Wednesday 30 January 2008

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.

Wednesday 23 January 2008

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!

Monday 21 January 2008

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 :)

Friday 18 January 2008

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

Wednesday 16 January 2008

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.






Sunday 13 January 2008

Imagini Visual Profile

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

Friday 11 January 2008

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.

Wednesday 9 January 2008

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).

Tuesday 8 January 2008

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.

Sunday 6 January 2008

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!