House of Animals - Heather Louise

The Houses of Plantagenet, Orange-Nassau and Windsor have all had a major hand in shaping the socio-political landscape of Europe. But a new house is now rising and threatens to eclipse the radiance of them all; Heather Louise's House of Animals! With sensational stylings calling to mind the glories of both the Victorian and Edwardian eras, this collection of avian, amphibian and other forest dwellers are now taking the city and sea (or canal) by storm in fashionable frocks and classy coats that would put the dandiest dandy to shame!


Heather's felt figures are always show stoppers, and this collection will be no exception! Each doll is entirely handmade using Dutch felt, vintage fabrics and beads, and often real snail shells (although Heather assures us no snails were harmed in the process). It's no surprise that these one-of-a-kind creations have personalities all their own that speak volumes without saying a single word, each one crying out for attention and a place in your home.


But how does one choose a favorite when faced with the Swan Sea Captain in his tricorner hat or the Elegant Uncle Platypus with Monocle? And what of the Dapper Squirrel whose coat accents his baby blues perfectly, or the Country Frog Gentleman whispering (sordid?) secrets to his diminutuve Snail Friend?


Unless you have the shop to yourself, it's best to choose quickly. From the safety of the counter we've seen it all, from customers bargaining with each other to the ol' Bait-n-Switch that leaves a disconsolate someone staring at the empty place their doll used to occupy. Fur will fly and feathers fall when it's all said and done, but when finally the melee calms and the air clears, who will you be left holding? See available dolls as we update them in our webshop.

Kyoko Hashimoto - Seducing the Bowerbird

When describing inspiration for her newest collection, Kyoko Hashimoto directs our attention to an Australian native: the bowerbird. Bowerbirds show us that the metrosexual is not just a human invention. The male birds spend hours designing their nests with unique collections that are made up of everything from traditional twigs and leaves to man-made bits of fluff and any 'bling' that has been left carelessly lying around, all in an attempt to create the perfect seductive mood.


It's this synergistic blending of materials that is so evident in Kyoko's jewelry - hand cut resin is paired with wood, brass and silver to create pieces that are reminiscent of both Victorian lace patterns and vintage Art Deco jewelry. A beautiful example of this is our favorite piece; the reversible Dinner Party Necklace. Inspired by a toy car model kit and components, Kyoko's translation is playful without being childish, elegant without being fussy, and foxy without being floozy.


We first spotted Kyoko's work on Sia's blog and immediately knew that we would try to get more information. Now that Kyoko's work is in the shop we are so glad we did. Check out our assortment in the webshop.

The Little Zoo - e.soule photography

When I was a child I was obsessed with the idea of becoming as small as my toys and being able to see things from their perspective. "The Incredible Shrinking Woman" and "Fantastic Voyage" were two of my favorite Saturday Matinees, caught during their later runs on television, of course. While Elizabeth Soule may not have used the same toys that I once fantasized about, she has beautifully exhibited the world from their point of view (perhaps He-Man and She-Ra aren't able to take Tyra Banks' direction and smile 'using just the eyes' - and thus make for less than ideal subjects). Soule's "Little Zoo" series manages to capture elusive micro-wildlife in macro still-life. Each image has been mounted, UV protected and coated in a thin layer of wax-like archival sealant, ready to either hang or be stacked on that surface that's been crying out for a little decoration. The only thing better than getting one of these is stacking three. See available photos in our webshop.