More fuzz

[bladespark]

Yesterday when I woke up I had a stack of fur fabric and an idea.

When I went to bed last night, I was almost finished with the fellow pictured below. I wanted to finish him then, but I was exhauseted and had to get up early this morning, so I left it. I took a few minutes today, despite the fact that it's supposed to be my day off, to add the last tiny details, and now he's all done!

http://bladespark.topcities.com/costume/foxplush1.jpg
http://bladespark.topcities.com/costume/foxplush2.jpg
http://bladespark.topcities.com/costume/foxplush3.jpg

That's right, I've now made a real* plush animal! I had no pattern when I began, though I have one now, and can duplicate this guy if I need to. He's got real glass eyes, (I actually would have preferred plastic, but foxes have slit eyes, and I couldn't find plastic cat eyes that were big enough,) and about five different kinds of fur on him. He's a full 36" long (that's a yard, or just shy of a meter,) if you count the tail. Actual life size for a fox. Heck, he's probably a jumbo fox, a big guy among foxes, as he's a touch on the large size. He also probably needs his ears adjusted a smidge, and a bigger nose, but otherwise I'm pretty happy with the pattern. I'm pondering if I should add a touch of shading around his mouth. On the one hand, it should add some realism, but on the other, it's the only place shading would go, and I'm not sure it would look right.

Anyhow, I'm now taking plush critter commissions! Starting at $70** for medium/smallish stuff, and going up until it gets ridiculous. This exact fellow would cost you $120, though a similar but not the same animal would be more, as I'd have to take the extra time to whip up a new pattern for it, and/or buy new fur fabric.

*Loonakits don't count.

**Really small custom plushes fall under my Loonakit pricing.

Comments

[starkruzr.livejournal.com]

He's so preeeeetty!

[graydown.livejournal.com]

First reaction: My god. That's gorgeous. Sure, it needs a better nose, but it's so cute. The tail is especially good. And a whole yard long! That's amazing. Pattern-wise, it's as good as my storebought fox plush; I'm betting the materials are a step above.

Wonder how many people can sit down one day and say, "I want to make a plush fox" and then create something like that... not many, I'd guess.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Yeah.... Honestly I still sometimes look at stuff I've made and go "I made that? You've got to be kidding!"

[gungho-squirrel.livejournal.com]

Yaay! That is so awesome! I've actually been wondering when you were going to start making plushies because you're so good at making fursuits that it seemed like plushie making would come natural.

I SO have to save up extra cash now so I can commission a plush from you!!

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Yay!

I've been thinking about plushes for a long time. But thought it's a related skill it is pretty different, and for a while I really couldn't figure out where to start to come up with the patterns.

Then I got an idea! And has somebody ask if I could do a plush right after I'd had the idea, so I said yes.

Thank heavens the idea was actually a good one!

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

Wow I'd love for you to share how you made the plush. Could you post a tutorial or something up for us to maybe to follow

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

I'm not terribly good at tutorials. No patience to write them! But I can sum up.

1. Get lots of newspaper and tape. Make a full-size crumpled newspapaer ball mock-up of your critter. You only have to make half the legs though.

2. Saran wrap it all over.

3. Cover up one half of it with duct tape. Draw any markings it has on the taop.

4. Cut off the duct tape, and cut up the different colored pieces. Then cut them up more, and cut slits in them, until they'll lie flat.

5. Trace duct tape peices onto fabric, making sure you get one left and one right of everything.

6. Sew together.

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

You make it seem so easy!
I am starting work on my drabbit again this week when I get out of school I will probably be running to you for advice quite a lot

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Well, doing all that took me one FULL day (like 12 hours of work) and a bit of today too. So it wasn't quite that easy!

And I'm always happy to dispense advice, though there's only so much you can do from a couple thousand miles away.

[rahball.livejournal.com]

Aha, I see you've improved on my method!
Cling wrap, that's a clever idea.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

It's more that I combined it with the methods I've been using for fursuits. You put the "skin" on a fursuit head with a cling wrap and duct tape thing.

My first idea for a plush critter was more of a mini fursuit, since it involved making this articulated skeleton, and then making foam "muscles" and then skinning it over, but it was a little too ambitious! Though I'd like to come back to it someday, if I ever have more time.

[rahball.livejournal.com]

Sort of like animal-friendly taxidermy... ;)

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Yep! I saw a place once with fantasy animal "taxidermy" heads. Gryphons and dragons and things. I think it would be neat to make something like that!

[jmfoxfire.livejournal.com]

that plush fox is nice i like it alot.

[beetlecat.livejournal.com]

I've heard of the duct tape and newspaper method for a plushie pattern, but I never got around to doing it XD

The face could perhaps use some needle sculpting, but it's still very awesome :)

I just started a small wolf plushie today actually (my first plush! yay!), which is why it's so funny you posted a plushie now XD

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I did debate trying to fuss with the face more. But it's nice the way it is, and now that I have it to a point where I like it, I'm afraid I'll screw it up if I mess with it more.

Good luck with your plush.

[silveradept]

Socute. Yet another thing to put on the "when I have money" list. I think that list is far bigger than my Christmas list.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Awww. I would make you one if I had the time to do so! I just kinda don't...

[silveradept]

No, no, spend your time on things that will actually make you money. And then, if I manage to put something together, I'll wait in line with everyone else.

[springmoone.livejournal.com]

Aww. $70 is out of my league and well, I have enough fur to satisfy my needs for making plushies. Hm, the only thing it really needs is a bigger nose, come to think of it.

Really nice job for a first plushie :3 It looks fabulous for a first (Heck, a whole lot better than most).

[malakim2099.livejournal.com]

Awwwwww. Now if only he was black and red. Hee!

I think I shall have to consider this. *grins*

[doran-eirok.livejournal.com]

That's beautiful! You've outdone yourself again. :)

[kainhighwind-dr.livejournal.com]

That is seriously awesome, especially as a first try at it! I know I say this a lot but, your work is appealing to me because it's always so well-designed and polished-looking.

I've got a commercially-made, high-quality stuffed fox that it looks an awful lot like, but I think I like yours even better. I think it's the upright posture and curvy tail (mine was more stiff of body and upright till he got mauled a lot by kids and cats and storage and stuff ;).

[keplilly.livejournal.com]

Oh wow! That looks great. I might have to commission something.

[lightgreendryad.livejournal.com]

Wow. My first thought was that it looks like something off of Lin's cartoons with foxes in them.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Heh. Lin's cartoons are really cute! But I didn't have them specifically in mind when I did this, I just wanted a fox.

[lightgreendryad.livejournal.com]

I like them too.