Doesn’t that sound like a mysterious family from a Gothic novel? That’s actually the name for the family of plants that the potato comes from.

And who doesn’t love the potato?

Last week, at the Pitchfork show, I had the pleasure of meeting the Potato Guy, aka Eric. (To be fair, I told him I wouldn’t call him the Potato Guy, if he didn’t call me the Maggot Girl. Sorry!)

He said he could never find any potato plush, so I thought. . . why not?

Here’s my first go at it.

A good old fashioned Russet Potato – on the smallish side.

I tried to make it as knobbly, dimply, and asymmetrical as possible.

I just love the way the photos came out!

A Starchy Haiku:

I’ve been watching you.

And with my myriad eyes,

I see everything.

How fun! There will be more potatoes on the way someday – I am thinking about trying some different methods – particularly the utilization of the French knot. I was also thinking of trying some different fabrics for a more potato-y effect. Perhaps some old wool sweaters? Let me know if you have any good ideas!

Behold – the majestic and deadly volcano!

I have known I wanted to plush a volcano for quite some time. It involved a lot of sewing, but I am overjoyed at how it came out!

I picked Krakatoa because all sources cited it as the deadliest in history. Also, it’s a great word to say.

It also seems like a place where Herman Melville would have gone on one of his many ocean voyages.

See the lava bubbling over the edge?

A perilous island haiku:

My lava spews forth

In red rivers that rival

The Mississippi.

There’s a story behind this guy.

The Deputy.

I made a version of this months ago, on a whim, and decided that I hated it! I thought it looked silly. (Admittedly, it was much less cool than the new version you see here.) I don’t have any pictures of it. I did, however, take it to the Pitchfork show, and sure enough, it sold on the first day! So there was a mad dash to make another one – and as you can see it came out pretty hilariously.

Moustaches are back! (Unfortunately.)

This fella walked off today with proud new owners, and will no doubt bring mirth to the masses for years to come.

A Moustachioed Haiku:

Friedrich Nietzsche rocked

A moustache inferior

To my handlebars.

Ha! Friday setup is complete. Here is a look at the PterodactylPants section of Chicago’s Pitchfork Music Festival Depart-Ment craft show and sale. (That’s a mouthful!)

Items range from $10 to $50, and I honestly have NO IDEA if anything will sell! I am boggled, though, at the prospect of over 10,000 people coming through this show and looking at my plush. Even if no one buys, that’s a lot of exposure!

Here’s a closer look:

Oh so proud of ourselves!

Yay! Cross your fingers for me this weekend.