WindBag and Thunder

Taking some time out

2010-11-08T21:24:00.003+10:00

Passion...is something so important to making art. I began making toys as art and somewhere along the way they became a product...they were made from the spirit of love and I love these little characters dearly. Posting the image above of my Nature Owls fills me with such a sweet happy feeling, a feeling I've felt missing for a while during the most distressing year of my life. It has come time for me to step back and reorder my artist life and take a breath to find my passion again and to find the art again for myself and to let go of the product. I hope then that I can hold these little darlings in my arms again with the same sweetness that they came to me as.

A big thank you to all of you who have also felt the love and supported the Flying Star spirit! You have all been Flying Stars too.

xx Florence

My website is now back up!!

2010-04-16T14:35:00.003+10:00

Good news my website is now with a new hosting company and so Flying Star Toys is back online!!!

Where's my website?

2010-04-15T17:21:00.004+10:00

The Flying Star Toys website has been down for almost two weeks and now my email is not working either.

My host company has always been very slack so it looks like it is time to change companies.

Otherwise you can still see my toys at www.flyingstartoys.etsy.com (prices in USD)

or at www.flyingstartoys.bigcartel.com (prices in AUD).

I hope to have this cleared up soon!!

New Beginnings 2010

2010-01-07T09:51:00.005+10:00

The end of last year saw lots of big changes in my and my family's personal life. For me a new life, a new house and a new packet of challenges....with many highs and lows still to encounter. I am, however, very positive about the future and am excited to unwrap the new gifts that await us all for 2010.

Inside this beautiful fabric wrapping cloth is a bundle of Japanese incense sticks called, in english "Incense of the Silk Road". It is a rich combination of precious woods and gums that once travelled the great highways of the ancient world, blended with delicate Japanese sophistication...it's one of my favourites.

May this year be as rich and delicate for us all.

GoMA Twilight Designer's Market - 11 December

2009-11-30T08:04:00.002+10:00

Flying Star Toys will be at the Twilight Designer's Market being held at the Brisbane Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) in the Southbank cultural precinct. This year the clever people at GoMA decided that the cool air and romance of a summer's evening would be the best time to browse for that special gift for Christmas...which should make it a lovely walk before heading out on the town for dinner or a show ;)

Twilight Designer's Market
GoMA forecourt
Southbank Brisbane
Friday 11th December
4pm to 8pm

Flying Star Toys at the Brisbane Finders Keepers Market

2009-10-30T06:29:00.003+10:00

Flying Star Toys along with a bevy of extremely talented craft/arts designer makers will be featured at the Brisbane Finders Keepers Market this weekend.

Please "do yourself a favour" and come to this market...if I wasn't in it I'd be organising a bus tour so that all my friends could come and see it :) I'm so very honoured to be among so many talented artist. If you can't find something you like here then the planet just isn't big enough....and don't forget Christmas is poking his big smiley Santa face around the corner...I suggest starting your Christmas shopping this weekend at the Brisbane Finders Keepers market...oh and at the Flying Star Toys stand ;)

Saturday 31st October from 12pm – 9pm
Sunday 1st November from 10am – 5pm
The markets will be held at:
The Old Museum
Cnr Bowen Bridge Road & Gregory Terrace,
Herston

Afternoon Moon by the Sea

2009-09-16T11:24:00.001+10:00

Two Afternoon Moons by the sea. Sit and chat merrily. Big moon looks after little moon and little moon loves to laugh at funny big moon. Happy Afternoon Moons - so very friendly.

Flying Star Toys at the Bayside Arts Fair

2009-08-27T14:52:00.003+10:00

Not long now until the Bayside Arts Fair at Redcliffe on Sunday 6th of September. There will be music, wine bar, coffee, food, an art auction and as well as the arts market. That's where I come in. I'll be there flying the toy makers' flag. I've just bought a market gazebo so I'll be testing it out.

If you're thinking of cooling down by the seaside that weekend then head out to Redcliffe, stop in, say hello and take in the groovy market atmosphere.

Psst!! I'll have special market discounts and some new work I haven't shown yet...could be something special there for you ;)

Bayside Arts Fair
Sunday 6th September
10am - 3pm
Redcliffe Foreshore Amplitheatre
(next to the Redcliffe Lagoon)
Settlement Cove
Redcliffe Pde

In my sewing basket

2009-08-26T19:12:00.001+10:00

I'm loving working with these pretty colours. Rainbow is my favourite colour :)

Chic-Chic Rattle redesign series 3

2009-08-25T11:27:00.004+10:00

After awhile of my partner John calling them fish I thought it was time to tweak the Chic-Chic Rattle design. So I've added a sewn beak detail which I think is ver cute.

This third series comes in white flannelette and lemon ausnerberg cotton with hand embroidered details in sashiko cotton in either pink, blue or grey.

They are now available on the Flying Star Toys on Etsy shop ($USD) and in the Flying Star Toys Big Cartel shop ($AUD).

Always Apple - Cushion Friend

2009-08-17T08:45:00.006+10:00

Commissions are often an inspiration. Recently I was asked to do a large version of Always Apple and as you can see Always Apple Cushion Friend was the result. I've added this new version to the permanent collection. I hope you like this big red Always Apple Cushion Friend as much as I do :)

Always Apple Cushion Friend is made of cotton homespun and is about 11 inches wide with a hand embroidered face. Now Available in Flying Star Toys on Etsy shop ($US) and the Flying Star Toys on Big Cartel ($AUD).

Alway Apple is one of the Fruits of Eve: Always Apple and Perfect Pear are wholesome and succulent. Taste the good life, make a happy home.

Incense on Thursday

2009-08-13T13:26:00.003+10:00

Watching incense,
a flashing dragon,
shards of light from an early afternoon sun.

Japanese sandalwood incense Byakudan Kobunboku by Baieido from Prima Materia: Botanical Perfumes and Aromatics.

Udessi at Portside August 9th

2009-08-07T19:18:00.002+10:00

This Sunday Udessi will be at the Boutique markets at Portside Whalf, Brisbane. You'll find Flying Star Toys and many other talented Australian makers wares available.

Boutique Markets
Sunday 9 August, 8am – 4pm
Portside Wharf, Hamilton Qld

Charity Ladies Lunch - Oakey

2009-08-04T16:00:00.002+10:00

Some images of my stall at the Ladies Lunch market at Oakey. It was a great road trip with my sister and a lovely day out too.

Preparations

2009-07-27T12:34:00.005+10:00

Some images of the preparations for a market day on Thursday. My sister (and baby) and I are having a little road trip out to Oakey. Flying Star Toys will be on display to delight the Ladies Annual Luncheon in support of the historical St Anne's Church at Jondaryan. Thanks to artist friend Rachel Arthur for inviting us :)

I'll take some photos of the event to show you how it went.

Thursday Morning

2009-07-23T09:30:00.001+10:00

Commission - three fish mini line

2009-07-16T12:47:00.004+10:00

A cute story for this commission is that a dear patron of Flying Star Toys had previously bought a Fishing Line mobile and her boys had taken to "cooking" the fish on their toy stove, so Abby wrote to me asking if I could make her a mini fishing line of three fish for the boys to play with. Of course!! How charming :)

Abby gives me a bit of creative space, trusting me to come up with something special for her, so I was quite excited to try something new with the Fishing Line. You can see the colours, fabrics and threads I've chosen for her mini line. The two blue fish have different fabrics on the reverse so that the boys will have in effect five different fish. I hope the colours and the textures of the fabrics will be fun for the boys to play with.

Abby said that the little mini line of fish will look delightful hanging on the side of their toy stove :)

Mathilda's Market this Sunday!

2009-07-14T20:57:00.003+10:00

After cute and groovy things for little one's? Now that my sister has had a baby, I'm suddenly very keen to see what little treats I can pick for them both. And the mathilda's Market is the place I'd start looking!

The next one is this Sunday the 19th. The Mathilda's Markets are now at the Brisbane City Hall Main Auditorium and have over 60 stalls. It's a market I've participated in the past and will be again in the future. Highly recommended!!

Mathilda's Market,
Brisbane City Hall,
Main Auditorium,
Sunday July 19th, 9am - 1pm.

Koh-Yama and the Ten Virtues of Incense

2009-07-14T16:07:00.002+10:00

Just back from a couple of days with mum and dad on the Gold Coast. I came home to find "The Book of Incense" by Kiyoko Morita had arrive much early than expected from the US! This coupled with the little pots I had picked up from a delightful bonsai shop on Chevron Island meant I could enjoy an evening listening and reading about incense. I learned that incense appreciation is referred to as listening to incense, and this rings true for me. I find the process thoroughly intriguing...I imagine this is the same feeling that wine connoissieurs must have about tastings.

I'm just in love with this tiny three mouth ceramic pot. Filled with sand it's perfect for planting the fine sticks of Japanese koh. When planted with three sticks it looks like the kanji for mountain, so I've called it Koh-Yama, that is, Incense Mountain :)

Some of my favourite Japanese books are featured in the picture next to my Incense Mountain. They are "The Tale of Genji", "The Tales of Ise" and "A Chime of Wind Bells."

I'll leave you with the Ten Virtues of Incense said to have been written by a Zen priest in the sixteenth century.

It brings communication with the transcendent.
It purifies mind and body.
It removes uncleanliness.
It keeps one alert.
It can be a companion in the midst of solitude.
In the middle of busy affairs, it brings a moment of peace.
When it is plentiful, one never tires of it.
When there is little, still one is satisfied.
Age does not change its efficacy.
Used everyday, it does no harm.

How many things can be said to have so many virtues!

May your week be fragrant :)

Koh delightful - Japanese incence and wrapping cloths

2009-07-11T12:40:00.026+10:00

This week I treated myself to something I'm personally very fond of - Koh, that is, Japanese Incense. However, this was my first time acquiring premium koh by Baieido. They arrived yesterday morning from Prima Materia and to give them a proper place to reside I spent an equally indulgent day making wrapping cloths using fabrics I've been saving for a long time.

Koh is a solid stick of pure ingredients, no synthetics, without a wooden support like joss sticks have. Premium koh uses aloeswood which comes in many grades. Truly I didn't know what to expect as I had only known the more common yet very beautiful scents of everyday koh. What delights was I to experience?

I burn koh in my studio while I work, it helps to create an envelop around me while I tune out the worries of the world and become empty to all but the splendor of the work at hand. So, of course, I had to try a stick while making the wrapping cloths. I chose a stick from the single bundle of Kokonoe Koh (Incense of the Imperial Palace).

At first, it seemed that she was holding back on me, that she skirted about the room fine and aloof. My attention easily went back to my work while the light smoke drifted clean, white and supple. It wasn't until, having finished and some time had passed, that walking back into the room I truly began to know her. She, in private, had bodied forth like great invisible silk curtains - full, regal and flowering in gentle cascades to the floor. "Ah! This is what aloeswood is all about," I thought. Everyday Koh is a delight, impressing the senses like a young girl, all colour and verve, but once gone leaves only a wisp of her presence behind. On the contrary this Princess of the Palace, who holds court elegantly behind the curtains of her bower, is unforgetable once beheld.

Square wrapping cloths are called furoshiki in Japanese and bojagi in Korean. When I want to wrap special things to store at home or to give as gifts I'll sometimes make a double-sided furoshiki. Choosing just the right fabrics from my collection to suit the object being wrapped is very enjoyable. Making a simple square of quality fabric is a pleasure as the textures and colours sing a solo aria. For these, I used the trimmings (cut off to square the fabric) to plait their matching ties, leaving the edges rough to create a contrast to the tailored finish of the cloth.

Wrapping becomes simple and elegant using a furoshiki. But most especially I love the way the special cloth adds an aura of preciousness to what one stores inside.

Udessi at the Portside Markets

2009-07-11T12:16:00.006+10:00

This Sunday get along to the Boutique Markets at Portside Wharf in Brisbane. Udessi will be having a stand their so say hi to the lovely Kim and the talented Renee who will be on hand wearing their new super smart mini market aprons (designed and made by yours truly :)

And if all the great handmade work by some of Australia's most talented crafters, artists and designers is not enough to tempt you then you should also know that Portside Wharf is holding a Strawberry and Chocolate fair on the same day! Yum!

You'll be able to find Flying Star Toys on the Udessi stand on Sunday too.

Boutique Markets
Sunday 12 July, 8am – 4pm
Portside Wharf, Hamilton Qld

Meditations with Matisse

2009-07-04T10:28:00.005+10:00

Last night I picked up the book "Matisse: His Art and His Textiles" I had waiting for me on the studio work bench. I would share a few sections of the first essay by Hilary Spurling that I liked.

"Matisse's Fabric collection served him as a combined archive and tool-store all his life. He called it 'my working library', taking sections of it with him whenever he switched studios between Nice and Paris, sending for others as and when he needed them, constantly replenishing the collection from oriental carpet shops and clothing stores, radically extending it at intervals in the bazaars, souks and market stalls of Algeria, Morocco and Tahiti, or at end-of-season sales of Parisian Haute Couture."

"Mattise drew on his working library to furnish, order, and on a deep, instinctual level, to compose his paintings. Fabrics made him feel at home. Like virtually all his northern compatriots, he had an inborn appreciation of their texture and design. He understood the propertites of weight and hang, he knew how to use pins and paper patterns, and he was supremely confident with the sissors."

"He said that sissors in his hands became a tool 'as sensitive as pencil, pen or charcol - maybe even more sensitive'."

Afterwards, as I sat pinning bunting triangles, watching the fabric, its treads, admiring the richness of colour dyed into the textile, I remember the lines above and smiled.

*text from pages 16 and 17. Image above "Still Life with Geraniums", Henri Matisse, 1910, oil on canvas, 94.5 x 116 cm.

French Connection - Madame Chacha exclusive

2009-06-29T12:58:00.003+10:00

Morgane of Madame ChaCha (online childrens designer boutique based in Paris) commissioned this exclusive range of Flying Star Toys Home Away from Home to reflect real French houses. She's just launched them on her website (available to be read in both French and English) Madame ChaCha. These are some of the gorgeous images she's taken of them recently posted on her blog.

Sail Away Boats - series 2

2009-06-23T11:40:00.005+10:00

Holiday at the Seaside is the second series of Sail Away Boats. I've called it "Holiday by the Seaside" because the colours remind me of sun-shiny days watching sparkling water and seeing the blithe boats sailing serenely in the distance.

Currently series 2 has three limited edition variations: Sunlight Blue, Nautica and Sunlight Red.

Dimensions: 16cm (6 1/2 in) high, 15.5cm (6 1/4 in) wide. Eash boat is weighted to stand independently.

Sail Away boats series 2 is now available both on the Flying Star Toys Etsy shop ($USD) and Bigcartel ($AUD)

Introducing Home Away from Home

2009-06-15T10:04:00.006+10:00

Please welcome Home Away from Home to the Flying Star Toys collections. Their story goes: Take a piece of home with you wherever you make go, to keep you safe in love's embrace who knows your sweetest wish.

A little home to call your own. These little friendly homes have chimneys with soft, curling smoke that look like clouds. This is how you know someone is at home and thinking of you, keeping the rooms all snug and warm.

Using limited edition designer fabrics and hand embroidered with sashiko cotton they are backed with grey cotton velvet. Available in four sizes: small A, small B, large A (chimney side) and large B (chimney middle). Weighted to stand independently.

Dimensions: each stands approximately 26cm (10 1/4 in) tall. The base widths are; small A 5cm (2 in), small B 6.5cm (2 12 in), Large A 10cm (4 in), Large B 11cm (4 1/4 in).

The Home Away from Home in the image just above have been made as an exclusive set for Madame Cha-Cha in Paris, France.

For more images of Home Away from Home see their Gallery page.

Sunday Morning

2009-06-14T09:35:00.002+10:00

Laying back on the veranda lounge, eyes closed, wasting my time imagining the day's work.

Then pow! open eyes! the intensity of light, such blue, such white...truly colour is God's delight.

gifts

2009-06-08T12:18:00.003+10:00

Gifts from Margaret B. Thank you - they're so very beautiful!

flower girl

2009-06-01T13:38:00.003+10:00

Read some interesting things about Ikebana today. This little miniature not really connected but seeing it again I thought I would share it with you. I used it to illustrate the Chinese tale "Princess Lily" on my folktale blog Crackle Mountain. I haven't written anything there for a while....maybe I'll get back into it one of these days. Seeing this painting reminds me of all the wonderful art works I found to illustrate the tales.

The piece is refered to as Young Ladies Seated at a Table, shown here is one half of an attached pair of miniature glass paintings. Qing Dynasty, 19th Century.

She reminds me of the butterflies I posted about previously. I love the blue of her gown, the lace details of her cuffs, the intensity of the red in the table cloth, the glow of the white jade vase holding the upright flowers that rise in the air in companionship to her sweet and demure little face....oh, and what about those bold stripes on the ends of her pants?! lovely!

It's a Boy!

2009-05-30T18:59:00.004+10:00

On Tuesday evening my dear sister gave birth to a little boy. His name is Wil. The proud parents have taken him home today. I'm already loving being an Aunty!

Congratulations Emma and Heath and welcome baby Wil.

Fruits of Eve Mini - sneak peek

2009-05-23T11:55:00.003+10:00

I love mini versions of things ... soon Fruits of Eve will also have a mini version too!

A Flight of Butterflies

2009-05-20T10:09:00.006+10:00

"Hoping to see the spring violets, I walked out into the fields. The wind had died down and I could hear nothing but the sound of bees. I began to make a poem in the warm sleepy atmosphere, when down the hill where dandelions were blooming came a group of girls.

One was dressed in dark violet; another in patterns of red, blue and yellow; still others wore white, black, brown, pink, navy or green. They were coloured as exquisitely as flowers in the field. They came closer and danced in a flock under a blossom.

As I drank another cup of sake, they came and said,'You are watching the flowers all alone! Do come where we are dancing. We thought we were the only ones who delight in the flowers of spring. We are pleased to know you enjoy them too....'"

Yesterday Nadine let me borrow a much cherished book of hers called "A Flight of Butterflies", one thousand kinds of butterflies by Kanzanka Sekka originally published in Japan 1904. Part of the preface by Yoshi Zo is quoted above. It's a beautiful facsimile of the original and is printed and bound in the original Japanese album style.

Within, every page is an oasis.....What scents of perfume waft up to colour the subtle senses?...What string is beginning to hum along its length into the distance? The symbol of the butterfly keeps lighting ever so gently upon my shoulder...let me not move too awkwardly, disturbing its fragile heart.

It's Raining! It's Pouring!

2009-05-20T09:56:00.005+10:00

(side of the house, view from lounge room window)

(next door's backyard, view from my bedroom window)

"It's raining! It's pouring!
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed
and he bumped his head
and he didn't get up in the morning."

(Yikes! the poor old man.)

My sister and I used to sing this nursery rhyme when we were little.

It is definitely wet today! Lucky the house is on stilts.

Miniature Collection - three painting by Caroline Gaedechens

2009-05-15T11:37:00.003+10:00

Patience...the Buddha said, "the reward for patience is patience"....and these gorgeous little paintings have been waiting for their frames very patiently indeed. After much sewing and selling of toys I had saved enough to take them to Peter, my framer, for the deluxe treatment.

These little miniature painting by Caroline Gaedechens are little jewels and like all jewels they should be lovingly protected in a special jewel box. That was the image I had in mind for framing these treasures. I'm not shy when it comes to the rich colours of black and gold and was more than happy to be extravagant when it came to incorporating them into the framing. While the photos above can't do them justice, Peter mentioned how every now and then a framer feels great reluctance to hand back the artwork...such it was on this occasion he confessed. I can't say I blame him either. I'm thrilled to sneak little glimpses into their world as I pass them through out the day.

Caroline has titled them: Little Soul, Princess and Little Bird of Paradise (from left to right). Little Bird of Paradise as a print is now available in her Etsy shop - I highly recommend her work to you.

(click on the images above for a closer look)

Craft Australia - new web address

2009-05-11T20:15:00.003+10:00

A little shout out to Belinda J. at Craft Australia who reads my blog. Hello!! I've had some arts writing published in 716 on their site in the past. So it was very kind of Belinda to write to let me know Craft Australia has a new website address. I'm happy to pass it along and suggest you pop over and have a look and maybe even subscribe to their newsletter :-)

Craft....Australia...What could be better?!

Flying Star Toys in iMart Design Book

2009-05-09T09:20:00.007+10:00

I was a bit of a star this week at the local post office.

When they gave me a package from my post box, recognising the cover, I opened it to showed them the book inside - a double page about Flying Star Toys in a Chinese design book! What a surprise to see their faces light up in admiration. Most of the exhibitions and publicity involving Flying Star Toys happens so remotely I don't think much about it. So it was nice to feel the excitement of the lovely ladies at Sandgate post office. To me, they're a part of it too, because they take care of my parcels at the beginning of their journey out into the world.

The book, put out by Affalog is almost entirely in Chinese so I couldn't read it. However, I liked the traditional stitched binding and enjoyed looking at the work of fellow toy and craft artists in this beautifully finished publication. It seems the craft design bug has really caught on in China too! With iMART being a big (going by the pictures in the book) craft design event and association in China.

What a treat to be a part of it!

Friends at the Bisbane Craft and Stitches Show

2009-05-04T07:51:00.006+10:00

Yesterday Mum and I went to the Brisbane Craft and Stitches show which us gals in the family usually do together but with little sister due with her first baby in only two weeks she was staying off her feet :) This year the Living Creatively people have taken on the show and have injected a little modern craft style into the event. The incubator section was particularly good with lots of great stands featuring up and coming craft designers. Among them were a few friends and a new friend.

In the above picture you can see a slice of Ellie's stand of Red Seed Studio wares. Screen printed and sewn by hand, Ellie working together with her husband Sam, use only natural, organic, and reclaimed fabrics to create modern textiles, homewares, clothing and accessories.

Below is a picture of the delightful stand of new friend Christina of Old Yarns - reclaimed linens. You can read more about these beautiful vintage textiles on her blog The Bowerbird Stories. Christina has an obvious love of the fine hand and classic appeal of her collection of wonderful reclaimed vintage pieces.

Two friends at the show I unfortunately didn't get to chat to was Kelly of Peppermint magazine, who was busy selling subscriptions for her delightful girly, crafty and green magazine - sorry to have missed you! And also Thea of Thea and Sami - who had a gorgeous stand as well. I particularly like their screen printed fabric made into dresses. Thea was giving classes at the time - I hope she had a great show too.

little fluffy clouds

2009-04-29T10:22:00.003+10:00

Autumn mornings are beautiful.

Present for Sis - The Seamstress

2009-04-17T09:53:00.004+10:00

It was my sister's birthday over the Easter weekend and I was so excited to be able to give her this framed drawing by Cathy Cullis called The Seamstress. The framing came out beautifully and Emma assures me it will be given an honoured place in the formal dinning area.

Emma is about to have her first baby, the first in our family. So it was a doubly special occassion. Emma, like myself, grew up sewing. Her specialities were drawn cut work and bobbin lace. She's a IT manager now and doesn't get to spend time on making as much as she would like so I wanted this painting to be like a family ancestor reminding her of her connection to the cloth and the thread.

On the artist: Cathy is multi-talented, she paints, draws, machine embroiders and makes wonderful fabric jewellery and art dolls too! Her blog/website is called November Moon and she has two shops on Etsy.

New Stockist - Beebee Mod

2009-04-15T09:39:00.003+10:00

Flying Star Toys has a new stockist! - Beebee Mod: an online US boutique for lovely items for little ones. Handmade toys, patterns, fabrics, furnishings to name just a few of the beautiful things Beebee Mod stock.

7 things I love (because Kara Smith asked me)

2009-04-14T08:10:00.007+10:00

I haven't done a blog meme for a while....blogging hasn't been coming to me very easily for a while. A blog friend recently said that I didn't reveal anything personal about myself. Often what I think is personal must in the end sound very abstract and also it's because I'm usually so involved within my interior meditations that often it's difficult to know what to say. That sounds a bit like a paradox but it isn't I can assure you. It happens to me all the time, at functions, blogging, emails, family occasions, parties....

Anyway, the other day I was aware that aside from the clashing rocks of the collective conscious and the collective unconscious there was a slim vessel of my own that seemed to like a few things all of its own......now what were they?

On Good Friday I walked up to Shorncliffe to watch the boats begin the Brisbane to Gladstone race. I thought I would list seven things that I liked that special day.

1. Walking up the pier, softly and quitely. looking back out over the clouds and mountains behind me. Passing the crowd with my own breath, for a short time free from the interior turmoil of the minds surrounding me. Trailing my fingers along the edge of the orange plastic netting marking off one side of the pier. Feeling a golden warmth spread through my interior nature and a smile the Creator alone understood.

2. Silence. The surge of the sea. Movement, primal - the Begetting. Surges now upon the rocks of earth. Music. Light. The mandolin sounds sweet and ancient, echoing across the water...I have closed my eyes.

3. Walking across the sand and grass, sitting down in the shade of a tree. I am, you are, a jug and the water is everywhere, in everything, in everyone. The Doer is Doing. A child asks, "Are you a ghost?" I'm shocked.

4. Looking at people...curious, people are much stranger than I imagined.

5. Walking home. Looking and sensing each little world, each little house...water scents of knowing, of loving. Usually I would feel too shy to peer over my blanket even with these rose bud eyes. Delicate care.

6. communion, community, freedom, my own path included into the story of man. Daring to shed what was after all only a mirage.......

7. Home - an afternoon with my husband. Peace.

I hope you liked my little story Kara :)

Biscuit Bunny greeting cards in time for Easter

2009-04-06T09:55:00.004+10:00

Just in time for Easter is a new set of Biscuit Bunny Flying Star Toys greeting cards. This set has three unique designs: Big Group of Biscuit Bunnies, Biscuit Bunny on Chair and Biscuit Bunny in Bowl. There is a set of six available that has two of each design and they are available individually.

Biscuit Bunny greeting cards are now available on the Flying Star Toys on Etsy shop ($USD) and on the Flying Star Toys on Big Cartel shop ($AUD).

Don't forget if you would like to order more than one of eighter the set or the singles contact me directly for a special shipping price :)

To all I hope you and your loved ones have a very happy Easter!!

Molehill Mouse knows where your treasure is

2009-03-27T18:35:00.002+10:00

There's a little mouse who's taken us residence in my kitchen, a wee thing, so tiny. I know I'll never catch her...my cat will have to finish the job she started. But until then I'm willing to share my house with the little thief :)

Molehill Mouse and his companion Piccabu Elephant are related to Ganesha (Ganapati) and his mount, Musaka (mouse). What a wonderful mystery is held within these two!

Little Musaka is "the master of the inside of everything. The all-pervading Atman is the mouse that lives in the hole called the intellect, within the heart of every being. It is the real enjoyer of the pleasures of all creatures." (The Myths and Gods of India, A. Danielou, Inner Traditions International, 1964) Ask yourself, "Where is my true treasure?" Little Musaka will know and I'm sure he will share his secret with you and his little cousin Molehill Mouse too.

Molehile Mouse's story says that Molehill Mouse tells Piccabu Elephant stories of all the secret passages that lead to surprising new territories and stores of sweet food - there is nowhere that Molehill Mouse can't go.

up where she belongs

2009-03-24T19:16:00.006+10:00

Last night I cleaned the walls of my office, so I could finally hang "Smoking Angel" above my computer work station. I bought her last year from good friend, and fab artist, Nadine Sawyer, and it's been sitting in the hall waiting its time. Now she's up where she belongs! It's already brought me much enjoyment - I'm actually starting to like my office as a room, rather than as a large storage closet....all I need now is a rug to make it cosy!

Rosiepose - New Stockist

2009-03-23T15:26:00.002+10:00

Flying Star Toys can now be found on online boutique Rosiepose. Australian based, Rosiepose has designer wares for babies, children and mothers.

image: a sleep-pile of Night-Night Mushrooms.

Sail Away Boats: Holiday on the Island of Flowers and Fruit

2009-03-21T09:52:00.005+10:00

After so long in the works I can finally intoduce to you the first in my boats series Sail Away Boats: Holiday on the Island of Flowers and Fruit. I hope you like them :)

Glide through the flowing blue waters of your paradise island. Be at peace.

The fabled floating islands of paradise have been a part of the folklore of many peoples around the world. It was said that those who lived on them were always happy and never aged. Many adventures set out to find these islands and there are tales of those who found them. The description of these blessed abodes are always of the beauty of the trees, water, flowers and fruit.

Just to imagine an island holiday is enough to be filled with fresh thoughts and renewed joy....so to allow your mind to sail away on a holiday to the Island of Flowers and Fruit.

Currently in four limited edition variations: Fragrance, Golden Pine, Wildberry Palm and Deckchair Delight.

Dimensions: 16cm (6 1/2 in) high, 15.5cm (6 1/4 in) wide.

Now available in the Flying Star on Etsy shop in $US dollars and also Flying Star Toys on Big Cartel in $AU dollars.

kokeshi find

2009-03-13T13:41:00.003+10:00

This little kokeshi was waiting for me I just know it! I found her today at my local Salvo's second-hand store. I collect old style kokeshi and this make her number six. Welcome little one :)

Udessi - new stockist

2009-03-02T09:08:00.003+10:00

I'm proud to announce that Flying Star Toys are now featured among the growing list of talented artists curated by Kim Wallace owner of the beautiful Udessi website - bringing together a select collection of work from Australian designer makes.

She has recently featured an interview with me on her blog - it can be read here. I just love her photography of my work too - as seen in the photo above of a Blue Meringue Biscuit Bunny.

Afternoon Moon in Small Magazine

2009-02-24T11:02:00.007+10:00

I was surprised to learn about Afternoon Moon appearing in Small Magazine. I must admit I hadn't read this online indie magazine before but I was very impressed with them when I "flipped" through the pages. Wow! It made me wish I was five again! Small Magazine write that they show design that "represent(s) the philosophy of small - small scale independent design small sized for kids." I like the sound of that :)

Robert Mahar of Mahar Drygoods was kind enough to include Flying Star Toys Afternoon Moon in his beautiful night-time collage for 'small finds', as seen above. I couldn't ask for a more lovely place to see Afternoon Moon.

Margaret Olley watercolour exhibtition - UQ

2009-02-22T09:31:00.020+10:00

Yesterday I spent a pleasent day with friend M.B., he invited me to join him to see the Margaret Olley watercolour exhibition at the University of Queensland Art Museum. We took the ferry from South Bank and travelled up river spotting attractive tree clusters, hidden river perches and generally enjoying all the interesting things one never sees from the street.

The University of Queensland is a beautiful campus with a collection of curious architectural specimens ranging from the dignified sandstone of the Great Square to the concrete spirals and shaped bronze of the 70s...it really took me back to my own uni, the ANU, which has a similar 70s vibe. But most deliciously, it was the tropical rainforest atmosphere the UQ campus had after the recent rain - rich earthy smells, and mushrooms everywhere!

It was my first visit to the UQ gallery and it was a real surprise. It's a beautiful building, the friendly staff there told me it was formerly the Graduations Hall, now completely remodelled internally. They directed us upstairs, where the whole floor is currently dedicated to the Margaret Olley exhibition. I wasn't aware Margaret Olley is a Queensland girl, she now lives in Sydney, and as I myself am a Queenslander I enjoyed her Queensland sketches the most. Like in the first painting above, perhaps only a Queenslander could appreciate the subtle implication of the crazy marks of green. I smile to recognise the tropical summer growth that's slowly getting the better of the careful garden caretaker...much like what Brisbane is experiencing now.

Margaret Olley is known mainly for her oils, but these ink sketches reveal the artist's skill. Her brief colour washes have the effortless elegance of a master. The skies are particularly fine. While her simple lines are generally bold and confident they display equally a curious and charming quality that betrays a fine sense of humour, never mawkish, for her subjects. I can feel her enjoying herself in the production of these works - in her abbreviations she squashes the cold distance of the subject while maintaining its fabulousness and beauty, she leads you into its everyday intimacies - a talent I truly appreciate.

The exhibition, Margaret Olley - life's Journey, is on at UQ Art Museum until the 19th April. Then tours to S H Ervin Gallery, Sydney, 8 May – 28 June and Newcastle Region Art Gallery, 15 August – 26 October.

Images above taken from the catalogue of the exhibition, "Margaret Olley - Life's Journey", Queensland University Press, 2009.

Image 1: A Queensland Property (Aroo), c. 1960, pastel and watercolour on paper, private collection.

Images 2: The Tiled Stove, 1956, ink and pastel on paper, private collection.

this evening

2009-02-19T20:46:00.002+10:00

The fruit bats fly over our house at dusk each evening. Tonight the clouds are particularly beautiful.

The Secret Blue Lagoon - inspiration

2009-02-18T09:56:00.008+10:00

More inspiration for the Sail Away: Holiday on the Island of Flowers and Fruit series. Dear friend and artist Nadine Sawyer recently spent some time with her mother and aunt in Vanuatu. She brought back not only some wonderful new paintings inspired by her time on the island but also a wonderful story about a secret blue lagoon. The hereditary caretaker of the lagoon tells how the magical blue arises from the mixing of sea water from a tiny inlet from the sea and the bubbling up of a natural fresh water spring from underground. She recounted her experience of swimming there among the tropical fish while nervously wondering about what might be below her in the mysterious blue depths!

You can see the blue lagoon and one of Nadine's stunning painting from her time in Vanuatu above.

Introducing Afternoon Moon

2009-02-11T15:41:00.007+10:00

When do you see the moon? At night of course! But is that the only time? Haven't you ever seen an Afternoon Moon? An Afternoon Moon is hard to see but if you look carefully, on just the right days, you'll see a light blue moon in the sky shyly peeping down on the daylight world. When you see an Afternoon Moon it's time to remember your dreams....have you forgotten what they were? Ask the Afternoon Moon to remind you of them.

Afternoon Moon comes in four sizes. Three are hanging ornaments that can be hung by their thread like a mobile. The fourth is a larger Cushion Friend to help you dream.

They are made of very light weight denim in faded indigo. The face is hand stitched using linen thread and sashiko cotton.

Afternoon Moon are the latest edition to the Flying Star Toys collections, more images can be seen on the Afternoon Moon gallery page. Afternoon Moon are now available in the Flying Star Toys on Etsy shop.

boats..a beginning

2009-02-09T15:29:00.002+10:00

Posting the photo of a boat the other day must have hit the right note as yesterday I started the first boat in the Sail Away series "Holiday on the Island of Flowers and Fruit"! very happy :)

and I got in a really good kite fly in the afternoon down on the sand!!

Raven's Head

2009-02-07T21:24:00.005+10:00

Raven's Head

Smile, that boogyman behind you is just a jester. He holds your coloured ball in his hand and after all he's only been trying to return it to you.

Hello old friend. Have you tried to sneak up on me again? Come around the front and let me look at you in the light.

Ah, but I know you!

Come in the front door next time. You are no stranger to me - we share the same key.

He has disappeared and in my hand is a small coloured pearl - the Last Treasure and the first of many.

******

"And know that the head of the Art is a raven, who flies without wings in the blackness of the night and the brightness of the day." (alchemical saying)

******

It is true that pirates always have treasure and witches always have powers....something to remember.

******

image: Salvador Dali. This image of Dali is an old favourite. I had this as a huge poster in my dorm room at Uni.

The Very Big Apple

2009-02-02T09:59:00.004+10:00

The Very Big Apple

Once upon a time a girl was given a very big apple to eat. It was so big it was the size of a house! She was overwhelmed - how could a such small girl eat an apple that size? She wanted to eat the apple but its thick, shiny, red skin meant she couldn't take a single bite, try as she might.

One day a Friend gave her a small knife, and with the small knife she cut off her first, small piece of that big, sweet apple.

She ate the whole thing....in time. and so can you.

Happy Birthday to me and thanks for the knife ;)

Pictured Fruits of Eve - Always Apple

waiting to dock

2009-01-30T19:35:00.001+10:00

Ships.

I thought I might gather and share with you images inspiring my feelings for the sea, boats and ships. There are a few related toy series waiting in the wings. Last year I drew up the basic designs while the connections were fresh. The impressions returned today while watching the mysterious half presence of the ships anchored in the bay, a salty easterly cooling the skin - humidity over 70%.

Kung Hei Fat Choy - Happy Year of the Ox!

2009-01-28T11:20:00.004+10:00

2009 is the year of the Ox (Bull or Buffalo). I have of late been receiving a few letters from Mercury regarding the Ox and he tells me of his bravery - a pure white bull is the mount of the Hindu deity Shiva and the bull was always a much prized sacrifice to the gods and heroes of ancient Greece. Truly the patient strength of endurance exhibited by the noble ox is inspiring.

But there are some little secret things about the ox too.......

They say he is naive in love but that's because his heart is so big. See him there amongst the flowing emerald grasses, he is smiling, courting his mate, they play through the grass like sleek, black fish through the waves. Together their happiness radiates warmth to the four quarters of the earth. What's that up there? He spies a special coloured cloth that hangs precariously, perhaps on a cliff, perhaps in the heavens itself. Why not bring it back for his Beloved? Swiftly see him speed to it with the rash wings of a noble spirit! Falling now, falling....his small black body has lost all purchase upon the earth...but the gods themselves are moved and with a great pulsation of blood through the cool Spirit of heaven, the little black body is now cupped in the hands of the Great One...blessed and secure!

The Beautiful Bull.

The Cup of the Sea

2009-01-24T17:38:00.013+10:00

The Cup of the Sea

I found a cup in the sea one day,

I found a cup in the sea.

On the sandy bottom I saw the cup,

On the sandy bottom it lay.

Dare I pick it up?

This mysterious cup of the sea.

Dare I take it away with me?

The beautiful cup from the sea.

White and blue and yellow it was,

White and blue you see.

And on it wild flowers were wot to bloom,

Like the sun at noon for me.

I found a beautiful cup one day,

I found the beautiful Cup of the Sea.

I found the Cup of my Heart that day,

'Tis a Wonder for you and to me.

****

This is a song I wrote today while I sat by the bay here at Sandgate in the company of grey skies and seagulls. It came out so quickly and I must say that I like it very much and the more so because it is a true story.

The beautiful Indian miniature painting is of Yumuna, daughter of Surya, God of the Sun, and sister of Yama, Ruler of the Kingdom of the Dead. She personifies the River Yamuna, a tributary of the Ganges. (click on the image for a better look) The Hindu Pantheon: An Introduction, Illustrated with 19th Century Indian Miniatures from the St. Petersburg Collection, E. Tyomkin and M. Vorobyova-Desyatovskaya, Garnet Publishing, UK, 1994.

Drifting Summer Clouds

2009-01-18T16:02:00.001+10:00

Like these drifting summer clouds I'm drifting into the new year. In 2009 I want to focus on creative development and try to maintain a good work/life balance (as they say these days)...I might even get around saying hello to my long time favourite blog friends....

The New Year Begins

2009-01-06T15:23:00.004+10:00

Last night before going to bed I was reading one of my favourite books of folk tales - Heroes, Monsters and Other Worlds from Russian Mythology by Elizabeth Warner. It is accompanied by wonderous illustrations by Alexander Koshkin. The large double page illustration above shows a few Rusalkas, mermaid like water creatures, sporting alluringly on the left and a burly, red Leshii with dexterous hands holding a basket of bright magic mushrooms on the right. (click the image for a better look.)

It was a painting that struck me for one reason or another and without giving away my secrets I thought I would share its beauty with you to start off what I hope will be a very happy new year.

Happy New Year to you all for 2009!

book info: Heroes, Monsters and Other Worlds from Russian Mythology, Elizabeth Warner, Hodder and Stoughton, Sydney, 1985.

Seasons Greetings!

2008-12-23T19:09:00.003+10:00

Thank-you to all those friends of Flying Star Toys who have supported me this year - for reading my blog, writing to me and collecting my toys. You all have meant a great deal to me.

I wish you all a very merry Christmas and warm wishes for the season and of course a very happy new year!!!!

Sunday Thoughts

2008-12-07T18:23:00.006+10:00

"Why have you ceased to speak of the tree, of which he who eats its fruit shall never hunger?"

"Again, plant this tree on the stone, that it fear not the buffetings of the winds; that the birds of heaven may come and multiply on it branches, for thence cometh wisdom."

quotes from various alchemical treatises taken from Alchemical Studies, C. G.Jung page 314
Image: The Big Way, Hundertwasser, 1955.

Luv-able + Hug-able Exhibition, NYC

2008-12-04T10:45:00.004+10:00

Flying Star was invited to participated in the plush artists' exhibition Luv-Able + Hug-able at Gallery Hanahou in New York City.

Luv-able + Hug-able: made with love by 30+ artists and crafters from all over the world, these original soft toys will range from cooky critters to adorable anthropomorphic objects. Nab an armful of plushes at the December 4th opening party, or order from our online shop at galleryhanahou.com for your hug-able holiday gifts!

Participating Artists

Anna Chambers * Anna Hrachovec * Ayumi Sato - Junie Moon * Betz White * Blythe Church * Christina Gordon (Jamfancy) * Corinne Dean * Doinky Doodles * Eloole * Forest Creatures * girlsavage * Heide Murray * Heidi Kenney * Helle Jorgensen * Hello, Brute * IMAI SAYAKA * Katie Park (caffaknitted) * Kup Kup Land * Lexi Franks * Lizette Greco + Grecolaborativo * Lynda Lye * Nicole Gastonguay * The Ossu! Syugeibu * rei☆komurasaki * SPOOKS by Kobayashi Mayu * Weebco * Yuko Hara * Yuriko Sera * Ariana Marinelli * Coco Howard * Flying Star Toys by Florence Forrest * Hansigurumi * Jenny Harada * Made By Moxie * Robyn Fabsits * Aaron B of SOWA

Luv-able + Hug-able opens December 4th showing until January 7th 2009.

For this exhibition I've sent 4 of an as yet to be released toy called Home Away from Home. This picture above is a sneak peak for you :) Home Away from Home will be offically released early next year.

GoMA Christmas Design Market

2008-11-28T10:19:00.004+10:00

Flying Star Toys will be attending the Brisbane GoMA Christmas Design Market on Saturday the 6th of December.

The good news is that all Flying Star Toys on the stand will be at special market prices!

The GoMA Christmas Design Market will be located on the Sculpture Lawn outside the Gallery of Modern Art Brisbane located in the Arts precinct of South Bank.

The GoMA Christmas Design market Saturday 6th December from 9am -5pm.
Looking forward to seeing you there!

(click image for large version to see the list of other participants.)

Tags: art, craft, toys, GoMA, design, market, Brisbane, Christmas, gifts, handmade, artists, Flying Star Toys, windbagandthunder, Windbag and Thunder, Florence Forrest

Unfolding

2008-11-23T11:07:00.005+10:00

"I resist anything better than my own diversity,
And breathe the air and leave plenty after me,
And am not stuck up, and am in my place.

The moth and the fisheggs are in their place,
The suns I see and the suns I cannot see are in there place,
The palpable is in its place and the impalpable is in its place.

These are the thoughts of all men in all ages and lands, they are not
original with me,
If they are not yours as much as mine they are nothing or next to nothing,
If they do not enclose everything they are nothing,
If they are not the riddle and the untying of the riddle they are
nothing,
If they are not just as close as they are distant they are nothing.

This is the grass that grows wherever the land is and the water is,
This is the common air that bathes the globe.

This is the breath of laws and songs and behaviour,
This is the tasteless water of souls....this is the true sustenance,
It is for the illiterate....it is for the judges of the supreme court....
it is for the federal capitol and the state capitols,
It is for the admirable communes of literary men and composers and
singers and lecturers and engineers and savants,
It is for the endless races of working people and farmers and seamen."

from Leaves of Grass {Song of Myself} by Walt Whitman in 1855.

Image: Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, as herdsman and flautist pictured here with His beloved, Radha, on the banks of the river Yamuna.

from the book The Hindu Pantheon - An Introduction, Illustrated with 19th century Indian Miniatures from the St. Petersburg Collection, E. Tyomkin and M. Voryobyova-Desyatovska, Garnet Publishing, UK, 1994.

Cracker! KickArts Christmas Retail Show

2008-11-14T13:43:00.006+10:00

Tonight the KickArts Christmas retail show Cracker! opens. There should be heaps of wonderful gifts to choose from. If you live in Cairns or will be by that way soon I recommend popping in.

Cracker! runs from the 14th of November until January 3rd 2009.

For this show I've made six special Star Boomer joeys called White Star Boomers as a tribute to the iconic Australian Christmas song "Six White Boomers" by Rolf Harris. They are made with natural linen and creamy white pin corduroy with the cream star hand embroidered in linen thread.

Good Morning Etsy!

2008-11-13T09:01:00.004+10:00

A good morning indeed to wake up to seeing Star Boomer on the front page of Etsy. Lovely!

Plush You! (2) at Double Punch Gallery

2008-11-07T09:19:00.006+10:00

This month Flying Star Toys will be on show at Plush You! This year the Plush You! exhibition of plush toy artist at Schmancy in Seattle is having a sister show in San Francisco at Double Punch Gallery.

A new version of a Flying Star Toys original Novas Infinite called Novas Infinite Neon are representing Flying Star Toys for this exhibition. Novas Infinite Neon will be officially launched next year. These two Novas Infinite Neon are called Silver Arrow and Blue Lightning.

Plush You! (2) will be opening on Friday November 7th at Double Punch - 1821 Powell St, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Mathilda's Market this Sunday!

2008-11-03T17:08:00.005+10:00

The Mathilda's Market began in Melbourne and became so successful they have branched out to hold them in Brisbane and Sydney with other states to follow. They feature quality handmade designer wares suitable for children and mothers. Being a toy maker they asked if I would be interested - and I was :)

So if you would like to treat your little one, yourself, or thinking of someone who needs a treat this Christmas please come along.

Mathilda's Market Sunday November 9th from 9pm to 1pm at St Joseph's College, 1299 Sandgate Rd, Boondall, Brisbane, Qld.

That's right! This Sunday! and don't forget to say Hi :-)

Molehill Mouse on Etsy Frontpage

2008-11-02T10:11:00.003+10:00

A Sunday Surprise - Molehill Mouse on the Front page of Etsy :)

New Stockist - Atelier Charivari (France)

2008-10-31T10:00:00.006+10:00

So many Nature Owls together at one time, so cute! They and a collection of Night-Night Mushrooms and Biscuit Bunnies are on their way to a new Flying Star Toys stockist - Atelier Charivari in Rouen, France. Soizic's blog Atelier Charivari showcases the stunning wares she collects for her stylish children's boutique. I'm so thrilled to have Flying Star Toys become a part of her collections.

delish! new fabrics

2008-10-27T14:28:00.004+10:00

I went to the Brisbane Craft and Quilt Fair yesterday with my Mum and my sister. I picked up some simply delicious fabrics, some of which you can see above - linen, textured weave cottons and gorgeous modern prints. Yum!

In the Press

2008-10-25T14:08:00.004+10:00

I was featured in the Northside Chronicle this week about the Mathilda's Market that's happening on the 9th of November at St Joseph's Nudgee College (2199 Sandgate Rd, Boondall, Brisbane) 9am to 1pm. I'll be doing a special post about it soon.

WIP - Oatmeal Cream Biscuit Bunnies

2008-10-13T12:28:00.005+10:00

Above a layout of Biscuit Bunny pieces in Oatmeal Cream ready for pinning and cutting, soon to be turned into sweet little Biscuit Bunnies like the ones below.

Plush You! 2008 - plush toy art exhibition USA

2008-10-10T09:22:00.005+10:00

This month Flying Star Toys will be on show at Plush You! This is a yearly exhibition of plush toy artist at Schmancy in Seattle, USA. With approximately a hundred toy artists exhibiting it has to qualify as the biggest international plush toy art exhibition.

Piccabu Elephant and Molehill Mouse, together with Ishmael's Whale are representing Flying Star Toys for this exhibition.

Plush You! will be opening on Friday October 10th at Schmancy - 1932 Second Ave, Seattle WA, USA.

Red Finch White Finch on Esty front page

2008-10-06T23:37:00.004+10:00

Just popped in to check out some art on Etsy and wow! I was so surprised to see my Red Finch White Finch right in the middle! lovely :) ... must be on a roll!

Esty Front Page Surprise

2008-10-04T11:10:00.004+10:00

A lovely surprise this morning to see Night-Night Mushrooms on the Front page of Etsy. I took a quick screen shot of it before it disappeared.

Who's the Winner?

2008-09-29T12:40:00.004+10:00

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!

Super Plush! Exhibition LA, USA

2008-09-23T10:26:00.005+10:00

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.

Fruits of Eve - a commission

2008-09-18T15:49:00.007+10:00

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!

For Spring

2008-09-09T10:26:00.005+10:00

"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)

Sydney - a father/daughter trip

2008-09-05T17:24:00.006+10:00

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.

The Chariot - the passions

2008-08-29T10:40:00.015+10:00

About 10 years ago I revived my artistic practise. I chose oil pastels as my media, they are very like the oil based crayons we used as children. I've been interested in exploring how far I could take the tools we were offered as children - crayons (oil pastels), set triangles and circles, origami and toys for example. With my oil pastel work I developed a style of simple line drawing coloured using a method of rubbing back the applied colour to produce a staining on the board, building up layers of very thin coats of colour. Do your remember shading the coastlines on maps rubbing the pencil scraping in with a small piece of torn paper? My method is a bit like that only with a thin piece of dish cloth wound around my finger like a thick band-aid. This work culminated in a series of large symbolic paintings which are my version of the major Arcana of the Tarot. I completed about 10 paintings and still have the cartoons for a few more. However, as I became more involved in the Brisbane art scene my interest moved to my work with toys so I put these large paintings away, realising that their style was not "marketable" - this was in 2004.

Four years later, I've journeyed further into the realm of the Spirit and have become more adept in the symbolic language the human psyche uses to communicate its inner reality. I'm thankful for these paintings and their lack of marketability, it has kept them safe for me until the time I would need them - when I could handle and differentiate parts of myself symbolically. Now I see them as more than a pure hope or forecast but instructive of living principles in my own voice - my individual potential.

Jung writes that one can only become that which one has the potential to be.

The painting above is called The Chariot. (click the picture for a larger image)

looking into the studio - afternoon light

2008-08-27T17:51:00.003+10:00

KickArts Promo

2008-08-27T10:56:00.004+10:00

What a wonderful surprise to discover my Ishmael's Whales on the front of the flyer for the KickArts shop. KickArts have been very support of my work and those of my other artist friends such as Liana Kabel (the Drip Drop Earrings right hand corner) and Kylie Johnson ( ceramic clouds in the centre), Rebecca Ward (jewellery) and Shannon Garson (porcelain). The team at KickArts work very hard to bring together an exciting range of contemporary exhibitions and work. If you're ever in Cairns I highly recommend a visit.

Today - colour follows grey

2008-08-18T18:10:00.003+10:00

A cold, drab day that crept across the hours. Then suddenly the sun condensed its power into a splendour of pink and gold before night's mask wrapped our eyes.

Aqua Vitae - Exhibition KickArts Cairns

2008-08-12T10:25:00.009+10:00

The Umbrella Collective was pleased to be invited to do an exhibition wall at KickArts Contemporary Art Gallery in Cairns, Australia. The exhibition is called Aqua Vitae - The Water of Life. The Umbrella Collective members participating are Kylie Johnson (Paper Boat Press), Liana Kabel (Art, Design, Jewellery), Shannon Garson (Porcelain), Rebecca Ward (Jewellery) and myself.

Aqua Vitae is showing from 5th August until the 30th August 2008.

About Aqua Vitae: Aqua Vitae is Latin for the Water of Life. In the language of medieval alchemists it conveys the sense of a living being of substance as a directly contrast to the rigid immateriality of mind in the abstract. The vital water was the junction of spirit, soul and body and is an apt expression for how makers feel about their process, product and art as they mould, shape and cut their creations into being.

Water is one of most ubiquitous symbols present within the psyche of man - it is a powerful solvent, it brings opposites into unity, it represents the unconscious itself and is the fountain of all life. Here the water symbol unites the work of the five craft artist of the Umbrella Collective.

My 100 Water Houses, Ishmael's Whales and Rain Berries are included in this exhibition.

Etsy Front Page and Friends

2008-08-09T11:50:00.005+10:00

Night-Night Mushrooms has been a bit of an Etsy front page star over the last few days. I haven't seen any of them personally but via the number of views I guessed that it had happen. The very lovely Donna AKA Leafpeople saw one of them and sent me a screen shot. I was very touch by her thinking of me. I just love her new Airedale hanging ornaments and adorable Scottish Terrier brooches, see them on her Etsy shop or on her Flickr page. Thanks Donna!

Introducing Night-Night Mushrooms

2008-08-07T10:03:00.005+10:00

Sleep time wouldn't be the same without a story. Luckily Night-Night Mushrooms know many magical tales for sleepy heads to dream about.

When I think about bed-time stories I can't help thinking of the magic mushrooms with the red and white tops. The image of these mushrooms takes me immediately to the world of fairy tales and legends - what a wonderful place is the imagination! Fairy tales and myth take us on a journey inside the human psyche and these stories can often be of help in later life. As an artist, I can tell you a little imagination goes along way. Night-Night Mushrooms are a tribute to story time and the land of dreams.

There are 6 different mushrooms (four released at this stage). They are made of wool blend felt and a wonderful, rare random spotted fabric for the top. The face is hand stitched in sashiko cotton thread. Night-Night Mushrooms are weighted to stand independently.

Dimensions: Night-Night Mushrooms range in size from 14cm (5 1/2 inches) to 18cm (7 inches) tall.

For more images of see the Night-Night Mushrooms gallery page.

Biscuit Bunnies in Charity Exhibition London

2008-07-30T14:43:00.004+10:00

Flying Star Toys has donated 6 Biscuit Bunnies for the charity exhibition Cancer Sell for Cancer Research and The Florence Nightingale Hospice, Aylesbury, Bucks, UK.

Cancer Sell will be held on the 31st July 2008 at 98 Leonard Street, London, EC1V 9AY. 6pm - 11pm. FREE ENTRY

You can see images of the exhibition in the Cancer Sell Flickr group

Lions, and Tigers and Bears

2008-07-21T11:58:00.011+10:00

Not everything is as it appears, Dorothy. Here are a few thoughts.

This frightening looking creature is actually a Japanese temple guardian. A lion (shishi) protector, a type of offering called Koma-inu, that once stood guard in the inner sanctum of a temple before the Buddha. Why does such a being exist at the entrance to the holy place?

(Edo Period, dated 1742, Seto ware, H. 40cm. Aichi-ken Toji Shiyokan, Nagoya. from "Folk Traditions in Japanese Art", Kodansha, 1978.)

This highly detailed 15th century Medieval, English stained glass panel shows a dragon or fish man swallowing sinners. He wears a collar because he is really a servant of God in the underworld. He holds a trident sceptre showing his authority within this dark and fiery world. Most notable is his belly or torso showing the fierce face of his digestion which will process the course nature from the souls of those he has caught up. Is it simply retribution or is its purpose refinement?

(West window of the nave, St Mary's Church, Fairford, Gloucestershire, 15th Century. from "English Stained Glass", John Baker, Thames and Hudson, 1978.)

This dark, mysterious face might be frightening to some, but it is a beautiful black faced Okina (old man) - a Japanese Noh mask of a character called Kokushikijo. I found this image on the website nohmask21 he makes me very happy. An Okina dance is traditionally performed at the beginning of a Noh program. To understand why that might be what follows are some quotes from the Fushikaden (The Flowering Spirit) by Zeami, the renowned 14-15th century Japanese Noh actor and playwright.

"I have mentioned the importance of the principle of longevity, happiness and prosperity. If you get caught up in the ways of the world and are consumed by greed, it will be the first cause of the decline of the Way. If you take great care in these things for the sake of the Way, you should have a long life, happiness, and prosperity. Nevertheless, if you do so merely for the sake of a long life, happiness, and prosperity, the Way will surely decline. And if the Way declines, so too will longevity and happiness of their own accord. You should take great care to live honestly and with clarity; this will be the cause of revealing the mysterious Flower of ten thousand virtues to the entire world."

"Playing the role of the old man involves the deepest principles of our Way; as the ultimate level of your ability will be apparent to the spectators, it is of the greatest importance."

Kokushikijo's face is dark because it has been burnt by the fires in the vessel of refinement. Maybe this aspect makes him scary but really he is a happy old man who appears after the deepest trials when one has succeeded after a great inner journey....maybe we should call him the Wizard of OZ.

("The Flowering Spirit: Classic Teachings on the Art of No", Zeami, a new translation of the Fushikaden by William Scott Wilson, Kodansha, 2006.)

C. G. Jung writes in Psychology and Alchemy, "The dread resistance which every natural human being experiences when it comes to delving too deeply into himself is, at bottom, the fear of the journey to Hades." (page 336) The hero has "volunteered to die in order to beget a new and fruitful life in that region of the psyche which has hitherto lain fallow in the dark unconsciousness, under the shadow of death." (page 334) You can see how scared the hero Hercules is in the picture above! The Way is not with out trails.

Lions and Tigers and Bears! Oh My!

Follow the yellow brick road, Dorothy, because there's no place like home.

Sam Sparro - Black and gold (lyrics video)

2008-07-14T23:00:00.003+10:00

This goes out to all the kids enjoying Catholic World Youth Day this week in the "great southern land of the Holy Spirit". Have fun!

Speakin' Russian - Moloko+ Issue 6#

2008-07-14T19:52:00.004+10:00

Moloko+, a Russian internet graphic design magazine, asked if I'd like Flying Star Toys to be featured in issue 6 - "Yes!" I said. I just received an email telling me that it is now available for download in both English and Russian versions. The image above is the section on Flying Star Toys. I must admit I should have done a lot more editing before I pressed the send button, so I'm really hoping you don't squint and try to read it in the photo ;-P

Having a little look through the magazine I particularly like the mixed media paintings of artist Fumiko Toda for their gorgeous, blending dreamlike scenes. I was also proud to be featured along side fellow soft toy artist Lizette Greco, her family make toys based on children's drawings. I also discovered a toy artist I didn't know about from Argentina, Juan Pablo Cambariere, he creates wooden marionette puppets in a minimal style that have heaps of personality. Worth the look!

(If you do download the free magazine I must warn you it's a whopping 30MB!)

The Bitter Sea

2008-07-14T09:25:00.005+10:00

"Therefore saith Morienus: Despise not the ashes, for they are the diadem of thy heart, and the ash of things that endure." C.G. Jung Mysterium Coniunctionis, quoting from the Rosarium.

Weekend Tao

2008-07-06T15:52:00.005+10:00

Saturday soft rainSunday gentle sun

Over heard in the toy studio...

2008-07-01T08:36:00.006+10:00

"I really do think a strong Russian Caravan is better that a pot of Queen Anna on a cold morning," said one blue meringue Biscuit Bunny to the other.

Biscuit Bunnies are the most delightful guests to have to tea but you'll have to watch that they don't hop into the tea cups. When they're not investigating the blend you prefer, they like to sit quietly listening to the wind in the trees, thinking on buttons and balls of string.

Try Some Tea

2008-06-30T13:06:00.004+10:00

I've recently been enjoying a lovely tea called Melbourne Breakfast from T2. It's a black tea I can enjoy with milk, it has just a hint of a smoky sweet vanilla flavour. Yum! The Biscuit Bunnies have given it their stamp of approval too!

the fourth book

2008-06-27T12:45:00.006+10:00

A gift today of the fourth book.

I have slowly been developing my work as a writer/artist. It has taken me a long time to find the tools that I most prefer to use. I have tried many different notebooks and most of them I have treated no better than a bound version of post-it notes. It might seem strange but I couldn't take myself seriously when I wrote in the wrong kind of notebook. But it wasn't just the notebook it was also the pen! After the longest time I finally realised that I hated using biros. It wasn't until I discovered Moleskin notebooks and returned to the primary school use of the pencil that I began to have some satisfaction with myself.

A year ago I began the practice of recording my dreams and to practice the Jungian method of analysis. What an interesting process this has been. Almost daily I've written, describing the most fascinating stories and from them have learned many valuable things. But aside from the journey to the Self it has taught me about writing. Out of necessity I have been very diligent about keeping my writing legible and have made great efforts to adopt a form of record keeping that is consistent so that I might collate reoccurring motifs and symbols. After many months I noticed that there where different styles one could use to record action. Some I noticed where more suited to the notation style use in the scripts of plays while others took to a more prose like form. Of course the fact that I had adopted the form of separating the parts of dreams into acts and scene also help immensely.

After a lucky start using the thin paperback Moleskins I finally graduated to the hard cover classic black books and I now use them exclusively. From the recording of dreams, in what I call the Book of Dreams, I began to take my writing seriously. I witnessed the value of recording my thoughts and it occurred to me that this method could be applied to my other areas of thought as well (seems obvious enough!). So I began a second Moleskin notebook series for the exclusive use for my theory work calling it the Book of Philosophy and this lead, naturally enough, to the creation of a third book series called the Book of Stories for creative writing. Now I knew I had one more book that I had yet to find - the Book of Pictures. I needed a visual diary, but which one was going to be right for me? I had a small Moleskin visual diary but for some reason I wasn't gelling with it yet. I needed to begin somewhere else, but where and on what? Now well aware of my fussy disposition when it came to notebooks I was perplexed!

Today, the answer to my question has been gifted to me by my good friend Margaret Barnett. When checking my post box in the village I found a little blue slip saying I had a package to collect...how mysterious...I hadn't been expecting anything. On returning home I sat down to open it. Inside was a beautifully wrapped present with a note that read, Found this in Cairns Gallery - thought you could use it - Love M, accompanied by a postcard of a large Japanese stone Buddha seen at twilight. Opening the present was to my surprise a visual dairy made from an old book that had previously been a primary school reader made by Aunty Art Studios called a Bound Again Book. It's the blue book on top of the pile. The original book's title was Eric or Little by Little by Frederic W. Farrar - how appropriate!

I have yet to use it of course.....but its synchronicity seems to indicate its suitability as the fourth book.

Monday by the Seaside

2008-06-23T13:51:00.004+10:00

Nolan and Jung

2008-06-23T13:27:00.003+10:00

A couple of the books I'm reading at the moment.

On Saturday I went to the Sidney Nolan: A New Retrospective exhibition at the Queensland Art Gallery. It is an amazingly comprehensive exhibition. I'll be going back quite a few times just to take it all in. I'm so very impressed with his whole career as an artist - he surely does deserve to be one of the great Australian 20th century artists. I highly recommend seeing this exhibition if you are able to. The good news is that it is free to the public! So no excuses!