I love the detail work on the drippy blood on these sinister plush toys. They look to be mostly crocheted. I can't find out who made them, does anybody know? Via Geekologie.
UPDATE: the artist is Patricia Waller, and she has plenty of other lovely work, too.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Dec 27, 2008 12:00 PM
Amigurumi and Toys, Arts |
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This is art. It isn't being advertized as a great gift idea for the upcomming christ-holiday, that has little to do with christ, for little kids. And frankly, the idea that giving a child one of these will turn them into thugs or ax murderers implies that somehow that little toy has more influence over their lives than the child's parents. If this is true, I feel sorry for the child because that means their parents have NO role in their lives.
Here's an idea that will challenge most conservative parents out there, rather than attempting to shelter and protect your children from EVERYTHING in the world that you feel they are waaay to delicate and frail to understand or deal with, try to actually prepare them for the world that they live in. If you don't, they'll go to someone else. Children aren't frail, they aren't weak, the are adaptable, strong and capable of brilliant jumps in cognitive and emotive processes that we as adults can't manage.
Before deciding that you are going to control your child and make them into what you want them to be, remember that your child is a blank slate, and imprinting yourself upon them doesn't make a new person. It just makes an exaggerated copy of yourself. Sure, your own ideals are there but your own flaws are there multiplied a hundredfold too. As a parent our job is to guide, not command, shape not fix in place, answer questions not deny independant thought and individual thinking.
The world wasn't kept from us a children and our lives weren't controlled and we turned out pretty darn well. Don't deny that opportunity to the next generation. Otherwise you'll find 1984 faster than anyone would like.
Long story short, like them or not, want them or not, envy the skill of the artist or not, none of us can controll each others' feelings or asthetics. If you don't like it, that is your choice. But if others like it, that is NOT under your control.
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Unicorn piercing a teddy bear. Awesome.
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@Lilorfnannie
The only time I would find an alligator eating a baby humorous is when and alligator is not ACTUALLY EATING A BABY.
Dunce.
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Oy yoy yoy. I can't believe I even have to chime in here. Patricia Waller is an artist with a big time career who shows in galleries. Do you people automatically assume that everything you read on CRAFT's website is a pattern for you to purchase at Hobby Lobby?
The thing I love the most about Patricia Waller's work is that it addresses how the animals that are usually rendered cuddly and cute as stuffed animals have real counterparts in nature that aren't quite as cuddly. Patricia Waller makes her viewers think about crappy stuffed toys AND nature...that's what art does!
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I love the expression on his face! NOM!
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For the "offended" ones, what exactly did you think would qualify as "Bloody Plush Toys"? These are obviously not made for little kids, and they're not as gory as some "toys" marketed to older teens and adults. Compared to some of the McFarlane/Spawn toys, these are much less "offensive", even on the verge of being cute. The shaping is awesome, as is the detail. If you're offended, you're not the target audience. But if you have a 20ish boyfriend, he'll think they're perfect, and it's a good way to introduce him to plush toys that are usually too cutesy for guys.
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This is my first visit to this site. I can't believe all the drama already!
I love these animals! Yep, they're funny. My first thought was, "Where can I get one?".
Actually, most of the stuff I've seen so far is not my style, but I'll keep looking, and I'll come back again.
Love the bloody animals!
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I'm just curious- how could an alligator eating a baby possibly be humorous? Can you give me a phrase in which this is a "humorous context"?
I recognize it in my head but I always have a hard time truly understanding that some people are really like that.
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Yeah, these things are disgusting, and in tremendously bad taste. They would only be appropriate for children's toys if you are deliberately trying to raise an ax murderer or a thug. I agree completely that there are worse things on "children's" cartoons nowadays- this is why we have two kids and don't have a tv at all in our home. It's disgusting, and it's wrong. (oooh- I bet I'll be banned because I said the "w" word- I made an actual "judgement" about something!)
However I disagree that it isn't par for the course for the Craftzine- with all the garbage crafts like pringles-wrappers-as-hair-bows, embroidered skulls and body innards crafts and all the other edgy, semi-violent stuff I've seen here, I think it is.
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I am deeply upset by how so many of the people leaving comments are behaving. X-rated? Are you kidding? Have any of you turned a television on in the last 10 years? There are children's shows on Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network that are more violent or otherwise mature than this that play on national television. If you think the toys aren't in good taste, then you're entitled to that opinion, but my god why are you wasting your time threatening to cancel membership to the magazine and blog that featured them all because of some fake YARN blood? The only even SLIGHTLY iffy subject here is the dead baby, and even that is incredibly toned-down and in a purely humorous context.
I propose we all start acting our age and appreciating this site's features for their artistic merit and creativity rather than throwing tantrums about how 'violent' the fake blood on a plush toy is. Just move on if you don't like it, it's not reason to renounce your readership.
Honestly, I'd hate to see you people on Halloween.
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They are very provoking and cheers to anyone who can think outside of the box enough to get a passionate response to their crafts. that said...i still don't like 'em
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Dude, that's some commitment to a focus =D Am I disturbed a bit by some of 'em? yeah, I bet that's the POINT. Not all art is about making you comfortable. And sometimes it's just about the personal pleasure of being a perverse git.
Remember - just like you're allowed to not like them, we're allowed to love 'em. Piss off with your "inappropriate for CRAFT: readership" hoo-ah. I don't much care to see religious iconography over and over in craft journals either, but it exists and I deal. You can too. ROCK ON CRAFT: for servicing more than one demographic!
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I really, really don't like them.
I tried to look past the blood and guts.
Someone named Sarah in a post above said "So what? Get a life. Watch John Waters' "Pink Flamingos" and then come back, take a second look at how well the toys are made. Look at the details."
So I took a second look so see how well made they are.
And I still don't like them. I don't think they're all that well made.
If people don't like something they're allowed to not like it. Just because they don't like something doesn't mean they need to "get a life". We already all have lives, so thats a little silly anyway.
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and really distasteful. This runs outside of what your readership comes to this blog to see.
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Dead Kitty = Sad; Alligator + Dead Baby = Horrific. I think the bunny/carrot and unicorn/bear are funny though. Well made? Yes. Good Taste? Meh...
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I find these crafts to be hilarious. I suppose I am a "sicko" adult who values their originality. I will tip my hat to any artist who can put a creative spin on crochet. As far as the x-rated content is concerned, I feel that anyone believing this to be x-rated has not done a google image search for even the most g-rated words. Try it out, then come out of the box and play with the other artists.
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It's beyond absurd to say these are not crafty for sake of their content. If you don't like a craft, scroll on by. I've done the same for lacy things that don't strike my fancy, the same can be said for you and this post.
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I find these totally digusting. Like the others, I frequent here for out of the box ideas and inspiration, not trashy horrid X rated crap that any idiot can do. Please, sensor your site or you will be loosing everyone but the freaks that find this ART.
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I absolutely love Patricia Waller. Her work is beautiful and the shaping of her work is unbelievable. I aspire to be like her. Poo poo on those who left the site simply because of these images without finding more and see the true beauty through the yarny blood.
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I think these creations are hilarious! Not everything is cute or nice or pretty or made for martha-stewart types. Martha, if you like them too, my apologies, but you know what I mean. So, they're a little on the gross-out side. So what? Get a life. Watch John Waters' "Pink Flamingos" and then come back, take a second look at how well the toys are made. Look at the details. Think how creative and dedicated the artist must be (while getting that chicken scene out of your head from the Waters' movie). You can at least appreciate that. If not, maybe you should go work on some one-color granny squares.
The only reprehensible thing I'd have to comment on is the fact that Craft already published on this artist, as a previous commenter pointed out. But that redundancy just goes to show you that this artist will turn your head time and again with her originality.
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This artist was actually featured in Craft Magazine, Volume 5, pages 16-17.
I don't think that the artist is making any of these to be sold at Toys R' Us. Not everything in life is made for children.
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This is a reflection of our society! This is not art. How sad for us. How sad for this site. I will not be back again.
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This is really disgusting and in poor taste.
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This is a sad day! This is not crafty. This is sadistic!
Who would make such a horrible presentation? In the near future let us not give each other such ideas especially during the holidays!
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I am so sorry that I came across the "bloody push toys" while looking for the comment about resurrection fern's snail covers.
Bloody sorry indeed, what a disgusting sight! Hope none of them are given to children - for what audience are they made? sicko "adults" ???
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I don't care how uncool this makes me sound:
I find these disgusting.
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The artist is Patricia Waller. Someone once sent me a postcard with a picture of the bunny. So awesome!
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i think i may be speechless. they rock.
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