The Softie Awards

some more softies

felt gryphon by bellesmomma

bird 2 by abbyjane

Emily Doll by mortician's daughter 21

Today's feature in SOFTIES CENTRAL is food softies with faces - and some with worms!!!! Come take a look and get inspired! Then make a softie!!!

A few softies...

crocheted dolls by sian keegan

pink chick by hey lucy

Spike by completely cactus

Today's feature in SOFTIES CENTRAL is food softies with faces - and some with worms!!!! Come take a look and get inspired!

Softie Award Submissions

I thought I'd post some of the softies being submitted for the Awards. There are so many great ones in the flickr group already, and I can't post all of them here, so just a random few each day to showcase the variety of softies. I'm not a judge and I won't be making any editorial comments as I do on Softies Central to keep it fair.

Above is by Humpty Dumpty by abbyjane.

Glow steak by Bekathwia

Ruby Amigurumi by kpwerker

Flickr Link

Here's the link to The Softie Awards group on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/69953377@N00/

How It Works/How to Enter

1. Choose the category you want to enter, and upload a photo of your softie to the flickr group The Softie Awards.

2. You can enter an individual softie in one category only - so if you make an amigurumi bunny, you must choose to enter it under Best Bunny or Bear, or under Best Amigurumi. This is so everyone has an equal chance of winning and no single softie wins in two categories.

3. You may enter multiple softies - for example, enter one softie in the Best Bunny or Bear category and a different softie in the Best Amigurumi category. You can also enter several different softies in the same category.

4. TAG your photo with the designated TAG for each category (see Categories post)

5. Please make sure that your flickr profile has a link to an email for you so that I may contact you if necessary.

6. If you don't have a flickr account, consider opening one, it's free. Or you can email me a jpeg of your softie and I will upload it for you as a last resort. Email to: softiescentral@yahoo.com. The last day to email me your softie photo to upload it for you is February 28, 2007.

7. Remember, all photos must be uploaded to The Softie Awards flickr group by March 9, 2007. No entries will be accepted after this date.

8. After March 9th, the judges will review the submissions and pick the top five softies for each category. Those top five will be featured on this blog with a link to the voting site.Voting will be open to everyone. The softie in each category with the most votes wins.

9. Voting - You can vote for your favorites (or your own softie) after March 9th. Watch this blog for a link to the voting page, or sign up for email updates.The judges will pick the top 5 softies in each category and then voting will open for everyone.

10. Voting begins on or about March 16 and ends on or about March 30. Votes will be counted and winners will be announced on this blog shortly after April 1st.

11. After the winners are announced, prizes will be randomly chosen. I'll place the winners names in a hat and pick a name to go with a prize.

12. If you have any other questions, check the FAQ's and/or email me at softiescentral@yahoo.com

13. Sign up for email updates to get reminders about dates and links.

Thanks for participating in the 1st Annual International Softie Awards!!!

Award Categories

These are the 12 categories for The Softie Awards. Please note: the designated TAG for each must be included when you upload your softie photo to The Softie Awards flickr group. For more information, see 'How to Enter'. The category descriptions below are meant to inspire, not limit anyone's imagination. If you're not sure where your softie belongs, check the FAQ's or email me at softiescentral@yahoo.com

Please submit each softie to one category only (the same softie cannot be entered in multiple categories). You can enter different softies in other categories, and/or you can enter several different softies in one category. For example, you can enter a squirrel, a penguin and a bluebird in the 'Best Rest of the Animal Kingdom' category. Just don't enter that same bluebird in the Best Amigurumi category as well.

Remember, you're just submitting photos of softies (via The Softie Awards flickr group), not the actual toy.

Entry Categories

1. Best Bunny or Bear

Bunnies and bears are among the most popular softies, and therefore have been given a special category of their own. TAG: bunnybear

2. Best Rest of the Animal Kingdom

Any animal (except bunnies or bears) can be entered here, including two-legged, four-legged, winged, aquatic creatures and insects. Doll softies too. TAG: animal

3. Best Softie Cuisine

Food softies including meats, veggies, fruit and baked goods. TAG: food

4. Best Creepy Yet Still Cute

This category is for monster plush, scary creatures and anything sorta creepy like eye balls, two-headed rats, etc. TAG: creepycute

5. Best Inanimate Object

Plush televisions, robots, vehicles and architecture are perfect for this category. TAG: inanimate

6. Best Holiday Inspired

Any holiday can be used as a jumping off point. Please be sure to add a note to your flickr photo title to identify the holiday your softie represents. TAG: holiday

7. Best Pincushion

Sweet, pretty, unusual or weird - pincushions are a great opportunity to let your imagination soar. TAG: pincushion

8. Best Cozy

Enter a cozy for an iPod, cell phone, toaster, tea pot, etc. This one doesn't have to be stuffed. TAG: cozy

9. Best Needle Felted

Judges will be looking for skill and creativity here so submit your most original designs. TAG: needlefelted

10. Best Amigurumi

Amigurumi must be crocheted. Submit animals or sushi or anything etc.TAG: amigurumi

11. Best Functional Softie

This one is a little tricky...do not enter pincushions here, but do enter something functional like a bag or scarf WITH a 3D, stuffed element. TAG: functional

12. Best 'My-Softie-Doesn't-Fit-Into-Any-Of-Your-Damn-Categories' Softie

If your stuffed softie doesn't logically fit into any of the other categories, submit it here. TAG: wildcard

FAQs

Q. So I want to enter The Softie Awards, but do I have to send you the actual softie?

A. No. Just upload a photo of your softie to The Softie Awards flickr group. See How to Enter post for more information.

Q. What are the judges looking for?

A. Creative concepts, imagination, cute or not, an original vision...fun softies, sweet softies, cool softies, weird softies.

Q. What could I win?

A. The official Softie Awards ribbon! Plus a great prize! And the recognition of your peers!

Q. Can I enter several sofites?

A. You can enter as many softies as you wish but you cannot enter the same softie in two different categories. See Award Categories for more information.

Q. What if I don't have a flickr account, can I still enter?

A. Consider opening a flickr account - it's easy and free. If you really can't, email me a jpeg of your softie. My email is: softiescentral@yahoo.com.

Q. How will I be notified if I win?

A. I'll email you so be sure your email is listed on your flickr profile or there's a link to your blog (assuming there is an 'email me' button on your blog of course).   

Q. I'm not sure what category to enter - what should I do? 

A. If you've read through the descriptions in the Award Categories section and you're still not sure...maybe your softie belongs in the wildcard category.

Q. I made my softie by hand myself, but I used/adapted someone else's pattern - can I still enter The Softie Awards?

A. No sorry. The Softie Awards are for original designs so although your adaptation may look different, it's not eligible even if it's really cute. We're on the honor system here so please be fair to others and only submit original designs.

Q. When you say 'handmade', does that mean sewn by hand only?

A. Nope, machine-sewn, knitted, crocheted softies are all fine.

Q. Will there be an actual Award ceremony? Should I buy a party dress?

A. Um...no ceremony this year. :-)

Q. Who's behind The Softie Awards and why did you set this up?

A. I'm Therese Laskey, the author of the blog Softies Central (www.softiescentral.typepad.com), and a big fan of all the artists from Austraila to Israel and everywhere inbetween whose original designs make me smile everyday. I hope The Softie Awards brings extra recognition to softie makers around the world. Plus it's fun!

If I still haven't answered your question, feel free to email me at softiescentral@yahoo.com

Prizes! Prizes! Prizes!

Each category winner will receive a fabulous prize! Here are some of them.

Here's how prizing works: The judges will pick the top 5 softies in each category and then voting will open for everyone. Winners will be chosen by people's choice vote (watch this blog for link for voting - the link will be posted after the top 5 softies in each category are chosen by the judges). After the winners are announced, prizes will be randomly chosen. I'll place the winners names in a hat and pick one of the following prizes.

1. Isobel # 34 by Emily Martin of The Black Apple

 

2. Selvedge Magazine - 1 year subscription

 

3. Needle felted picture, The Goose Girl, by Nicole Mathers

 

4. Set of craft books from Chronicle Books

5. Print entitled 'Redhood' by Camilla Engman

 

6. CRAFT Magazine - 1 year subscription

   

7. Fabric from Kitty-Craft

 

8. Stash of Yarn - 3 skeins wool blend yarn, approx 150 yds (bowl not included)

 

9. Set of three charmingly illustrated books with animal themes

   

 

Thanks to Chronicle Books, Selvedge Magazine and CRAFT for donating prizes!

The Rules & Deadlines

The Softie Awards are open to softie-makers/designers worldwide. All entries must be original designs and handmade by the entrant. PHOTOS OF SOFTIES ARE REQUIRED FOR ENTRY, YOU DO NOT NEED TO SEND THE ACTUAL TOY.

For the purposes of this contest, a 'softie' is defined as a handmade plush toy that is stuffed. Softies may be sewn, knitted, or crocheted, and can be any size. Please note, there are a couple categories that do not require something stuffed, ie the Best Cozy and Best Functional categories are slightly different.

You must be 18 years or older to enter, or you must obtain the consent of a parent or guardian. The Softie Awards participants must consent to the use of his or her name and photo of their softie on the Softies Central/The Softie Awards web site and in any and all media.

Deadlines: All entries must be posted to the flickr group, The Softie Awards by March 9th, 2007.

Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

Update

I'm working on getting the Softie Awards organized! Please check back soon for all the details about how to enter, etc. I'm hoping to have next updates by 1st week of February.