For my project, I wanted to make something that would be useful to me but still be a piece of art. I came upon an old beat up toy horse from Goodwill and immediately fell in love and knew I needed to upcycle him.
His name is Buttercup and he is a very good boy.I cut his head off for another project initially, but inspiration struck. I love his little goofy face so now he will be a purse. His body cavity is deep, therefore I will be filling him with fluff and adding a small red and gold pouch to hold objects and keep them from rattling inside.
From there, I was able to quickly decide on the wonderfully playful whimsigoth aesthetic for the overall vibe/paint job of the horse. Whimsigoth offers a fairytale-inspired take on gothic fashion, birthing a fantastical aesthetic for those who embrace both darkness and feminine, fairy-like grace in equal measures. Think new-wave edginess topped with an otherworldly twist, less Disney fairytale and more Brother’s Grimm. It adds a dimension of playfulness to life, encouraging people not to take things too seriously, to be free and influenced only by themselves and what they feel is right [1].
I will be making my own paint derived from pressed powder pigments from eye shadows and liquitex. I will also use mica powder pigments for color powders I don’t have in an eyeshadow pallet. A perfect everyday fae bag. 
Buttercup (Sad emo interlude)
[1]Culverhouse, Charlie, and Guap. “Equal Parts Whimsical and Moody: The Eclectic Whimsigoth Aesthetic.” GUAP, 8 Jan. 2023, guap.co/the-eclectic-whimsigoth-aesthetic/.
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5 Comments. Leave new
[…] Upcycle Project: Horse Purse […]
His head is actually really heavy, I’m going to hide it with felt but his head and butt have the main structural integrity of the whole toy. There’s a post running down enclosing the mane internally that is very heavy, as well as the mess of glue and wire for his horn. I was playing with the idea of magnets though as you are right that leaving him just free could pose a risk. His neck plastic is very thin and there are other challenges as his insides are a mess.
Yes the lining, that will be the pouch. It’s going to be a red fabric with gold filigree. At first glance with how shiny it is it looks like blood, so I am hoping to make it look like his insides just a lil more snazzy.
Hey Efrosini!
Turning a toy horse into a purse is such an awesome idea! Naming him Buttercup and planning to fill him with fluff and add a pouch is clever and creative are you going to line the inside to look like the real insides of a horse? The whimsigoth aesthetic is a unique touch that will definitely make Buttercup stand out, too. For a constructive suggestion, consider how the purse will open and close securely to keep your items safe. Can’t wait to see the finished purse!
Great work!
Hey Efrosini, I think this project it great! The horse purse is a great mix of fantastic but slightly disturbing to really fit your whimsigoth aestetic, and I love the idea of making your own paints. I feel like I do need to ask, what was this first project, and why did Buttercups head need to be removed for it?
He was intended to be a centaur horse with a hole drilled in the butt cavity to hold a cup for pencils.