“Zombie Taco Hell Dog” by BethDeathHorrorDolls. I loved her Etsy shop, which is definitely not for the faint of heart. Browse the rest of her store at your own peril, but don’t say I didn’t warn you
Et·som·ni·a (/etˈsämnēə/), noun, 1. a sleep disorder caused by obsessive Etsy browsing. 2. the surprising arrival of weird handmade merchandise ordered when one is only half conscious. (True story.)
While writing my post last week about Clair the world-traveling dog, I looked on Etsy for a couple of stuffed animals to help make my (silly) point, and I realized I’ve never explored the . . . I guess you’d call it diverse selection of stuffed animals and plush toys on Etsy. Quite a few of the offerings are intentionally ugly, some are in truly terrible taste, and much of it is completely random, but some pieces are surprisingly lovely. And while the plush creatures are weird and distressing, many of their titles are often even nuttier than their appearance.
For more Etsy fun, check out all my weekly Etsomnia™ posts.
It seemed fitting to start with a little Bowie tribute. Gorgeous AND creepy Goblin King doll (with Farrah hair) by Panlora
“Donut Designer Plush” with mustache. People, if you must make a plush donut, at least give it some personality
“Mr. Pinkles” is not the name I would have given this oddity with eyelashes.
I need this mermaid NOW. By TheGrumpyGnome
Hilarious pink Dalek “with jingles.” Because when I think of infant toys, I definitely go right to deadly Dr. Who creatures. By fassbaby
“Cutie pie?” Are you sure that’s what you want to call it?
“Adorable” two-headed bunny.
Those who can, do. Those who can’t, make “Blobs of Any Color.”
“Roadkill animal of your choice.” Nope.
“Turtle Goddess with Child” which includes materials like “SteamPunk Eyes,” which are definitely a thing, right?
“Pink Bat-Winged Sperm Or Ghost Thing”
Stuffed hairball. I’m joking, of course. Hairballs are much more attractive than this “Alien Novelty Plush.”
I would not have expected to find a felted robot cute, but GinnyPenny proved me wrong
“Herpes” It would make a memorable “whoops, I gave you a disease” gift.
“Twilight the Undead Fox” I like his jaunty little lace scarf and his hair bow. Because who doesn’t like an undead animal with a sense of style?
This “Charles De Gall-bladder” makes me want to run to the nearest urologist to confirm my bladder doesn’t have eyes.
“Be My Valentine Massacre” bear. I’m guessing this maker spent Valentine’s Day alone
I could not resist showing you these weirdly adorable grim reaper valentines. Let your freak flag fly, Etsy! By WarpedAndWhimsical
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My OBT 
January 14, 2016 at 7:30 am
This was by far the best way to start my morning! Thank you I loved them all….
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January 14, 2016 at 8:36 am
You always did have a warped sense of humor! (We have that in common!)
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January 14, 2016 at 8:18 am
Oddly this was a Marmite selection: no room for indifference, only love or loathe. Some of those things just made my flesh crawl (and I spend much of my time drawing zombies) but I loved the mermaid, the grim reapers and the robot. Don’t laugh but I rather liked the bat winged sperm too, not enough to countenance buying it ever but enough to appreciate it. My kids are going to want that roadkill raccoon.
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January 14, 2016 at 8:38 am
I know what you mean about the winged thing. It did have a certain something. The roadkill was a last-minute replacement for something I didn’t think was good (bad) enough, and I couldn’t live it more!
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January 14, 2016 at 11:33 am
What a beautiful collection of oddities! The idea behind your blog as a whole is inspiring and wonderful =)
Beth at thenerdwifeslife.wordpress.com
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January 14, 2016 at 11:41 am
Thank you! Etsomnia tends to be a bit rough, but it amuses me, and I do try to make the rest as positive as I can. Very glad you like it!
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January 14, 2016 at 11:50 am
I think your comments with each interesting picture are delightful.
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January 14, 2016 at 12:36 pm
You’re very sweet!
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January 14, 2016 at 11:56 am
I wonder, who would buy any of those oddities Donna?
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January 14, 2016 at 12:36 pm
I can’t imagine, but someone must, right? There’s so many stuffed horribles on Etsy, someone must want them.
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January 14, 2016 at 4:43 pm
My line of Grims (last post) are doing pretty well, actually! 😉 People who are drawn to the darker side of life or have a quirky sense of humour are often looking for something that’s not mass produced. Plus, who doesn’t want to cuddle with a grim reaper now and then?
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January 14, 2016 at 4:47 pm
They are so cute, that when I showed Beloved the post last night, she said if we won the lottery (we didn’t), the first thing she’d buy would be them!
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January 14, 2016 at 4:53 pm
Good for you, that they sell well and art is always by individual taste 🙂
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January 14, 2016 at 2:05 pm
Repeat after me: “Etsy is for plagiarism, not purchase.”
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January 14, 2016 at 2:09 pm
This made me laugh so loudly, I had to close my door.
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January 14, 2016 at 2:14 pm
Works on Pinterest, too, unless you use THIS site for inspiration:
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January 14, 2016 at 2:24 pm
Oh, no. There goes my afternoon.
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January 14, 2016 at 2:25 pm
My record is twenty-three minutes on there but it was totally worth it–I forgot what I was mad about.
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January 14, 2016 at 2:36 pm
That’s pure genius! I am plugging beloved into this the next time she gets mad at me.
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January 14, 2016 at 2:53 pm
Ha, ha! Might want to set a chocolate cupcake and a glass of wine next to the computer when you do. You know, back up.
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January 14, 2016 at 4:42 pm
That does it. You are my new spirit animal.
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January 14, 2016 at 4:47 pm
I demand worship. And Ghirardelli Dark & Caramel Sea Salt Squares.
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January 14, 2016 at 4:56 pm
Caramel, dark chocolate, and sea salt are my favorite things, so know that when I recommend something, it is as
a gluttonan expert: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B008VU0CZELikeLike
January 14, 2016 at 5:12 pm
You’re evil, I like you.
Frustrated with the price and seasonality of the original, I taught myself how to make my own Ghirardelli dark peppermint bark, but better. I’m determined to learn how to make the caramel version, too.
Of course, the world will never see me again except when I emerge at my front door to sign for the monthly shipments of chocolate and caramel I’m going to have delivered straight to my stomach
Don’t worry, I’ll eat cheese and pizza, too, I’m all about balance.
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January 14, 2016 at 5:41 pm
Their dark chocolate peppermint bark is a real problem. We had to force ourselves to buy only one bag per year. Balance indeed. Please promise never to share the recipe with me, and I won’t share with you my dark chocolate cups with peppermint mousse. Deal?
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January 14, 2016 at 8:12 pm
Deal.
DANGEROUS GHIRARDELLI PEPPERMINT BARK
Dump a bag of Ghirardelli 60% dark chips in a nonstick saucepan over VERY low heat and let it sit without stirring until the chips are about 3/4 of the way melted.
Now stir in 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and 1 teaspoon peppermint schnapps.
Use spatula to spread on a foil-lined cookie sheet 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick and put in fridge. Lick spatula clean, because you’re the cook, damnit.
Quickly clean out saucepan and repeat process with a bag of white chocolate chips (make sure it’s the real thing with actual cocoa butter in it), 1 teaspoon oil, but no booze.
Spread this carefully over the top of the chocolate layer and then immediately sprinkle 1 cup crushed peppermint candies and 1 cup pretzels on top and press in lightly. Double the amount of candy and pretzels if you’re a bad-ass.
Return to fridge to solidify, then bring out and break into pieces. It’s important to eat all the ugly pieces for quality control.
Store in Ziploc bags in fridge and bring out half an hour before serving to guests. Or eat quickly standing in front of fridge while looking out for witnesses.
Treat stomachache with peppermint schnapps. Take nap.
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January 14, 2016 at 9:19 pm
The best part is the minty burps after overeating!
You’re evil, too. And that is in no way a criticism.
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January 14, 2016 at 9:26 pm
Ha! I forgot about the ghosts of peppermint bark past. Right up there with beer battered onion ring ghosts and pulled pork barbecue sammich ghosts.
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January 14, 2016 at 3:55 pm
Great collection. There is so much creativity here!
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January 14, 2016 at 4:44 pm
That is a lovely way to put it, but you do know you and your robots win, right?
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January 14, 2016 at 4:47 pm
Fun posting! Thanks for including my reapers of eternal love! Check out my shop for further Grim adorables or hit me up with an idea to request your own lovably weird custom reaper 😀 https://www.etsy.com/shop/WarpedAndWhimsical
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January 14, 2016 at 4:48 pm
Absolutely! (I may turn up for a valentine’s day present)
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January 15, 2016 at 12:49 am
Hello, BethDeath from http://www.etsy.com/shop/BethDeathHorrorDolls here, Thanks much for including one of my monsters on your site! I certainly hope all had a laugh at me Taco Hell dog 😀 He’s the first stuffed animal I’ve done. If you like him, you’ll certainly love my zombie and demon baby dolls!
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January 15, 2016 at 1:20 am
He was clearly my favorite. That’s why he made the cover!
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January 15, 2016 at 1:44 am
I LOVE your Taco Hell Dog. I can’t believe he’s your first. I shall have to check out your shop.
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January 15, 2016 at 12:44 pm
That mermaid is gorgeous. And I’m already half a morning into that Pinterest account. And thinking of peppermint bark (we received a tin from Williams & Sonama as a holiday gift) and sea salt dark chocolate caramels. PERFECT MORNING so far, but I think I might need to hit Whole Foods for some, um, um, food.
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January 15, 2016 at 12:57 pm
Don’t spoil your appetite for sweets with food!
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January 15, 2016 at 1:04 pm
My cart seems to know the way to the fancy candy aisle.
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January 15, 2016 at 1:12 pm
Mine, too. It also can find the
good cheese aisle on auto-pilot.
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January 16, 2016 at 3:12 pm
I want the pink Dalek!!!!! There. I said it.
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January 16, 2016 at 4:11 pm
It’s okay, Diane. I’ll never tell.
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