Witch Craft book winner

The winner of the Witch Craft book drawing is:


Stacieknits! Congratulations!

Thank you all for sharing your fantastic DIY costume stories with us. They were a hoot and a half!

Be sure to check out this fab book and click on over to an interview with The Needle member Jacki Gallagher who contributed an adorable poison apple to the book.

What sort of plush making have you been up to?

Witch Craft book giveaway

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love the chance to get wild and crazy and create totally fabulous costumes from scratch. And the crafting opportunities surrounding this wicked holiday are awesome!

Tell us about your favorite DIY Halloween costume in the comments to this post and you'll be entered to win a copy of this fabulous new crafty book:

Witch Craft: wicked accessories, creepy-cute toys, magical treats, and more! Compiled by Margaret McGuire and Alicia Kachmar.

This book is spookily adorable and contains many different DIY crafts that will put you in the Halloween "spirit". There are several plush projects including a totally groovy plushie poison apple project by The Needle's own Jacki Gallagher of Plush Off. Jacki gave us a little inside scoop about her plush in the book:


How long have you been making plush?

I started about 10 years ago, but just started selling in 2007. I always made cute things for myself, family and friends and everyone kept saying I should try and sell them so I opened a shop on Etsy.


What inspires your plush making?

Now, my son. Ethan is 4 and has Autism and I stay home with him; so our day is very creative and fun together. If he wakes up and asks for a plush apple tree, well that's what we do. Now I get a lot of inspiration through him and at the grocery store and restaurants!


How did you get involved with the Witch Craft book?

I was emailed by Margaret McGuire and she asked me if I wanted to take part in a super fun book about spooky crafts and I was elated!


How did you come up with the idea of a poison apple plush?

I tried my best to think of something spooky and halloweenie and something that would also be easy to make instructions for, and easy for people to make on their own.


What is your best plush making tip?

Good thread. Always invest in good thread rather than the super cheap thin thread. That stuff snaps super easy and can make for some very sad plush times.


Can you share any plush making tips about the project that aren't in the book?

I use a really thick wool felt for the apple stems so it stands on it's own and can withstand someone twirling it around by the stem.


Where can we check out more of your totally groovy plush?

I have a store on Etsy, my own website, and a facebook page where I post all my new plush and custom pieces as well.


Any finally thoughts or plush inspiration you'd like to share?

Go with what makes you happy! Don't try and find what will appeal to the masses. It is far more satisfying to make and sell something you love, especially when someone else loves it too.



Thanks Jacki for sharing your insights!

Plush makers will enjoy making Jacki's cute poison apple as well as an adorable ghost brooch and fabulous fuzzy bats. Crocheters will enjoy the creepy bones and Amigurumi good little witch and knitters will find a creepy cute spider to knit. And there are so many other creative projects that this book definitely has something for everyone. Click here to get a preview of all the groovy projects and contributors.

Leave a comment about your favorite DIY Halloween costume and you'll be entered to win this copy of Witch Craft.

Winner will be announced Tuesday, October 26th.

Please share this post on Twitter, Facebook, and your blog. Thanks!

What plush have you been working on recently? Show us here on The Needle!

Want to joint The Needle? Have exciting plush news? Email me at: TheNeedle.org@gmail.com

The Needle Giveaway Contest

*** Giveaway Deadline Extended to Monday, October 18th ***

This week's giveaway is for the very fab book The Crafter's Companion: Tips, Tales and Patterns from a Community of Creative Minds edited by Anna Torborg (a $17 value).

Enter the giveaway by answering this question in the comments of this post:

Where do you get your inspiration?

Please let others know about this fab online plush community by taking a moment or two this week to promote The Needle on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, and anywhere else. Thanks!

What plush have you been working on recently? Show us here on The Needle!

Want to joint The Needle? Have exciting plush news? Email me at: TheNeedle.org@gmail.com


Thanks to everyone who entered The Needle's giveaway contest! All of your comments were very helpful.

The winner selected at random is:

Congratulations Dani!

Click here to read the groovy photography tips that Dani and others gave.

The Needle Giveaway Contest

Thanks to everyone who entered The Needle's giveaway contest! All of your comments were very inspirational.

The winner selected at random is:

Congratulations Ellen Ault!

Click here to read what Ellen and everyone else said about what they love most about making plush.

This week's giveaway is for the very fab book Photographing Arts, Crafts & Collectibles: Take Great Digital Photos for Portfolios, Documentation, or Selling on the Web by Steve Meltzer (a $25 value).

Enter the giveaway by answering this question in the comments of this post:

What is your best plush Photography tip?

The contest will be open for a week and the winner will be drawn at random on Monday, October 4th. And be sure to check back next week because I've got even more goodies in the prize bag so they'll be another awesome contest.

Please let others know about this fab online plush community by taking a moment or two this week to promote The Needle on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, and anywhere else. Thanks!

What plush have you been working on recently? Show us here on The Needle!

Want to joint The Needle? Have exciting plush news? Email me at: TheNeedle.org@gmail.com

The Needle Giveaway Contest

Thank you everyone for entering The Needle's giveaway contest! I enjoyed reading each and every comment about what you love most about plush. It was groovy to read each response and see how different they were from each other. Plush making really does satisfying so many creative needs!

Without further adieu, the winner selected at random is:


Congratulations maureencracknell!

Click here to read what Maureen and everyone else said about what they love most about making plush.

This week's giveaway is for the totally awesome book Softies by Therese Laskey (a $20 value).


Enter the giveaway by answering this question in the comments of this post:

What is your best plush making tip?

The contest will be open for a week and the winner will be drawn at random on Monday, September 27th. And be sure to check back next week because I've got even more goodies in the prize bag so they'll be another awesome contest.

Please let others know about this fab online plush community by taking a moment or two this week to promote The Needle on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, and anywhere else. Thanks!

What plush have you been working on recently? Show us here on The Needle!

Want to joint The Needle? Have exciting plush news? Email me at: TheNeedle.org@gmail.com

New Book from the Plush Team

This just in: a wonderful, stupendous, chock-full-of-awesome book about the greatness of plush. It's published by the beloved Plush Team, and a must read for any fan of plush art.
But instead of me gushing on and on about it, here's some actual information about the book:

"The Plush Team is ecstatic to present to you our first ever Team Annual, containing 120 pages of plushy goodness!
What is in store for you upon opening this marvelous book:

* An opening by our team founder, Megan Green, describing how our team came to be.
* An insightful, informative, and all-around fascinating account of the history of plush craft by our team co-founder Christina Ward.
* 42 two-page, full color features of our Plush Team members. Each includes photos of the artist's work, and text written by the artist explaining motivation, process, and inspiration.
* A time line of Plush Team activities through over the years.Profile pages providing a comprehensive list of Plush Team artists, including artist head shots and Etsy shop addresses.
* Photos of PT Stitchy, the team mascot, scattered throughout the book in his various incarnations as interpreted by our team members.

The book is full color, professionally printed, and soft cover. It measures 6.75"x6.75" (or 17 centimeters square). This is volume 1 of our Team Annual, featuring the artists from 2009. Our intent is to make this a yearly publication, updating it each year with our newest members and their incredible work."

If you want your very own copy (and why wouldn't you?), hop on over to the team's Etsy shop before they sell out!