38 posts tagged “plush”

The latest addition to the line of super-cool Shiitake plush toys by Erick scarecrow has been revealed!  The World Champion Boxer Shroom!  Ultra rare, and also the first prize to the Shiitake Contest.. ! Looks awesome, Erick, thanks!

Just a friendly reminder regarding the current Shiitakes Sightings contest
on plasticandplush.com.  The deadline is rolling up on 10-01-2007. Be sure to send all entries to
shiitakescontest@gmail.com.  Don't forget the prizes for the most original entries are...

3rd prize***
$50 gift certificate Rotofugi-www.rotofugi.com
2 signed Shiitakes secret colorways

2nd prize**
$50 gift certificate Myplastic heart-www.myplasticheart.com
1 Signed set of Shiitakes collection

1st prize*
$50 gift certificate Toy Tokyo-www.toytokyo.com
Signed Sketch by creator Erick Scarecrow
1 Signed set of Shiitakes collection
1 ULTRA RARE 12" World Champ Boxer Shiitake
12” vinyl Liberty Esc-Toy exclusive

Shiitakes series 1 toys can be purchased at our Esc-Toy shop:
Original colorways limited to 100pcs each worlwide andsecret colorways
available at 50pcs. worldwide.


Thanx,

Esc-Toy

Brandi Milne is one of my favorite contemporary artists today so it is a great pleasure to be given the opportunity to interview her.  The latest show she took part in was Smitten at the Thinkspace gallery along with Audrey Kawasaki, Stella Im Hultberg, Amy Sol and KuKula.  Her art is unique and fresh for today, in a world where many artists and designers are playing the "me too" game and springboarding off of each other's design styles.  She does nothing of the kind, but instead, her brand of art all her own.  I'm sure you'll agree.

Thank you for allowing me to take up your valuable time, Brandi.

S4NDM4N:  To get started, can you just take a moment to tell everyone about yourself?

B:  Well, i grew up in anaheim, ca. in a family of 6.  i'm the youngest, with two sisters, one brother, and my original parents. 

i  always loved to draw, color and do projects in school, but my mom always says that i was pretty average at it.  i didn't know tho, so   according to me, i've been an artist my whole life. the way i grew up, the things my brother and sisters and i would do, and the way my mom thot and saw things is what has had the biggest influence on me and my work -to this day.  and the older i get, the more it literally comes out in my work.   maybe that's true for most people tho...

i didn't go to college, not for real anyway.  a few classes here and there, but mostly i'm a self taught artist.  and i guess that
has it's good points and bad points.  in some ways it's been a challenge, and in other ways i'm pretty grateful to not have been "molded" in any one way.

S4NDM4N:  The ladies that you paint, have such a distinct style I can't pass up asking you a few questions specifically about them.  First of all, they really seem to have that Nouveau-taste to them.  Is that something you've done intentionally or did it just occur that way in your art?

B:  my girls have a strong Nouveau feel because of alphonse mucha.  before they looked like they do now, i was illustrating them at about 4 inches tall, very basic stick figure-esque.  (they were actually formed from drawing real stick figures in high school) then at some point i was introduced to mucha's work, and i was plaqued with it.(did i spell plagued right?)  you know how once you're effected by something, you can never go back to the way you were.  and that's what alphonse mucha did to me.  his work is beautiful.  and i guess that has been my strongest influence.  you could say second to that would be japan.  not just the old classic art, but the culture as well.  i can't get enuff of it, and i love the complete richness of it.

S4NDM4N:  The one thing I really love about the women are there super extreme long legs and stylized feet.  How did you come up with this style, thats really so "Brandi Milne" brand?

B:  the legs?  hmmm....when i was "filling out" my stick figures, i think the legs were last to fill out.  and instead of drawing a foot, i kinda just ended it at the ground.  you know, like bell bottom pants.  her legs are bell bottoms themselves.  i like that because it gives a real grounded feel to the illustration.  strong, not frail and spindely.  and i think that is one reason why her butt is so big also.  i mean, i like the sillouette, but it gives weight down on the bottom.  if she was a statue, the shape would be pleasing to the eye, but it would be sturdy as well.

S4NDM4N:  I also love your take on Alice in Wonderland.  Can we look forward to more of these or maybe more art based on classics like that?

B:   i have a solo show with copro nason gallery in '08, and i am playing with the idea of doing classic children's stories/ rhymes.  just all spread out across the walls!  obviously, that is where i developed a looooooooooooooove for illustrations - from all the classic children's books and nursery rhymes.  there is a never ending wealth of inspiration there, and i would love to explore it further.

S4NDM4N:  I just looked at your plushie section on your website.  Do you still do the plush thing?  Is that just a hobby or something you do with the same passion as the paintings?  How much more can we expect to see that stuff?  (I love plush stuff lately btw)

B:  my plush is still going strong - i will have 5 new pieces in my solo show in december (at the corey helford gallery).  i have a LOT of fun with plush, it is so different from the painting.  i've wanted to do it for years, but finally actually did a doll for my husband about 2 years ago.  after that, i put them in a few shows in LA, and they've done pretty well, so i'm continuing with them and having a blast.

S4NDM4N:  I especially like the big white one, is he a yeti or something?  What's his story?

B:  yes, the piece on my website that yer talking about is a yeti.  i have a new yeti for the solo because i love yetis.  and bigfoots.

S4NDM4N:  You mentioned a couple of the inspirations behind your style in your artwork already but I just want to know, who are your other favorite artists today? 

B:  my inspiration is changing all the time.  i mentioned before that camille rose garcia is my all time favorite artist, and that stays consistant  always.  i can't stop loving her work - she's the genious of all geniouses.  i found a new (new to me anyway) artist the other day, his name is paul barnes, and i can't believe he's not ruling the world with his work.   i wan't 8,000 books filled with his stuff.  right now!  i love amanda visell's work and humor.  she just doesn't stop, and i hope she never does.  i recently bot a  piece of katy horan's work, and i can't get enuff of her.  (did i mention her before??)  kathleen lolley is unbelievable as well.  i love her colors and her sillyness with owls throwing up beer.  it's soooo awesome.  and there's an artist that i have looooved for years, her name is johanna parker.  she does halloween figures, and she's amazingly brilliant.  a lot of the art that i'm into today could be classified as folkart.  i love the "simplicity" and the creepy/goodtime feel to it.  it seems to kinda sit there and smile at you from a place that kinda creeps you out - but in the most awesome way!  can that make sense??   richard coleman, julie west,  julie morstad, matte stephens, cj metzger, camilla engman and jen corace are some more that keep my inspiration at it's fullest, and i love it and i'm so thankful that i get to see it everyday if i need/want.

S4NDM4N:  Tell me about your ritual for getting in the "zone"... I know it takes me awhile before my creative juices are moving and it takes a lot of music, viewing art and pacing. The last part takes up a lot of the time.. ;)  What do you go through and how long does it take you typically?

B:  "the zone..."  let's see.....  if i'm tired, forget it.  it's not gonna happen that day.  but as far as getting there, music is heavily involved.  i listen to classic rock, 70's crap.  i think it must remind me of when i was little, and how your imagination was extremely vast because you really didn't know things for sure.  so you picture them purely the way you want or sometimes not.  at least i think that's why music is so good for the zone.  then i need a feeling.  it's usually kinda sad, but not in a sad way.  it's more like a longing feeling, like when you remember something your sister said when you were 7, while you were playing haunted house or something.  y'know?  that feeling.  then i think of "the story" or what the character is gonna be doing.  next is layout and balance and color and on with the piece.  i don't really pace, i just sit there.  and lately it comes pretty quick, the inspiration.  shows are awesome for that, because you know what's coming, you can be brewing something in the back of your mind until you let it out, and it's a constant cycle that's so good.

S4NDM4N:  For a masterpiece such as your "Going to California" (link) Painting, how long did it take you to finish that?

B:  the piece "going to california".  i was inspired by a japanese calendar my doctor gave me.  and i wasn't showing anywhere, so i did it for myself.  i worked on it for about maybe 2 months.  it took me  a lot longer then to finish a piece like that.  probably because it wasn't going anywhere, there was no due date.  also, back then, i was practically holding my breath thru a "drawing", i wanted everything to be "perfect".  later is when i was introduced to camille's work, and artists like liz mcgrath, gary baseman, people who's work was so "free".  you could literally see the freedom they seemed to have with their own work.  and i was envious, because like i said, i was so wrapped up in my work being "perfect", the work was in a way in charge of me.  instead of the opposite, and that's where i wanted to be.  now in my new work, that is what i'm after.  freedom.  and that's why camille's work is so important to me and i'm eternally grateful for it.

S4NDM4N:  Painting takes a lot of your time, I am sure, and even though I know you love it, everyone has to take a break from their "work" sometimes.  What are your typical R and R activities and spots?

B:  and so, when i'm not working on art?  i take care of my son, i spend time with both him and my husband.  i search the land for crap that i don't need.  i work 40 hrs a week.  so yea, i don't have much of that time.

S4NDM4N:  And to close I just want to thank you, Brandi, for taking time out on your very busy (and success-filled) career to talk to me.

For any of you out there that are interested in more about Brandi, viewing more of her plush toys or artwork, please be sure to check out here website at http://www.brandimilne.com/

All images taken from BrandiMilne.com and are copyright Brandi Milne. 

I was fortunate enough to be introduced recently to a very talented plush toy monster designer and creator.  She goes by the name of Steff Bomb and her site/company is called I Make Monsters.  She makes a variety of whimsical creatures, her most recent being two crazy characters,

Lyman the Sasquatch and Mushy Mayonaise the Yeti.  You can buy both of these guys here - http://www.steffbomb.com/mini-mart/  Anyway she's far more interesting to listen to so why don't we just get to that interview?

Interview with Steff Bomb, Talented Plush Designer

s4ndm4n:  So who is Steff Bomb?  How would you describe yourself where you are today and what you are doing with your life?

SteffBomb:  eee gad.  thats one hell of a first question.  well, professionally speaking, i am the creator of the plush toy line I Make Monsters.  beyond that i am just some random girl that loves to make *** and has had very good luck.

GreenBunny

i am at a surreal point in my life.  its the kind of thing where i wake up everyday and think, "holy ***...i make toys".  sometimes it doesnt make sense how i could of gotten to even this point.  within the last year, so much has happened and so much has changed.  so its hard to gauge where i will even be a few months from now.   either way, my biggest fear is that i am going to somehow screw it all up.  i have this oppurtunity to do something awesome, so rather than dick around or take it for granted, i just opt to work myself to death and pray that it will all pay off in the end.  ha.

s4:  After viewing your plush toys on http://www.steffbomb.com, its become very apparent that you have MAD skills in sewing plush toys.  How did you start sewing plush, or anything for that matter? 

SB: i started sewing about four years ago.  i read an article in pencil fight #2, about an all plush art show.  i never thought of using fabric as a medium before, but when i after reading that article, it just seemed to make sense.  the following week, i purchased a sewing machine and made my first toy.  it was suppossed to be a robot.  it wasnt very good (and in fact looked nothing like a robot), but thats probably because i didnt know what the hell i was doing. 

s4:  Have you always been an artist?  If not, when did you figure out that you had the creative gift that not all of us have?

WormVengeance

SB: i have been drawing since i was a wee lady.  mostly pen and ink stuff.  the schools i went to when i was growing up, never had much of an art program, but luckily i was never really big on doing actual school work.  so i would spend my class time drawing (or sleeping...mostly sleeping) instead.  i also was grounded for most of my childhood, so i would sit in my room and redraw pages and pages of comic books.  thats pretty much how that started.

s4:  Your Asparagus bomber cracks me up.  Why the heck did you choose an asparagus dude for that character?

SB:  aww, thanks.  i chose the asaparagus because i knew he would make you smile.
umm...actually, i wish i could take credit for the idea, but all props go to my friend tracy.  we were shootin the *** outside of a show one day, when she turned to me and said, "dude, you should make an asparagus.  they make your pee smell funny".  she's pretty brilliant.

s4:  What's the story behind the Asparagus? Did he get tired of living in the produce drawer and decide to pick up bombing the city?  LOL.

SB:  i assume sitting in the crisper for a handful of days can get fairly boring.  especially when you taste horrible and no one wants to eat you.  besides, everyone needs a hobby, even gross vegetables.

s4:  Your Yeti and Sasquatch toys must have stories behind them too.. what is it?  have you thought about making baby versions?

SB:  BABY VERSIONS?!?  you are a **** genius!  i never thought of it before, but that would be awesome.  maybe instead of cans of beer, i could give them 40's with rubber nipple tops.  ha.  i like the way you think, my friend.

the story behind the yeti and sasquatch is kind of boring but i figure i will tell it anyway.  a long long time ago, i was wondering through the woods, as i so often do, and i seemed to have gotten myself a little lost.  nightfall came, so i found myself a cave to sleep in until it was light out again.  as i entered the cave, i heard a terrifying growl.  i knew i should of turned around, but i decided to find out what could be making such a noise.  as i stepped closer, i could see two giant shadowy figures.  adrenaline took over.  i wasnt afraid of what stood before me.  i stepped even closer, only two realize that the shadowy figures were in fact the mythical yeti and sasquatch.  i asked them what was wrong.  they kindly explained that they wanted to get mad crunked, but didnt have the funds for the beer.  oh what a cruel fate!!!  i had a plan.  if they could guide me back to safety, i would gladly pitch in a few bucks.  we walked to the closest beer store where we purchased a case of pabst for $3 and a handful of twigs and berries.  we got *** faced.  it was awesome.  true story. 

Muffinmonster

s4: So my next question is, are you planning on just making the sasquatch and yeti guys for awhile or what do you have in store?

BeerPlush

SB:  Yeah, i dont see why not.  i enjoy making them, plus i silk screened tons of beer labels, so i will at least be sewing them until i run out.  printing the labels was a *** too, i didnt leave myself much room for error.
i make a wide variety of stuff though, i just sewed up my first fart ever!!!  it will go with the turds i already make, and the vomit and *** i have yet to make (its a toilet/bodily function collective kind of thing).  but there is even more stuff that i just havent been able to get to yet.  sometimes its hard being just one lady, hand making all of the monsters all by myself.  the one thing i have wanted to do for a while, that i drew out plans for, is a all plush guillotine...and then a working all plush guillotine.  it will go with that decapitated head monster that i made (but that also needs to be fixed up...i do a lot of trial and error).  but thats just one of endless projects that i have in my brain.  i basically just want to be able to sew anything and everything.  is that weird?  thats a goal i set for myself.  a little unattainable, i know...but i dont mind trying.

s4:  I have to say there is no small amount of value placed on hand-made plush toys by the community.  Do you feel that your toys will be perceived as less special if you were to produce them in say, a factory?

BrownThing

SB:  of course its not going to be the same.  i am crazy...seriously, i am.  every stitch in anything i do has to be absolutely perfect in my eyes, or its no good.  so its not going to have the same tender love and care as a handmade monster but that goes without saying.  its the same idea as owning a painting verses owning the poster of that painting.

s4:  Have you considered going production with the toys?  Obviously you get enjoyment out of making them, but still... doesn't everyone in their hearts want their own toy line someday?

SB:  oddly enough, that is precisely the point i am at in my life.  for a while, i was struggling with being able to keep up with my orders (and to be honest i still do), so production was definitely something i looked into.  i dont know *** about business though.  i can sew a blood splattered battle axe, but any kind of business related stuff is totally lost on me.  i got really lucky when Erick Scarecrow contacted me about production because he is the goddamn best and without him i wouldnt know what i am doing.  even still, it took me months and months to decide whether or not i wanted to go down this road.  i was more worried about that idea of failing than anything else.  making toys and making art as my career has always been my dream, so if that were to not work out (which it still might not), i would be super crushed.  i figured, *** it.  i wont know unless i try.

s4:  What else do you like to do besides buying and drinking beer with wild and legendary beasts? Do you have other hobbies that you have that you share with them?

DemonDude

SB:  well, sewing was my hobby...but i guess it doesnt count anymore.  i am a big fan of crafting.  i have a *** ton of unfinished projects like a scarf that i have been knitting for a year.  or this really sweet ms. pac man cross stitch that is also incomplete.  hmm...i guess i am not exactly the party animal i thought i was.  oh well.  i guess i dont really have time for too much anymore.  between working my real job, sewing, and then barely squeezing in somewhat of a social life, i dont have too much time for anything these days.  its ok though, i am totally content with the way things are.  maybe by the winter of 2015, i will finally have a finished scarf.

s4: Ok now I always ask what inspires people to do what they do and who their favorite artist are.  Its always interesting to hear the answers, but I like to put a twist on things.  So, I know that taboo bodily functions and strange creatures tend to inspire your art toys but can you tell me why you think these are so prevalent in your designs?

PinkGhostie

SB:  i have never been one for "expressing my deep inner feelings" in my art work...so instead i just go ahead and sew what makes me smile.  i fart and poop and puke, but doesnt everyone?  its just part of life and i dont think its anything to be embarrassed about.  if you ask, i would gladly tell you about the time i *** my pants.  its a good story, but the kind you have to tell in person with hand gestures.
besides, its just fun to make ridiculous ***.  its prevalent in my drawings too.  for a while i was stuck on the idea of drawing and painting people picking their boogers.  that was pretty sweet...maybe i should try and sew that.

s4:  And of course, that other question, What art style or artist influenced you the most growing up and are they still influential to you today?

Ghost

SB:  i am a big fan of detail with lines, if that makes sense.  as a youngin, i was heavily influenced by comics (and still am), so a lot of random comic book artists definitely paved that way.  many years ago, when i first started college, i had a big art crush on derek hess.  his line work was tight.  i remember the first time i saw his ***, i bought the converge/agoraphobic nosebleed split, and he did the artwork for that record.  i couldnt stop staring at it.  i was floored at the idea that someone could be that good.  there are others too...david choe, charles burns, chuck close, christine curry, tim biskup, mike allred...all amazing artists.  but now a days, its not so much an influence as it is a motivation...its like, i look at their work and it just makes me want to work harder so maybe one day i can be that good.

 
  

Came across this Etsy site from Schmancy's Blog:  Plush You!  I don't know much about Moogan (aka Megan Green) but the cute subtitle describes her stuff pretty well:  "Craft Related Mishaps".  You'll have to check out her site, Moogan Creations on Etsy to find and adopt your perfect Moogan creation because frankly there are too many to post here..haha.  The lady must be a sewing machine!  (pun intended, of course).  Anyway.. here are a few of my favorites!

I'm so happy to have added PlushYou! blog to my reader.  PlushYou! is the official blog of the Annual Schmancy Exhibition.  Ok, so I should also add that Schmancy is one of Seattle's Toy outlets for all things related to Art Toys, Urban Vinyl and Designer Toys.  Just my type of store.  And out of my original Home town, Seattle, that I sometimes miss.

I'm happy because their posts have been about very new and unique art toys local to the Seattle area and what superb work they've got out there!  The latest is from an artist, Diem Chau.  Apparently an extremely talented artist, and skilled at the craft of sewing.  Just take a look:

Amazing work, if you ask me.  And you can find her stuff on Etsy too.  Check that out here!

Via: PlushYou!: Diem Chau

Ok here's the newest addition to the list of stories about the Shiitake characters by Erick Scarecrow.  Just look at all of his suits hanging there.  Looks like a friend you could take to your next Cosplay party or masquerade.. hehe

Copycat loves to copy everything he can see. This Shiitake is very restless and can get easily bored.

Well here's a cute version of something that would normally be so disgusting you wouldn't want to play with it.  Purple Flavor's Hello Maggot.  Its a cute 7" plush toy that comes with its own pajamas in 2 optional colors, a brown bunny or pink rat.  Interesting, indeed.  I like.

Information via Plastic and Plush

Just found this plush sealife artist from the Seattle area (my old home ::sniff::) that does some very amazing and cute sealife.  You can find her work online at her Etsy shop.  Post was put on Schmancy's blog, a Seattle-based Art Toy store in honor of Seafair. 

In the spirit of SeaFair I wanted to do some posts in honor of all our sea life that are probably hating life with all the boats and Blue Angels torturing them. Hansigurumi is a local artist that makes amazing sea life creatures and is willing to share her patterns for very low costs. I really love looking at sea life during low tides and her work is a perfect depiction of why sea life is so magical. Posted by Schmancy at 2:08 PM

PlushYou!: Hansigurumi

Custom plush designs always fascinate me as they always seem to be so interestingly strange.  Not in a bad way at all, mind you, I mean unique, extraordinary.. Like these by Raz Liebreich.  Recently graduating with a degree in industrial design, his final project was dolls and this was the result. 
 

My final project at the academy was dolls that have all kind of secrets inside them that deal with energy, function, material and more.

Raz Liebreich

Image and information from Plastic and Plush