Well, this month we’re embracing our idiosyncrasies with a little competition to settle once and for all who’s the flakiest of them all! Participating businesses are competing for bragging rights as to who’s got the best winter window display. What’s in it for you? How about the chance to win one of three killer prize baskets (valued at about $300 a piece!) full of goodies and gift cards from local merchants? Not too shabby! And for extra karma points, don’t forget to drop off your non-perishable donation for the foodbank at any participating business (businesses with ballot boxes are also authorized to take monetary donations for the food bank). Actually, never mind the karma points –bring a little something for the food bank to Plush when you come cast your ballot, and we’ll give you 5% off your purchases! Hey, win-win-win all around!

You can pick up your ballot at any participating store, and cast your vote at one of the designated voting stations (psssst… we’re one of them). Flake Out runs from December 3rd to 18th, with the prize draws being held at On The Fringe Hair Designs at 4:00 p.m. on the 18th.

This year, we’re marking our favorite time of year with a little contest.  We’ve stuffed as many Hallowe’en treats as we can manage into one of our “Got-it!” re-useable bags (made right here in East Van!), and now we’re leaving the rest to you!  Drop by the shop (4296 Main Street) on or before 4:00 p.m. on October 29th, and take a guess at just how much one of these amazing little bags can hold.

The entry with the best guess wins a bagful of locally made goodies valued at over one hundred dollars!  The prize includes the following handmade treats:  One 4″ “Grim Bunny” pouch from Kukubee, a Sugar and Spice soy candle, five Hallowe’en magnets, a pair of Melissa Abram ponytail holders with creepy skulls, two Hallowe’en cards by local paper artist Lockette, a needle felted pumpkin from Blushing Lotus, one light switch plate with sugar skulls, one Figo kit, and, of course, your very own set of Got-it! bags.

Good luck!

HALLOWE’EN CONTEST UPDATE

Congratulations to local 10 year-old genius Yasmine, who used some impressive math skills to win the contest!  There were 271 goodies in the “Got it!” bag, making Yasmine’s guess of 278 the closest.

Ok, so maybe it’s not the kind of thing people form support groups over.  Whether or not we need a twelve-step program for perfectionists is a discussion for another day, but last year when the Plushettes were caught ripping out seams that were a sixteenth of an inch away from what they had been aiming for, it was obviously time for an intervention.

Enter Kim Werker, crafter, author, and blogger extraordinaire.  Kim is the mad genius behind the Mighty Ugly project, which will turn everything you thought you knew about creativity and crafting on its head (actually, by the time she’s done with it, it may not have a head anymore!).

Here’s the challenge: create the most hideous and revolting little creature that you can.  Not cute-ugly!  Really ugly.  The more grotesque the better.  It’s nowhere near as easy as it sounds, and you may learn some things about yourself along the way.  For those of us used to striving for symmetry and loveliness in everything we create, it is incredibly intimidating to set out to make something deliberately repugnant.  For those of us who aren’t usually artistic or crafty and are intimidated by the very idea of sitting down to create something, Mighty Ugly is a liberating experience, as all the pressure of trying to construct something pretty is gone.  It’s sort of like kindergarten, but for grown-ups –there is no wrong way to make a Mighty Ugly creature.  Unless it’s too cute.

This fall, the Mighty Ugly project returns to Plush on Saturday, October 8th, from 1:30 to 3:30.  Cost is $35, and includes all supplies, tools, and pointers.  Absolutely no craft experience is necessary to take this workshop!  None!  Even if you’ve never picked up a glue gun or a needle, you can do this.  Register by phone (604 708 5199) or in person at Plush (4296 Main Street), or online at MightyUgly.com (right now Kim is offering an online special: register 2 or more people for $30/person).

BOTTLE CAP NECKLACE KIT

If you missed out on making one of these with us at Maker Faire or Car Free Day, or if you want to make a few more, here’s your chance!  Each kit contains enough materials for three complete necklaces, with 12 different images to choose from.  These are without a doubt the easiest arts and crafts activity you’ve ever come across –if you can wield a pair of scissors well enough to cut out a circle, you’ll be successful!

FIGO KITS

The brainchild of local artist Claudia Segovia, Figo “wishing dolls” are visiting us from a world of dreams and possibilities with the express purpose of helping to make our wishes become reality.  Each Figo has a special pocket just for this purpose –you simply write your wish down on a piece of paper, slide it into your Figo’s pocket, and then hug your Figo close to your heart until your wish comes true!  The Figo DIY kits are packed with an assortment of fabric embellishment and trims for you to choose from when designing your doll.

NEEDLE FELTED HEART KIT

A favourite at Plush no matter what the season!  Each kit is stuffed with everything you need (including comprehensive instructions!) to make six needle-felted hearts.  Or make just one heart and use the rest of the materials and a little creativity to make anything else that you want!  Needle-felting is a perfect craft for traveling — the materials weigh next to nothing, and you can sit down and do it just about anywhere with very little fuss.

We’re the first to admit it: we’re die hard makers here.  We don’t let little things like road trips or camping adventures interfere with our crafting, and why should we?  With enough practice, maybe by next summer we’ll be ready to knit a sweater while we’re white-water rafting.  Or not.  Time will tell!

If you’re working at home instead of at our Steampunk Drop-in, an appropriate companion would be Jared Axelrod’s excellent podcast, Fables of the Flying City. Photo by Kyle Cassidy.

Let’s face it, it’s way easier for most of us to look fantastic in a corset than in a bikini. But the real reason to stop by Plush for our upcoming Steampunk Craft Drop-In?  Okay, well, aside from the fact that it’s free.  Yes, the accessories!  Who knew that the quintessential steampunk accoutrements fit so perfectly with the season?  Here are some helpful tutorials, in case you’re looking for inspiration:

1) GOGGLES No, not for swimming, although you’re welcome to try.  Steampunk goggles are useful year round, but nothing beats them in the summer for keeping the sun, sand, and bugs out of your eyes while you’re out boating, cycling, or tooling around in your airship.  Here’s a fantastic visual tutorial to help you get started.

2) PARASOLS We’ve been noticing more and more umbrellas doing double duty as parasols in recent years.  While we absolutely appreciate the practicality of this, we can’t help wishing for something a little more whimsical.  Here’s how Tracy tricked out a thrift shop umbrella.

3) FANS Really?  Something that can help you stay cool, and add to your mystique?  Sounds like the ultimate summer accessory to us!  You can pick up cheap folding fans in Chinatown or at Dressew and turn them into something both practical and spectacular with just a few additions.  At least, we’re pretty sure you can.  We couldn’t find a single tutorial or image on line to help you out, which we’re taking as a personal challenge.  If the Plushettes have time to work on a project of their own at the Drop-In, this will be it.

We were blown away by the creativity and skill exhibited at the Steampunk Drop-in that V-Steam hosted here last year, and we’re super-excited to see what happens this year under Tracy Ernst’s direction!  The fun starts at 11 a.m and goes until 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 16th.  Admittance is free, and there is no need to pre-register.

Please note that Plush is a fully functional professional workroom full of sharp things and pointy bits, and so we ask that small children and pets (small or large) be left at home, and that you eat all your food and drink all your drinks before you come.

We hardly had a second to catch our breaths all weekend, as we crafted our way through more than 700 bottle cap necklaces and magnets with attendees.  700!  That works out to more than one every minute, which absolutely blows our minds.

A million thanks go out to our amazing volunteers, without whom we never could have pulled it off!  Also a shout-out to the organizers and volunteers at Maker Faire, who did a brilliant job of bringing this event to Vancouver.  We’re looking forward to Maker Faire 2012!

To sign up for any of our workshops, or to get more information, give us a shout at 604–708-5199, or drop by the shop (4296 Main Street) and talk to us in person.

Plush is looking for volunteers to help us make bottle cap pendants and magnets with attendees (no crafting experience is required. Seriously, none.). Helping us out for a couple of hours will get you admission to Maker Faire for both days — win-win all-around! Please email us if you’re interested in helping out.