#purringfayewips

[purringfayestudio]

Birth of a Fox Plush!

Watch one of my plush grow from uncut fabric to final photos.

Video description: stop-motion animation of a fox plush being made. Faux fur pieces in black, silver and bright ginger orange get cut, move into a fox shape, attach bit by bit, get turned inside-out for final sewing, turn right-side out and get stuffed, eyes, shaved ears, painted, closed up, and then set up in front of a white board, finished. Music: Lifestream. Musician: Dream Machine. URL: https://icons8.com/music/

101 pieces from 19 different fabrics (17 faux furs and 2 vinyl) went until this fox. It took me twenty-some hours to complete over a month's time, possibly longer to account for all the camera angle fiddling.

This was my first stop-motion video so I definitely learned some things! This is my usual order of assembly for plush, though not every step was captured, in part because I wasn't sure how to do so or it would have been awkward. For example you can see I redid the neck, but didn't show the replacement of the piece between the shoulders. But I hope to try this again and get even more of the process!

[purringfayestudio]

I'm working on designing one of my favorite animals, the coyote, so get ready for lots of coyote spam

Coyote in Colorado from Wikimedia Commons.

[purringfayestudio]

I'm making a fox to accompany me to a renaissance faire, and thought you might like to see what a difference airbrushing makes.

I use craft paints mixed with Golden airbrush medium. Except for a few thick areas (ears), airbrushing doesn't leave a coarse feeling. Only when I use a paintbrush does it get a little rough (think shepherd dog hair rough), but never crunchy.

Since this girl will also be at a faire and presumably petted by sweaty fair hands (no judgement, just fact, mine will be too!), she'll also be my washing demo plush. I've been asked if my paints are durable, and while I've heard this combo is, we'll find out!

[purringfayestudio]

Trying to be productive at work today but all I can think about are these fox toes I'm trying to design.

Smol.

Red fox toe beans are ridiculously small compared to most canines, so small they're not usually visible on winter coat foxes. Because of that, I don't usually bother putting them on my fox plush. Sewing tiny things adds considerable time and effort, and isn't worth bumping up the price for something hardly anyone will even see.

But.

I'm making a summer coat fox next. The beans are a lot easier to see when the toe fur isn't quite so floof, and I'm as much a sucker for beans as anyone else on the internet, so. Here we go.

I designed the original pattern with this possibility in mind, so it's mostly a matter of drawing into the existing pattern and adding some strategic darts. But placement--and where and how big to make those darts is where the "trying" comes in. I'm on my second draft (the picture above) and I feel pretty good about this one.

I thought about sewing claws out of fabric for about 5 seconds and decided I didn't hate myself that much (my wolves have sewn claws and they're the worst ever to sew, turn, and stuff). I'm using foam, at least until I figure out a more durable but still plushie-gentle material. I've done clay claws twice and they're both difficult to install and also not very cuddle-proof (unless you enjoy the authenticity of being clawed by the animal you're holding), though I do have some cosclay I could try which is softer. Felt lasts about 5 minutes before looking like my hair after it rains, and folded faux leather turns to string cheese. But the foam claws on my coyote have held up well for the last 3 years so I'm giving it another go with an even thicker foam. But if anyone has any suggestions please do let me know!

[purringfayestudio]

I'm working on a challenging fennec for a friend and needed something to motivate myself, so I started planning another personal fox.

Threw some colors I liked together and realized I accidentally made a Dakota Ringneck color scheme (my current favorite fox morph, go figure), so I'm going with it.

I need to test my latest pattern edits on the vixen size anyways. Then I'm going to weight her heavy as heck because weighted plush are the best.

Anyway. More to come.

[purringfayestudio]

I'm making a fox to accompany me to a renaissance faire, and thought you might like to see what a difference airbrushing makes.

I use craft paints mixed with Golden airbrush medium. Except for a few thick areas (ears), airbrushing doesn't leave a coarse feeling. Only when I use a paintbrush does it get a little rough (think shepherd dog hair rough), but never crunchy.

Since this girl will also be at a faire and presumably petted by sweaty fair hands (no judgement, just fact, mine will be too!), she'll also be my washing demo plush. I've been asked if my paints are durable, and while I've heard this combo is, we'll find out!