Below are listed some of the questions we receive most frequently.
Please read on to see if your question might have been answered already.
How did you come up with the idea of Fleef?
I was inspired by the concept of "art dolls", which are typically works of art created as collectibles and/or display pieces rather than toys to be played with. I wanted to create my own version of this concept, but I wanted MY art dolls to be softer and more interactive, which meant they needed to be less fragile and more touch-friendly.
Through much trial and error, I managed to combine the soft and cuddly aspect of plushies with the poseability and visual appeal of art dolls, and the "poseable plush" was born! After more experimentation, the first Fleef was discovered. I fell in love with their design and I made a few more. Then people bought them, so I made a few more. And the rest, as they say, is history.
What patterns do you use for your plushies?
All my custom plushies are made from patterns of my own design, often created from scratch to fit each plush. I don't use anyone else's work for my custom plush creations.
Do you sell Fleef patterns or kits so people can make their own?
No, I do not sell patterns or kits for people to make their own physical Fleef. Their design and base pattern are my original creation, which took a lot of time, energy, and trial and error to create. I have only a rough base pattern for my own personal use, and it is not formatted in such a way that others can easily follow it. Any deviations from this base pattern, for customs or unique designs, are made from scratch. I do offer Custom Fleef, so people can design their own Fleef and I can create it for them. And Fleef fan art is always welcome! I am hoping to have a gallery dedicated to this soon.
How long do Fleef take you to make?
All of my creations are completely hand-sewn. For most Fleef, their size and the incorporation of a poseable skeleton make the use of a sewing machine ineffective. The CuddleFleef are a potential exception to this, but I still prefer to sew them all by hand. Therefore, Fleef production times can vary greatly depending on the size of the Fleef, the complexity of their design, and the amount of time I have to work on them. Some of the simpler Common Fleef or MiniFleef may come together in about half a day, while larger CuddleFleef or more complex Special Fleef may take a week or more. This, of course, is assuming that I have all needed materials on hand and can work without interruption, which is rarely the case.
Can I get prints/stickers of your artwork?
I do have a variety of print sizes and stickers available of some of my colored pencil artworks, which can be found in the Sticker Shop.
Please note, however, that production of these items has been discontinued, so they are only available while my current supplies last.
In the future, I plan to create a new line of stickers featuring the Fleef, but these are not yet in production.
Honestly, I've been an artist for as long as I can remember. I started doing artwork full-time in 2022, but it has gone back to being a part-time endeavor since I've been going back to school. If you want to read the whole story, please check out my Artistic Journey.
What pencils do you use for your colored pencil drawings?
I use Prismacolor Soft Core for most of my color pencil drawings.
What drawing software do you use for digital art?
I prefer and primarily use Krita for my digital artwork at this time.
When I'm on the go and don't have my computer handy, sometimes I will use the Autodesk Sketchbook app on my mobile phone.
If you are curious about what other digital drawing apps and tools I have used in the past, be sure to check out my Artistic Journey.
Are you a "furry"?
Though I have often been mistaken for a furry online and I get along well with those within that community, I do not consider myself one of them.
The confusion is understandable, as I do have an animalistic character that I draw to represent myself online, much like the "fursona" which are common within the furry community. Yvonni, however, is what I call a "Counterpart," which is a visual representation of my artistic pseudonym and a way to retain a certain amount of anonymity in the online world. You could say she is a sort of mascot. Also, I prefer not to draw animals in the physically anthropomorphized style that is typical of furry culture. I've nothing against anthros or the artists who enjoy drawing them, it's just not my artistic preference. While I do enjoy drawing whimsical animals and imaginative creatures, I tend to prefer natural animal anatomy over human and humanoid anatomy.
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How did you come up with the idea of Fleef?
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Julie Spradley
