New kittens time, and a moonkin hoodie
Attention ormolu and zelda_dragon - there's new friends for you in this post!
So it's been a busy few weeks. I've got a new job (working at a fabric store, OH NO), and my own home business has been super super busy with holiday orders (I make caffeine soap). But! Sewing has happened. Greatfather Winter visited early this year, gifting me with a gorgeous Pfaff sewing machine with computer guided stitches and a walking foot. Upgrading from my 1960's Kenmore, it's like going from driving a Datsun hatchback missing 2nd gear to suddenly having a tricked out Ferarri. I can't stress how amazing this machine is, although now my BF's family is trying to get me to start quilting. I don't need any more projects ;_:
On top of that, Cataclysm dropped, so leveling has been trudging along, I'm about a quarter of the way into 82-83, but haven't logged in days. We went to the midnight release to get our CEs, and even though the Best Buy we went to wasn't having any kind of event, I still dressed up. I'm glad I picked the costume that I did - it was warm!
Oh, and the reason I still can't sell these little plush guys? My plush work is going to be featured in the official World of Warcraft Magazine! Issue #4, should be out sometime early next year. My original moonkin plush (in my icon), and two of my kittens from my last post (black Tauren and purple NE) are down in California right now with their art department, getting their glamor shots for the magazine spot. I'm super excited! But part of the agreement is that I won't make money off of the plush, since they're essentially going to give me the greatest advertising, and it'd be profit off of their copyrights. So I'll just keep doing trades with other fan artists, it's really satisfying anyways. :)
In the cut are pictures of the two new NE kittens for ormolu and zelda_dragon, along with my Cata costume/new hoodie, a moonkin hoodie that I am totally in love with now. And my original NE kitten went to live with a buddy of mine, a girl who's an unnamed Blue poster down at Blizzard HQ in California.
Pair o' custom kittens for trade! The white one's for ormolu, and the turquoise one is for zelda_dragon. These are exactly the same pattern, same size, it just goes to show the difference that fur thickness has on the finished product. The white one's fur is 3/8" thick, and the turquoise one is closer to 5/8". Poofy!
Blue kitten for zelda_dragon! I LOVE how round it's face came out. She kinda gave me free reign on color choices besides the turquoise for the mane, and eye/nose choices, I hope it's acceptable. I thought the dark blue for markings was a good match.
Blurry blue kitten from the side, for zelda_dragon. Again, the thickness of the fur really makes a difference. You can see how "thicker" the crescent marking is, and how poofy it's tail came out compared to the other one. Extremely cuddly!
White and purple druid kitten for ormolu. The fur on this one is 3/8" thick, and is a very shiny "seal" type fur. The purple used on the markings is a cuddle fur, same thickness, so the markings look a little "thinner" than the ones on the blue kitten. I am crazy in love with the super 3" long fur used on this one's mane and eyebrows. It's SO swishy!
White and purple druid kitten for ormolu, side view. Big difference shown with the shoulder markings, but again, it was the exact same size pattern pieces as used on the blue one.
Closeup of white kitten for ormolu. I tried to show off the longer chin fluff on this one, but it just didn't photograph very well. It goes from under the teeth all the way along the jawline, up to meet the ears.
And I kinda made something for myself, too. Moonkin hoodie! The pattern is a McCall's M6212, modified to have "wing" additions (quilted with a layer of 1/2" batting between two layers of fleece), and added a "mantle" of brown fleece on the shoulders, a tail, hood decorations, belly marking, and the little conchos on the mantle. This hoodie cost me about $30 to make, such a steal!
Moonkin faaaaace hood design. The design is all applique'd on using a satin stitch from my BRAND NEW Pfaff sewing machine that was an early Greatfather Winter present. The beak is 3D, with a layer of 1/2" batting between two layers of fleece, and handstitched onto the hood. There are little cow ears, and full sized stuffed moonkin horns that sit exactly where they're supposed to on my head when the hood's pulled up.
Back of hoodie, showing off the little tail and all of the back/shoulder conchos. And the horns are kinda flopped over, hidden in the mass of dark brown that is the head/mantle area. The tail is quilted with batting sandwiched between fleece, so it's extra poofy.
Wing detail. I ran a straight stitch along the length of each "feather" to add more definition to the wings. They came out really cute, but they're kinda cumbersome and get in the way for things like driving. If I were to do this again, I'd make the feathers about half as long as they are here. The entire wing is bound in a seam running along the underside of the arm, serged into place, and then there's a line of bias tape over the top of the serging, because it turns out that raw batting is really, really itchy.
Closeup of one of the conchos. I had an internal debate about how I'd do these, of if I'd include them at all. My choices were 1)bare silver button with fake fur as a feather "poof", 2)nickel conchos, like would be used for leatherwork (and what I used on my plush moonkins), 3)something using fleece. I went with the fleece option. I covered a large plastic button in a piece of fleece, used a purse stitch/running stitch around the back to draw it around the button tightly, then used the holes of the button as my guides for getting the two black "binding" lines on the face of the concho. I used embroidery floss to make it stand out better, and used it to sew the fleece "feather" to the back of the button. I made sure to cut the feathers so they stretch across, not down the length, so if they're tugged they won't stretch out. Fleece is a knit, so it doesn't unravel, which means these feathers will keep their shape just fine. The whole thing is then sewn just to the mantle, not to the hoodie itself, so they kinda flop and move with the slightest movement. There are two conchos on front, one on each shoulder, then three on the back, for a total of 7.
Lining detail. The original pattern didn't call for a lined hood, but I wanted to hide all of the stitching for the face/ears/horns, and I thought it would be SUPER CUTE if I lined it with something that screamed moonkin. So, it's [Starfall] FOREVER in my hoodie! It's stars, moons, and comets. I really lucked out, we found this fleece in the form of a $5 gas station "blanket" (single layer of fabric, 1.5yd, shabbily bound with a blanket stitch along the border). I tried to find something that was green with maple leaves or something for more of a Tauren feeling, but I'm really happy with this one, even if it would be more appropriate on a Night Elf.
Cell phone picture in the bathroom mirror. Hello, internet. :3
Night Elf kitten rides FOR THE HORDE
He made a friend!
Night Elf kitten made SO MANY FRIENDS when he moved in to Blizz HQ.
Pals! I don't have either of the small versions of the gryphon/windrider cub, so it's adorable to see my little guy making friends with the huge versions!
Night Elf kitten at his new home, on the desk of an unnamed Blue down at Blizzard HQ in California.
Crossposted to wow_fanart
So it's been a busy few weeks. I've got a new job (working at a fabric store, OH NO), and my own home business has been super super busy with holiday orders (I make caffeine soap). But! Sewing has happened. Greatfather Winter visited early this year, gifting me with a gorgeous Pfaff sewing machine with computer guided stitches and a walking foot. Upgrading from my 1960's Kenmore, it's like going from driving a Datsun hatchback missing 2nd gear to suddenly having a tricked out Ferarri. I can't stress how amazing this machine is, although now my BF's family is trying to get me to start quilting. I don't need any more projects ;_:
On top of that, Cataclysm dropped, so leveling has been trudging along, I'm about a quarter of the way into 82-83, but haven't logged in days. We went to the midnight release to get our CEs, and even though the Best Buy we went to wasn't having any kind of event, I still dressed up. I'm glad I picked the costume that I did - it was warm!
Oh, and the reason I still can't sell these little plush guys? My plush work is going to be featured in the official World of Warcraft Magazine! Issue #4, should be out sometime early next year. My original moonkin plush (in my icon), and two of my kittens from my last post (black Tauren and purple NE) are down in California right now with their art department, getting their glamor shots for the magazine spot. I'm super excited! But part of the agreement is that I won't make money off of the plush, since they're essentially going to give me the greatest advertising, and it'd be profit off of their copyrights. So I'll just keep doing trades with other fan artists, it's really satisfying anyways. :)
In the cut are pictures of the two new NE kittens for ormolu and zelda_dragon, along with my Cata costume/new hoodie, a moonkin hoodie that I am totally in love with now. And my original NE kitten went to live with a buddy of mine, a girl who's an unnamed Blue poster down at Blizzard HQ in California.
Pair o' custom kittens for trade! The white one's for ormolu, and the turquoise one is for zelda_dragon. These are exactly the same pattern, same size, it just goes to show the difference that fur thickness has on the finished product. The white one's fur is 3/8" thick, and the turquoise one is closer to 5/8". Poofy!
Blue kitten for zelda_dragon! I LOVE how round it's face came out. She kinda gave me free reign on color choices besides the turquoise for the mane, and eye/nose choices, I hope it's acceptable. I thought the dark blue for markings was a good match.
Blurry blue kitten from the side, for zelda_dragon. Again, the thickness of the fur really makes a difference. You can see how "thicker" the crescent marking is, and how poofy it's tail came out compared to the other one. Extremely cuddly!
White and purple druid kitten for ormolu. The fur on this one is 3/8" thick, and is a very shiny "seal" type fur. The purple used on the markings is a cuddle fur, same thickness, so the markings look a little "thinner" than the ones on the blue kitten. I am crazy in love with the super 3" long fur used on this one's mane and eyebrows. It's SO swishy!
White and purple druid kitten for ormolu, side view. Big difference shown with the shoulder markings, but again, it was the exact same size pattern pieces as used on the blue one.
Closeup of white kitten for ormolu. I tried to show off the longer chin fluff on this one, but it just didn't photograph very well. It goes from under the teeth all the way along the jawline, up to meet the ears.
And I kinda made something for myself, too. Moonkin hoodie! The pattern is a McCall's M6212, modified to have "wing" additions (quilted with a layer of 1/2" batting between two layers of fleece), and added a "mantle" of brown fleece on the shoulders, a tail, hood decorations, belly marking, and the little conchos on the mantle. This hoodie cost me about $30 to make, such a steal!
Moonkin faaaaace hood design. The design is all applique'd on using a satin stitch from my BRAND NEW Pfaff sewing machine that was an early Greatfather Winter present. The beak is 3D, with a layer of 1/2" batting between two layers of fleece, and handstitched onto the hood. There are little cow ears, and full sized stuffed moonkin horns that sit exactly where they're supposed to on my head when the hood's pulled up.
Back of hoodie, showing off the little tail and all of the back/shoulder conchos. And the horns are kinda flopped over, hidden in the mass of dark brown that is the head/mantle area. The tail is quilted with batting sandwiched between fleece, so it's extra poofy.
Wing detail. I ran a straight stitch along the length of each "feather" to add more definition to the wings. They came out really cute, but they're kinda cumbersome and get in the way for things like driving. If I were to do this again, I'd make the feathers about half as long as they are here. The entire wing is bound in a seam running along the underside of the arm, serged into place, and then there's a line of bias tape over the top of the serging, because it turns out that raw batting is really, really itchy.
Closeup of one of the conchos. I had an internal debate about how I'd do these, of if I'd include them at all. My choices were 1)bare silver button with fake fur as a feather "poof", 2)nickel conchos, like would be used for leatherwork (and what I used on my plush moonkins), 3)something using fleece. I went with the fleece option. I covered a large plastic button in a piece of fleece, used a purse stitch/running stitch around the back to draw it around the button tightly, then used the holes of the button as my guides for getting the two black "binding" lines on the face of the concho. I used embroidery floss to make it stand out better, and used it to sew the fleece "feather" to the back of the button. I made sure to cut the feathers so they stretch across, not down the length, so if they're tugged they won't stretch out. Fleece is a knit, so it doesn't unravel, which means these feathers will keep their shape just fine. The whole thing is then sewn just to the mantle, not to the hoodie itself, so they kinda flop and move with the slightest movement. There are two conchos on front, one on each shoulder, then three on the back, for a total of 7.
Lining detail. The original pattern didn't call for a lined hood, but I wanted to hide all of the stitching for the face/ears/horns, and I thought it would be SUPER CUTE if I lined it with something that screamed moonkin. So, it's [Starfall] FOREVER in my hoodie! It's stars, moons, and comets. I really lucked out, we found this fleece in the form of a $5 gas station "blanket" (single layer of fabric, 1.5yd, shabbily bound with a blanket stitch along the border). I tried to find something that was green with maple leaves or something for more of a Tauren feeling, but I'm really happy with this one, even if it would be more appropriate on a Night Elf.
Cell phone picture in the bathroom mirror. Hello, internet. :3
Night Elf kitten rides FOR THE HORDE
He made a friend!
Night Elf kitten made SO MANY FRIENDS when he moved in to Blizz HQ.
Pals! I don't have either of the small versions of the gryphon/windrider cub, so it's adorable to see my little guy making friends with the huge versions!
Night Elf kitten at his new home, on the desk of an unnamed Blue down at Blizzard HQ in California.
Crossposted to wow_fanart