This is a one-of-a-kind plush doll I made for the 2008 Child's Play Charity Auction. It's based on this comic, but with the traditional clothing. I also added a voice box that says something cute. I wanted to give the guys at Penny Arcade something to auction that would be memorable. Maybe someday I'll make a plush Tycho.
What's very interesting to me is the reaction other people seem to have to my projects. Invariably, they say, "You could sell these and make a fortune!" Well, for starters, my production methods are not hyper-efficient. I sew by hand and with my free-time allotment, it takes me about a week. Sure, the materials are fairly inexpensive, but my hourly rate is pretty steep. I seriously doubt the market would bear the cost. The other sizeable roadblock is that it's not my idea. Now, I might be able to establish a sweatshop and bring production costs to almost nothing and perhaps I could set up in some foreign land where things like copyright mean nothing. But the primary reason I don't sell these is that I don't want to. I don't want this to be about money. I do it for fun. I do it for charity. I do it to teach my kids and maybe other people. I'm not a tailor by trade. I'm more of an idea person and I like sharing my ideas.
On a update note, J!NX is now selling plush Murlocs. Here's the email I sent them: Re: World of Warcraft Talking Murloc Plush Toy. I invented the plush Murloc. It's gotten quite a bit of press. Now J!nx is selling them. I wonder if you'll do the right thing. I wonder if you did your cursory Google homework. My daughter wants a DS for Christmas, but all I can afford is a box of crayons. Meanwhile, my charitable idea is on eBay. No, honey, Santa's dead. Walmart killed him.
A friend of mine is an announcer for a baseball team and his brother is the coach. Nicest guy. So, I was surprised when I saw him getting upset with the umpire. I asked, "What's the big deal. Why get so upset?" The truth is, he isn't upset. He's just letting his players know that he's there for them, and an umpire's call can be open to subjectivity. Too often, the little guy gets intimidated. Too often the rich and powerful get their way, right or wrong. I'm not thumping my chest for me. I do it for you.