PLUSH YOU! Apply Today!

You can now apply for Plush You! 2010!  This year's show will be more competitive as sadly Nancy has closed.  I will be accepting 65 artists for the show.  The show is October 14th.  You do not need to attend to be accepted. 

Here is how to apply:

Please send an email to: pysea2011(at)gmail(dot)com

Include the following information:
Name of business
Where you live
Website link or blog link
3 images of your work (this does NOT need to be the actual items you send, just a good representation of your work)

Then send $10 application fee to kristen(at)schmancytoys(dot)com via paypal.

I will review the applications once or twice a week and send confirmation emails when all information is received.

Applications are DUE MARCH 1st!  You will receive an acceptance or rejection letter on March 8th.  There will be some restrictions this year for size...I can't take super big stuff anymore for lack of room so please consider this when applying.

Happy plushing!

PLUSH YOU! Apply Today!

You can now apply for Plush You! 2010!  This year's show will be more competitive as sadly Nancy will be closing.  I will be accepting 65 artists for the show.  Hopefully I have streamlined this well enough this year so this should work and not get overwhelming.  How to apply:

Please send an email to: pysea2011(at)gmail(dot)com

Include the following information:
Name of business
Where you live
Website link or blog link
3 images of your work

Then send $10 application fee to kristen(at)schmancytoys(dot)com via paypal.

I will review the applications once or twice a week and send confirmation emails when all information is received.

Applications are DUE MARCH 1st!  You will receive an acceptance or rejection letter on March 8th.  There will be some restrictions this year for size...I can't take super big stuff anymore for lack of room so please consider this when applying.

Happy plushing!

Plush You Recap

Oh man, this year's show was so much fun!  There was a nice crowd that flowed in and out the entire night and I was able to see some old faces and meet some new.  Setting up went really smoothly as I decided to just start earlier in the day.  Shelly was upstairs tagging everything during the day while I rearranged the shop and packed up stuff that would need to be in storage for the month.  I was able to almost one whole area before 6:00 when volunteers began to arrive.  I can't believe it but I set up, went out to dinner and was home before 10pm!  AWESOME! 

The next morning I met a few plush makers along with husbands at Le Pichet.  We had a nice brunch before I opened up shop.  Those there were Jessica Puckett, Anne Claire of Hibou Cards and Jessie Mae Petrick.  Fun times were had by all. 

THEN it was the opening.  Sales were made, people laughed, people hugged and people took LOT'S of pictures!  After we all went out for drinks.  I was so happy with the show and think it looks fantastic.  I got lot's of comments about how it was the best one yet!  So congrats to you all! 

As for sales now, I will not be putting them up online.  WHY?  Because last year I did and not too many sold and it seemed like a waste of time and money.  So if you have a fan, direct them to me.  I am happy to take orders over the phone, etc.  I am allowing people to take their items now as they sell simply for a lack of room.  I have a lot of stuff from LA here and needs to go out not to mention merchandise that wants to come back...so no reason to sit on sold merchandise.  That's how we will roll this time around.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. 

I am slowly getting more pictures up on my flickr account

Plush You!

InSeattle Magazine

Check out this awesome!

Super nice write up about Plush You! show can be found here!

Plush You Weekend!!!

It's coming soon my friends!  SO SOON!!!!  Here are some fun activities that will be happening around the most fun weekend EVER!

#1: Hanging Party!  If you love seeing the goods before the rest of the world does, come help hang the show.  What happens is you help bring work down to Schmancy, you help tag, you help hang and you help make the show look amazing!  And in return you get to stake your claim!  Not to mention we have fun.  When? October 7th 6-it's done (9ish?).  Where? Schmancy 1932 2nd ave.  Please let me know if you would like to join in the fun at kristen(at)schmancytoys(dot)com

#2: Breakfast at Le Pichet.  My tradition is to go and eat delicious breakfast at Le Pichet on 1st ave the morning of Plush You!  Gotta get lot's of protein for the day!  All are welcome.  Come talk plush and eat some delicious breakfast.  If you are visiting and staying at The Moore Hotel it's right around the corner!  I will be there at 9:30 on Oct. 8th.  Will you join me?

#3: PLUSH YOU!!!!!  The opening reception is October 8th from 5:00 to 9:00.  AFTER the opening we will go to the Nite Lite, attached to The Moore Hotel to continue the party.  Talk plush over some cocktails!

#4: Celebrate the release of Alicia Kachmar's new book, Witch Craft, on Saturday at Cakespy Shop.  Alicia is also one of the artists in this year's show!  All info found here.  yummmmm

There might be a #5 but still confirming information.

MY Plush You! LA! Experience

Alright peeps, I am gonna admit something.  I was really scared to go to LA!  I have never been and I guess I had a warped sense of what LA means.  And boy was I glad to discover that I was all kinds of wrong!  LA was great!  Michal let us stay with her for the first three days and was a great host.  We got to see Reform School which was kinda like meeting a celebrity.  We then drove to Disneyland and let me just say that I loved it there!  I think I always kinda thought of Disneyland as being this super corporate place with Disney being so up in your face.  Instead I found it super kitsch in the best way, old and well, AWESOME!  I totally see where people get inspired by it there and well I just can't wait to go again.  I was also super brave and sat in the front on Splash Mountain and loved it so much we went three times!  yeah, I was soaked.

Anyways, most importantly Plush You! was awesome.  The folks at Munky King Toys were so nice!  They were really impressed with all of the artists work.  Not only by the skills you all have but how organized you all are.  I got to meet so many nice people that I have talked with, blogged about, etc. so that was very special.  It's funny because I always say to myself, if I don't make enough money, I can't do this again.  I mean, let's face it, it's money to get myself down there, get an intern down there to help me, rent a car, get hotel rooms, etc.  BUT after the show, I decided, it was worth it.  Of course I would like to make enough to get paid back at least but #1 you never know who might shop there (i mean celebrities do live there) and #2 sometimes I just gotta look at this stuff as advertising and fun!  It was so so fun!  I think it impressed a lot of people too!  As one person told me, "my friend told me about this show and said I should come tonight but I was a bit apprehensive as it sounded too juvenile but I am so glad I did, it's magical".  Good work gang!  Let's make gang shirts soon :)

The Examiner

Check out the article on the Plush You! LA! show here.  And don't forget to tell all your friends, family and fans that you can now purchase work from the show here

Plush You! LA Deadline Approaching

Feb. 22nd applications are due for this summer's Plush You! show in LA at Munky King.  Don't miss this show!  Learn how to apply here

Thank You!

The vote was unanimous for changing the due date for the  Schmancy Olympic Challenge.  You can all now take your time making your work of art as photos are now not due until March 16th.  Enjoy!

Schmancy Olympic Challenge

This thing has become HUGE!  I had no idea.  Since I have my normal work to get to I want to write all rules here.  Then I am going to start emailing you with your category.  Tomorrow is the deadline to sign up and then it is CLOSED.  We are pushing 180 people now and wow. When am I gonna work?

RULES:
Once you have your assignment you have about a month to create your work.  You are totally allowed to blog about it, flickr it, facebook it or whatever. 

Plush is anything stuffed or cuddly.  So you can sew it, felt it, crochet it or knit it. 

Your interpretation on each category is up to you.  If it's figure skating, you can make your critter skate, make a whole scene, or make an ice skate.  It's up to you.  If you get "made up sport" you are required to give us a little description of said sport.

We will be judging on your interpretation of the sport, craftmanship and creativity.  There will be a gold medalist, silver medalist and bronze medalist chosen for each category.  Oh and you will actually get a plushie medal!  More on that later.

You have NO LATER than Feb. 26th to send me an email with your name, link to site or blog and a photo of your piece.  Make sure that photo is good please and a good size to put up on this blog.  Nothing huge, nothing small.  Send photos to kristen(at)schmancytoys(dot)com. 

DO NOT MAKE THE ACTUAL MASCOTS!

And most importantly here is to have fun.  This is for fun.  Don't be intimidated by the size or the judges or anything like that (i have heard this numerous times now).  Please just have a good time doing this!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Plush You! LA

Awhile back I asked you all where you might like to see Plush You! next. So this year I would like to announce that we will be having a show in LA! I am thrilled as I have never been. Munky King has said yes to hosting this fine event which makes me even happier as they were my first pick of who to ask! The opening reception is scheduled for August 26th. We will still have a show here in October as well. SO ya' got two chances to participate.

Want to apply?

Here is how: (YOU MUST FOLLOW THESE VERY SIMPLE DIRECTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED)

1) Email me at plushyou2010la(at)gmail(dot)com
2) Include your name, Where you live, and THREE photos that represent your work. It does not have to be what you are submitting, just an example.

That's it! Because this show is in August I will be closing applications on Feb. 22nd. I have a lot of work to do in August so I gotta keep up with deadlines. THIS IS A VERY STRICT DEADLINE! Don't make me get ugly :)

I am so freaking excited!!!! Are you?

Logistics

image by MiauMau

I kinda can't believe that Plush You! is only weeks away. I am feeling a bit crazy but got more of my ducks in a row today so HOPEFULLY all is moving along nicely. Those of you whom have offered to do letters, please get those to us by Oct. 1st. I have gotten 4 now and Andrea has only gotten one. It would be sad to not get the complete letters as it wouldn't spell Plush You and you can see that might be a problem :)

THEN, there are some of you that like to volunteer for stuff. So, we are having a label making party on Oct. 5th (MONDAY) at Vivace on Broadway (700 Broadway E) at 5:00pm. We hang out, make labels and drink coffee, tea, etc. It's fun. I swear!

That Thursday night, Oct. 8th I will gladly take volunteers to help set up the show. The good thing about this is you get to see stuff before the world does (in real life!). I have a system by now so those of you that want to help should just come down to Schmancy, Oct. 8th at 6:00pm. I will explain the "system" once you get here so I hope to see/meet some of you then!

YAY PLUSH YOU!!!! xoxo

Make Plush Jewels? You can still apply

In conjunction with Schmancy's Plush YOU!
We will be hosting an invitational show at Fancy- Plush Jewels.
If you make soft jewelry, than this is the show for you. Artists from around the world have been participating in Plush You! for years now, this is the first year for the jewelry branch.

Here's the info about the main event- we'll be accepting jewelry entries at Fancy until May 30th.
Send the pics to fancy(at)fancyjewels(dot)com with 'plush jewels entry' in the subject line.
If chosen, your piece must be delivered to Fancy by August 1st.
Late entries and submissions will not be accepted.