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Story by
Rokali
Published on February 6, 2008 in Etc |
Photo by Rokali |
I just received a wonderful gift from Etsy seller thebirdsandbees: a felted fish, inspired by Swimmy. He's pictured above, and he's quite lonely. It'd be fun if a whole bunch of Etsy sellers could make his red-orange friends, and we'll make a diorama here showing them all arranged like a big fish (as in the book).
So, if you would, if you could, please make a fish facing right as pictured below, in your medium of choice:

I also made a printable PDF template which you can trace. Download the file here.
Please mail your fish to Etsy HQ:
Etsy
c/o Swimmy
325 Gold St, Floor 6
Brooklyn. NY 11201
Thanks!
ps
If you don't know who Swimmy is, read the post Etsy's First Five Years.
| Tags | Etsy Community Projects, Etsy Labs, fish, fun, projects, Swimmy |
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77 comments Login to add your own!
PreciousPups
can't wait for these to start rolling in! underwater diorama time!
Iheartmoustaches
i will get to work crocheting some coral and seaweed right away!
likeomg
I can make it in Vector format, but sewing is going to be tricky for me. (I do know how to sew, but I'm a little rusty...)
Go Swimmy! Swim!
esdesigns
Does it have to be made of fabric? I love Swimmy, it was one of my favorite books as a kid! I'm visualizing one out of copper, but I'm not sure if I have time to make it.
Bumblebeebaby
Does it have to be "Etsy orange?" Or can it be any color? I have tons of colorful fleece fabric, but I don't think I have any "Etsy orange."
esdesigns
Oh, I see it says "medium of your choice" so I guess copper is ok :)
ArtMind
I love Swimmy!
I loved the story and I loved it being read to us in the video even more.
I will make one - hope he'll swim safely across the ocean... ;)
Experimetal
should we put a hOLE in it?
Is it going to be hung in the end like a giant calder mobile?
imakecutestuff
OMG! Fun Times! Now to find some orangy-red material...hmmmm. I'm going to get EtsyRain (seattle street team) to get in on this one! Yay!
Experimetal
I know that some members of EtsyMetal street team are planning on making some of Swimmy's friends too!
Yay!
beetlegirldesign
An orange fish it is. I might have to fancy it up though...
maggiejs
I'm in!
will this be hung on the wall? or should it be 2 sided for a mobile?
pancakeandlulu
is there a deadline or can they swim on in anytime? (soooo busy at the moment--but I want to be a part of it!)
justynhegreberg
i'm a little worried about all of this swimmy business. it is a cute story and apt yet i am curious, as are others, if there are copyright issues with the public broadcast of the work. in addition it now seems that some people are making and selling items on etsy that directly name and resemble the character in the book.
is this an issue we should be worried about?
justynhegreberg
parody is different that straight performance. they read it and then said we should be like that. that isn't quite parody. at least not to my knowledge.
eclipse
justyn I meant my comment in reference to "some people are making and selling items on etsy that directly name and resemble the character in the book." I am one of those 'some people'. My ACEOs=parody=fair use.
The videotaped reading was not (intentional) parody, that I know of.
aplanetnamedjanet
May I clarify, "I have fish in my shop already". Not swimmys but other fish.
GreenSpaceGoods
I think it is a great idea and I don't think that making a big fish for display at Etsy is going to be a copyright issue. I wouldn't worry about it :)
discomedusa
woah, i totally made one a few years ago- too bad it's in storage!
mLee
I am so all over this x10!
And I am inspired to bump the Leo Lionni collection up on my birthday wishlist.
GreenSpaceGoods
Everyday here, I hear a lot of skepticism over Etsy's mission. It just doesn't seem believable to some that a group of people could possibly want to build something for a greater purpose. I think the metaphor is touching. I think the idea of a diorama representing us all is great, and I'll be happy to be a part of it.
marikoartstudio
It's my first time to seriously pay attention anything inside the Storque, so I'm quite excited to find such a fun project. I'm working on it right now..., pieces of leather, seedbeads, my fingers are covered with glue...yeaow!
daniellexo
Love that visual mariko! Can't wait to see these. Perhaps we should have a swimmy making party at the EtsyLabs on Monday?
valutree
Oh I am so in. I already started on it. This is a wonderful project. I love the Swimmy mission and think it's great the etsy in this for more then monetary gain. Go etsy!
TumboweedAnnie
Wonderful mission! I'm hooked!
Thanks for the inspiration Rokali. I will be simming your way with my red-orange fish.
ocbaby
What a great idea! I can't wait to see them all! May I suggest that after the have pics are done that any suitable toy fish be donated to needy children?
I haven't read all the post to see if it has been suggested already....
lessthanthreedesigns
AHHHH! SO CUTE!
Yeah. You can probably expect one from me. :)
GreenMamba
While parody is permitted, creating derivative works for promotional purposes, or for 'fun', is NOT allowed under fair use. Of course, if Etsy has obtained the proper permissions, just add that notation to the articles and video where Swimmy is referenced. Easy-peasy.
I'd participate if everything was on the up-and-up. But I don't want to be involved in any fishy business . . .
serenityii
My family had a fun time making fish last night! We'll be sending one off probably tomorrow. I was also wondering about the fate of the fish after the photos are taken. It'd be cool if they were on display on a wall somewhere, but it also occurred to me that they could be sold to benefit charity or something. . .
bornlippy
I'm wondering how are these going to be hung? I included a small square of sticky-back Velcro with my swimmy.
crudeco
And how many swimmies can he swim?
If too many participate, how will anyones swimmy be observed?
How many swimmy's can he eat before there's only one survivor swimmy?
Seems a little fishy too me too.
marikoartstudio
Hi Danielle,
Thanks for the nice comment!
OK, perhaps we should have the swimmy par~ty. I could swim over Hudson & East River to EtsyLabs on Monday. It'll be my first visit there and that'd be nice because I've been very curious what goes on at Etsy HQ. Email me the details if you'd like. Hope to see you soon!
daniellexo
I think we'll hang them with fishing line ;) From the top of the diorama? Once they start flopping in we'll see what will work best.
papapots
Oh how fun! I'll start a fishy and hopefully my kiln will get over the flu in time to make him orange. Is ceramic ok? Should I add anything to make him hangable?
Experimetal
"quote" I think we'll hang them with fishing line ;) From the top of the diorama?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
so a hole then is required for possible hanging...
lagelle
Hello~
It was very inspiring to see the video about Swimmy and it's history. I definitely want to be involved. If too many are received what will happen with the others? I'm happy to be part of Etsy.
Tye
HomeMadeOriginals
Fun idea and story....here's mine complete with his own seaweed:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/homemade...
daniellexo
experimetal - no hole required. some can also be flat or we can figure out different options. a hole to hang from would be helpful - but not required!
perhaps any 2-D fish can hang out against the back wall of the diorama.
ps. check out the pool so far!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/underwat...
jillhannah
This is awesome. I am pleased with its awesomeness. I make cards, so mine is on its way in card form.
http://flickr.com/photos/jillhannah/a...
PrettyPennyPlastics
I didn't realize how few orange supplies I have.
Great brainstorm, for sure!
imakecutestuff
Oh yay! EtsyRain (your Seattle street team) is making a bunch of them to keep Swimmy company! We'll be sending the "school" over to you on the 20th :) Thanks for the Fun Fun Fun project!
Diamondmeenuh
I've got a whole school of Swimmies on one of my Book Briefcases. Will see if I've got more of the fabric to make a few 'unattached' ones. Love this idea! Loved the Swimmy story, too
NetsPets
I sent my swimmy earlier in the week - he has to swim from the southern hemisphere! Could take him a while!!
LilahAndCompany
Ditto on that question, Experimental. I think I am late to the thread, but I want to participate.
serenityii
Did our fish make it yet? Yarn on cardboard and a googly eye?
dragonhouseofyuen
More eggs have hatched - another little one will be on her way shortly!
(from Scotland)
matilou
i also will do it in this thread!
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php...



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