JUST KIDDIN'. WE AIN'T HOLY. But we can answer your most frequently asked questions!

NOTE: BEFORE ASKING ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONSULT THIS MAN FIRST. HE IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE IN ALL SUBJECTS:

[link]

Anyhow. If you have any questions that are not answered here, please feel free to ask them!!

Who is teamTHRASH?
We're a team of crafty twins named Val and Becca (so if we answer one of your comments using "we", it doesn't mean the commenter has a split personality or is using the royal we. xD) We originally started off as a comicking team, believe it or not! We're just a couple of crazy kids with crazy ideas, and we decided that we wanted to give plushies a shot. Our main goal was to sell them at a local anime convention, Connecticon, and ever since then, it's been like magic! We love making plushies of anything or anyone.

Oh. Okay then. How do you make the eyes?
Our plushies' eyes are made from iron-on paper. It can be found at most any craft stores. Iron-on paper can be transferred onto most any material you could think of.

What materials do you use for your plushies?
Most of our plushies' bodies are made from flannel, which is very soft, cuddly and durable. The hair is made from felt, and the clothing is made from any random material we have!

Felt, eh? I hear that's pretty flimsy fabric. >>;
Well, not really. x3 As with any fabric, like that old t-shirt you love that's been through the wash a hundred times, felt does wear down after time. But we can assure you--as long as you don't use your plushie in a game of touch football or something, it'll be fine! The bodies are made of flannel, which is very durable, so it will last you a long time. Our plushies are made for snuggling or displaying, so no worries!

I'm new to making plushies. Can you give me any tips?
Well, that's a loaded question! We could write a whole book on it, but you should try figuring some of it out yourself--your plushies will end up a lot more unique if you do. Here are some basic tips:

*Study other plushies that you have--it could be anything from a teddy bear to a Naruto plush--and see how they're put together. Take notice of the shape of all the different pieces and exactly how they're sewn together.
*Collect a wide variety of fabrics--you never know when you might need it! Using a wide variety of fabrics makes your plush look more complete and professional. Plushie artists are always trying new fabrics and have their own unique preferences for what they like to use, so it's up to you to experiment!
*Most importantly, don't be afraid to mess up! Your first few projects aren't going to be perfect, no one's is. Try to learn from your mistakes and in no time, sewing plushies will be like second nature to you!

Can I have a copy of the pattern you use?
Sorry, but no. Some people tend to get upset at this, but asking for our pattern is kind of like asking a cartoonist if you can trace one of their drawings exactly. We spend a long time developing the patterns we use for our plushes and it's best for you to do the same. Try to make your plushies look unique! Develop your own style!
However, if you are looking for some good, free practice patterns, check out the UFO Catcher forum: [link]

Do you do plushie trades?
It depends! If you'd like to do a trade, please note us. If we're very busy, we may not be able to do it, but please note us anyway. ^.^

Can you guys make anything besides anime plushies?
Yes, yes we can! ;D We can make you pretty much anything you would like, as long as you supply us with sufficient reference pictures. If we feel the design is too difficult to create in plush form, we will ask you to choose a different design. Because come on, you don't want a crappy looking plushie, do you? xD

The character I want has a weapon/extra accessory. Can you make it for me?
Yes, we'll do that, but only by request. If your plushie has a hat, scarf, or something of that nature, we'll automatically make it, but if it's something like a purse, weapon, or anything else removable, please request it if you want it. In some cases, the price will be increased if the weapon/accessory is really complex.

How tall are your plushies?
Our plushies are generally 7 1/2 to 8 inches tall. You can request one that is bigger than that, but it will cost more.

Are all of the plushies in your gallery for sale?
Yes, any design you see in our gallery is for sale. We can make any one you would like. Some of the designs have already been sold, be we can make you an exact replica of the one you see in the picture.

How much do your plushies cost?
It really depends. The bulk of the plushies you see in our gallery would cost anywhere from $25 to $40, depending on the detail in the plush. Some may be less, and if the design is really complex or we have to make a new pattern for it, then it will cost more. Detailed commission info here! [link]

How do I pay for my plushie?
We generally only accept cash or money orders. Send money at your own risk--unlike money orders, cash CANNOT be tracked if it gets lost in the mail!!
Credit cards and personal checks are out of the question.

Um...what's a money order?
A money order can be purchased at the bank, post office, or most drugs stores. They're very inexpensive--less than a dollar. Money orders are better than sending cash in the mail because if a money order gets lost in the mail, you can put a tracker on it and eventually get your money back. If cash gets lost in the mail, however, you're pretty much screwed. So we highly recommend money orders.
Seriously, you guys, they're not at all hard to get. Many people seem very opposed to using them, but they're really the better (and smarter) method of payment.

ARE YOU SURE I CAN'T USE PAYPAL?! PLEASE?!
Generally, the only way we accept PayPal is if you're not a United States citizen. Otherwise, we truly do not like to use it. A lot of people tell us that it's a lot easier to use, but for us, it's a great inconvenience. If you MUST use Paypal, we have a $5 Paypal fee--this covers the cost of the money Paypal takes out of the money you send.
If you are a United States citizen and there is really no other possible way to get your payment to us, then we make a few exceptions. But PLEASE, try to use a money order. It's soooo much easier for us, your loving plushie makers. ;D

Do you guys ship outside of the US?
Yes, we do!

How much is shipping?
Shipping costs $5. That covers the cost of the package that we send your plushie in and the actual shipping cost at the post office. If you live out of the United States or you are ordering several plushies that will require a bigger package to send them in, it will be $10.

When will commissions open again?!
This is probably our most frequently asked FAQ. xD And the answer is, as always: WE DUNNO. There is no set date for when we open commissions--it really depends on our workload at the time and how quickly we can finish everything. Please, please, I cannot stress this enough-watch our journal for updates. We will put all important updates in there!

Aaaaagh I keep missing your commission openings!! Can I reserve a spot for the next time you open!?
No, unfortunately we will not allow this any more. It becomes too tricky to keep track of all of the people who are on our reservation list, so commissions are strictly on a first come, first serve basis.

How do I care for my plushie?
Be very careful not to get your plushie wet, especially the face--the ink on the eyes WILL bleed, and we cannot fix that for free since the paper we use is very expensive. Likewise, we cannot fix any rips on your plushie free of charge unless it arrives damaged. Just keep that in mind!
Obviously, if you simply treat your plushie with love and respect, it will be happy and healthy! x3

Do you guys have a website?
No, dA is our only webpage. Send us a note if you would like to order a plushie.
OR, if you really want to, you can e-mail us at: team_THRASH@yahoo.com.

Can I use a picture of a teamTHRASH plushie on my deviantART/facebook/myspace/personal site etc.?
Sure, as long as you give us ample credit and link back to our deviantART page! Please give us a link to your project, so we can see how you used our plushies~ If we see that you didn't credit us, we will ask you to remove the image.

Will you guys be at *insert anime convention here*? MAYBE! teamTHRASH is planning on hitting conventions all throughout the New England area and beyond, so check our journal for con updates!

Do you guys have an FAQ?
NO. GET OFF OUR PAGE. jk lolol

Okay, so that's it for now! Like I said, if you have any other questions, please ask them here and I will add them to the FAQ! See, you can be a celebrity! xD



teamTHRASH

Detailed commission info here! [link]