tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post1550599584286555112..comments2024-03-21T23:14:27.787+00:00Comments on Middle of Nowhere: Toy books and glass dogsGretelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399585879728373265noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-10136764472829086142010-10-07T22:05:15.249+01:002010-10-07T22:05:15.249+01:00Love love love your books! I collect old craft bo...Love love love your books! I collect old craft books myself - and rather coincidentally posted some pics from them just yesterday... They're full of inspiration (but sometimes you need a bit of imagination to see it!). <br /><br />I find that one of the difficulties with Handmade is that there is sometimes a fine line between inspiration and copying, and sometimes I worry that I might accidentally cross it...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-5704271525967696552010-10-05T18:49:25.821+01:002010-10-05T18:49:25.821+01:00Thank goodness for ebay! Just looking at these boo...Thank goodness for ebay! Just looking at these books is enough to give you inspiration for your own toys. Well done for getting into the Toy makers Guild!Cathy Holtomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12510196597713178864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-76535446268380992222010-10-04T20:24:00.220+01:002010-10-04T20:24:00.220+01:00I have a lot of the same books in my collection- f...I have a lot of the same books in my collection- found first in the library and then hunted down online! Thanks for the link :-)mimi khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14658909469026112809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-3743286398197498612010-10-03T23:09:13.926+01:002010-10-03T23:09:13.926+01:00I can't believe my eyes - so many books on how...I can't believe my eyes - so many books on how to make dolls and toys! This is wonderful! I haven't seen any here in Bulgaria. In fact we have no traditions in such kinds of crafting. But during the last several years more and more young people make dolls, cards, jewellery, etc. and organize market days for selling them. It's unbelievable what are the products of their imagination!!rossichkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03185784702539084622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-18611498415269261312010-10-03T16:32:22.697+01:002010-10-03T16:32:22.697+01:00I love your little glass dogs! I agree with your c...I love your little glass dogs! I agree with your comments about people producing similar work, but not actually copying someone else. Owls are very fahionable at the moment - having seen them on all sorts of items, Malcolm then drew one for me for my current patchwork project ..... he didn't copy anyone's design, he just drew his version. I have a pattern for a fabric bowl which I drew after making one from a pattern in a book - it was so over-complicated, I made it in a much easier way!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-37477680746857925712010-10-03T12:03:57.326+01:002010-10-03T12:03:57.326+01:00Ooh I wish I lived near you so I could come and br...Ooh I wish I lived near you so I could come and browse through all your fascinating books! I was hankering after the giraffe on the very right of the 6th photo, but by happy chance yesterday I found a Japanese pattern book on the net with lots of lifelike felt animal patterns, including a giraffe...and a rhino..and a flamingo...so that is winging it's way to me soon!<br /><br />Love those glass dogs - Paperchase do have some little treasures!Caroline Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16458832101616631036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-41034785166051773652010-10-02T23:28:31.513+01:002010-10-02T23:28:31.513+01:00oh, i can hardly wait til i can stab some wool.......oh, i can hardly wait til i can stab some wool.... and type with both hands...<br /><br />it is indeed strange to see today's works look not so different from yesteryear's..BumbleVeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13272892605379537233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-80997344467752465622010-10-02T21:58:41.275+01:002010-10-02T21:58:41.275+01:00How lovely, I enjoyed browsing your collection of ...How lovely, I enjoyed browsing your collection of toy books. I recently picked up some facsimile books with paper doll plates, sort of cautionary tales with a play element.<br /><br />Well done on your inclusion in the UK Handmade blog.Acornmoonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-42098252490180848302010-10-02T20:08:11.376+01:002010-10-02T20:08:11.376+01:00What a wonderful collection of books there Gretel....What a wonderful collection of books there Gretel. I am sure they will be a great source of inspiration for more of your fabulous little felted creatures - giraffes are so appealing aren't they!!!Twiglethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04851717329658611598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-49439122450400656192010-10-02T11:33:07.787+01:002010-10-02T11:33:07.787+01:00Such an interesting discussion, and I think you...Such an interesting discussion, and I think you've hit the nail right on the head with what you've said. There is nothing 'new' in this world. Every idea we can think up has been done before in some way or fashion - what makes our idea unique is the personal stamp we put on things.<br /><br />Like the ever-popular owls, or moustaches, or birds with wire legs - none of these are new ideas, but you can make them your own by making them in your own style.<br /><br />So I wouldn't worry too much about what's been done before, or what's on trend, or anything like that. If you're having fun, keep crafting and trying new things! <br /><br />PS: Your book collection is simply lovely! <br /><br />Holly xxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-12074154800769691582010-10-02T02:04:00.445+01:002010-10-02T02:04:00.445+01:00Well, PG, what you have shown of your toy making b...Well, PG, what you have shown of your toy making book collection just makes me wish that I could have been looking over your shoulder, and saying, "Oh, please, could we see that page for another few minutes?"<br /><br />Isn't creativity full of the best energy? Lately, I feel as if I am always trying to steal away an hour or two to play with various projects, and then being just a bit angry when I realize that those particular minutes are up.<br /><br />Hoping that you are finding plenty of time to be playful, and to let those ideas blossom. And, of course, also to find time to get out doors for some walks and rides round your landscape.<br /><br />xoFranceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08352407314710067616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-39447692901892166012010-10-01T23:16:52.967+01:002010-10-01T23:16:52.967+01:00Hey Gretel, so glad you 'found' your book ...Hey Gretel, so glad you 'found' your book again, you certainly have a wonderful collection of them.<br />That dragon is fantastic and I can see a needle felted version in the making!<br />Love the pictures of the birds toys and it is interesting to see them with little wire feet. As you say there is nothing new under the sun and there are only so many ways of making things, but we all put our own stamp of creativity on them.<br />Congrats on being featured on the Uk Handmade blog. Love your little glass dogs, who could resist those little faces? Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting, sending warm, sunny wishes for an enjoyable weekend.Sweet Birdy Lovenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-74686811958695161932010-10-01T20:42:43.162+01:002010-10-01T20:42:43.162+01:00Oh Gretel...I adore Abigail Brown's lovely bir...Oh Gretel...I adore Abigail Brown's lovely birds! Thank you for verbalizing what I have been thinking for so long..some crafters get a bit carried away with the whole 'original' design concept. Come on folks...how can you copyright a painting of an apple!! Only so many ways to sew up a stuffed bird or owl. <br />I am looking forward to your softie creations...I'll place my order right now...save me one ;-)<br />Thanks for another inspiring post. <br /><br />Janet xoxJanet Metzger, Artisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06004040279820041203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-455466979947643602010-10-01T20:38:43.099+01:002010-10-01T20:38:43.099+01:00I'd love to see you needle felt version of the...I'd love to see you needle felt version of the dragon!<br />xxNatashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06687067686509263072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-40401060703872095852010-10-01T19:17:46.001+01:002010-10-01T19:17:46.001+01:00What a FUN collection! I love your posts, they'...What a FUN collection! I love your posts, they're always so interesting...and yes, the saying "Whats old is new again" applies to everything, doesn't it? Have a wonderful day in my country (sniff, sniff) and Happy October!Elizabeth Rhiannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07910474336835656519noreply@blogger.com