Rough Layouts

Argh. I feel really behind in this :(
This week NEEDS to be devoted to book. I hope to get a lot done.

I still feel undecided with the direction this is going, but at this point, I'm just going to let it flow and PRAY something good will come of it. Here are a few layouts for the story part of the book. Will be doing more illustrations to fill it up...
After this, I need to fix up the comic and then start putting together all my profiles.
Wish me luck...

Ally's Comic

Omg, I forgot how long it takes to DRAW! After an entire day, I've finally completed ONE comic! Yay! Actually, it's not 100% complete yet... I still need to create the title block and think of a name for this strip. Sigh.

Anyway, here's what I have so far. I think I'm going to keep it in black and white :)

Update

So, things I've realized:
I think I only have time to archive one set of Stuffies (although I would have liked to do all of them). I simply have TOO MANY to profile!!!! :(
At the moment, I will only be profiling the ones that reside on my bed, which I will call the "Bed Dwellers" (for now anyway).

======

I'm ALMOST done writing descriptions for them though! Wow, it can take quite a bit of thought to construct a character sketch for each. Here's a sample of what a profile will contain:

Name: Froggy
Animal Name: Bull Frog
Gender: Male
Date Acquired: 2006
Place of Origin: Rescued from Ikea, Toronto, Ontario

Width: 16 inches
Length: 19 inches
Height: 8 inches
Diameter: 22.5 inches

Character Traits and Notable Remarks:
Froggy was rescued from the metal cages of Ikea where him and numerous others piled up on each other. However, he is no ordinary amphibian. Playful, curious, and upbeat, Froggy enjoys exploring the unknown. He has large googly eyes, an extraordinarily big mouth that can be used as storage, limbs that flail when hopping, and a permanent crown. His taste for adventure and his charming personality comes from being a frog prince. However, despite this royal status, this frog prince is a literal one. No matter how many kisses he receives, this prince will always be a frog.

======

I'm also working on creating a short story and some very simple comic strips about a few of the Stuffies. Hopefully everything will work out...

Manuscript Revised

Here's a rough table of contents:

• Dedication
• Introduction/Preface
• Bed Dwellers
• Lost Loves
• Adventures and Misadventures
• Afterward


I've started generating some copy for the book, and what better way to start than to begin with the introduction!

======

Introduction:
My love for animals has been apparent at a young age. Although afternoon cartoons were enjoyable, nothing would captivate me more than an hour-long National Geographic documentary on elephants (or any animal, for that matter). Sesame Street, therefore, was also of particular interest. Not only was it considered educational, but I also loved the fact that the cast could talk to friendly creatures and be able to sink their faces into their fuzzy coat as they gave each other hugs. This naturally sparked my love for plush toys. Paired with some imagination, elaborate stories would be played out between the characters each having their own names and history. Generally, the ones my sister and I thought were “ugly” became the bad guys that would terrorize the rest of the community. But whatever turns the stories take, there would always be a happy ending.

This childhood affinity towards plush toys has unwittingly remained with me to this day. My habit and ability to personify absolutely anything—I actually need to consciously restrain myself from doing it—doesn’t help since it causes me to become easily attached to things. Although much of my collection is sadly tucked away in cardboard boxes due to the lack of space and their attraction for allergens, a considerable few have found its way into daylight. A friend referring to the population of plush animals I currently share bed-space with coined the term “Stuffies”. Since then, Stuffies have become a species and refer to all plush items. Although I try to steer clear of Stuffies in stores (since there is a high chance of developing attachments to it, which ultimately leads me to rescuing it from the display shelf), the collection has been slowly growing.

This book not only documents the Stuffies, but also tells their stories, making them believable to be characters. Like Hobbes is to Calvin, I think Stuffies can have minds of their own too!

====

I've also started some test shots of the Stuffies. I'm not sure what type of aesthetic/style I want yet, but I'm thinking of doing a mix of styles.


Elly the yarn elephant



Elly with Ally the alligator



There's still quite a lot of work to do and I'm starting to panic a bit. Going to get a moodboard created soon so I can focus in on a style. I'm surprisingly not too concerned about the copy (it's odd because I usually hate writing). I guess since the style is informal and the topic is meant to be humourous and light-hearted, I'm finding it relatively easy to write!


... more to come later!

First Attempt at Copic Binding

So I decided to spend a bit of time trying to do copic binding. I figured I better try it out NOW before the memory of it fades more and more into oblivion!

I cut up some newsprint and some left-over matte boards and grabbed some dental floss from my washroom upstairs. Then, for the next 30 minutes, I attempted to figure this out. My mom was quite fascinated with the process and actually helped me out by pointing out some sewing logic!


I THINK I'm starting to understand the whole "cross over" idea... Floss isn't really the best string to use, but it sort of does the trick.

Initial Manuscript

Topic:
“The Stuffies”
Also known as my large collection of plush toys
Documentation book of each individual
Names, date acquired, personalities, diet, likes and dislikes, friends, etc.
Semi-fictional storyline about their lives as a stuffie
Each stuffie also carries with it a “life lesson” either revealed in the story or from its personality

Things that need to be done:
Photographing of my collection (individually, as a group, etc.)
Developing each one’s profile
Develop look and feel of book
Developing copy (the introduction and story)
Experimenting with cloth texture papers
Planning out elements in book (i.e. pull-out sheets, fold-outs, etc)

Why this topic:
Collection of plush toys started as a toddler
Find it extremely easy to personify items and in turn develop attachment to them
Used to develop imaginative stories about toys when I was a child
Humorous, fun, and playful