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.

geisha? no, swap

After making another kimono for swap kitty I'm sure - I'm perfectionist. I love to do things right. And when I get a manual of kimono making (I am ethnographer, aren't I? So I searched for it among ethnographic archives - an article about kimonos collection in ethnographical museum)
I decided to make another one - better one, of course. It has double layers, as it should have, both made of cotton - so it's rather summer casual dress, with linen obi, Yukata more than kimono, which we associate rather with silk. I couldn't make a bottom white dress - it would be too much even for me. I was trying to make seams as invisible as possible. I'm quite satisfied now, at last. Poor Sari had to wait so long, I have remorse. I cut a photo of tea house from my favourite Elle Decoration :) to arrange the scenery, though I suppose (or I know) cotton kimono doesn't suit cha ceremony - it should be silk. I picked a black outer cotton with flowers that make an impression of plum blossoms - havin' five petals each, and white bottom cotton with twigs.

I prepared an ID of a kitty - her name is Izumi, Izumi Kazawa, and she is half Polish. Kazawa name is not a coincidence - it's my alias, Aloutka Kazawa, after Adam's name which is Kazała - and that sounds exactly the same. But Izumi again: she loves cha celebrations, peonies, midsummer and bluebirds. And red purses. (I decided to add red purses to every toy I make now - when Twinky Winky is suspected by gov. to be gay just because having purse, adding red purse is a joke and statement).And now - just to compare - a photo of Izumi. I called her after friend of ours, lovely girl, half Polish also. I hope that THIS Izumi will be as good kendo fighter, drawer and translator like this human one.

Another thing I made was my "business card" - I enjoyed making it, but actually I'm not sure if it's gonna work out. It's lovely to make handmade business cards but it's wasting time, isn't it? I can keep it also as a tag, or use an illustration. Anyway - drawing makes my day. I love aquarell pencils - and mix technique: some colours wet, some dry, pencil, PILOT V 5, and the result is quite satisfactory.
Few days without Adam here was very busy - Ada wanted my constant care and attention, and cryed loudly "dad" running around the house. And we made a lot of house work. I love my home clean and neat. We visited kindergadens, playing, having fun, building castles, reading books - for Ada pictures mostly. We had an walk to the forrest and saw goats and chickens - Ada was fascinated with feeding goats. While we were working hard, daddy amused himself in Prague - our beloved Prague. Amusement was not complete, he sais, without us, but I suppose he meant his pupils were not that sweet as Ada, though also very nice and intelligent. I'm sure they had had wonderful time together.
Ada still likes turquoise kitty. But she's fair enough to share her underarms and love between her and white teddy bear.

Children's Day part 2

When I get my parent's house on Lodz - I'm their twice a month visitor - we had a nice chat with Justyna and her boyfriend Johnny and mother late at night. Mostly about our unpleasant adventures with insects - Justyna and Johnny both have arachnophobia... :) and even discussing about spiders, fleas and other monsters made them thrilled. It's so nice to see them safe, happy (well, quite happy, Johnny has exams on his studies, and Justyna is waiting impatiently for the results of her high school final exams. But anyway - I love to meet them).

Sitting in a restaurant today I made a few sketches of Ada and me. When I'm longing work helps, especially sketching, sewing and inventing new toys. So here there are mother and daughter. Ada is keeping her toys - turqoise Kitty and girlie - bear Sophie (no night gown anymore) under her underarms - very fair. That's the way she really is keeping them while playing or going for a walk. Someday I will redo these sketches - they look interesting as drafts and I want them to be more detailed and clean. Sketching in restaurant is rather dangerous for paper, as I see now.
The below one is very rough but shows the most favourite place of Ada to sit. Hall stairs leading to our studio and my attic are fantastic and she loves to climb up there (with a help of our hands, of course)
I had some problems with posing "my" legs and feet, funny.

It's 3 a.m. right now - I suppose it's late enough to go to sleep.

International Children's Day

Another occasion for celebrations - everybody likes to have holiday and lots of fun with children today (o my, what rhymes, hehe). Beautifull weather helps to have outdoors activities. I'm in Torun, at the university, and next few hours will spend in train, travelling to Lodz. Since I just woke up this morning, I've been thinking about Ada and, poor me, children with parents are everywhere, and that's increasing my longing. I just received a sms from Adam with an information that Ada, after awakening, told him (which means she took his hand and lead him) to the kitchen to feed the cat. Charming! He was happy - he loves the cat and believes his daughter is special. But I have a contact with my special child just by a phone... Quite sad, actually.

By the way: the cat. That's an old photo of Kitty in cheongsam. I put it here because I hope to put another kitty's photo very soon. One-of-the-kind black kitty, name Izumi. And I want to have a fresh view for this one. To compare.

To chear up and to comfort myself I made some drawings of baby Ada and me but scanner doesn't function properly and I can not upload them, hrrrr. Well, I will do it later. Now I have to go, but maybe I'll add few words later today (when I get Lodz and a scanner).

new monsters

I made two new monsters - or I should say guardian spirits: one is the monster of plum tree and the second - of the forrest. Of course, they look like monsters anyway. But it's fun to make them. Will they be liked as Lucky? Lucky was lucky enough to make lots of friends, but how about them?
If everything goes well today I will take them - in brand new packages - to the Elf Bookstore, my favourite bookstore with children books. The owner, who selects really good books with awesome artistc illustrations, not just average mass production, is interested in handmade softies and wants some supply. Good for me.
They are both decorated with ribbons and felt. And some embroidery - like this little bird saying "chearp". It's a Polish forrest monster so even birds are saying in Polish - well, patriots. This monster is protector of wild animals, like this hare and wolf - finger puppet. And the other, the smaller one - is protector of orchard.
I believe they are nice. Adam was frankly and said that my kitties and bear are much better, but anyway I'll take my chance and take them to the Elf.
I have to hurry untill Ada's having a nap - in the evening I'm going to Torun. What a luck that next week I won't - on Thursday is Corpus Christi and two days holiday! In such occasions I think it's great to live in the country domineered by Roman-Catholicism. I should be happy to meet my students, and I am, but all that travelling and leaving to raise my child to someone else ... - no use to say it again.

Happy Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day in Poland. I should be writing about the conference I participated in last few days, in Sandomierz ("Praise of the Province" - wonderful), short visit to Krakow friend's (hillarious), swap (I received from Trinlay a kitty!!!!) or about my softies (some new and some news), but since Wednesday I missed my baby so much I want to write about her only.

That's her. - 17 month now, 10 teeth, some words, talkativeness and vivid expression, high spirit, running and playing all days long.
Tonight, when I came home after 7 hours trip, Adam opened the door for me, saying "do not be angry, but i've found something strange and beautiful, and could not help myself taking it with me". He loves to joke this way. We both were looking at her sleeping calmly in our bed with silly smiles of people in love. Though she should'n sleep in our bed! But after few days of longing I just had to smell her pure, innocent smell, feel her fluffy hair and to hear her saying "AM" which means "my milk source came at last and I want her to breastfeed me; where have you been mama?".

In the down left and down right corners of the photo below - Ada while 1 month. She was so fragile, and small.... I pitty I hadn't made some more documentary, foot or hands prints. I just keep some onesies of her first days. (Beside photos of Ada on the wall there are some photos of me and Adam, my parents and black cow of my production).
I know it is not connected with the subject, but I still keep a drawing by my sister Justyna that she'd made at 6 for mother - it was... 13 years ago!!! Gosh... No, there's a connection - Justyna was my baby then. I was 15 when she was born and I took care of her a lot! I feel this connection even now, but I know she has a mother. And so do I :) And now my little sister is finishing her high school.
Children's drawings are wonderful - it seems like all children are artist, and growing (or adults) take their talents from them. Justyna is not drawing or painting anymore though she made many EXCELLENT paintings, drawings (even some tiles in my parent's bathroom are decorated by her drawings). I hope Ada will follow her mother's way and keep drawing - she started recently from some sketches in dictionary....
Ada and her hero - the father. Beloved daddy, heehee. Sometimes I envy him - he's still with her when I'm away, travelling to work.... I should say - he is with her, but taking care of her lat in the evenings. His mother is taking care of her that days when I'm absent. And THAT makes me angry - recently Ada've learned to use chamber-pot regularly and to communicate her needs - and I was not here! She went to the shop to buy new booties - and she gave money to the shop-girl - and I was not here to see it! I can not resign from my position of lecturer at the university, I can't, when I want to be associate professor soon. But I can move to Torun with her...

I love to photograph her while sleeping. Calmness, cuteness, silence, and beauty. All children are like that, I know, but Ada seems to be the love of my life :)
I like her teeth - it looks so funny. I love her laughter - fortunately she'a laughing a lot.

I'm glad that I'm her mother - for sure. I do not want to remeber that I disliked children or rather were saying that: "I love children - with bacon and onion especially" :D Maybe someday I will have some more children (when I was teenager I wanted to have at least four children, sons, today - I changed my mind, girls are just as fine).

And Happy Mother's Day - mama!!!! I remember about you, dear and sent you all my spare love and lots of hugs and kisses.

But if I want any change in my life and in the world it's for Ada. That's the reason I get involved in charity or want to tribute someway in The One Campaigne. For One Race - Human Race.

My sister's birthday

Today is 19th anniversary of my sister - Justyna. She's passing her final exams in high school. Poor her, she had to resign of kendo national team to focus on her maturity exams and next-to-be-studies. Hope, everything will be fine. I'm sure, everything will be fine. She wants to study graphic design and computer science, lol. I prefer humanities, any ingeneering studies are amazing for me :). Actually, 3:30 a.m. when I'm writing these very words is about the time she was born! I could sent her sms if she wasn't asleep already. Happy birthday, sis!!!!! xxx

I learned today about Eduardo Recife, Brazilian designer who designed some astonishing typefaces. Some of them are available for free, some - for commercial use. It's pitty but I couldn't install them on my computer - I need some computer science lessons propably! But fonts are great and I like it very much. I decided to put link to his website on my blog among other very inspiring and creative "cre8ives". I like Max Rhode font inspired by his very own handwriting.

All the moments Ada was with her father I was trying to spend developing my work - about modern design and it's folklore influences. I want to be prepared for conference in Sandomierz. There will be Zbigniew Benedyktowicz who is one of my favourite social anthropologists and ethnographers - I admire his keen eye for modern art and gentle personality as well. Besides being interesting scholar and good writing publisher, he's a wise person and it's not a common thing. Either his gentleness - in our scholar circles especially. I've never heard him speaking ill of anybody. If I will speak at all, I will speak about Piatek - the village which is geographical centre of Poland but in any way can be centre of enything. It's margin of life, province, woop-woop land... - and I know some artists who want to awake this strange neighbourhood by some artistic events and founding Museum of the Middle of Poland. I'm very curious of the results.

Japanese dress for kitty is beautiful. trinlayk - I hope - will like it. Her idea about making black cat with green eyes was good - kitty looks fine. I wonder what she did. For a swap which i s American word for an exchange, heheheh. I want to make some more kitties of that kind (limited edition, of course) to present them at indie babies - as soon as possible. I count on Adam's help in everyday care for Ada during summer vacations - as a teacher he'll have almost two months holidays. And then I can learn for my next semester lectures by days and sew by nights :)

Finger puppets

The best thing is to think a little without stress. So did I and solved my "problem" with signing into the blog. It was not a problem, of course. But first I had to change a subject of thinking for a while - it's easy when your child wants something to eat or to change a nappy. And Ada wanted both.

My princess likes new finger puppets a lot - to eat especially. She is 17 months now and still wants to put everything into her mouth. 8 teeth have to work. They are not for babies like her, rather toddlers or kids, or parents to make a theatre. The reason is very simple - felt is not chewing resistant.

The hare is one of Ada's favourite productions of mine - it has handle ears and that's good. And girlie-bear Sophie I want to keep for Ada. The others will go for adoptions.


Propably Miss June (or her clone) will go for an auction. I believe in giving back and I've received so much good that I want to share. With Hospice for children, for instance,
www.gajusz.org.pl - when I first saw those children I couldn't stop crying. I hope someone reach will buy her!

I'm still glad for making little makeover for June the Hare - now she's pretty and cute as I wanted her to be. Of course, she was charming and pretty even before. But I don't regret.

Finger puppets are good - maybe it doesn't sound modest but in my opinion they are cute. And I can make some more of them easily. I want to put them into my etsy shop. Soon.

Ada was soooo happy to see me yesterday that I was breastfeeding about 5 hours..... Propably she wants beastfeeding not as a food but as a warm contact and socializing with mother. Anyway it takes hours after my few days absence. We need to move to Torun - it's 1000 km then and back, it takes too much time. I do not want to be separated from her for half a week every week! I miss her the moment I close the door!

Pyza reminded me how cute and funny hamsters are. I used to have hamsters - as I remeber, once I had even 11 hamsters and it was too much of cuteness ;) But generally, though they are not easy animals, they look sweet and can be nice pets. And they don't smell like guinea pigs....

I like the idea that this year is a year of the Pig. My bother George is Chinese Pig. I am an Ox. My Ada is Rooster and her father is Dragon - oh, yes, he is. I gathered pig and hamster together in a photo, because they are both rather chubby. I like chubby :)I wanted pig's little hoofs to look as natural as possible.
I like little fangs of this wolf. I wanted him to be funny but still dangerous.
And little lamb hidden in mother's fur. Next time I'll make it better and I know what to improve. Photo especially. Lamb has to have its ears visible. And I want to make labs in a shape of softies. Maybe even this idea - mother with a lamb in 3D.
I have an idea how to make them keychains. That will be my next work.
I finally finished my kitty for swap. In few days I will sent it.
And afterwords go to Sandomierz for ethnological - anthropological conference!!!! Hurrah!

finger puppets.....

finger puppets
Originally uploaded by lalootka.

Travelling last night from about 500 km by train, I did this set. If I can not sleep I sew. Set is not complete yet, if I want to have 10 puppets. Well, actually I did make complete set, but I gave a frog, another cat and bird - die Elster (I forgot the English name...) - I gave as gifts to my friends. The only pitty that I didn't photographed them before! :) Those little ones are not photographed either - I scanned them. Tommorrow I will make some photos to show details. Next thing is to make nice packages.

Or I won't make any photos tommorrow - usually, when I come back home Ada wants my constant attention and care and caresses for a day or two (or three). I understand that and I pitty her for every week lack of mother. But she has her daddy with her! (Will she be spoiled because of my felling guilty I leave her?)

Such gloomy mood I have because longing for Ada and after watching "Munich" movie by Spielberg. Eric Bana is really cute but story told in the film is completely unbelievable and ... insane! I really worry about the Middle East situation and how it influences us. Janusz Kaminski is great photographer - it's obvious especially in battle scenes.

Today there is a second day of photo festival here in Lodz and I saw some interesting exhibitions: "Piatek w centrum uwagi" about village of Piatek (Friday) - geographical centre of Poland. Very much anthropological project - mother asked me to write about it. It's great idea.
And I saw photos by Yann Arthus-Berthrand "The Earth from the sky". Beautiful photos, of course, but for me descriptions were even better - contras between the text and illustration was huge. But they should be shoking if they are going to awaken us. So much beauty in the world made me touched and sad, of course. What can I do to save it for Ada and other children? Uhm, I thing that this and the movie it was too much for me for one day....

Ok, I'll better go to sleep - I have a train to Bielsko-Biala at 6:07 a.m.

ambush makeover

Miss June, one of our pets-friends, was suggested to take part in "ambush makeover". And she took part in it! I was not very excited by the idea, but result amazed me. So did her. And at result inflenced a big change in her life: now she is more optimistic than ever. Many creatures become to like her. Now she is changed - her appeal improved just a little bit, but what's more important, she doesn't have such a gloomy look as she used to have! Thanks goodness! :) It worke out great!!! Bit of lipstick and gloss, some more blush on her chicks, and new outfit, of course - and her we have a new girl! She still loves gardening, fortunately. But her new mood, smile and new self-confidence make her friends. And right after her blossoming into beautiful HARE (not bunny, hare) she has new aquitances: kitty, pigglet and butterfly. Now she seems to be happy at last, I'm happy for her! Miss June after little makeover - with her companions she is very active now, working all days and having fun in the evenigs. Now she has a social diary full.

I decided to change a bit my beloved June because I realized her look was rather gloomy, and not friendly. Then I stuffed her more (yes!), and resewed her arms, made a new apron with a large pocket for utensils or friends. She seems more kitchy, but Ada likes her more now and for me it's a sign that children prefer more smiling creatures than not.

Kitty for swap is almost ready.... But my banner for etsy shop is not. And I'm working on some stock for my new shop, actually. kazawaproject.com has new intro - DD made it clear that site is under construction. Better this than nothing.

Ada's learned new word "cytryna" - "lemon" and she speaks "ceenya". And she calls "babe" every child and young person she sees.

24 h of Flickr and new stuffies

I joined the group "24 h of Flickr". The idea seemed funny and interesing for me: to make "a photo diary" of worldwide group just for this one day. Kinda flash mob. People have strong inclinations to such communities, I know. On May 5th I was travelling from Bielsko to Lodz, so I decided to make some photos connected with this travelling. When I came to my parent's house at 1.a.m. everybody were sleeping. Justyna's room was light up by Christmas-tree lamps, so I decided to fix this scene: Justyna sleeping, her cat by her side, and those little lamps over her head. She looks like Sleeping Beaty, holy image in the chapell - all together.

But it was few days ago. Yesterday, after coming back home, I started making new black plushie kitty for swap and finishing white bear. Girlie - bear. Her name is Sophie. She loves her nap time - she could sleep 12 h per day. I caught her in her night gown at 1 p.m.!
I should be blessing my travelling by train from Bielsko - Biala to Torun and back, because on my way back home I could finish this softie. She has pink ears and I'm planning to make a matching A-shape dress. Fabric comes from my skirt. For now she is wearing vintage baby shirt - 30 years old! - as a night gown.

Tony and Franky finally get new labels and went to their new houses. Two boys - 2 and 3 years old - are awaiting them. I hope bears will get acustomed to new environments soon and will be good. I'm quite satisfied with their labels. I like blue and orange together, so I made it in my favourite colours with a ribbon trim.

And today we went - with Ada - to our friend and former neighbour, Pani Malgosia. Ada enjoyed running in her garden and sniffing flowers. Pani Malgosia likes her very much since Ada was 3 days newborn - we lived in the same house then.

We bought a new computer at last. Adam and I we'll spent a little bit less time waiting in front of monitor for progress in work. But, I'm sure, a bit more time in flickr and ebay... hm...

Matchbox Swap

Matchbox Swap
Originally uploaded by mooosh.

Hm, that's a swap! huh, huh - so I'll have an EXCHANGE and that's a differnce, though not so big। When I see so many CUTE thing I know that I could not find them easyly. For me it's even better to make a softie and exchange it with trinlayk than to look for such truc. (I hope trinlayk won't be dissaponted that what we do is not a swap॥?)

Today Ada and I spent some time together with our friends on Dembowiec Hill. Beside four moms (one mom-to-be), there were three boys from 2 to 13 years and my little lady. She seemed to really enjoy it, especially when she was kissed by Voytek - unfortunately I took a picture a second later! Anyway, too late. Ada was thrilled by the presence of so many kids - she really wants to socialize and to imitate elders. To throw little stones in the hole - just like Voytek.

While children were having fun I was discussing with Malwina and Kate about the craddle. Once, in 1981 they both found a folk craddle - ready to be burn - saved it and now this very, very old cradle is traveling around Poland to serve new children. My Ada was 27th child since the rescue day. Every child's name is writen on side of undercarriage. People seem to love this piece of furniture and say "there is a legend in this craddle". I want to write an article about the second life of folk objects - that's ethnography for me!