Making Ori: Chapter One

The Birth of Ori

There’s something magical about beginnings—the hush before the first chord is struck, the moment just before the curtain rises. For us, that moment was the spark of an idea: What if we didn’t just sell gnomes… but made our own?

We’d been building Plushwushie on the back of adorable, quirky characters—licensed toys, festive decorations, the odd misfit with charm in its seams. And we still love gnome decorations (we’re still selling them, too!). But we felt there was room to take things a step further. What if gnomes weren’t just for shelves and seasonal displays? What if they could become playmates—soft, safe, and story-rich plush companions made for actual adventures?

We’re creatives at heart. Dreamers with one foot in the realm of whimsy and the other in practicality. So we set out to make a gnome that could be hugged, dragged on adventures, tea-partied with, and tucked into bed. One that felt less like a decoration and more like a storybook come to life.

And so, we began designing Ori.

We knew the basics: keep the charm of the traditional gnome, but evolve it. Bring life to it. Eyes were essential—embroidered, of course, for softness and safety. We scrapped glue. Said a firm “no thanks” to plastic. Every stitch had to count. Every detail needed purpose and heart.

Color was our next muse. We were always drawn to the purples of Vlad and Viola—there’s something cozy yet magical about deep lavender and plum. So purple became Ori’s soul color. A royal hue for our noble little wanderer.

To find Ori’s form, we went full mad scientist—crafting 200 to 300 gnome variants in Canva. Hats tilted this way, eyes stitched that way, chubby hands or dainty fingers, soft textures versus detailed embroidery. It was like an audition for the ultimate gnome cast.

From that glorious chaos, we picked our favorites—the best hands, the most expressive eyes, the most loveable body shapes—and pieced them together like a plushy Frankenstein’s monster (only cuter and with a beard).

The first photo below? That’s the moment it all clicked. That little gnome was the culmination of our favorite traits. A patchwork of everything we’d loved during those many nights of trial and error.

Now, Ori’s final look has changed slightly from that concept, and we’ll share more about those tweaks in the coming weeks. But this was the spark. The “what if” that became a “why not?” and soon, a “look what we made.”

And honestly? We’re just getting started.