book characters come alive

One of the most exciting thing about writing books, is playing 'god' when it comes to creating characters. You can create absolutely anything you like, in whatever colours, styles, moods, personality traits. It's like imaginary play for grown-ups.

Extending characters by creating 3D models is a whole lot of fun, and how could I resist creating crocheted caricatures of Piglet, Bunny and Cat from my upcoming book, Smile Cry? These beautiful critters came to life from the paintbrush of the gorgeous Jess Racklyeft, then hopped onto the end of my crochet hook. They'll be coming along to my Canberra launch in early March! (see EVENTS for more)

Another delightful surprise regarding book characters came from my dear friend and 52-Week Illustration Challenge admin member, Lisa-Marie Kerr, who has started a business that will blow your socks off if you're into gorgeous interiors for kidlets. Bear and Sparrow. You simply must check it out.

Lisa-Marie surprised me with this beautiful peg doll, based on one of the characters from my first self-illustrated book (our November 2016). Can you believe how gorgeous she is?

Creating anything, in any form, whether it be painting or cooking a cake, is such a fine way to feel happy, connected and at one with life.

What are you creating today?

chinese fish kite

Isn't it amazing how Christmaslike life becomes when you rediscover treasures in your cupboards (or more like in my case - in the junk piles that was once our garage right before cleanout).

The many moods of the Blythe Doll

'hypnotise'

Remember the Blythe doll? Mine is still imprinted firmly on my little-girl mind - the eye-change flick was a modern marvel way back then, when everything was still in black and white. Just look at this treasure, which winged its way from Bangkok recently... No, she's not 'real' but she is gorgeous and her eye-flicking colour entranced birthday girl Ella as notably it did me when I was a child.

Ella has even named each eye colour according to the perceived mood of her new doll - the orange she has called 'hypnotise', the green 'let's play', the blue 'fun' and the pale grey is 'thoughtful'.

Gorgeous!

Treasured Possessions

This is like, the B E S T competition - ever! I love it.

The lovely gals at kindergallery (art for children) have designed this stunning competition of pure whimsy. I hope you have time to enter and the prize is certainly more than well worth it.

Good luck!

TREASURED POSSESSIONS - a gift for our subscribers

We all remember the treasured possessions of our childhood - a dog-eared book bearing the biscuity marks of affectionate gnawing; a doll whose limbs have seen better days, or a chipped metal tractor handed down generations.

These treasures, as they become physically weaker over time, grow ever stronger as symbols of the love that has been lavished upon them. As parents, we probably feel their emotional power even more acutely than our children.

We would like you to send in a photograph of your child’s most treasured possession, and describe to us in 25 words or less what it means to you and your child.

Our favourite will be featured in the next issue of Papier –Mache Magazine and will receive over $800 worth of art works from Kindergallery. Three runners up will also receive an art work.

We love our artists, and think that these works, like a treasured possession, will become a focal point for your children’s imagination and remain a lasting symbol of childhood.

You will also need to become a subscriber of Papier-Mache Magazine to enter. Please submit entries in jpeg format (at least 72 dpi) to fiona@kindergallery.com before 17 October 2009.

Pretty Little Things

Today I'm not feeling well and it's getting me down. So I need to look at pretty.

Seeing as though Riley is at soccer and Ella is shushing me away so she can watch Hotel for Dogs, I've had to succumb to other pretty.

For me, pretty is often small. And whimsical. And my daughter Ella is one lucky girl because she has lots of pretty, small and whimsical in her room.

Like this adorable wooden dolls house I found in Beijing. It's Japanese and you can see why it's Japanese. It's so priceless, I want to shrink myself down and move in.

Seeing as though my shrinking powers are a bit shady right now, I'll have to content myself with laying on white fluffly rugs and looking longingly.

Quirky Toys

Look at these treasures - the epitome of 'cute' (adj. ugly but interesting).

Found during our time in China, they (not sure what to call them) come in a wide range of fabrics and textures, garnished with felt, ribbons and baubles. I snaffled loads of them for the kids and plan to hang them from wires in Ella's room when I get a chance to breathe.

To me, they look like movie stars on the set of some strangeness, otherworldly film, and these pictures are sneak peak movie stills, as the characters wait in the wings.

My favourite is Miss Tallulah Belle, here (above left), a wallflower in freshly painted lips, a dust of powder and baby blue batting eyes, all tucked up neat and sassy in a 50s, fitted, buttoned ensemble. If she could move, she'd probably light up a filtered cigarette and dart her eyes around nervously. Don't you want to meet her?

Collecting: Finger Puppets

There's something about finger puppets that totally charms me. Sticking one on the end of a finger - or even better - all five fingers - and waggling them about to a squeaky voice is like sitting on a yellow slippery dip and careening back to childhood.

It's just... cute. And the twee, teensy way they sit propped on your finger - just so lovable and sweet and entrancing for little ones.

I often used finger puppets for storytime with my kids, but I loved them well before Ella and Riley came along.

These two mice puppets were found in a teensy boutique in Mousehole (pron. Moozle) on the Cornwall coast of England in 1994 - well before kids. Their simple frock provides a finger nook and their little lace collars give them that medieval England vibe. Perhaps they were mousey scholars. I remember using them to entertain my fellow travellers on the back of train seats across Europe.

This little rabbit and mouse were also found in England, though I'm not sure where. Perhaps London, perhaps a far off country town. They also travelled on trains and entertained the masses.

The adorable humptys were found in Australia around the time Ella was born. They've served as many a storytelling accompaniment.

And this lot are from far and wide - from IKEA to toy shops and gifts from all over Australia. The yellow chick in the centre was given to Ella from Auntie Lisa for Easter, the year she turned two.

I think perhaps finger puppets are now lost on this growing (up) family, but I can't bring myself to throw them away. There's always the grandkids...

Tiny Things

What is it about tiny things? About little things, about wee things and teensy things?

Is it because they can fit so snug into the centre of the palm, or onto the shiny surface of a fingernail?

Does their charm lie in their delicacy?

Whatever it is, there is something about laying flat on your belly with your kids and arranging teensy things.

Do you know how teensy this food from Japan is? Seriously teensy. And totally irresistable. It's so small, it hurts your fingers to pick it up. But it's worth it.

And what about this phenomenal Halloween candy? It's Silvanian - from Japan.

Ditto this other weensy candy. And the toys, too.

And doesn't this faux chocolate chess set just make you swoon? Can you see they are teensy Alice in Wonderland characters? Also from Japan.

Do you remember these little knitted dolls from your girlhood? Grannies and great aunts used to make them. I was beside myself to find one in China. The little Mary Mary Quite Contrary used to live in a wee tin with a tiny lamb, long since lost. But that is the danger with tiny things... they need extra special care.

Little Japanese boxes for storing tiny things...

And a little family from China, who can fit in the palm of your hand and feel right at home there. These were made by minority women.

This gorgeous wee creation was made by my daughter when she was three. It's lost a little eye, but isn't that part of its charm?

And look at this little Japanese coin purse... Could you not dip it in tea and nibble it?

And this teensy dollie from Mongolia... so adorable, your heart patters and skips.

These sweet little harvest critters are made from chirimen fabric in Kyoto and the purse is also Japanese, purchased in China.

And who can resist a darling Japanese lucky cat? Every little girl should have one of these.

And the sweetest of all - simple, delicious, whimsical little eggs from a skanky old Chinese market. Could anything be more darling?

What teensy treasure do you have in the palm of your hand?

I'm Loving... Vintage Toys

Does vintage really mean 'vintage' any more?

Most of these gorgeous kids' toys are brand new, yet mimic the whimsy of a time long past. From the 1950s Astro Boy to the tin robots and clockwork mouse, how can any child resist these timeless classics?

...this robot is a pencil sharpener from Japan. Astro Boy comes to us from a market in Beijing...

...the sailors on their carousel were found in the stunning Germanic town of Hahndorf, in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. The wind-up rabbit beating his drum is from Beijing...



...these beautiful wooden disks contain teensy metal balls to roll around in search of holes. They were found in Beijing, along with their robot friend...

...the wind-up duck and mouse were found in Hahndorf...



...these stunning Mondo figurines catalogue historical moments in time from Napolean to Medieval times back to WWII...





...the cherubic Mexican cowboy on his bucking bronco was sourced in Hahndorf, and the adorable horse and soldier - the only vintage piece here - was found at a garage sale in Adelaide. He still lopes along merrily on his string...



I'm loving 'vintage' toys of all kinds...