For Christmas 2012, I decided to go out on a limb and make a gift for my husband, something I'd never done before. He's talked for years about getting a plush versions of his fursona, Akela Vincent. Thanks to the lovely girls at North Sound who created and released their jointed plush pattern, I was able to give Akela something he's always wanted.

Mini-Akela is about 18" tall sitting and 24" tall standing, he's totally adorable and perfectly sized for hugging with just the right amount of stuffing inside. No, he is not for sale, and no, I am not taking commissions for plush like this.

Mini-Akela is made from the same furs Akela's fursuit is made out of, and entirely hand-sewn by me. It took me a literal week to hand-stitch every bit of this guy. The limbs and head are jointed so they swivel. The face and paws are shaved down and details by thread sculpting and the pawpads were painstakingly hand-stitched on top of the fur. The nose is shaped and sewn fleece, as are the eyelids. I added the scarf for seasonal cuteness. And I did this all without Akela never being the wiser what was up until he opened the box with his plush inside on Christmas.

I want to thank the North Sound folks for the pattern-- you really helped make my hubby's Christmas bright!