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.

b-day and travelling with sheep

November 7 was my b-day. I turned 34! Amazing. And it was my b - like busy-day, as every Wednesday during the academic year. day of leaving home to travel Torun. Fortunately I had few minutes to upload new photos :) and to add new plushies to my shop : Hania and Hyacinth. Hyacinth is a girl who loves to dress up. She believes herself to be the best dressed sheep ever lived, well - you decide if she's right. And she tells everybody to clean their shoes before entering the house. She loves to keep all the house clean and tidy - perfect housewife, I suppose. But exept this little idiosyncrasy she's very nice and friendly creature. All she needs is ten compliments a day (at least!), some delicious hay and piece of salt once a week, and strong tea each morning and afternoon.
Her best friend is teddy bear named Lizette.
Hania was another sheep added this day. She's not completely newbie here for I posted photos of her in a witch dress . She is fine artist, her field is painting and graphics. As many artist she loves to wear black - this colour helps to concentrate and to focus on your goals. But her everyday suit is rather casual - like this white shawl - handmade by her. Hania's goal is to have a one-man show in MOMA and to have as large family as possible - she can adopt you too!
She's a master cook: you have to taste her leek soup, or tomato sause, or apple pie.... wonderful!
Together they look lovely, too. This time I took sheep with me for Kasia aka stasinina to chose one of them. Luckily, the tram was not crouded and they had a bench for themselves. Almost - our companion was travelling to Torun too, to join the army and sheep were listening his story with astonishment - they wouldn't join army for any reason!To make our long trip shorter, we chatted with co-traveller, and girls were posing me - instead of getting bored :) it gave us some occupation for a while. They were very sweet while travelling all night long: Hyacinth , Biba , Hermione , Fanny and Hania

I couldn't take them for lectures, unfortunately - I think my students would think that I'm crazy and it's not the communicate I'd like. So they were spending their time together in hotel at first, but in the evening we went out - to meet my friends. They liked the company very much, but didn't want me to photograph them in a venue decorated with a sheep head (sic!) and other animal heads... Friday afternoon, after two days of work, we had some time to chat and to have fun together (well, maybe it was not the greatest fun they had, but the only fun possible in university study :) ). Biba was quite interested how my students are working and she was checking one student's book. But she won't say a word about it - I'm confident about her discretion.
For having some spare time before leaving Torun, we decided to look how are our favourite bloggers and what's new at blogs. And we've found a touching, based on true incident, story about lost Little Cotton Rabbit . All sheep were moved to tears - they were sniffing and sobbing quietly actually - I haven't known they have so soft hearts! At first they cryed for scare that the same could happen to them, but at the end - for the happy ending!
In the end they declared they want to be heroines of a book and they want me to write it. Sooon! Hm... I have to think about it - I said, but they said - beeeeh, beeeh, do not think - act!

last kisses and hugs for goodbye
Originally uploaded by lalootka.

But soon we had to hug and kiss for goodbye. The girls knew why I took them to Torun - that one of them will go for adoption. And I shed a tear actually, thinking about separating with any one them. I though that Hyacinth would be the one. And she was! Knowing she has great fun with a new little girl who adopted her doesn't change a thing that I miss her. Good bye and take care, darling!



I had too many things in my tote bag - books, notebooks, and this small flock. But I knew there will be less sheep in my tote very soon...

Halloween and All Saints Day

witch sheep and crow jack'o'lantern
Originally uploaded by lalootka.

Usually I do not celebrate Halloween - I like this old feast, of Celtic origin, to honour our deceased beloved ones. And to celebrate the begginning of New Year. I like the idea of masquerade, though the mask is a visualisation of our faults. and used to be burn in the evening. To start anew. And I like similiar Polish, or even more - Slavian tradition - to burn the lights on the graves, to visit the cementaries, to make a feast for the dead. All this is very important for the community - to remember ancestors and to honour them, to burn our faults in the fire: greed, hatress, revange, envy, guilt.

But today I want to present SOFT version of such celebrations: my cuddly flock members in Halloween costumes. They belong to Nightmares before Christmas pool - as my entries in the 2007 Holiday Softie Awards .

The witch sheep is Hania is fine artist, her fields are painting and graphics. She loves to cook - today she cooks some magic poisions, of course, for all those who need a big change in their lives.
As many artist she loves to wear black so today she's very happy - this colour helps to concentrate and to focus on your goals. (Actually, it's not just a costume, what she 's wearing today - she's initiated witch, and she has the right to wear her cone of power). Hania's goal is to have a one-man show in MOMA in next two years, and to have as large family as possible - she can adopt you too!
She's a master cook: you have to taste her leek soup, or tomato sause, or apple pie.... yummy, wonderful!

This black creature is a RAVEN (thank you Sari for your observation and a hint!!!!) - it's not a cousin of Phantom of Opera, for sure.
This little raven is addition to my cuddly flock, too. My first attempt to make a birdie - I love corvids ingeneral, despite their bad opinion. They are brightly intelligent, as for animals. And magical :) His name is Herbert - that's the name that raven can pronounce easily. Herbert is a school teacher, very innovative and fun-looking guy. He loves cheese.
He has safety eyes that sparkle intelligence above the masque - and his jack'o'lantern smile is "painted", which means - appliqued felt. Young age of that crow one can recognize by the size of his beak.


P.S. Take a peek at 2007 Holiday Softie Awards to see all the creatures that are part of this contest - they are really great!
p.p.s. we had fun in the eavning cutting our pumpkin - bit blurry photo, unfortunately

lalootka promo

For some occasions, which means some promotion, I need a square banner, so I took a challenge, and made an orange version that corresponds with my my shop and handmade revolution in general, and that's the result. I love orange - it's so vibrant , young, and warm colour. It matches perfectly with the colour of my hair :) and I use it for the lalootka tags and - together with blue - trim of gift wrapped toys. (I'vejust realized I have to make a new photograph of the tags - for now my logo looks more like a peacock feather than a flower, like it used to look) But please remember I am not a graphic designer! I just wanted to make as funny and bright banner as possible for me in these circumstances (I don't have a tablet, for instance and I made few of the characters above with a mouse in my hand...) to present lalootka softies - did I succeed? This black "something" that looks like a chandelier is not just a decoration - it reflects my folk inpirations, heheh :) But version with a chandelier is fine, too :) OK, it can stand for the draft, I agree :(

When few months ago I was discussing with my mother (who has been the dean of graphic department at private academy then) which graphic designer we know would make a banner for me, logo, business cards and so on, and she'd said that I could make it all by myself for sure. Well, it seems that parents are always right :P

And, what is even more important than the former conclusion: propably I'll need some promotional materials and SOFTIES soon. Adam, my kazawaproject husband in spe asked me to participate in December Craft Fair, in Poznan. And to take my toys and his ear-rings, of course. I have to think about it - opportunity to promote my stuff is perfect, but will I have enough supply? Well, today is Tuesday already, and in the early evening I will go to Lodz by train - which means few hours of undisturbed (apart from missing Ada) bliss of sewing, let's hope. And I'll think about it.

Too much apetite for toys

I want to spend more time with my baby, I want to improve my lectures, I want to write TWO articles, I want to be prepared for the anthropological conference in December, I want to make editing job for a book, I want to have some sleep and rest, I want to make more softies - I have so many ideas that blow my head.... Too much apetite for all these things makes me frustrated almost, ehm. And, oh yes, I want to have more toys in my etsy shop and beautiful, eyecatching banner (that's the newest version, and I've changed my avatar also) and I want my shop to be popular (thank you all dear souls who add my to your "favourite shop" selection :) ). But all these things need time, and commintment and hard work. OMG, so much work! I should quit university! But I won't.

Ok, stop complaining: Ada and work are my priorities :) the rest has to wait.

So, during my last travel North (which is my only time I can spend on sewing without any remorse) I've made another plushie: Hermione, the puppeter.
And her puppet - the dragon, and her toy - panda. Panda's name is Arnold, because he's rather chubby and looks strong enough to fight anybody - just like Arnold S. :) For humans, the puppet is rather finger puppet. Don't understimate his power - he just looks shy and silly, but watch carefully his big nostrils - any moment can blow fire, and fangs... Do I have to remind you what dragon fangs are for? Of course, drawstring bag needed an improvement also (am I perfectionist?) - I changed red ribbon into decorating black string and it looks much better, and classy. Embroidery with a black cotton thread, chain stitch.
More sheeps are to come soon.
I baught safety eyes recently, because I've noticed that some toys need to have their eyes opened and blinking some intelligence. And you know what - I found only one- O N E safety eyes producer! For now I'll make softies in two versions: with eyes embroidered - for the small people, and with safety eyes - for grownups.
And, yoohooo, I can't wait for the parcel from superbuzzy ! I bought some wonderful fabrics to trim my softies ears and drawstring bags, and I pitty this cute shoppe with adorable Japanese fabrics, accessories and fun stuff is located in USA which means far from here and extremely expensive shippment :(
They should have their shop in Europe, too! :)

new stock in the shop

Stas is a new addition to the Cuddly Flock ("new stock in cuddly flock sounds like rhyme, doesn't it?)
Stas is black, as well as his teddy bear Fritz (the pink background makes it a bit brownish). Made of fleece, wool shawl knitted by me. Toy's toys are made of felt, both app. 5 cm tall.

Stas is a young ram, who wants to study computer sciences, but so far works for a living as a baby-sitter: this time The Gingerbreads hired him to take care of their son. Wool shawl can be used as sling - very nice and compfortable way to carry little ones. Even for sheeps. Fritz, Stas' teddy bear helps him a lot in this task.

To pack my toys I've made cotton drawstring bags, nicely embroidered with a sheep. Two strings make a bag portable.
Stas is available in my shop together with other sheeps.

do two sheep make a flock?

two sheep make a flock?
Originally uploaded by lalootka.

At last I'm starting an etsy shop. CUDDLY FLOCK to present various creatures that are part of it. Not just sheep, actually. Though I have really large flock of sheep and lambs - they are still WIP (registration of new students, and exams do not help in preparing stock). But I'm happy to start at all! Slowly I will add new items. And add new photographs to show my flock better. Lots of work to do! I'm starting to look forward my every week travelling to Torun, hahah. For first three buyers - shippment free - does it sound interesting? All items will go with a cotton bag (I saw once such a bag in Japanese pattern book and I love it) and with a certificate of origin. And with tags. Now I see that the idea of the shop and me making softies looks more and more detailed. I'm working on a mascot that will represent me.
And I made a banner.

The banner is small and simple, maybe too simple, but I can always improve it! Or remove and make another one! But I made it myself, and for I am not experienced in Photoshop, I should be satisfied for my first time graphic design - the original version looked like this:
It was too large (mx. 750 x 100 pixels) photography of catroons cut out of paper on cardboard, so I replaced monkey and moved deer into the gap. And then it started - I thought it should be brighter, and then more contrast.... It was fun!
I took the manual and did my best - for now. Well, anyway it's lighter :D

But few words about my sheep. They both belong to the group: "Sheep of the world, unite!". The white sheep is Fanny. She is very independent individual. She accentuates her individuality by decision of homeschooling (whomever will adopt her - be prepared then!) and keeping silence every Thursday (don't ask me why Thursdays). She'd like to have smaller nose.
She loves everything traditional Japanese: from food to design, from theatre to amigurumi. Don't be surprised if you see her late at night watching "Ghost in the Shell" or "Spirited Away", and eating soba noodles with broccoli (well, broccoli are fine and she won't resign of them). Her companion's name is Jules.

She was trying to cover her nose with a teddy bear.... The black sheep is Biba, named after 60ties fashion designer. Biba is a preschooler sheep with a strong desire to become a pilot when she grows up. She's already started learning meteorology and astronomy.
She likes to eat spinach, and tofu. And chocolate candies. Biba loves everything black and more possible is that she'll become a fashion victim or designer herself than a pilot. But who knows? I need to be more supportive for her, I believe.

Sheep are made of polar fleece and cotton, 17 cm (6,6" ) and almost the same size from ear to ear. Their teddy bears are made of wool felt - 5 cm (2" ) tall.
And the last photograph - it's the only photo of my recent custom order - a quilt/tapestry for a baptized child (it was meant to be a gift from his godmother). It was definately LAST MINUTE order, so I made this quilt in such a hurry that I forgot to take a picture! Anyway - on the cotton printed in clouds I made felt letters (seen below, the child is half Canadian half Polish so the names reflect it), and all the edges were decorated with felt angels, children and animals. Cream cotton fabric on back, red thread trim on the edges. I put ribbons on the corners to hang it. Packaged nicely in a box decorated with my characters. As I heard everybody loved it - it was so nice to hear!
I hope I will have an opportunity to take a photograph of this work.
P.S. I had a funny thought: two years ago I made a PhD about the names and tradition of naming (among the other things), and now I make tapestry with names. Second thought was: bringing up the child is worth PhD also :)

sheep of the world, unite!

After making Amelia, and Sinead, I decided to make a whole herd - sheep don't like to live alone, prefer to flock together. I also thought that "sheep of the world, unite!" would be a great motto of such a production. So I thought that such a flock could be a good toy for any child - and even better present for an auction! Going to Lodz last Friday, with all my suitcase full of softies, I took my "moving studio" with me, few WIP sheep, threads, needles and so on. During couple of hours of travelling I made Pola, white fluffy sheep with scarlet legs, and embroidered heart on her "arm" for embellishment. People in compartment were rather surprised by seeing anybody with a needle work - it's so oldfashioned! - and asked me if I had any work finished to present them. And I did. They all agreed that Hildegarde was the sweetest monkey ever, and couldn't decide if Hadrian or Leelee was cuter. But I will never publish Pola's photo - one nice girl bought it. OK, she did not - I gave Pola to her father, because little Nicola asked him to buy her such a beautiful sheep (and I was flattered to hear it). I thought she was exact person to have it - she showed her good taste pointing the most beautiful of my toys - fox, Florence. Florence is especially dear to my heart. And so I just asked Nicola's father to sent the amount of money he thought Pola was worth to Gajusz Foundation. Well, I believe he will do it :)
When I came to Lodz, and I told my mother what I did, and what slogan I have, she asked me to make these sheep for her - to take them to Israel!!! She has the idea to present them at artistic symposium, as a metaphore of currency - masses treated as an easy pray, herds of unprotected sheep against the pack of wolfs - politicians and corporacies. I don't actually like this dichotomy: Us - Them, Sheep - Wolfs, it's too simple as an analyze of reality, but sheep and lambs indeed evoke many religious and mythological associations. Most of them connected with naivety, easy character, offering, innocence, pray, cuddly nice creatures of small reason. Though I'd prefer them to stay, I liked the idea they will make a journey to the Promised Land :) (actually, not so promised when some sheep are equal, and some sheep more equal there...) So, mother took three sheep and a lamb: Sinead, Amelia, Vincent and Bobby to Israel and promised me to take lots of photos in interesting surroundings. Good start. If it's still actual with summer_pickles, Amelia will go to Australia afterwords. Or maybe all of them? (My mother's safety is more important for me than any photo and I hope she won't make photos in any dangerous zone, and don't want to even discuss it). And then, I think that mother was right: slogan "sheep of the world, unite!" is not just a joke and travesty of communist slogan, but can be a statement, and motto for all those, whose good intentions, charity, trust, attachment for family is taken as a stupidity, herd instinct or target for misuse by anyone.

lamb Amelia dreaming 'bout Australia

lamb Amelia dreaming 'bout Australia
Originally uploaded by lalootka.

Yesterday night I made this pal(m) creature - it's rather tiny, bit less than my palm's size. The shape of her body is the simplest possible - just oval. As a black sheep of the family I chose my favourite colour - but her mother withh be larger, for sure. Because I want to make mother-sheep. White. They'll suit to my story about Lucinda. But this lamb is not Lucinda, it's Amelia.
(I'm not especially satisfied with a photo, but so far I don't want to make another one).

Ms Malgosia called to offer us a kitty, the real one - two months old, grey and black kitty, and to say that Tony and Franky bear brothers are fine and kids like them. Though she was frankly enough to say, that all four parents of boys like them even more! Well, it happens. But she said, she loves them - I apprieciate her taste and opinion.

When Ada was napping and I had an hour for myself, I got a brilliant idea - how to connect my social anthropology with my artistic ambitions and soft toys making. Today I won't say a word about it, first I have it thought detailed. And to make sure I can make it. And that I will.

If this idea won't work maybe I'll follow Amelia....