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I had a great time at the Ion Conference last week.  What was different about this conference was that the organizers focused on the social aspect of doing business.  The speakers and sessions were good, but what stood out were the many networking opportunities integrated into the event. 

There was a half an hour space between each session.  All of the rooms were fairly close together and connected to each other by a lobby that was usually filled myriad of refreshments.  Food and drink and free time generally facilitates conversation.  That combination resulted in many conversations about the game industry, the entertainment business and otherwise with some very interesting and lovely people.    

That said, I’d like to give a shout-out to a few of the many folks I met:

• Daniel Ostenso from the Illinois Institute of Art
• Sabrina Gasson from Testronic Laboratories in the UK
• Shawn Foust, Associate at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, LLC in Century City, CA
• Greg Lester from Colliers Interantional in Bellevue, WA
• Tim Robinson from Krome Studios, Australia
• Radha Kotamarti, Microsoft
• Chris LeFeaver, a Canadian working for Amberlight in London
• Connie Gougler, Iovation in Portland, OR
• Nathan Emerson and Andrew Maxwell from Markee Dragon in Portland

See you guys next year, I hope! 

6th Annual ECCC :: May 10th & 11th, 2008 :: Seattle, WA
Washington State Convention & Trade Center
http://www.emeraldcitycomicon.com/

1. awesome costumes–like the Wolverine we saw last year with butter knives taped to his hands
2. great artists like Peter Bagge and Ellen Forney
3. a bunch of extra talented comic artists I totally don’t know
4. the hot dude from Battlestar Galatica
5. fun people to meet like Suzanne Kaufmann—the 3D animator who will be working with us this summer who we met at the ComiCon years ago
6. amazing up-in-coming illustrators, animators, comic book artists you haven’t heard of, yet
7. being able to buy that Yoda or Strawberry Shortcake toy you remember having as a kid
8. Wil Wheaton, AGAIN?!?
9. watching people you know totally NERD out
10. urmmm… the Suicide Girls?

See you there! Be forewarned that photos of the event will of course be posted…

The third annual “Plush You!” showcase of DIY plush toys highlights the movement’s innovative artists. A forthcoming book includes toy tutorials so that readers can take a swing at crafting their own plush creations. With the book arriving in October, we anticipate 2007’s Plush You! to be teh best yet and the most comprehensive display of plush craft ever.

An opening reception will be held at Schmancy, Nancy and Fancy+Pants on October 12th from 5pm to 9pm. Plush artists from all over the country will be in attendance.

Plush You! logo designed by Matt Tamaru.

Super7 presents the Halloween Monster Mash custom art show, featuring the custom figures of a variety of artists from both sides of the Pacific! Western and Eastern artists come together to create the coolest collection of customs ready to haunt your shelf for the month of October.

Saturday, October 6 at 7:00 - 10:00pm

Super7 Store | 1628 Post Street | San Francisco, CA 94115 | Phone: 415.409.4700

Children facing a serious illness are often uprooted from their friends, family and local communities to receive treatment at Seattle Children’s Hospital & Regional Medical Center. With generous donations of art supplies, we were able to offer an artistic outlet for children and their families as they go through some very difficult times.  In conjunction with an all-staff outing to deliver the supplies, a handful of us were given the privilege to lead an Origami craft in the hospital playroom with the help of our art therapist friend, Ayako Sato. It was a great beginning to our volunteering and giving traditions at Plexipixel, and we are very grateful for the support and donations from our friends and community. Learn about more ways to donate and volunteer at Children’s Hospital here.

Wow! We were overwhelmed by the generosity of our Plexipixel family and friends during our Art Supply Drive for Children’s Hospital & Regional Medical Center!  We’re cooking up a way to do more than just donate the supplies too.  With the help of a friend at Children’s we are in the planning stage of participating in an activity event with the patients when we go to Children’s to donate the supplies.  Crafts, art and getting to spend some time with some very brave children – we can’t wait!  Thank you to all who donated, we couldn’t have an impact without you.

Here’s an interview with Le Merde. If you are in the San Francisco area, please be sure to check out their show at Super7 on May 12th.

This animation is a collaboration of Plexipixel’s Matt Rodriguez, Le Merde, Shawn Wolfe and Darick Chamberlain.

Wow, so our pal Jim Woodring has a new toy from Strangeco, and it looks good enough to eat.

Mr. Bumper will be in stores and online in December, just in time to get your lover that magical toy they have always wanted.

Check out this incredible packaging. You’ll be haunted if you don’t invest in this beauty!