Think Mint!

Summer is truly right time for fresh and cool palette. School holidays season, sea and river cruises, beaches, swimming, sunbathing - the favorite entertainment for many many people! And for me as well )

Then days are becoming hotter and more hotter ... I start to think mint in my studio!

 Love this bright colors to work with. Looks great together with cold pink, light yellow, grey, white and gold

Mint birds with gold sequins stars. Ornament

Sailboat, plush toy and pillow

What have I done? Probable I was too much excited in my studio with a sewing machine and  mint fabrics ))

Rainbow creatures

 I have never worked with a bright palette fabric with a large or geometric pattern.

First experience

But this cotton fabrics by designer Michael Miller (US) - was the request of a customer: 10 different snails toys for her daughter birthday party. It was interesting for me - how such fabrics can suit for soft toys I make.

Working process

I think - the result is pretty cute )

 Got more craft ideas.

Just love these bright vibrant colours ! The babushka dolls are my favourite )

Birds inspiration

Few weeks ago I have received a special order from Kelly - to make mobile birdies for her nursery in a gray and coral colors palette. And I liked the idea so much that I decided to create a set for my little online shop, besides I'm a hopeless fan of gray textile.

When the second set was made - I thought that if I sew a new kit again? 2 Days later I made a gray-yellow birdies.

It is not a secret, but I'm in the process of creating  gray / blue birds now...))

This coral chiffon flowers were made for the first kit:

Kelly`s set:

Picking cherries. Australian summer

2 months ago I have made my Cherry Snail

and I was wondering -
is any  difference between the cherries from farm and the cherries from the market / shop? We buy local berries in shop and they are pretty good but I have heard about easy way to have fun, eat cherries and pick them as much as you want.
So, 2 weeks ago me and my hubby with our huge basket, summer hats and  2 big bottles of water - (I was expecting to spend about 2 hours on hot sun) came for cherry harvest.
Cherry farm is between beautiful valleys and it is really great view!

Cherry farm

What can I say - there is a difference! Berries are bigger  and have more taste. They are covered by soil dust but they are so fresh and juicy...It is impossible to stop eating! How much have we eaten these day? No more than 1 kg )

20 minutes - and the basket is full. Sorry, I can not show our cherry crop - husband decided to make cherry brandy. Will be ready in 2 months!

Water world

When I was little girl I dreamed to be a marine biologist or scientist (look after dolphins), wanted to
In any case, I love very much the sea and marine animals, especially invertebrates. I like to take photos, I love to watch these animals in their habitat. They are so much unusual and graceful. Sometimes it seems to me - they are from another planet, so incredible and colorful are their bodies.
I still want to find time to make my plush collection of star fishes, sea snails, corals and sea horses. I would like to sew them of pure rustic linen cloth!
I want to introduce you a little story in pictures what is happening in the underwater kindergarten: baby Whales and naughty small fish

Playful babies!

But soon parents come and (how it is common in real life) stop this disorder!

They are sweet babies again )

SEA. The one of the most beautiful things in the Earth.

Linen Creatures - Winter collection

Yes, as I have said already - my favorite creative material  is pure linen fabric. It is easy to create any style - simple  rustic, feminine sophistication or popular shabby.
In Australia is summer now (according our forecast we are expecting +40C in 3 days, uh!) but  all my friends have winter and snow now. White fairy tale.
This collection is dedicated to winter mood and my friends )

Basic material - bleached linen fabric.

Shabby chic Babushka dolls set.

Whales story - White Mobi-Dick and Mother with her baby

Rustic toys

Snail Lady. She thinks - she is a Snow Queen ) I am not sure - maybe only Princess )

looks after her tiny cute friends

mobile toys

And my delicate and shy little rag doll - Baby Angel with a lace heart.

Have great winter days, friends!

Birds in Cherry Garden Dolls studio

It is Interesting, in modern heraldry the birds  present at 35% of State Emblems in varying interpretations. Question is - how many states, big and small cities have the Bird symbol?

Mobile toys

One of my favorite ideas in work - it is a bird. Wings and ability to fly are symbols of freedom in many cultures.
Like an angel the bird also is a sign of the soul.

Doves - cake topper

What else do people associate with this  sign?
Deity, Creator, sun, immortality, child, motherhood, fertility, the thought, the speed, happiness, purity, love, time.

PR manager Choila loves birds )

Bunny Rabbit Hare - Female symbol

I know few guys who love bunnies and keep them as pets.  And I can admit - I would like to  take care of some curious,  timid and cute bunny also…So – here is a few interesting facts that I have found about rabbits and I would like to share with you:

In many cultures around the world the Rabbit/Hare represents the moon and consequently, death and resurrection.  Possible reasons:  a Rabbit is resembled in the markings on the Moon (body and 2 elongated ears, nocturnal life, gray / white fur.

The Rabbit or Hare is symbolically linked to the female deities, of youth, fertility,  intuition and the revival of life. 

  In Buddhist, Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, African, Native American, Celtic, Hindu and Teutonic myths associated with female hare is the cycle of reproduction. As prolific animals hares and rabbits are often associated with magic and the white rabbit figurine was the mascot to get fertility and is regarded as an assistant at a difficult childbirth.

 

In Buddhist mythology the Hare is marked as a selfless animal, kind and able to sacrifice themselves. According to legend, a hare jumped into the fire and roasted to nourish the Buddha himself. In gratitude, the Buddha put the rabbit on the Moon.

The Hare often appears in Christian iconography. His helplessness personified people’s reliance on God.
Modern emblems exploit the sexual symbolism of the hare. As an erotic symbol the Rabbit is used, in particular, the famous American magazine for men "Playboy."

Pink bloom

Pink color - the traditional color of  kindness, love, tenderness and passion. This color is most associated with charm, politeness and sensitivity. Pink palette -  very feminine and romantic.

We love to make toys of pink colors fabric in our workshop. Of course I prefer most of all the pure silk with shimmering effect, but I suppose the cotton is better for  nursery deco and  toddler toys. So cozy and cute!

Rare "pink lipstick" geranium in our garden and gorgeous silk dupioni 

Silk creatures by Cherry Garden Dolls

Garden style Gifts and Home Shabby Chic decor

I like to create something unusual. I might sort out for a long time the different fabric and accessories trying to find the best option for my creations
I love to sew my creatures of pure silk - this wonderful fabric with shining effect looks luxurious always .
My favorite silk - silk dupioni, this fabric is made of threads of different colors so the fabric has gorgeous effect of changing colors - really  imperial cloth!
In Australia is  spring now and I have noted in the studio cute spring floral snails

Silk dupioni - moss green, ivory (rose decor), emerald green, baby pink (last snail).

 My collection )

Spring in Cherry Garden Studio

In Cherry Garden live different creatures. After cold and long winter 2014 me and my PR manager Choila see in our studio many cute and funny colorful snails.

They love fashion and style and I do not know often - what shell wants each of them...This season is very popular striped shell and pompom trim )

But for my few fashionistas - it is not enough! they want to be unique, want to dance and take part in races! Oh! Who is going to win?

Shabby chic cute creatures )

After my very long holidays - about 2 months I start my exciting work - to create a beautiful things and invent a new creatures. My of the most favourite idea - to decorate a plush toys by a crochet doily, they get so cozy look!
Here we are - garden creatures Tricksy Snails

And their little sisters

I think the orange one is my favourite )

Plush fellows of denim fabric

I love denim! It is beautiful and truly unique fabric. I had an interesting idea  -  to make of this textile a stuffed toys ... I chose a very thin denim fabric with shabby effect  to achieve smooth curved lines of the toys and be able to make the fine details.
So here they are!

miss Tricksy Snail

She loves a tulips and asked me to create a white silk tulip to carry it on her shell. I call her now miss Tulip Snail.

And a new sweet cute couple - Denim toys - Mother Whale and Baby whale. 

 

And now I'm deep in thought - who's next  one? Maybe Denim Bunny?

Stuffed Snail Toy

Plush Snails toys - how I make them?
Guys, I`m going to show that happens in Cherry Garden studio ) Pick by pick )

Beautiful shabby chic style plush toys:

1. But in begging they are just pieces of fabric) ans stuffing material.
2. Step by step they are starts to get their Appearance.

 3. Almost ready! For her wheels  I use handmade fabric buttons, because I need them in the same style.

 4. Finishing touch: making her face )

 5. Time to say "Hello"

Thanks for reading and have good day full of beauty!