Les Petits

If you've seen the latest issue of Babiekins Magazine you will have probably have noticed these beautiful dolls by Kelsey-Garrity Riley which I included in my "What's Hot, What's New, What's Now" picks. I love Kelsey's illustration work and was excited to see that she had started experimenting with textiles.

 

Kelsey has been busy sewing new dolls for her etsy shop  (where she also sells her beautiful postcards and prints) and is also working on some new finger puppets, which I find absolutely delightful.

Another one to watch out for me thinks!

Etsy Find : Faire Le Guignol

1950's French Guignol Puppet Theatre Set

Sadly, well out of most people's financial reach but beautiful vintage eye candy nonetheless! I am now on a mission to find one.

Beautiful Warrior

I love this photograph of Valeria Dalmon's Beautiful Warrior.

It's My Image of The Day.

Visual arts, sculpture, puppets, dolls, theatre... the list is long.

Push the door and step inside this Argeninian creator's strange and beautiful world.

Off the beaten track.

Where I like to wander.

Just Hanging Around

I have a thing for puppets. My oldest toy, now in Savannah's possession, is a wooden marionette my parents bought me in the 70s. It was a Christmas present to go with the huge puppet theatre that my dad had made me and which I saw him pushing into my bedroom on Christmas eve; the moment I realised Santa wasn't real...

Talma Vardi's ceramic marionettes caught my eye yesterday. I liked the mini puppet installation she'd created by stringing them up together to take product photos for her etsy shop AnnaLela.

That shouldn't really come as a surprise though, I'm always drawn to groups of faces...

Five Faves #31

Little Angel - Martine, Glouglouandchou

The weeks are flying by and I find it hard to believe that this is my 31st set of Five Faves!

Maybe it's time for a change? I don't know. I see so many beautiful things each week, it's nice to share a few special ones with you. What do you think?

Today's collection is loosely based on the word Little.

Hope you like them!

1) Favourite Little Encounter

Blue Rabbit, Matou en Peluche

2) Favourite Little Friends

Scottish Highland FingerPuppets, Baby Animals

3) Favourite New Little Objects 

Dolls House and Calendar , Toys Dreams

4) Favourite Little Ones' Vintage Finds

Lucky Little Dot

5) Favourite Little Moment

Go see what's behind the curtain...Magic!

ledansla -one to bookmark!

The Bright Red Star

More Christmassy things... this time I've found a lovely collaborative book written by Buenos Aires-based artist/graphic designer Yael Fran. The Bright Red Star is a simple and spiritual story full of animals and friends and brings together the work of 14 etsy artists in a similar vein to the "We are..." etsy colouring books.

"On Christmas Eve, little Anna was trying to hang a bright red star on top of the tree. But she was very very very short and could not reach the top..."


If you're not familiar with Fran's work, make a bee-line for her shop and blog and enjoy! I spied some wonderful, affordable gifts and stocking fillers this morning, including this new accordian count to 10-learning numbers book. Watch Pinocchio's nose grow as you unfold the book and count to ten with your children.

Yael Fran's mini-colouring book would make another sweet present

as would these quirky purse holders/wallets (save money if you buy a set of three)

and these fun "talk to me finger" puppets for quarreling couples.

Happy shopping!

Thumbelina

Digit dolls by Kia Hing Fay

Clothespeg dolls by Jill Bent

Handprinted finger dolls by Barbara Berrada, Les Zigouis

Digit dolls found via Bondville

Marvin the Squid

Let me introduce you to Marvin "a leaf peeping, bird watching, lichen collecting little cephalopod". You'll find him and his cute little handmade friends over at Loopy Dolls.

Thanks to Cathy Cullis for the link.