if you're over in Limey Land (England for those not in the know) there's a great little show happening on the 10th of October at Black Lark Gallery called Creature Feature. Here's a word from the curator herself:

"plush exhibition Creature Feature which opens Friday 10th of October at the Black Lark Gallery and runs through the 2nd of November. The exhibition space has been transformed into a monochromatic woodland scene in order to showcase signature pieces from an international selection of artists and designers including Donna Wilson, Lucy Jane Batchelor, Abigail Brown, Udder and Hop Skip Jump. We're documenting the whole process and giving sneak previews on our blog (http://www.blacklark.blogspot.com/) . The pieces will be onsale both through the gallery and the gallery's online shop (http://www.blacklarkgallery.bigcartel.com/). "

So there's no excuse for not having a look, as we can experience it virtually via the blog. Check it out!

Monster Art Rally

Again, several Plush It peoples (can't bring myself to say peeps, I'm too uncool) are in the Monster Art Rally show at Gallery 1988 in San Fran

Jayson Thiessen's work

Monsters were created by... 12Punt3, 2Cents, Adrian Pina, Anna Chambers, Beastlies, Brandt Peters, Buff Monster, Bytedust, Cameron Tiede, Chet Zar, Chocolate Log Industries, Crump, Crystal Bedford, Dan Goodsell, DGPH, Doktor A, Dr. Bao-NVC Crew, El Maz & Lina Britton, Eyebone, Forestprints, Heidi Kenney, Jake Henzler, Jamous, Jayson Thiessen, Jeff McMillan, Jellibat, Jen Rarey, Jesse Hernandez, Jon Schiller, Jumble Bugs, Kano, Kathie Olivas, Koadzn, Lana Crooks, Laura Granlund, Leecifer, Little Dear, Lost Monster, Mad L, Maoma, Mister Funky, Monster Factory, Morninglori, Motor Bot, Mycryptonauts, Rebelwookiee, Serena Kuhl, Sewing Stars, Sok-O, Spasmodica, Steff Bomb, Suicide Kittens, Tapetentiere and Tim Tsui.

Dia de los Plush

A few of the artists involved in Plush It are also putting their work into a couple of other shows. One is the Dia de los Plush show at Red Hot Robot in Phoenix, Arizona. My flatmate and comrade, Marita Albers and I knocked up some pieces of it very quickly (we left it all a bit late) and they will be in the company of some other excellent artworks.

Jared Deal

Me and Marita's stuff

Geek Freeks

My Paper Crane

John Knox from Hello Brute fame

me!

Okay, thought I better submit myself to the same rigorous questioning process!

Your name: Serena Kuhl

Where you’re from : Darwin, Oz

When did you first get into plush?

Very first time was when I was a little girl, someone showed me how to make draft catchers from stockings and then put eyes on them. I made hundreds of the bloody things! I then got back into plush at Uni. I trained in sculpture and was finding it hard to weld, cast and model clay at home in impoverished conditions. Plush was easy, portable and didn't mean I'd lose my bond on places I was renting. I started making designer plush thingies in 2003/4

What inspires you to continue to make plush?

It cracks me up! And there is that special rush you get when something you've dreamed up comes out well and perhaps other people like it. The piece I did for the Dia de los Plush show is an excellent example. The Mamcita piece I knocked up in a couple of hours, just pure going for it, as I've always wanted to make a big piece for a Day of the Dead show, and it worked!

If you were going to direct someone to site that best represents you work?

Flickr site has pics of everything, blog has me crapping on!

Any favourite plush gods/artists/designers out there that influence you?

I have been more influenced by weird things like the Goodies, Monty Python, random comedy has had a huge impact. But just recently works by Curster, Mr Mju and Michal Wright have definitely set the bar for lifting one's game....

If you were stuck on a desert island with only a couple of yards of fabric, scissors and thread, what would you make?

I'd probably just sit there and make more toys, enjoying the peace....

Do you ever have fabric dreams, where you walk into a store and see all of the fabrics you have ever dreamed of for sale?

Umm... yup. I put this question in, hoping others shared my problem. I was wrong. I actually dream all the time of things like this. It's wall to wall bright tacky furs and lycras and I see stuff I could only have imagined (obviously!) and my brain starts ticking over about what I could make. I saw some pics of Yardage Town in Sappy Moosetrees Flickr account and had a waking moment similar to that, as well as when I found out there was a Textile town thingie in Japan. Ahhhh one day....

If you ever become a multinational business, rivalling the market share of all other plush artists, what will you do with your newfound plush power?

The prospect is too scary to think about right now...

If you were going to make a plush superhero that would represent you style best, what would be their name and what would their powers be?

Random Plush Girl! Stabby scissors in one hand, a snappy quip on her lips, ability to make up very odd plush ideas in a single bound. I could be like a plush Slayer, kicking bad plush butt and keeping the world safe for excellent plushies everywhere

Which one of your own plush would you describe as a self-portrait?

Nutfucker bunny. I made him and joked that he could be my Mr Hat (I'm a teacher) and I could freak the kids out with him. Let's just say stress is not always my friend...

If someone wanted to contact you about your plush?

kuhlserena@hotmail.com
Anything else people need to know about you?

Cat-Rabbit!

Your name:
Cat-Rabbit
Where you’re from:
Hobart, Australia
When did you first get into plush?
I have always pottered around with felt, but Cat-Rabbit was born in about 2003 out of a lack of money - I couldn’t afford to buy nice birthday presents for my friends so I made them instead.
What inspires you to continue to make plush?
Watching animal documentaries whilst drinking a cold glass of milk.
If you were going to direct someone to a site that best represents you work?
http://www.catrabbit.com.au/, http://www.flickr.com/photos/catrabbit/
Any favourite plush gods/artists/designers out there that influence you?
Beatrix Potter, Richard Scarry, Stanley Donwood, Ghostpatrol, Empire, Helen Goninon, Tara Badcock
If you were stuck on a desert island with only a couple of yards of fabric, scissors and thread, what would you make?
A small house and some pets. I would then live in that house with my inanimate pets while I slowly and inevitably descended into madness.
Do you ever have fabric dreams, where you walk into a store and see all of the fabrics you have ever dreamed of for sale?
Um no, unfortunately. Last night I dreamt that my best friend and I opened a fish and chip shop.
If you ever become a multinational business, rivalling the market share of all other plush artists, what will you do with your newfound plush power?
Why, I would take over the world of course.
If you were going to make a plush superhero that would represent your style best, what would be their name and what would their powers be?
I am not really sure, but it would have something to do with a badger and a pipe.
Which one of your own plush would you describe as a self-portrait?
Probably the mountain goat: slow moving, enjoys cups of tea and likes Judy Garland.

If someone wanted to contact you about your plush? info@catrabbit.com.au

Spok! Spok!

Your name:
Spök-spök
Where you’re from:
Sweden!
When did you first get into plush?
Quite a while ago. The first one I actually made when I was seven.
What inspires you to continue to make plush?
It’s fun, and it’s an art form that makes people look twice.
If you were going to direct someone to site that best represents you work?
Http://spokspok.blogspot.com
Any favourite plush gods/artists/designers out there that influence you?
There’s tons of them… Devil Robots, Friends With You to name a few.
If you were stuck on a desert island with only a couple of yards of fabric, scissors and thread, what would you make?
A hammock, unless I already had one… if I did I’d make a sweater.
Do you ever have fabric dreams, where you walk into a store and see all of the fabrics you have ever dreamed of for sale?
No, not yet.
If you ever become a multinational business, rivalling the market share of all other plush artists, what will you do with your newfound plush power?
Organize an annual plush parade!
If you were going to make a plush superhero that would represent you style best, what would be their name and what would their powers be?
Spök-spök, the Flying Ghost! He can fly!
Which one of your own plush would you describe as a self-portrait? (feel free to include pics)
Morot!
If someone wanted to contact you about your plush?
They’re more than welcome to! Just go to spokspok.blogspot.com and contactify me!
Anything else people need to know about you?
We have minis being released in the fall of 08!

Preview of entries

I will be posting pics and info on each of the 50 odd pieces going into the Plush It show in November, but if you want a sneaky peak, check out the Plush It pool on Flickr. You have to search a bit, like most Flickr groups, it becomes a place where all plush works are posted, not just the show stuff. But there are some truly amazing stuff coming out of the works. I am amused and fascinated how people have managed to transform the template in different ways. Anyway, see anything you like? And feel like buying one of these one of a kind, purpose made plush pieces from some seriously talented artists? Contact Rachel, gallery owner of Ruban Rat. I suspect these aren't going to last that long....