Boreas- Lisa Congdon

The fantastically talented, Lisa Congdon has a show opening at Assemble in Seattle on March 11th.  See you there!

Now accepting applications!

Urban Craft Uprising is now accepting applications for our summer show!  Seattle is a great place to sell your work!  The people here are super supportive and buy things! 

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!

Dwelling in the past

Opened the other week.  If you are in Seattle you better go see it!

Dwelling on the Past:

Twilight Artist Collective

4306 SW Alaska ST

Seattle, WA

Opening Reception: January 13, 2011 6-10pm
Show runs: January 13 through February 6, 2011

19 artists meditate on the past’s influence on the future. As resources dwindle, as the economy falters we find inspiration from a sparer era. As new technologies rise some past technologies fade but some remain whether for reasons of nostalgia, aesthetics or necessity. How does the past inform our future? Curated by Pamela Davis.

Participating Artists:

Marilyn Artus, Lyndsey Baldwin, Pamela Davis,

Dixie Darling, Iron Pony, Julie Jackson, Emily Katz,  Carla Madrigal,
Allison Manch, Moxie, Johnny Murder, Beth Murphy, Penny Nickel,

Cathy Pitters, Kristen Rupp, Tiffany Sabatini, Cindy Steiler, Mary Woodring, Mike Wurn

If you live in Seattle

This is happening this Saturday! 

Saturday Dec. 18th 12:30 - 4:30
Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, Capitol Hill, Seattle

free admission

www.seattlehandmadeholidays.blogspot.com

Hi

First off, I have heard you are not supposed to blog about being a bad blogger but I feel like I had to apologize.  Life is nuts around this time of year to say the least.  This weekend is Urban Craft Uprising!  Seattle's largest indie craft show which I am the Director of PR and Marketing so it's time to work by butt off.  YAY!  I love the show and feel so honored to be part of it but it definitely takes up most of my time.  So I am sorry.  I am gonna get back on track starting now.

Have you heard about this?

Speaking of Moxie...

She's having her FIRST solo show at Schmancy this FRIDAY!  You should come!  You would be a fool not to.

If you live in Seattle

I got this email from Jennifer Worick yesterday and thought it would interest you....

We are setting up a series of workshops and talks and are kicking things off with "Crafting a Winning
Proposal," a 3-hour workshop designed to help aspiring authors hone their ideas and develop a marketable non-fiction book proposal.

We have four spots left for this hands-on workshop and thought we'd let our more literary friends know about it. And if this workshop isn't for you (because you're already a successful author, for instance), we thought you might know of someone who could benefit from the workshop and pass along the info.

The workshop is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 6 from 9:30-12:30pm at June restaurant in Madrona and is $89. You can find out more about the workshop at our blog The Business of Books: http://bizofbooks.wordpress.com/. You can register for the class at PayPal:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=VWLLRGQ
NSC8NN

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

Check out this awesome!

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

Six year's ago today...

Today is the day Schmancy opened it's doors officially to the public.  I am kind of in awe.  It has gone so fast!  It has been great and hard and life changing.  If you had said to me 7 year's ago that I would own a store in downtown Seattle, that I would be working on my 4th book and life would be full of stuffed awesomeness I would have probably smacked you across the face and told you to snap out of it.  But here we are.  When I opened these doors I had NO CLUE what the heck I was doing.  I had always fantasized about owning a store but after working for a few small business owners I decided it was better to just have a reliable paycheck....and insurance!  BUT then I met Sally who just happened to catch me on one of those "i hate everything i'm doing day's" and convinced me to open up shop.  Three days later while sitting at a job, I was not into, I got an email from Sally who said the landlords said I could have a lease.  HOLY CRAP!  WHAT?  I quickly started applying for credit cards (yes Schmancy started on credit cards), ordering toys and looking online for artists.  I was so naive that I just asked all sorts of established artists to either have an art show at the shop or sell things.  Shockingly a lot of them said yes!  I think that was one of my first life lessons from Schmancy.  You can always ask because the worst thing that will happen is people say no. 

It takes awhile to build up a customer base and feel like things are working out.  Of course as soon as things started feeling good the whole economy thing happened.  That really put a cramp in my style to say the least.  It was sad to see so many shops closing and then to think that your ship is sinking is the saddest thing ever.  There have been some bleak moments but you just gotta keep fighting the good fight.  After a major freak out one day I realized the only thing I could do is to keep fighting and that I wasn't going out without kicking and screaming first.  I also imagined myself applying for jobs and having a boss and well...I went into serious action. 

It's funny to think back to what I thought having a store meant.  I thought I would have tons of time to read, make stuff at the shop, watch movies on gross days, etc.  It just ain't so.  But that's okay.  I have learned so much, have really appreciated all the things that have happened to me because of this little place.  Mostly I am so glad that this little place has brought me to people like you.  Customers, fans of Plush You!, etc. has been more than I would have ever imagined.  Thank you!  Here's to at least 6 more years!

Urban Craft Uprising.

Applications are due for Urban Craft Uprising this MONDAY!  I'm not just saying this because I work at UCU but this show is amazing!  The people of Seattle really love to support handmade and come out in droves for the show.  If you are debating any shows out of state, choose this one!  We had over 9,000 people attend last winter's show and it continues to grow each show!

Urban Craft Uprising

 It's time to apply for Urban Craft Uprising's winter show!  I can't believe all the things going on in my life this week/month but I am so so excited to see who apply's for this show!  UCU is awesome if I do say so myself so apply today!

Scrumptious Delight Art Show @ Schmancy!

This Friday, Aug. 13th, the talented, Scrumptious Delight will be showing new work for her show Scrumdiddlyumptious at Schmancy!  The opening reception is on Aug. 13th from 6:00 to 9:00.  After we will put all work up online for your viewing pleasure.

Cotton Monster Plush Exclusive and Interview

This Wednesday, the latest plush exclusive will be for sale at Schmancy by the wonderfully talented, Cotton Monster.  I freakin' love the work by Cotton Monster and am so honored to have her make something SPECIAL for Schmancy.  I had the pleasure of FINALLY meeting the lady behind these wonderful creatures and she is as wonderful in person as these guys are.  Here is a little interview I did with her.  Enjoy!

S- What was your inspiration behind this exclusive? 

CM- I was thinking about (and longing for) the ocean! I chose to use a range blues and greens, colors that remind me of the sea, and designed the shape of the monsters themselves to mimic the form of waves! I picture the Sea Squirmies bobbing along in gentle waters somewhere in the South Pacific! 

S- Tell us a bit about your working space and your schedule? 

CM- My workspace is a small bright yellow room on the third floor of our house. It is filled to the gills with material, clothing, blankets, sheets, fabric remnants, always stocked with a 25lb box of stuffing, and of course...monsters!  My schedule is always changing depending on my other job (right now I'm teaching arts and crafts a few days a week at a summer camp and still working part-time at the puppet theater I've been with for 7+ years!). But a normal at-home work day starts with a big mug of tea, checking email and photo editing or updating my etsy shop, making lots of to-do lists, then as many hours as I can muster cutting/sewing/stuffing, a break for some fresh air or exercise of sorts and maybe a trip to the thrift store or post. Then after dinner I often transport one project I'm working on down a flight or two to do some hand-sewing or eyeball stuffing amongst friends or while watching a movie! I am definitely never bored!

S- I really love your color combos.  Where do you find most of your fabric? 

CM- Most of it is actually clothing and bedding that I pick up at thrift stores or that is donated to me! I go for the biggest ugliest items I can find, but with the softest touch and most vibrant colors. My favorite stores are those that organize their clothing etc. in rainbow order! It makes it so easy to find what I'm looking for. And this way I'm always using colors and materials I probably couldn't find in a normal fabric store! And despite the Cotton Monster name, most of the material ends up being cotton/poly blends!

S- Do you have any summer plans? 

CM- I already took my big summer trip to visit a dear friend in SanFrancisco where I ate amazing food and enjoyed lounging in the gorgeous parks! I'm part of a group performing a puppet variety show for grown-ups at Baltimore's giant summer arts festival, Artscape, so that has been taking up much of my time the past few weeks! Other then that I'll be aiming to go swimming and tubing whenever I can break away from my studio!

S- Favorite summertime treat? 

CM- I am in LOVE with homemade smoothies! My favorite is frozen strawberries, bananas, almond milk, oj, ice and some granola! Just throw it in a blender. Yummmmm! And when I'm feeling a bit less healthy, margaritas! 

If you live in Seattle

Don't forget, Urban Craft Uprising is this weekend!  I will be by the UCU booth so please say hello.  Hope to see you there!

Softlife Plush Exclusive and Interview

My friend Coco is the woman behind Softlife.   I had no idea that she made the most magical creatures on the planet until I saw her show at her, now husband's shop, Anne Bonny.  Her work is inspiring, eye catching and super loveable.  She has made some really fun, summery (which we need big time in these parts) guys for her plush exclusive.  These will begin going on sale July 7th.  Until then learn a bit about the maker.

S- What was your inspiration behind this exclusive?

SL- My inspiration behind this line of toys was New Rave and a longing for the bright and happy colors of summer.

S- One of your dream projects?

SL- There are so many! One thing I would love to do is make a collection of five foot tall Denizens that sprout grass and leave them all over the city. Giant Chia pets everywhere!

S- You will be a vendor at Urban Craft Uprising!  What will mainly be for sale at your booth?

SL- I am going for a carny theme this summer. I have been designing plush toys that are reminiscent of the types of plush prizes I won as a child at the 50th state fair in Hilo. I am also working on a line of plush prize fighters, which for some reason, seem to me to fit in with the whole carney vibe. I will also have Sweater Beast kits, needle felted throw pillows, felted wall hangings, and as always, lots of strange plush creatures.

S- Where you might like to see your art in the next 5 years?

SL- To be honest, I don't really think that far ahead! I have many, many projects that I hope to realize in the next few years, and i would love to teach my Creature Classes to children in other countries. I have been thinking a lot lately about the feasibility of of being a traveling street vendor. The idea of selling art on the street both in the US and abroad, really appeals to me. I have been raising kids for twenty one years now, and being a vagabond sounds very romantic!

S- What are you looking forward to this summer (if it should ever arrive)?

SL- I am looking forward to being home and making art with my husband, Spencer. I will have a month off in August, and I  look forward to having time to paint, play guitar, and taking the needle felted wall hangings in a new direction.

Perfect Forecast

I am so so so excited for this show!  If you are not on my mailing list and would like to be, send me an email today!  kristen(at)schmancytoys(dot)com.  Then you will also be able to preview all the work before the show!  I saw Jesse LeDoux's work a few year's ago in NYC at Giant Robot and fell in love.  I can't wait!

Now for sale

Check out the awesome foxes here! 

Sorry about being a bad blogger.

 I am one of the organizers for Urban Craft Uprising and it's near so I am one busy bee!