Taking some time out

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!!

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

Where's my website?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chic-Chic Rattle redesign series 3

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

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

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

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

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

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.