Mine, Mine, Mine: Bug Puppet
By Jill Christine | July 4, 2008
About a year ago I had the bright idea to try making puppets. My Gnagh-style monsters were doing well, and they already kind of looked like puppets. How hard could it be, I figured, to make a hollow version so that big mouth could come to life and get chompin’?
How hard could it be? Okay, yeah. I had no idea what I was doing.
Back when my family owned our stuffed animal/toy store, I developed a real appreciation for plush puppets from companies like Folkmanis. I liked the idea of a puppet that was displayable (and huggable) like a normal stuffed toy, so I didn’t want just an empty version of Gnagh. No, I’d have to add stuffing between the fleece lining and the outer fur, which meant I’d have to work bigger than Gnagh. I also wanted a gaping mouth that would keep its shape, yet be easily manipulated, so I brainstormed methods of flexible reinforcement.
Since I was experimenting, I kept the prototype design simple — no horns, no teeth, no fancy features. Just a pair of antennae to add a little movement. Even without extra details, the design took a ridiculously long time to sew by hand. I soon realized I couldn’t put an attractive price on such a design while still paying myself a fair hourly wage. And despite my careful planning, the puppet’s mouth was oddly-shaped and hard to manipulate. Working this guy in a puppet show would leave you with a hand cramp. I should’ve named him Carpal Tunnel.
Still, the finished product was sturdy and cute. Even though I had no plans to continue with the design, I could’ve sold him. But . . . Look at that face! He sat on the stock shelf while I tried to decide how to describe and price him; sometimes I’d take him down and make him talk a little. His smile was that of a charming insect . . . or a larva. A little larva of love. Or a big larva of love — he’s almost a foot tall. He’s decided to stick around, and I’ve decided to retire from puppet design and stick to regular ol’ stuffies.
Topics: Mine Mine Mine, Mint Conspiracy | 2 Comments »
Soon To Be Famous
By Jill Christine | June 30, 2008
Now and then someone’ll start an Etsy forum thread complaining about how some shopkeepers’ work gets featured on the front page over and over. The sentiment always makes me cringe a little — although it took over a year (and 600 sales, and lots of work, and plenty of experience and practice as an amateur photographer) before I saw any of my items on the front page, I’ve been lucky enough to catch my work being featured several times since then, and other Etsy members are kind enough to clue me in when I miss an appearance. Thanks to Josefin, for example, I know one of my Mitchells popped up recently:
And just now I noticed the viewcount jumping on my newest monster, Elliott. Sure enough, there he was on the front page (third row down on the left):
Two front page appearances? It’s been less than two weeks since Mint Conspiracy reopened! I am honored (and absolutely shocked!). Huge thanks to those who choose to feature my creatures — and to those who let me know when one of my guys is in the Etsy limelight.
(Oh, and to anyone who thinks sellers like me are somehow “monopolizing” the front page… Ya know? After the hours I spent sewing and thread-jointing all thirteen parts of Elliott, then photographing him and Photoshopping those images, I’m darn proud of his time in the sun. You’ll get no apologies from me. ;D)
All right. Back to sewing and Doctor Who!
Topics: Etsy Issues, Mint Conspiracy | 4 Comments »
The Newest Herd
By Jill Christine | June 29, 2008
Sometimes they just look so darn fab in a herd. I love group photos.
Topics: Mint Conspiracy | 4 Comments »
Attack of the Cocktail Monkeys
By Jill Christine | June 26, 2008
I love cocktail monkeys. Seriously — could a girly drink arrive with anything sillier or more fabulous than a dinky plastic monkey hanging off the rim? They’re cuter than little paper umbrellas, and they’re so much better than bar fruit. (I’ve heard . . . tales about bar fruit; I’d rather not have any in my drink.) How much do I love these monkeys? I gave them a place of honor in FABULOUS MAX. There are legions of cocktail monkeys in my manuscript. That’s how much I love ‘em.
I got a single cocktail monkey from somewhere when I was little. Even then, I recognized the ridiculous wonder of the little guy, and I kept him among my other childhood treasures. He’s still probably packed away in a box in the garage, nestled in a jewelry box next to the plastic charms and other questionable prizes I used to get out of the dime machines in Winn Dixie. Now I have an entire army — because of the monkeys’ significance in FABULOUS MAX, I was given a box of them for my birthday in May. One hundred translucent plastic monkeys. I don’t know what to do with them besides admire them, but maybe that’s enough. Someday I’ll buy myself the sterling silver version — how sweet is that?
I can totally imagine these guys as part of FabMax’s cover art: a clean white cover with a series of pink and green cocktail monkeys marching down one side. Not that writers usually have any say when it comes to cover art, but hey, a girl can dream (of monkeys).
Topics: Fabulous Max | 5 Comments »
Whee!
By Jill Christine | June 23, 2008
I love unpacking big fabric orders. They’re like sneak previews — coming attractions for future monsters.
There are six yards of fleece waiting for me at the post office, too. W00t!
Topics: Mint Conspiracy | 3 Comments »
Mine, Mine, Mine: Drop Bear
By Jill Christine | June 22, 2008
I’ve sold a lot of stuffies over the past two or three years, but I don’t sell everything I make. When I create something for myself, it’s usually to fill a need. I designed a simple fleece case for my current digital camera (to avoid a repeat of last January’s great camera tragedy, ugh), and when I got a deal on some silky, synthetic brown fur, I lined it with muslin and made the best throw ever for my bed. See? Useful stuff.
Then there are the times when I finish a new plush and can’t bear to part with it. I touched on this last month when I mentioned my drop bear; I thought it’d be fun to post a few more shots of him. I do have a pattern for him, so a brother or two may eventually pop up in Mint Conspiracy if I have more koala noses (memo to self: check the eye box for koala noses), but this one’s staying with me. He has ties to the Margarita Society project I’m shopping around. Yep, I’m serious — drop bear chick lit. Selling him would be like selling off a character.
I’ll try to make more of these “Mine, Mine, Mine” posts, so stay tuned if you’d like to see what else hasn’t escaped the Conspiracy.
Topics: Mine Mine Mine, Mint Conspiracy, Fabulous Max | 2 Comments »
