c137ec6adfee_medium.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218579448231198706" /></a><br /><br />S- I love the giveback/charity program that accompanies your plush. How and when did it come about?<br /><br />D- Amy: We really like the idea of products that make us happy and remind us to be kind or consider beauty or just to have something sweet to cuddle with after a long day. That said we also know that consumerism can take a toll on our environment in every sense of the word - socially, ecologically, visually, etc. So we give back to try to minimize whatever negative effects we might have. We started doing that from the very beginning, inspired by Patagonia.<br /><br />Matty: We give to organizations that support creativity because we believe creative thought is what ultimately will save us; for example: it will take creativity to create more feasible alternative fuels and it creativity to get the world to start using them and it will take creativity for every step between.<br /><br />S- Has anything in particular been inspiring you lately?<br /><br />D- Matty: This is gonna sound narcissistic, but positive feedback for the Dreamlets has been really inspiring, it's been a long hard road and so when I hear that someone loves them I feel like I want to keep going... <br /><br />Amy: I'm inspired lately by the bit of momentum we feel right now and the people we're surrounded by. I've always wanted to have a business where I worked with and for people I admire, where we made art, and could lead by example in the business world. Now, we're talking to more people like you, other people in the community, in the design world, our great interns, friends and family, and retail partners, and it feels like everyone wants to help us. I love how that works. <br /><br />S- If your plush characters were asked to give one piece of advice, what do you think it would be?<br /><br />D- Matty: Try to always have a soft smile, unless you have a huge smile, then you should have that one instead.<br /><br />Amy: Be simple. Love like mad. Laugh like crazy every time you realize everything you want is here, just waiting for you to want it. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvSoNEaUrcZ7FgKdBtdmlcVEVLK6XcFrzjUgCqyCVcWz0bshws23EcGTRK7nGLJJUVWGpNNswksvbmN9AKGFXioShvaRfynt0_4M8TEZw_ezdW9U4mOoxTJBoTVyFBKtXuCbu8zjkO0jO/s1600-h/2592714761_d2b52e6d1d.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvSoNEaUrcZ7FgKdBtdmlcVEVLK6XcFrzjUgCqyCVcWz0bshws23EcGTRK7nGLJJUVWGpNNswksvbmN9AKGFXioShvaRfynt0_4M8TEZw_ezdW9U4mOoxTJBoTVyFBKtXuCbu8zjkO0jO/s320/2592714761_d2b52e6d1d.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218580344505462482" /></a><br /><br />S- Are you planning to keep launching new characters?<br /><br />D- Matty: If we don't have any secrets this isn't gonna be as much fun for anyone involved.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4L9fOCCmN1bcQiqwSJQ2uumlv_CASKxYndW0yr0TtXO2Bhct3FnaYAVmVY-pzK-fFu2mBNTWKm7XivXR3ZRf9-0Ua-EFert_FqVVpRETUWdeJRdO52VVtbIaBol36Ga-V1lLnonX1IH0/s1600-h/925.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4L9fOCCmN1bcQiqwSJQ2uumlv_CASKxYndW0yr0TtXO2Bhct3FnaYAVmVY-pzK-fFu2mBNTWKm7XivXR3ZRf9-0Ua-EFert_FqVVpRETUWdeJRdO52VVtbIaBol36Ga-V1lLnonX1IH0/s320/925.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218581353679643298" /></a><br /><br />S- Anything else on the horizon for Dreamlets that we should know about?<br /><br />D- Amy: Yes. :)<br /><br /><br />Don't forget, leave a comment with your contact info for your chance to win two of your favorite <a href="http://www.dreamlets.com" target="_blank">Dreamlets</a> characters!Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-48513990433659304922008-06-25T14:52:00.000-07:002008-06-25T15:37:53.102-07:00Sewing Stars Interview<a href="http://www.sewingstars.com" target="_blank">Teresa Levy</a> of Sewing Stars is one of those masterminds behind the cute and cuddly. If you are a plush enthusiast, which I am assuming you are since you are here, then you most likely know who Teresa is. But on some crazy off chance you do not, well now you will. It's hard to look at anything she makes without a little part of you melting away in cute abyss. <br />I love her work and always enjoy seeing what she is going to come up with next. No matter what it is it is sure to be a delight. I am so glad that I finally was able to get even more information on her. Enjoy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjol_oalKhlco4k0se14EKdJVGtThj52dNTrQWBXrk3wjg9cHjnmV3aKf4DLNcWdcn_MecIOeZysJr6MBjeWFa5nBX8jlln2fHpNBFLo2Uw-ESn0k_2XzL2aLIQ0HCCUXIRtXnHlUuNTD5P/s1600-h/2601736469_1ca6e5ff91.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjol_oalKhlco4k0se14EKdJVGtThj52dNTrQWBXrk3wjg9cHjnmV3aKf4DLNcWdcn_MecIOeZysJr6MBjeWFa5nBX8jlln2fHpNBFLo2Uw-ESn0k_2XzL2aLIQ0HCCUXIRtXnHlUuNTD5P/s320/2601736469_1ca6e5ff91.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215943380140972594" /></a><br /><br /><br />S- Just by any chance someone does not know who you are already, can you give us a little back ground on you and your art?<br /><br />SS- well, i have been making stuffed animals/creatures since college. in the last few years i built up my website, and have been selling my crafty wares coast to coast at various indie craft shows as well as online in my own shop.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlcLoj1gitkBOA1mPgX_MvoGG49oq_e2Y-ngH12uyB6an7Ddhx1KKdzBrCi5FbP_q0_B-Rz5WsO88w6ILkiCQ9SDNOg9yVo6qiqgU0NlQWEANRYaIc3rU5Un07VY-3Zb-GlmncoSCIbE2/s1600-h/2358418188_b3a010159f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlcLoj1gitkBOA1mPgX_MvoGG49oq_e2Y-ngH12uyB6an7Ddhx1KKdzBrCi5FbP_q0_B-Rz5WsO88w6ILkiCQ9SDNOg9yVo6qiqgU0NlQWEANRYaIc3rU5Un07VY-3Zb-GlmncoSCIbE2/s320/2358418188_b3a010159f.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215944209310706482" /></a><br /><br />S- You are one busy lady! You sew, you make kits, you do drawings, etc. etc etc. How do you prioritize all the responsibilities of your business?<br /><br />SS- i make a series of to do lists constantly. updating them, rewriting them, and even make little to do spread sheets for big projects or when prepping for a craft show.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4zlDoe5wj910SQFxc53WaOV6WI1e20hwSWIfvigTSx8Dh7WldTnD7v0e5SSWlWlrBjiM8iS0GlTH1ta6gWHy8lhHu4_UHz3dPPKTrSfmbA3eXvCZ9vPlmI_8J1uoqmKPN3DrpW_cau8d/s1600-h/2459862678_2ce12591b9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4zlDoe5wj910SQFxc53WaOV6WI1e20hwSWIfvigTSx8Dh7WldTnD7v0e5SSWlWlrBjiM8iS0GlTH1ta6gWHy8lhHu4_UHz3dPPKTrSfmbA3eXvCZ9vPlmI_8J1uoqmKPN3DrpW_cau8d/s320/2459862678_2ce12591b9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215944338007981426" /></a><br /><br />S- A lot of your plush is pretty simple yet super appealing and sweet. Where do you find inspiration for all the various kinds of plush you make?<br /><br />SS- hm, my brain is sort a weird place i think. every once in a while it sends me an idea, and then my hands try to make it. usually it works too! i do tend towards animals though, but lately i have been into putting faces on plush objects too. i also like to try & find ways to turn unusual items into a 'doll-like' form with arms & legs. which actually relates to doodles i often make when on hold on the phone, or decorating my left over container from a restruant.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGM_rUoMj1eMR1glUdXG3NkLKQNizBdrZRLjCGVPJgsS32bZvkJ5SWLYUHDuSvql4lEusoWNP1j3ec5-kJljix_WEVtZL667OAJAmyLP8IF3s1cDF_OwrgieNAY_1Z0S_PtzPT4EF-Vq_/s1600-h/2563087550_564b649388.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGM_rUoMj1eMR1glUdXG3NkLKQNizBdrZRLjCGVPJgsS32bZvkJ5SWLYUHDuSvql4lEusoWNP1j3ec5-kJljix_WEVtZL667OAJAmyLP8IF3s1cDF_OwrgieNAY_1Z0S_PtzPT4EF-Vq_/s320/2563087550_564b649388.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215944644481066434" /></a><br /><br />S- You are an experienced craft show lady. With all the summer craft fairs coming following all the holiday ones, how do you prepare?<br /><br />SS- like i said, i actually make a big excel spreadsheet of all the items i want to make for a show, and as i make them put them in italics and move along to the next item. its a handy way to keep track of everything i make too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAaeHwDW4mMu3nH_ifRb4oykSMWfzbp8qcibgqaVoxuYk3agRk7iwpSRra06cmd0psD7NuCqXrtNpFQFGWMezT6sFNVG0GPGN1TsVeXPGdvA261ggU8kv3A4eMoR5chy19q9vFNNvVrTr/s1600-h/2524957065_c079d67bf4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAaeHwDW4mMu3nH_ifRb4oykSMWfzbp8qcibgqaVoxuYk3agRk7iwpSRra06cmd0psD7NuCqXrtNpFQFGWMezT6sFNVG0GPGN1TsVeXPGdvA261ggU8kv3A4eMoR5chy19q9vFNNvVrTr/s320/2524957065_c079d67bf4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215944507250464482" /></a><br /><br />S- What is your favorite part of being a crafty lady and what advice would you have for folks that are wanting to foster more of their creativity?<br /><br />SS- my favorite part is the ability to sew anything i envision. after years of sewing, it comes much easier to me now, and i love it. i think if people want to be creative they need to stay inspired by looking at lots of crafty books, magazines, etc, and also keep trying to improve with each project.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2Z-JIyuBAbgWdn8JZlRUqA8ZwcSAaEjpxGWf8V7685VlVmysc3dG-RGJ0hQNQ3jz69iu_QoTsRyFZNZCmFNL605VAmo_syj0Mef3DPKsm763Zw9aMJTEU-nZ-4ZlFn3ffDHLeB33LThL/s1600-h/2580820346_37e985c033.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2Z-JIyuBAbgWdn8JZlRUqA8ZwcSAaEjpxGWf8V7685VlVmysc3dG-RGJ0hQNQ3jz69iu_QoTsRyFZNZCmFNL605VAmo_syj0Mef3DPKsm763Zw9aMJTEU-nZ-4ZlFn3ffDHLeB33LThL/s320/2580820346_37e985c033.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215944783178435266" /></a><br /><br />S- For the last few days I have been crafted out. Gearing up for a big event gets exhausting and I just couldn't take it anymore. After one night of way too many episodes of Weeds, I realized I couldn't do that for two nights in a row. You seem to craft even when you are sick, which impresses me to no end. How do you muster up the energy when you don't think you have it?<br /><br />SS- i am not sure...i do take days off, and usually feel incredible guilt when i do. and when getting ready for a crafty event/show i often have an overwhelming guilt that keeps me working no matter what... i am not sure i recommend that as a way to be motivated though!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpE5edYam8oH7isPmqp5c1Dk2e3ahF6h_yc3zJgXE5kKzi7YQGiEIH4tWNf1487269n9LDDMCeLuqU1uByWilYTlExXU-XbrUYNRZjIL5edK3Pz66FN6Q4hOdDCjfCpeBdgEqJjPnT2dIk/s1600-h/2246782921_39201815b5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpE5edYam8oH7isPmqp5c1Dk2e3ahF6h_yc3zJgXE5kKzi7YQGiEIH4tWNf1487269n9LDDMCeLuqU1uByWilYTlExXU-XbrUYNRZjIL5edK3Pz66FN6Q4hOdDCjfCpeBdgEqJjPnT2dIk/s320/2246782921_39201815b5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215951061962510050" /></a><br /><br />S- What drew you to making plush in the first place?<br /><br />SS- well, if i had to pin point a pivotal moment, it would be when i was a freshman in college. i was being forced to make art all the time, but it was always what my teachers wanted me to do. typically i rebelled by hand sewing a series of weird creatures as a way to do something i wanted to do for a change. it then became something i did from to time, and eventually became what i did all the time!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerb2BNGKEi1oPQDuGwbCdfhH4kM8LpCc4w7_aMpyZtMMozTgYxVSqf5BF-pL9JXNjfUmfPU1PakkoeFyVQY9XWvdG4x3yr8UiKxPYYTCLhi-ifiLJBokgcIK1lRdvu80LWAgVl0-Jq9HA/s1600-h/2347680583_a405bf55c9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerb2BNGKEi1oPQDuGwbCdfhH4kM8LpCc4w7_aMpyZtMMozTgYxVSqf5BF-pL9JXNjfUmfPU1PakkoeFyVQY9XWvdG4x3yr8UiKxPYYTCLhi-ifiLJBokgcIK1lRdvu80LWAgVl0-Jq9HA/s320/2347680583_a405bf55c9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215951236586860322" /></a><br /><br />S- What are some of your goals for the rest of this year?<br /><br />SS- finish my book! i am in the thick of it right now...i also want to take part in as many craft shows as i can possibly handle come fall too. that is pretty much it... what can i say, i love my job!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNZjqRjz6haxxs07jWdSScEwNYYAGKBYD1PSGLSEFPbTcSF1mVWOiVpJr5_RZs2CCK6fGEcWJZNkeffZV-vNRPgGAjw_Wm2xKd5a98xzijNkQn3RYiMcK-XSyOkyGrypcVaf6L45MEbVb/s1600-h/2194795775_cbb5786e16.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNZjqRjz6haxxs07jWdSScEwNYYAGKBYD1PSGLSEFPbTcSF1mVWOiVpJr5_RZs2CCK6fGEcWJZNkeffZV-vNRPgGAjw_Wm2xKd5a98xzijNkQn3RYiMcK-XSyOkyGrypcVaf6L45MEbVb/s320/2194795775_cbb5786e16.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215951616984403906" /></a><br /><br />S- Any places Plush You readers might be able to find you this summer or holiday season?<br /><br />SS- well this weekend (June 28) i will be at Crafty Bastards (Summer) in MD. after that i am keeping the summer open for my book stuff & web shop updates. come fall/winter i would like to take part in Crafty Bastards (fall edition), felt club in LA, the bazaar bizarre boston and i will of course be helping out as well as selling at Craftland right here in Providence, RI!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkaCcb46_opQRve6m112KetiKmicJq88Gf7auUIEU7t1vYf0GarYYtgfD_1QrsEZxzpsAph4M-_xQaIAkA60mfulETxFi0b9Y9h_4pXGeNvDL_4IIUn4N97y-CT5nFYNay0OGZ4xxOi1V/s1600-h/2208592756_671fcf408f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkaCcb46_opQRve6m112KetiKmicJq88Gf7auUIEU7t1vYf0GarYYtgfD_1QrsEZxzpsAph4M-_xQaIAkA60mfulETxFi0b9Y9h_4pXGeNvDL_4IIUn4N97y-CT5nFYNay0OGZ4xxOi1V/s320/2208592756_671fcf408f.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215951817463012514" /></a><br /><br />S- What is one of your guilty pleasures in life?<br /><br />SS- oh, i am huge geek...my addiction to collecting toys would be my guiltiest pleasure at the moment!Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-73461466220261248552008-06-18T11:58:00.000-07:002008-06-18T12:38:12.243-07:00We Dream of Meat Interview and Giveaway!I personally don't dream of meat. I was a vegetarian for a long time but then I started feeling too sleepy and someone suggested it was my diet. One day, around the holidays, I had a week of running around. I was exhausted and had to continue playing the part of the energizer bunny. I ordered a burger. It was delicious. My friend was so happy that I was considering meat again that he took me to the famous Salumi's here in Seattle. Needless to say, I was sold. I am now a meat dabbler. Perhaps dreaming of meat is just the next step. If I don't start dreaming of the actual meat itself, I wouldn't be surprised if the creatures created by <a href="http://www.wedreamofmeat.com" target="_blank">We Dream of Meat</a> do. It would be pretty magical.<br /><br />Leave a comment at the end of this interview for your chance to win your own Deadface. Please leave your contact info! Winner will be chosen on June 25th.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JdYHXBiBFx1YQfOCKADhp36MdtH0qdDhdXThEpUfTbHnUjGHgSO3IXTPjbPAhxfGi2InLm1Pgliwt5VFZhb631z7GEW0AelGemXR1enmlLxPMzDaFuE0ZZsbylk2pz0rqflYkxoPXhSs/s1600-h/coco.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JdYHXBiBFx1YQfOCKADhp36MdtH0qdDhdXThEpUfTbHnUjGHgSO3IXTPjbPAhxfGi2InLm1Pgliwt5VFZhb631z7GEW0AelGemXR1enmlLxPMzDaFuE0ZZsbylk2pz0rqflYkxoPXhSs/s320/coco.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213303714511775122" /></a><br /><br />S- Who is We Dream of Meat?<br /><br />WD- James and Stef. We live in Bristol, UK.<br />James does the drawing and cuts the patterns, Stef puts it together and makes it look nice.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ub61NBMF06ZR4KOkIe-ePN8NqlftiYA9dgcxQ67_XKM0_q5QmHnPRdgYgv8R4yR-8rFPY5yzmuVlqpWybzR08NDwm-5eCkgHE4JihBu0OWLgyc0_Uo19j_xoBWqzV6krD0Dd4z3y06t3/s1600-h/kabling_owl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ub61NBMF06ZR4KOkIe-ePN8NqlftiYA9dgcxQ67_XKM0_q5QmHnPRdgYgv8R4yR-8rFPY5yzmuVlqpWybzR08NDwm-5eCkgHE4JihBu0OWLgyc0_Uo19j_xoBWqzV6krD0Dd4z3y06t3/s320/kabling_owl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213306728314535890" /></a><br /><br />S- You made some plush masks and bling for a Kid Acne video. Have you<br />continued to make these items?<br /><br />WD- Those were a one-off we did for a friend of a friend who directed the video.<br />Kid Acne is perhaps more famous for his street murals in Sheffield and beyond.<br />If you Google him you can see some of his stuff - his style is pretty distinctive so most of the character design was done already.<br />The director is another graffiti guy who goes by the handle, Dscreet. He likes owls.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2mkMTJAKHOawSD0cuxhFsbwrl3sCaST-6Eyo20rj6ZcIvwWMKuLme8uD8G4Nke8Gnl7LpmhA1YdHck14v4SRSmOt4xTsJvPzvFnIjW5yUy7JrkIOuIUyc3AdubTb8M1TwZ1iDby3cR17/s1600-h/pie.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2mkMTJAKHOawSD0cuxhFsbwrl3sCaST-6Eyo20rj6ZcIvwWMKuLme8uD8G4Nke8Gnl7LpmhA1YdHck14v4SRSmOt4xTsJvPzvFnIjW5yUy7JrkIOuIUyc3AdubTb8M1TwZ1iDby3cR17/s320/pie.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213307789339640498" /></a><br /><br />S- Do you guys really dream of meat?<br /><br />WD- James does most of the time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmkwU8k_oDPRG73rnJMwcG1DAAMma2Xb8KUYJFTlo8VHM-QcgSAsQe489EAqscxgeClC38QSu6I3fM-Uwkprxrok_8wNikRRW7y2HvZP5hW4esVR5HMzefPy1hCkMJXW8Wdk3FtIqCbfD/s1600-h/ghostie-actual.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmkwU8k_oDPRG73rnJMwcG1DAAMma2Xb8KUYJFTlo8VHM-QcgSAsQe489EAqscxgeClC38QSu6I3fM-Uwkprxrok_8wNikRRW7y2HvZP5hW4esVR5HMzefPy1hCkMJXW8Wdk3FtIqCbfD/s320/ghostie-actual.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213306561130861122" /></a><br /><br />S- It looks like you guys have also worked on a few collaborations.<br />What came out of those collaborations with your plush?<br /><br />WD- One plush we made using some spare bits of screen-printed cotton our friend Daddison (www.daddisonish.com) had lying around at his house.<br />We made Morris D Cottonsocks, one in red and white and another in black and dark green. Another was "Lenny" who we did in conjunction with graffiti's Cyclops and Sweet Toof (www.beforechrome.com). We made three or four in total and they were sold at a show in London. Cyclops was the one who hooked us up with Dscreet for the Kid Acne video. Bristol is somewhat of a hotspot for British street-art, it's a small place so these kinds of collaborations happen quite frequently.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqkWL-tuJwmBiddosrcrENuHRJjfg3Xjb3jrCY1O2zd9_tKasDDCIuAGrsXcMC018mgOUW3keZ2dK9HDLb0NzkgF-kRzwc5DNjYvrIPSDyuDROiwOjO0DQcnhRlh6UOXP3JF4iJ5n8ySI/s1600-h/cuthbert.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqkWL-tuJwmBiddosrcrENuHRJjfg3Xjb3jrCY1O2zd9_tKasDDCIuAGrsXcMC018mgOUW3keZ2dK9HDLb0NzkgF-kRzwc5DNjYvrIPSDyuDROiwOjO0DQcnhRlh6UOXP3JF4iJ5n8ySI/s320/cuthbert.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213304172380386466" /></a><br /><br />S- Any future collaborations down the pipeline?<br /><br />WD- Definitely more with Daddison, hopefully more with the BeforeChrome guys and a few more otherwise.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mxLLoD1YI8Th9Jn7hPf-YQLJeCRtyVPUHvUTDsHbZh2NkqpLXaRn_dkUoaiAmNf66S4z822NXFQEhtgxrulobLp40zpZoea99HTh7msZDzhSh4HLUhf-WCc3bUe0fmEC7Up0Ni7KEdeK/s1600-h/killer-pigeon-actual.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mxLLoD1YI8Th9Jn7hPf-YQLJeCRtyVPUHvUTDsHbZh2NkqpLXaRn_dkUoaiAmNf66S4z822NXFQEhtgxrulobLp40zpZoea99HTh7msZDzhSh4HLUhf-WCc3bUe0fmEC7Up0Ni7KEdeK/s320/killer-pigeon-actual.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213306864369458338" /></a><br /><br />S- What do you guys listen to while making plush?<br /><br />WD- BBC Radio 4 and 6. Sometimes 1 and 2. Occasionally 3. Never 5.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLFEyImdwIW03kdQpqGv8__kUwHYEz1NIw_pgjvSrJaKceK6eQCrwB-deshR3hoibYTZaO9rp7vW-NUNvWoez32CgmahJyhNTPECgH5Ea2ZXD8Kf6CVtcnD8pnSgWx5wswhCD1Vtw8PVC/s1600-h/lenny.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLFEyImdwIW03kdQpqGv8__kUwHYEz1NIw_pgjvSrJaKceK6eQCrwB-deshR3hoibYTZaO9rp7vW-NUNvWoez32CgmahJyhNTPECgH5Ea2ZXD8Kf6CVtcnD8pnSgWx5wswhCD1Vtw8PVC/s320/lenny.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213307048596713362" /></a><br /><br />S- Do you guys have a favorite character you have made? If so, why?<br /><br />WD- Coco always has a special place in our hearts because he was the first.<br />We made about 12 of him and a few others, bagged them up and taped them up all over Barcelona last summer with a little note and an email address. We even gave one to the sea - haven't heard from him yet. There are plans to do another drop-off project in NY in September - look out!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPtMgYbiV0SuGO5wM5BWY3OUYb7trHLnKF0xRitDf7XpkLmCEoLE1RVOhw0HxtnjD3aWXW3XIWPxqbsgt_JZ2C3pxtxUVsZA_HumTlYKm1s-_AddwOY5_kKnEZ6s1eHvq4ISHq6dLCwIV/s1600-h/mosstop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPtMgYbiV0SuGO5wM5BWY3OUYb7trHLnKF0xRitDf7XpkLmCEoLE1RVOhw0HxtnjD3aWXW3XIWPxqbsgt_JZ2C3pxtxUVsZA_HumTlYKm1s-_AddwOY5_kKnEZ6s1eHvq4ISHq6dLCwIV/s320/mosstop.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213307247166251122" /></a><br /><br />S- What do you see for the future of We Dream of Meat?<br /><br />WD- To keep the momentum going. We want to to acquire more stockists - WDOM has sold really well in Berlin and it would be ace to branch out. An online shop element to our website is on the cards. Packaging packaging packaging. We are developing some really crispy boxes at the moment, also handmade. Some larger sized projects would be nice. Maybe just bigger than a small dog. Vinyl is definitely in the bigger picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6gfJzsb18Zp51DQhIwZHoe2Lujtv15R5NHlbneBPGmNBHmOQqhUg24s55bCy0TgGicUmm8fkxm76Rfl9xDi_Xd2PregSG7XLMDDSn5r_oxxJogq-KpA4y_Uxmk3J-2ALHwKBFTDN6uOI/s1600-h/mr-mountain-actual.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6gfJzsb18Zp51DQhIwZHoe2Lujtv15R5NHlbneBPGmNBHmOQqhUg24s55bCy0TgGicUmm8fkxm76Rfl9xDi_Xd2PregSG7XLMDDSn5r_oxxJogq-KpA4y_Uxmk3J-2ALHwKBFTDN6uOI/s320/mr-mountain-actual.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213307551582687618" /></a><br /><br />S- If your plush could give advice to children what do you think it might be?<br /><br />WD- Stay in skool.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHsjCtKHImJUck5T6y15o9m8UAYebGLg6hYmIou_g46eUI70RI4durDVBFQjtRlpsgSMX8L5Z0jFZVqueFet7UczmW9lqODoODSD0YXKEzPr4JdsYyeA3pFhM2NBAXyMZNds90t4rtZoz/s1600-h/fat-coco.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHsjCtKHImJUck5T6y15o9m8UAYebGLg6hYmIou_g46eUI70RI4durDVBFQjtRlpsgSMX8L5Z0jFZVqueFet7UczmW9lqODoODSD0YXKEzPr4JdsYyeA3pFhM2NBAXyMZNds90t4rtZoz/s320/fat-coco.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213306405029436594" /></a><br /><br />S- What do you think is the best part of making plush toys?<br /><br />WD- It's like having babies, without having babies.<br /><br />Leave a comment here for your chance to win this guy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIIpovU0_JMiQMPnlLFrF0fhiMW1mHwrVd36Py8xT-bp1QYHGUJlPrsvkf6m6UykeXOqHxF-yeFidTaCssRmS-0xY5-to4Z7Y_-J7wlXcFU9ndQIBbDvbPInLudxiRsrgcsLuIhH0yc1w/s1600-h/deadface.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIIpovU0_JMiQMPnlLFrF0fhiMW1mHwrVd36Py8xT-bp1QYHGUJlPrsvkf6m6UykeXOqHxF-yeFidTaCssRmS-0xY5-to4Z7Y_-J7wlXcFU9ndQIBbDvbPInLudxiRsrgcsLuIhH0yc1w/s320/deadface.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213306232529483122" /></a>Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-89427854756687907652008-06-11T11:26:00.000-07:002008-06-11T12:20:27.603-07:00Fantastic Toys InterviewSometimes it's all said in the name. <a href="http://www.handcraftedfantastictoys.com/"target="_blank">Fantastic Toys</a> is an example. They really are fantastic toys! The first time I laid my eyes on them was over on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/plushyou/" target="_blank">our flickr pool</a> so when I saw that Tim, creator and mastermind behind Fantastic Toys, applied for Plush You! I was overjoyed. I would finally be able to see the fantasticness in person. I am still excited and only wish October was sooner (although it feels like it's October here...why???). I am really happy to present you with this fantastic interview with Tim. Leave a comment with your contact info and your color of choice: Periwinkle, rose, mint, light blue, raspberry, purple. buttercup and pink for your chance to win your very own fawn!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLISPn9Zcb8fomsHTeKDBNMcUNRGg-SJz5dGDuKA8S_TVS14XazgCdquA4Hp8-5RWtPOZOzFBjlSWG4Hq19AsM12nj-wWybxkgifWu_J1eMG46uJv6cmBDr0Uku_hl4abjqid0e-WtmtzW/s1600-h/466267240_94402808ec.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLISPn9Zcb8fomsHTeKDBNMcUNRGg-SJz5dGDuKA8S_TVS14XazgCdquA4Hp8-5RWtPOZOzFBjlSWG4Hq19AsM12nj-wWybxkgifWu_J1eMG46uJv6cmBDr0Uku_hl4abjqid0e-WtmtzW/s320/466267240_94402808ec.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210705897359034466" /></a><br /><br />S- I have seen your plush around flickr, etc and knew that you made amazing stuffed toys but looking through your actual website. Well I now have a million questions. First let's get a bit of background on you and your work?<br /><br />FT- I started making toys about 10 years ago beginning with marionettes then eventually I moved on to miniature animal dolls and hand puppets. After doing a couple of miniature shows the dolls never took off the way I thought they would. About that time I discovered the world of plush and I knew I had to reinvent myself and start playing with felt. I started posting my creations on <a href="http://www.craftster.org/" target="_blank">Craftster</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fantastictoys/" target="_blank">flickr</a> and the feedback was immediate and positive. So just under 2 years I have created a nice little niche for myself making soft toys.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWb_hZhCdNlKWCpGUVyFQ1RWAAzmwdwibyTgPfTmhQhBNnzh2uRyGBIroU5E8b2J7VmY3caQKlwz1iEF_MU50ytR1D84KPvsTBKbHqFyp9TKcASEYGbs-7a7Qe4U9KP09My_UvKezqhP-/s1600-h/2319372867_795fccb27e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWb_hZhCdNlKWCpGUVyFQ1RWAAzmwdwibyTgPfTmhQhBNnzh2uRyGBIroU5E8b2J7VmY3caQKlwz1iEF_MU50ytR1D84KPvsTBKbHqFyp9TKcASEYGbs-7a7Qe4U9KP09My_UvKezqhP-/s320/2319372867_795fccb27e.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210699038716167282" /></a><br /><br />S- Between the plush, the hand puppets and the miniature dolls, where do you spend most of your time?<br /><br />FT- Currently I'm placing most of the emphasis on plush toys. But right now I'm having fun designing paper toys and DIY patterns. With the way the economy is right now people are holding onto their money. They're spending less and prefer to make it themselves trying to save a buck.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJ6ycHc05s4Xe222hJb2ljUkhnAQi6Ts3tJk2UDgx858HIIbbwJ2zS1GO6EEB2dqHHEg2nC2SZahGijXoqkYgTqm_c9dOiGWcZyeAmjUzHsHwqC4aZ-o0UzXqeGoG-3uHuA2x0Visv5lD/s1600-h/472436989_cfd9bfaafb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJ6ycHc05s4Xe222hJb2ljUkhnAQi6Ts3tJk2UDgx858HIIbbwJ2zS1GO6EEB2dqHHEg2nC2SZahGijXoqkYgTqm_c9dOiGWcZyeAmjUzHsHwqC4aZ-o0UzXqeGoG-3uHuA2x0Visv5lD/s320/472436989_cfd9bfaafb.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210704722007348626" /></a><br /><br />S- Do you do this full time or do you have other jobs?<br /><br />FT- I would love to make toys full time but I have a part time job in the floral <br />industry to pay the bills.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblO30GjLXV25lWQaDpJpPc6ZyR6vWbCtvpMUCtsFp5nhEA3q5j0rF3IXj2iPDh7zdRke3a47VtvRIdzuyW3knzgwtl_LVi0yfsrkNSk87x8Dtf9obkXzYMGe-2cxYefLVyLQC5IV-PBFU/s1600-h/2471115853_470f4d0f6a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblO30GjLXV25lWQaDpJpPc6ZyR6vWbCtvpMUCtsFp5nhEA3q5j0rF3IXj2iPDh7zdRke3a47VtvRIdzuyW3knzgwtl_LVi0yfsrkNSk87x8Dtf9obkXzYMGe-2cxYefLVyLQC5IV-PBFU/s320/2471115853_470f4d0f6a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210699362368716050" /></a><br /><br />S- What have been some of your favorite plush projects you have worked on?<br /><br />FT- I usually do a new theme for any of the shows I do. I had fun with the North Pole theme I did last Christmas. Most recently the Story Book plush I made for an upcoming show have been some of my favorite characters.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxIXEoxFQrkEcQUr3RJUsro99kAoxn1tSyBzNV8DHfG1bROtwrHJHDDcVqhqjHA_UmPX1rCiSCEm9e0tHtNzL01i8REsIVh1vD6fkCflt1LCH5aaTlqnGWpjjPV7pLwzzL5QleLfLdzWw/s1600-h/2465945682_3062639810.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxIXEoxFQrkEcQUr3RJUsro99kAoxn1tSyBzNV8DHfG1bROtwrHJHDDcVqhqjHA_UmPX1rCiSCEm9e0tHtNzL01i8REsIVh1vD6fkCflt1LCH5aaTlqnGWpjjPV7pLwzzL5QleLfLdzWw/s320/2465945682_3062639810.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210699979278152706" /></a><br /><br />S- You do beautiful toys. I think a lot of people have a hard time going from 2D to 3D. Any suggestions for how to make that transition?<br /><br />FT- For the plush I actually do it the other way around. I make the plush and then I do illustrations of them. But I understand what your saying. I don't think its really that difficult. I usually encourage illustrators who want custom work done to try it themselves . Two sided plush are the easiest to make.. its the most common plush out there. Basically its just transferring your drawing to fabric and adding 1/4" - 1/2" seam allowance for sewing. Maybe not quite that simple but thats how I started. There's quite a few books on the subject now including <a href="http://www.schmancytoys.bigcartel.com" target="_blank">yours</a>. There are also many free patterns online that gave me direction when I first started constructing plush.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpEg_rVGWggyYOpQPIhcR8VpQScrGT8r3fhga79rt2oLK9DBGA342Dqvmi8nTqLL7lh1ExnD0mXdIBc0rBA0uSpFJzOw4ASU-rVQdmlqJa9mIcPWuxbx9LwyXJKt7XS8LboMCxibYuF_1/s1600-h/1830092391_95b0be36d7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpEg_rVGWggyYOpQPIhcR8VpQScrGT8r3fhga79rt2oLK9DBGA342Dqvmi8nTqLL7lh1ExnD0mXdIBc0rBA0uSpFJzOw4ASU-rVQdmlqJa9mIcPWuxbx9LwyXJKt7XS8LboMCxibYuF_1/s320/1830092391_95b0be36d7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210700654729811538" /></a><br /><br />S- Your marionette's and hand puppets are amazing. Do you market those to a specific group? Speaking of marketing...how do you market yourself as a plush designer, etc.?<br /><br />FT- My most recent puppets were made for a gallery show. I wanted to revisit making marionettes after 10 years experience in other areas. There is a significant difference from some of my earlier ones I made. Craftsmanship being the most noteable. I haven't spent a lot of time marketing the puppets. As for the plush, I've been fortunate to be featured on a lot of blogs from people who have seen my work on etsy. Flickr and the many softie groups has also been a great marketing tool. Locally I have done craft shows which have led to other engagements.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AJX1GTRt24xUmYwoCc7gsczvwSV9UWrmPBbqBd4VmMHjlOujfWqEu9feqfWu7X01lXz4vsvX1wuE-RhTShVbE9u7uk-QBlA1soEOq14Lmse7yVuDT9K-dZmjchsfqAjRUHFnhppgj5Oz/s1600-h/2078702923_65b6ffa728.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AJX1GTRt24xUmYwoCc7gsczvwSV9UWrmPBbqBd4VmMHjlOujfWqEu9feqfWu7X01lXz4vsvX1wuE-RhTShVbE9u7uk-QBlA1soEOq14Lmse7yVuDT9K-dZmjchsfqAjRUHFnhppgj5Oz/s320/2078702923_65b6ffa728.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210701001133618802" /></a><br /><br />S- You seem to have been around the block a few times with craft fairs. How do you prepare for these crafty events, keep up stock, figure out displaying, etc?<br /><br />FT- Minneapolis has quite a few excellent indie craft shows and hosts some of the finest juried shows. I've limited myself to a couple of shows a year. My main concern has always been having enough inventory. I allow myself at least 4-6 months preparation before a show. I'm not the kind of person that likes to wait till the last minute. I spend a lot of time and thought on my theme and display ... buying props through out the year. I look forward to my participation in the Plush You shows later this year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcBhQue8HCvCoDYGQ4l78pkh0n9n99ZClSpq-Pmo_d_bsDlt7lUlb2qfg1VyAAd3_aefb6NEE2WsEH5ZdB7xdKHRl5YUu8t3Na8z4syODcZ573CbQIp5MLGML67cBjXHreCUtpEJnlXwV/s1600-h/828621374_5b457926d8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcBhQue8HCvCoDYGQ4l78pkh0n9n99ZClSpq-Pmo_d_bsDlt7lUlb2qfg1VyAAd3_aefb6NEE2WsEH5ZdB7xdKHRl5YUu8t3Na8z4syODcZ573CbQIp5MLGML67cBjXHreCUtpEJnlXwV/s320/828621374_5b457926d8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210701522319322066" /></a><br /><br />S- How do you deal with being a plush artist, etc. in a craft community that is mainly dominated by women?<br /><br />FT- You know I've been crafty all my life so it really isn't something I think about. The crafting community has been warm and welcoming and very accepting of my creative efforts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2Oz9pvuWF6Y6mAXuRKZzcZuoAi-dorLrkIrQANa3VPdYqasiZuuGwHLZ9pilxY_3rLWrNMgEUPKfr1D7oSeU4SgDqAXG1Hg3TJjPo5om26JT9SIzsoGJzZ6ROQEutBXGuHWs3v5mFiCI/s1600-h/495318129_368e9ee382.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2Oz9pvuWF6Y6mAXuRKZzcZuoAi-dorLrkIrQANa3VPdYqasiZuuGwHLZ9pilxY_3rLWrNMgEUPKfr1D7oSeU4SgDqAXG1Hg3TJjPo5om26JT9SIzsoGJzZ6ROQEutBXGuHWs3v5mFiCI/s320/495318129_368e9ee382.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210703275232858658" /></a><br /><br />S- If you could do your dream job what would it be or are you already doing it?<br /><br />FT- I'd like to continue what I'm doing but on a grander scale. I prefer to design toys. It would be nice to have them manufactured by someone else.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTYAn57yJMnpAMDrqCd_Wtp1DwYJ2etUi7sS-p6rNQ7d_5RV_rbkUQK8aXq48IZOHTzJ0rshtxOM17-Rpf0cqCLVWoCOt2RYXxw__nJ5kiFF1KqacyEupzSA-R5YyrgSXdGhKsrFi7inx/s1600-h/2567656345_44988654a8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTYAn57yJMnpAMDrqCd_Wtp1DwYJ2etUi7sS-p6rNQ7d_5RV_rbkUQK8aXq48IZOHTzJ0rshtxOM17-Rpf0cqCLVWoCOt2RYXxw__nJ5kiFF1KqacyEupzSA-R5YyrgSXdGhKsrFi7inx/s320/2567656345_44988654a8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210699702331007410" /></a><br /><br />S- What are your goals for your business in the next year?<br /> <br />FT- I'm working on a book proposal to submit to publishers. I'd like to finish that up soon. I'm also looking into having a national toy chain carry a line of my toys.<br /><br />Don't forget...leave a comment with your contact info and your favorite color for your chance to win your own custom fawn!<br /><br />Thank you Tim for the awesome interview!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zVkuxyJkkpWEaGxi6OVQ6s7ZZ2djWiuUg-bWj0Vj1F-F89-1HJ1PLclgZDSwi8hE0_8HchEAfs12E1NhO9mZGmr4u1adbOhY1WT0hrnLt9JdlRkFw6lSn1bwOsBHmrSN26sgAxleHxzm/s1600-h/317160840_a376aa75a9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zVkuxyJkkpWEaGxi6OVQ6s7ZZ2djWiuUg-bWj0Vj1F-F89-1HJ1PLclgZDSwi8hE0_8HchEAfs12E1NhO9mZGmr4u1adbOhY1WT0hrnLt9JdlRkFw6lSn1bwOsBHmrSN26sgAxleHxzm/s320/317160840_a376aa75a9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210705070932185218" /></a>Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-39746300805774556262008-05-21T12:10:00.000-07:002008-05-21T12:48:40.055-07:00Ana Paula Rimoli InterviewI have mentioned before that I am a huge fan of amigurumi. Once I discovered my love for crochet, it was all over. I really wish I had more time for it these days. I am so glad people like <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=9639" target="_blank">Ana</a> exist. She was a wonderful person to work with for the <a href="http://www.schmancytoys.bigcartel.com" target="_blank">Plush You book</a>, she has always been very generous and most importantly, her creations are adorable. Any age would love a treat from Ana OR from you as you can make your own. You can get her patterns on her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=9639" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a> or purchase her new book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Amigurumi-World-Seriously-Cute-Crochet/dp/1564778479" target="_blank">Amigurumi World: Seriously Cute Crochet</a>. The title sums it up. You can also leave a comment here (with your email or way to contact you) and possibly win your very own signed copy directly from the creator herself!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWB0MzvOylVuqp3cPhbkEkpKciTE74jRPLemkAfYEe0u0da92oR-CyoexkQx5wAOedEZ_dPviV6XRck2lkgOH8ul5XhRM65sfxUjKCq3InIG8V_Qrtdf6F34XCDHfTmYVqhiNvz1MNMeGs/s1600-h/il_430xN.27314078.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWB0MzvOylVuqp3cPhbkEkpKciTE74jRPLemkAfYEe0u0da92oR-CyoexkQx5wAOedEZ_dPviV6XRck2lkgOH8ul5XhRM65sfxUjKCq3InIG8V_Qrtdf6F34XCDHfTmYVqhiNvz1MNMeGs/s320/il_430xN.27314078.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202917602243127618" /></a><br /><br />S- When did you begin making amigurumi toys?<br /><br />AP- I started making lots of them when I was pregnant with Oli (5), but I had made some (without knowing they were "amigurumi") when I was little (I started crocheting when I was 6 or 7)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NVGdl8kAy2wSsPdL7Px1z5qTZYtUmBe7gWv3kHq6vbfo276flJd0QXpItu6x_U_luVH0umJN_CPKNXYqjfN15taoz1dA598BnLiE8kzy7PdjcMgV3tPK9ZGEjhcKwcH95U7HSk9NJdQR/s1600-h/il_430xN.26853927.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NVGdl8kAy2wSsPdL7Px1z5qTZYtUmBe7gWv3kHq6vbfo276flJd0QXpItu6x_U_luVH0umJN_CPKNXYqjfN15taoz1dA598BnLiE8kzy7PdjcMgV3tPK9ZGEjhcKwcH95U7HSk9NJdQR/s320/il_430xN.26853927.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202917890005936466" /></a><br /><br />S- Were you a huge hit on etsy right away? How did you try to increase your etsy business?<br /><br />AP- At the time I was working full time in an office type place, and wasn't taking Etsy that seriously. Once Martina was born (she'll be 2 in September!) and I was in maternity leave I started making a lot more toys & patterns and posting a lot more and finally realized that I could Etsy full time, and I quit! :) I've never done too much advertising, but I did join Flickr right away and started posting in different amigurumi/craft related groups. I think that's helped a lot!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_Mo2NevOkKnYL-D3lMQ9_i03iuTwHmVO0zI1qC8ZigPM16Q8mTqYzGwkzr8Hdx5XzobA1GMkcSxRz0BvSIJAb_1m3b9DIHQRhFhuDzm_g5loPsaszIFbYG5iUc21vIdK3fSIDbfHVSlE/s1600-h/613JUOFdE2L._SL500_AA240_.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_Mo2NevOkKnYL-D3lMQ9_i03iuTwHmVO0zI1qC8ZigPM16Q8mTqYzGwkzr8Hdx5XzobA1GMkcSxRz0BvSIJAb_1m3b9DIHQRhFhuDzm_g5loPsaszIFbYG5iUc21vIdK3fSIDbfHVSlE/s320/613JUOFdE2L._SL500_AA240_.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202915270075885826" /></a><br /><br />S- You have an awesome book out recently that I will get to more later, did a publishing company contact you or did you contact them?<br /><br />AP- I had been thinking about the possibility of a book for a while, and I finally wrote a proposal and sent it to Martingale. I was super lucky and they contacted me right away :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfO5nkye0X3XORyyLcdNyx_stYfYQhAQRD-HutK4NrYc4WF2rJu4cyQYLNrCHt0v8tqqVLO1U2KfH9ahruN8z04A-dmicYHb6lnwG_SHtkwbZDGhnfwEu-bxfQQcvhyphenhyphen5Y2y9M7GkyRyKA/s1600-h/il_430xN.26674417.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfO5nkye0X3XORyyLcdNyx_stYfYQhAQRD-HutK4NrYc4WF2rJu4cyQYLNrCHt0v8tqqVLO1U2KfH9ahruN8z04A-dmicYHb6lnwG_SHtkwbZDGhnfwEu-bxfQQcvhyphenhyphen5Y2y9M7GkyRyKA/s320/il_430xN.26674417.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202918186358679906" /></a><br /><br />S- How has Etsy helped you as an artist with exposure, etc?<br /><br />AP- Etsy has been a great way of showing what I do/getting exposure. It's an easy way to get seen by tons of different people from all over the world that appreciate handmade stuff, crafting and the arts. I would have never thought about the possibility of writing a book if it hadn't been for all the nice people that wrote, bought so many patterns and were so nice and encouraging.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwv7VdFb7TnlLXl4zzxDyvylOD-E32yXqlOq5KmTLMbNynQyLDe2uCAYSSqNh4lo0-2UHrRnHiTH56r5sIKegH8Hi2NjB5fqf-_nTh-ObXxdDIdXyopNqCVD4vhrXjj8-jGNJ8CNRocjnX/s1600-h/il_430xN.25196352.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwv7VdFb7TnlLXl4zzxDyvylOD-E32yXqlOq5KmTLMbNynQyLDe2uCAYSSqNh4lo0-2UHrRnHiTH56r5sIKegH8Hi2NjB5fqf-_nTh-ObXxdDIdXyopNqCVD4vhrXjj8-jGNJ8CNRocjnX/s320/il_430xN.25196352.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202918744704428402" /></a><br /><br />S- Do you ever teach crocheting? If no, would you?<br />AP- No, I've never tought. I tried to teach Oli a couple of times but she's left-handed and it was difficult for me to show her, we're going to try again, though :) I would love to teach a little ami class, and I'm kind of planning one. Hopefully in the summer I can start :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jKuIZ1UN6hmTQqqMVI_cSvmX_P1vMf0AGNHqDrVHeAVIH_6waz4eHKJamf5cyIfyKZcQ9k6uWup9g5jOwddR7RKov0sm5jtU9DqwAs_M0IeXIRcx2cYgOmTTJgeZszQQav9234THM0EH/s1600-h/il_430xN.25662744.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jKuIZ1UN6hmTQqqMVI_cSvmX_P1vMf0AGNHqDrVHeAVIH_6waz4eHKJamf5cyIfyKZcQ9k6uWup9g5jOwddR7RKov0sm5jtU9DqwAs_M0IeXIRcx2cYgOmTTJgeZszQQav9234THM0EH/s320/il_430xN.25662744.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202919002402466178" /></a><br /><br />S- How often do you update your site with patterns?<br /><br />AP- I try to post a new pattern or toy at least once a week, but right now I'm working on a couple other projects, so it's been difficult. I'm hoping to get back into that in September, with good news to share :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqnFjHJ80cL3oCwabFXgRAjN1VvjZxT4N-aIQ9hApG3DrP9VLuGrjGasiJddysHGqRr8UdPNzNwrrn5DNQbmHchxPmmlnMtv5srcQKfg95Yqg_17fvRuY0BcaWdQygWP45i3FZyiNxVjQ/s1600-h/il_430xN.26487466.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqnFjHJ80cL3oCwabFXgRAjN1VvjZxT4N-aIQ9hApG3DrP9VLuGrjGasiJddysHGqRr8UdPNzNwrrn5DNQbmHchxPmmlnMtv5srcQKfg95Yqg_17fvRuY0BcaWdQygWP45i3FZyiNxVjQ/s320/il_430xN.26487466.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202919328819980690" /></a><br /><br />S- Do you feel like you try to keep a certain demographic in mind when working on a new piece or you just feel the mood to do something new and do it?<br /><br />AP- Not really, but I think most of the toys work for everybody :) <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawdGEcgDalmwX5Je0PiLYk1PFf7mp0gWJE50sv4Ihjv_BAc2f7dwlM_HKqKb8GoDKNRJ_vQi-v4NSUwgR5kUAGO378NlQjQG17ch4mipplZDm5OnfWbievLTMMp0VjqGmJ9_O6y1C6pM3/s1600-h/il_430xN.27077048.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawdGEcgDalmwX5Je0PiLYk1PFf7mp0gWJE50sv4Ihjv_BAc2f7dwlM_HKqKb8GoDKNRJ_vQi-v4NSUwgR5kUAGO378NlQjQG17ch4mipplZDm5OnfWbievLTMMp0VjqGmJ9_O6y1C6pM3/s320/il_430xN.27077048.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202917340250122546" /></a><br /><br />S- How long did it take you to work on your book from start to print?<br /><br />AP- Most of the patterns in the book were already in my Etsy shop, so I just had to make the toys and take the patterns from the Etsy shop. I think it took a couple of months to have them all done and ready to go, and then around 7 months for the book to be out. I guess it was pretty fast :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwb8Ryep2_LdgpU8LG8SSadFlfXMUJOt0K59VOviblrZE_UYxM25qedZHcnysVUXOCCULsnZaxiXp7sutwGgqBlr1cChf4N39RXcndIo99o6swZkgihYfzcc_niH4jPdjDvqc6qR_eOkr/s1600-h/il_430xN.27355972.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwb8Ryep2_LdgpU8LG8SSadFlfXMUJOt0K59VOviblrZE_UYxM25qedZHcnysVUXOCCULsnZaxiXp7sutwGgqBlr1cChf4N39RXcndIo99o6swZkgihYfzcc_niH4jPdjDvqc6qR_eOkr/s320/il_430xN.27355972.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202917056782280994" /></a><br /><br />S- Do you have any favorite moments since the beginning of your amigurumi career?<br /><br />AP- My favorite part are the nice, nice people I get to meet, and the letters!.<br />I got one from a mom that works full time and has little kids. She told me that following the patterns she can crochet a little bit here and there, in her lunch time or late at night, and make toys for them :) That felt so good! I know how difficult it is to work full time and have little kids and knowing that I'm somehow helping moms makes me happy. I love the feeling of seeing Oli & Marti play with toys that I make for them, and I imagine that happens to everybody.<br />Lots of people are saying that they're learning how to crochet just to make the toys, or with the help of the toys, and that's great too. Crocheting has been the old lady/toilet paper cover of the crafts for way too long, and I love to be a tiny little part of bringing it back.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_G4wk9ICFb3dKW6stEW0XyBgrnmh0ha5_gfZry0FSQxZXxwhZMp71pELBBH6LtuvaBZsbWlTLyIAK0oHib1F96C27XQMSJS-gygiU8TKkwlYxwgXsrgismaq95kEB8MHrtFG5iLX2LHW/s1600-h/il_430xN.26563743.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_G4wk9ICFb3dKW6stEW0XyBgrnmh0ha5_gfZry0FSQxZXxwhZMp71pELBBH6LtuvaBZsbWlTLyIAK0oHib1F96C27XQMSJS-gygiU8TKkwlYxwgXsrgismaq95kEB8MHrtFG5iLX2LHW/s320/il_430xN.26563743.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202916786199341330" /></a><br /><br />S- What is on the horizon for you and your business?<br /><br />AP- I hope I can continue to do what I love, and that I can grow, get better and try different things too. I hope this doll-making thing lasts forever. When I was little I used to always think how cool it would be to just make toys all day, and here I am! I don't think it can get much better than this :)<br /><br />Thanks Ana! Don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win a copy of Amigurumi World: Seriously Cute Crochet!Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-16978655968152064772008-05-14T12:19:00.000-07:002008-05-14T13:37:14.850-07:00LoobyluI have a lot of gratitude towards <a href="http://www.loobylu.com" target="_blank">Claire Robertson of Loobylu</a>. When I was on the fence about blogs and blogging, I found her site. It was what tossed me over to becoming obsessive about blogs. I read her blog all the time and wanted to move to Australia and force her to be my friend. She makes wonderful things from paintings, sketches, plush and so much more. Her site is beautiful, her studio is lovely and everything she mentions makes me happy. I love that she is able to share her work honestly and even shares the bad times with her readers. When I decided to start Plush You! I contacted Claire and asked her if she might mention it to her readers. She did and voila, Plush You! was born. I was really excited that she decided to do an interview with us so I could learn more. Enjoy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAVJOBmvoYwWNZfw21oUGRpuncntGa-cpo1sS5y7zn72mufwKl2ExL0dEHQqiM_zJIygo19I3UYIhyphenhyphenjkczJCg4dOeTGAFi2E_QSTLJTV4DJYSAWkGNwOIhwzvqG9K0a1H79NNHn3L1oa2/s1600-h/4933663_70dbb4fcc7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAVJOBmvoYwWNZfw21oUGRpuncntGa-cpo1sS5y7zn72mufwKl2ExL0dEHQqiM_zJIygo19I3UYIhyphenhyphenjkczJCg4dOeTGAFi2E_QSTLJTV4DJYSAWkGNwOIhwzvqG9K0a1H79NNHn3L1oa2/s320/4933663_70dbb4fcc7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200327393366254786" /></a><br /><br />S- I started reading your blog years ago. It seems like you were one of the first bloggers. Why did you start blogging and how did it change your craft?<br /><br />L- I started blogging at the end of 1999. I was working in web design and started documenting my life online. I guess publishing has always appealed to me, and my own (not very exciting) life provided limitless content and the instant feedback was / is very seductive. The support I got from the visitors to my blog gave me the confidence (and clients) to eventually quit my job and work as a freelance illustrator. With the emergence of the 'craft blog' scene I found huge inspiration and a wonderful community atmosphere to start exploring all sorts of crazy, previously unthought of (for me) areas of work such as softy making. No matter which direction my work goes in I know<br />there will be someone somewhere visiting my blog who will say "go for it!". That kind of support is pretty vital to me because I work at home in the suburbs with really only my mum, dad, husband, a five year old and a 2 year old around to say "hey, that looks cool! Keep going!".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqKfGPrtDmu8dSDwTe29Qh2Er_LrgW9XTobdqnDa-_YTR0L3QeZSelyEXjv2sQytYQ07I3Oek82i4-IiuCFTFewD07tEEaiTIdMYpoxkR-eLA1hBFgH6DG7fgI8gwPjjdJhJq7ROCfgRu/s1600-h/104352107_25d78a7655.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqKfGPrtDmu8dSDwTe29Qh2Er_LrgW9XTobdqnDa-_YTR0L3QeZSelyEXjv2sQytYQ07I3Oek82i4-IiuCFTFewD07tEEaiTIdMYpoxkR-eLA1hBFgH6DG7fgI8gwPjjdJhJq7ROCfgRu/s320/104352107_25d78a7655.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200327934532134098" /></a><br /><br />S- Your art is really lovely. From the looks of it you have been doing more painting and stenciling these days than sewing. Do you go with your mood or do you methodically go about your various art and craft interests?<br /><br />L- Thank you! I most definitely go with my mood - which is a blessing and a curse. It means I never get bored and I get to try lots of fun things but I tend to spend a lot of money on art supplies as I flip-flop around, and I never settle down enough to really perfect any one technique. I always have my favourite things I crave getting<br />back to and making softies is one of them. Next I want to try some wood block printing, and my uncle is turning some dolls for me to paint...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjESNjtcs6UgXihGIoESc_BuoOXVDhQqJSgoJ-R8jVKu7UL-VVgs7B6da-vY2GY_77jV8IoJ9QIyoE_jg1Xwrp1vIdBm93Suke0vHjGA52PPBEoHj2OpR8o98fYOs4AKqCE5jfwmRRsNkv/s1600-h/2753829_929083e3c1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjESNjtcs6UgXihGIoESc_BuoOXVDhQqJSgoJ-R8jVKu7UL-VVgs7B6da-vY2GY_77jV8IoJ9QIyoE_jg1Xwrp1vIdBm93Suke0vHjGA52PPBEoHj2OpR8o98fYOs4AKqCE5jfwmRRsNkv/s320/2753829_929083e3c1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200328660381607138" /></a><br /><br />S- I am not sure if you are aware of this but the first year I did Plush You, I asked you to put up a post about my show on your blog.You were the only one I had contacted because I really enjoyed looking through the photos "Month of the Softies" that you do. I was astonished how many responses I had gotten the next day thanks to you.<br />How do you choose the themes for Month of the Softies?<br /><br />L- A Month of Softies has become a bit of a community driven project now utilising the wonderful Flickr. We've changed moderators a couple of times and sometimes it's a case of members suggesting themes and then one is eventually settled on for the month. I haven't been personally involved in the running of the project for a long time now. It's great that a project that was started years ago continues to grow and flourish and attract new members all the time despite the occasional lack of nuturing it gets. It's a very simple idea - create a softie based on a theme every month... it manages to accommodate people who are just starting to find their crafting feet to seasoned softy creators who need a little focus for a month.<br />Visit <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/19293530@N00" target="_blank">here</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeMAQfFuvBFzYoPzdTa5dvx0bntiAiMftN2qS6jo9R9eHmTlPcGFo0EUNMQI_RdxilPTxH_7oWS8lrmnLrvDWVBh9iLdS0jyy9PEWFTjwaH3J5dljNn1USMutEIWE5k4MRJzMLvgUwDEw/s1600-h/4446116_f8182b283d.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeMAQfFuvBFzYoPzdTa5dvx0bntiAiMftN2qS6jo9R9eHmTlPcGFo0EUNMQI_RdxilPTxH_7oWS8lrmnLrvDWVBh9iLdS0jyy9PEWFTjwaH3J5dljNn1USMutEIWE5k4MRJzMLvgUwDEw/s320/4446116_f8182b283d.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200329772778136818" /></a><br /><br />S- When I look through your blog I have a hard time understanding how you can balance your art, your craft, your children, your blog and your store. How do you explain your mastered skills?<br /><br />L- Balance? What balance?? I haven't mastered it all! It's a continuing frustration for me, and I am sure I'm not alone in this. My house is a mess. It's a bit sad, but something had to give. Housework gets the lowest priority - children the highest. I have recognized since becoming a mother that if I don't have a chance to be creative then I become depressed and resentful and absolutely not much fun to be around. Because of this, my art work - whatever it might be at any given point - is pretty high up on that list of priorities too. My blog has stopped being so important. I used to spend a lot of time on my blog and it had become a part of my identity. I would meet people who I hadn't seen in a while and they would say "err... so how's your blog?" and I realised I wanted that question to be more like "how is your work going? What are you making these days?". I have come back to it this year with a promise to myself that my blog is my side project. Another thing I have discovered since becoming a Mother is that if you have limited time your production goes up drastically. I look back on the years I was doing freelance illustration before I had children and wonder what on earth was I doing with my time. Now I try to use every spare minute. Every nap time is a flurry of activity, every spare couple of hours when my Mum might take the kids for a bit I rarely sit around doing nothing. As cheesey and as cliched as it<br />sounds, It's all just a case of prioritizing and making time work for our family. This doesn't mean we find ourselves being an exhausted, over-scheduled family, it just means I need to get plenty of sleep so that i can keep my energy levels up. It certainly doesn't always work, but I keep trying new ways.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_3jfHpSR-gjk4qh6aVSr9PO9EmZ4Cdov-VxNKV-mj_thQDDbd91Kx5qch9lb_v4eSreaUvyYXXLexV1Q3Y7_Dz431HFvbHFTHWkg9EfUQiYNW0f1DXRBp0Hnwc5GHtBNAldah1SLyjR1/s1600-h/5400278_7941976a54.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_3jfHpSR-gjk4qh6aVSr9PO9EmZ4Cdov-VxNKV-mj_thQDDbd91Kx5qch9lb_v4eSreaUvyYXXLexV1Q3Y7_Dz431HFvbHFTHWkg9EfUQiYNW0f1DXRBp0Hnwc5GHtBNAldah1SLyjR1/s320/5400278_7941976a54.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200330717670941954" /></a><br /><br />S- I loved your findings after having a No Spending Month. What precipitated this act?<br /><br />L- A lack of funds! Also - our family is going through a bit of a self reflective stage where we are looking at how we spend our money and the effect it has on our long term goals and also the impact it has on the planet. The most amazing thing about the No Spend Month thing we did was that we cut down on the amount of garbage we produced by half without even really thinking about it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77quJzcdWCtncYElRAxv-lBESzWDczmWcjAIqTIGW8qoWi1xZvvy-dQn6RGzeESWP6J9TX0HoVdSc4wCO0TXlqRStsGXRscmKQMepHiqqoPddVSCN3vlxtGvf8trenA3Omu5rfqjjZavz/s1600-h/47235642_401b9f8dfb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77quJzcdWCtncYElRAxv-lBESzWDczmWcjAIqTIGW8qoWi1xZvvy-dQn6RGzeESWP6J9TX0HoVdSc4wCO0TXlqRStsGXRscmKQMepHiqqoPddVSCN3vlxtGvf8trenA3Omu5rfqjjZavz/s320/47235642_401b9f8dfb.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200331211592181010" /></a><br /><br />S- Do you have a nine to five job where you have to go and spend your day or is your art your full time job?<br /><br />L- My 9 to 5 job -- (my 6am - 7.30pm job - with stints occasionally at 4am) is being a mum. The art fits in around that. When both my kids are in school (3.7 years away, but who's counting?) art will be my full time job. I have between now and then to work out how to make that possible. (S- I think you will be fine!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jrME_qJjMdKCZAVKxpgsFx23vllN1b1I3wk2loNC3YqMPKWpAahlSeNjK-Ca8TZoIsdNJs-NG5eqOy1qkKGmtVWl0gvy8_qMRbIlje-qhAL_AQxa1jJu7fH36612cLSgq4RwT3ToJay6/s1600-h/68241389_d84c9e692f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jrME_qJjMdKCZAVKxpgsFx23vllN1b1I3wk2loNC3YqMPKWpAahlSeNjK-Ca8TZoIsdNJs-NG5eqOy1qkKGmtVWl0gvy8_qMRbIlje-qhAL_AQxa1jJu7fH36612cLSgq4RwT3ToJay6/s320/68241389_d84c9e692f.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200331915966817570" /></a><br /><br />S- What I absolutely love about your blog, which can also be seriously bad at some points, is how many amazing things you find. Everything is beautiful and makes me want it right away. Where do you spend most of your luxury time on the web?<br /><br />L- Flickr, Etsy, and about a zillion blogs which are mostly craft, art and design related. Currently I spend copious amounts of time on interior design related blogs. I guess it must be some kind of vicarious-living thing because our house is so out of control.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQuzN6tsSAMDKSqDnf6rmxYixlc2AT85fkBv8lZhV6bSVuccXCyqn5j6MoQPUF-KhoPLpiryu3TEplUJhCN4MFZojVD7vp3ChKPJs3kGxBSEZr_ztQTTPH09yJ_CohCVT8Bdaiz45j8rC/s1600-h/104320592_5fa75c3b3a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQuzN6tsSAMDKSqDnf6rmxYixlc2AT85fkBv8lZhV6bSVuccXCyqn5j6MoQPUF-KhoPLpiryu3TEplUJhCN4MFZojVD7vp3ChKPJs3kGxBSEZr_ztQTTPH09yJ_CohCVT8Bdaiz45j8rC/s320/104320592_5fa75c3b3a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200332336873612594" /></a><br /><br />S- Do you have any new plush projects in mind for yourself that you would like to work on?<br /><br />L- I do. I have some ideas which I just need a little time to sit down and start. I am keen to follow some ideas about my family ancestry and make strange creatures based on my heritage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjB-NFABcYk4Pu8dfosbQJKkGhc8mTTYE-L-eZOCq7gIv9qNXVk7RkiGKfIhAPYywLgNgdeuv1gRlEkuNLE47kypfz_nBBfzl77NbblTmfOM6SYD4a8fR_1a3f1iRBg6aWuJHQqQf_6f9M/s1600-h/2753813_a6d3d68c1f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjB-NFABcYk4Pu8dfosbQJKkGhc8mTTYE-L-eZOCq7gIv9qNXVk7RkiGKfIhAPYywLgNgdeuv1gRlEkuNLE47kypfz_nBBfzl77NbblTmfOM6SYD4a8fR_1a3f1iRBg6aWuJHQqQf_6f9M/s320/2753813_a6d3d68c1f.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200333298946286930" /></a><br /><br />S- You are also the chief editor of Kiddley (now I am totally confused..how do you do it???). Sorry, I digressed. Anyways, can you tell our readers more about Kiddley as I am sure many of them would love to know about it!<br /><br />L- Kiddley is on a permanent hiatus (we just didn't have the time to keep doing that one!) but the archives are all still there. It's a blog which concentrated on great things to do with kids - lots of crafts, links, ideas and projects. It's a blog which has awesome archives because we used to get lots of really great guest bloggers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBn20qavpU0Vbil5F29VjgnJxOqK33_UkPcFRXKSB37PqR16_-Io23tw7OicUiQ3ofNBgvosOznLclUCjtSdd_5-2Z_OkFkBQJIRKsfwyTf5m2hHjZCnqlB-b2Po75g1EMpAljV0hVYEIS/s1600-h/104352134_9e71595a93.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBn20qavpU0Vbil5F29VjgnJxOqK33_UkPcFRXKSB37PqR16_-Io23tw7OicUiQ3ofNBgvosOznLclUCjtSdd_5-2Z_OkFkBQJIRKsfwyTf5m2hHjZCnqlB-b2Po75g1EMpAljV0hVYEIS/s320/104352134_9e71595a93.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200333015478445378" /></a><br /><br />S- What are some of your goals for this year?<br /><br />L- I am planning on starting a shop on etsy (or similar) and I am planning to keep on getting as much art-for-art's-sake done as possible.<br /><br />You can also see work <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/loobylu/" target="_blank">here</a><br /><br />Thank you Claire!Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-81600686360855905792008-05-07T11:37:00.000-07:002008-05-07T12:19:11.895-07:00Jess Hutch Interview<a href="http://www.jesshutch.com" target="_blank">Jess Hutch</a> is a lovely person. She has participated in Plush You since it began and I am pleased as punch that she is still going strong with her plush making. I had the pleasure of going out to dinner with Jess last year and it was great to be able to sit down with her and chat about her work and to get to know the woman behind these amazing creations. I can't wait until Friday when I will be able to hang out with Jess again as she will be showing her work at <a href="http://www.schmancytoys.bigcartel.com" target="_blank">Schmancy</a>. In a few hours you can visit our new <a href="http://www.schmancygallery.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Schmancy Gallery site</a> to see what will be at the show and to purchase any work before it is up this Friday. Until then, read a little more about Jess. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiena0JHmKMZkLeb7HWFLHMyaMDySicYj0qQY3u44LC3kJ8K9Ea-Rb-Lfo6syng8OCzZhPVd4S8gHeubWxDA2TTei-s1kFUxKoBMNnjL014vpHxasOsYuWgIKt_DEkCeFqvUEjoctBeuEie/s1600-h/56133520_c845b12424_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiena0JHmKMZkLeb7HWFLHMyaMDySicYj0qQY3u44LC3kJ8K9Ea-Rb-Lfo6syng8OCzZhPVd4S8gHeubWxDA2TTei-s1kFUxKoBMNnjL014vpHxasOsYuWgIKt_DEkCeFqvUEjoctBeuEie/s320/56133520_c845b12424_m.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197716781722189090" /></a><br /><br />S- When we met about a year ago you mentioned that you might like to stop blogging. This Jan. you made the plunge and said good bye to the blogging world. How has it helped your creative process? Is it everything you hoped it would be?<br /><br />JH- It's been great in a lot of ways... using my blog and flickr to show my work to the world was hugely, hugely important for me while I was trying to work out my aesthetic and my creative direction. However, I got to the point where the number of comments or hits I got had an effect on the projects I chose to work on. I felt that as I was creating things, it was almost like I had a hundred people in the room with me. So I decided to step back a bit and create in a more silent, personal space. It's been great. However... I've also found that it's kind of hard to work without the encouragement of other people, artists and people who like my work and pay attention to it. Like I need their support to keep my motivation going. So it's mixed! But I think it's been useful and a good experiment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-BqpuhHTqjGsITn9se34MZDx1lvaejKmJWaQenKFBvjpqLbgrZ0c38wkPKTQigomhXJUyzEIyWdrS-0B7Gtl9gDwPyG1ZgWwFdkHv3fXtg5-Vi10mgk0YhGVOeo2UH9vwDOHiCB9Woow/s1600-h/1399094717_f86806e7d9_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-BqpuhHTqjGsITn9se34MZDx1lvaejKmJWaQenKFBvjpqLbgrZ0c38wkPKTQigomhXJUyzEIyWdrS-0B7Gtl9gDwPyG1ZgWwFdkHv3fXtg5-Vi10mgk0YhGVOeo2UH9vwDOHiCB9Woow/s320/1399094717_f86806e7d9_m.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197714831807036642" /></a><br /><br />S- Looking through your work, you seem to have gone through some phases. From knitting more, embroidery, screen printing and now more painted stuffed toys. Do you just go with your flow or do you dabble in everything all the time?<br /><br />JH- I get bored pretty easily, at least with various media. I seem to always stay within a pretty narrow range with what I represent (usually weird serene little animal/human hybrid characters) but I am always, always thinking about different ways to go about it. I even want to try wood carving, I'm not even kidding. I think I just want to explore everything... just different ways of depicting what's in my head. Comic books, oil painting, etc. There's so much out there, and I just kind of follow my bliss with it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2m48YeSGrIgKYF2rH2XuJS-fKwcKzDL2Vl88s619_yWBhUga9XHd7VhO4ULQpAnZMzhV3UrwwYLh9O8PGiTifss2710ffziOmYhySVfxLfGekPC9yKNtutVyTsyDYrut0suBYfv3SU1g/s1600-h/192176050_cbbc050b82_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2m48YeSGrIgKYF2rH2XuJS-fKwcKzDL2Vl88s619_yWBhUga9XHd7VhO4ULQpAnZMzhV3UrwwYLh9O8PGiTifss2710ffziOmYhySVfxLfGekPC9yKNtutVyTsyDYrut0suBYfv3SU1g/s320/192176050_cbbc050b82_m.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197713959928675506" /></a><br /><br />S- I noticed that a lot of your work has little stories involving ghosts and spirits. Are you really into ghost stories and mystical beings?<br /><br />JH- Yes. What I really love is the idea that our normal world, the one that we can study and observe, is just a shell. That unusual beings and strange occurrences occasionally present themselves, and we just have to be open and aware. I'm not sure I really believe any of this, but I'm open to it and love to contemplate the possibilities.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IY5izJENHolnsPUZyZsTs7TLsLBxZ7p49i5Vi60OpHYSnwlHQD6GIcIU4jYCuLrHMDX6_TXDDIwmi9rQqmsQ4hgamFeuR5s31NHPW9Z6ddtdAeqEEEsQuHLdWbS02OkBaSpgbH2K4FmU/s1600-h/259236734_2734fee567_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IY5izJENHolnsPUZyZsTs7TLsLBxZ7p49i5Vi60OpHYSnwlHQD6GIcIU4jYCuLrHMDX6_TXDDIwmi9rQqmsQ4hgamFeuR5s31NHPW9Z6ddtdAeqEEEsQuHLdWbS02OkBaSpgbH2K4FmU/s320/259236734_2734fee567_m.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197714509684489426" /></a><br /><br />S- One thing I really love about your work is the color palette. It varies but seems to stay within certain families. Where do you get a lot of inspiration for your work and color combinations?<br /><br />Well, my stuff is very modern and graphic. Super simple. I am always concerned that the cartooniness of what I do, coupled with really bright colors, would just completely shove it out of reality. So I like to use more natural, muted colors, because I think it brings it back a bit. It's a little more relatable (which is always what I'm try to achieve). Rust, grey-green, ocean blue, brown, etc.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTIRpzmL-O4nyHc95i2yn0FfwM3mpkrQSOrEA1b6hyygWe06MogVUEkOxsLP1R-ynI-G6qP4tsOY_ZLm0GDntyacQ6GuFqy1lP6ahnJIF94e46uSVBupkrrwho4Uf7oXniyFRAolIfrh7/s1600-h/656442359_c0dc8fca35_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTIRpzmL-O4nyHc95i2yn0FfwM3mpkrQSOrEA1b6hyygWe06MogVUEkOxsLP1R-ynI-G6qP4tsOY_ZLm0GDntyacQ6GuFqy1lP6ahnJIF94e46uSVBupkrrwho4Uf7oXniyFRAolIfrh7/s320/656442359_c0dc8fca35_m.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197716597038595346" /></a><br /><br />S- You giant knitted guy was amazing. When we met you were working on it. How long did it take you and what is he doing now? When did you learn to knit and then go to designing your own patterns?<br /><br />JH- He took forever. I don't really remember how long - 20-30 hours perhaps? He's in our workroom, just hanging out. I think I'm going to take some more photos with him doing various human things - that was the original idea, then I got sidetracked with some other projects - then I think I'm going to sell him. I want him to hang out with someone else for a while.<br /><br />I learned to knit about, oh, 5 years ago? My sister taught me. I started doing my own patterns almost immediately, when I realized that no one had written patterns for the types of clothes and toys I wanted to make.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrf8Vjcu1DHkDW5E3JH43xXgv8WHgRjNStieMI7IfYaYmgLBfvS8sBHjDcIV8JhLuwbnMbDE6Kh9OGaf9l0f0xxq3dCsxMh9rGOgMDAvK42iDHSXeu3Ce1cYPEKCEbOpOm9T8pKjzqB7_/s1600-h/63410245_011dcd5b82.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrf8Vjcu1DHkDW5E3JH43xXgv8WHgRjNStieMI7IfYaYmgLBfvS8sBHjDcIV8JhLuwbnMbDE6Kh9OGaf9l0f0xxq3dCsxMh9rGOgMDAvK42iDHSXeu3Ce1cYPEKCEbOpOm9T8pKjzqB7_/s320/63410245_011dcd5b82.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197713169654693026" /></a><br /><br />S- You seem to be a very discipled artists that might try something once and realize that it's not for you even if the demand is there or whatnot. How do you decide what works best for you and when to say no?<br /><br />JH- Heh. Well, the fact that I have a fulfilling full time job (as a data analyst at a non-profit) allows me to be very, very selective about how I spend my creative time. It also, unfortunately, forces me to be very selective. It's kind of a lucky/unlucky thing. I have limited time outside of work and personal commitments, and I want to spend it doing only what is personally fulfilling to me. The worst thing ever is getting home from work, making dinner, taking care of various home things, then slogging through 4-5 hours of creative work that I don't really want to do. It just sucks any enjoyment out of it. So I made a decision fairly early on to only ever do what I enjoy, or what satisfies me creatively. I don't rely on the income from it so I'm able to do this. However, it can alienate people who really want particular things from me, which is something I've never really learned to deal with. It's definitely complicated. But I'm glad that the things I work on are always, always, done with love and care and interest.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUPtDpmCXLWGNwd3fzAGlNDUgM_rFsE6WvMxd_gC7DMhBKZOWpV_3RvU1RAfAapB-RW1L146GGZTpBq7Lo6-xYt0FEkiB3pKTG9NKbwtwftyVCCy07YWNkeqs9695Rl1ny1lAEvGovWsH/s1600-h/131093783_fc723decbf_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUPtDpmCXLWGNwd3fzAGlNDUgM_rFsE6WvMxd_gC7DMhBKZOWpV_3RvU1RAfAapB-RW1L146GGZTpBq7Lo6-xYt0FEkiB3pKTG9NKbwtwftyVCCy07YWNkeqs9695Rl1ny1lAEvGovWsH/s320/131093783_fc723decbf_m.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197715493232000258" /></a><br /><br />S- Every time you have participated in Plush YOu! your work sells like hot cakes. You definitely have a fan base out there. Now that you have stopped your blog and do not use flickr as much, how do you keep connected with your fans?<br /><br />JH- I don't, really. Which is hard. As I mentioned above, I really miss that interaction and the feedback. I'm currently thinking of ways to have it both ways, if that's even possible.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubVK56TlKsgw6Rzqdafw2Gas1IEKBHybk8Eq6wFE3I7sXST115C7V8VxbwTdTh4Ys__n3ib2xjlM2PqLFGPDxIp4KStFh5oKZM0U34uwjqrGA5FtF9vjIyFqXb8Wpn4bhYym7xFsGtIVz/s1600-h/167380130_008fe65532_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubVK56TlKsgw6Rzqdafw2Gas1IEKBHybk8Eq6wFE3I7sXST115C7V8VxbwTdTh4Ys__n3ib2xjlM2PqLFGPDxIp4KStFh5oKZM0U34uwjqrGA5FtF9vjIyFqXb8Wpn4bhYym7xFsGtIVz/s320/167380130_008fe65532_m.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197714153202203842" /></a><br /><br />S- I love your work that is two dimensional with the same thing also three dimensional. How much time difference is there between the two and do you like one more than the other?<br /><br />JH- It depends on the medium. Recently I've been working on 2D oil paintings and those take just about forever. I think that in general I will always gravitate toward 3D work. There's just a relatability there that I love so much. I create these characters to depict something very personal and I want people to see them and understand. I want them to feel something. We're 3D ourselves, so it just takes that much less effort to relate to something that's three-dimensional. I think.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7ofWlMBWoboIQ4t8Hko5OaV1k_pcJl75s4BjYb7r1RYQZrvNZYqfYM-JYXM3B9EFHHOYpgma49_dg15f6j6LGGH3ssonZWXstnO_twM1IF4kWqjyzmAeEsSXC_m-4qlPZHyp3-J5QrIF/s1600-h/1098158172_4c57242294_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7ofWlMBWoboIQ4t8Hko5OaV1k_pcJl75s4BjYb7r1RYQZrvNZYqfYM-JYXM3B9EFHHOYpgma49_dg15f6j6LGGH3ssonZWXstnO_twM1IF4kWqjyzmAeEsSXC_m-4qlPZHyp3-J5QrIF/s320/1098158172_4c57242294_m.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197715153929583858" /></a><br /><br />S- When you started blogging, etc. you said that was your first time sharing your art and showing people. How did that help your art career and do you have any favorite moments?<br /><br />JH- It helped a lot. I needed to hear from people. And hearing from people who are themselves so, so talented helped a lot too. I think my favorite moment, or series of moments, is looking at something I'm working on and finally feeling like I'm doing what I always wanted to do, which is showing my creative work to people.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQX5Q9g7RxIS3P50AW2buU-nf_ptNZ8Dct23WoC6qN2Dlmpgk0L03DlwA5IDle5ndmSp-PAJ2-C7NwR81UNiMia7505sM0rIKqj3OzAj3zlmjQD3_EMDAvX_F9Ir08No7UOCWGfvwmvoI/s1600-h/hut.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQX5Q9g7RxIS3P50AW2buU-nf_ptNZ8Dct23WoC6qN2Dlmpgk0L03DlwA5IDle5ndmSp-PAJ2-C7NwR81UNiMia7505sM0rIKqj3OzAj3zlmjQD3_EMDAvX_F9Ir08No7UOCWGfvwmvoI/s320/hut.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197717202628984114" /></a><br /><br />S- Anything on your horizon we should be looking out for?<br /><br />JH- I'd like to show my oil paintings at some point. I want to do more photography of my dudes, perhaps within an actual narrative that I can then print as a little book. Maybe I'll try some more realistic stuff. I don't know, I guess I'm just always doing what seems like the right thing at the moment!<br /><br />Thanks Kristen, that was great - can't wait to see you this Friday!Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-86556227596250723672008-04-30T14:23:00.000-07:002008-04-30T15:19:10.372-07:00Mucho Interview<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBMBOfx-QIo7rd30HCxrR5kcM-ZIAo90Ng0m0fPZDeWJsjPcZETHwmkGw6deyvh_vqL0cRXTSmNhyYoP4zAn1owCKsYq4iwwLDECFbX4PW2i5qclU0Jt-HvqlBe0PFbNUDn_wI8EpQJdR/s1600-h/il_430xN.22779733.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBMBOfx-QIo7rd30HCxrR5kcM-ZIAo90Ng0m0fPZDeWJsjPcZETHwmkGw6deyvh_vqL0cRXTSmNhyYoP4zAn1owCKsYq4iwwLDECFbX4PW2i5qclU0Jt-HvqlBe0PFbNUDn_wI8EpQJdR/s320/il_430xN.22779733.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195166229716875506" /></a><br /><br />It's kind of funny interviewing your friend you hang out with all the time but I did. <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5360963" target="_blank">Mucho</a> is my friend, the one I watch 90210 and Melrose Place with. We watch each other's cat's when we go out of town and we have craft nights which are my favorite. Pamela is really swell and a great crafting friend. Here's a little more about her. Leave a comment at the end of this post and you'll have the chance to win your very own Mucho Drumstick! <br /><br /><br />S- When did you start crafting?<br /><br />M- I guess my mom taught me to crochet when I was in grade school but she only taught me the chain stitch so I couldn't really make anything. She taught me to use a sewing machine when I was a little older that was probably the real start. I got into crochet again in my 20's.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QJ4dH1ZWTweUT9wE7wBDZH98iokSE6e9QJcLmYEBdFe7RLQCaG8_3W1hg6aAjCQaSdjeKUmmEli8Pd5gypUsYruOYtvCHHH5vnJa9oyIfOcGHDZ2UMcdaM19_Mc8k3v0qeZOwIKnEAco/s1600-h/376791288_fa36cddc82.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QJ4dH1ZWTweUT9wE7wBDZH98iokSE6e9QJcLmYEBdFe7RLQCaG8_3W1hg6aAjCQaSdjeKUmmEli8Pd5gypUsYruOYtvCHHH5vnJa9oyIfOcGHDZ2UMcdaM19_Mc8k3v0qeZOwIKnEAco/s320/376791288_fa36cddc82.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195164198197344338" /></a><br /><br />S- You sew and do a lot of crochet. Would you say you have a favorite?<br /><br />M- Definitely crochet but that's because I can create in 3-D easier than in sewing. I haven't quite grasped that skill yet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PDnjDfl705NO_rTDfNx9jI1j8sWQsceKKiCWO5vKrReBSn2bTcQ9_9Pkfv09_n9n-UOOAJj3hAjqJGc6jJAmLLiujFtjASLrTKEtLM3L_uWsgTRWYf9b85iGMxzdzdyLEn2dXrHvtCmr/s1600-h/409212588_afd8d0efbd.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PDnjDfl705NO_rTDfNx9jI1j8sWQsceKKiCWO5vKrReBSn2bTcQ9_9Pkfv09_n9n-UOOAJj3hAjqJGc6jJAmLLiujFtjASLrTKEtLM3L_uWsgTRWYf9b85iGMxzdzdyLEn2dXrHvtCmr/s320/409212588_afd8d0efbd.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195164670643746930" /></a><br /><br />S- How long does it usually take you to come up with a new crochet pattern?<br /><br />M- Sometimes it's a couple hours sometimes a couple days. I try to think it trhough in my head first and then do trial and error until I'm satisfied with the outcome. I realized that even if the design comes easily on the first try, I still need to write it down. I made things I haven't been able to recreate until after multiple tries.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCDnOzRF3e918xm1N7SMpDhcdHzQjy8Z6mtBZx9gBn73borDThBhIXjkvGzzWXw_2mzOtfapLW2XLQHGKmrkZfAHqYv13HVhldtZ69QFf81AmXGT5qT9hM6YiFesKOl13KvGqJsnh5jyF/s1600-h/405106112_4c242f5520.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCDnOzRF3e918xm1N7SMpDhcdHzQjy8Z6mtBZx9gBn73borDThBhIXjkvGzzWXw_2mzOtfapLW2XLQHGKmrkZfAHqYv13HVhldtZ69QFf81AmXGT5qT9hM6YiFesKOl13KvGqJsnh5jyF/s320/405106112_4c242f5520.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195164412945709154" /></a><br /><br />S- You recently had to go to the doctor for tennis elbow from all your crafting and work. Did you learn anything useful other crafters might like to know?<br /><br />M- My doctor fitted me for a wrist splint which you can just pick up at any drug store and I will definitely be wearing that every time I crochet. S- Also look at the new <a href="http://www.craftzine.com" target="_blank">Craft magazine</a> out on May 6th.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSq54YEFGGyeAKCAIExoQ58a79wTMTlk00lFqmuDPGS6AdzhCXNcrDyF01_g_9lcaugpC_CvpEz-OZWocb6yotEI51WAAqaTiYNPjkuGo6AMRygBB9tttR1UlUlt77OYurHAKdRJ4WjvAU/s1600-h/495480821_949b9a856e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSq54YEFGGyeAKCAIExoQ58a79wTMTlk00lFqmuDPGS6AdzhCXNcrDyF01_g_9lcaugpC_CvpEz-OZWocb6yotEI51WAAqaTiYNPjkuGo6AMRygBB9tttR1UlUlt77OYurHAKdRJ4WjvAU/s320/495480821_949b9a856e.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195164820967602306" /></a><br /><br />S- What is an essential craft supply for your work?<br /><br />M- hmmm....Where do I begin. I can keep myself pretty happy and content with a crochet hook and a few skeins of yarn for days.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTecBl0EQ2axvd0eCoPBA0T-a-72J4ojnITi7m4spZ1G6BoxVwLO-7sn-4t_AAbBGU4DJt1jjT5GtQx4dTdlpNy2HrETeNioGeV_LcXb7nivn6tEWWLqP82CbwrAADbRRPa5sQtlKqdeSG/s1600-h/2092646350_4d87db5bd7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTecBl0EQ2axvd0eCoPBA0T-a-72J4ojnITi7m4spZ1G6BoxVwLO-7sn-4t_AAbBGU4DJt1jjT5GtQx4dTdlpNy2HrETeNioGeV_LcXb7nivn6tEWWLqP82CbwrAADbRRPa5sQtlKqdeSG/s320/2092646350_4d87db5bd7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195165194629757090" /></a><br /><br />S- How often do you try and create a new design for your etsy shop?<br /><br />M_ I definitely would like to more often. Maybe every couple months. I work 40 hours a weeek and like to have a bit of a social life. It's hard to balance it all.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWttTGlTSZaCk7ryR9xyu4Evn328IYdoExwP5RlF7Q2den5t37VWpmmoDfrZDL6gsfO_eVkaamCLCP9kcRHn1_Td_EYTnLkQ1erYhIhj5MfDETxZOioTmVmUAmxOFmmjyn5OOLDTzbDarD/s1600-h/il_430xN.13071558.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWttTGlTSZaCk7ryR9xyu4Evn328IYdoExwP5RlF7Q2den5t37VWpmmoDfrZDL6gsfO_eVkaamCLCP9kcRHn1_Td_EYTnLkQ1erYhIhj5MfDETxZOioTmVmUAmxOFmmjyn5OOLDTzbDarD/s320/il_430xN.13071558.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195165400788187314" /></a><br /><br />S- What has been one of your most memorable craft experiences since you started Mucho?<br /><br />M- Urban Craft Uprising was a pretty awesome time. It was my first craft fair, I was with good friends, met amazing crafters and saw tons of cool stuff.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblVcLzC4n9P7iXGHRloGhyphenhyphenWTETDcKTm710d7wms_idi0eHCVcmhF7iaJXzB3uJ4qa1LBOR9c0OWL1ijVTU2ldMutIUiS9RG1F4jdZhcl375DKtEzmKU9suLIRgjsbSxVY-iAaVbF8nqgs/s1600-h/il_430xN.22780700.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblVcLzC4n9P7iXGHRloGhyphenhyphenWTETDcKTm710d7wms_idi0eHCVcmhF7iaJXzB3uJ4qa1LBOR9c0OWL1ijVTU2ldMutIUiS9RG1F4jdZhcl375DKtEzmKU9suLIRgjsbSxVY-iAaVbF8nqgs/s320/il_430xN.22780700.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195165581176813762" /></a><br /><br />S- What's your biggest source of inspiration?<br /><br />M- Friends suggestions, Japanese advertising, mascots and Japanese products and old craft books and magazines. Oh and food of course!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6XmDsf0ZsM3eNISQzfBOCF9UVcV3gixqIrnzvGlN_7qFdjqvdiwzpzdGw9pq7EMdQnzS62Xs5G5P_7ZEK0JiW6mIHAi6vOoTRiXx4MD690rQx4Du3kLSIQJTy4hAmkNij7KjvwTe-1dF/s1600-h/il_430xN.23351107.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6XmDsf0ZsM3eNISQzfBOCF9UVcV3gixqIrnzvGlN_7qFdjqvdiwzpzdGw9pq7EMdQnzS62Xs5G5P_7ZEK0JiW6mIHAi6vOoTRiXx4MD690rQx4Du3kLSIQJTy4hAmkNij7KjvwTe-1dF/s320/il_430xN.23351107.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195165843169818834" /></a><br /><br />S- What's on Mucho's horizon?<br /><br />M- Well as soon as I rid myself of this stupid tennis elbow I hope to come up with some new amigurumi designs and fill my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5360963" target="_blank">etsy shop</a> a little more. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQvLqlK8yMfYXRbm3LTgg153aqubHRGTUb74bfhiTUF_Qn1uMWV0uM4OjwlrC9_7zbSqPSgdHGHU6-cv2fZwOWVogsylXo33g05obCFBy8IrgP9mdR-JXVWrZczGPeEJZWwOC4OpWaiO9/s1600-h/il_430xN.23355809.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQvLqlK8yMfYXRbm3LTgg153aqubHRGTUb74bfhiTUF_Qn1uMWV0uM4OjwlrC9_7zbSqPSgdHGHU6-cv2fZwOWVogsylXo33g05obCFBy8IrgP9mdR-JXVWrZczGPeEJZWwOC4OpWaiO9/s320/il_430xN.23355809.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195166062213150946" /></a><br /><br />S- Anything exciting you would like to share with our Plush You readers?<br /><br />M- You can learn how to make bacon bowls on <a href="http://www.notmartha.org" target="_blank">Not Martha</a>, I think that's exciting! I will also be in Kristen Rask's (that's me) new book and I will be participating in this year's Plush You show.<br /><br />Leave a comment here for your chance to win your own Mucho Drumstick!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvMZbWbtUQE_EkwXOiZBCAd1bFe4q-GNyy40MzvB3POeYfazpkvNYI_pk7QUlGAOw8uK1zj1UrwGovwv87ESDkc62KYfqdljqkc5ancB-rqT1WlIm4Drn3cQ9JsysHWwO1lLJy-cINlG7/s1600-h/1767172882_ec18ebaca5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvMZbWbtUQE_EkwXOiZBCAd1bFe4q-GNyy40MzvB3POeYfazpkvNYI_pk7QUlGAOw8uK1zj1UrwGovwv87ESDkc62KYfqdljqkc5ancB-rqT1WlIm4Drn3cQ9JsysHWwO1lLJy-cINlG7/s320/1767172882_ec18ebaca5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195165027126032530" /></a>Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-77532139489481246462008-04-23T11:04:00.000-07:002008-04-23T11:56:19.664-07:00Ariana MarinelliI really try not to have favorites but I have to say, <a href="http://www.stain-drop.com/" target="_blank">Ariana Marinelli</a> is one of them. Ariana has participated in Plush You! every year and each year her work arrives there are gasps of delight from anyone that lays their eyes on her work. It's really a work of art with great attention to detail and the love that goes into each piece seeps out of the seams. Ariana is a true inspiration and I hope you agree. Leave a comment at the end of this interview and one lucky winner will receive two albino hedgehogs. Winner will be chosen on May 7th. At the end of the interview is another added bonus from Ariana.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUua57pukWFpPsUz3_RWFFKTf6GOWlLvNfGkOisJpFzyB1nCb6kaB9gjYvPuK_wMt7wc0cD0UJ4oWpXSQE2d_Qang_s4Yms-zxXLtUB5pPrzD1T_E0-tCUNhiVFhchPTuJBxqPGsFoYM6/s1600-h/cloudnest.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUua57pukWFpPsUz3_RWFFKTf6GOWlLvNfGkOisJpFzyB1nCb6kaB9gjYvPuK_wMt7wc0cD0UJ4oWpXSQE2d_Qang_s4Yms-zxXLtUB5pPrzD1T_E0-tCUNhiVFhchPTuJBxqPGsFoYM6/s320/cloudnest.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192508557140171442" /></a><br /><br />S- When did you start making plush toys?<br /><br />AM- I actually remember specifically what introduced me to the online craft/plush world. I was browsing the magazine section at my local library. I was thumbing through Budget Living (I still miss that magazine!) when I saw an article about Jill Bliss and her website blissen. I went straight home and looked up blissen.com, which led me to many other online craft sites. These led to other craft sites, one of which was Loobylu’s Month of Softies.<br /><br /><br />I made a couple of small plush pieces and something about it just clicked for me. I believe that was sometime around the fall of 2004. Loobylu is how I found out about Plush You. Without the Plush You show I don’t know if I would have taken plush making to the next level. The show definitely inspired me to push myself.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIosUcOamT6sqt3Pq5rrRuWXNI_r06RpN0vl58cXQTvS-xYfIvH8zDUWzeigk4tz_1L6nwZjd8Z7G7bqo39CKOdc_guliao2PeXbmjdh_6MxeuglfwidY1rgW8cI4yBlFXcPqYPA_YCIw/s1600-h/clearing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIosUcOamT6sqt3Pq5rrRuWXNI_r06RpN0vl58cXQTvS-xYfIvH8zDUWzeigk4tz_1L6nwZjd8Z7G7bqo39CKOdc_guliao2PeXbmjdh_6MxeuglfwidY1rgW8cI4yBlFXcPqYPA_YCIw/s320/clearing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192508213542787746" /></a><br /><br />S- A lot of your work are really small detailed pieces, do you mainly hand sew or use a machine?<br /><br />AM- I would say it is pretty close to half and half. I sew what I can by machine, but I do a lot of hand sewing. I wouldn’t be able to make what I do without all of the handwork. I am actually kind of a hand-sewing evangelist! It might be a little more frustrating at first but it really can’t be beat in terms of the control it gives you over the sewing process. I am always so surprised that more people don’t start with hand sewing and then move on to the machine because it requires so few supplies. It also builds your skills and makes you a more versatile sewer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKkUtliRMnlHQl9DW_zLzUxBB801pepqoB7IQBrUXWPItokB9ovK70NtNBvlghgY6pO4hfPdg7UGW_NjJy9Vdxx78LwnkDhhCZEHgvZR2Z0lfQ0iCaWijuy61ashwPn2LqlwWTt2O9RTi/s1600-h/margaret.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKkUtliRMnlHQl9DW_zLzUxBB801pepqoB7IQBrUXWPItokB9ovK70NtNBvlghgY6pO4hfPdg7UGW_NjJy9Vdxx78LwnkDhhCZEHgvZR2Z0lfQ0iCaWijuy61ashwPn2LqlwWTt2O9RTi/s320/margaret.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192510219292515026" /></a><br /><br />S- As you have been in the Plush You! show all these years; I have been able to see your work change and progress. Last year you did awesome plaques which I own one of :) What do you think has influenced your work through the years the most?<br /><br />AM- Wow, that is a good question! Creative inspiration can be very difficult to pin down. I would say it is a combination of many things. Most of my ideas come from the process of making things. I make something and as I am making it I see how it could be different, or better. I then make something along the new parameters and the process repeats itself, so I guess it is literally the evolution of ideas through making. I am also inspired by my environment. Many of my ideas come from things I see on a day-to-day basis.<br /><br /><br />Of course, who isn’t inspired by the many talented plush makers creating great work?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhe-joP8LPAk4OGUBPR3vyQZ4VKuyKQTAA1GqPFLlndT8clyE2O-9jGg3RiezX8QxDXKJJcgfiiVFBdoQtNn08PQ1Szk1qk3S1niVRaZYNZX58YzLUDyp668NWTZPaetIGIft5beKZ_Hjt/s1600-h/mellow_yellow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhe-joP8LPAk4OGUBPR3vyQZ4VKuyKQTAA1GqPFLlndT8clyE2O-9jGg3RiezX8QxDXKJJcgfiiVFBdoQtNn08PQ1Szk1qk3S1niVRaZYNZX58YzLUDyp668NWTZPaetIGIft5beKZ_Hjt/s320/mellow_yellow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192510949436955362" /></a><br /><br />S- Your work is very artistic. Did you study art?<br /><br />AM- Yes I did. I graduated from the Oregon College of Art and Craft in 2002. This is where I shamelessly plug my Alma Mater! If you are looking for an art school with dedicated instructors, a challenging curriculum and a beautiful campus, this is your school.<br /><br />I actually started out at the now defunct Atlanta College of Art and Design, where I was majoring in sculpture. I transferred my junior year to OCAC where I majored in metalsmithing. I don’t work with metal anymore (it’s very toxic) but it definitely prepared me for detailed handwork.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZkZP89NPbOyyFyQareez0gRtZxaFq5XO2izLSOy5UaSStFmZFFgDVeJSFSaM1L_7bnetZlTsSpD2O5ryXXZZFCrNM1hCcQHxLWaRUomP3rIDMSewMgAxKq8PPoZLTWMX-Qt9GuUME-NW/s1600-h/midnight.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZkZP89NPbOyyFyQareez0gRtZxaFq5XO2izLSOy5UaSStFmZFFgDVeJSFSaM1L_7bnetZlTsSpD2O5ryXXZZFCrNM1hCcQHxLWaRUomP3rIDMSewMgAxKq8PPoZLTWMX-Qt9GuUME-NW/s320/midnight.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192511542142442226" /></a><br /><br />S- So many folks are moving to Portland these days. How has Portland fostered your creative side?<br /><br />How hasn’t it?! I am from Portland and while I’ve lived all over the world I always come back. My parents moved to Portland right before I was born, they were attracted by the strong alternative medicine community that was just beginning to flourish in the late 70’s. I grew up surrounded by free thinkers; my parents had a lot of friends who were artists, they sent me to a Montessori school, we even lived in a communal house for a while. I think these experiences helped shape my creativity.<br /><br />After living in Atlanta for a while I ended up moving back to finish my art degree at OCAC, which is an incredibly supportive community.<br /><br />Outside of my personal experience, Portland can be both good and bad for fostering creativity. Portland is literally brimming with creative, talented people. This is good because there are always great shows to see, lots of inspiration, lots of creative thinking that ends up making the city a great place to live. The down side is that tons of people are competing for finite opportunities. Also Portland is a notoriously difficult retail market. People are tight with their money here. (I know I am!) There is even a saying,” If you can sell it in Portland you can sell it anywhere!”<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQyzU7ZTL6OmgGddsmhEEh6SpsIVGJjVybUAIqMa8yJ4Fg1VOHpvmkdzPAxLZiaVwJ-Oh3ZMp-6xDEHXJi_pbmhdz12SWZtdum46ONCuR04rL-Pp4z9_-k2aCFVnGXtuavZ2dPAfhM_yF/s1600-h/wilhamina_detail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQyzU7ZTL6OmgGddsmhEEh6SpsIVGJjVybUAIqMa8yJ4Fg1VOHpvmkdzPAxLZiaVwJ-Oh3ZMp-6xDEHXJi_pbmhdz12SWZtdum46ONCuR04rL-Pp4z9_-k2aCFVnGXtuavZ2dPAfhM_yF/s320/wilhamina_detail.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192513053970930450" /></a><br /><br />S- Do you participate in any of the crafty events in Portland? Any favorites?<br /><br />AM- I have been a vendor at Crafty Wonderland several times. It is a really well organized/publicized event. The ladies behind it do a really great job! I think it is a good event for getting the word out about your small craft business, as it tends to be well attended.<br /><br />While it isn’t in Portland I think my favorite craft show on the West Coast is Felt Club. Since it only has two shows a year, they are really huge, massively attended, and tons of fun!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJ4x8yTec2XsiSNf18DUkupbGri5sibU7txe3Q39VPwTrRFBzTD_OmbZ6a7mM6Grghm9xc9NfuQ1vx08JNjKKOaTQLHN6h6AHjDPzo_kOTQ9Mealk-3475JmBwdPAAHXG7rzqOsjQ2cx8/s1600-h/niche.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJ4x8yTec2XsiSNf18DUkupbGri5sibU7txe3Q39VPwTrRFBzTD_OmbZ6a7mM6Grghm9xc9NfuQ1vx08JNjKKOaTQLHN6h6AHjDPzo_kOTQ9Mealk-3475JmBwdPAAHXG7rzqOsjQ2cx8/s320/niche.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192511696761264898" /></a><br /><br />S- What is a must have for your studio space?<br /><br />AM- My studio is located in an artist co-op. There are some fairly strict noise restrictions as the walls don’t go to the ceiling, so if you want to listen to music or the radio it has to be turned down really low, to the point where you can barely hear it. This is where my iPod saves the day! I am far more productive when I have something to listen to, it helps me concentrate and get into a productive zone.<br /><br />Other than that, I have to have all the usual tools that most plush creators have: sharp scissors, sharp needles, sewing machine, and I really can’t live without my pliers!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsXiYvPSaJAZCyjJFqNp72Kf-W1wA4ETul4e1vw2ERt9eQpAYWeG9_LTmXnqD4kn8_7aUDRGbB3fPd_zrhLnhD-WC1bR67Ce-jUtG82XhVkqcM1130SkfwNvFiETeAVWiP_sObe8SEIng/s1600-h/cloudnest2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsXiYvPSaJAZCyjJFqNp72Kf-W1wA4ETul4e1vw2ERt9eQpAYWeG9_LTmXnqD4kn8_7aUDRGbB3fPd_zrhLnhD-WC1bR67Ce-jUtG82XhVkqcM1130SkfwNvFiETeAVWiP_sObe8SEIng/s320/cloudnest2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192509042471475906" /></a><br /><br />S- You conducted a workshop for Plush You several years back. Is teaching something you do as well?<br /><br />AM- OCAC has a really great summer camp every year for kids and teenagers. Most of my teaching experience has been for their Art Adventures program. I taught ceramics for an entire summer one year. I have also taught some teen painting workshops. I’m hoping to teach some teen workshops this coming summer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GpVivfh_ZmKY-UHxjznXdjbuZi6D6tRmk-9nKW8lWhtvFMz2yoEIodnB2AHigCdDbo50vKNPKtieRhvMyUDM5CM6hdLIuyvvYt6_7Ou7MLxyUvZBB189NsFCwJSyqZEdlcw-X69lrpn7/s1600-h/mushroom_solitaire.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GpVivfh_ZmKY-UHxjznXdjbuZi6D6tRmk-9nKW8lWhtvFMz2yoEIodnB2AHigCdDbo50vKNPKtieRhvMyUDM5CM6hdLIuyvvYt6_7Ou7MLxyUvZBB189NsFCwJSyqZEdlcw-X69lrpn7/s320/mushroom_solitaire.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192516021793332018" /></a><br /><br />S- I am so glad to see that you got yourself a website! I know a lot of people that will be overjoyed. Part of starting your shop is that you really have to promote yourself. Something that cuts into your creative time and is really time consuming. How have you approached this part?<br /><br />AM- Honestly, I am still figuring this part out! I think a lot of it comes down to perspective. I try to approach all aspects of my business as a way to express my creativity. Looking at it this way helps me to be more engaged and prevents me from feeling discouraged or becoming resentful that self-promotion is necessary.<br /><br />It also helps that the Internet is brimming with fantastic advice regarding self-promotion. So far I am working my way through all of the great articles on doshdosh.com. I am also looking into some of the classic crafty promotional tools like The Sampler, and sending media packets to magazines etc… Logistically I try to spend a day or two working on self-promotion, and my other free days are spent working in the studio. I will have to wait and see how this works over the long run.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBgfMkzWJ-lZfZ5RfntQ06o2Wd207pBUR65U317Qe7-PbUNwToRyxVgRNlhvu9OJ7bbShz7w8_8HXh07qPqqg_rjfBHb57L-9YDh6TA87tZ9hx7ClyhA-sbz8TpVox7gcK9q-_0qLVOkQ/s1600-h/willard_detail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBgfMkzWJ-lZfZ5RfntQ06o2Wd207pBUR65U317Qe7-PbUNwToRyxVgRNlhvu9OJ7bbShz7w8_8HXh07qPqqg_rjfBHb57L-9YDh6TA87tZ9hx7ClyhA-sbz8TpVox7gcK9q-_0qLVOkQ/s320/willard_detail.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192515338893531938" /></a><br /><br />S- What are your goals for your plush creations in the next few years?<br /><br />AM- Other than keeping my website updated and participating in awesome plush shows, like Plush You! I would really like to create larger pieces that, when shown together, would tell a story. I have some ideas involving many plush Chihuahuas, and another idea involving disappearing figures. Ultimately I would see these being placed in a gallery setting.<br /><br />On top of the awesome giveaway Ariana is providing, you can go <a href="http://www.stain-drop.com/wordpress/?page_id=91" target="_blank">here</a> to download a pattern for these adorable hedgehogs!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-hLHZWbSKpFUKJ0rLoNZvUK2rLkMhNU8iQwY1FMKcJpyOrQz-6ETL6JKkstrVxXVXCyBtBPQd4igQ9WYH9rWn9FERJS7uNX9vPiycwrUrFsp0TryrCQ9Y6SnszVQOTqaHMbpFUvNWkU0/s1600-h/-1.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-hLHZWbSKpFUKJ0rLoNZvUK2rLkMhNU8iQwY1FMKcJpyOrQz-6ETL6JKkstrVxXVXCyBtBPQd4igQ9WYH9rWn9FERJS7uNX9vPiycwrUrFsp0TryrCQ9Y6SnszVQOTqaHMbpFUvNWkU0/s320/-1.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192506143368551058" /></a>Schmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084659226203942242.post-44461415577974462652008-04-17T13:38:00.000-07:002008-04-20T12:59:29.842-07:00Jenny Harada InterviewIf you have ever had the pleasure of meeting <a href="http://jennyharada.com/index.shtml" target="_blank">Jenny Harada</a> then you know how awesome she is. I finally got to meet her last summer at <a href="http://www.renegadecraftfair.com" target="_blank">Renegade Craft Fair</a> and then was lucky enough to hang out with her at the <a href="http://www.etsy.com" target="_blank">Etsy Labs</a> this past December. And as cheesy as this might sound, Jenny is seriously like a ray of sunshine. She's passionate about her work, her family and helping Plush You to be a success. I think Jenny kicks ass and I think you will too. At the end of the interview are the details of her awesome giveaway! Don't forget to leave a comment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULWGPye52q4uGillEXRNHcqA_tShJ3CII4WlOg80bD3oIseh9nHzw4RfFbYBbU5I33LBN_ZqfSl1RSgH6MufgBCWt5oksBSDRbruv9HyZeNWl7aslsKOTYrkahoVRRjrs503Cx6_FDO_9/s1600-h/il_430xN.5775056.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULWGPye52q4uGillEXRNHcqA_tShJ3CII4WlOg80bD3oIseh9nHzw4RfFbYBbU5I33LBN_ZqfSl1RSgH6MufgBCWt5oksBSDRbruv9HyZeNWl7aslsKOTYrkahoVRRjrs503Cx6_FDO_9/s320/il_430xN.5775056.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190342674117238130" /></a><br /><br />S- Were toys the thing that got you into sewing or had you mastered the art of sewing before?<br /><br />JH- I wouldn't say I have mastered sewing yet, even though I have been sewing for 28 years. The first things I ever sewed were clothes for my dolls. Stuffed toys soon followed because my dolls (and me) needed little friends. I pretty much started sewing because my mom was doing it and I wanted to do whatever she was doing. It was fun, so I stuck with it.<br /><br />S- What drew you to making toys in the first place?<br /><br />JH- I was a kid when I started making them, so it was just natural that I wanted more toys! What better way to get more toys than to make them yourself? I never really stopped since then. I don't want to grow up. Then I studied toy design in college but decided to persue animation instead of toy making. Is wasn't until years later that I began seriously making lots and lots of my own toys all the time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_S4qopvQv1w-n0Lz6dn1R4oCBsqUuthusuig6kk-6XIu7qloOJgso08SNIo66nEhaUgihujCkocO95tTyzrXixdvHZkpZ0znJsklKTbCPgekylnEseci-PZKz3_khpg45alhUQDuNlUf2/s1600-h/il_430xN.19450801.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_S4qopvQv1w-n0Lz6dn1R4oCBsqUuthusuig6kk-6XIu7qloOJgso08SNIo66nEhaUgihujCkocO95tTyzrXixdvHZkpZ0znJsklKTbCPgekylnEseci-PZKz3_khpg45alhUQDuNlUf2/s320/il_430xN.19450801.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190348579697270194" /></a><br /><br />S- A lot of your work uses a lot of recycled components such as doll<br />heads and limbs, jewelry parts, etc. Is this something you try to<br />incorporate in all your work or is it more of a organic process when<br />you find something cool?<br /><br />JH- It is a result of being a collector. I collect things. I have a hard time throwing things away. I will save something thinking, "Oh I could make something out of this!" It may be years later that I actually use it. Lately I try not to save things anymore because my collection of stuff is seriously out of control. I am trying hard to whittle down the accumulation of stuff, and that is how I started using doll parts in my plush. I had a handful of them that I wanted to use so I sewed them into some plush. I had so much fun with it that I ended up buying more doll faces! Now I have twenty times more than what I started with. A friend of mine just sent me a box of super crazy old doll heads too. I can't wait to use them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-xTSrnkcYFoBi7a0EGrOGEo3X9hjdlbeG3E032TyDvgq93o1Srv5Id21JE1om94ZJu5WFHIQvR4zB-vBGP5nL-69eep6ZPVpHp9hdvHbfrQY1nu1mdHxBXl9H9k4dZeevReggwA1s-x_/s1600-h/il_430xN.19907602.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-xTSrnkcYFoBi7a0EGrOGEo3X9hjdlbeG3E032TyDvgq93o1Srv5Id21JE1om94ZJu5WFHIQvR4zB-vBGP5nL-69eep6ZPVpHp9hdvHbfrQY1nu1mdHxBXl9H9k4dZeevReggwA1s-x_/s320/il_430xN.19907602.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190348717136223682" /></a><br /><br />S- When we did the Etsy Lab Plush You! book party, you said that 2008 was going to be your year of organizing and getting back into your groove. It seems like you are doing it from my end of things! How is that going?<br /><br />JH- Things are going along much better than last year, that is for sure! When I was pregnant with my second child, I was nauseous almost all the time, so it was really hard to get anything done. Then when she was born, adjusting to having two kids was rough for a while too. I can't complain, it's great in so many ways, but it left no time for plush making. Now that she has grown up a little, I can give more attention to my art. Getting organized has been a challenge because of the stuff collection habit that I mentioned in the previous question. I have so many ideas that are waiting to come to fruition. Not actively creating stuff for over a year meant that all those ideas have been just circulating in my mind, festering, oozing, waiting to break free. I feel like I have the energy to bust out some good stuff right now. If I can conquer the organization thing, I think I will be able to create some great things. When my space is organized, it makes it so much easier to sit down and make something without any distractions.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ADaAii694SvNmJo9WeZqnT0kSP_M3BWNbDZb8MA_4frmmqmVNYdRvJ68o2pQcKehtVpcG3_4U6Ces0HKRDVHJuAc8m0KVn7c_DvyLRZY3-C0duqm7BpieE_xE7roqGbGW6rmwazkgn0A/s1600-h/il_430xN.18871703.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ADaAii694SvNmJo9WeZqnT0kSP_M3BWNbDZb8MA_4frmmqmVNYdRvJ68o2pQcKehtVpcG3_4U6Ces0HKRDVHJuAc8m0KVn7c_DvyLRZY3-C0duqm7BpieE_xE7roqGbGW6rmwazkgn0A/s320/il_430xN.18871703.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190348390718709154" /></a><br /><br />S- A few months ago you taught a class at the Etsy Labs for making a<br />little monster. How did it go? Is this something you would like to do more?<br /><br />JH- It was tons of fun. I had a great group of students and it was a relaxed and happy atmosphere. Everyone at Etsy is so nice! I am going to teach another class there in June. It will be about how to sew a stuffed animal from a pattern, and how to customize it to your own liking. Watch the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5029420" target="_blank">Etsy Labs shop</a> or <a href="http://www.jennyharada.com/blog" target="_blank">my blog </a> to find out when sign ups become available.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lOI3r2GO7hm6tvlyLHnC1ngUAtoaZ6AiNgiMHi7vk9v1ewmVySseK0wWEeAI4d7tV-vM0cCssFGJ3gzfxPAiKfGOKf8J3lLaDkZF_GeRo3Q5w4r4K02RJEw1OknX-sGAnI-rM3Wnc4pd/s1600-h/goods-neopoliantumors-thumb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lOI3r2GO7hm6tvlyLHnC1ngUAtoaZ6AiNgiMHi7vk9v1ewmVySseK0wWEeAI4d7tV-vM0cCssFGJ3gzfxPAiKfGOKf8J3lLaDkZF_GeRo3Q5w4r4K02RJEw1OknX-sGAnI-rM3Wnc4pd/s320/goods-neopoliantumors-thumb.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190348974834261458" /></a><br /><br />S- You also paint. Is this something you would like to do more of?<br />Do you balance your time with<br />both or concentrate on one more than the other?<br /><br />JH- I don't paint as often as I would like to. There are so many things I would like to do that painting is low on the totem pole right now. I do think about it often though. I like working with fabric in 2D as well. I call it "soft painting" but some people might call it patchwork or quilting. I think maybe I am a little intimidated to paint more. I definitely have not come anywhere near mastering paint, so I get frustrated that I can't get the paint down how my mind envisions it. With fabric I know what I am doing a lot more, so it is easier to just forge ahead. I also feel like I have just begun to explore the possibilities of working in 2D with fabric, so my ideas for 2D art tend to materialize in the form of, well, material! I haven't painted in months actually. Hey, now I have a strong desire to get out my paintbrushes! Perhaps some kind of paint/sewing combo is in order. I will add that to my totem pole.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwqURuKPAFNOC4r9dxRRY7LC9agrpG1eL3mp9PSYl6VL5kZeM0V-Fs3-qj7ypCuwVQR-PuqdniCtZrFi4QqIJ25xu_qKSsOcV6_5e7qQgCJQzce7ha1LTCzmhrIKcH9qIA3c80SRI1lPt/s1600-h/goods-thumbnails-kitty.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwqURuKPAFNOC4r9dxRRY7LC9agrpG1eL3mp9PSYl6VL5kZeM0V-Fs3-qj7ypCuwVQR-PuqdniCtZrFi4QqIJ25xu_qKSsOcV6_5e7qQgCJQzce7ha1LTCzmhrIKcH9qIA3c80SRI1lPt/s320/goods-thumbnails-kitty.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190349249712168418" /></a><br /><br />S- You have been doing plush for a long time now. As a<br />veteran of plush making, do you have any advice for someone just<br />starting out?<br /><br />JH- Sew sew sew! Just keep making stuff and your skills will improve. Have patience. Rip some stuffed animals apart to see how they are put together and what the pattern pieces look like. Try sewing things from commercial patterns and other crafter's patterns. Make some plushies from the Plush You book! When you start designing your own plushes, make them your own. Don't try to copy your favorite plush artists. You will shine brighter if you do your own thing. Start with your favorite materials in your favorite colors. Making something based on your favorite animal is a good place to start. Learn from your mistakes and most of all have fun!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxNdh9lrkaCUkWo0u5Dqq0x2ZWKSAVZWL2NZXHII6DpVzuTmA709o11QvJekLQhRCdfpQWMeqVlEiwuiHzSGHbBR22rsdUsnjHiV479_oDddbqYYgUOesyFbAn-u8c6Tt-lto22Dv5ejR/s1600-h/il_430xN.9027665.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxNdh9lrkaCUkWo0u5Dqq0x2ZWKSAVZWL2NZXHII6DpVzuTmA709o11QvJekLQhRCdfpQWMeqVlEiwuiHzSGHbBR22rsdUsnjHiV479_oDddbqYYgUOesyFbAn-u8c6Tt-lto22Dv5ejR/s320/il_430xN.9027665.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190349584719617522" /></a><br /><br />S- What is a favorite tool you have that is a must for any craft room?<br /><br />JH- I always like to have an old hairbrush on hand. When working with plush, especially long shaggy plush, it is handy for getting the hairs to do what you want them to. Not everyone works with the fuzzy stuff though, so my second answer is a good pair of scissors. Dull scissors suck the joy out of cutting. I got a fancy pair from my mother for Christmas a few years ago and they are so special to me because they cut like a dream!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZE4yu-L4NqABDDzivCICb-0RsaJuhkl4SD1szVmYZFeHJkEEGXXAOtF5TmK0tN7qDJ95qMTnilSNqbb-Ez1dwSALqAsDCW48Y8z1EEXKVNlIVxgS1-irKrl1-ZweZsEBE-09h5MDTmVl/s1600-h/il_430xN.18525069.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZE4yu-L4NqABDDzivCICb-0RsaJuhkl4SD1szVmYZFeHJkEEGXXAOtF5TmK0tN7qDJ95qMTnilSNqbb-Ez1dwSALqAsDCW48Y8z1EEXKVNlIVxgS1-irKrl1-ZweZsEBE-09h5MDTmVl/s320/il_430xN.18525069.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190350018511314434" /></a><br /><br />S- I find it a little difficult to use all the furry fabrics. It<br />seems messy and harder to work with. You use a lot of it! Any advice<br />to cut down on messes and to make it easier to use?<br /><br />JH- Keep your dustbuster nearby! I am constantly sucking up fuzzy bits. It's true, it is messy. There's no way around it. I just deal with it because I love the look of it so much. It does take patience to work with it. I am not sure what advice to give on making it easier other than just using it a lot to get accustomed to it. After I finish a project, I do a big clean up before starting something new. Masking tape is great for removing furry fibers from your clothes. Or you can wear Bill Cosby style sweaters so noboby will notice.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgE1tduTiJTeRFQn_0uw8S4lRxNuKZu-hWF-aWCx8pEHsCyovWZ4kT-HeZUOudfl5KNs2f3lqef6uQHa278_Ln_3mS9dWW9aB8vYgwl3N7jfdI5W0ZBpTqxAWP2JNbkwTV2_kFDcnttzG/s1600-h/il_430xN.19457625.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgE1tduTiJTeRFQn_0uw8S4lRxNuKZu-hWF-aWCx8pEHsCyovWZ4kT-HeZUOudfl5KNs2f3lqef6uQHa278_Ln_3mS9dWW9aB8vYgwl3N7jfdI5W0ZBpTqxAWP2JNbkwTV2_kFDcnttzG/s320/il_430xN.19457625.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190350319159025170" /></a><br /><br />S- The Dali Lama is here this week in Seattle. He has driven by Schmancy numerous times and never stops by to say hello. If your plushies could help him save the world, what ideas do you think they would have for him?<br /><br />JH- Keep your smile on. Even if you aren't feeling like a smile, just force it. Very soon you will be smiling sincerely and it will spread to other people. It is very easy for stuffed animals to give this advice because their faces never change. I saw the Dalai Lama speak in Central Park in NYC many years ago. It was very inspiring but he didn't say hello to me personally either. Also, the plushies have this advice: hug bigger and more often!<br /><br />Giveaway details are:<br />Jenny will make a custom plush for the winner based on their two favorite colors and two favorite animals, so leave your choices in the comments! The rest is up to her. It will be a surprise! Winner will be chosen April 30thSchmancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996364402633726079noreply@blogger.com40