toys

Coming Soon: KO & BP’s Blue Mist Kuma & Grieving Greeter

So last week was a bit of a brain melter, no? All is chill and quiet on the CP front as they prepare for Paris, KO prepares for AFA, etc., when out of nowhere you pick up your phone and it’s like WHAMHAIINSTRAGRAMFACEMELTLOOKATMEI’MBEAUTIFUL!

And not once, but TWICE! And within DAYS of each other! How delightfully cruel.

It all started with the Blue Mist Kuma, above. 9.75″ tall. Blue fade. Embedded GID Lucky Skull. The first embedded edition that CP has ever done.

Yes! **Edition!!!** (Music to our ears!)

66 of these beauties will be made and will likely release in small blasts throughout the rest of the year. It will make its official debut this fall during a certain European hoedown, but — an important but! — CP members actually have a shot at preordering one right now via the CP forums. So pop over there for the full scoop from KO.

And then there’s the ever-morose Grieving Greeter, who will also be making his debut very soon. The edition size is limited to 30 pieces at $225 a grin. It’s hard to tell from the filter (my fault), but his cloak is a smoke grey, with the usual antiquing. Looks quite sharp, if I do say so m’self. More info about all this goodness as we grow nearer to showtime!

Scott Wilkowski x Brandt Peters ‘Infected’ Kuma Skelves for DKE @ SDCC 2012

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As part of his ‘… Of All Ages’ showcase at the DKE booth (#4728) at SDCC this year, uber sculptor Scott Wilkowski has infected Brandt Peters’ Kuma Skelve. Adding an incredible, prehistoric-like skeletal piece encased in smoke or ice-coloured resin, each colourway is limited to a mere 25 pieces each (50 total figures) and will retail for $300 a head.

I really can’t muster any more than a “holy shit” at this point. I can’t even decide on a colourway. Good luck to all who enter the breach for this these — they’ll be available starting Friday the 13th at noon!

Chris Ryniak’s Trio of Nuggleworts for ‘Septenary’ @ OhNo!Doom 7.7

Ohhh boy, here comes trouble.

Chris Ryniak’s contribution for OhNo!Doom’s group sculpture show, Septenary, is a trio of buck toofed critters called Nuggleworts. Each of the 6-inch sculpts are one-of-a-kind, made with CMR lovin’ and are never to be seen like this again. And, believe it or not, the Nuggleworts (from left: Valencia, Juneau and Mangrove) are one of the rare CMR breeds that are devoid of the usual, well-endowed cheekage in the rear region (figured we’d share).

Septenary opens July 7th and runs through August 4th. The show preview has already gone out and these three are spoken for (sorry), but you can still pay ’em a visit if you find yourself in Chi-Town!

First Peek: KO’s Calliope Jackalope … in Vinyl!

Speaking of projects that I’m genuinely excited about: Kathie shared some snaps of the first vinyl test pull of her Calliope Jackalope via Instagram yesterday. This thing is looking seriously beautiful, especially given the complexity of the sculpt by sofubi standards. The figure is comprised of 8 interlocking pieces, some of which can be switched out … like this!:

Errrrmahgerd, mash up madness! Just wait till there’s a whole series of CP sofubi figures with body parts you can switch out … it’s a toytastic acid trip just begging to be happen. Seriously, could you imagine the trading parties?! What if there were unique chase pieces/custom pieces or booster packs you could buy? Would y’all be down?! There are so many exciting possibilities with this project … can’t wait to see where it goes!

More info on Calliope as soon as she’s through test painting — as for Brandt’s Stingy Jack, I actually have an interesting piece of (semi-related) news on him, so stick around!

A Full Reveal of CMR’s ‘Bugglestump Forest’

Every once in a while a project comes along that really, genuinely, excites me. It may be because it’s new, appeals to my personal tastes, or is just out-of-this-world conceptually.

Chris Ryniak’s Bugglestump Forest nails all of these things.

Did you catch last week’s teaser? The wooden collab project with Austin-based Ink It Labs is definitely not what I was anticipating and this is one of those rare occasions where I’m damn happy I was wrong. This combines everything I love (and is right) about the designer toy movement: artistic merit, superior quality, ingenious design, affordability … and what’s more, it’s 2D and 3D at the same time. It’s a freaking wooden pop-up block, people! I’m sitting here totally tripping out and poking my computer screen.

Oh! And did I mention they’re packaged flat in a custom box? Look!

(Dimensions are 3” W, 2.5” L, 2.75” H if you’re wondering.)

This is just too cool. And I know you want one. Are you going to SDCC? Well, if you are, stop by the Dragatomi booth (#4935). Fifty will be available and they’re $50 each. If by freak occurrence there are any leftovers, they will be available via Dragatomi a bit later. And don’t fret if you’re not going to Comic Con; this isn’t an exclusive. Just sit tight here and release info will be along soon!

(Sickeningly) Cute Charms and Pendants from Amanda Louise Spayd + A Secret Project …

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Is this not the sweetest thing on the planet?! We’re talkin’ instant toothache as soon as you set eyes on it. Brand new from Ms. Amanda Louise Spayd is a series of acrylic critter charms and pendants that will be available via her webstore very soon. For all you ABQ locals, you can also grab them at Stranger Factory.

The pendants are yet to be revealed, but the Bee charms (above) are double-sided and have a 1-inch wingspan. They’re a run of 100, price to be announced!

And who’s this little lady? Mandi tweeted her yesterday, with a promise of ‘more info soon.’ I have no idea what she’s for, but stylistically she’s right in line with the charms and Mandi’s recent antique pendants (which sold out in like 5 minutes).

Then there’s this little blue beaut, who’s destined to be a collaboration with A Little Stranger for a certain special something. ALS x ALS? Don’t mind if I do!

And special something? Why, that sounds vaguely familiar … hmm ;)

Updates to come, as always!

 

DrilOne x Kathie Olivas MBG-1812’s Dropping TOMORROW 6.22!!

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DrilOne’s Military Bird Skelves are moving into position and are set for release tomorrow, June 22nd at 1pm PST via email request to strangerfactorysales@gmail.com (buyers, please include your address for an accurate shipping quote). The collaborative project with Kathie Olivas is a Stranger Factory exclusive and a limited edition of only 18 pieces at $300 a pop. Message board members, visit the associated thread on the Sideshow for your chance to win a guaranteed spot to purchase the figure. The winner will be announced this evening!

One random order will also receive a free custom Orange Bird Companion from Kathie Olivas (below). … Seriously, can it get any sweeter?!

Good luck to all! Get on yer crash helmets!

CP Sofubi: Stingy’s Comin’ Along …

Brandt Peters’ sofubi Stingy Jack inches ever nearer to completion from the looks of these new snaps showing off the mischief makers’ first colourway: a regal transparent purple. The figure is still undergoing some tweaks (gloves and eyes will be brighter, a fade will be added to the body), but we now have a general idea of what to look forward to. A release date will be set once these adjustments are made, which should be very soon!

 

Coming Soon: Stranger Factory’s Exclusive Greasebat!

BEWARE, ALBUQUERQUE! It’s been reported that Jeff Lamm’s infamous kaiju character, GREASEBAT, was last seen rampaging down Rt. 66 and is headed straight for you! This uncontrollable beast breeds unbridled chaos and destruction everywhere he goes and it appears he has his sights set on Stranger Factory in Nob Hill. Get out while you can!

To our fearless kaiju collectors: we plead for you to take a stand and help us wrangle this ferocious beast! He is anticipated to arrive in the next few weeks. This species of Greasebat is rare — a Stranger Factory exclusive, in fact! Sculpted by Chauskoskis and produced in Japanese vinyl by Monster Worship, this 7″ monster is cast in solid, sky blue Pantone with red, gold and silver sprays. He’s $85 and of a very limited edition. Once he’s gone, he’s extinct!

Each Greasebat comes poly-bagged and with a header card signed by Jeff Lamm. But be tactful, should you choose to hunt the creature, for the hunger of the almighty Greasebat is one that is never satiated …

Stay tuned; details on the hunt are forthcoming!

O Hai … Nothing To See Here …

Now THAT’S the guilty mug of a critter caught with their paw in the cookie jar! This little beastie from Chris Ryniak is an original one-off sculpt who’s destined for a very special celebration happening later this year. And apparently — at least according to the cutline beneath the photo on Chris’ Tumblr — “… it gets better.”

Just wait till you see what’s planned for him. And who’s doing it. Oh, how we love the suspense! Details soon, my pretties!