Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Why The Toy Society


Welcome if you've clicked here from Whipup or Craft Zine (!!). I've had a lot of lovely emails and comments full of love for The Toy Society and lots of questions too and I realised I hadn't really told you how The Toy Society came about.

It came about from a love of "street art" but a recognition of my lack of artistic skills. I really wanted to contribute something to the street scape. I'd watched a friend put his work up about the place and got such a buzz walking past random walls in the city and seeing his work. I thought maybe I could sew something instead. And so The Toy Society was born.

I planned to leave toys around the streets to brighten up the place and give people something interesting to look at. And then I imagined what they might look like if they were still sitting on a light pole 5 weeks after they were put up...all faded and manky and rotten. So I thought I should invite people to take them home, share the love and all that.

I've been sitting on the idea for about 4 years and come up with many different versions of implementation (at one stage it was all ghosts) and even made some sample toys until finally I just decided to stop thinking and go for it.

And I couldn't have imagined the response! It was something I planned on doing myself and maybe dragging some mates along to help put the toys around the place. I considered that maybe a few people here and there might like to join in some how. I never expected the amazing global response I've received and the number of people who want to get involved.

10 comments:

Noelia said...

I just LOVE THE IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And talked about it in my Blog, with luck more people will join it !

KT said...

Wow, great idea!
Although I'm a little fearful for those toys which might not find a nice new home.
Still, how great it would be to find and adopt a toy! :)

Hello from Germany
says
Ciaran

Stacey said...

Its such a lovely, generous idea. I'm not surprised that you've had a great response.

Pearlie Mae said...

Lovely!

What do the tags say? I'd love to help do this in my little corner of the world.

Big love,
Jolene

bad apples said...

what a fabulouslay sweet idea! would love to see them in Berlin, could I do anything to help to get you guys to do drop offs in our fair city?

Anonymous said...

Thanks for popping by our blog Bianca :)
I think your toy society may get even bigger than WWKIPDay!
You could have World Wide Toy Drop Day ;)
just think of all the toy knitters, crocheters, & softie makers all making one toy and leaving them for someone to find - how cool would that be!

titaniumgrrl said...

This is a FANTASTIC idea! I will bring it to Ottawa Canada and spread the word through my blog!!!


Meeka
titaniumhip.etsy.com
titaniumhip.livejournal.com
meekascreations.blogspot.com

Cindibee said...

This is one of the absolute cutest ideas and it inspires me to make a few toy drops around here! I live in Texas, near the Texas A&M campus. Perhaps the Aggies would like a few surprise toys...

Only thing that worries me is the possibility of some ridiculous person thinking these mysterious toys left in random places might be secret bombs or something... (http://tinyurl.com/3xqffg) We have some pretty stupid Americans around here...

Anyways, lovely idea! And if I do a few drops myself, it'll be a good use for all of my scraps!

lady.nicole said...

wow!!

I luved da idea 2!!
gratz ^~

i rlly wish i had found thiz one Ó~Ò
unfortunately I live in Brazil n thtz rlly impossible, who knows if sumday I learn how 2 do thiz art toyz n drop 'em here in Brazil
awesome idea =D

i just think u could make caracteres 4 them, u know, put a paper telling itz name, wut it lkez 2 do ^^

fantastic im ur fan

shinyyoga said...

i love love love this idea and i've linked you up on my yoga blog. thanks for spreading some happy shiny love around the world : )