Soft Sculpture/ Toy Design

Soft sculpture and plushies, all patterned, designed, and sewn by me.

As a kid, I always gravitated towards toys that were a little odd looking or injured in some way. My favorite was a dolly named Teeny Tiny Tears who had a broken eyeball that wouldn’t close. One wonky eye, always alert and watching over me, lovingly. As an adult, I still love toys that are a little broken, that show the flaws of being an alive creature on this earth. The anxiety, the ambivalence, and the vulnerability that comes with it.

Here are some behind-the-scenes photos of my process. I sketch first, then embroider, sew, and use assemblage to curate the expressions of each softie. I use a laser cutter to create my own shapes for eyes and mouths out of acrylic, and also sometimes use vintage plastic eyes.

Here are some process shots of the sculptures I’ve made.