Okay... Once again...it's been a while since I've written. Is anyone surprised? (Hime shouts out "NO!") Also, I give up on the shoujocon report. The fact that I don't want to write it is keeping me from updating this blog at all. Is anyone surprised? (Hime shouts out NO! again) Anyway...on to other subjects. Adventures in Plushie making. On the last day of Shoujocon I attended a workshop on plushie making. It was really fun, even if it didn't go so well for the character I was trying to immortalize in felt. I was trying to make a SD plush of Hatsuharu from Fruits Basket. But he turned out looking like a mutant alien version of himself. In retrospect, he doesn't look so bad. (He still doesn't look like Haru though) He's grown on me. At the time though it upset me. I wanted to create good plush! So I decided to start from scratch and make my own pattern, one a little less super deformed. My second attempt was Shigure from Fruits Basket. He actually turned out pretty well, even if he is, still after all this time, naked. I finally found a Yukata pattern I think I can follow (I'm instruction impared), so I should see about making him clothes. After making Shigure I was energized and somewhat addicted. I scouted around and found what seems to be "the" site for plush-makers (Ufocatcher.com in their custom plush links and on their EZboard custom plush forum). After scouting around and realizing how many different types of plush there were I decided to try some others. I decided to try out making keychain plush first. My first subject was Kyou from Fruits Basket. (anyone seeing a trend? Is anyone surprised?) I started off with his basic body and then made him clothes afterwards. I thought it turned out pretty decent. I wasn't really happy with the way his head turned out though, and I didn't like the look of having the stitches on the outside. So I decided to try again, this time with Hatori from Fruits Basket. His body turned out just fine, but I still haven't gotten around to making him clothes. Poor Hatori, his picture is the only one that really doesn't do him justice. His keychain looks much better in person. I really should make the poor doctor some clothes. At least a labcoat. Anyway...I thought I was doing pretty well in felt, so I thought about toddling off to Joann Fabrics and picking up some of the more expensive, yet softer fabrics and trying a "real" plush. I was talked out of it by the nice lady at Joanns though. They didn't have the grand flannel, (Which I keep trying to pronounce like the kingdom in Escaflowne, Grand Flan-el!) or any of the other "backup" fabrics also suggested off of the sites on UFOcatcher.com. Since I didn't really know what I was doing she suggested I pick up some muslin at .89 cents a yard, rather than the robe velour or grand flannel (flan-el) they had which was 7.99 a yard (and not even the right color). I agreed. Might as well make mistakes out of the cheap stuff. Only problem is that the muslin frays like the dickens. Anyway, I've been practicing heads and body designs and I think I'm *really* ready to move on to the "real" stuff now. I stopped sewing for a bit, but I got bit by the bug again when I found some orange fleece fabric that was a perfect match for Kyou's fur color when he's a cat. On sale even! So I made a "Baka Neko Pillow". Isn't it cute?

It's very huggable. Actually what's picured above is the pincusion size version I made when I was experimenting with the pattern. I also have one the size of a regular bed pillow that I made and it looks almost exactly the same (but is too big to scan). I "Airbrushed" the eyes on with a fabric blow-pen. It's perfect for cat naps. (And actually, if you turn him upside down, he makes a great neck support pillow). I've also bought some white fabric so I can make a Tooru-onigiri pillow, and as soon as I find some light grey (they only had dark grey) I'll make a Yuki-nezumi pillow too. I also have some Yellow...maybe I'll make a Momiji-rabbit! I was also thinking of trying a Babbit from Kodocha, because I think that would be adorable and huggable too. Sigh....so many things I want to make! I also found a good deal on suedecloth, and I bought some colors that I could make a variety of plushes out of. Now all I need is the time! If I get good enough at this...maybe I'll start selling them.