Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Fantastic Toys. Thank you all for visiting my blog and making comments. I wish the best for you and your family in 2010. I'm looking forward to the New Year and creating some fresh product. I'm already working on some new plush characters for Spring and Easter. Have a safe and fun holiday , see you next year!

Disneys Back!

I'm so happy Disney 2-D animation is alive and well! A few years ago when Disney announced they would not make any more 2-D animation for theatrical release I was so saddened. I grew up with the art of Disney and it has inspired me artistically more than anything else. As much as I like computer generated animation nothing compares to the artistry of hand drawn animation.

I've been anticipating the opening of The Princess and the Frog since I first heard about it. This movie has all the bells and whistles of any classic Disney movie. The animation is beautifully rendered and some of the musical sequences are a toe tapping blast. The characters are a hoot and should be well remembered with the cast of current Disney favorites. I'm glad to see Disney is back to its traditional roots.

December Giveaway Winner!

Thank you all for your lovely comments! I appreciate each and everyone one of them. :D I have randomly chosen a winner! Yet again another winner from Canada has won one of my fawns. Heather will be the lucky one to add this sweetie to her holiday decor. Please keep an eye out for future giveaways. I plan to have them more often. I also have a list of fun tutorials planned for 2010.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Tim

Its Official-HGTV Airdate!

I'm almost afraid to post this buts its official I finally have an air date for a segment I filmed for HGTVs Thats Clever. Back in the Spring of 2007 I filmed a six minute segment for over six hours. Four people including a producer, director, camera guy and sound guy took over my tiny apartment and filmed me demonstrating the craft of making a miniature giraffe doll. The segment features the full tutorial from the sculpting, baking, painting and dressing the miniature doll. It was a grueling process.. between the multiple takes and my newly discovered stuttering problem I managed to get through the segment. I learned a lot from the experience- mostly that I'm not cut out for television. Frankly jumping out of an airplane would of been more comfortable. :) Thank goodness my mother was there for moral support. So years later its finally airing. With so many other shows in the can I guess it takes awhile to get on air. Heres a photo of the giraffe doll featured and setting up for filming.

No Coast 09 Show Pics

Just a couple of snap shots from the No-Coast Art Fair. Both days were good. Saturday was beautiful and the people were out in droves. These photos were taken during the quiet morning before the event. My new felted ornaments were hit as well as my plush ornaments. Some talented new artists there. Penguin and Fish and Studio Mela were my favs. P@F is a triple threat, graphic designer, illustrator and toymaker. My favorite kind of artist! Check them both out at etsy.

December Giveaway!

Giveaway is now closed.

For the month of December I'm giving away this lovely white fawn. If you would like to enter this giveaway please post a comment and leave your email address. I will choose a winner from the list of comments by December 15. Make sure to check out my shop for all my other Christmas items.

No Coast Craft-o-rama

Only a week away until the Christmas Spectacular No Coast Craft-o-rama. I was really impressed by the design of the post card and poster art advertising the event. Such a professional job! I'm so glad to back this year. I'm predicting this will be a stellar year. Looking forward to seeing all the great art. If you live in the midwest area here is the schedule for the 2 day event.

Midtown Global Market
Friday, December 4 3pm-8pm
Saturday, December 5 9am-5pm

Felt Christmas Ornament Tutorial

 My project is featured on Michaels website. Please rate my project to increase my chance at winning a chance to be on the Martha Stewart Show. Go here to rate this project on Michaels website.

Your family and friends will love these vintage inspired felt ornaments. This is a great holiday craft project to make with left over felt scraps and trim. You can sew them by hand, sewing machine or the younger ones could even glue them together. Finish them up by adding some ric-rac, trim or felt shapes.

Materials RequiredCraft feltRibbon, ric-rac
Craft glue
Needle/ThreadPolyfill stuffing
Pins

Leave a comment and email address to qualify for the free giveaway of the ornaments pictured. The 2 page PDF tutorial contains the pattern, complete instructions and photos with finished examples.

Please make these ornaments for family and friends. They are not meant to be sold. Merry Christmas!

Download Christmas Ornament Pattern with Instructions.

Christmas Collection 2009

I've added a new plush cutie to my Christmas Collection. I think snow seals must be one of the cutest animals around.. right of there with the chihuahua. I was inspired by another artists interpretation and I knew I had to make one for my collection. You can find this sweet guy along with the rest of the collection in my etsy shop.

Christmas Kiss

Hello Snow Seal!

Alice Doll Featured in Miniature Collector

Its been awhile since I've made miniature dolls. But it was a nice surprise to be featured among the other Alice collectibles in the November 09 issue of Miniature Collector. My Alice is the one seated in the middle. The 7 page article features Jo Moores collection of miniatures. A tribute to Michael Jackson and the movie Up! is also included in the article.

Cinderella Clothes Pin People Ornaments

Inspired by the Christmas pin doll collection of my youth I have started a new tradition of offering exclusive ornament kits. This is the second year I have offered the clothes pin people ornament kit and this year I designed a winter themed version of Cinderella. Each kit contains materials to make Cinderella, her charming Prince and even the glittery carriage. Inspired by the fashion of Marie Antoinette, Cinderella wears a lovely ball gown and a powdered wig. Kits are available as a limited edition while supplies last. Last years Nutcracker set sold out fast so get this set before its gone. Kits are available in my Etsy shop. Happy Holidays!

Serendipity in NYC

My friend Laurie left to go to art school in New York City right after she graduated from high school. I always thought it was so brave to pack up your things and travel to the big city like that. We sort of kept in contact over the years and then I hadn't heard from her in over ten years. She recently found me on facebook and we caught up with each others lives. I went to NYC last week and was thinking how nice it would be to get a tour from someone who really knew New York. I thought of Laurie- the only person I knew in New York but didn't know how to get a hold of her besides facebook.

The fifth day of my visit I was determined to find the carousel in Central Park. I decided not to ride and just watch and take photos. I noticed this woman standing in front of me who looked vaguely familiar. She was wearing a funny knit hat and had a distinct profile. She was also taking photos. I looked again.. could it be?? It can't be! Twenty plus years older but yes I think it is! How in a city of millions and a million things to do could I possibly run into Laurie? I asked the woman, "Are you Laurie?" Yes it was! What are the odds of being at the same place at the same time in the busiest city in the world. It was meant to be.

Thankfully she had the next day off and gladly gave me a tour tailored made for me. Since we had similar interests she knew of all the places I might enjoy. We met in the meat packing district at New Yorks latest hot spot, the High Line. We went off to West Village and visited all the cute shops in the area. She showed me all the markets and places where I could possibly sell my toys. We had lunch at a little pizzeria and we visited the Christmas floor at Macy's. We walked up to the garment district where I found some of the best trim shops in the world. We sat in Times Square and pondered about tickets to a show. Finally night fell and we took a subway to the Brooklyn Bridge where we walked and looked at the big city that filled the sky with its bright lights. All in all it was the best day from my visit to New York and I will keep it with me always.The following photos are some of the highlights from my week in NYC.

View from the Empire State Building

Detail of Chagall at MOMA

Times Square

Little Lady of Liberty

Carousel at Bryant Park

Chrysler at dusk

Puppets at the Natural History Museum
Van Gogh at the Met

Detail of Monet

South end of Central Park

Sanrio crying bunny water fountain on Park Ave

Fiber Installation at The Modern

Sidewalk drawing in Greenwich Village

MY FAVS
View from the Empire State Building
Chagall at MOMA
Tour of the city with Laurie
Carousel at Bryant Park

MOST DISAPPOINTING
Noise, traffic, tourists
Wicked- hated it!
Guggenheim

My computer died! :(

Well it finally happened, my computer bit the dust. Six years of my life trapped in an unuseable hard drive. Looks like I'll have to buy a new one. I will have very little internet availibility within the next couple of weeks until this is resolved. Good news though I'm going on vacation to NYC so I won't have to think about it for a week. My etsy shop should be up and running just in time for holiday shopping. Looking forward to putting this behind me and having a brand spanking new computer to play with until that one dies. Don't forget to back up your files!

Storybook Land Collection

The Storybook Land Collection is finally here! Fantastic Toys is proud to announce the arrival of this new collection of plush and paper toys. Say hello to Humpty, Lit'l Red and all their friends! This kawaii collection features handmade dolls made with a wool/acrylic blend felt. I even made the old womans shoe and gingerbread cottage in felt. Also available is a paper playset with all your favorite characters and their village of cute homes depicting Storybook Land.

Leave a comment and email address to qualify to win these two printed cloth key chains from the Storybook Land collection. A winner will be notified September 30, 2009. Join my mailing list to receive notice for future giveaways.

Sneak Peek-Storybook Land

I'll be releasing my storybook collection within a week or so. I can finally check off the Storybook Paper Playset from my list of projects. I started this one over a year ago and will be glad to finally have it available in my Etsy shop.

1000 Sales Club

Another Etsy milestone! It took over three years but
I just reached 1000 sales today.

Five Fun Freebies from Fantastic Toys

Pin It

This is the sweetest set of paper toys. It would make a great activity for a rainy day or when the kids are getting a little bored. The shapes are fairly simple to cut out so even the younger children can give it a try.

I have designed two new toys to go with my original set. The Gnomie Paper Doll has got to be my favorite. While she wears a nightie for bedtime she also has three additional outfits to wear. One outfit is for apple picking, another for gardening and a cute little dress she wears while naturing animals.

Also included in the gnome inspired paper toys set is a movable paper puppet, three finger puppets, a hanging mobile and a fun game of gnome bowling.

Only a couple of household materials is required to make the paper toys. Download the set to your home computer and print on 60 lb. cardstock at your convenience. Have Fun!

Materials Required

Cardstock
Scissors
Tape
String
Paper Fasteners
Wooden Ball

Hanging Mobile

Gnomie Paper Doll with three outfits.

Download Gnome Paper Toys PDF

Fantastic Toys Powderhorn Art Fair

My first outdoor craft show didn't go as smoothly as I had hoped it would. The weather forecast had been predicting thunderstorms all weekend and sure enough the night before it rained soaking my tent through and through. Thankfully I set up my inventory the day of so nothing was damaged ...just a leaky wet tent. Minutes before the show was about to start, black ominous clouds rolled in overhead and nasty winds forced us to shut everything thing up. Eventually the rain subsided but the winds continued to blow knocking my pretty things onto the wet ground. The first day was so disappointing I thought I would never do another show again.

Day two went much better. The weather was beautiful.. sunny and cool. I was much more optimistic. I made some corrections to some of the problems from the day before and the day was much less stressful. I never reached my sales goal but I ended the day with more experience and looking forward to the next outdoor show. In fact I received an invitational award to return next year.