The Softie Awards will showcase designers who have embraced the world of stuffed toys and made it their own by creating everything from cute bunnies to burnt toast. Awards will be given out in 12 categories. Therese Laskey is the mastermind behind the new awards and is also the author of a forthcoming how-to book on softie-making with projects contributed by the best softie-makers from around the world. Softies will be released by Chronicle Books in fall 2007.

How it works:
Entrants will upload photographs of their handmade, originally-designed softies to The Softie Awards flickr group. A panel of craft-loving judges will cull through the entries and pick the top five softies for each category. After the top five for each are chosen, voting will open to the online community of softie-makers and softie-lovers worldwide. The softie with the most votes in each category wins!

Deadlines:
Entries must be submitted to the flickr group by March 9, 2007.

Prizing:
Each winner will receive an official The Softie Awards ribbon (handmade of course!), as well as a special prize. Prizes include an original print by Camilla Engman, a subscription to CRAFT magazine, and an ‘Ask the Editor’ phone conversation with a craft editor at Chronicle Books.

Judges:
Natalie Zee Drieu, editor, CRAFT magazine
Alicia Paulson, designer/creator, Posy Gets Cozy
Cal Patch, clothing & embroidery designer, Hodge Podge Farm
Jenn Docherty, softie artist
Sarah Neuburger, artist, The Small Object
Lena Corwin, textile designer and illustrator
Hillary Lang, softie artist, Wee Wonderfuls
Robert Mahar, proprietor and curator, Mahar Drygoods
Mare Kare, creator of The Sampler
Jef Kaminsky (Kids TV development executive)
Leah Kramer, founder, Craftster
Heidi Kenny, softie artist, My Paper Crane
Chika Mori, softie artist, Chikagraphy