The post is part of an occasional series called "Awesome Handmade
Toys." These posts feature toy makers whose work I think is
particularly fresh and inventive. You can see previous posts in the series here. I also pin toys to my Inspiring Softies pinboard on a regular basis if you're looking for more inspiration.
One of the best things about plush is the way it can lift your mood. Picking up an awesome stuffed animal that's soft or silly makes you feel good. Just ask any kid who's comforted by their favorite teddy bear. And for grown-ups? Playing around with a stuffed animal that's strange and hilarious can do wonders for your state of mind.
Chelsea Bloxsom makes just this kind of toy. Her work is funny and weird in the very best way. Chelsea lives right near me, in Boston. Her business is called Love & a Sandwich. She explained the name of her business to Dig Boston this way:
“I used to draw these two characters all the time, a boy and a girl,
and they’d be doing weird cute stuff together, and the girl would always
be thinking of love, and the boy would be thinking of a sandwich. That,
and my last name is kind of hard to spell, anyway. Hopefully everyone
can spell, ‘sandwich.'"
The Gibbles by Chelsea Blosxom of Love & a Sandwich.
I love the vibrant faux fur on these toys, and the teeth and eyes and horns.
Chelsea and a plethora of her monsters.
These toys are imaginative. They're light-hearted and fun and seem to say, "Hey you! Don't take life so seriously!"
Monster mittens by Love & a Sandwich.
I love these mittens. Love them.
Zombie Kitty by Love & a Sandwich.
Custom order a Mustache Monster – you choose the color.
One of Chelsea's hottest items is the custom Mustache Monster. You choose the color and Chelsea will make one just for you.
Chelsea's workspace.
Chelsea makes certain signature designs over and over again, but she's not afraid to take on custom orders. She experiments. She makes all kinds of designs and keeps things fresh.
Fluffy Chinchilla by Love & a Sandwich.
These ice cream cones would be a great birthday gift. You'd open the package and just start laughing. I love them.
Ice cream cones by Love & a Sandwich.
Here's Chelsea at her desk fulfilling Christmas orders this year.
Chelsea's toys are exuberant and lovable. They're everything fun about plush.
You can get your own Love & a Sandwich plush on Etsy and find out what she's working on via her Facebook page where she has 8,000+ fans. Clearly I'm not alone in wanting a cute, funny, brightly colored, furry monster to hug at the end of a long day.
Wow. Wonderful work. Thanks for sharing!