Plush

I've gotten into my head recently that I'd like to make some plush animals and dolls, something I've never even come close to before.

I have some sewing skills. If hard pressed,  I'd probably consider myself a beginner with a lot of potential. What that actually means is that I know how to do a few things (and there are many things I've yet to learn) but I think I'm picking stuff up pretty quick. The very basics I've known since I was small. They've had time to marinade.

I'd love to make some stuff like this:

Ooooooooo and someday, this:

I'd very much like to be able to design my own. I know that's way down the road, but I'm trying to figure out how to learn what I need to know without getting too bogged down in other people's patterns. Not that there isn't value in using others' patterns and ideas... I just don't do well with technical instructions. I hate them actually! It takes so much out of me to read and understand them(because I think in pictures and have to translate everything I read into visuals in my mind) that I'm completely burned out on trying to make the thing before I even get started.

So, I'm throwing it out there.. anyone have any idea how to learn these sewing skills without crying and crumpled patterns/instructions?

(I've become so laxed about keeping records on the photos I gather off the many craft blogs I visit... I feel terrible for posting these pictures without crediting their owners. So, if anyone recognizes anything, feel free to alert me and I will post credit. Thanks!)