Let’s see. I finished this blue kangaroo for my niece, Ellis, to accompany the book I Love You, Blue Kangaroo as part of her birthday present. She is a twin so an identical kangaroo in pink (no, there is no book about a pink kangaroo, but pink is her favorite color) will follow sometime soon. Have you read this book? Fabulous. It’s all about soft toys.Once you read this book you NEED a blue kangaroo. In fact it inspired my friend, Lia, not normally a sewer, to borrow a sewing machine, draft a pattern and make her daughter one. It’s that good, people.
Otherwise, I’ve been doing a little soft toy surgery around here. I’ve determined that the business of making birds is almost entirely determined by the beaks. The beak of a bird is like the face of a doll – it is vital to the overall appeal of the toy. The birds below came back from the show and were sitting in the studio and every time I looked at them their beaks were bothering me. So, the blue one on the left got a new beak. The middle one once had very long legs and a fuller breast and a long beak – no more. And the one of the right got a new beak and her legs are now bent the way the others are. Whew. I feel better.
Thank you all so so much for your awesome thoughtful comments on my last post. I’ve decided to embrace the work as it stands now and the market for it, too. In that spirit,I will be making over a dozen toys for the lovely store, Sui Generis , in Cambridge, MA, to be ready before Mother’s Day. The owner, Janet, is really excited about them and that makes me feel awesome. I like that it’s local, too. I’ve put a new list on my sidebar of retail stores that now carry my work.
In a totally unrelated note, have you had this Icelandic yogurt? So good. Go to Whole Foods and get some. I got three on Sunday and went back for six more this morning.
no pocket?
ooo how i love that roo! it’s so so good!
We love blue kangaroo at our house, too! I’m thinking about ordering the latest in the series from amazon.uk for my daughter’s birthday in May–it’s called Happy Birthday to You, Blue Kangaroo. Lily’s favorite color is pink, and she gets all sorts of pink things for her birthday, which makes blue kangaroo…well, blue! Sounds like it might be a good fit for Ellis, too! I love your kangaroo, pocket or no pocket. And the birds, too!
Oh! I can totally relate to this! I’ve often created things and there’s been something about them that just niggles at me – something not quite right that I can’t put my finger on. But then after a bit more practice or whatever, I can look back and finally see it. And then HAVE to fix it.
That said I think your birds always looked gorgeous, even before the facelift 😉
I love the birds, especially the blue one. the look on his face is so wistful.
I love the blue kangaroo, but I have never read the book. Where we live we can drive to the bush and see them in the paddocks, and they are so cute, but I love yours. I cant wait to see a pink one too.
HA!
A ROO!
Makes me proud, it does.
Seriously, this is the perfect blue kangaroo! We are rabid Blue Kangaroo fans, and my naughty daughters love “It Was You, Blue Kangaroo” because they find it H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S when Lily throws her clothes out the window. I love the Christmas Kangaroo because some of the relatives are a bit, ummm… interesting. I think her uncle drinks too much, but I haven’t pointed that out to the girls yet. 🙂
Oh the kangaroo is so sweet!
Great idea to give the birdies facelifts with the new beaks. They look wonderful. Love their little expressions.
Also, congrats on selling at Sui Generis! That’s great news!
What shall we do, Blue Kangaroo?
Where are you, Blue Kangaroo?
I love you,Blue Kangaroo
The next is a potty training book called…
I need a Poo, Blue Kangaroo!
(And I like the books, I really do! They’re up there with Charlie and Lola for being my daughter’s favourite reads!)