COOL CRAFTY CLIPS

Was surfing some and came across some simple ways to create cool stuff. So if you have these things lying around, go ahead give it a try.

First one is how to turn them takeaway containers to decorative gift boxes. You can easily get these takeaway boxes from Spotlight.

This next one shows you how to turn book covers to purses. Am not sure if you can part with any of your book covers but if you're ever in a situation where you happen to have book covers lying around, well turn them to cool purses!

And if you're bored with your current furniture and have time to spare, go ahead and surprise your spouse or loved ones with this. Actually, get your spouse or loved ones involved and make it a weekend project!

For more ideas, you could also go to curbly.com for more craft ideas. Have fun you ...

SOCKS GALORE

Each time I go away, I usually come back feeling inspired to create toys and my head will be spinning with ideas I want to try. But by the time I get back and start work again, all the ideas get KIV for when I have time to pursue them maybe over the weekend (which hardly happens).

I realised I was most productive when I was unwell and had to stay at home for two glorious weeks and I ended up making my most favourite pieces then!! I definitely have to find a way to manage my time better. So, if you have any idea of how I can juggle a regular job with a hobby that I am passionate about, please share cuz I am all ears.

Anyways, two weeks away in UK and my best souveniors that I got for myself are these awesome super yummy socks!! I can just imagine the sock monkeys that I am going to make from these socks!! It was quite embarassing for my colleagues who were wit me cuz I was wowing and ooohing and ahhing each time I saw them socks to a point where they started looking out for these socks before me so that they could point them out to me and wait for my ooohhs and ahhhs. Thanks for being so patient with me!! :o)

These are just a sample of the whole range that I got so you will have to wait for the finish products to see exactly how many socks I got.

I was out today walking about and saw a shop that sold goodies for children and what caught my attention was the many handmade toys for children. It was nice just browsing and admiring some of the cool toys that were made from different fabrics like leather and felt, some with a touch of glam with beads and sequins. 

But after a while of checking the labels (to see where the toys were from), I realised that all the toys were brought in from overseas and have expensive labels to match the toys. I acknowledge that the toys are of good quality, no mass produced plastic toys made in China that will fall apart the moment you take the toy out from its box (this happened to me recently so am still sore about it). So I asked the lady at the shop  who was busy unpacking things (shop is newly open) if she carried anything made by local artisans. And her reply was, "No, our handmade toys are all from overseas". That was said with such arrogance that I was speechless for a while and could only reply "Oh, I see". I placed back a felt toy that I was hold onto it's rightful place and I left the shop. I felt that I didn't belong in that shop and maybe I am being too sensitive about things (could be that time of the month) but I got the impression that if I am not from overseas myself, I shouldn't be buying anything there. I am sure that wasn't the intention of the shop (cuz money from anyone is welcome I am sure) but that was MY impression.

It's very sad to see that till today, there are still people who think that toys made in the western world are of the best quality. With cheaply made poor quality products coming out of China, I guess I don't blame the majority for thinking that. But I have been to Thailand and see beautiful handmade toys which are of outstanding quality. And I am sure in other parts of Asia, if we look hard enough, there are such toys which are usually catering to a small group of the market cuz the majority are still looking for cheap toys (cuz kids-grow-out-of-their-toys-so-quickly logic) I see toys made in Singapore with high quality too. I would like to think that my toys are made lovingly and of the same standards of those toys sold in that shop.

Would I want my toys to be sold in that shop, I asked myself. No. I want my toys in a shop that is able to appreciate good quality handmade toys regardless where the toys are made.

Excuse my ramblings in this post, but am at Coffee Bean right now washing away that unpleasant taste in my mouth from that experience with a delightful cup of Malibu Dream (no whip). And I am thankful that there are still people (including lovely Singaporean friends who have been supporting things handmade in Singapore) out there who appreciates handmade toys. Just wish there were more of us ....

TOYS IN STAMPS

Although this blog is meant for toys that I make, but occasionally, I might add some post on issues or topics related to toys. I recently went to the Singapore Philatelic Museum and ended up ploughing through heaps of first day covers and come across some cool stamps with toys on them.

I used to collect stamps when I was in school and you can learn so much about the country's culture, festivals, flora and fauna and much much more just from stamps. And I guess I got all nostalgic and decided to rekindle an old interest and start collecting stamps again, but this time with the focus on toys. Maybe from these stamps, it will give me more insights to toys, either from the past or present, of the countries the stamps are from.

So here are some of what I managed to gather from my trip there, and I suspect there will be many more trips to the museum when I'm in the area.

Below: First day cover of the stamps from Canada issued in 1979.

Below: Close up of the wooden trains on the stamps.

Below: Another first day cover from Canada (these came with the top one)

Below: Close up of the stamp which depicts a doll I think.

Below: First Day Cover of toys from the UK

Below: Recognise any of the toys below? Spot the Snake and Ladder!

Below: Complete set of stamps from China, but not from the first day cover.

If you can tell me more about any of these stamps above, please do drop me an email. Would love to hear from you! Thanks!

Horny Lil' Devil

Here's my latest sock monkey, a Horny Lil' Devil for you. No worries, he's a good and adorable devil that guards your most treasured possession. And he will be up on etsy so if you're interested, can either get it from etsy or let me know via email. I am working on a friend of his ... any guess what his mate will be? *grins* Pretty easy ya? So continue to watch this space you.

TOYS FROM THE HEART ...

Some weeks back, Robyn from Craft with Me came across my Sock Monkeys and invited me to be a guest crafter and do a tutorial for the sock monkeys. I have never done a tutorial before but was excited by the challenge and agreed. It took me quite some time to compIete tha tutorial but it was a fun experience for me and I hope others will have fun making sock monkeys from my tutorial. Thanks Robyn for the invite and trying out the tutorial to test it out :o)

And today, I also found that my Flower Gals have been featured on Softies..cuties.., a blog with news and link relate to soft and cute stuff. I enjoyed reading the blog as they are lots of super awesome softies featured on that blog.

Many thanks to both ladies for including Toys From The Heart in your blogs. Lots of hugs from me to you!! :o)

MORE SOCK MONKEYS ON THEIR WAY ....

Am working on several sock monkeys at the same time. Am going through a sock monkey phase cuz recently bought some awesome socks from a UK Online store so am all set to go. What you see here are sock monkeys in different stages of completion. Will put them up on Etsy so watch this blog for more information.

If you have a particular sock monkey that you're keen to have customised for yourself or your loved ones, just drop me and email. Am always up for a challenge :o)

PAOLO THE GONDOLIER

As a tribute to the lovely and very skilled man who took care of us and drove us from one place to another safely while we were on tour in Italy. He was like a gondolier in a sense that he had to steer through sometimes rather narrow roads with cars parked haphazardly yet that didn't disturb him a single bit as he manoeuvred the bus as we all held our breath.

I had this idea for the gondolier while I was in Italy and tried looking for the stripey socks whilst I was there but didn't come across any. Thankfully, found some here! Am in the midst of making some more gondolier friends to keep Paolo company!

WORK IN PROGRESS

I have an idea for a new sock monkey that I have been toying with for the last few weeks and am real worried that I won't be able to find the things that I would need. Yesterday while at the dentist seat, trying to distract myself from thinking about what the dentist is doing (am having implants done), I was thinking about where I would be able to find what I needed.

After my appointment at the dentist, I was walking home and looking at the 'pasar malam' or night bazaar and to my pleasant surprise, I found the socks that I needed. And this is after looking everywhere and not seeing it before. This could be my reward for being very nice at the dentist *laughs*

And now I need to look for one more thing and once I have that, I can start work! So far no luck at Spotlight and Art Friend. Anyone know where I can get accessories for dolls like straw hats? Any help will be appreciate :o)