A special project came into my hands back in early May of last year. If you recall I was tasked to create an alien monkey from a TV show back in these posts... Fast forward to now, and the very same person wanted me to create a similar unique creature only he had imagined I could do for him!
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| The original look of the monkey body. |
In May 2025, Robert contacted me proposing an idea of sorts. At the time, I had become a full time babysitter to my third grandchild. So of course, I had no time to do any restorations or commissions. I didn't want to begin one either knowing I may not be able to complete it. So, I politely declined and he was of course sad about it but very understanding. Throughout that day I could not stop thinking about it, and so I decided, perhaps I could try...
I wrote Robert back and said, that to him, but also that it would take a lot of time and I needed to know whether there was a specific date the new friend had to be completed. Sure enough, he was in no rush and even gathered all the materials I would need to help this new creature come to fruition! By late June of that year, the box with the plush arrived along with all the items to help make him. Summer of 2025 was busy as I had a family trip and lots of things happening as well. So, I didn't revisit the project until Mid August.
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| Removing the seams on the fabric. |
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| Sewing on the scale fabric. |
I finally began the project of taking what had originally been a monkey plush with black fur, just like Bloop's original body and removed the rubber face and the fur. The monkey's body was a bit more simple, I just had to cover with it the green fur Robert had given to be sort of a suit on the body and add some scaling fabric to its chest and more fur to its hands and feet. The face would need to be recreated completely. So by September, I had finished the scales on the chest and the limbs fur. Now all I had to focus on the rubber face. The new creature's face was somewhat a bit more tricky to do. Because I had to work with the fact that I had no pattern to start with. You see when I had completed Bloop, I had the pattern set aside when she was completed back then, I somehow misplaced that very same pattern. So, I had no choice but to recreate a pattern all over again for this creature. It took time and days when I didn't have to babysit my grandchild. So it was just finding the right timing to complete the face once I got the pattern done. I made sure the rubber face was prepared and ready along with the ears.
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The original pattern for the head and the rubber face, after being removed. |
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| The rubber ears and fur cut out from the recreated paper pattern. |
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| After new fur is sewn onto the rubber face. I had to replace the eye lock that was missing. |
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| First attempt at the creature... |
By October of 2025, I had finished the creature. At least, I thought I was! But upon inspection by Robert, he saw that it wasn't up to the specifics he had imagined. The ears weren't flushed with the face, the top of the head was a bit too pointed, and the face wasn't framed properly. Robert sent me a photo of Bloop and a drawing of the look for the creature he had imagined. So, it was back to the drawing board for me! I didn't revisit the creature until December, mostly because I was expecting my fourth grandchild and was off island for that trip! I tried my best to get the ears just right, but it still didn't work out. So, I was stumped! I had to sit there and really brainstorm about what was going on and how I could get it to work out like my first creation. At first, I thought perhaps it was the ears that I was given. Maybe it was too soft, pliable and needed help to keep it sturdy. But that wasn't the only issue. I realized later that it was the pattern I had created for it! Instead of two sides of the pattern I had only cut out one side of it. So I immediately fixed that issue and sure enough, along with wires and the two sides, that ultimately helped the ears in more ways than I had hoped for, Yay!!
I sent photos of the now second attempt of the creature, Robert gave his review of it and it was still not quite what he had hoped. The creatures face wasn't fuller and the fur didn't frame the face properly. I was angry at myself for the creature not being up to par for him. So, I had to ask myself, "Okay, what in the world is wrong here?" Robert had shown me the photo of Bloop and a drawing he made of the new creature and talked about Bloop's face details. I looked and looked, at his photo of Bloop and this creature... Then, it finally hit me!! That's why!!! Duh!!
I realized it was the fur pile!! "What the heck is that, you ask!" Well it's the length of the hair on the fur, for those of you who don't know. The one he had purchased at the start of the project was only a one inch pile. I needed a longer hair pile at least three inches long to be exact. This was what I had used for Bloop's black fur. So I was able to find some examples for Robert to get. Sadly, my usual go to shop for my furs didn't have the color I needed to match this plush. Ugh. Luckily, Robert was able to find some and he immediately purchased it and had it shipped to me. Yippee!!
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| 2nd attempt by January. |
It was now a new year, 2026 to be exact, and January already! Armed with the new fur, I began the tedious work of removing and re-cutting and sewing the new fur so that everything was ready. In February I decided to take a bit of a break as it was my birthday month. By early March, I was done with this new vintage style creature. The fur worked out way better than I had hoped. After sending Robert the photos of my third attempt at completing the creature and sharing back and forth. He noted that the face and framing of the fur still needed more work to look similar to Bloop. So, I knew at least I had gotten this far. Robert harnessed my skills even further and made the encouragement I needed to push myself to help bring this new creature to life!
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| Third attempt above. |
A week later by the end of March I had felt a lot more confident in this creature's look and immediately contacted Robert! Sure enough, he was pleased with the new creature!! I was so thrilled and thankful for all his encouragement and patience with me!! After what felt like ages, the new, "Sea Monkey" creature was completed!! I was so happy more so for Robert and for him to enjoy this amazing creation! If it wasn't for his belief in me and harnessing my talents I wouldn't have even thought my hands could create this awesome Sea Monkey!! Haha!
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| Sea Monkey Bloop!! |
I couldn't wait for him to receive the Sea Monkey, so I immediately shipped him off. So I hope to update you all with a photo from Robert when this creature is where he is meant to be displayed!!
If you have read this far, thank you and for sharing a part of my recent commission experience!
Thank you for reading! ~ ggsdolls
