Fragile Earth Stuffed Animals

WHAT'S $5 MILLION BETWEEN FRIENDS?

In 1819 Spain ceded Florida to the United States in exchange for the American renunciation of any claims on Texas that they might have from the Louisiana Purchase and $5 million.

 Please note, this is a re-enaction of the actual event. No gator or aardvark were harmed in this photo shoot.

WELCOME TO THE FOLD, KYLOE!

What, you say, is a kyloe? I'm glad you asked. This is a kyloe ...

 

It's the Scottish word for Highland Cow! How cool is he?  This one is a Small Jellycat Truffle Highland Cow, one of the newest arrivals at Fragile Earth Stuffed Animals, and he's just as fluffy and furry as he appears. While his relatives in Scotland may be a rugged breed, he's a lover just waiting for someone to take him home. 

DOS AND DON'TS OF USING A LIGHTBOX

As we take more pictures with the lightbox, I'm compiling a list of dos and don'ts based on mistakes we've made in hopes that we won't repeat them. I'm sure I will be adding to this list as we go along. But after three sessions, here are the first few: 

1. DO read the book. There's a reason they send an instruction booklet and using it as a wedge to fix an uneven chair or, better yet losing it, is not what the creators had in mind. I lost the one we got within the first week and I'm sure there's a lot of useful information that we should know. 
2. Don't do anything when you're tired. My family don't do tired well - as a matter of fact, we get all snappy and sarcastic. We have yet to take pictures where we weren't exhausted, so we're not quite sure how we'll feel when a shoot goes smoothly. Chances are we're doing it after work and on the fly, a scenario which does not lend itself to success. Invariably, it DOES lead to tears!
3. This segues very neatly into my next point. DO make sure you have enough time to build your vision. Plan things out ahead of time and have things ready to go, preferably before 10 PM the night before you plan on posting. Yesterday, I had to pass on my idea for storming the Bastille because I just didnt have enough time to create it. As with so much we try to do, it comes down to timing. We are getting better at planning things out on the weekend so we know each day what we want to accomplish. However, my ideas take on lives of their own and before I know it, they are to big to realize.

This whole venture is a learning process. If only we were graded on a curve!

She's Back! Ladybug Girl Doll Back In Stock

Our Ladybug Girl Doll has been our best seller this year and she was out of stock for a couple of weeks but she is back.  Grab one while she's here! 

Ladybug Girl is a 10" doll based on the sweet and cheerful books by David Soman and Jacky Davis:

 

Tips on Cleaning Your Stuffed Animals

Do you have an older, delicate stuffed animal you want to clean but are afraid the washing machine might ruin him/her?

Try putting them in a paper bag with baking soda, shake the bag so the stuffed animal is covered in baking soda.  Let it sit for thirty minutes then brush off baking soda.

Need to dust your stuffed animal and not go through the trouble putting them through the wash?

Use a damp cloth to gently remove dust, then use an old hair brush to fluff him back up again.  Or you can use the hose attachment on your vacuum cleaner. A lint roller does the trick as well.

You have no choice and your stuffed animal has to go through the washing machine?

FIRST AND FOREMOST READ THE LABEL FOR ANY WASHING INSTRUCTIONS.  Put your stuffed animal in a pillow case and use the delicate cycle and delicate detergent if any at all.  Before putting through the dryer make sure you know what the insides are and if they will withstand the heat of the dryer.  If you're not sure, air on the side of caution and hang him on a clothes line to dry.

HOW BIG IS THAT FROGGY IN THE WINDOW?

 

If you're talking about Big Frog, she's so big, she can't fit in her book, Big Frog Can't Fit In: A pop-up book. She's just popping out all over the place.

 

But that's okay, she fits in just perfectly at Fragile Earth Stuffed Animals! 

Bet You Didn't Know a Bat, Highland Cow, Duck and Lion Could Make Cookies Together...

In honor of National Sugar Cookie Day yesterday, our newest additions decided to introduce themselves to the regulars at Fragile Earth Stuffed Animals by whipping up a batch of Lemon/Lime Sugar Cookies.

Jellycat's Cordy Roy Lion, Tiny Truffles Highland Cow, Bashful Duck and Barty the Bat shared in the cooking duties.  Have you ever seen a bat try and use a lemon zester?

I'll measure out the sugar, says Barty. 

Oh, no! Bat overboard! 

Barty! Get out of the sugar!

 

Ducks are very good at measuring.

Our Cordy Lion thought the mixer was a carousel ride.

The final product was well worth all the effort and what a way to make new friends.

Happy National Sugar Cookie Day (one day late!)

THERE'S A NEW KING IN TOWN

And we don't mean LeBron James (because we don't recognize him as royalty). No, we've got a new King of the Jungle who just arrived at Fragile Earth Stuffed Animals. (drum roll please...)  Presenting ... 

The Jellycat Cordy Lion! 

Doesn't he strike fear into your heart with just a glance? I know, but don't tell him that. He feels very fierce.

 

Aliens Land At Roswell part deux

Place: Roswell, New Mexico

Date: Late June, early July 1947

Event: Alien spaceship with alien remains found

Indisputable Proof: Copy of Roswell Daily Record for July 8, 1947

Place: Roswell, New Mexico Long Branch, NJ

Date: July 8, 2010

Event: Our very own Alien from Aliens Love Underpants (by the hysterical Claire Freedman) attempts to reenact the spaceship landing, a little more successfully.

 

Now, go out and do something fantastical!

The Lightbox that ate Fragile Earth Stuffed Animals

In an attempt to create more professional pictures for our website, we recently purchased a lightbox. Then we waited impatiently for the magical "fix" to arrive. It seemed rather unassuming as we removed it from its packing box. That is, until we unfolded it and found that we could easily curl up inside this cube.Our largest animal is maybe, MAYBE 24" tall. The cube is 55" cubed. I don't know what we were thinking - we definitely were not doing anything so crazy as measuring! Seriously, we don't have a table large enough to put the box on without it falling off one side or another.

Actually, I do know why we got the bigger box. In the height of a creative frenzy, I could see entire scenes in my mind, complete with costumes and props. Where I was going to find the time to make these vignettes come to fruition, was unimportant. I could see it so clearly! 

At least, someone is getting their money's worth of the box!

 
Isn't it huge?  These are not small or dainty cats...

Now does anyone know how to photoshop black cat hairs out of a photo?