My friends over at Flat Bonnie have created an Easter campaign, “Adopt A Plush – Save A Bunny”.
Every year, soon after Easter, shelters and rescues are overwhelmed with abandoned animals that were given as Easter gifts to children. Most of these Easter babies will not live to see their first birthday. Many will die from injuries, neglect or be dumped at a park where they will become prey. Others are abandoned at shelters where they will be euthanized. No-kill rescues are overrun every year with unwanted “Easter Bunnies”.
Live animals are not toys for children. Adopt a plush animal this year instead. Teach a child about adoption and help an animal rescue at the same time. A portion of all Flat Bonnie sales is donated to bunny/animal
rescue organizations monthly.
They have some new characters they created for the “Adopt A Plush – Save A Bunny” Easter campaign: A baby duck, baby chick and bunnies in 3 new colors. These new Flatties are made with premium luxe fleece in soft pastel colors. Each plush comes with an adoption certificate, button and ribbon. They are $23 each. The “Adopt A Plush – Save A Bunny” campaign will be available through April.
About Flat Bonnie
Flat Bonnie is the very cute creation of Yukari and Rick. I’ve known them for a few years now and because of this new campaign, I thought it would be the perfect time to highlight these talented designers and their handmade plush. They have over 50 characters to choose from, but their main character is Flat Bonnie.
Hello, I’m Flat Bonnie!
I’m ready to go to my forever home.
I want to go everywhere with you, and love to get my picture taken.
Q & A With Flat Bonnie
• How did you come up with the character and name Flat Bonnie?
I created Flat Bonnie as a way to bring awareness to animals in need. White bunnies are the least likely to be adopted. I made my main character white to bring attention to those bunnies.
When bunnies are super relaxed and feel safe, they can lay very flat. Our bunny, Go-Go, was perfect at getting super flat. Also, a flat shape makes the plush a great travel companion. Our girl bunny’s name is Bon-Bon, a.k.a Bonnie Bon-Bon. That’s how I came up with the name, Go-Go was always flat and Bon-Bon was Bonnie.
• What roles do each of you play in the creation of Flat Bonnie?
I created Flat Bonnie and design the characters. I also hand make each Flattie and ship them to their forever homes. Rick does the photos, art/graphics and business stuff, like playing on the computer.
• I’m so amazed by what character designs you have come up with. How much time does it take to create a new plush character design?
A new character can take just a couple hours, or a year or more to decide on a final design.
• NoNo the Turtle has been one character I know that you have been trying to make into a plush. Have you been able to figure out a design?
Many people are waiting for a plush version… NoNo the Turtle was one of the first characters but still does not have a plush version. I am still working on a way to make her Flattie style, but side view instead of face forward like the other Flatties.
• You’ve had a couple of your plush creations in group art shows before. But how was your experience having an entire wall featured with your plush creations in a six-person show for the first time in 2014 at GR2?
That was pretty awesome to be in a show with such great artist. It was a little stressful. It was the first show that featured so many plush characters. I think there were about 40 pieces for that show.
• Since that huge showing at GR2, which was mainly handmade plush, you have created ornament style Flatties and Flattie wall art for other shows. Will you be producing these items for your site or mainly the shows?
Some of the ornaments (aka mini Flatties) are available on my site now. I plan to add more to the shop and have a few with me at conventions.
The wall art pieces were popular at the art show. I am trying to re-work my booth design so that I can feature them at conventions also. I have not put them in my online shop yet, but that is on my to-do list.
• All your plush pieces are handmade and not mass manufactured, how long does one plush piece take to make?
It takes about an hour for the simpler ones. Up to 3 hours for Flatties like the shark or cactus. I have made about 5,000 Flatties so far!
• You’ve done some collaboration work with other artists on some plush pieces, like Gary Baseman, Scott Tolleson, Leecifer and Mr. Toast (Dan Goodsell). How did those come about?
Usually as a recommendation from other artist. I also meet a lot of artists at art shows and events.
• I think I first met you both at your Wondercon booth a few years ago. You exhibit at other conventions/shows throughout the year, as well. Which ones do you have on your schedule for 2016?
WonderCon (March 25-27) and DesignerCon (November 19-20) are the main events. This year we will also be at CatConLA (June 25-26). Throughout the year we also help animal rescues with their fundraisers. We also participate in several art shows a year at places like Giant Robot, Leanna Lin’s Wonderland, IAM8BIT and PIQ galleries.
*Flat Bonnie has been featured at the Giant Robot booth at San Diego Comic-Con the past couple of years. As of this posting, I have heard that they may be featured at the booth this year again!
• Any exclusives planned for these shows?
I will have BunEwoks and PiggiEwoks for WonderCon. I haven’t decided on Flatties for CatConLA and DesignerCon yet.
*There may be an exclusive at San Diego Comic-Con (July 20-24) at the Giant Robot booth.
• I’ve heard that you have gone days without sleep getting ready for a show or Con. Has it been challenging to create new designs, prep for shows and produce stock (since they are handmade by you) all at the same time?
Yes. It can be very stressful at times. It is hard to get everything ready in time for a convention. It is also difficult deciding what characters may not make it to the show or how many to bring. I usually go home each night and make more of the sold out ones for the next day of the show.
• Other than the conventions and shows, where else can people purchase Flat Bonnie products?
My online shop has all the Flat Bonnie items. Sometimes I drop a few plushes off at Giant Robot store. There are a few other stores, but it’s hard to have any extra plushes for stores because I still hand make them.
• The plush items are not the only products you produce. What other products do you have available?
Pins, buttons, keychains, stickers, tote bags, jewelry, prints and handmade wall art.
• You have produced custom plush pieces of a person’s pet, like the one I had done of Tee’s dog, Nigel. Can you do a custom piece of any animal? What do you need for this and how can a person order one?
Mostly I make custom bunnies, guinea pigs, dogs and cats. Sometimes birds and rats. If someone wants any other animal, they can just e-mail me. If it is a pet, I need clear photos and description of markings.
• Any final thoughts or comments?
Thank you for helping spread Flat Bonnie’s message.
“Flat Bonnie’s mission is to raise awareness of abandoned animals, and the importance of adopting”.
Flat Bonnie plushes are made with 100% animal friendly products.
A generous portion of sales is donated to bunny/animal rescue organizations monthly.
For more information, news or to purchase some of their products, visit the links below:
www.FlatBonnie.com
instagram.com/FlatBonnie
facebook.com/FlatBonnie
twitter.com/flatbonnie
