Join us at the InLiquid Holiday Pop-Up Shop at the Ray Philly for a workshop with plush sculptor THECOLORG! With all materials provided, learn how to create your own holiday-themed stuffed animal to take home. These plush dolls would make perfect festive, handmade gifts!
In her plush-making workshops, THECOLORG guides participants in how to design and sew their own plush friend. She has led both private and public workshops at schools, events, and artist spaces across the Philadelphia region.
Perfect for all ages and experience levels, these hands-on workshops are unique opportunities for participants to gain sewing experience and learn from a professional artist. Participants will learn about both hand sewing and machine sewing, and get the opportunity to decorate their plush to make it unique.
This December, we will host two workshops at the InLiquid Holiday Pop-Up Shop. On Saturday, December 14th, join us to craft a plush holiday bear, complete with special festive fabrics. On Sunday, December 22nd, we will be crafting plush penguins, a wintry friend with wings that flap. All materials will be included: fabric, stuffing, sewing supplies, and holiday decorations for your plush doll.
About the Artist:
THECOLORG is a millennial feminine queer interdisciplinary artist based in Philadelphia, PA. She creates playful, nostalgic plush sculptures that draw inspiration from the stuffed animals her family would craft when she was a child. Her work, which ranges from soft sculpture to installation and painting, evokes childhood memories while also drawing inspiration from her adult experiences.
THECOLORG holds an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and a BFA from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
What is important to you about plush sculpture?
“Plush sculpture is incredibly important to me because it combines softness—both literal and emotional—with the power of storytelling. Plushies create an immediate, tactile connection, and are accessible to most people - they have a unique ability to straddle the line between art and play, breaking down barriers of accessibility in art. More recently, I have been using the teddy bear in my work because in its simplest form, it transcends generation, gender, culture, and class making it an accessible entry point for my work that explores themes of identity, pop culture, and current events.”
What does a day in the studio look like for you?
“Lately, my studio days have been a mix of creativity and problem-solving, shaped by the challenges of being a millennial in today’s economic climate. Balancing the hustle for daily essentials with my art practice can be tough, leaving limited time and resources for creating. When I carve out studio time, I start by brainstorming ideas through sketches and notes, developing plans for my strongest concepts.
I’m often gathering materials from local resources and using what I have on hand while seeking opportunities to show and share my work. This cycle of planning, collecting, and showing has become the foundation of my practice - I would say my creative process is 60% planning and 40% making. I’m incredibly grateful for the support of my community—friends and local artists—who have helped make my studio projects possible through material and financial support.
When I’m preparing for workshops or pop-up events, my attention shifts to organizing supplies, assembling kits, and making sure everything is ready to give participants a fun and engaging experience. Whether it’s brainstorming, creating, or teaching, my studio time is all about finding ways to align my ideas with my current life experience. My practice is intertwined with my lived experience, making the studio a place I can carry with me throughout my days no matter where I am.”
Does childhood nostalgia influence your work?
“Childhood nostalgia is a huge influence on my work. Growing up in farmland, my stuffed animals were some of my closest friends, companions in my day-to-day adventures, and the center of my creativity. My first art projects revolved around them—I designed and built cars, houses, campers, and even clothes for my plush companions. They became characters in my stories and symbols of safety during challenging times. That deep sense of wonder, comfort, and connection is something I strive to bring into my creations. I love reinterpreting those nostalgic forms and memories through a contemporary lens, blending the past with the present to create pieces that feel both familiar and fresh.”
What do participants take away from your workshops?
“Participants leave my workshops with more than just a handmade plush - they take away a sense of accomplishment, creative confidence, and the joy of making something unique with their own hands. The process of designing, sewing, and assembling their plush often fosters a meditative focus and encourages participants to embrace imperfection as a part of creativity. As adults, we focus too much on perfectionism and the idea that you have to be good at something to do it. Many creators who have attended my workshops have expressed that the workshops reconnect them with a sense of play and imagination that they have not experienced often as an adult. Play, imagination, creativity, and a love for soft cutesy things are not reserved for children alone - which is why my workshop is designed for all ages. Ultimately, I hope participants leave feeling inspired, empowered, and a little softer toward themselves and others.”
About the Holiday Pop-Up Shop:
The InLiquid Holiday Pop-Up Shop is a limited-time collection of available artwork, perfect for holiday gift giving. Alongside our workshops with THECOLORG, we will have exclusive artists vending on the weekends with an extended selection of their work. Check it out at the Ray Philly, a space for artists and creatives across the street from our InLiquid Gallery.
About Ray Philly:
Ray is a residential development company that is focused on developing space that makes art and culture accessible through daily experiences. Located at 1525 N. American St. in the South Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, the building features six, publicly-accessible artist studios on the ground floor, 110 apartments, a free communal art studio (called the makerspace) for residents among other amenities, and a commercial space currently available for lease. For more information visit www.rayphilly.place or @rayisaplace on Instagram.
