2011 wrap up; 2012 hi-yah!

First off: Happy Holidays, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Festivus and Happy New Year. Its 2012 where are the flying cars and why don't I have a condo on the moon?

Since we unfortunately didn't get into Holiday Handmade we thought that our November/ December was gonna be pretty relaxed: sip some egg-nog, bake some cookies, sing some yada yada...WRONG! December 15th was the deadline for 6 plush versions of video game characters from Backflip Studios newest game AAAND the deadline for plushie versions of DISH Network's new DVR system: The Hopper. I'm gonna try and do this in chronological order so lets get started:

Denise did most of the video game character plushies and I helped make one. Which is basically a rag doll of sorts. Here it is all in pieces.

Here it is magically sewn together.

Ta-dah! You can see the other characters in our facebook photos.

One day I was at work and the people I work with were all like,

"Hey ricky you make, like, stuffed, like animals. Do you think you could make one from the two DISH "Hopper" logos?"

And I was all,

"Well how do you want me to make them. Like a pillow or with more depth?"

And they were all,

"Make it both ways."

So I did.

Much testing ensued. First I was trying out sizes and how to get the ears and arms right for the pillow. You may have seen this picture briefly on facebook. I had to take it down because of a non-disclosure agreement. Opps!

I built a full prototype to make sure it all worked ok before doing the final.

This is for the 2nd Hopper logo aptly named the "Joey" logo (Joeys are baby kangaroos)

The pillows came together easier than I expected and I'm very happy with the result. The white highlights I glued on with fabric glue. It looked nicer and cleaner than trying to sew them on. Final Hopper logo pillow:

Final Joey logo pillow:

Next was making the logo version with more "depth"; 3 dimensional if you will. This took more testing. Luckily I came across a picture of an old stuffed animal pattern online that planted this seed in my head. The problem was the arms looked like little chicken wings and the head was on backwards.

So I refined it and brought back the ears from the pillows. I sewed the head on separately and sewed the arms into the seams. I actually made foam wrapped wire "bones" for the legs which gave it great support, but didn't work with the final Kangaroo so I took them out.

This is the "3D" Joey pattern 'bout to get sewn up.

The Joey nub that sits in the pocket of the 'roo.

Final "3D" Joey and Hopper Logos. Again I put the white details on with fabric glue. The pillows and these version were give to the client as gifts. They had no idea we were doing this and were pleasantly surprised.

Speaking of pleasantly surprised. This is Natasha and the skull pillow I've been promising her for 20 years. This was the first custom gift of 2012! Play a trumpet if you've got one. Toot! Toooot! Toooot!

Big things in 2012 people! More custom creations! More new designs and hopefully flying cars.

Don't forget you can find us at the I (heart) Denver store at the Denver Pavilions and at Fresh Soap Company up in Breckenridge.

In the immortal words of Chris Rose, "Have Fun!"

Beep!

Everyone I'd like to introduce you to Beep. There is much discussion on what he/ she truly is but there is no denying how awesome Beep is.

There is also no denying that Beep has two heads and some short noodlie legs.

Beep was made for our friend Scott because without him WTS Creature wouldn't be here today.

This is Scott and Beep together at last. Happy birthday Scott.

Right now Beep is one of my favorite creatures! I'm so happy how it turned out that there will definitely be more. Beep might have cousin's or siblings with names like "Boop" and "Brrrring". The sky is the limit!! I don't know but i'm stoked on it. Hooray for Beep!!

late entries and the new year

Its a brand new year and the holidays are finally over. (sigh)

Here are some highlights from the last days of 2010.

My cousin Este and Nicholas with Sumi on Christmas.

My mom with a custom pillow I made with the likenesses of my brothers and I. Notice the smile of happiness which comes with every WTS design ;)

Tomte Craft has a new location at 41st and Tennyson. Before the holidays they had a potluck gift swap with other great crafters. We swapped some glasses from Vital Industries and a handbag from Tutela. It was a great turn out with good food and friendly faces. Tomte Craft has yet to settle in its new home but everything should be tip-top at the beginning of February.

So that's more or less how WTS Creatures did Christmas in 2010. We were truly fortunate to have such great family and friends to share the spirit and cheer of the season with.

As for 2011, we've resolved to bring the world all sorts of new and exciting WTS creatures as well as keep on creating everyone's favorite creatures from 2010. There will be more craft fairs, more creatures and more fun in 2011 ... Stay posted and share in the fun and excitement that is WTS Creatures.

4th of July

On the morning of the 4th of July WTS Creatures participated in the City Park Esplanade Fresh Market. The market is every sunday but the crafty portion of it is only ever 1st Sunday of the Month. Count on us being there for August and September.
The morning started out a bit chilly and overcast but ended up quite pleasant. Fortunately the rains didn't come till the evening.
The lovely Denise Teele standing by ready to answer any questions and sign autographs from eager customers.

We've built up out little friends in new and exciting colors and fabric that will soon appear on your etsy page.
This is our new an improved Strongman, definitely a crowd favorite. He is wearing a clean pair of tighty-whiteys and has a new style of mustache. I really like the way this guy turned out so you'll be seeing more of those wonderful underpants.
Unfortunately the market was only from 9 - 1pm so we didn't get a lot of time to meet as many people as we would have liked. Regardless it was a pleasant day and we got to meet more of our crafty peers from the Denver area. Check out Xoxi(So-She) Craft she makes awesome proper plush dolls, octopi and bags. Also get into the fantastic knit stylings of Knitschmidt she's magic with the knitting needles.

Project Hello and George Raccoony

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give to you the one and only George Raccoony, "The one who rubs, scrubs and scratches with its hands" the new WTS creatures mascot. We enjoy watching him dig for worms and scurry about in the backyard ... although we haven't seen him around lately. I think he's off to his summer home in France.
In other news, we here at WTS creatures are, as always, feverishly working round the clock to create the best creatures in all the land. Here's some insight into our process.

We trace and cut out patterns for our fanciful creatures. Ricardo, seen above, is working on "The Strong Man"
Once we have a plethora of patterns traced and cut out of a variety of soft and fluffy fabrics its time to sew them up and get them stuffed.

That's Ricardo again risking his delicate phalanges getting right up next to the perilously sharp needle of the sewing machine and stitching away.

So Sharp .... And Deadly!!

Another WTS creature almost complete. "The strong man" now awaits a bit of fluff and some closure.

Next Saturday, May 8th 2010, Project Hello, WTS creatures is representing!! And if I don't say so myself, it's just in time for Mother's Day. What mom wouldn't want a WTS creature for her very own? Exactly! Hope to see you all there.

Denise & Ricardo

Next Big Thing.

This is the next project we're working towards. Check it out and tell your friends.

-Denise and Ricardo