British product designer Duncan Shotton has a playful way of looking at ordinary objects — pencils, sticky notes, soap dispensers, thumb tacks — that makes you look at them in a new way. Take these Rainbow Pencils, where the colors are in the shavings, not the lead centers.
There's way more to explore on Duncan's online store. He's in the U.K., but ships to the U.S. for a reasonable rate. Go see!
xo It's not totally accurate to call Djeco's Pop to Play structures "dollhouses." They're more like stage sets, or play spaces for action figures. They're cleverly designed, super affordable (each is under $20, and some are under $15!), and look great. And I very much appreciate a toy that's not branded (that is, not tied to a TV show or a movie franchise). Made of sturdy paperboard, the set's pieces slot together easily and cleverly, and can be taken apart for storage. Sweet! Disclosure: Links to each product go through my Amazon Affiliate site, and I'll get a few cents if you make a purchase after clicking through. But I'd be posting about these even if they weren't sold on Amazon.
Can they make a life-sized one of these for me- uh, I mean, for my niece and nephew?
xo I love the colors, patterns, and overall creative goodness in the Stack and Scare block sets from Invisible Creature. [Note: some of these links are affiliate links, and I get a few cents if you make a purchase on Amazon after clicking through.] Here's a shot of all of the four sets, together: This is one set, named Rodney: A few more beauty shots: They are so fun and gorgeous that I dare say they would be fun for all ages, or at least "the young and the young at heart." The bad news is that they're expensive, which is not surprising based on the quality of the printing and the wood. But, I have a DIY solution. The blocks won't be the same, but they'll be fun to make, and designed just how you and/or your kids want them. Buy a cheap set of plain wood blocks such as these or these, then paint them with acrylic craft paint. Use painter's tape and stencils to get super-sharp lines. Or, go freeform!
xo I just stumbled across this Etsy shop, Jane Brady Designs, that has very cute socks for babies, kids, and adults. Seriously, seriously cute. The little ears sticking up slay me. Somehow these socks are also super cheap, like $6 to $8. I don't know how she does it; I assume sorcery is involved. The other thing about this shop is that she offers skirts in patterns that aren't traditionally found in girls clothing. As her About page says, "My daughter enjoys princesses and dinosaurs, sparkling necklaces and superhero patterns. Jane Brady has them all."
These so-called Stupid Creatures have been around for about a dozen years now, and if you don't know them, you should. Artist John Murphy's sock and fabric monsters are cute, very weird, and sometimes unsettling. (It seems so rude to call them stupid; they're clearly just misunderstood.) These one-off sock monsters were essentially sold door-to-door. There are dozens more on the "classics" gallery. Murphy has also made creatures with other fabrics, opening up new possibilities in shape and texture. This series uses more realistic eyes, which I love. Unfortunately, there's not much available to purchase at the moment. Land of Nod has a couple of his mass-produced models left, and they are deeply discounted (get on it!): There's a Stupid Creatures Etsy shop, but it's currently empty. So, if you can't score one of the Land of Nod SCs, you'll have to make your own, with the help of the Stupid Sock Creatures or The Return of the Stupid Sock Creatures books.
xo All kids are super, but some are superheroes—when they're wearing a wonderful cape, at least. Sure, you can make a cape yourself, but if you have the budget to afford it, I recommend hiring an expert, like Lane Huerta at Lovelane. Her costume pieces are heirloom-worthy works of art. Some capes come with a matching helmet, though you can purchase each item separately, if you have a hat-adverse child. Order by October 10 and you're guaranteed to get your costume pieces before Halloween!
xo It's been a few years since I shopped at Manto Fev, so I'm extremely pleased to discover they are still going strong. What is Manto Fev? As they describe themselves: "Manto Fev is your best source for alternative art supplies. We carry products for collage, assemblage, art dolls, art quilts, scrapbooking, and more. We like to look for the vintage, the unusual, and the just plain odd. We live for this stuff and hope you do, too. Our stock is constantly changing as we find new and exciting products for your art." I have bought numerous things from them over the years, including fake plastic eyelashes, pages from a 1950's-era hairdressing manual, and sheets of mica. I don't know of anywhere else I could buy such things, especially at such reasonable prices. Manto Fev is a treasure. Here are some of my current favorite offerings; click on the picture to be taken to the shop.
I haven't even gotten to the flea market section of the site, full of one-of-a-kind items! It is difficult to stop myself from simply reposting the entire site, but I will. Go there and peruse.
What youngster wouldn't want to be the proprietor of their very own ice cream truck? Let them fulfill their dreams with this superbly designed cardboard play truck by Famous OTO, a manufacturer in Brooklyn, NY. (Clicking on an image will take you directly to the product's listing.) For kids with a slightly hipper, edgier style, or ones who simply prefer savory over sweet, get the taco truck: Don't have a kid? No problem! They make a sized-down ice cream truck just for cats. Note the regular flavors have become fish-ified. I love the level of detail that went into these, down to the "hand-painted" lettering. Well done, Famous OTO!
xo Today's "I Love Stuff" is another stuffed animal seller. I admit, I have stuffed animals on the brain; I'm currently working on a sewn plush project, not for the blog, which I will share with you in the coming weeks. Anyway: Etsy seller Wish With Me offers these miniature stuffed felt animals that are simply the cutest. Here's a sloth that can hang from your finger! A teeny bunny with a carrot-shaped bed! An itsy black kitten playing with yarn! She also has these detailed, miniature mint-tin playsets that are just as squee-dorable. I particularly like the dog edition: ...Though, the hamster set is also precious:
I love off-beat makers' markets like the all-across-the-nation Renegade Craft Fairs. Through their handy website and list of contributing makers, I discovered these perfect stuffed bears from COMMONFOLK. They come in multiple sizes and soft, earthy colors. All have that same cute expression, which I alternately read as beseeching, worried, sleepy, and content, depending on my own current mood. They're all hand-sewn and hand-embroidered in the U.S., yet they are pretty affordable. Click on the photos to go to COMMONFOLK's shop.
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March 2017
AuthorI'm Debbie Way, an artist and writer who enjoys making things. |
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