Bring me back to my early years and give me Adelie! Ah… I would keep her now, but really, she’s made for little hands to take her into the big world, full of fun, adventures and lots and lots of love…

2 of the dresses are reversible: no1

no2

weekend bag that will fit more than a few treats

Hope she finds a good home. Hope I’ll make more cats…

SOLD.

This little miss fluffy is a birthday wish that I’ve had an opportunity to grand. Great feeling. Thank you Yvette (and Victoria!) for that!

Mazoji pukuote yra gimtadienio noras, o as gavau galimybe ji ivykdyti. Geras jausmas. Dekui uzsakovam uz ji!

More toys/items very soon in my new shop… and that mini give-away is still happening!

Is it the blue patches in the sky and the warmth outside, is it Friday, or is it the happy feeling – I love what I do, I love what and who I have, that tickle my soul… regardless the reasons – the spring has visited me!

Mandy (sold!) wanted to be like Mai. Special. But don’t we all are?

Raspberry muffins… Mandy’s favourites

Photo album to remind of her friends and home she comes from…

Dilly

A special dress for a special occasion

And something pretty to sleep in

Hope your Friday is good too! x

Specially ordered, specially made, now lives across the ocean – mommy Eevi.

Specialiai uzsakyta, specialiai padaryta ir sekmingai gyvenanti uzu atlanto – mamyte Eevi.

There will be more bears and more babies… but next time: I’m planing to share some more of those lovely Japanese books I’ve and one of them will be up for grabs.

Enjoy your weekend!

Bus daugiau mesku ir kudikeliu… bet sakanti karta planuoju pasidalinti mielom japoniskom knygelem ir viena nedidele dovanele. Gero savaitgalio!

x

While the new teddies are in the process of making (at last) – the re-homed  ones take the stage…

Remember Bettino?

Kol nauji meskiukai dar tik ‘kepami’ – eteri uzima i gyvenima jau paleistieji…

Pamenat Bettino?

He’s Canadian now. I hear life is good and grey England is not being missed. Actually, Bettino is double lucky as long ears Etta was sent to join him. Or maybe the way round, Etta is the lucky one… one way or the other – the pair have a life and I’m (thankful) happy for and with them!

Kanadietis dabar. Girdejau gyvena gerai ir pilkos Anglijos nesiilgi. Jam pasiseke net dvigubai, mat pavyjui isskubejo ir ilgaause Etta. O gal atvirksciai, pasiseke Etta’i… kaip ten bebutu – porele gyvena, o as esu (dekinga) laiminga su jais ir uz juos!

Tomorrow: Friday! And some more sold toys…

you, me, all of us. Any kind of good thing for somebody, even yourself – is important, vital and with beautiful occasions (like Christmas, when we share, we give, we appreciate and love a bit more…) approaching, together we could spread the good and enjoy the results. Even if not huge ones. Every little counts. Always.

So what’s the help for? For kids. For those who we live for, build a future for, create dreams and hopes, for those we love truly and the most. And this time – for somebody else’s kids.

Below, I’ve translated the original post by Ginte, from Kokonas. She’s organising a Charity Christmas Craft Fair in Vilnius (Lithuania) to help raise money for a special centre. Here is what she wrote:

“…it’s for a small Rudolf Steiner Pedagogical Centre of Healing in Vilnius (Lithuania). A special place, because it’s for special little people. Kids who are in some ways different, who interpret the world differently, see differently, smell differently, hear differently… Most kids at this centre have a diagnosis written in their medical notes – autism. Others do not have such a unforgivable line stating their condition, but their behaviour, or a look gives it away – they are ‘the children of stars’… At the moment, the centre has only 4 regular kids (although there is a capacity for a few more), but at least 3-4 come daily for hourly individual classes, they are constantly changing, some coming from other towns and all with big hopes… Because it’s the only institution in Vilnius, more less orientated for kids with development difficulties from the autistic spectrum.
What sort of kids are these? Exceptionally beautiful. Mainly boys. Often very gifted in something (other resources say, only 20% mentally capable to learn what is basic and easily understood by the rest of us), but their talents, emotions, foresights are totally shut & locked. To find the fitting key is very hard, but once you find one, you might see that the lock has been already changed…
What is needed? Those kids need to practice and learn, constantly and very consistently. It requires very patient, responsible specialists, one teacher working with 20 kids in this case will not help, there are more eyes and hands needed, more time without terms and other stress. Those kids need stable and cosy, free space, they need special equipment, tools and practically tested methodical knowledge. And it all costs. Where to get time – I don’t know, but I know that all of the staff salaries and energy bills ‘eat’ all of the money paid by parents. And nothing is left for the special plant based paint (in case kids decide to lick the paint and such things do happen), so that it’s safe. They need natural bee wax, for melting it, exploring the temperatures, changing forms and feeling, making something out of it. They need sports equipment, educational toys, simple music instruments. These important things also have a tendency to constantly run out, splash, brake… it’s a never ending story… And if there is no equipment, the help doesn’t come in time. Emptiness swallows these kids. Literally…
Different sources state about 0.1% of whole population is autistic. I’m a mom of one of them…”

I agree with Ginte and many many others, who will and are taking part in this heart warming and still growing event. Little children, even if just a handful of them, do deserve our help. And they are not asking for much.

I’m auctioning my little bear in a box. From the money I’m hoping to buy the necessary natural Stockmar watercolor, crayons, modelling bee wax the centre is in need of. I’m gonna keep the process public and will show what has been bought, sent and once it reaches Ginte, she’ll ‘broadcast’ from her side. I’m exited and hopeful. Helping can be so easy and so rewarding. This one will be!

Sooooo… – my little  Mai. It took me a while to think of a special edition… I wanted to use some of my vintage fabric and ribbons I have, so it dictated the theme – vintage/new.

My kind, girly and so well mannered little one will make me proud, she is gonna light up your house and you wont remember the money she cost you – she’s one of a kind!

with a one of the spare special occasion dresses on

and another one, as a girl can never have one too many

everybody needs a friend, so Mai has tiny Big

for the tea

and for those sweet, sweet dreams

if there is bed & bedding, there must be a night dress

We even have a family photo album

and really, all what’s left – is you providing a home for her, so make a bid!!!

Little bear stands at around 13cm or 5.1 inches tall and comes in a small hand painted wooden box along with all of the goodies that you see.

Mai and Big will go to the person who offers the highest bid ( please be aware, you’ll need a PayPal account for purchasing it!) by 25th November, 11pm GMT. Use the comments below for your offers. Make a bid. Make a change.

Thank you!

P.S. Julie from lovely Cotton Rabbits is selling gorgeous Perlina and all of the money will go to buy more stuff for the centre (THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!)! Maybe you would like to join us and make this whole ‘help the autistic kids in Lithuania’ a little bit, or a lot bigger? You could sell something handmade (and pass the money), or even donate it to organisers directly (write me mia@toxi.co.uk) so that it can be sold at the Christmas Craft Fair in Vilnius (!). Doing good is easy. And very addictive!

Look what others donated for the fair: from Loreta, from Indra. And there are/will be more!

long ears is lucky to belong to Kristina. And lucky to live in beautiful Tallinn. Thank you Tanja!

It’s been a while since I showed new items that aren’t sold yet, but they are coming. Very very soon!

I’m still not fully back to normal routine that usually  follows after summer holidays. My little boy, who only turned 4 a month ago is facing reception year and being the youngest in the class (would his birthday have been 2 days later – he would have been the oldest in the class… regulations, oh we so not like you sometimes!!!) My precious one did not like school too much in the first 2 weeks and it was turning into a bit of a worry, but now he only goes half a day till he’s a bit more into the whole big new routine,  I’ve developed what’s best to describe as a bit of a restless mind. I’m wondering (we recommend to get your mind wondering too – ‘Deschooling Society’ by Ivan Illich) it’s not just the age that bothers me…  So I’m not in where I was hoping to be, free 5 days a week till 3pm with kids being happy at school (although that’s coming, apparently), at the moment – I’ve very little time in space for working out my own thing. Kids come first. Most of the time…

Crafting, don’t give up on me just yet, I’m thinking of you everyday! Thinking too much, should just do something.

Some of my summer produce:

Apolline and her baby live in France now. I hear little owner is happy.

Merci beaucoup Christelle!

A quick update from my studio – some finished and sold toys

Felix the dreamer. Relocated to New York

Pippa is gonna see her ‘person’ growing up and hopefully will have lots of great time with her girl

Poppy and mini mini donkey Gardi, a special order

Gardi and his ‘own green bit’

Bob & Holly, ready for smiles

Kiki is gone with Pippa

And Neda, who loves children and a good egg sandwich. And a good company. And her good friend Lila. And she will love Saule, her new owner. And I love the fact that my toys are living their lifes. Thanks you!!!

And a few more to come soon…

Among many many good things that Britain brought into my life I’m gonna mention scones today.  Plain ones, with raisins, cheese or cherries… but most importantly with a cup of  tea – I love scones so much, that to prove my love I bake them very often. My current best version is a wholemeal ones with shopped apricots, sultanas and raisins. I get them ready for breakfast and I’m not gonna say the number – all of them are gone (somewhere) by the end of the day.

I’ve also found a great apple cake recipe

and a new Polish recipe that makes  really yummy Christmas cookies

50g butter

1 tbsp golden syrup or honey (I used honey)

50g light brown sugar

225g plain flour

3tsp mixed spices (ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon..)

1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

3tbsp milk

1 egg yolk

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Melt the butter, syrup or honey and sugar in a pan. Leave to cool for 5 minutes.

Sift the flour, spices and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Make a well in the centre. Pour in the melted butter mixture, milk and egg yolk. Mix to a soft dough.

Kneed until smooth, then roll out between 2 sheets of baking paper until 5mm thick. Stamp out forms using cookie cutters. Place on the baking sheets. Make a hole in each if you wish to hang them up later. Bake for 10 minutes, until a slightly darker shade.

Speaking of cookies, I had to make some for my kids school’s Christmas fair. I used simple gingerbread dough and decorated it with the icing. No idea how successful they were, but it was fun making these.

Ok. Next up buckwheat pancakes

Made from  wholewheat and buckwheat flour (50/50). My kids actually love them. I also substitute normal sugar for black molasses, it not only is healthier, tastes better, but also makes the pancakes look brownish, so my kiddos call our pancakes ‘the chocolate ones’

So that’s baking. Now making. Lina and her goodies. Already in my shop

I also have a bigger bear that needs to be finished… and a couple of other things…  so I might do my last shop update next Tuesday night, but no promises here

That’s it. The sun outside is calling – have a great Sunday!