Lookie! I Made a Wedding Cake Topper!

Well, to be fair, it's the second plush wedding cake topper, but each one is special. My friends got married last weekend and I was asked to make a cake topper for their nest-themed cake. So I made them a pair of robins.

This is what the cake looked like - with them on it. Mission accomplished! It's a shame most of my friends are already married. This was fun. 

More details and pictures here.

Ciao!
Michal

Barn Owl Plush

I've been inspired to make some more owls lately. They seem to sell well at shows and I usually don't make enough. But I'm trying to keep up and build up a decent supply to keep up with potential demand. Today, I got inspired to make a barn owl...

You can read more and see more pictures at my blog.

Commissioned Piece: Kaze-kun the Crow

A crow plushie that a friend commissioned me to make...

You can read more and see more pictures at my blog.

Angry Bird Plush Valentine

Nothing says "I love you!" like a handmade Angry Bird plush! ;)

A few months ago, I showed my husband a tutorial I found for the red Angry Bird at the blog Obsessively Stitching. After he saw it, he wanted me to make one for him...so I finally made him one and gave it to him today for Valentine's day.

Read more and see more pictures at my blog.

T&A Friendly at Living Plush Show in L.A.

If you're in LA this weekend head down to Chinatown...Flock Shop to be exact! Here's a preview of one of my pieces for their show, Flying Plush. It's my homage to the flying tigers and desert military bases.

Hound & Squab by T&A Friendly

Hound & Squab, 2010 (20 x 28 x 12 inches)

This is my hound and squab taxidermy team. The hound's name is Raleigh but unfortunately, I never caught the squab's name. He may have been in the navy though. I'm just judging by the tattoo on his left wing.
I've been dreaming about this piece for so long and I finally had the time to complete it. It was greatly inspired by two things: 1. Was this hound & fowl statue I see almost on a daily basis sitting in the yard of a neighbor and 2. Is the film Fantastic Mr. Fox.

This is my neighbor's statue. I'm so tempted to offer them a price on it.

Rusty Cage

This must be the year of the bird because I can't get enough of these guys in my work. I've made a few other bird pieces in the past few months but this is my first attempt at a birdcage. To be honest, I had a bunch of wire hanging around and I just wanted to use it all up. Thank God for my urge to de-clutter...

I found this glitzy charcoal fabric with metallic thread woven throughout it in downtown. Initially, I bought it to make myself a blouse or dress but then I realized that due to its slightly heavy weight, I'd be limited to wearing my new creation only during the colder months. Yet, I'm very happy with how beautiful the soft twinkle of the silver thread in the fabric lends itself to the birdcage form.

Here's a closer look at my little inhabitant. I did name this post after the Soundgarden song, "Rusty Cage." However, unlike Chris Cornell, this guy isn't trying to break free. It's just way too cozy in there.

Book Worms & Bird Brains

T&A Friendly is ever-expanding on its line of faux taxidermy. Trust me. I make sure of it! Here's a glimpse into Book Worms & Bird Brains. All these guys are a combination of sweet little birds and scholarly owls (not yet pictured) perched/mounted onto discarded books. (These guys are doing their part for the environment too by repurposing these old works of literature.)
Check out the full line coming soon at www.tafriendly.com

New Taxidermy

For a long while now, I've been thinking about which new animal I should introduce into my arsenal of faux taxidermy. After a much needed trip to the Natural History Museum for inspiration. I came to the now obvious conclusion that I should make "bird" Stuft Acquaintances. In December, I want to introduce them properly in an exhibit which will be swamped, or should I say flocked with these new guys. Here's a sneak peek at one of them...


www.tafriendly.com

cheep cheep

Birdlets!

♥ ***smoooch!**** ♥

They're made from vegan yarn pompoms (which I make myself) and 96% pure cuteness.
-Claire ~ Absolutely Small

Lou Lou and Her Singing Bird, Lolli

Lou Lou and Lolli's first day here from the Whimsy Patch was a rainy one, but they were at least able to enjoy a little bit of the sunset as the rain cleared for just enough time.The Whimsy Patch is just bubbling over these days with new residents who are ready for new homes. Lou Lou and Lolli, like their good friends Josette and Speckles, grew up together in the Aviary Farms. They enjoy country life, slow walks through pastures of grazing Whimsy animals, baking breads of various sorts, and singing wake up songs in the morning. Lou Lou and Lolli dream of living in a quiet small town someday, though they can certainly handle city life when that is required of them. It's just that they prefer the view of trees and rolling hills to sidewalks and traffic lights. Nevertheless, they will make the best of any setting with mornings and afternoons spent mixing, kneading and baking breads. Oh, you should smell the aroma of Lou Lou's sourdough bread and taste it with just a pat of butter. Divine! Lolli's favorite bread to bake is a banana-strawberry bread. Spread that darling with just a bit of strawberry preserves and you will melt! I can smell it and taste it as I write:)

Josette and Her Little Birdie, Speckles

Oh, my goodness! Josette and Speckles are just the sweetest little pair. They come from the Whimsy Aviary Farms and want to mention that they have more friends on the way. In the Whimsy Aviary Farms, Whimsy Dollies and Birdies are raised together. At the birth of a Whimsy Dollie, her personality is assessed and a perfect Whimsy Birdie is selected and paired with her. The two, always an ideal match, are together from their on out. The Whismy Dollie then spends her days be trained in song by the Whimsy Birdie. From what Speckles says, Josette has an angelic voice and sings the most enchanting lullabies. On nights when a baby is having trouble falling to sleep, Josette and Speckles just might be there singing the little one to sleep.

Gilda

I yearn for summer to come back! So, naturally, summery colors are popping up more and more in my work. For instance:

Gilda is just a wee chickadee. She may not be terribly wise, but what she lacks in experience she makes up for with enthusiasm. So she makes a lot of mistakes, but with GUSTO!

Of course, just you wait until August- that's when everything I make will be turning wintry and pale!
-Claire

Yanitori (Dolls for Friends)

Yanitori is a night bird. His beautiful plumage is said to glow in the setting sun of the isles of his native Japan. Sightings, however, of this wonderful creature are so rare that they were believed to have become extinct. Books on creature lore actually list him as more myth than fact.

Imagine my surprise when I awoke from sleeping in the fields of the Japanese country side and found this wonderful specimen sleeping on my chest. I don't know where he came from, but after an engaging conversation and explanation of how I might help him, he agreed to accompany me back to the States.

Still intrigued about why he sought me out, i decided to do a little poking around into what's known about their instinctual habits. After much research I found out that he had been attracted to the smell of the puffy paint on my "Hang in there baby" t-shirt, and had come to inspect the curious fragrance. Needless to say, I was happy I held on to that shirt for all these Years.

Jenny the Chickadee

Jenny the Chickadee suffers from memory loss. She *might* have been a race car driver. Or...possibly a nurse. She can't quite recall, but it was exciting, oh yes. In any case, where nothing is certain, everything is possible! She's ready to tackle her next big adventure- living with you. Who are you again?
-Claire