Flying Star Toys blog

Friday, May 23, 2008

The Birth of Biscuit Bunnies

I'll be doing some more posts on how some of the Toys in the Flying Star Toys world have been originated. The notion and design for my toys often come from quite unexpected sources and I thought people might find it interesting to see what some of those processes are.

One way I develop a toy is to draw a picture. Biscuit Bunnies was one such toy that came about in this manner....but with all things there are often curious twists on the road of creativity.

This was one of the few toys that I sat down purposely to design. You might not know it but I very rarely work like that as it can often be forced and produce very average results. But on this occasion I was feeling frustrated by a certain inability to make a simple toy that didn't use any buttons and such and would be "baby safe".

With sketch book, in hand after concentrating for a few minutes on my desired toy parameters, I did a tiny little sketch of a bunny. The one seen above is in close up and from the picture above it you can see how small the actual drawing is, only a little bigger than a paper clip. That tiny little drawing had so much innate character that I left it in its original condition and proceeded to translate it into a pattern.

Biscuit Bunnies are a perfect example of what looks simple isn't necessarily so for it takes 13 pieces of fabric to make that one little bunny! So it didn't turn out to be as simple as I had hoped. However, while failing the major parameter - to be simple, it is very successful toy. Biscuit Bunnies have turned out to be one of the most popular toys in the Flying Star Toys collection and what's more I always enjoy making them and seeing what little variation of their personality appear, each is unique every time.

You can see more images of Biscuit Bunnies on their gallery page.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

5 o'clock storm

A red sky delivered heavy storm clouds, rolling over us from the West.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

reflections on the past - Canberra

Recently my Dad and I returned to Canberra to look back at our roots. Neither of us was born in Canberra but we both spent some of our formative years there: Dad was a boarder at Canberra Grammar School and I went to University at the ANU. This trip help me to see how far I had come since that time, not so much in terms of financial or career success, but in terms of a maturing of outlook and of spiritual depth.

Here are a few pictures from the trip. I particularly like the second one which is in the Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Australia. A divine place that in the golden light of an autumn afternoon was alive to the happy voices of dozens of tiny wrens skipping in and out of the foliage picking up tiny crumbs from between the flagstones.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Home Town

Sunday, Plastic Girl and I head down to the Gold Coast for a day trip. I grew up on the Gold Coast, a short walk from one of the world best beaches, however I was a fish out of water, I wasn't a beach chick. While I frolicked on the beach as a child as grew I longed instead for trees whose leaves changed colour and for a climate where clothing other than shorts and t-shirt were the norm. It is no wonder then that I chose the frosty Australian Capital of Canberra for a place to study at University.

These days, I live in the tropical Queensland Capital of Brisbane and I'm comfortably enjoying its warm and sunny clime. With the new highway, the Gold Coast is only an hour's drive from Brisbane city and so with my "still in its wrapper" Driver's Licence it was off on a road trip to visit my old stomping ground and give Liana the cook's tour.

So much has changed in Surfers Paradise and then some things haven't. As we walked along the beach, in my woefully inappropriate city clothes, I remembered how much I loved the beach. I was transported back to my childhood when my sister and I made dribble castles in the sand or wrote our names in huge letters with pieces of driftwood. The surf on Sunday was clean and the whole scene was postcard perfect. People were everywhere enjoying themselves in the layed back fashion Australia is so known for. I had to wonder at myself and at the opinions of a younger me who's eyes where so blind as to wish to flee from such a place whose golden gifts are free to all.

I look forward to more homecomings.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Saturday Sunshowers

Slowly travelled, with Gentle footsteps, Pooling the waters of life.

Quiet and cool, the Spirit reposes within the Human Soul, Finally Home.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

By Bramble Bay

Walking in the morning lately has been so clear and bright: with the Water Dragons of the East still sleeping, the sun holds dominion until noon.

But later, on a walk by Bramble Bay I pause on an island of sand and belong briefly to the companion of Silver Gulls bathing and waiting for the tide. The plane of heaven stretched out into the haze of distance, and sinking not, emerged above it in mysterious mountains of white, prevailing with secret atmospheres all of their own.

Thursday, April 03, 2008

The Fishing Line - hanging mobile

This month's new addition to the Flying Star Toys collections is a hanging mobile called The Fishing Line.

Clear water and sapphire skies, silvery light on a midday sand, little fishes slip through, in the stream of life. These are the images of inspiration that linger in The Fishing Line hanging mobile.

Fish have long been significant symbols of life and and the soul in nature and man. The soul swims unseen through the sea of our life, sometimes we need quite moments to catch sight of it. You can read more about the The Fishing Line on The Fishing Line Story page.

The Fishing Line is a significant piece of subtle detail. The current limited edition Bramble Bay is named after the tranquil cove of Moreton Bay near my home. You can see more images on The Fishing Line Gallery page.

The Fishing Line is now available in the Flying Star Toys on Etsy shop.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Auspicious Clouds

Today was a Sunday filled with auspicious clouds breathed fresh from a happy water dragon. Even the late afternoon sky, seen above, held on to its promise.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Front Page Etsy Love

I was surprised to see Flying Star Toys Black Swan on the Etsy front page today in a treasury by Australian designer Fede ...a very pleasant surprise indeed.

I love the colours in this list. And I really like the fingerless gloves by Overcast from New Zealand. I've favourited a few of those in various colours :)

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Easter Bunny Sale!!

To celebrate Easter there is now 20% off all Biscuit Bunnies and Best Bunnies in the Shop until Easter Monday 24th March (inclusive). To receive the discount all you have to do is email me at florence@flyingstartoys.com and let me know which Bunny or Bunnies you'd like :)

Happy Easter from Flying Star Toys!

*Seen above: Best Bunny Chocolate Box series.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Making MajicCatsMini

Here are a set of MajicCatsMini in the making. The thread used to embroider them is a big pain to use as it is untwisted (or rather only lightly twisted) and it feathers very quickly. I could make it easier on myself and use a rayon DMC thread but I just can't give up the extreme lustre of this difficult thread and so I persevere with it for its unmatched brilliance. I was reading recently in C.G. Jung's book Alchemical Studies that the unconscious is attracted to bright colours. So it seems I was striking the right note when I chose to incorporate the vibrant colours of the penne velvet on the back and the lustre of these beautiful threads into the making of majicCats.

Sunday, March 09, 2008

The Owl and the Pussycat

A strange and wonderful thing happen to me the other night. Let me tell you about the owl and the pussycat.

My cat Baby isn't the toughest cat on the street but she's very protective of her little patch and will stand her ground if need be. This night her young male nemesis Tinkerbell Tom was on a spraying trip around our neighbourhood and took it into his little head that the friendly house known of in his youth would be a desirable place to scent. Not that he was thinking of Baby, she's friendly to no one but me and my partner John. Baby wasn't having a bar of Tinkerbell Tom's insolents and so with his approach she growled and growled but still he cautiously padded up the steps to our balcony. He obviously crossed a line at one point because suddenly it was on and the cry of my Baby in a fight stunned my grandmotherly nerves into action and defence. I rushed out the front door and into the night to see the rebel cat fly into the street. That's when something unexpected happened.

Swooping in out of the blackness over the back of our house came a night creature. Tinkerbell Tom reared up to swipe at it, claws out, arm extended, with the fervour of instincts still in defensive heat. When the creature settled on the telephone wire across from us, I was shocked to see it was not a Flying Fox fruit bat, which are common here, but a rare owl! "An owl? An Owl? It is indeed an owl," I thought. I had no idea that owls lived in our area and I felt like I was looking at something unreal or uncanny - a spirit of the unconscious flown into view or a god in disguise.

I have often been inspired to make toys based on the local wildlife as they intersect my life but rare indeed is it that the toys precedes the animal. Perhaps some inner devotion has granted me a special view of itself as it wings its way silently in the dark: with wisdom on a wire, four hunters in the dark.

The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea in a beautiful pea-green boat.....And hand in hand on the edge of the sand they danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.

*****

image 1 graphic using MajicCatsMini

image 2 graphic using Look and See Owl

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Introducing Nature Owls!

March brings a change in the air and also a new toy to join the Flying Star Toys collections. This month we welcome Nature Owls!

Mr and Mrs Nature Owl live in a tree and hunt in the forest. They always take time to smell the flowers and watch the clouds. It's so good to be nature-owl they would say to each other with a chuckle. Nature Owls are nice and plump because the forest provides them with lots of good food. Mr and Mrs Nature Owl have been together for years and years. I don't think they can remember how long it's been.

Currently Nature Owls come in Mr Nature Owl in brown cotton and Mrs Nature Owl in cream quilter's calico. On the reverse is something a little special, their backs are covered with a netting fabric in a most interesting pattern. Doesn't it look like feathers? And what a curious texture it has.

The first edition is called Twilight Rose after the delicate face fabric that is fringed at the edge. The Twilight Rose edition is limited to 14 Nature Owls.

Dimensions: Nature Owls sit 14.5 cm (5 3/4 inches) tall and are 15.5 cm (6 1/4 inch) wide. They are weighted to sit independently.

It was only very recently that Nature Owls came into being. Instead of waiting their turn they have insisted they be released straight way....must be something in the air :)

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Best Bunnies at MoBstore

I dropped off the set of Chocolate Box Best Bunnies I've been working on to the Museum of Brisbane Store today. They liked them so much they popped them in the front window straight away. Tomorrow they'll be on their very own display plinth in store :)

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

All Cleaned Up

I took my beloved sewing machine for a service yesterday, as I've been having trouble with the pedal. The machine would keep sewing after I had stopped.... it was like she was possessed...not good!! She needed to go to the sewing machine doctor - but how long was it going to take to fix?!

I told them how absolutely essential it was that the machine was fixed right away....I think I must have sounded like a nervous mother. They said they would see what they could do as they had a 10 day wait!! Looking around at the shop floor I saw they did indeed have sewing machines waiting in every nook and cranny. My heart sank but the friendly assistant made me feel like she would look after me. And she did, later that afternoon they phone to let me know all she needed was a thorough clean and I could pick her up as soon as I like. :) Happy days! So now she's back in her spot, queen of the toy studio, just the way it should be.

Oh, and of course, since I was out I popped into one of my favourite fabric shops, Faeries in My Garden....you can see some of the fabrics I picked up next to my sewing machine, beautiful double sided Japanese linen.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Made of Dreams - Flying Star Toys

Last night, before I fell asleep, a pageant of toy designs flew through my mind's eye like a short film run very fast. I remember being fascinated by their beauty and soft colours. While I no longer remember them distinctly now, I still feel their shapes like a sweet after taste or an aura of perfume.

When I look around my studio and see the many toys waiting to be launched, I'm both overwhelmed by the preparations needed for the website and at the same time excited in anticipation for the day they are introduced. I love designing toys and a vision like last night's dream augers exciting possibilities ahead. I think a large dream catcher above my bed might be in order :)

Image: Biscuit Bunnies - Gingerbread

Thursday, February 21, 2008

WIP Best Bunnies

Best Bunnies in progress. These will be part of a Chocolate Box set of Best Bunnies for the Museum of Brisbane Store....just in time for Easter :)

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Lap Cat vs Tree Cat

As I sit here working on some graphic design work for OzFrank Theatre my cat Baby snuggles on my lap purring very loudly. No doubt she's hoping to attract my attention for extra tickles under the ear. Perhaps she's making up for lost time because last week she disappeared to become a Tree Cat. Baby decided she would spend all day perched up in the tree in our front yard. When I wanted to see her I had to walk under the branches to reach up and pat her. It was very funny indeed! Now, however, she has returned to normal and resumed her very pleasant role as Lap Cat.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

100 Water Houses in the Sandgate Library

I have a strong relationship with the Sandgate Brisbane City Council Library. Lovely librarian Sue organised the lilli&tom miniature year long tour in 2006 and last year the Coastal Birds series was a featured display with them. For this year Flying Star Toys collection 100 Water Houses is currently on display for the month of February at the Sandgate Library.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Please Welcome Best Bunny

This month sees the launch of Best Bunny! Best Bunny sits up straight and tall and is always ready to answer a question or help a friend. You can read the whole story on the Best Bunny Story page.

Best Bunny was designed about 6 months ago and I have been excitedly awaiting their release. I had so many to release last year for the website launch that I had to keep quite a few toys back for this year. Launching one toy a month just doesn't seem enough as more and more fabulous toys keep popping up in my studio!!

However, in the time that intervened I had the opportunity to try the pattern out on a number of different fabric combinations. From this I now can bring you two different series of Best Bunny: The Jack and Jill series (as seen above) and the Chocolate Box series (as seen below). For more images see the Best Bunny Gallery.

Some of the features of Best Bunny include: a variegated fluffy wool tail pompom made from a wool blend called Nepal by Katia (the ones on the left hand side in this image); a sewn in jingle bell and bow so the bow will never untie and slip out of place; hand dyed variegated wool felt eye circles; Japanese sashiko cotton in pink for the bell, eye, nose and mouth details; fine brushed cotton fabrics for soft to the touch textures. So with the special nature of the variegated materials each Best Bunny will have its own unique expression and touches.

Welcome Best Bunny to the Flying Star Toys collections :)

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