Four pounds of stuffing

In case you can't imagine what that looks like, here you go:Working on finishing up Panderichthys, and will attempt Tiktaalik after that.

Tetrapodomorph Evolution series (update #1)

I've decided to focus my work by creating series or collections of plushies based on various themes. If you go to my shop, in the sections you'll see some of the ones I've been brainstorming (partly based on what I've already made).

One of them, Tetrapodomorph Evolution, was inspired by a term paper I wrote for my herpetology class last semester. My topic was on the evolutionary transition of fins to limbs, from sarcopterygian (lobe finned) fish to amphibians. I wrote about the skeletal changes that took place based on the fossil record, and the ecological pressures the creatures may have experienced to encourage them to leave the water. "Tetrapodomorph" is the catch-all name for these organisms that were on the way to becoming tetrapods (tetrapods being organisms walking on four legs).

Of course, a few weeks after I complete my paper, this paper comes out in Nature, mixing up the whole thing.

But regardless, I'm making a series of plushies based on some of the major fossil tetrapodomorphs central to our understanding of this transition.
Cladogram showing relationships of tetrapodomorphs according to a current consensus (Clack 2009)

I started with a devonian lungfish, Dipterus. Lungfish are the sister group to tetrapods, and part of the sarcopterygian clade, not shown in the diagram above.
It's about 17" long, a cute little thing. All the scales were hand sewn.

Next I made Eusthenopteron, still very fish-like but with more complicated skeletal structure in the fins/lobes. This plush is considerably larger, 25" long.
I have it hanging by a thread, here, to show off the fins nicely.

I'm currently working on Panderichthys, which has a considerably flatter head and different body shape, looking less fish like. It's going to be quite large and quite fat, and I've run out of stuffing, so when that appears will depend on when I can go shopping. Here is a preview, though.
A word of warning to those who may be interested in buying these plushies - they will NOT BE FOR SALE UNTIL THEY ARE ALL COMPLETED. I'm not sure just how may I will make, but when I'm satisfied, I will be looking for galleries (or perhaps even museums) that might be willing to display them. If not, or at the end of their display, they will then be available in my shop.

If you wish to have a version of your very own right away, please contact me!

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Clack, J. 2009. The Fish-Tetrapod Transition: New Fossils and Interpretations. Evolution: Education and Outreach 2(2): 213-223.

I'm back!

Hello again everyone! After putting aside my shop and most of the internet due to schoolwork and grad school applications, I'm back to sewing and juggling my time once again. Busy schedule, working on lots of school projects, but I shall try to make time for my business and a bit of fun.

I've already got a jump start on custom orders, so if you have something in mind, feel free to contact me! weirdbuglady@gmail.com or send a convo through etsy www.weirdbuglady.com

Custom order guidelines:
My prices depend on the size and complexity of the species in question. Therefore it can be quite difficult to give general price ranges.

However, these are my general minimum prices:
Small (6" to 9"): $35
Medium (10" to 15"): $50
Large (16"+): $80

The prices go up from there depending on how many body parts and details there are, especially if it requires a lot of hand sewing. However there is also some flexibility, like if you just want a big long worm, it'll be less than $80.

I take requests for most types of animals, including insects, arachnids, other invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, fish, aquatic invertebrates, and extinct creatures. I generally don't do mammals or birds unless they're really quite fascinatingly strange. I do NOT do make believe creatures or puppies, kittens, bunnies, etc.

For quotes or more details please contact me.

***************How it works******************
I prefer to sell through my shop on Etsy.com
It's very easy to sign up (you just need an email address)
For etsy custom orders you MUST USE THE CUSTOM/ALCHEMY FEATURE. This way Etsy gets the appropriate fees. You can click the "Request Custom Item" on my etsy page to fill out details.

If you absolutely don't want to use Etsy, I can send paypal email requests.

I ONLY ACCEPT PAYPAL AS PAYMENT. For custom orders I require either: full payment up front, or: half payment up front, and the rest upon completion.

*****Shipping and taxes******
Shipping may either be from Canada (where I am at college) or from the US (if I have a chance to visit home and bring your order with me). I will be sure to let you know which shipping methods are available, as shipping from Canada costs more.

New York State residents: There is sales tax. It depends on your county, so if you place an order please alert me if you're in NY and give me your address so I can calculate sales tax.

There are NO REFUNDS OR RETURNS on custom orders. I work diligently to keep up communication, and I always post photos before the creature is sent, so any objections may be worked out. So far this has not been an issue.

*******************************************************

I also have some grand plans for my shop... including bringing more focus to my work. I'll post updates on how my series/collections of themed plushies progress.

Just to let you know

I'm taking a break here, no time to post... will probably be back full swing next semester though.
College comes first!

Rule number one of herping

When you flip over a rock or log, put it back where you found it! Argghhh!

*deep breath*

Hi there! Back at school, classes are underway, life is insanely busy. But let's forget about all of that for now, and take a little trip to the woods.

There's an arboretum near my campus, about a 15 minute bike ride. Went exploring today and saw lots of great things. And for those that don't know: herping = looking for herps = reptiles and amphibians (herpetology - get it? Not "herpes").

It turns out someone earlier this summer (hard to tell how long ago) had gone into the quarry (best salamander hangout) and flipped over almost every single rock and log - WITHOUT PUTTING THEM BACK. I wanted to SCREAM. Cannot believe someone would be such an inconsiderate jerk to nature -obviously not someone who really cares about the animals they're looking for.

The first thing you learn is to not curl your hands underneath (I learned that when I was 2), the next is to put it back ever so gently to make it look as if you were never there.

But nevertheless, saw lots of fun creatures.

The blue spotted salamander, one of my favorites, of course (Ambystoma laterale). I love when they do their defensive tail wave.
A mangled looking wood frog (Rana sylvatica) - poor thing had a malformed or injured hind leg. Looks fat and healthy though.
Lots of red backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) of course.
I feel quite lucky this peeper held still for a split second so I could take this photo (Pseudacris crucifer).
I did see one reptile - a garter snake. Unfortunately, this is the best pic I could get, as it swam across a pond.
By the time I jumped off my bike and turned on my camera (watching it gracefully swim away), it had reached one side and escaped into the woods. That's when I saw it was certainly a garter snake, but too far off to try to catch.

And I also saw a Pelecinid wasp! They're amazing insects, and not too common. The female's abdomen is so long! It flew across the bike path and I literally dropped my bike from under me and chased it off into the undergrowth. It kept landing briefly and fluttering off, and I stumbled after it through brambles and bushes for several minutes until I lost track of it. So sadly, no photo. But it was a really neat insect to see.

As far as updating my blog, I'll play it by ear - very busy schedule this semester and thinking about putting my etsy shop on hold - at least not worrying about making too many new things. Will be taking custom orders on a gradual basis.

Awesome etsy seller: EmandSprout

I finally got my sweet new shoes in the mail today and, well, you know you're all jealous. They're made by emandsprout, who has the cutest mary janes ever. I got the turtle edition:
They're great as slippers, or casual shoes... can't wait til it gets cooler and those adorable shiny eyes will be peeping out from under my jeans, haha.In other news: took the GRE general exam today, did alright. Glad to have it over with, but the biology subject exam is coming up in October... I'm going to start studying soon! Leaving for school this saturday, giving me one week to finish packing and cleaning and actually enjoy summer for a few days. Probably won't be seeing anything new in my shop for a while.

Awesome etsy seller: Secretlentil

Ok, this has nothing to do with insects, but I bought myself a dress on etsy and just have to share.

I've had my eye on secretlentil's shop for a long time, but the items in my size tend to sell out quickly. On my birthday I browsed her shop, and it turns out she listed a new dress that day... that I just had to have!

I've talked to her on the etsy forums and she's a great person as well as an excellent seamstress. The seams are all perfectly done and the fabric is so cozy. I plan on wearing this dress to school, all through the winter if I can find leggings warm enough. And of course it's unique, really a work of art.

The original listing:
And here I am wearing it:So if you're looking for really great original clothing, in a wide variety of sizes, check out secretlentil on etsy!

Happy Birthday to me

Yesterday was my 21st birthday, hurrah!Was a relaxing lazy day, mostly because it was too hot to actually do anything. I tried to do some sewing and didn't get very far. Luckily there was track/field on the tv, my favorite sport to watch! And in the evening we went out to dinner at Japanese restaurant which was fabulous. Then of course cake and ice cream. My mom even got the cake in my favorite colors, lime green and purple.

Feels nice to have a drivers license that doesn't have the bright red "UNDER 21" on it, and now it has a cute little heart to show I'm an organ donor.

One more week until my GRE exam *gulp* and a week after that, school starts!

Invasion of the Adorable Amphibians

Another day of field work at my job, and I remembered my camera this time!

It was a wonderful day for amphibious creatures... they were continually underfoot and I managed to get my hands on a few.

Warning: extreme cuteness ahead.

First up: baby gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor)Peep peep! Spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)Itty bitty toad (Bufo americanus)
Teensy red eft (Notophthalmus viridescens)
Bigger red eft (Notophthalmus viridescens)

Crawling on the walls

My college apartment (will be moving back in a few weeks) has some pretty bare walls. While looking for things to spice it up, I came across this shop on etsy: WilsonGraphics

Check out the amazing beetle and butterfly decals he has that you can stick right onto your walls! These are some of my favorites:
They're generously sized (6" to 8"), very reasonably priced and will assuredly freak out any squeamish guests.