Who's the Winner?

Every month I hold a little competition for the Friends of Flying Star Toys to win a toy. Those who receive the newsletter have the opportunity to enter and be the first to hear about new toy releases, sales and news. The September prize was very rare Coconut Ice Biscuit Bunny (as seen above).

Who will the winner be? I'll share with you my system of picking the winner - first I take the number of names on my mailing list and then count how many entries have been made in the competition and then use this number to divide into the bigger number. The result is then counted through the entries from the earliest to the last and then around back up to the earliest until the number that resulted from the division is reached....well, it's that simple! ;)

I'm about to do that right now. I email the winner to let them know and then I announce it in the following newsletter. I wonder who the lucky person will be this month?

I haven't yet decided what the October toy prize will be....all will be revealed in the October newsletter! If you would like to enter my monthly competitions all you have to do is email me at florence(at)flyingstartoys.com and have subscribe in the subject line, or click the link to join the Friends of Flying Star Toys in the top section of the blog sidebar, mush easier that selecting the winner (hehehe).

Well, here's good luck to all the Friends of Flying Star Toys who entered this month!

Tags: Windbag and Thunder, windbagandthunder, art, craft, toys, Flying Star Toys, competition, biscuit bunnies, bunny, softie, plush, designer, handmade, Florence Forrest

Super Plush! Exhibition LA, USA

Later this month Flying Star Toys will be on show at Super Plush! an exhibition of plush toy artist at Los Angeles gallery Ghetto Gloss. Toy artist Mr Funky has organised a big show featuring such renowned toy artist as While She Naps, One Red Robin, Fern Animals and Soto Softies.....I could go on!

A large collection of delightful one-of-a-kind Pimmie Parrots and three shy Snow Walkers are representing Flying Star Toys for this exhibition.

Super Plush! Art by 22 amazing plush doll and soft sculpture artist will be on from September 25th until October 2nd. Ghetto Gloss - 2380 Glendale Blvd, Silverlake, CA, USA.

Tags: art, toys, plush, softie, designer, exhibition, Super Plush, Windbag and Thunder, windbagandthunder, Flying Star Toys, Florence Forrest

Fruits of Eve - a commission

I recently had a commission for a hanging line of two little Always Apples and Perfect Pears (Fruits of Eve). The line has two different sizes of each both smaller than the original. I'm always struck how a small difference in size can make so much difference to the making of a design. These smaller ones are much easier to stuff than their larger parents and they're just so cute! I liked them so much I'll be making mini Fruits of Eve in time for the Christmas period.

I've been told that this Fruits of Eve hanging bough now has its home above the fireplace in her two boys' room - how very cosy!

Tags: commission, Fruits of Eve, Always Apple, Perfect Pear, pear, apple, plushies, plush, softie, softies, designer, handmade, Flying Star Toys, craft, toys, windbagandthunder, Windbag and Thunder, Florence Forrest

For Spring

"My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So it is now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man;
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety."

William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

Today I finally constructed this nine tile pattern from the base design I made over 9 years ago. This was one of the final piece in a series of work I did using only a large set circle and set triangle. I designed the tiles to create a further progression of pattern once it was joined to itself as you can see above. I am quite pleased with this one :)

(click the image for a clear view)

Tags: art, craft, Windbag and Thunder, windbagandthunder, poetry, William Wordsworth, Spring, rainbow, Florence Forrest

Sydney - a father/daughter trip

I've just returned from three days in Sydney with my Dad. We spent our time seeing the sites and visited relatives.


The weather was simply perfect for the first days of Spring. The atmosphere in the city was bright and exciting.

I haven't been to Sydney for many years and somehow I had forgotten how beautiful Sydney is, but what struck me most was the healthy confidence the city expressed. It reminded me of what the eminent art historian Sir Kenneth Clark said in his television series "Civilisation: A Personal View", that civilisation is bound to the confidence of the people in themselves and their culture.

This pleasant observation was just one of the treasured souvenirs I returned home with.

Tags: Sydney, Windbag and Thunder, windbagandthunder, Florence Forrest