Toy Con UK - 2016 - WOW
A week ago today I found myself in one of the most amazing places I've ever been to. ToyCon UK! I am kind of speechless over the whole thing and I wish I could re-live the weekend over and over and over again. What a place!
On the Friday I set up my table after trying to make my way from Victoria to Bethnal Green with a 40kg suitcase. It nearly killed me, but I was pleasantly surprised with the Londoners willingness to help a poor girl with her luggage! It took me about an hour and a half but I made it to my hotel. I only had a few hours sleep the night before as I literally finished the last resin toy at 9.00 in the morning and my bus was leaving at 11.00. So safe to say I was pretty tired once I reached the hotel. But I had allot of setting up to do so I had a shower and some food and then headed over to the convention hall.
The setting up took me forever! I have never fought so much with paper and cello tape in my life but I got it looking the way I wanted in the end lol. Didn't really talk with anyone on the setting up evening as I find it quite hard to approach people I've never met before. Just set my stuff up and then headed back to the hotel only to fall asleep at 9.30... woooops! Really needed that sleep though, but I felt really antisocial!
I had so much stuff with me! More than I thought I'd be able to finish in time for the Con. But I really pushed myself and I was very happy to see it all come together on the table. To be honest I didn't realize just how much I did have until I put it all out. I felt really bad for not giving you guys a preview of what I was going to bring, I just never had the chance. So I will give you a closer look now.
I think you saw from my instagram feed how hard I worked and how much stuff I actually managed to get done. I am very happy with everything that I made and in the end it was all worth it. The response to my toys have been mind-blowing to say the least. I could probably ride on this cloud of happiness forever.
This Ice-Cream Dunny from Candy Cove was the first thing I sold at my booth and to be honest I would have been happy with that. So when one thing after the other just went and my table looked emptier and emptier you can maybe try to imagine this crazy buzz I felt inside. I still can't believe that people want to own my art but you make me feel so damn good. And to meet so many of you have been such an amazing experience.
It's been so nice to meet all of you and to put faces to names. I do wish I had the chance to talk to many of you more than I got to do. Things were just so busy! But I do want to thank you again and again for buying my art and for supporting me and by doing so helping me to achieve a dream. A dream that is coming true a little bit more every day!
One thing I never thought would sell was this 8" Dunny. My first 8" actually and probably my favourite out of all the toys I've made. It was heartbreaking to see him go but at the same time I was super happy. I loved working on something bigger than a 3". So much room for imagination, plus the fact that it is much better balanced than a 3". I could never have put a huge lump of wood on a 3" Dunnys back without it falling over. He is a warden from the Whispering Woods. He looks after all the flying critters and foes of the woods. On his back he is carrying seeds of different sorts that he feeds to these animals.
I hope to do many more 8"ers in the future it's just very hard to get hold of them if you don't want to pay an absolute fortune, which I can't afford. This one was just a lucky hit on EBay a few months back! I'm in love with him.... going to miss him forever! The little Labbits were part of the custom as well :)
I'm also trying to explore new areas like with these two steam-punkesk Copter Dunnys. I love using the dirty look but I need to work on it a bit more as it takes me forever and many mistakes before I am completely happy. But as I've told you before, I like challenges and I need new obstacles to overcome or I get bored. I really like how they came out in the end though and even though it might be different from what I normally do I still think I've maintained my style. The copter girl is also one out of only two customs left in my store after the convention if you feel that you fancy her :)
Now this was my biggest achievement! My first original resin toys. The Baby Colossus and Mr. Bun Bun. They are all sold out now, but that is not what I'm talking about. This have been on my agenda for a long time and I finally did it. I have struggled so much with them though and it took me so much longer than I thought it would, this is why the week I would have had spare before ToyCon became the most important and most stressful week of my life. I'm not going to run you through all the problems I ran in to as it would take me forever and this blog entry is already getting way to long. Let's just say that making resin toys isn't as easy as it might seem...
Either way they were a huge success and I want to thank all of you that picked one up! There will definitely be more Bun Bun's and Colossus's in the future. Actually I am already planning the next Bun Bun release.....
Now I also met some awesome people and new friends. I want to thank Andy (TTC), RX7even, Penny (Taylored Curiosities) and Ian (Uncle Absinth) for and absolutely amazing night. You made me feel like I was 20 again and it's been a long long time since I had such a laugh and went to bed drunk as a skunk at 4.00 in the morning. I can't wait to hang out with you guys again next year. What a night! Here's to ToyCon UK 2017 it's going to be a BIG ONE and time just can't go quick enough! The Toy community is really something to be part of. Never in my life have I felt so welcome among strangers! Thank you for having me! <3 <3 <3