(sniff) I'm touched

Lowcy Dizajnu expanding site about design, run by a tallented Pawel Rosner and associates, mentioned us, means Lalootka, saing that if only they had children, they would play with lalootka toys - isn't it cute? Lovely, Thank you very much! it's so nice to see lalootka little creatures among professional designers - that's more than a casual compliment :)

Swinging moods of blogspot... For comforting - Fishcakes

Today my blog is trojan free.... fuffiness of blogspot amazes me, indeed. One day it's fine - another - it's not. But - who cares. I visit here once in a while (for this heck trojan thing that none of my computer scientists friends and family members understands and can stop).

To comfort myself in face of capricious blog space, I want to recall one of my favourites: Fishcakes by uber-tallented and endowed with a peculiar sense of humour Voz Perkins . I like her doodles since I saw them, quite some years ago, on flickr (yes, there was a time, when I was doing doodles myself....) Kid's Kitchen Set with an apron embroidered with her "I Cook" and "I Bake" monsters, and coordinated set of recipe cards is still the coolest cooking/ baking set ever.
(And I LOVE Mahar Drygoods for great taste for children's toys, accessories and costumes - I've taken the photo of Voz's kitchen set from their site - thank you)
The sketcheress produced a lot of goods for last two years - you can see them (and buy them) here and many other places, too.

"Stay for Lunch" series with her whimsical monsters looks delicious - I can't wait to see them in person.

elephants that entertain

Can environmentally friendly clothing be beautiful? Can earth-friendly toy be cute? But of course. And can it be affordable? Absolutely. Maybe not in Poland, but some other places, it can.
I like Entertaining Elephants for the simplicity of the outfits they offer.

Peasant dress is one of their long time hits (I've seen this company about 5 years ago) - large paisley on black background is my favourite, and would LOVE to have such a tunic with puff sleve for myself (I fancied myself riding a bike in this tunic and leggins, with a shawl waving -, no, maybe this shawl isn't great idea for I have no intention to be another Isadora Duncan. But the tunic stays.)

Or dress with decorative hem - maybe it would be great as a tunic too - made of double layer of silk printed in birds. What is the best: this dress is not cute - it's just beutiful dress also a mother would want to have.
Maybe that's the key for my choice for children's clothes - I like only those clothes I wouldn't mind wearing.

And their have an excellent logo - putting it in front of each item, with no woven labels was excellent idea. And it's also environmentally friendly.

Among toys my favourite is this set of tableware - all made of recycled milk jugs!
It seems that the quality of outfits haven't changed but their website have and now it's much more sophisticated than it used to be - from a shabby chic to modern chic, cool.

Instead of morning coffee...

I just love ruffles and frills, and luckily I have a mini-me so I can dress her! In a tunic like that every preschooler will look lovely.
Waking in an early morning I should focus on work - but what do I do? I browse through girl's clothes - and I found this warm taupe dress - adorable! If only I was flat chest I would wear it myself! With stripey longsleeves t-shirt and ballerinas. Well, maybe for stripey tee it would be better to have an alluminium version - it's gorgeous.

Re-modelling

Pink Polka Dotted Vintage School Desk, originally uploaded by niftythriftygirl.

What a day - hot and sweaty. To refresh myself I've just watched How About Orange blog again, as usual full of inspirational posts - and this photo (uploaded by niftythriftgitl) reminds me it's high time to show my re-modelled furniture and lamps! As soon as I get home, I promise (myself :) ) Re-modelling is fun, sustainable, and - as long as you don't destroy the stuff only to show how skilled painter you are, it's a real gift and respectful attitude towards our past, and good craftsmanship.

Summer holidays and I think about education....

I've been thinking about the education system lately very often - my daughter is 4,5 years and the time to go to school is approaching fast - but what kind of school? I want her not to be just educated - but to learn about herself. Producing automatons seems to be the only result of current education system - I know how angsty it sounds and though I exaggerate a bit, it is only a bit.... I remember myself as a child and I was planning to transform education system (thank goodness, I wasn't allowed) - I planed that decent education should content more sport, more dance, arts, music, than it was in curriculum these days (it was in early 80ties)
So when I came across this guy and his short lecture at TED, I was moved to tears - he was speaking about the same idea I had that many years ago - but luckily, he managed to implement it in UK, and now Sir Ken Robertson is popularizing the idea across the world. Profound but still hillarious speach.



And another interesting voice adding something to my research about alternative education - immense education. As far as I know, this type of education exists in UK, Wales, and works especially good among bilingual societies, like Welsh. Inspirational, isn't it?

I remember the face of Russel Means from movies (playing Native American, of course...) but I haven't known that he's activist for Lakota independence and promotor of immense education.

A miracle? This too, but also fresh air

I hardly believe my eyes - after almost a year my blog is free from trojan - how come? How come it was unavailable in the first place that I couldn't even open the site? And now this miraculous thing happen, hah - it must be for important purpose, I want to believe....
Well, let's celebrate this auspicious event thenm with writing about something useful - year ago I was writing about Fresh Air Fund - and they still exist! :) (I am very sorry Sara I couldn't write about the Fund earlier) - and maybe You would help somehow? They are still looking for host families :) so don't be shy and if you live in US, apply and become a host family for children who hardly or never experienced summer holidays outside the city.
Blessed be everyone
Aloutka

It's still Summer - support Fresh Air Children!

Last week I've received a letter from Sara Wilson, and she was kind enough to tell me about Fresh Air Fund - I'm interested in lots of thing connected with children and parenting - and, what was surprising and flattering in a way, to write about it.
So I checked the Wikipedia and their site, and what I've read amazed me: this fund exists for more than 130 years, and serves few thousand of children every year. What is the purpose: to help the inner-city children to experience summer holidays in the country, anyway - outside the Big Apple.

The most important news after my survey is - it is still time to host a child!!!

Volunteer host families open their homes to inner-city children for two weeks or more in the summertime.
There is no such thing as a "typical" host family. If you have room in your home - and your heart - to host a child, you could be one too.
Host families are not paid. The fund has also a program for placing children who have special physical or emotional needs.

But one of the most impressive element of this organization is Career Awareness Programm. As a scholar myself, I know the value of education. The innovative Career Awareness Program is designed to help New York City youngsters understand the relationship between school and work and how to make choices that will determine their futures. Youngsters aged twelve to fourteen participate in job shadowing that offers a close-up view of business, and a career fair. The year-round program includes weekend camping trips and an intensive three-and-a-half week summer session at the Career Awareness Camp – Camp Mariah. The career camp is named in honor of Board member/singer Mariah Carey for her dedication, support and commitment to Fresh Air youngsters. Career awareness graduates continue to receive support through the PreOccupations Club and benefit from the guidance of volunteer mentors.


There is still time to host in 2009! Call (800) 367-0003 or click here to fill out a host inquiry form.

The Fresh Air Fund has a site at Twitter and Facebook so you may check yourselves. As for me it is hearwarming initiative and I feel grateful that Sara wrote me about it.
All the best :)

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.