My creative space and my happy felt monsters

In my creative space this week I am having fun with monsters! I must say, I had to come out of my "comfort zone" in order to make these two cheeky guys.  

After I made the round aqua monster, I checked with my Facebook readers whether I am on the right track at all. Will kids like it? Is it cute enough? After many positive comments (Thank you everyone for the feedback!), I continued with monster making and that's when the lime green one was born. Gotta love Facebook! My monsters affair would probably be over after making just one....

Now I am working on the pattern, instructions and kits so stay tuned!  

Hope you are having a creative Thursday!

In the studio lately....

 It's a toy making season here, in the studio. I started from the owls and now moving to the foxes and hedgehogs.... My stock building plan is going well so far. 

However, I did  make a small customer order that is now on it's way to US. Two linen napkins with Hello Kitty were requested to match a set of cups with the same pattern as the Liberty fabric.

 I really enjoyed making the heart applique and added hand-stitching around them to emphasize the shape. As I have the same set, I styled a picture for the lisiting and now I think I need napkins like these too! 

Today I am working on these two cuties with organic fabric. I like this orange, perfect for the foxes! I will be also making a burgundy red one later this week...

How is your start of the week? 

What's in the making at your place? 

My creative space...new toy and a new pattern!

Sometimes I have a clear plan for a day but it changes in a split moment when a new idea pops into my head! 

That exactly what happened last week.  I was in my studio looking through my notebooks and, out of the blue, I found a sketch from 2 years ago that I done on a plane to London. 
I am going to release a few patterns this year so I thought why not this one?! Thus, after a few days of making sure the pattern works and writing the instructions, it is now available in my patterns shop. 

I made 2 dolls to demonstrate different facial expressions and colour combinations. Pattern contains the step by step instructions as well as a few pictures to demonstrate the process behind creating their sweet faces. It also comes with 5% discount on any supplies required to create this doll that can be purchased in Plushka's Makery .

They are so much fun to make that I find it really hard to stop on just 2, there are so many colour combos that I can make them in! 
I think I'll make a few more next week, they are just too lovely. 
Do you like Russian dolls?

Happy Crafting! 

My creative space....

In my creative space this week, besides stitching items for the new Valentine's day collection, there are a few toys on the production line as well as another blanket. 

I took me a few days to pick the fabric for this fox. Raspberry felt proved to be a little tricky to match fabric with, even with my gigantic stash! However, after consulting with Mr. Plushkin last night, we came to the conclusion that these hearts will look nice. Due to multi-coloured design, there are a few matching shades of pink in there and white background goes beautifully with white features on her face. 

Would you agree? 

This blanket is ready to be put together and, in a few days, I will share pictures of both finished blankets. I did try a new boarder on the pink one and will experiment with another pattern on this one as well. 

It's completely new to me using black as a background but I really like it now. Black really highlights the other colours, doesn't it? 

Finally, two baby owls are waiting for their feet and wings and they will be ready to fly off. I've been waiting to try this shade of pink for some time as I had this fabric just asking to be used. For the aqua one, I went with a safe option by choosing the most popular fabric from last year. 

Hope you are having a creative and fun Thursday, whatever you are up to!

We are having a slightly cooler day before another heat wave here and it's nice to be out and about after being pretty much locked up with the air on all day on Tuesday! 

xxx

My creative space....

Almost-on-holidays creative space looks a little bit more tidy with toys in progress, new stitches in my notebook and a list of things that need to be done for the next year. I really enjoy slower pace in everything I do, the luxury of  choosing a fabric for 30 minutes for only two toys, small production lines and not stopping myself when a new idea pops into my head. That great feeling of a new idea when I have to stop everything and make something different is back! I can actually do that on holidays and it's nice.... The decision that I've made last month is still seams to me like the right one - no customer orders until June. Can I actually do this and say no, that is another question! 

Anyhow, these are two foxes that I am creating at the moment. I love the new fabrics that I am using and, on the grey one, instead of a heart, I cut out a cute mushroom shape to go with the fabric theme. Hopefully, it will look as cute when all done and I can see their characters taking shape already....

More creative spaces here. 

Have a creative Thursday!

My creative space....

In my creative space this week, a few new and exciting things happened -  I made my first Polar bear and finished a raspberry frog that has been laying around for some time. 
December is a difficult time of the year for me (and I bet every Indie business owner) as I have orders to make and pack, make sure I stay on top of the paperwork, try to get out of the studio still to keep me from burning out... plus, as it is the last month of the year, I subconsciously want to draw the "curtain" on the shop, hang the "closed" sign and plan the next year! 

I already have so many ideas but, in the meantime, here what I've been making:

Happy creative Thursday! 

More creative spaces HERE. 

My creative space...making a PJ pillow

I don't get customer request like this too often, but when I do, they are really fun and sometimes even challenging. This project did take me a while to work out how to make. However, I am now pretty sure I can make it happen and that's a  great feeling of accomplishment:) It's going to be a pillow with a space at the back for the PJ to be stored during the day. I re-designed my original owl toy and made it in a sleeping owl. I really like the way it turned out. What do you think? 

I cannot wait to see how it is going to look all sewn up together! 

Happy creative Thursday! 

More creative spaces HERE. 

My creative space....

In my creative space this week, I am finishing a few last orders on my list. 

For the last few weeks, I felt like I desperately need a break from making robins and not feeling like making Christmas items any more. After all, I have been making Christmas decorations since July.... However, for some strange reason, I am falling in love with this fellows all over again! Probably because I know that there are only a few orders left to go or, maybe, their cute faces won me over. Regardless of the reason, I started another production line but the very last one this year...

How is you Christmas crafting going? 

What is in the making? 

More Creative spaces here.

My creative space....

Christmas craft, especially robins, does take over my creative space in two months leading to Christmas. I am sorry, I promise new things are coming soon that are not red, green and brown! 

If you are not yet tired of looking at my robin production line, read on.... Although I did make something other then Christmas items - owl key rings in new pastel colours. 

So, here are a few pictures of my creative space in the last few days:

 More creative spaces HERE.

Hope your Thursday is as creative and fun as mine! 

My creative space....

In my creative space today, I rewarded myself for finishing orders early. So, just before I start putting everything away for our trip and doing some packing (which I am not looking forward to), I am making bears... 

A new toy always brings an exciting opportunity to explore the colour and fabric combos. I started making bears in the primary colour that they come in, in real life, - browns. 

Then I had a new flecked felt arrive and couldn't resist making a grey bear. It still has a little bit of brown in it so that was hardly explorative! 

Next, Coco Blondie was created. She is a bit more adventurous (although a bit closer to Polar bear) light beige bear with a hint of grey. Her lacy belly really suits her timid and sweet character. 

Now, we are entering more colourful stage of Plushka's bear production. For my first 2 bright bears, I went with pink and yellow. Still a little safe, right? 

On the yellow one I got to try a new fabric which is always fun. That was the only fabric I could find with yellow in it and tiny print to fit his belly! I think a little more fabric stash digging is in order. 

If you would have to pick one, which one would you pick?

More creative spaces HERE.

Have a lovely creative Thursday! 

My creative space....

In my creative space at the moment everything is on hold until I get over a flu. After not being able to create for only a day due to the headache and sore throat, I started feeling restless so I got my crochet out. I have a few blankets in the making since July and it felt good to make some progress. They kept me busy for a while until I broke the hook! 

I guess I should listen to my body, give in and rest....

More creative spaces HERE.

Have a delightful creative Thursday!

My creative space....

In my creative space this week, a few new production lines started - owls, Mimi garden birds with one brown bear mixed in, just because I wanted to try a new felt colour. 

It took me some time to find a fabric for this bear. I went with a safe yellow polka dots and really hope it will work....

After cutting out so many different toys, my pile of felt scraps  looks so colourful!

More creative spaces HERE.

            Have a wonderful creative Thursday! 

My creative space....

Today I would like to share with you one of stages in the robin production line. This one is a fun final stage of making a dozen or so robins and it 's my favourite one. No, not because they are finally done (although that makes me happy too) but because this stage involves playing with buttons! 

I have three big packs of each colour: green, red and white and first thing I do is finding two of the same size. I like that they all have different designs and sometimes slightly different colour. I think it makes robins a little quirky and adds character. Would you agree? 

When I have buttons paired, I cut out the wings. There is no template for them as I prefer just cut them out as I go which makes every bird different and unique. 

Finally, I sew the wings on and sit them all together for a family photo before they get wrapped up and posted to the new owners. 

Some of these birds will be for sale on the 3rd of September, at the market night on my Facebook page and they are also available to order:) 

More creative spaces HERE.

               Have a wonderful creative Thursday! 

My creative space....

This week my creative space went from messy to chaotic. Trying to get a few projects going at the same time proving to be tricky but I love that I can pick a Christmas decorations and stitch on buttons and then stitch a few apple clips... Varying the tasks makes the so much easier when it comes to a production line.

On the picture above, you can see the pile of scraps is still there from yesterday when I made this pincushion. I don't really care, piles of scraps and felt fluff means I am busy making and it is so rewarding looking at this pincushion and knowing it is going to another creative space where beautiful things are made! 

More creative spaces HERE.

                    Have a wonderful creative Thursday! 

My creative space...

If I would have to choose a creative highlight of this week, I would definitely pick the iPad sleeve order! The linen and flowery fabric combo was inspired by my heat pack with fox embroidery. I had this fabric in two colours so my lovely customer suggested the apple embroidery for the second sleeve. I was going to have linen as a "main" fabric but I am so glad that Michelle requested the linen fabric to be only a "frame" for the embroidery. It looks so much better! What do you think?

I enjoyed so much making these ipad sleeves that I made one for myself in red.

Today, I am finishing doilies and toy orders. These doily-coasters are my evening craft so the progress is slow. 
It is always fun matching fabrics to the yarn and this light blue one is my favourite so far...

More creative spaces HERE.

Have a wonderful creative Thursday! 

My creative space...new toy is here!

This is the last toy for this year so it is such a special moment for me, showing you a toys that I've been working on!  I've picked a bear  to be the 9th Plushka toy as I felt it fits into the "Plushkandia, the enchanted forest" collection and completes it nicely. 

This is the first toy to be released in two sizes. I usually design one and then make bigger or smaller size later but this time I wanted them to be together. I was inspired by the documentaries about  bears. In those movies, mummy bear always has a few little bear cubs around, watching over them.

It's always exciting to work with a new toy! So many new possibilities in felt/fabric combos and new face expressions to create. It's like a new magical world! 

I cannot wait to try new colours and might make a polar bear.
What do you think? 

More creative spaces HERE.

Have a creative Thursday! 

My creative space...mini&maxi heat packs

Just before I left for my holiday, my last custom order was a set of two mini heat & cold packs. I loved that the size is small so  kids can easily hold it to the scratched knee or a bump on a head....with colourful flannelette removable cover that makes is easy to wash too!

To make them fun and colourful, I used a few different prints, mixing and matching all the fabrics that I could find  in my stash. There were a few of them indeed.

During one of my shopping trips back home, my mum spotted this cute flannel with cats and dogs in jigsaw puzzles. I immediately saw it in a mini size heat packs. How cute is that grumpy cat!?

The other order that I really enjoyed making is this adult size heat pack with a cross-stitched fox. I designed this embroidery a while back in April, cross-stitched a few foxes on my holiday and couldn't think of a better way to use one of them! I've got a few other projects for those embroideries in mind...

That's why Plushka loves customer orders, they are a fun and very inspiring! 
More creative spaces HERE.

Have a creative Thursday! 


P.S. Don't forget to enter my first sponsored Giveaway. 

My creative space...

In my creative space this week, besides stating a Christmas collection production, I am playing with yarn. Matching colours and crocheting samples is a very exciting first stage of making a spring-summer blankets! 

So far I came up with 5 different colour combos. I am not sure which one I like the most yet. 

Which one would you pick?  

More creative spaces HERE. 

Have a creative Thursday! 

My creative space...

In my creative space this week, I've updated my inspirations board to capture the last glimpse of autumn colours before winter kicks in! I love the neutral and pastel colours  at the moment with a little bit of teal added into the mix of beige, orange and yellow. 

Apples still inspire me since I started looking for inspirations for my "Plushka's apple garden" collection back in February! I am working on a special apple hair clips edition in slightly different colour scheme, stay tuned!

I am drawn to wood, lace and knits at the moment. How will they all work together? I am not sure at the moment but I know the new collection will be inspired by these colours and textures! 

Beautiful Autumn, stay a little longer! 

Visit more creative spaces here