Meet Arturo.

 
The lovely Pip has organised a Christmas charity drive of handmade soft toys for children of the Mirabel Foundation. I hadn’t planned on participating until I saw the toys that had already been made, and read that there weren’t enough. They were so cute and so inspiring that I felt I should help out, too.

 

Arturo takes a nap inside Carolyn’s light box.

 
I find coming up with a toy idea from scratch very difficult. But if you give me some fabric or old socks, or something to work with, it’s much easier for me and I get inspired. This is probably connected to why I’m a better editor than a writer, or why I’m better at documentary photography than studio shots. I’m good at working with and improving upon what’s already there.

I’ve had a pair of rainbow-striped toe socks for ages but have hardly ever worn them. Yet I couldn’t bear to give them away. They’re 100% acrylic, which feels a bit ick in between your toes and actually makes them colder in winter. Toes need to cuddle up next to each other to stay warm. So I’m much more fond of Japanese-style tabi socks, the ones with only an individual big toe that make you look like a goat. A very stylish goat.

Part of the inspiration came from this book. I liked the idea of snipping off the middle fingers on gloves, leaving the outer fingers for “ears”.

I used two of the snipped toes to make his beak, and I added Velcro dots to his hands so Arturo can hug your neck. I also turned the socks inside out so you get the funny looking dashed lines that appear on the “wrong” side of striped knitting.

It didn’t dawn on me until he was finished, but I think his eyes were subconsciously inspired by J.Otto Seibold. I think Arturo and Mr Lunch most certainly would be friends. Don’t you?

I am a bit sad to see him go, but I am also pleased to know that some small person will get a new friend. And probably some much-needed hugs.

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I had to postpone the Movember party to this Saturday, so more mo pics after the weekend!

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