First of June

I can't believe it's June already. This year has flown by. I'm taking this month off from commissions and making things for other people to focus on my own work and my business.

Since it's the first of the month, I did what I always do on the first. I sit down and do business things! I've gotten into the habit of using this day (or at lehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifast part of it) to make sure finances and such are in order. First, I figure out my income and expenses for the previous month. After that, I fill out my state sales tax form and pay my Etsy bill. I like to get these things done and not have to worry about them for the rest of the month.

Today I also started getting ready for this weekend. Justin and I are going down to Charlotte for HeroesCon! Yay, a whole weekend of comic books and geeky fun!

I'm not sure if we'll have internet access at the hotel. If we do, I'll be sure to post about the trip. If we don't, I'll be posting from my phone to twitter.

Art show!

Exciting news! I've been accepted into the Monsters kaiju art show at Cade Gallery in Phoenix, AZ. I'm planning something really special...stay tuned for updates and pictures.

Been a long time

I know...it's been a long time since I've posted anything. The last few months (since the Christmas season, actually...) have been very busy. I've been working nonstop on commissioned pieces and I haven't had any time to work on my own designs.

I love making things for people, but quite honestly, I'm starting to feel burned out by this. That's why I've decided to take the whole month of June off. I'm going to use that month to regroup and put my focus back onto my art and my line of dolls and plushes. I'm going to try and make a new piece (a doll, plush, or art piece) every day. I'll also be restructuring my prices, so if you're interested in anything in my shop, now is the time to buy!

I'm going to try and blog (or at least tweet!) every day of June. I'll be posting progress pictures of my work, what's going on with the business side of my shop, and what inspires me. Hopefully by the end of the month my business and shop will be back in order and I'll have a blog full of resources for other small businesses. Let me know if there's anything you'd like me to post about.

And if you need a custom plush, please let me know now so I can have it finished by the end of May. Or you can wait until July, when I'll start taking new orders.

Commission/custom order info

Commissions for custom plush toys and dolls are once again open. If you have an original character (or a TV, movie, or comic character) that you would like me to make as a plush, please feel free to send me an email at silent-orchid@hotmail.com

Reference pictures are very helpful. Please send them along with your request (links to pictures are fine.)

---Prices---
Prices on all custom plushes are based on size and complexity of the character. The base prices below are for a for a standard plush made from felt. For a more detailed, complex character and any extras (different fabrics, yarn hair, removable clothing, etc.) the price will be higher.

Under 6 inches - $30
6 to 10 inches - $50
11 to 15 inches - $70
16 to 20 inches - $90
21 to 25 inches - $110
If you would like a plush that is larger than 25 inches tall, please send me a note and we can discuss the price.

All prices are in US dollars and do not include shipping. Please let me know your zip code (or country if you are not in the US) and I'll figure out the shipping cost.
If you need your order in less than three weeks, there will be a rush fee of 20% added to the cost of the plush (before shipping.)

I prefer to take payments online (PayPal and credit cards.) I also accept money orders (and if you are in the US, personal checks.) If your order is larger I do not mind being paid in installments, but I will need to be paid in full before I ship your order.

Refunds cannot be issued for custom orders.

Generally, I do not give discounts for multiple items purchased together. I do accept wholesale orders from shops, boutiques, and artists who order original character plushes (to be resold at conventions, etc.)

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When we agree on a design and price I will send you an invoice though PayPal (or my address if you are sending payments though the mail.) I can only begin working on your plush when I have received your payment.

It typically takes me between two and four weeks to make a plush, depending on how detailed the design is. I will send updates on the progress as I make it.

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If you have any questions, please leave a comment or email me at silent-orchid@hotmail.com

All ten year old girls have a crush on Tim Curry...

My sister and I have a Halloween tradition. Every year we watch our favorite Halloween movie. Not a horror film, not It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown...no, the best Halloween movie ever is The Worst Witch.

It was made for TV in 1986 and stars Fairuza Balk as Mildred Hubble (her first role as a witch, long before she was in The Craft.) It also stars Charlotte Rae in dual roles as the school's headmistress AND her evil twin sister, Tim Curry as The Grand Wizard (who is swooned over by every female in the movie) and Diana Rigg as Miss Hardbroom (the not so nice potions teacher who doesn't like Mildred.)

It's a crazy movie, full of songs, goofy 80s special effects, and just plain wacky situations. In the middle of the movie Tim Curry gets his own music video!


Miss Cackle's "evil" twin sister and her coven of goofy witches are dressed like a five year old's idea of a "bad witch." They also have a song...


It really has to be seen to be appreciated. Or maybe you have to be a child of the 80s to love it as much as I do...you can see for yourself. Someone has kindly posted the whole movie on youtube.

Back online

A few of weeks ago my old computer (which I'd had for at least six years without upgrading) stopped connecting to the internet. Oh, no! What was I to do? My dear boyfriend let me use his for a while, but it was hard not being able to log on whenever I needed to. I've realized how very much my life revolves around connection with people through the net. Not a bad thing...I like having friends and customers all over the world :)

Today I finally bought a new laptop for myself! Nothing fancy, but it has lots more memory than my old one. It also has a webcam, so you may see some youtube videos from me soon (not quite sure what they'll be about yet...maybe plush making tutorials or other artsy things.)

Now that my web life is back to normal, I'll be posting more to my sites (especially Etsy and twitter) and trying to blog more. What would you like to see here? Process pictures? Tutorials? Design inspirations/color board posts? Let me know :)

I'm working on some new dolls (monsters, circus freaks, and fairy tale characters.) I'm also taking holiday orders now! There's less than two months until Christmas, and I need to get custom orders by the first week in December. I'll make a longer post in a day or two, with all of the details.

Halloween plushes

I just posted the first few of my Halloween plushes! Nosferatu, London After Midnight vampire, and zombie Poe. Lots more to come over the next week or so!