Holiday search - just a starter

Well, during last few months I've almost forgoten that I have a blog.... But I feel that finaly I am back in the game - it's high time to write about plushes and interior design for children when it comes to Xmas, isn't it?
Today, as I am having a fresh start, I'm happy to present some of my favourite characters among handcrafted plushes - coy, unpretentious yet ingenious little friends: Junco, Ludic, Reddy, Ozard and Fluke .

The thing I like the most about them all are their dreamy faces - and Ludic remains my absolutely favorite and beyond competition - with his nosy ears lifted up, eyes blurred. In seasonal headdress he's looking even more handsome than ever (sigh).

Now all of us have very special opportunity to grasp one of Woollyhoodwinks (or all of them at once!) for till the Chrismas the Black Forrest staff offers a sale from 20% to 25% off of all their merchandise including new full-color story book "The Woollyhoodwinks vs. The Dark Patch" - you better take a look at it before the end of the cut - price.

Each Woollyhoodwink comes brilliantly packaged in it’s own pillow-box ‘tree’ complete with a few special surprises inside - sounds delicious!

young lynx girl - Pola

young lynx girl, originally uploaded by lalootka.

As I haven't make too much plushie for two months I can only write about my last realizations: this young lynx girlie. Now I know I should chose differnet background for the photo, but it's done, and toy\d reached her destiny in Canada some time ago.
It was made for The Needle swap - and was meant to reflect somehow the country of origin. In Poland we have few species of very special animals but lynx are one of the most special - they are on the best way to be extinct. And recently there is a WWF campaign to save some wild terrains especially for lynx. My beauty has panda - an icon of wildlife campaigns as a memo. Made of grey polar fleece, has a little beard (she's a girl and usually males have beards but I just wanted her to resemble lynx, not a kitty), ear brushes. Dressed in reversible pinafore.
Her name is after Poland, that's obvious, but also after Pola Negri - famous actress and Rudolf Valentino fiance :) (who - but complete coincidence ;) had Polish origin)
She went to weirdbuglady - and I'm glad she's in such a good company.

Peter Pan

It's spring at last - everything is young and beautiful again, finally. It gives me new strenght - and I know I'm not the only one.
I haven't been here for soooo long, blogging I mean. Too much things to do here and there - even making softies was neglected, as well as writing about it. Well, almost neglected - exept few custom orders (one lady with a magpie asked for my magpie decorations! thank you - I love these toys) and some knitted toys for friends I haven't make any. And any photo - that's worse. Yes, making toys is an important vein of my soul, but I had to chose between some other works and adventures (like renovating). I'll be back soon.
And among all this work and adventure I've came across the book Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie again - this time in English, not in translation, and in the same time - a movie from 2003 and I must say I'm enchanted by both. The novel is much more sarcastic, and bitter, magic and touching in the same time, and though the movie has some good parts too - it's just an adaptation. But I love it! Peter Pan in a movie is not an archetype of youth and joy, but much less demonic than in a book when it's heartless, gay and innocent child who meets joy, and loneliness, and death, and loss. Thank goodnes for good casting - at least it has few qualities of an original: he has gorgeous smile that lights stronger than 100W lightbulb and is corky. I do not quite agree with current tendency to turn every story into romance - there's so much more in a book. On the other hand - maybe it's actually the most important thing under the sun and those children are great. Anyway - I'm enchanted.
The story about Peter Pan still has the power to captivate children: Ada wanted me to tell her at goodnight few times about Peter Pan, flying girl Wendy, Captain Hook and - the most of all - Crocodile!

doll and Zuleikha

doll and Zuleikha, originally uploaded by lalootka.

I'm planning (still only as a project) to make a serie of simple dolls. Template should be very similiar to this one for sheep but the size larger. This one doll is made of jersey - grey one, her body of orange jersey and hair of felt. On this photo she's accompanied by Zuleikha bunny - another production of mine. For next month propably I won't be making softies (sigh) - I have another plans....RENOVATION of the flat!

new dress and old toys

new dress and old toys, originally uploaded by lalootka.

It's my first attempt to sewing pillow dress - and even though it's fairly simple, hand sewing took me some time :) Pillow was cheap, thrifted in Jysk store, but I love this pattern - it's simple but beautiful, and pockets are made of Japanes MiuMiu fabric (I still think it's worth it's prize but not the shippment) and have a lining of turquoise cotton. And I know that I have to change straps - these ribbons are not too good.

Toys are also handmade - kitty made by Trinlayk and sheep - made by moi.

And - for many reasons - I've changed privacy settings at my flickr - I've decided not to show everybody the photos of Ada. Family and friends only. It doesn't mean that I will not pop her photos anymore - I will, sometimes, and only after careful consideration :) Now I'm away-mother, making renovation of our new flat, longing for her little baby and frightened of imaginary dangers.....

random things

Random Things meme is shorter now - it used to be 8 things but now it's 7 :), funny,m isn't it? I've been tagged by Net of Area Thrifty One to take part in 7RT meme - thank you! I never know what to write in such things, but I'll try...
The rules of this meme are:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

So these are my 7 random things:
1. Aloutka Kazawa is my artistic alias - Aloutka IS a form of my real name Alice though, Kazawa is a bit altered surname of Adam, my boyfriend. I feel MUCH better with this name than with my real one and propably I will try to make it official.
2. When I was 6 my dream occupation when I would be grown up was "house wife" - and actually I still dream about being WAHM. Or fine artist.
3. My beloved place in Poland is Cieszyn - on the Czech-Polish border at the banks of Olza river, small - only 40 thousands of inhabitants - but very beautiful town. I lived there few years and I met Adam there - (xoxo Big Foot anyway). On the other hand my dream city is London - and I do not know what to do with such contradiction in myself.
4. I draw, paint, make softies since I was 7 (which means almost 30 years). The only thing I've never tryed was sculpture. My biggest success as an illustrator was -just once - a catalogue for a puppet theatre. Being social anthropologist has good sides too, but I like drawing :)
5. I love black and white in everything - interior design, graphics, furniture, clothing. Orange and turquoise are very necessary additions to this base.
6. I cry watching cartoon movies: "Lilo and Stitch" "Lion King" "Nemo" and - worst to stay calm of all - "Bambi". (Now I've noticed that all these stories are about orphaned children, that explains a lot) Ada will be surprised seeing me sobbing....Adam, while we were watching "Nemo"together, had been VERY surprised - I was weeping!
7. I'm addicted to flickr , reading my favourite bloggers (see my blogroll) and watching sites dedicated to softies.

I hope they won't have anything against being tagged:
Sion from cuteable and ubiki
Sara from saracolorido
Florence from "Windbag and Thunder
lowekrowe alias Maciek Blazniak
Hodowcy Zabawek
Ewa and Michal from Konsorcjum Rapacholin
Geninne from Geninne's Art Blog

from the father's point of view

Today I found The Pokey Pup site run by Bryan Townsend. As he sais - he has worked in the music industry in some form (including promotions for MCA/Geffen Records, marketing for Interscope Records, music licensing, owning a record store since 1997) for most of his working life, so while expecting together with his wife their first child, he decided to challenge this expertise in a new direction, providing great music and other media for kids and parents. Very interesting idea, and - as for me - good choice.

Music one can find at The Pokey Pup has nothing, or almost nothing to do with multi-colored alien babies or annoying kid's music, but lots with the classic 20th century gems. Or modern versions of gems, like The Beatles, Love

or favourite creatures of few generations already - on both sides of the ocean - Muppets like Kids' Favorite Songs" with my hero, Big Bird,

or a hero of my daughter's sleeping time - Elmo

The site is nicely organized that everone can easily find books, or CDs or DVDs. You can find there really variety of music areas: from lullabies to pop or rock, from music for babies and preschoolers, some classics for the whole family. And also interesting, nice, or just funny gifts for the baby showers or any other occasion. The most hilarious for me is this pastiche of famous mob story -
. Reading the story you realize it's not the movie "for the whole family" but very special gift for the hip father-to-be who needs some entertainment and professional knowledge before his baby arrival.
I like the sentence at the "about us" page, that sounds like cool motto: "If music is the soundtrack to your life, why not share it with your kids?" and I must say - I agree!

Henio doggie softie and his collection

Henio doggie softie and his collection, originally uploaded by lalootka.

Finally I borrowed a camera to upload my photos. They've beem waiting for this for more than a month.
Henio is ready to play. He's my own pattern and made especially for Bartuchna, friend of ours as a custom order for his nephew. It was meant to be an Alsatian shepherd, hehe.
Now I think next time I should make similiar doggie larger - children like large toys. And those tiny, too, but medium size is rather for larger children (read: grownups)
P.S. I've realized that Henio is very much in style of my wolf finger puppet

home inspirations again

Rice is one of those Scandinavian interior design companies that seem to have the largest impact on the fashion designing, and promote something bigger than just earning money - social awareness. Of course, one may say that it's just marketing - but I want to believe that it's worldwide movement (inspired and promoted by women mostly!) that everyone should help the others - in this way or the other, but even buying can be helpful for someone. Maybe this is one of the reasons why Scandinavian design becomes more and more popular, especially among young people who are fed up with pure consumption and want some undefined "more". This is definately more. More color, for instance. I like the eruption of color in their catalogue. And white floors. And pillows that catch your eyes with vivacity.

But as a toy maker, I could not to notice that doll has absolutely superb doll house - it's a package also, I believe. And I just love it.

How does it come that Scandinavs make great design? Is it just the matter of publicity, or something else? I suppose that the poverty of Sweden of Norway - I mean 19th century and earlier -made them focused on the simplest things. And as less means more - simplicity works even nowadays. This advent calendar I found at Angelattable, An Angel at my Table blog of photographer Mari Eriksson. I think her blog'd become one of my favourites. Colourful photos of interior and b&w photos of children and family - this style appeals to me.

Decorated IKEA blanket looks great but I'm affraid the simplicity of this trim is delusive. Maybe making pompoms is not that difficult (with a tool especially) but the rest - well, you better buy such a folk inspired trim than make it. Photo via uncomparabledecor8

Consortium Rapacholin maybe are new at etsy but as a artistic and merchandising team they work for some time. And I'm happy to know them (Ewa is ethnologis like me! and Michal is tallented graphic designer, one of my mother's best students) - but I haven't known untill recently they make such great things you can see here . Finally I know, and I'm really glad to find these two - they made, among other things, beautiful tables, painted in my favourite folk motif. This time Opoczno region with beautiful "pigeons" in white. Yum. Very inspirational. And I know when to knock when I'll be in desperate need of renovation of my furniture and repainting in in folk way :)Cute tables - who could say that black and white can be cute too?

Takeshi Iwasaki is illustrator and painter who makes collages that could decorate any nursery or children room. But his creations are not just for children. Many people love Japanese artists and arts for the illusion of children naivety and use of simple modes of expression. And maybe for the subjects - like this Lighthouse.
I feel awfull but I lost the name of the company that makes these beautiful furniture for children. This little table, rocking chair and shelf are on the top of my wish list when I think about beautiful objects for my daughter.

scandinavian design for children, originally uploaded by lalootka.

And yes, I'm still into it - planning what to do, and how much (or rather how little) money spend. But white and simplicity is really my choise, not the result of limited budget, heheh.

home inspirations

I'm still looking for home inspirations: in Flickr and other sources, like Apartment Therapy or decor8 and lots of other beautiful sites about making your space as harmonious and beautiful as you wish (and as cheap as needed). And my wish - one of many wishes in the issue of flat - is to have a room for Ada. Our current flat is wonderful but rather for couple without kids - no room is suitable for a child. The only room that could do has no window! She's two now and I need some rest at nights - and I want to end breastfeeding, and to have my personal life in the nights (which means ...work, for instance). She'll have room just for herself soon and now, though the decision of removal was hard for me to make, I enjoy, in a way, planning and imagining what kind of room it should be. I choose simple, white background. White is perfect for the new beginning - perfect for us, when we have to start a new.

This room is fantastic for the monastery-like simplicity and almost severe atmosphere. it's not pastel, cozy and cute. No cuteness . I found it at my favourite interior designer site - and instantly felt in love with this pure and simple style.

Aunty Cookie despite of her sweet fabrics , presents also her special approach to decorating childen's room. And I love it. She puts only unique things there, and makes a space for children that educates in taste and modern design since the youngest years.

The authoress of these beautiful photos and arrangements is Mari Eriksson. She authors a beautiful blog called An Angel at my Table and though it's in Swedish her more recent posts contain a bit of English so you can follow along. The most envy I feel for her gorgeus white wood floors, but other thing also are inspirational. She is a photographer, but as I've read among the lines, she also makes children clothings and runs a house boutique. Kind spirit? Obviously. decor8 was the source of these pictures, as many others.

Hiding places are always welcomed by children. My Ada loves to hide in a wall closet. But sooner or later she'd want me to give her a cardboard house, or blanket hiding place of such a beautiful table house like this one above - made by sunnydayshere aka One Crafty Mommy .
**********
And I love this idea, quite Paolo Coelho style, that when you want something deeply and long enough, all the Universe is helping you to achieve your goal. Since I decided to move to my old flat - and new flat in a way, cause I haven't lived there for 8 years, I come across some coincidental situaltion that only encourge me to move - including money to make a renovation, or constuction team! These days professional construction teams are more precious than gold and - voila - my own cousin offered me help of his employees. He's studying architecture, and for some years he's working on huge constructions or renovation projects! Blessed be, Martin :)

paper goods - for children too

gift boxes template available, originally uploaded by A Little Hut.

These pretty gift boxes are designed and templates made by A Little Hut" and are just lovely examples of detailed and sophisticated work. Not just for children, I believe, or rather - propably also for children. These days borders and boundaries between goods and design for children and for adults are so blurred and uncertain... (really deap though, sigh)

design wish list

Reading How About Orange - one of my favourite design blogs, I followed link to PictoBrowser handy tool that lets you display a Flickr photo set in a blog post, like this one below. I like it! Cool. This time something that corresponds with my craving for arranging new flat. Of course, there is MUCH more objects, inspirations and fantastic rooms I'd love to put here. And maybe I will.

home inspirations wanted

dia!!, originally uploaded by hippyxic.

As I'm moving soon to another flat, and to another city, actually, I'm looking for lots of inspiration. Theoretically I know for some time what I like and what I want: the more white the better; wallpapers - black and white preferred; Scandinavian design; transparent furniture; simplicity; light floor; some thrifted things to spice up - renovated and repainted, well - white; maybe some orange and turquoise spots of pillows or lamp shade here and there; black and white photography; my folk-inspired stripe paintings; my mother's paintings also; as well as my brother's (o, I love his childhood paintings when he wanted to be a plumber or a railwayman and all he was painting was railway or hydroinstallations :) ).

O, my goodness, I almost forgot - my brother George has his 24 anniversary! happy birthday, little brother - luv you.

In the late hours of the night I'm searching internet in inspirations and sources of information about renovating houses - sometimes internet can be helpful too :)

Fresh finds

Some works of those tallented Etsyians I've known before - like Mariska who designs and makes Fluffels. Or morninglori who makes hilarious-awfully sad critters called Chimians. They are not my only faves. You better look and check yourself, it's worth it.

otter - pattern altered

otter, originally uploaded by lalootka.

In last July I've made a pattern for an otter - simple, but the result plush was cute and funny. Yesterday, I've altered a bit this pattern, added different ears and paws, different features and long pink tongue, and I've made an Alsatian shepherd. Grey one. It looked like dog ready to aport - ready to play with a child, of course. As still without camera I can only present this old one STUFF :) and wish to have my camera asap to show this cute little doggie.
Without possibility to pop any photo of my newest toys I feel handicaped.... But, even without it, lalootka brand is improving. Slowly but constantly.
And, last thing, I was wandering about registering trade mark and any copyrights to my toys. Both otter and doggie are rather unique, (at least I believe them to be unique) and as I've recently seen some bears that were OBVIOUSLY "inspired" by my bears, I'd like to know that my other toys won't be treated this way.

On the other hand - maybe I misjudge the situation - internet pushes us to multiple the forms, not to make any originals. But we just love the illusion of originality and uniqueness. And so do I.

And, ah - I've almost forgot - doggie was sold in an instant!

poupee more and more each day

21-01-2008, originally uploaded by lalootka.

I like it more and more each day. The most misfortunate thing is - I still have my camera damaged (USB cable was not the problem) and I can not post any items. Which means - I can't improve my closet! Poor me, sniff, sniff :)

Noferin

Few days ago I was happy to acquaint (not in person, yet :) ) with Noferin and I've been enchanted by their toys and paintings since then. I can not help writing about them.

Under this misterious name of Noferin's been hidden tallented duo of Australian artists, Candy and Nico.

They make wood characters, called Pecanpals, from the name of the most important one: Pecan the Story-teller. Words other than "cute", "lovely", "sweet" don't make the justice to Pecanpals. These wood figurines are handmade and painted with high gloss enamell paint.
But I also like their paintings and graphics: paintings for the skillful use of plywood as a base, and graphics (glicee) for showing all the beauty of plywood.
Their website is all pleasure to watch and browse, so are their bios to read - check yourself here

grrrrrrr....

I still don't have my camera USB cable! It's horrible especially when you have three new plushies completed and new doll finished and all of them ready to admire! I also have three new tote bags and some photographs of Ada to upload and publish.... These tote bags are my first attempts to sew with sewing machine - and, as I propably mentioned before Christmas, I'd felt in love with sewing machine. I know that having one would help me A LOT.
Well, maybe tommorrow would be the day of my going to the photo equipment shop to purchase this valuable tool. AThe more pictures I take of sweet and well done toys, the closer I am to my goal - to have my own style, footprint, or whatever it's called. I mean both: illustration and making toys.

And I want to make a new post at The Needle.org when the number of plushies makers increases every day. I don't want to be missed.

Imagini Visual Profile

Instead of uploading my toys or illustrations, I had this innocent indulgment. Look and try yourself - I found this quite interesting:

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

taking advantages of driving by train

Last night, while travelling by train in the night, I completed two toys: tiny lamb with a coordinated mini tote bag (clove and ladybug pattern of Japanese fabric for decoration ears, and for a tote bag), decorated with elegant black, and a grey bunny with yellow pandas decorating her ears, and knitted turquoise a-shape dress. Completing these three (or even four things, including dress) took me about 4 hours - and it's not bad. Not bad at all! Do I become more and more skilled in hand sewing? No, I just could not sleep. Of course, I could not take any photo either - not for the blur, but for the no chance to upload my photos later, before I'd buy a new upload cable to my camera. Maybe tommorrow I will take some pictures with Kasia's camera.

To tell the truth, I wonder which one of the toys is better to go to very special and brave little girl - daughter of Adam's friends. The girl is 3 year old and is struggling with a tumor for a year. I hardly imagine her and her parents sufferings. I though about giving her this black lamb set, but maybe such a little girl would prefer real huggable bunny? I don't know - maybe it's not the most important issue of all, but I make my toys to bring some joy and smile to little ones.
Thinking about this particular little girl, and some other children I know that suffer from some terminall illnesses, made me realize how much I fear to lose my baby. Well, that's nothing new to any mother, but I used to think about myself as rather not fearing death person. But now I do.
I'better change the subject - I was planning to write just few words about travelling with a propable crazy guy, while sewing softies! And about my softies, that I can not post! Not about life and death...

So, returning to my lambs, I forgot, I have a new mobile cozy - made of black wool felt, lined with white subtle black floral printed cotton, with a white embroidered sheep and a shape of the Moon (waxing) on front. Pearl flat button closure with black ribbon. And black hanger stripe. I have it for a half of week, made with my own two hands. I'm planning to prepare some of such cozies for my shop soon.
And I should explain why I couldnt' sleep because of the company - amazing (and a bit weird) guy, sitting in the same compartment was trying to amuze me telling jokes and stories about quantum phisics, Sunday schools, transplantology, thanatopraxy, spiritual development, euthanasy, Roman-catholic Church, God, and jokes again... It was strange actually, but I decided to listen to him and talk to him because it's quite rare for me to discuss to real nuts (well maybe the word is not a nice one, but such people are beyond - normal). The thing I was occupied with a needle and fleece made me a better listener, I believe, and as I said, it was quite interesting to go for it: to listen to someone who has an opinion about EVERYTHING... Tiresome, but interesting.

As I see, The Needle.org is growing very fast into something very interesting. I can not wait to have a chance to post there again.

Camera problems - some fun instead

Unfortunately, something's wrong with my camera's upload cable and I can not post ANY of my recently made photos!!! Ooooo, unhappy me.
And as I'm on the run to pack (unpacked yet) and move to T. everyweek travel - I must complete THIS post. But today is not wasted for the toys making and blogging - I arranged an appointment with a lady that runs wonderful Elf BookStore in Bielsko - Biała to make an interview. I'm planning to start a new blog - in Polish - about toys, books and things made for children especially. Not about my toys, this time.
And I've made some improvents in my poupeegirl account, when I'm logged as Alis. It's very funny site, with wonderfull cute illustrations and design, that brings real fun (so far I can not find any other reasons than fun, but that's ok).

Hard work night

I have hard work night everyday, actually. I have lots of folk paintings to scan (and some lectures to prepare) but still I have plans not to give up with sewing toys. But any photos - tommorrow. I've made a mobile cozy, mini tote bag, bunny and another bunny is on it's way. But the light was awfull today, and now I have some other plans (to bath Ada, for instance :) )
Today I just wanted to check if i can manage my blog daily, heheh.

Happy New Year! to everyone

It's been very long time since my last post and - in a way - I'm starting anew. Mostly about softies, but I wouldn't be me if I resign of writing few words about my family and family affairs. Today few things:

1. Last time I had a chance to post here I was planning to go to Poznań to large crafts and handmade goods fair. But I got cold and it was much much better just to leave all the items (Adam's earrings and my toys) to Maja, friend of ours, who is artist working in glass herself (she makes beautiful glass earrings!) and entrust her selling them. Few of my toys were sold. Maybe next year I'll be much more determine to participate in this event - I believe it's worth. But now I know that I need to be prepared much better and take part in it right from the beginning till the very end.

The worst thing about toys that were left in Poznań was - I haven't taken ANY photo of them! I'm affraid they are lost forever for my documentary - snif, snif...

2. Ada had her 2nd birthday! I can't believe how quickly these two years passed! Lucky girl could celebrate her anniversary for couple of days and had two parties: one for the family elders and the second - for parent's friends and her own friends. The most attractive thing for her was blowing the candles! She wanted me to light them up again and again - and she enjoyed herself blowing. Grandgrandmother'd made her raspberry cake and I - apple pie.
Here is my apple pie - unfortunately the photo can not give a justice to all the beautity of spice smelling apple pie with a wonderful crust (I'm not especially modest when it comes to my apple pie).
3. Unexpectadly - and I still burst with joy - I've received a letter from Kristen of Schmancy and PlushYou! that she'd seen my toys and liked them enought to mention about them in her blog! . I was (and I am still) so thrilled and flattered by this - she's a well known toys seller, toys shows organizer and blogger. Her kind opinion about my plushies encouraged me to send an application for PlushYou2008 exhibition. And now I keep my thumbs up for my application!

4. I added new cathegories to my shop : bears, bunnies and magpies. As usual all the toys are based on my sketches - so is magpie decoration. I chose magpies for the mix of my favourite colours: black and white. I prefer toys in these two colours. To make this cute bird, I've used 100% wool felt that I'd bought in Poznań, and I'm extremely happy for that purchase. I decided to make a limited edition of 18 of these cuties and tra-la! my dear trinlayk - my kitty swap partner (the reminder of my swap - here) had bought her! Hope it'll bring me luck :)
Zuleikha can be proud of her family - here is family picture before departure. Toys look funny together, I believe.
For Renate and her baby Michael I've made a custom order - baby blanket and bear - all in white with blue decorations. The eyes of a bear (I called him Ignatz) are hand embroidered for baby's safety.
This toy is quite satisfactory, had been bought already but recently I've designed another bear and I'm going to make it very soon. This next one will look more mature, and - what's more important - will be larger. I still want to buy growlers someday to add real beary touch to my plushies. But "someday" is a keyword for now.
And here is Iphigenia bunny - or I should rather call her - a hare (haress?). Iphigenia had been adopted, just before Christmas, and is on her way to USA for some time. I just worry that problems in postal service in Poland can cause her huge delay. Usually it takes about 10-14 business days for priority mail to get there, but now - they say that it can take twice more! But she's brave bunny, and has her softie with her so little S. girl will have her plushie in good condition., I believe.
5. Last but definately not least - I've been invited to the group the needle.org and blog under the title the needle.org the art of plush" by Claire from absolutely small ! Lucky me to be noticed by tallented flickrians. I love Claire's explanation for the reasons of founding the needle - read about it here , and join us. And now I just have to write something short but intelligent about my newest creations :) - I hope that this new collaborative circle will encourage me to be more systematical in posting!