Flying Star Toys blog: 2007

Sunday, December 30, 2007

New Years Geetings

From me and all the Flying Star Toys I hope all my friends have had a good holiday season and wish everyone the very best for the New Year 2008!!

I've spent my time pottering about: a bit of reading, family time, watching dvds, spending time with friends and yes, a little toy designing as well :)

I'll be easing myself back into the swing of things over the next couple of weeks. I certainly have enjoyed this special time to recharge and smell the flowers.

Here's hoping some TechGnoMe super luck rubs off on us all!

Monday, December 17, 2007

Five Little Things

Heather tagged me a couple of weeks ago with a "five things about me" meme and I promised I'd get to it when things had calmed down.

I've done quite a few of these now and I often find it hard to dig up new things to write so I thought I'd do a bit of a round up of five major things about that I've blogged about in detail over the past year and a half.

one: I'm a cat person. My cat's name is Baby. Here's a little poem I wrote from one of the earliest posts on this blog called Songs for My Cat - FEED MEoW. Also I blogged about Baby in the post Baby: personal legend #1.

two: I was a Star Trek nerd but it set me back on the path of Art after the Great Art drought that was my university days. I wrote about it during the "Week Of Geek" Rebecca the Wrecker and Plastic Girl and I held in July 2006. You can read about it these two posts My Past Life as a Trekkie and I, Florence - day 2 Geek Week.

three: I'm an arts theorist as well as a toy maker. This aspect of what I do is now mostly channelled into my work with OzFrank Theatre Matrix as their Design Dramaturge. I have from time to time written about my thoughts about art, artist writing, theory here. The following posts show some examples of that side of me - Art Criticism?, Planet of Visions - Life After Theory.

four: I love art and craft and so occasionally I've written detailed posts on art forms that have interested me. These have been very popular - Inuit Intuit - Eskimo Art and Song, Papercuts of the World - Folkart, Imperfection by design and Arachne's Legacy, Why I like Folk Art - part 1.

five: I'm Australian and I'm proud to be a part of the growth of a still young country, she is yet naive and largely unconscious of herself but possesses a broad blue sky nature. Some posts that relate to this have been - Australian Spirit, With a Little Luck - The Southern Cross, Connecting to Your Environment Though Story.

After having sampled a few of the posts included here you should have a fair hint of what occupies my thoughts at a least some of them anyway ;)

It's too late in the year to tag anyone but rest assured this will likely not be the last "five things about me" you'll read here!

Monday, December 10, 2007

20 % off all toys until the end of December!

That's right! As a special Christmas treat the Flying Star Toys online shop will be having a 20% off sale. So if there is a little soft someone you've been secretly coveting then there is no better time to treat yourself.

If you can't find exactly what your looking for in the shop but know I make it just drop me a line and it too will be discounted.

Instead of paying through the shop send me an email at florence@flyingstartoys.com with your order and I'll send you a PayPal invoice so you can pay via credit card or your PayPal balance (direct debit for Australian patrons is also available).

Above: four new Pimmie Parrots

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Flying Star Toys in Craft Magazine

I was thrilled to have Flying Star Toys featured in the Curios section of the November issue of Craft magazine - super cool DYI craft magazine from the US. Many thanks go to Arwen O'reilly (staff editor) for finding my work via Etsy.

Props go out to The Queen of Light and Joy for letting me know about it too :)

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Delightful Shows

The Umbrella Collective Christmas show was another successful and happy day. Saturday the 17th of November started for me driving into the city watching moody clouds pouring forth a grey column of rain but these visitors were quickly travelling across the skyline soon to pass. They toured across the sky all day so we enjoyed an atmosphere that hadn't been felt in Brisbane for sometime, a wonderful sub-tropical gloaming that brought a sense of magical expectation. Everyone was agreed that it was a prefect setting for the show.

Above you can see the Umbrella Collective members from left to right: Shannon Garson (porcelain), Kylie Johnson (Paper Boat Press), Liana Kabel (Plastic Girl Jewellery), me of course, Rebecca Ward (jewellery), with Sarah Bowe the sixth member of the Umbrella Collective who did not present work this year but was there to help taking the photo. The photo below shows the Flying Star Toys stand as seen at the Umbrella Collective show.

The GOMA show on Sunday the 25th was also an excellent day with a great turn out from the public and I got to meet up with some other of our fellow Queensland artists such as Sarah and Lee from Audrey and Rose, Luke Johnson from Robots Robots, Erin from Blossom Creations and new toy maker Kia Hing Fay. Her toys for children are beautifully made and I was pleased to be able to do a swap with her for one of the very popular show favourite Biscuit Bunnies. Below is a photo she sent me of him in his new home shown with one of Kylie Johnson's ceramic stars. I'm sure we'll be hearing more about Kia in the future.

Finally, I'd like to thank all of those people who came out to support us and those who sent there well wishes or very kind apologies, you are all truly Friends of Flying Star Toys :)

Friday, November 23, 2007

Crooked Roads...

"Improvement makes straight roads; but the crooked roads without improvement are roads of Genius." William Blake

Above is one of my most favourite quotes of Wiliam Blake, probably because I need reminding of it so often. Jacqui Carroll the director of OzFrank Theatre told me something yesterday that has been of great benefit and I have been pondering it ever since.

She said that there are no solutions just answers. I spend too much time trying to work things out and I don't trust myself enough to find the answer though the process of loving. I have been trying to "make improvements" but that road has offered little comfort. The crooked roads, like the one's I love here in Sandgate that meander over sand and roots, that are overgrown with grasses, broken by small fissures and weathered by too much sun and too much rain make the journey rich and poignant.

It seems to me that Science is the place for solutions and Straight Roads, but Art is the journey to answers and that journey is the Crooked Road I must have the courage to surrender to.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Taking time to...

I really need some time to relax today. I can't believe I forgot I live just down the road from this!

Front Page Happiness

This morning I finally caught one of my toys on the front page of Etsy. I was on the front page the other day too but I missed it, so I was quite chuffed (happy) to see Star Boomers featured in such a beautiful collection gathered together by fellow Australian Esty seller Etsasketch.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Toy Box Exhibition - Cairns

Flying Star Toys series Flocka2s and Red Finch White Finch will be featured at the KickArts retail exhibition "Toy Box: the Art of the Toy" running from Friday 23th November to Saturday 29th December 2007.

KickArts Contemporary Arts
96 Abbott St, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Christmas Design Market at GOMA

Did you miss the Umbrella Collective Christmas Show? Not to worry because I'll be at the Christmas Design Market outside the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane on Sunday the 25th November from 9am to 5pm. For more information phone (o7) 3840 7147 (the Gallery Store).

Now back to making more Biscuit Bunnies!

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Biscuit Bunnies - Blue Meringue

This month I introduced a new colour to the Biscuit Bunnies series. Blue Meringue joins Oatmeal Cream and Gingerbread. If you had joined the Friends of Flying Star Toys you would have had a chance to win a Blue Meringue Biscuit Bunny this month. Every month I hold a competition to win a Flying Star Toy and it so easy to enter. Contact me at florence(at)flyingstartoys.com to join the Friends of Flying Star Toys.

I've also introduced a variation on the classic Biscuit Bunny by using specially chosen designer fabrics on their cloud brushing ears. Now there are so many new friends to collect!

Most these little friends are now available from a new Flying Star Toys stockist, The Servo (78 Latrobe Tce, Paddington, Brisbane). The rest will be peeking out from ceramic bowls on my stand at the Umbrella Collective Christmas show.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Delightful Things For Christmas - Umbrella Collective Christmas Show 2007

saturday 17 november 2007
9am - 2pm

delightful things direct from the artists

st francis theological college
233 milton road milton
entrance via baroona rd

parking available
cash or cheque only

umbrella collective
www.umbrellacollective.blogspot.com

ARTISTS:

florence forrest
flying star toys

shannon garson
porcelain

kylie johnson
paper boat press

liana kabel
plastic girl jewellery

rebecca ward
jewellery

I'm getting very excited about this show. If you can come along it will be a great opportunity to pick up our work at special show prices. And don't be shy! Introduce yourself and say hello I'd love to see you.

Monday, November 05, 2007

Fruits of Eve: Perfect Pear and Always Apple

November sees the launch of a new addition to the Flying Star Toys family, Fruits of Eve: Always Apple and Perfect Pear. Wholesome and succulent, Fruits of Eve remind us to taste the good life.

Fruits of Eve was inspired by a vision I had while resting in bed one Sunday afternoon. An image of a linen pear and linen apple hanging from a tree of dark branches came to my mind. Of course there was nothing for it but to go into the studio and discover where it would lead. I found that the vision I had had was just the seed of what they would become.

To the cotton/linen I had dreamed of I added a lush cotton velvet in golden yellow for the pear and an intense berry red for the apple. A sweet, hand embroidered face developed, then a green wool felt leaf to add the vigour of life and, for the final touches, the hanging linen twine was wrapped in pearl embroidery thread in brown for the stem below a bone bead. The hanging twine above the bead is wrapped in a green thread and finally the top of the linen twine is wrapped in the fresh glow of pink pearl embroidery thread just below the bow.

The result was the wholesome richness of Fruits of Eve: Perfect Pear and Always Apple born from a vision of restful contentment.

Fruits of Eve: Perfect Pear and Always Apple are now available in the Flying Star Toys shop.

See the Fruits of Eve Gallery page for more images.

*News Flash* Kristen Rask from Schmancy toy shop in Seattle interviewed me for her blog Plush You! Click here to read the full interview.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone! Flying Star Toys series, MajicCatsMini, especially love Halloween as they will be on extra special look out for ghosts and ghouls.

Halloween isn't a big event in Australia, it just isn't in tune with our natural cycle...it's spring here and the last thing one is thinking of is the passing of life, as rather it is the beginnings of life one is drawn to. But what Halloween does mean to me is that the coming month is going to be a super busy time! There is so much happening for Flying Star Toys: new stockists, an exhibition, two Christmas shows, a new toy launch, a new competition for this month's Friends of Flying Star Toys newsletter...wow!

I'm getting dizzy just thinking about it all and I can't wait to tell you more about it so stay tuned!

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Pay it Foward - handmade giving

I love sewing. Even when I'm pushing myself to fulfil my toy orders and I'm tired and all I want to do is have a lie down, I still find myself thinking I love sewing. I now devote most of my sewing time to toy making but I often find myself hankering for a little diversion just for fun. So when I was directed to Heather's Blog via a comment she left me on Flickr and discovered the PIF (Pay it Forward) handmade gift giving meme I was very interested.

Simply, it is this:

"I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog."

One of the types of handmade things I make only as gifts are the elaborately hand-embellished amulets, as seen in the picture above. This is one I made for Rebecca the Wrecker one Christmas. I made it to suit her personality as all good amulets should. I even made the kumihimo (braiding) myself. These amulets are based on the style of folk amulets that can be found in many parts of the world. The book "Amulets: A World of Secret Powers, Charms and Magic," by the renowned textile researcher Sheila Paine, is a book I've spent a good deal of time looking at as a reference.

So if you would like to participate in the Pay it Forward and have your very own amulet. Let me know in the comments :) In the spirit of Jude and Heather I'll also extend the number to over three people if there are any more....though remember I have a whole year....which I'll most likely take full advantage of!

Friday, October 19, 2007

New Painting Acquisition - Bird on a Rock

Yesterday, I installed the long anticipated painting "Bird on a Rock" by Tiel. I wrote to Tiel after having spotted a corner of this painting in her Flickr photos. Something in me said I had to have it.....and she hadn't even finished it yet. So I've been lay-buying for the last few months.

Luckly, Tiel is a fellow Brisbanite and so yesterday I drove over to collect it. I've only just got my licence, so any drive is a big adventure, but it seems I drove about 60 km yesterday!

It was great to finally meet Tiel and see her lovely studio where all the magic happens :)

I told Tiel that her beautiful painting was going to a good home so I thought I'd share a picture of it with you in its new place of honour.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Connecting to Your Environment Though Story

Isolation in our modern society is like a disease; with feelings of being disconnected and disaffected going beyond the boarders of teenage angst. I see many toys that give expression to this feeling, with their scary-cute edge. Toys like Gloomy Bear by Mori Chack for instance, a pink cute bear that has blood on its face, body and claws from where someone got too close.

Losing touch with the essential spiritual nature of man in search for an ego-only based identity has meant we have lost touch with the living spirit that breathes though the very pores of our surroundings. Stories and tales and urban legends interact with consciousness and the unconscious to form an ecology of imagination that leads to a connected experience in both the interactions between people and between people and the world, the trees and the beasts and the birds and the clouds and the wind, and with love.

William Blake expresses it thus:

"The Ancient Poets animated all sensible objects with Gods or Geniuses, calling them by names and adorning them with the properties of woods, rivers, mountains, lakes, cities, nations and whatever their enlarged and numerous senses could perceive."

Recently, my toys were described as wholesome. Words like thoughtful, meditative and gentle have been used to describe my work, but I think that wholesome truly expresses what the Flying Star Toys world stands for. The journey of Flying Star Toys is to express the bounty of love that I feel within me, to offer like the "Ancient Poets" that gift of imagination that connects the Self to its life in the world through an active imagination. I connect myself to my environment by making up stories, by making toys from that imaginative connection. Active participation brings richness. This subtle connection builds awareness and appreciation. The mind has in effect given something that was general and impersonal, a personal name within itself where by to become familiar with it - one might call it a mental friendship.

I wonder if it might be that it is this lack of personal spiritual and mental participation (spiritual ecology) with our "environment" that has caused a great deal of the imbalances we currently experience?

Image 1: Single FlockA2

Image 2: The Little Correllas of my neighbourhood upon which FlockA2s are based.

This blog post has been a part of Blog Action Day.
Thanks go to Jaihn for letting me know about it.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Animated Art - Katy Horan

Recently, artist Katy Horan wrote to me telling me about a recent project. She writes,

"I just wanted to share a few developments with you guys.

First of all, a video I worked on earlier this year is now out! It's for a song called "Pied Piper" by a musician named Yoriyos ( http://www.yoriyos.com/). I did all the illustrations and some very talented animators turned it into this video: http://www.ronwinter.tv/reel/movies/yoriyos.mov .

I need to credit Ron Winter (http://www.ronwinter.tv/), who directed it and did an amazing job!
I hope you all like it!"

I did like it, both the song and the animated video clip. I thought you'd like it too.

*Image above is "Owl #2" by katy Horan. (lucky me I own this one :)

Friday, October 05, 2007

Sugar and Spice

I'm flattered to have been awarded a "Nice Matters" Award from Rashbre at Rashbre Central. A cute little meme rewarding those who like to spread the good stuff abroad with their blogging. Thank -you Rashbre.

As these things go, one is obliged to continue the procession of awards to fellow bloggers. In that vein I've to choose six blogs from the oh so many that I know deserves this award....I don't think I know of any un-nice blogs :)

Spirit Cloth

Poppalina

Friederike!

Gooseflesh

TskTsk

While She Naps

I know you'll love them as much as I do. And there's no reason why you can't start you own wave of appreciation to your favourite Nice blogs too.

*Award banner available here or the one Rashbre made here.

Monday, October 01, 2007

Ishmael's Whale and Website Launch

Flying Star Toys welcomes Ishmael's Whale to its toy collections. To celebrate the launch of flyingstartoys.com we have a signature toy, Ishmael's Whale, to presage its journey into the big wide world. I can think of no better creature than the portentous, warm blooded mammal of the deep that surfaces to take the air and view the sky. Like the workings of the creative life, it swims deep and unseen to surface like a wonder and a mystery.

You can now read the background to each toy series on the Story Page connected to each toy in the Collections pages. The Ishmael's Whale toy series has been dedicated to Herman Melville's classic novel "Moby Dick." Ishmael being the lone survivor of that fateful voyage of the Pequod, captained by the doomed Ahab on his vengeful quest for the white whale. You can read more about it on the Ishmael's Whale Story Page.

I have also named the three variations of Ishmael's Whale fabrics after the novel. The above style is called Nantucket Blue. Nantucket being the whaling centre where the Pequod sets forth. The other two are Indian Calico (the fabric is an Indian cotton) and New Bedford Stripe. You could read the book, if you haven't already, and see where I get my references from :) I think I'll re-read it again myself as it is one of my favourite novels - its gorgeous prose just rolls off the tongue.

Also, I would like to thank all my friends (both in the virtual world and in the flesh) who have been so supportive while I completed the mammoth task of constructing flyingstartoys.com. I fondly hope you will continue to read along and make the journey with me.

xx

Friday, September 28, 2007

Letters from Heaven

I found this quote yesterday, its gentle voice feels to me like a personal message from heaven, I would like to share it with you.

"Go Placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery, but let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affectation. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. Take kindly the council of the years, gracefully surrender the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be, and, whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham drudgery and broken dreams it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy."

The quote comes from an inscription in Old Saint Paul's Church, Baltimore, USA; dated 1692.

The picture above is a painting of mine called "The Hermit", oil pastel on board, 75cm x 104cm, 2004.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

On the Table - some essentials

Don't let anyone tell you that the quality of your tools aren't important. The old saying that a bad craftsman blames his tools, might be correct because a good craftsman/woman knows that having good tools is absolutely necessary. I've found this out the hard way.

A couple of tips that I have found invaluable are:

*Always have a different pair of scissors for each type of material. Seen above are the little scissors I use for Scherenschnitte (paper cutting). I use them on fine paper only. When I'm finished with them I put them away in a box, so there will be no temptation.

*Finding a good brand is like finding gold, don't be tempted by a cheap alternative as you'll be wasting more money that you think. I have one brand that I just love, many of you will be familiar with the Japanese company Clover. I first bought one of their seam rippers a few years ago and I haven't looked back. I've found all of their products to be superior in every way and are worth every penny.

On other news, the website is nearly finished and will be live as of the 1st October. To coincide with the new website the blog will be undergoing a template change. It might take a bit to work out any new bugs that inevitably accompany a big change so if you do have any problems with the site or the blog once it's up I'd really appreciate hearing from you :)

Wish me luck!

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Chic-Chic are baby chicks

In my quest for simplicity without compromising detail or personality, I'm pleased to launch Chic-Chic baby chicks as the latest edition to the Flying Star Toys collections. Currently they are featured in grey cotton velvet and orange pin wale corduroy with navy blue sashiko hand embroidery.

Chic-Chics have closed eyes - they are still so sleepy because they are young, just baby chickens.
Their simple shape is also a reminder of their fledgling state. Anyone who has cared for little animals knows how much they like to bunch together when they sleep and enjoy frolicking together when awake, curiously checking here and there for food.

It's funny how an image can create a seed in the mind. The Chinese peasant painting "Two Old Men Playing Chess" by Jun Zhang from Shanxi (above) has always been a favourite of mine. The old men looking so content playing chess, smoking a pipe and having tea by the fruiting vine. It displays a natural piety that William Wordsworth would recognise. Can you see the little chicks playing amidst the old friends? Well, there you have the seed of inspiration for this toy series! It has been over a year since the loving contemplation of this painting. Then, one day, a shape reminiscent of the baby chickens from the painting fell into my lap. So now I can bring to you our new friends Chic-Chic (chick-chick).

Chic-Chics are approximately 16.5cm (6 1/4 inches) from nose to tail and standing approx. 7.5 cm (3 inches) tall. They are available in right and left facing colour/grey and are weighted to stand independently.

*"Two Old Men Playing Chess", by Jun Zhang from Shanxi China, Chinese Peasant Paintings: Familar Scenes and Everyday Language exhibition catalogue, Chinese Exhibition Agency, 1980s.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Remembering When - handmade clothes

Shula's look back in time posts have inspired me in some of my own remembering. Today I remember when my mum would make our clothes. Recently mum and I where packing and distributing my grandparents' things, I asked to have this photo. It's a picture of me and sister when we were younger sitting for the "loving siblings" shot that parents love to take. As you can see I found the whole process a little dubious, but my sister, God bless her, always got in on the act....she is just so cute isn't she :)

While we stood in my grandparents' slowly dissolving living room, I told mum I remembered those dresses but particularly the way the buttons felt on my finger tips - they were small red roses. It's amazing how subtle an impression can be left upon the mind. Mum, also musing on that time, remarked that she was very fond of that dress pattern. I must admit, however, that I didn't enjoy wearing it or most of our handmade outfits. I always felt that the split in the front of this dress was too low and it embarrassed me, and in general I felt a bit uncool when around other kids. I never told mum that though....now, however, I choose to remember that mum loved to makes clothes for her dear daughters and I'll cherish memory of those tiny red rose buttons.

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Red Finch White Finch

Please welcome "Red Finch White Finch" to the Flying Star Toys collections. I'm very excited to be finally launching these friendly little birds. Red Finch White Finch are a set of two hanging toys. Hang them together, apart or share the pair with someone special.

The subtle design of Red Finch White Finch is a combination of silhouette work and origami folding. This design makes it seems like there is another set of birds when you turn them over. You can enjoy them both. Red Finch White Finch are happy to be friends for ever, no matter what their differences.

Made with woven cotton/linen blend fabrics and hand embroidered with cotton sashiko thread, Red Finch White Finch are 18.5 cm (7 1/4 inches) from head to tail tip. Hanging thread is linen yarn, eyes are black glass beads.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Moon on Ice

Music "Moon On Ice" by Yello, lyrics and vocals by Billy Mackenzie from the album "One Second" (1987). This video clip was made by wjwheeler.

I spent most of today watching YouTube looking at Yello videos and collecting videos of Voodoo for my other blog Design Dramaturge. I found an interesting video from National Geographic, a great photo documentation of a Voodoo ceremony in Brooklyn New York and also a short "tour" of Haitian art from what looks like an art gallery in Haiti. If your interested in taking a short tour yourself of Voodoo see my post A Short Video Tour of Voodoo.

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