You don't have to be a plushie to get free shipping (what you do in your private life is your own business). You just have to pick a plushie dog, cat, fish, or pig from Pattie Haskins's etsy store and enter coupon code "dogart." Patti is a self-taught artist from Dallas who crochets these soft sculpture animals without using patterns. I think that gives them each an individual character, just like every animal you ever met. My favorite is the apple green and brown striped Dachshund. His Doxie expression is just perfect.
Lately, I've been reading a lot about the fibershed movement, people attempting to clothe themselves using textiles sourced within 150 miles of their homes. It would be interesting to combine the stuffed animal market with the fibershed folks and bring back the locally-sourced toy. Just try finding a sock mokey that isn't made in China. Until then, visit Patti's etsy store, website or blog for homegrown American plushies.
Patti also offers custom crocheted critters. You send her photos like this...
And she makes this...
Darling...omg...am I a plushie?!
