TopPlush

Whew boy, it's been far too long since I've posted anything on here. I just realized I haven't done anything active on here since before Bronycon this last year.
So consider this my "I'm not dead" post.

A lot has happened this past...almost half a year? Wow. Yeah. Anyway, Bronycon was great. I sold through every single plush I brought to the con, met lots of great folks, recouped for like a week after. For those of you who commissioned me there, I am still working on your commissions. I've got about 2 more from the con I need to get through, and 1 from after. I'll also be posting photos of the ones I made for the con here shortly, as well as random art I've made in the meantime/way before and I forgot to post it.

I suppose I should also explain the absence here. About the start of November, I got an offer for a new job. It's quite fantastic, offering me much more pay than my last position, plus fancy things like benefits and vacation. These are new concepts to me. But with the added pay comes commiserate work. So my free time to plush and make art has been reduced a good chunk as I adjust to this new schedule and way of life. I'm starting to balance it all out now, and I'm hoping to pump through these last few plushes here shortly. Also I got a new embroidery machine, and I'm very excited to start using it once my extra hoops come in the mail.

Few notes about the future as well. This last Bronycon was very very likely the last con I'll ever sell at. I'd more or less sworn them off back in 2016, due to how burnt out I'd made myself. But I couldn't pass up the opportunity to vend at this last one, even if it meant killing my social life/health for a bit. Now that it's over, I don't have any reason to make a mad push for plushes. With the show being over, there's also a lack of new material to plush from, which diminishes my interest. I may still show up to some conventions like Trotcon, but I won't be selling there. At least not under the Top Plush name anyway.

Now, this doesn't mean I'm done plushing. Definitely not. I'm just reducing what projects I'll be taking on. I won't have much free time in the foreseeable future to devote to churning out plushes. By reducing the amount of commissions I take, it not only gives you all a better product, but with any luck better turn around times too since I won't have to juggle through multiple ones. My general rule of thumb for commissions I'll take on right now is, if it's a project I find really interesting, or a character I'd love to make, I'm definitely on board for it. Don't hesitate to message me ever with an idea you have. I'll be upfront with you if I'm willing to take it on. 

That about sums it up for now. Expect to see some art posted in the next couple days. Possibly in one giant dump. We'll see how it goes.

Cheers,
Brian

Hey everyone!

Presales for Bronycon this year are currently open. Below is the stock list of everything I'm bringing. I'm sure certain ones (Pip and the Kirins) will go first day, so jump on them now if you'd like them at all. Remember, this not only secures your plush, but also helps avoid Maryland sales tax at the convention.

Stock List:

Autumn Blaze x2  [Sold Out!]
Littlepip x2
Blackjack x2
Velvet Remedy x2
Anon Filly x3
Derpy x2
Flitter x1
Cloudchaser x1
Scootaloo x1
Limestone x1
Rarity x2
Maud x1
Chrysalis (Chibi) x18

Lifesized Plushes by Joltage

Octavia x1
Fluttershy x1
Lyra x1

If you're interesting in pre-purchasing one of the plushes and picking it up at the con, please send me a note or an email (topplushshop@gmail.com) with the following:

- What plush(ies) you're interested in
- An email for a Paypal invoice
- The badge name of the pick-up person


Plushies will be first come, first serve. I will let you know what each plushie you ask about costs, and as soon as you let me know which ones you definitely want, I'll send an invoice. If someone else inquires about the same plush, you have 24 hours to pay the invoice before I cancel/adjust it and let the next person have a chance and buying the plush. Absolute last date for paying any invoices is July 27th.

Thanks again everyone, and I'm looking forward to seeing you all there!

Just realized I've almost completely neglected all the usual social media for a while. Well either way, hey!

First off wanted to let everyone know I'll be vending at Bronycon this upcoming August. It's just a few short weeks away, and I am cramming in as many plushes as I can. I plan to have a slew of different characters there, as well as some very interesting Fallout Equestria pieces (did someone say Enervation rings?). Right now the current line up is:

Autumn Blaze (Picture pending)
Littlepip
Blackjack
Velvet Remedy
Anon Filly
Derpy
Chrysalis (Chibi)

There are multiples of each, but they're sure to go fast. Stop by as quick as you can to snag them before someone else. These are also the last Littlepips I will ever make. Frankly, I got way too burned out making 20 of them over the past year. So these are the last two you'll ever see from me.

I'm also teaming up with some amazing artists who will be featured at my booth this year. The amazing plush maker  Joltage will be selling a select few lifesize plushes at my booth. Currently, he's planning on bringing Octavia, Fluttershy, and Lyra.

         

I'll also be featuring the work of Sassafras in Thyme. They worked with me at a Crystal Fair waaaaay back in 2014. They couldn't quite make it to Baltimore this year, so I'll be featuring some of their amazing boxes at my booth as well.

 


It wouldn't be a Bronycon post without some preorder announcements. This upcoming Monday, the 22nd, all the plushes from both Joltage and me will be available to preorder. This not only helps to make sure you get the plush you want at the con instead of standing in line for 3 hours on Thursday morning, but also helps you avoid the sales tax we'll have to put on the plushes at the convention proper. I'll make another post when it's open, but if you have any questions in the meantime, shoot me an email at topplushshop@gmail.com.


I'm incredibly excited/stressed for this last hurrah. I'll see you all at booth 314 soon!

Cheers!

I've recently come into a bit of bad luck with my car, and I'm going to need to get the entire brake system swapped out ASAP before I can drive. This is a financial hit I wasn't quite expecting, so I'm going to be opening up for some limited emergency commissions here. Here's how it's going to break down:

I've got several pre-made plushes right now, including Limestone, Maud, Rarity, Flitter, Cloudchaser, and Scootaloo, all below $299. If you're interested in any of those, I can give you a price and get them out almost immediately.

I have everything set to make a couple Autumn Blaze plushes, hopefully as stock for Bronycon. If you would like to claim one of those, she'll be going for $375.

Other than those preset ones, I'll be going by my Standard Commission Rates. I will only be doing the large ponies for right now, just because a few of those will help me reach my price point much faster than dozens of small ones. I will give a strong preference to simple designs and plushes I've made before, simply to help on the time for everyone. But I am open to other more complex ideas as well as new ponies/OCs. Just know they will probably take a little longer.

Either way, send me a note on here or an email at topplushshop@gmail.com and we can start discussing your plush immediately. 

I'll update this journal once everything is filled up. Until then, I'd appreciate you all sharing this around, getting the word out. Thanks a ton and I look forward to making your plush!

Thanks to everyone who commissioned me or bought a plush I had in stock. I really appreciate all your help and look forward to making your commissions!

Now that I'm finally recovered from the weekend, suppose I should write up a little thing here.

First off, it was great seeing everyone once again this year. All my usual plush making friends, both in the vendor hall and outside of it. Folks who've followed my work these past couple years. And of course those random friends you only ever see at the con. For all of you, you made the weekend worth it, so thank you all!

The Fallout Equestria Audiobook panel went fantastic. It was great meeting Jesse Nowack and answering all the questions from our backers. Most of which were "How do I get a Littlepip plush" haha. Hopefully if I have some more time soon, I'll be getting some extras together for this next year.

Which brings me to this next point. 2019 will be the last Bronycon. It'll be weird not having it around after filling my late summer with it these past 4 years. I also realized this time around how much I miss vending and meeting all the interesting people that pass through that hall. So with that, I intend to make one last hurrah for this last Bronycon and get a booth once again. I'll of course start prepping much earlier than last time around, but I intend to have a sizable amount of plushes for it.

With that being said, I need your help to decide what to make! Any favorite characters you'd like to see, new ones from episodes I've probably missed, fandom ones, how many Littlepips, etc. Perhaps even a lifesized one if I can get around to it. Either way, leave a comment below and let me know!