You’re in the vendor hall. It’s crowded. It’s loud. The flow of people is moving like a river that you can’t seem to break free of long enough to linger by any of the amazing treasures that you pass by. You need a map, but more than that, you need a dungeon map. The sort of thing that doesn’t just tell you what the layout of this small world is like, but it shows you what’s in each room, what monsters are hiding behind the doors, and what treasure chests are worth backtracking for. Let me be your first signpost and introduce you to some of our wonderful makers in the Vendor Hall, starting with one I look forward to every single year. Stardust Strings is run by Laura Stubbs, a fiber artist specializing in crochet, specifically amigurumi (the Japanese craft of crocheting small stuffed yarn creatures). Her figures cover a swath of fandoms, but my personal favorite has always been her Marriott Carpet Dragons. As a crocheter myself, I was keen to hear a little bit about her experience at Dragon Con as a vendor.

Daily Dragon (DD): How long have you been a vendor at Dragon Con?

Laura Stubbs (LS): This will be my eighth Year.

DD: How long have you been crocheting?

LS: I’ve been crocheting for fifteen years, and it has been my full-time gig for the last twelve.

DD: What first inspired you to start making fandom art?

LS: I was in college and saw a pixelated Mario Blanket on Pinterest and decided I needed to learn how to make one of my own. I ended up making two different blankets of various items from the game and learned I never wanted to make one again. So, I found a pattern for a Pokeball and an Oddish to learn how to make amigurumi and never looked back.

DD: How do you decide what to make?

LS: There is a vicious cycle where I watch TV/movies to work, and then I have to make things from what I just watched and that repeats forever. Everything I make for my booth is something I am a fan of. I also keep a running list of suggestions that I get from customers and often get commission requests that I decide need to be a regular offering.

DD: When do you usually start prepping for Dragon Con?

LS: As soon as I get over that year’s con crud. I’m using the con momentum to start to think about my plans for next year. I am on the lookout for what I want the next year’s exclusive to be… some years I decide right after the con, some years I figure it out in August and have to rush. Actually, inventory prep for Dragon Con usually starts in July, but I am making stock year-round.

DD: How many individual pieces are you bringing this year?

LS: I’ll have around 300 unique patterns, and I try to have a minimum of four for all of them up to twenty of each for the most popular ones.

DD: What, if anything, makes Dragon Con different from other shows (conventions or craft fairs) you go to?

LS: Dragon Con is the first convention I ever went to as an attendee, and it absolutely ruined all other conventions for me–it is now the only one I would go to even if I wasn’t an exhibitor. It truly feels like coming home. I love all of the micro cultures within it and getting to interact with and make exclusive items for them. I love seeing attendees return year after year to add to their collections or stop by to chat. It really is just an incredible community, and I am completely humbled by every person who will wait in multi-hour lines in the Atlanta heat and humidity to come see us.

DD: What’s the ONE piece you’re secretly rooting for to sell out this year?

LS: My personal favorites (so far!) of the new pieces this year are all the characters from Critical Role Campaign 4 and the Heated Rivalry boys. I really hope they’ll find their people.

DD: And what’s the one piece you think will actually sell out, so people shouldn’t dawdle?

LS: If my last couple of conventions are any indication Rocky from Project Hail Mary will be impossible to keep in stock for long. But also, the Marriott Carpet dragons always sell out, and I’m expecting the Dungeon Crawler Carl ones to have a big year as well.

DD: I’m personally rooting for the Dungeon Crawler set myself. I’m definitely not leaving without one. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me.

LS: Thank you so much for thinking of me!

Laura Stubbs can be found at booth 55A on the third floor of the vendor hall.