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 :)

Otter and baby blanket

Finally, that's the otter became rattle. I resigned of making another mascot - kitty when I realized how time consuming baby blanket was. So to help the situation, I put one rattle into otter's belly, and second - in a tail. It jingles softly. It's wonderfully cuddly, because I didn't stuff it too much - just for the 6 months old baby girl Ula, I hope. I made all stitches extra carefully to protect from busy fingers ripping the sews. I'm especially proud of its tail, I must say, not just because of jungle, but in general - it's long, firm, just otter's tail - perfect while swimming. Mr Otter has no paws - Adam's noticed that it looks more like swimming like that. And as I quite agree with it, I took his advise not to sew the paws. It diverse much from the first sketch: it has no whiskers, but blushes, it's longer and slimmer and has more rounder head - but I like it even more.

I like to pose my softies with a folk stripes painting in a background - it's so colourful and joyful. I'm glad I made that painting. It brings fresh look into our study.

I completed all the work today - about 3 p.m! Just before customer's arrival, which means Malwina. Baby blanket was finished at 5.30 a.m.
This baby blanket took soo much time and, frankly, effort that next time I'll think twice before I take such an order having such a short time! Though now I have an idea how to make it better. Originally the pocket of the white (cream) side of blanket was for kirry - but Mr Otter fits also. As well as pacifier or any other baby good.
It was fun, of course, as my first attempt to make a baby blanket and applique, but on the other hand - it's been a big challenge. I like the idea of embroidered characters appliqued on, and that can be useful in my next project, but I see that as always less means more: less fabrics means more effect.
And though I like it, I can not be sure if the customer was satisfied till Malwina reaches her family, baby niece Ula and nephew Mauni, 3 years old (what a nice name, I forgot to ask if it's Hawaiian or Polynesian name). Malwina seemed to like it -I hope she really did!!! We are friends and I don't want to make any misunderstandings because she bought something from me and it was not satisfactory. But if she likes it, she can be the best trendsetter ever!
Forest set of finger puppets needed some improvement. So I changed it a bit - monster has been replaced by a tree with a sky background. Animals didn't need any change, but I made a bear much bigger than before. In such a comparison wolf looks rather a cub than adult one.
I made also a nice, orange felt envelope decorated with blue blanket stitch. Puppets can be packed nicely to protect them from dust, for instance. I hope they won't dust anyway! They need to be used as a theatre for children! Now I need to make such a set for Ada, at last!
And I had a chance to improve my tags slightly. I added ribbons and thanks to eyelets set I made a nice little whole :)
As usually, as a package I use my favourite brown paper.

I'm happy with the result. But my family is not happy with me so busy for few days! After a week absence, mother and wife still out of reach, that's too much. Now I'll have to make an effort to sooth them.

baby blanket WIP

I'm working on Malwina's custom order. I changed it a bit: it's more decorated actually than a first sketch. To tell the truth, it's completely different. Exept the swimming otter, which I put here also. Here are embroidered figures of an otter and kitty, playing together in a moonlight. There is a moon embroidered also with a chain stitch, and felt cloud. I used two kinds of polka dots fabrics: navy blue with white and warm brown and beige. I like polka dots, especially on satin textures, I must say.
Malwina wanted me to make this baby blanket of various textures and it is multi-textured: many kinds of fabrics, embroidery, ribbons, polar fleece, denim, cotton, felt and frotte (kitty has a pink frotte towel). Many textures to touch and activate child's curiousity. I hope "story" I'm telling with this blanket will look friendly and nice.

In addition I'm gonna make two heroes of this story: Mr Otter and Miss Kitty. Kitty will be mascot with a rattle, and otter will be much larger - a big pal for the kitty. And for the baby.
Or vice versa - maybe it would be more fun when it would be Miss Otter and Mr Cat? Anyway kitty will be black and otter - white. My two favourite colours - my base.
It's my first attempt to make an appliqued blanket and I'm very curious how it's gonna work out. And also first time when I use my sewing machine! It's too large for me to handsewn it so I needed some machine help. My "genius personal sewer" is not a machine, but a toy, but it can help anyway.

tralala

I got a custom order - from Malwina. I'm so happy about it! It's for her 6 months old little niece and 3 year old nephew.

She wants me to make a forest set of finger puppets for him and mascot with a baby blanket and rattle for her. I assume she saw lalootka's photos on flickr because she said that black kitty Izumi was super-duper :) Well, at first she wanted me to make something unusual so I made sketches for a beaver and an otter - for a change from bears and kitties. But it seems kitties like Izumi, rule anyway. Or maybe I would make kitty - rattle? It's small - perfect for a rattle.

I chose otter because they are brightly looking, smart and pleasant creatures will "smiling" cute faces. And my grandmother called me "King Sobieski's otter" when I was a kid. And a beaver, bacause it was my sister's nickname.

And Hildegarde is going to Italy to girl Federica! I knew she'll be loved. Hildegarde - Federica is loved for sure! Federica has a mother that collects handmade softies. I just need to come back home to pack Hildegarde with all her accessories and make a tag. I hope they'll like her music also.

Only Sophie-bear will stay with Ada these days. No, how could I forget about cats - still in my attic, waiting for some remodelling, embellishment, and more stuffing. They have their place in Ada's old safety-chair, shared with Rudolph. It looks funny, but I can not make any photo of them together - Rudolph doesn't want me to show his laziness and always runs away seeing me with a camera.

busy day

I found again the Paperpod creative and ecologically aware company using cardboard as a material to design toys and furniture. It's brilliant, indeed! I checked the price of this cupboard house and though it's not costless, 30 pounds is not exaggerated price for such an item.
It's fantastic - simple, decorative, beautiful and helps to teach children creativity. I feel like becoming fanatic of this idea.... Hm - poor Ada ;) (My parents are still disbelieving we want to raise her at least untill her 3 years without a constant contact with a tv. Actually we don't have a tv at all)

I'm preparing a gift for the first friend Ada has - Kinga is 9 years old neighbour of ours and likes to play with Ada. Tommorrow is Kinga's birthday as she herself told me, pretending she was just interested in a day of Ada's birthday :) . I'm making a set of finger puppets for Kinga - forest set. She doesn't look acustomed to handmade goods and toys, rather for plastic toys and lots of tv, but I hope she'll like it.

Today I received another custom order - thank Goddess!. Our friend Bartus wants me to make a dog - Alsace type - for his little nephew who loves his pet dog. I have an idea how to make it - propably wolf fingerpuppet will be my inspiration.

It seems I'll have a nice website! SOON! Even very soon. DD Paul designed a nice site for Kazawa Project : bright, with funny sketches and friendly colours and, what's the most interesting for me, with beautiful stripes as a decoration. But Adam doesn't want it - he preferes to keep the old layout. I don't quite understant him, but on the other hand, I can not compain - I love stripes! Especially in such brigh colours, like my favourite folk stripes. And I need a banner (and typography) as soon as possible. To start etsy shop, among the other thing. Poor DD - he doesn't have an easy life with a partner like Adam...