February 2013

Pack it up, pack it in, let Amanda Spayd begin

by Brad
February 21, 2013

A traveling companion for the rucksacked Bubbleguts?

I’m about to take a cue from the show’s theme and embark on my own Migration to Albuquerque, so have a few more previews to prep you for the journey.

Amanda Louise Spayd has been crackling with creativity and putting the finishing touches on the seams, buttons, and derps for all her critters before they set off to Stranger Factory. Besides a few Instagram teases here and there, most of Amanda’s contributions to the show are still curled up in their sleeping bags hibernating until March 1st, but we got a few glimpses into these tiny nomads.

Amanda is sweet as can be and has a most notable sweet tooth – this is looking like a bit of a self portrait. Maybe we will see more coffee bean creatures someday too?

This guy screams to be a guest on “Fun with Flags” with Sheldon Cooper.

If you like what you see here, be sure to sign up for the mailing list on Stranger Factory’s homepage to ensure that you are on the preview list for the show. Of course, your best bet is to be present on March 1st at Stranger Factory!

Chris Ryniak and Amanda Louise Spayd’s “Migration” opens March 1st through the 31st at Stranger Factory (109 Carlisle Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106).

The Nonesuch Skelve is here!

by Brad
February 21, 2013

After months and months of planning, tweaking patterns, and executing the tiniest little stitches on the tiniest little top hats, the Nonesuch Skelves are ready for primetime! These precious hatted things are a collaboration work between plushmistress Megan Baehr and Brandt Peters and Kathie Olivas, and we love them!

A small, very limited, edition of 10, the Nonesuch Skelves will be appearing in the Circus Posterus Store this Friday for $140 each. Remember to keep checking the store because these may appear at any time!

We got a chance to chat with Megan about the Nonesuch Skelve too!

CP: Tell us about the Nonesuch Dolls!
Megan: The Nonesuch Dolls are little plush art dolls that stand approximately 4.75 inches tall. They are made out of merino wool felt, embroidery floss, polyester fiber fill, and a dash of love. They are hand sewn from my own original patterns that I designed specifically to be customizable. I wanted the possibilities to be endless while maintaining a unique style and point of view. I have not yet faced a custom request that I was not able to make into a Nonesuch Doll. I enjoy the challenge!

CP: What’s been the biggest challenge in translating the Skelve to plush form?
Megan: Getting the proportions right was a challenge. My Nonesuch Doll design does have its limits and the Skelve pushed them all the way to the edge. But I kept working at it until both Brandt and I were satisfied.

CP: What’s been the most enjoyable part of the Nonesuch Skelve process for you?
Megan: Finishing them! Seeing them all lined up on my work table makes me feel like some sort of mad scientist who has discovered the process of cloning. Muwahaha! However, while they all look similar, each one has a unique personality. This is the joy of handmade.

CP: What other adorable and awesome things can we expect to see from you this year?
Megan: I have plans to expand my Open Edition Nonesuch Doll line with several new designs this year. I would also like to focus on some more Limited Edition and OOAK pieces that include my other art doll venture, the Sproutlings.

Above is one of Megan’s Sproutling dolls posing with a handsome bevy of Nonesuch Skelves. We promise that they will look similarly dashing in your Skelve OR plush collections. We definitely look forward to sending these squishy dapper gentleskulls onwards to their new homes!

And finally – here is a bad joke, courtesy of dear Megan.

Chris Ryniak’s herd of Dumpy Dollops for “Migration”

by Brad
February 20, 2013February 20, 2013

Imagine hiking in the woods and turning a corner to find Grumblup Vungermirk (above) or Gullop Ficktermucker (below) staring at you. I think most of us would plop ourselves down right there and say “awwwwwwww” as it grins or makes rankled sounds at us.

Well, welcome to the world of Chris Ryniak’s Dumpy Dollups!

Only 6 of these adorable and expressive creatures with extremely long names have made their way to Migration. Ranging in size from the runts at 4 inches to the aspiring NBA players at 6 inches, these stubby critters made of acrylic, epoxy, and large, soulful glass eyes, are ready for the great Migration to a new home (and away from Chris’ karaoke singing). Speaking of our songbird Chris, we got a chance to ask him some questions about these wonderful lumps –

CP: These Dumpy Dollops are amazing. What corner of your brain do these come from?
CMR: Does the brain have corners? I figured it was more of a round-ish thing…well, at least that’s how it looks in the science books.

The Dumpy Dollops are kind of like milestones, they dot the edges of trails along migratory routes of more evolved creatures. Since they can’t really move under their own power due to grossly underdeveloped limbs, they just sit there and encourage travelers, or just grumble at them.

CP: How should a potential owner keep these little dudes happy?
CMR: Never look directly in their eyes! Or was it ALWAYS look directly in their eyes? I can’t remember…

CP: The expressiveness of your sculptures has been really increasing – is that a direction you’ve been enjoying(we love it)?
CMR: I find that the more expressive the character, either through action, facial expression, posture or a combination of all of them, the more I can relate to them. It’s not enough that they are just monsters; it’s important to me that they connect in some way to the human world.

(ed. note: Chris’ ability to render expressions is unparalleled by most, but he’ll be dropping a whole bunch of tips on how to draw them in his Stranger Factory workshop: Creating Expressive Characters)

CP: Can we expect to see more of these lumpy, expressive critters from you, both for Migration, and in the future?
CMR: The answers are yes and yes! There is one critter who has the biggest grin you’ve ever seen…and he happens to be my favorite piece in the show. I have lots of plans for happy little dudes for upcoming shows.

(maybe it’s this guy?)

To see the rest of the Dumpy Dollops, and the rest of Chris’ happy, grumpy, lumpy menagerie, be sure to sign up for the mailing list on Stranger Factory’s homepage to be on the preview list.

Chris Ryniak and Amanda Louise Spayd’s “Migration” opens March 1st through the 31st at Stranger Factory (109 Carlisle Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106).

Welcome the release of the Mini Greeter this Friday

by Brad
February 20, 2013February 20, 2013
1 Comment

We have been taunted and haunted by this glowing spectre for weeks now, but the day has come for the glow in the dark Mini Greeter!

This glowy ghost will be released this Friday, February 22 at various increments and times during the day for $65 in the Circus Posterus store. The total edition size is 120, and a small amount of the edition will pop up in the store at random times, so keep checking back if you think it is sold out!

Sculpted by the talented Scott Wetterschneider of Shinbone Creative,the Mini Greeter is part of the series of larger sculpts being made in conjunction with the Cardboard Spaceship x Circus Posterus mini series.

Circus Folk: The fans of Amanda Louise Spayd

by Brad
February 19, 2013February 19, 2013

It goes without saying that the Circus Posterus collective have some of the most dedicated, die-hard, and enthusiastic fans and collectors out there, and from time to time, we like to showcase their hard work and loyalty. For Chris Ryniak and Amanda Louise Spayd’s exhibit Migration, we are going to do something a tad different.

For this installment, and to get us all even more amped up for the show next week, we will bring you numerous works by the beautiful and talented Amanda Louise Spayd. Sit back and take a gander at some of these cherished critter collections made by our beloved seamstress!

The image above from Eric Martin’s collection features Bailey(polka dotted beauty), spotty little Cocoa, and two editioned works – Little Medic and a Belladonna:Antoinette.

Sara Harvey

Rhiannon probably has one of the most comprehensive ALS collections out there – our favourite is the gorgeous(and very tall) Duchess from Amanda’s show at Rivet Gallery last year. Rhiannon also has almost all of Mandi’s editioned works so far – in the lower left boxes we see Deadnettle, Foxglove, Little Medic, Belladonna:Antoinette and the classic Belladonna. And of course, the Black Rabbit (of Inlé) is one of Amanda’s most memorable large works, and it couldn’t have found a better home.

UPDATE #2: Nonesuch Garden x Circus Posterus Skelve

by Brad
February 19, 2013February 18, 2013

It’s incredible what can transpire in the course of a few days with the entrepreneurial plush master Megan Baehr (of Nonesuch Garden)! We have been giving you progress updates on the Nonesuch Garden x Circus Posterus Skelve collaboration for a few weeks, and now we are in the home stretch!

Megan just sent over some images of the almost complete plush Skelves she’s been working on, and if my arithmetic is correct, we may only have a very small decuple edition on our hands. Painstakingly hand sewn with tiny little blanket stitches, the Nonesuch Skelve blends the Megan’s plush wizardry with Kathie and Brandt’s classic design, and will be a perfect heirloom piece. The only thing missing on these dapper apparitions is a proper fitted hat, …so, the next update will quite certainly be release information!

No need to practice your F5 stretches yet, we will have the info soon.

Amanda Louise Spayd paints and sketches for “Migration”

by Brad
February 18, 2013February 18, 2013

It was a magnificent day two years ago when I noticed Amanda Louise Spayd eating candy and drawing a small doodle on some scrap paper at Dragon Con. To everyone’s amazement, she exclaimed she hadn’t done this in a long time. Luckily, I had my dusty sketchbook handy and promptly asked for a sketch myself, and what appeared was simply breathtaking.

For Migration coming up March 1, at Stranger Factory, Amanda is officially exhibiting her drawings for the first time! She plans on working her prolific pencils, brushes, and fingers like a mad woman, surely resulting in a profusion of sketches, paintings, and mixed media pieces. Like her plush critters, her 2D work also incorporates lovely found objects and antique findings, and the transition in style between her drawings and 3D is seamless.

Be ready for derpy faces, obsessively detailed eyes, and critters so full of life they are ready to jump off the page. We’re glad to see Amanda dusting off her old tools to give us some 2D work!

Click MORE for more of Amanda’s work

All Hail King Rufus

by Brad
February 18, 2013March 4, 2013

The return of the (little) King!

Don’t worry loyal followers, there is no need to bow down and kiss his ring or… tentacles just yet! King Rufus by Kathie Olivas is about to finally ascend to the throne he so properly deserves!

He will be making a formal first appearance in hand painted form in April at Kathie’s show at Stranger Factory, but soon after that we will see a production vinyl edition of our king. Don’t let the bear hat and striped shirt fool you, this king wears his crown proudly and means business. Well, his business is really just being awesome.

We will let you know more on the king once he meets with his staff and figures out his royal decrees.

Chris Ryniak’s Mini Zombieguts for “Migration”

by Brad
February 15, 2013February 15, 2013

Only a few Mini Zombieguts are still roaming in Albuquerque from the zombiecake apocalypse, and these mostly harmless creatures are ready to be adopted at Chris Ryniak and Amanda Louise Spayd’s exhibit Migration at Stranger Factory March 1st.

Making their first dead-eyed appearance at Designer Con this past fall, Ryniak’s Zombieguts are an edition of 33, and only a small handful were released at the convention. The remaining glazed eyed ‘guts will be available at the Migration opening. If they’re not all snapped up by new owners by then, they might make it to the show preview – so sign up to our mailing list for updates!

Don’t worry, these guys aren’t too hungry these days. Unless you’re a brain shaped cupcake.

Stranger Factory is excited to play host to MIGRATION, the latest collaborative exhibit by Chris Ryniak and Amanda Louise Spayd. The opening reception is at Stranger Factory on Friday, March 1st from 6 PM – 9 PM.

Micro Run of Brandt Peters’ Baxter coming soon

by Brad
February 15, 2013February 18, 2013

Coming straight from Stingy Jack’s world and making another appearance soon will be the ever playful Baxter! There isn’t much news out there yet on this, but we can say this will be a very small hand painted micro run split between Circus Posterus and Tomenosuke. We can’t wait to see him!

More info soon!