Tuesday, December 22, 2009

I'm off

In four short hours I'm catching a flight from the west coast of Canada to the east.

We're spending Christmas in Prince Edward Island with Scott's family. I'm very excited to get there and slow down the pace a little bit.

This will likely be my last post of 2009, so, on this winter solstice (close enough), I just wanted to thank you all so much for your support during Koo & Poppet's first year. Thank you to those of you who've introduced yourselves on this blog or by any other means. Thank you for stopping by, thank you for reading.

I'm signing off with an assortment of images that remind me of the kind of Christmas I hope to have.





original photo sources found here (thanks to Kristin for introducing me to weheartit!)

Peace and happiness in TwentyTen.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Tis the season for giving away!

The irresistible City of Dionne blog is hosting a Koo & Poppet giveaway this week!
You can enter for a chance to win Avril the bunny.
Likes: making stuff
Dislikes: setbacks

Avril is very creative. She was just born that way.

Good luck to those who enter!

::Koo & Poppet giveaway::

Thanks Dionne!

Monday, December 14, 2009

Vancouver periphery


Last weekend Scott and I sailed the Georgia Strait and spent a quick 24 hours in Vancouver.


It's been two and a half years since we've called this city home.


We had a festive drink with friends R&D at Bacchus, and drove through Stanley Park on a cold and sunny Sunday morning.


And then rode the ferry home, to the island.

See? West coast winters aren't all rain!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Begging your pardon....



Lads and lasses, meet Pekoe.
She is a distant cousin of Mignon, though they can't seem to agree on anything.
Croissants vs. crumpets, you know, the usual bickering between the French and British.

Happy first birthday Sienna!!

Friday, December 11, 2009

Illustration Friday: "Hatch"


Not my usual style, but I had to participate considering this week's topic was suggested by moi!

Of the ape variety



What do you think?

This monkey was a custom order but I'm considering adding him to the 2010 collection.

He's a little bit silly and a little bit charming. And all bits bananas.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

New product - bunny nursery pillows!

These pillows will be listed in the shop soon, along with a bunch of other misfits who are in need of good homes.

p.s. If you would like to read more about Koo & Poppet, check out this article published in a local newspaper.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Little Carter from Calgary

Here is the latest wee inductee to Klub Koo:
I never realized that any Koo & Poppet product had the potential to be substantially larger than the child who enjoys it!

I made this pillow along with an "A" pillow for big brother Aiden last September. One of the cutest and funniest things I have ever read was a message sent to me from my friend Charlotte, who purchased these pillows for her friend's children:

"I forgot to mention in my earlier message that Aiden loves the card you sent just as much as the pillows (the one with the instructions of what pillowforms to buy and how to wash them). He gets his parents to read it to him every night before he goes to bed."

Coming soon, new Koo & Poppet bedtime stories: "Once upon a time, there was a pillow who loved to be spot-cleaned and hand-washed when necessary....."

(Aiden, you're awesome)

New bunnies


There's a whole new bunny population at FINN & IZZY in Victoria!

Monday, November 30, 2009

Trim the trees, it's December!

This is me right now - wrapping packages of misfit toys and sending them far and wide.

Except I don't have a piping hot chocolate on my desk like this Elfcat does. 

That's okay though, I have already seriously overdone it on the eggnog lattés this year!
(B - am I right or am I right??)

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Poppets Heading for the Southern Hemisphere



Hello Australia!

I have just shipped a large order of kOoKyNeSs to the beautiful Australian children's store, TINY PEOPLE. They should be arriving in early December.
Tiny People has two locations, one in Byron Bay and one in Kirra Beach. They also have an online store here. Their collection of children's picturebooks is especially impressive!


The Christmas rush is in full swing hear at KP HQ, and Cyber Monday, the online equivalent of Black Friday, is just around the corner.
To mark the occasion, both the bunny scarf I posted about last week and Polar Bear Baffin are on sale in my shop.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Illustration Friday - "Music"

It's been awhile since I've had time to do some drawing and painting. I dug up these half-finished illustrations for the sake of this week's Illustration Friday topic. For anyone out there who has no idea what I.F. is, it's "an online weekly illustration challenge. A topic is posted every Friday and then participants have all week to come up with their own interpretation."

This week's topic is Music. Here is PimCat, balletically putting away her groceries to Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. She simply cannot resist the urge to arabesque with a can of peas in her paw.

Same cat, different day, musical nonetheless:





Wednesday, November 18, 2009

She has her cake and eats it too....


Sadie celebrated her first birthday on November 6th! 
(Don't worry, that's chocolate, not.......the other stuff)

Monday, November 16, 2009

koo & poppet scarves!

I think these would make great stocking stuffers! 
I'll have more designs up soon :) 

Friday, November 13, 2009

Peeking Sneaky, Sneaking Peeky

Here is a glimpse.

These creatures, as well as several others, are on the shelves at FINN & IZZY now.

They will be available in the shop very soon.


"Baffin"

likes: ice cream
dislikes: brain freeze


"Flit"

likes: gardening
dislikes: pests



"Paloma"

likes: lunchtime
dislikes: soap


"Baxter"

likes: racing
dislikes: spies

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Missing Mignon

It's definitely been an exciting week in the world of Koo & Poppet.
FINN & IZZY, a very lovely children's store in Victoria now has some animals in stock!

Bunnies, Bears, Pigs and Kollector Koos.

FINN & IZZY is located on Oak Bay Avenue and I believe they are also having a big Open House this weekend, so if you live in Victoria stop in and take a peek if you're so inclined.

This may sound very strange, but it's always difficult for me to let go of such a large bunch. Not only do they take on personalities that I get a little attached to, but let's face it - I put my blood, sweat and tears into these creatures!
Most times, this feeling passes and I'm on to the next project.

However, in this case, I have but one regret. C'est Mignon:


She is my favourite. Ever.

It was hard to part with her.

She is from Paris. She is Mignon (as in "cute", not as in "filet").

She likes revolution and dislikes tourists.
She carries croissants in her pockets and frequents Montmartre.

I hope she finds her way into the arms of a little girl who likes knee-highs and the colour red.

Monday, November 9, 2009

P to the Izzo, E to the Izzay....


Yes, folks. 

That's little Elliot and wee Portia gracing the pages of Style at Home magazine's December issue. I couldn't be happier about their exposure, however I'm a little concerned the fame will go to their heads. Portia's already demanding freshly squeezed orange juice and a bodyguard. She wants to be called "P-Bunns" from now on. Elliot has actually moved to Toronto and is living in the lap of luxury, protected from the paparazzi flashes. He promised he'd write but hasn't.

No, but seriously, check this issue out! There are some wonderful ideas for gift-giving this season and some really creative parcel-wrapping suggestions. That is one of my most favourite things about the holidays, all the decorative paper and ribbons.

A huge thank you to Senior Design Editor Margot Austin for scouting some rabbit talent.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Baby Ben's Bears

Hosted by imgur.com
Hosted by imgur.com
I am pleased to introduce you to one-year-old Ben and his Koo & Poppet collection. How cute is he in his rocking chair?
Ben's mom Andrea and her sister Sarah are great friends of Koo & Poppet - thanks ladies!
These photos, taken by Ben's dad, photographer Alex Firmani, are superb. I especially love the photos he took on the day Ben was born

Welcome to Klub Koo little Ben! 

Sunday, November 1, 2009

The Pumpkin Monster


For Sadie's first Halloween, she decided to dress up as an old-fashioned skater:


kind of like this one:


This is me circa '93 back in the old days. Nothing says Rink Rat like ketchup chips and sequins!
I haven't changed much....except my bangs were better back then.

Oh how I miss those times....

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Science Project: A Koo & Poppet Mobile

My very sweet friend Ainsley is less than one month away from giving birth to her first baby. She and her husband put in a special request for a Koo & Poppet mobile, and here is the result:
photo: Ainsley Roberts

A mobile, no problem, I thought. Well, remember learning about fulcrum points in eleventh grade physics? Apparently I don't either. I'm very much the type of person who goes "Yes, a mobile, no problem. Two birds, two bunnies, and bear hanging from strings on a wooden dowel. Easy." 

Enter the laws of balance.
Recall that bears, bunnies and birds all have different weights. Ohhhhhhh.......
Recall that husband is kind of adept at solving these types of issues........
Recall that a short while ago I scoffed at his offer to help......

Swallow pride and politely ask if, perhaps, I could have his assistance afterall?
Efficiency quotient suddenly skyrocketing......(not without a few sharply-toned words exchanged, however: "NO, THIS IS THE HEAVIER BUNNY!")

But really, I am so very lucky to have a husband whose problem-solving skills and general mental processings are drastically different from my own. I'd jump into a pile of leaves without hesitation, and deal with the dog poop I've landed in once I'm in there. Scott, on the other hand would draw up a site plan, mow the lawn, rake a tidy pile of clean leaves to a clear patch of grass, build a fence around it, put on rubber boots, and then and only then, would he consider traipsing through them. You should see the guy carve a pumpkin - it's like a laser cutter! Or just last week, when our dog chewed the corners of Sadie's favourite book, I Am a Bunny, Scott cleanly cut the corners off at 45 degree angles and, wouldn't you know, good as new. I'm fascinated with his effortless fix jobs. I would have been out buying a new copy. But that's just me.

Anyway, I hope Ainsley's little one enjoys looking up at this mobile while subtly learning about scientific principles, not to mention the value of a team effort.

Happy Halloween to all the little ghosties and goblins out there!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers


Has anyone read Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers? It is a simply beautiful children's book about a lonely penguin and a determined boy. The illustrations are stunning. 
Well, the book has been adapted into an animated film! First Where the Wild Things Are and now Lost and Found. I'm so happy that great children's literature is receiving the recognition and esteem that it deserves.
Thank you to tiny&little for originally posting about this!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Where there is yellow

As I've mentioned in previous posts, we've recently moved up-island, as they say in our little corner of the world. We now live in Shawnigan Lake which is about 45 minutes north of Victoria on Vancouver Island. We've been here for 3 weeks now and are getting to know our new surroundings. Scott and I have lived bits of our lives in both large cities and tiny towns. I really can't say which I prefer....although there are things I miss about each when I'm living in the other. Right this minute I miss live theatre at the Granville Island Stage in Vancouver, preceded by Indian food at Rangoli on 11th ave. And the Stanley Park ghost train! I've heard it's great this year.
But the stillness that surrounds us now is very much welcomed. There are no streetlights or traffic lights, just starry skies at night and mailboxes at the end of the road.
A few weekends ago, we explored scenic little Cowichan Bay (which is where all these photos were taken), a ten minute drive away. Would you believe I've lived on Vancouver Island nearly my entire life and I'd never been to this seaside community until this month? It's a summertime hotspot with an ice cream parlor, artisan cheese shop, art galleries and a maritime museum. 
We went back again last Saturday. The highlight of the trip was a sea otter on the pier. And all the yellow, too.
Sadie, who now speaks in alien tongues, seems to be digging her new neighbourhood as well.

Do you live in the city or the country? By the coast or inland? Mountains, forest, or prairie?

Where does your heart call home?