I have been back at the sewing chair for the first time in ages, leaving the seaside has not done wonders for my making. It has been almost a year since we left the island for the city, hopefully I am finding my way again now. Home made Valentine cards and chocolate and beetroot brownies undertaken today, I am pretty happy with the results! Also a little Charity Shop trawling last week which brought me some wonderful vintage children’s books, they are from the sixties and seventies, a couple published in the year of my birth no less. I was drawn to the beautifully illustrated covers but the insides are just as ace.

I am particularly looking forward to reading The Doll’s House by Rumer Godden, I have vague memories of it from childhood. ‘Tottie Plantaganet’ is such a great name for a doll, she is stylish too (see above), reminds me a little of the dolls from the wonderful Le Train Fantome.

Saw this, want this. From Squirrellicious.

Papier Mache describes itself as “a very cute childrens magazine for anyone who wants to read it”. And, oh my goodness, is it ever cute! Have you read it yet? Some of my favourite artists are featured or contributing this month: Barbara Berrada, Poala Zakimi, Elisabeth Dunker, Donna Wilson, Atsuko Ishii, Herzensart, Le Train Fantome, Lemmikkiapina and I am in there somewhere too! Hop on over to Papier Mache, it is so beautifully produced and styled, you won’t be sorry you did.

I think that he looks like Nick Cave back in the days of The Birthday Party! Zebra fabulousness (above) from Skunkboy Creatures of course. Here we are again friends, it is time for another plush gathering. I am feeling so inspired by the wonders on display here, my fingers are itchy and desperate to get snipping and stitching and stuffing! Things have been a little quiet on the creature front for me recently, that is going to change very soon though. I had planned to release a little list of the places you can find my work this year, I am waiting to hear if I have been accepted into one particular show, once I know you will know-keep your fingers crossed for me please kittens. Now, feast your peepers on plush heaven!

“Quand la pluie tombe chez moi” by Cocon

Wonder by Melissa Stanley

Victorian Lady by Junker Jane

Lumi by Le Train Fantome

Family by Matilde Beldroega

I can’t help making up background stories for the new creations from Astulabee. Oh, especially the Show Pony!

Endearing foxes from Oso Polar

Super floral fish by Flora Douville.

Kootoom, Turris & Pecten by Sarah Bourque.

Deer by Takiyaje.

Plushrooms from Kitty Bee.

Beuys Bunny from Das Kaninchen.

Jinx Moon Bunny from Moon’s Creations.

Peascape in Strangeland from Kit Lane

Large Fabric Bird by Abigail Brown

Rabbit from Fawn Potter.

Francis by Flannery O’Kafka

Cat from Red Craft Works.

Miss Black Dahlia from Meeniak.

The Classic Maggot in White with Pink Heart from Pterodactyl Pants.

Feathery Doll by Cathy Cullis.

Doli Mary Chestnut from Misako Mimoko

Crazy cool! I want a plush wall. Collected work by Ninon.

Before I forget please do join me tomorrow for the ever shifting weekly interview, so exciting, meet me in Argentina!

I realized this week that I have taken a trip in a time machine, sartorially speaking, back to 1986! Breton shirt, denim shorts, thick wool tights, oversize cardigan, dark blue Converse. I am wearing the same ‘uniform’ I rigged myself out in when I was 16 & it feels so very ‘me’! I just can’t do super groomed, elegant, ultra-feminine. If I could (and had a large trust fund or similar) I would be beating down the doors of Kenzo to get my paws on the Autumn/winter 09/10 collection.

Folkloric, flowers, foliage, babushka, cossack style. The most beautifully tailored coats, patchwork smocks. Ok, I need the smelling salts, swoon!

Antonio Marras’ collection reminded me of an illustration I saw a while ago over at Flickr by Kitty Vane.

Just gorgeous! I am sending out a plea for an Astulabee, Kitty Vane, Le Train Fantome adult apparel line with knitwear and jewelry by Resurrection Fern, styling and illustrated detailing by Hibou Caillou Chou, so very ‘now’ kittens!

I snuck out of the tipi for this one, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to put together my fantasy fashion ‘A-Team’! Who would feature in your fantasy collaboration?

Every week I am hoping to do a little ’round up’ of everything that has caught my eye in the world of plush, doll making, soft-sculpture, or what you will! One of the things I find most wonderful about plush (etc!) art is its ability to elide categorization. Who is it for?. What does it do? How am I supposed to respond to this? Is it art? Is it craft? Having taken my first tiny steps down the road of toy making/softy design/plush art I have discovered how difficult it is to explain to others what it is that I do. Soft sculpture/plush art is not particularly established as a form in the UK, there appears to be much more of a tradition in the US and a ‘grammar’ is developing as a result. I hadn’t heard the terms ‘plush art’ or ‘soft-sculpture’ until I began to research what was going on in other countries and forming relationships with artists working in this medium. We have some of the finest makers of plush/dolls/soft sculpture working in the UK, you can scroll down to see pieces from a couple of them. Although I often find myself tongue-tied on the subject of my creatures I celebrate the slippery, taxonomy busting form I have chosen as a vehicle for my creativity.

Here are just some of my recent favourites, they are so outstandingly good, just see for yourself!

Heading up this post are Lewis and Lumi from Le Train Fantome. Also above, the most beautiful Lumi doll. Fanja Ralison is the phenomenal talent behind Le Train Fantome, and yes, she creates her fantastic creatures from her home in the UK.

Wow, Super Ninon is on a roll at the moment. Look at the beauty above and I am so in love with Nero Bolotovski, fabulous wolfy below. I need to find out some more about Super Ninon and be a lot quicker the next time she updates her shop. I would love to know who snagged Mr Bolotovski, they must be so very happy.

Hello Super Wolf!

I absolutely adore everything from A Little Sprout but Juliette is a total dream doll! It seems as if it is quite rare these days to come across a doll with real wool hair, let alone beautiful blue hair. Swoon!

Oh, these rabbits! A delicate soft-as-a-whisper bunny, handmade from vintage angora sweaters by Sonja Ahlers. Sonja has an Etsy shop called Make It Awesome where you can find more of these tiny bunnies, they even have a lucky penny in the belly. These little fellows have such simple and yet such expressive faces, touching is the only word for them. I want one!

Shannah Burton’s shop Das Kaninchen is one of my favourite places on Etsy. I am looking forward to getting a Beuys Bunny for me and Ishi very soon. There is such intelligence behind Shannah’s work and an amazing aesthetic sensibility, a powerful combination. These bunnies certainly defy categorization and I love them for it.

Look out for more on Das Kaninchen here before too long!

Such a cute kitty from Abigail Brown.

Look at Mungo, he is one beautiful Dolphin. Crafted by the unbelievably talented Margie Oomen, of Knitalatte fame. I am hoping that a Mungo will appear in Margie’s shop and that I am quick enough to pounce, Margie’s work sells out in minutes after it is listed, it is so beautiful.

It makes me so happy to come across something new to me and I was overjoyed to make the acquaintance of Heartbroken Wolf Man from The Good Machinery. I was going to save him for my Wolf post but couldn’t wait until then. Oh, he is wonderful!

Donna Wilson is simply amazing, one of the best “Knitting Designers” I have ever seen. I have the biggest crush on Cyril the Squirrel, he likes marmalade and dislikes cottage cheese, I like both but not at the same time.

Ok, so I promised to honour an admiration truce with Miss Astulabee but there was no way that this beauteous creature was going to be left out. Such perfection can be painful to look at for too long, I like to peek in small doses and dream of the day when an Astulabee deer is mine all mine (cross fingers for me please!).

Hooray for Skunkboy Creatures! Just look at this darling Jackalope. I love the fact that Baby Jack is “always thoughtful and never grumpy. Baby Jack’s favorite things are moon shoes to make him extra bouncy and having his velvety tummy rubbed by someone special”. So adorable!

My, there were so many more too! I am very much looking forward to my weekly plush round up, but the question is, will I spend so much time searching out the best work to share with you that I neglect to sit down and work on the new creatures I have been neglecting. We shall see. I’m not sure if I will manage a post tomorrow, all depends on poor Adam who has to work this weekend. I hope to see you soon, love until then. XXX