20106 Jefferson Boulevard, Hagerstown, Maryland 21742, United States
creator of things darling and sweet - one of a kind handmade collectibles
Cute little Laurance enjoying a cool lemonade and jam on toast.
Welcome
Some of why I do this...
Cute Stuff
Stuffed things - I love cute Stuff! I'm not sure what inspires me to make the stuffed things I create. They need to make me feel wonderfully happy when they are complete. When I sew on the eyes, stitch on the mouth, blush its cheeks, and then that little fella is looking back at me with a smile; I get a happy feeling. I know that its ready to find its new home.
Felted Bugs - My felted insects are charming and sweet. They are made of a sturdy copper wire armature with needle felted wool bodies. I add accents with felt and embroidery floss. I'll attach wings, antennae, and eyes onto them - then POOF! They are off and flying.
Pretty Things
One of the most beautiful women I have ever known was my grandmother Eva. She had a love of making things that influenced my way of thinking and creating. Her style was really anything that triggered joy in her. Seeing and creating objects that resemble things she had, wore, or made now triggers joy in me! She was proud to present something handmade and she would show it off confidently for all to see. This confidence in her own style and in her own craftwork is one of the many wonderful things I took away from this great lady.
Holidays were dressed up with handcrafted decorations. Drawers were filled with handmade cards. Lapels were always adorned with pins and corsages, large and sparkling. Doors were famously brightened with award-winning wreaths, embellished with silk and plastic flowers.
Some people have described my corsages (inspired by my grandmother) as "tacky" or "cutely gaudy".....I always take this as a compliment! The excess of glitter, the surplus of flowers, the extra ribbon or two is all like the abundance of love my grandmother showed for her family and the overflowing love I have for her memory.
Woodland friends
My woodland creatures are made with a variety of materials from wool to fabrics, polymer clay, wire and more. A lifetime of creating toys, dolls, sewing and sculpture has given me a bundle of knowledge which I use to create my woodland friends. My dolls (as I call them) have movable internal armatures with fiber and fabric bodies which give them more humanistic movement. I use needle felting to sculpt faces and other details out of wool. Each creature is dressed to impress down to the last unseen detail. It is because of the similarities I feel between animals and ourselves I have provided each creature with everything they need to get up and walk away. Each dressed in their underclothes, socks, shoes, pants, shirts, jackets, hats, jewelry, purses, and even items in their pockets.
My creatures were made as dolls, something to play with, pose, and get close to. They have been mounted to bases but can be removed easily. My woodland friends are loving, natural and have a personality of there own.
baby moccasins
The arrow tells your little one's heart where to go...
These sweet little baby shoes are handmade by two dear friends with a lifetime love of fine and precious things. For this project I have collaborated with my beautiful friend, Lindsay, in the creation of these sweet little booties. Together we called our partnership "Pidder Padder". Each pair of moccasins are unique and sure to tickle the fancy of mom's and babe's alike. We made these adorable and sweet crib shoes on my grandma's 1951 Singer Featherweight sewing machine, they are embellished by hand with love and thoughtfulness for each pairs individuality. We hope you think they are as special as we feel they are.
Happy Trails To You!
About Me
experience
I have a terrific love of animals and an overwhelming need to be creating. My work is a darling collaboration of the two, with a background in sculpture from my studies at MICA and a lifelong hobby of sewing, this progression into art dolls and toys is a natural place for my art to be. The wildlife outside my windows and in the world around me has left me with a desire to bring these creatures closer to my heart and hands. When watching and learning about these wild creatures I feel connected with them and can see the similarities between us both, which reflects in my art doll and stuffed animal creations.
I use a variety of materials in my work, everything from wool to wire, glass to polymer clay, fabrics and fleeces. After a lifetime of making toys, dolls, sewing, and sculptures I have collected a bundle of knowledge which I use to create my many ideas.
My art dolls have internal skeletons made of plastic and wire armatures, their bodies are made of needle felted wool or fabric depending on how I want the movement to be. My knowledge of materials lets me adjust what I'm using to get my desired result. Years of experience of playing around with sewing has given me the ability to work with different fabrics, whether for clothes for my dolls or for the bodies of my soft stuffed toys. I've learned and continue to learn different methods of working with fibers and fabrics. Each creature I make is better then the last and I learn from every little guy that gets up off of my craft table.
More than Just a Crafter
Well Hello!
My name is Kathryn Toothman and I made all this stuff!
When I'm not creating, I'm working hard at being a loving mother and wife. I have one child, a smart, handsome, caring little boy who's curiosity and excitement mimics my own; an awesome, supportive and sometimes hilarious husband and 2 ridiculously loving dogs.
We all live together in this tiny house on a huge yard. We try to live life with adventure and creativity. The art I create is part of me, just as my family is. I hope my love and devotion shows through in my creations. I want the beholder to feel a connection and a closeness with the handmade collectibles I've made. A smile on there face is what lets me know I've done what I've set out to do, bring a little beauty, a little sweetness, and a little happiness into this busy crazy world.
To see more about our world and my art visit me on Instagram! Click link below to....
What Inspires me
Oh my goodness... what inspires me to create the things I do? Well how about my family, my pets, nature, books, babies, dinosaurs, bugs, animals, science, outer space, birds, fabrics, 1950's, glitter, the sea, myths, ancient things, lace, string, roses, old photos, music, handmade stuff, clockworks, bones, museums, picnics, archeology, creatures, wild life, painted trays, westerns, ships in bottles, opossums, yetis, monsters, dolls and bats to name a few...
Many of the things I look for and come across, I try to get a snapshot of and post to my Instagram account. Things are not updated daily but pretty often. Follow me to see what crosses my path and sparks ideas and projects! Click link below to see....