Our Toy Makers | Ephy's Craft | Soft toys | Crochet Toys | Knitted Toys | Amigurumi Toys
This week we meet one of Our Makers, and introduce you to the fabulous toy maker Ephy’s Kraft.
In a nutshell, tell us about your business
Ephy’s Kraft came about as a result of my love for crocheting. I particularly love to crochet miniature animal-like figures, mostly in the Amigurumi style (Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures).
Tell us a bit about you
We moved to the Highlands about three years ago. Having visited on many occasions in the past 20 years we decided to escape Sydney to a more attractive rural area. My working background was 10 years working in After School Care. Prior to this I worked in IT at Qantas, and before this I was an industrial chemist. Such a wide range of careers, culminating in Ephy’s Kraft!
What inspired you to set up your business?
I was taught crochet by my mother (some pieces of hers decorate our home) and then I took it up again later in life as a hobby. I was drawn to the Amigurumi style as it deals mainly with animal-like figures created as separate pieces sewn together to make the whole.
I liked the idea of having my work sitting in other homes and found Highlands Handmade in Moss Vale (originally set up by Angus McKinnon) through local chatter. Highlands Handmade gave me the opportunity to showcase my creations, and send them off to loving homes.
When the Highlands Handmade shop closed down and The Vintage Toy Box reached out to toy and card makers to give us the opportunity to sell our creations in the toy shop and continue the Highlands Handmade concept, I jumped at the chance.
What do you make?
Predominantly, on the smaller scale, animal-like figures. I usually add clothing or facial expressions to give them an individual personality … and after talking to them, Charles, my husband gives them a name!
How do you make them?
I crochet separate elements using cotton and soft-fill stuffing, which I then sew together to create wonderful animal-like creatures and characters.
Describe your artistic style
I create using the Amigurumi pattern and then add my own ideas to enhance their characteristics and give them their own personality.
What do you love about your business?
I gain immense satisfaction once each animal-like figure comes together from the individual pieces. After chatting with each animal, they acquire their own character and personality. It’s such a joy to see them eventually relocate to another loving home.
Where would you like to see your products?
Initially in a shop like The Vintage Toy Box that sells similar products that appeal to children and adults alike.
Favourite toy as a child and why?
Back in the day there was a table-tennis shaped bat with a small rubber ball attached by an elastic… it was known as a ‘ding-bat’ and it became my favourite as I didn’t have to run and fetch the ball! The elastic attachment ensured my lack of eye-hand coordination didn’t come into play, unlike my many failures with other ball games.
Only later in life did I appreciate the frustration this inability could inflict upon someone else when my husband Charles thought tennis was a good idea, albeit for a very short time. Soon he also gave up on me throwing him any object after said objects inevitably ended up anywhere else but with him… you did ask!
To check out some of Ephy’s wonderful creations, and to learn more about her (and them!), drop into The Vintage Toy Box or check out her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EphysKraft.
We can guarantee that Ephy’s handmade (with love) toys will fill you with joy!
P.S. Just for the record, we also sell the bat and balls (Ding Bats) that Ephy remembers so well. The Vintage Toy Box. x
Our Toy Makers | Pukaca | Paper Toys and Craft Kits
This week we meet one of Our Makers, and introduce you to the fabulous paper toy makers Pukaca.
In a nutshell, tell us about your business
PUKACA is a company committed to the design and manufacture of unique paper toys and paper products that are made for children, designed by us thinking as children. We are based in Portugal and have a wonderful worldwide following, including The Vintage Toy Box in Australia.
Tell us a bit about you
We are two designers, Isabel Vaz & Nuno Dias and we founded PUKACA in 2005. We met at University and straight away we started working together after discovering that Isabel loves to draw small creatures and Nuno loves to make them come alive.
Some years later we decided to create our own brand - PUKACA - and we began to put our ideas into practice.
What inspired you to set up your business?
We’re always delighted by the traditional tales, the Brother’s Grimm Fairy Tales, the La Fontaine Fables, medieval stories, the natural world and all other worlds that belong in a child’s imagination.
What do you make?
The main products in our range are paper toys. We also make Alphabet & Numbers Posters and 3D Paper Postcards - all made with 100% recycled paper.
How do you make them?
We start the design of all of our paper toys by drawing out the ideas that we would like to see built.
After choosing the design we like the most, we start building it by hand – it’s an old school method that makes our paper toys so unique. We build countless prototypes - all by hand - until we reach the final toy.
Depending on the product, the illustration will be made by hand or in a computer and then applied to the final design already vectorized.
After that, the final product and packaging is printed, all in our own facilities, and we make the final assembly, always by hand.
Let’s just say that from the initial idea to the final product there are countless prototypes and hours of hard (fun!) work.
Describe your artistic style
Simple and straight lines, colorful and playful.
What do you love about your business?
In a world full of technology, our paper toys bring back the pleasure of constructing your own toys.
Our toys are meant to be built using the hands, increasing manual dexterity and spatial perception. We believe that constructing and playing with our toys allows families and generations to interact together, share experiences and create lasting memories.
It’s that need to see things take shape, to create, to learn and to play.
Our toys aim to enhance in the child, or in anyone who handles them, an active and creative intervention. We believe in the principle that difference enriches us. It’s important to have toys that raise creativity, provide new experiences, highlight the human individuality and allow interactivity with others.
Where would you like to see your products?
Over the last few years we’ve sent our products to the five continents on the planet. We like to say that we love to see our products wherever there’s children or people that want to play with them.
Favourite toy as a child and why?
Isabel loved her bicycle and to cycle around the neighborhood with her friends. She loved to go to a nearby farm and to climb trees.
Sara loved to construct her own toys with pieces from other ones.
Nuno loved building blocks that allowed him to create fantastic places to play, transforming rooms into play grounds.
To check out some of Pukaca’s fabulous range, and to learn more about them, drop into The Vintage Toy Box. We can guarantee their paper toys will make you smile!
Our Makers - PoppyLane Decor and Designs | Nursery Decor and Children's Room Decor
This week we meet one of Our Makers, and introduce you to PoppyLane Decor and Designs.
In a nutshell, tell us about your business
PoppyLane decor & designs is a small, local business that produces one of a kind and custom made mobiles to suit any space, age and theme. We specialise in falling flower mobiles.
These beautiful statement pieces are hand crafted and have a subtle elegance and beauty that can create a relaxing space for little minds and adults alike.
PoppyLane decor and designs also creates child and adult size head bands, flower crowns and halos for all occasions; all of which can be custom made.
Tell us a bit about you
I am a Southern Highlands mum of a beautiful little girl, and I love to create.
I created my first piece when setting up our nursery, awaiting the arrival of our daughter. After her birth I decided to continue expressing my creativity in the hope that others would love my pieces as much as I do.
When I’m not looking after our daughter I am helping other young minds develop through my position in a local child care centre.
What inspired you to set up your business?
The love I have for creating these beautiful pieces was enough to get the ball rolling, whilst also allowing me to spend more time with my daughter.
What do you make?
Custom mobiles, wall hangings, headbands, flower crowns and anything else a customer may have a vision for. I will give everything a go and love creating custom designs and one-off pieces.
How do you make them?
By sourcing quality materials and using my interest in design to piece together the perfect combinations.
What do you love about your business?
That there are no restrictions - I create because I love to. I get to work with others to create their visions and help them come alive. I love to see joy on little faces as they wear their crowns or hang their mobiles.
Where would you like to see your products?
In beautiful spaces created by those that have chosen one of my designs to be their statement piece.
Favourite toy as a child and why?
My teddy. His name was Bundy. Who would have thought a little girl could love a bear so much. He is proudly still around today for my daughter to enjoy and love, just as much as I did.
To see some of PoppyLane Decor and Design’s beautiful hand crafted mobiles, and to learn more about them, drop into The Vintage Toy Box, as they look even more gorgeous in real life.
Our Toy Makers | Whispering Hallows | Soft Toys and Toy Bunnies
This week we meet one of Our Makers, and introduce you to Mummy Bunny from Whispering Hallows.
In a nutshell, tell us about your business
I started Whispering Hallows as a hobby, a way for me to express my creativity. I have two children and have always loved to make quality handmade toys. The Bunniekins family from Whispering Hallows are different from everything else on the market, as they are each unique, with their own personalities and style.
What inspired you to set up your business?
I like to make and try different things! I also make jewellery, such as earrings, necklaces, brooches and sometimes natural baby chews. I will give anything a go at least once.
What do you love about your business?
I love the fact that I can choose what I want to make, although the best part is seeing the looks on little people faces when they see, feel and hold the bunnies. I love the feel of the felt bunnies and how each one is different with a different personality and love seeing children discovering this too.
Where would you like to see your bunnies?
I would like to see my Bunnies go travelling all over the world. We have such an influx of mass-produced toys and electronic games. Children need the encouragement to play with toys and create imaginary games and adventures with their toys.
Favourite toy as a child and why?
As a child my favourite toys to play with were dolls. I remember having so many dolls. I had tea parties and adventures with my dolls, and pushed them around in a pram. They were my babies. I had a doll that I was able to wind up and she played music and rocked her own little baby. I still have that doll!
To meet the Bunniekins of Whispering Hallows and learn more about them, drop into The Vintage Toy Box and see what mischief they’re getting up to.