Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Yummy Pancake Interview



Yummy Pancake makes things that make me smile. I am so glad she is part of this year's show and always look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. Let's get to know her a little bit better.

S- When did you learn to crochet?

YP-I learned to crochet back in 1999 with the help of my mom and a coworker. Back then, I was just making blankets and scarves. Then, life happened and I stopped crocheting for awhile. I picked it back up in 2006 when I was first introduced to amigurumi and then started designing my own plushie patterns.



S- What was the first stuffed toy you made? Good experience or frustrating?

YP- When I was about 6, I made a little plush leopard out of some leopard print fabric my mom had left over from leopard halloween costume she made me. It was a great experience. I loved the satisfaction you feel when you make something yourself. My mom was a big influence, and I thank her for passing along the crafty gene to me ^_^ I spoke with her this morning and she still has the little leopard I made!!



S- How much time do you spend on marketing Yummy Pancake?

YP- As much as I can, but probably not as much as I should. I tweet, I have facebook fan pages, and I have 2 blogs - one for Yummy Pancake, and one about the adventures of Mr. Toastee. I'm so bad about keeping up with my blogs, and I really need to work on that. I'm also a member of the fabulous Etsy Plush Team and we do what we can to promote each other and the team as a whole with all of our fun projects and activities. I rely heavily on word of mouth ^_^
I also just reached one of my goals - 1000 sales on etsy! Woohoo! To celebrate that, I am giving away a Yummy Pancake tote bag filled with all sorts of goodies! The details are posted over on my blog.



S- Best sources for inspiration?

YP- Everything and Everyone. I could be eating a meal, looking down on my plate and think, 'Hmmm…that asparagus spear would make a great arm" and then come up with my next food hybrid monster. I could be at the little Amish roadside stand down the street getting some veggies and think "Wow…wouldn't that zucchini look cute with a face?". My friends, family and coworkers also help me come up with some really cool ideas, as my brain can only think of so many things. I feel that any inanimate object can be transformed into plush form, and I am willing to give any idea a try, no matter how odd. I love a challenge.



S- Where might people find you during the holiday season? (any craft shows?)

YP- Unfortunately, my work schedule did not allow me to travel and participate in all the craft shows that I would have liked to this year. I will only be able to be found on the interwebs at my etsy store, and at the Broad Street Bazaar - an great store filled with locally made handmade goodies in Lititz, PA. My goal for 2010 is to travel and do more craft shows. I really want to get out there meet some of the talented plush makers that I read about!



S- Favorite plush designers participating in Plush You?

YP- Well, my fellow Plush Teamers all hold a special place in my heart. I've already seen some of the goodies that they whipped up for Plush You and they are fabulous…especially Christina Ward's Russian Criminal Bear. I am also in awe of Moxie's needle felted creations…they just reek of awesomeness! I can't wait to see pictures of everyone's stuff! Next year, I'm hoping to make it to the west coast so I can see everything in person.

5 comments:

Leeanna Butcher said...

I love Yummy's work-such fun!!! :D

Raggy Rat said...

a great interview - perhaps you could work your way through the plushteamers? we have all be working on awesome breat cancer fund raiser plushes .... xxxx

Raggy Rat said...

a great interview - perhaps you could work your way through the plushteamers? we have all be working on awesome breat cancer fund raiser plushes .... xxxx

Samaria Project said...

YUMMY PANCAKE ROCKS MY SOCKS! I heart her big time! Did I mention her stuff is so much fun? I can never get over how creative and often times hilarious her photos to display her plushies are...:) I officially have a plush crush!

Sappy Stories said...

I love the asparagus and the cheeseburger! (Maybe that means I'm hungry??)