For holidays and birthdays, giving Korean cultural gifts to our kids, friends, and family is a special way to encourage language and culture.
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Here's another nice example of the designer toy aesthetic influencing the mainstream. This line of figures and vehicles began in 2005, when the art toy movement was already well underway. I suppose it's possible that the concept had been in the works for years, potentially predating urban vinyl, or that both were independently inspired by graffiti art and hip-hop culture. Regardless, it's an appealing solution, if you're okay with that culture being commodified at Wal-Mart. Dub City focuses exclusively on customized vehicles, so I'm not sure why Chub City - which is targeted at a younger audience - added character figures into the mix. I'm assuming it's the Galactic Heroes or Super Hero Squad demographic, since they have a similar super-deformed design. I don't know if the character designer has roots in comics, graffiti art, or both, but I think these mini-figures are an improvement over their Hasbro counterparts! These characters have nice source designs, and have been adapted into 3-D really well. Their sculpts have some good graphic forms, and occasionally a figure is put into a fun, lively pose. The paint apps are tight for the scale (particularly the clothing graphics) and the color choices are striking, adding another level of complexity to the line. Since they're so flat-footed, balance isn't a problem, and there's rarely an accessory, apart from the odd microphone or boom box. Packaging consists of the usual hanging back card/blister pack - the graphics are okay, and there's some decent relief molding of the logo, but it's nothing unusual. The figures are packed by themselves, and can also be found packed with a small diecast vehicle. They aren't always to scale with each other, which is good for the price point but kind of a drag as far as play value goes. I'm not sure that the Chub C. and Al figure/vehicle two-packs are still for sale in stores, but you can get Al and his Scion on eBay for $9.00 + $6.95 shipping, and Chub C. with his Chrysler 300C are starting at $0.99 + $7.00 shipping. Go for it!
Happy Black Friday!!! Hopefully none of my readers got trampled to death while buying cheap dvd players, cause I would miss you. I'm serious, don't go putting yourself in harm's way and making me worry. While the last thing you may be thinking about today is food, there's always room for ice cream! Unless you're lactose intolerant like me, but plastic dairy products will not bring about those terrible symptoms that have you racing to the nearest restroom, which always ends up looking like that one from Trainspotting. Oh cruel world. Gary Baseman and 3DRetro are releasing the newest edition of their Creamy vinyl toy today and this time he's mint chocolate chip flavored!!! He's an exclusive to Gary's online store and will come with a signed limited edition print. He's available starting at 9am Pacific time at http://garybaseman.com/shop/.
I have a vivid memory of walking around on can stilts as a child. I must have been about 5 or 6. And if my memory serves me right, I was...
This toy blog focuses on Designer Vinyl Toys, Vinyl Toys, Kidrobot, DIY, Blind Box, Dunny, Resin, Sofubi, Soft Vinyl, Munny, and Custom Vinyl
This toy blog focuses on Designer Vinyl Toys, Vinyl Toys, Kidrobot, DIY, Blind Box, Dunny, Resin, Sofubi, Soft Vinyl, Munny, and Custom Vinyl
This toy blog focuses on Designer Vinyl Toys, Vinyl Toys, Kidrobot, DIY, Blind Box, Dunny, Resin, Sofubi, Soft Vinyl, Munny, and Custom Vinyl
You think you see different cultures when you leave your home town and drive 30 minutes to a family road
This toy blog focuses on Designer Vinyl Toys, Vinyl Toys, Kidrobot, DIY, Blind Box, Dunny, Resin, Sofubi, Soft Vinyl, Munny, and Custom Vinyl
This toy blog focuses on Designer Vinyl Toys, Vinyl Toys, Kidrobot, DIY, Blind Box, Dunny, Resin, Sofubi, Soft Vinyl, Munny, and Custom Vinyl
Taiwanese artist Yen Jui-Lin carves delightful cartoon-like figures from wood that are almost guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. Some of the pieces function as flower vases or key hooks, while many of the objects are one-off toys that he gives to his children as gifts. You can see many more on Jui-Lin’s Instagram and peruse designs available for sale on his website. (via Lustik) More
This toy blog focuses on Designer Vinyl Toys, Vinyl Toys, Kidrobot, DIY, Blind Box, Dunny, Resin, Sofubi, Soft Vinyl, Munny, and Custom Vinyl
Taken! A commissioned piece. This has become my favorite Gargamel toy to paint.
Mother with many children Dymkovo doll, 1960-70s, All-Russian Decorative Art Museum, Moscow One of the cutest souvenirs one can bring home from Russia is a ceramic folk toy. There is a variety of them but the most lively and most poplar toys are from Vyatka. They are called Dymkovo toys because originally they were produced in Dymkovo Sloboda village. The Dymkovo toy is nearly five hundred years old. The figurines were traditionally made by women and children working together in family units dividing the work according to the skill required for each step. Each person specialized in a particular part of the body or accessories. All parts were joined together and the seams rubbed with a damp rag or a wet finger and then the figures were set aside to dry for several days. After dying the figures were baked over an open fire and after that place into solution of milk and crashed chalk to make even white ground for the paint. The paints were in six colours: blue, yellow, green, orange, crimson and black. Sometimes tints and mixtures of light blue, rose and brown were also included. Painting represented a geometric ornament of circles, checks, and dots of different colors and sizes. Most of the figures of women, men, children and animals reflected village life. Massive, abstract, and somewhat grotesque forms of the toys were emphasized by ruffles, puffed collars, and other features. They were playthings first but later became amusing collectors' items and offered the possibility of some extra income for the peasants who made them. In the late 19th century the handicraft fell into decline because the Dymkovo toys had been forced out of the market by the factory-made moulded plaster statuettes, which imitated porcelain articles. During the Soviet times, however, the Dymkovo handicraft was revived. At that time besides the usual motifs the toys began to depict fairy tales characters as well. Modern day Dymkovo toys conform to the traditional style yet each reflects the craftsman's individual manner. Lovers, Filimonovo toy, 1980s, All-Russian Decorative Art Museum, Moscow Less known but no less interesting are the Filimonovo toys. The toys derive its name from the village of its origin, Filimonovo, and are moulded by hand from the bluish-grey local clay that fires into a pure white ceramic.The style of the Filimonovo toys is entirely different. The figurines - women, horsemen, assorted animals such as bears, cattle, and roosters - are elongated and are painted with motifs of bright strips and spots, often in alternating green and red colours. So, when you are in Russia and wondering what to buy as a souvenir, think about these colourful and pretty toys, they will not only decorate any room in your house but will bring a smile on your face every time you see them.
Lithographed tin-plate battery operated frog made in China in the 1970s
This toy blog focuses on Designer Vinyl Toys, Vinyl Toys, Kidrobot, DIY, Blind Box, Dunny, Resin, Sofubi, Soft Vinyl, Munny, and Custom Vinyl
This toy blog focuses on Designer Vinyl Toys, Vinyl Toys, Kidrobot, DIY, Blind Box, Dunny, Resin, Sofubi, Soft Vinyl, Munny, and Custom Vinyl
And so we meet again, Lil Miss Makeup.
This toy blog focuses on Designer Vinyl Toys, Vinyl Toys, Kidrobot, DIY, Blind Box, Dunny, Resin, Sofubi, Soft Vinyl, Munny, and Custom Vinyl
japanese art, design and culture
バレンタイン作品2つ目アヌビスはベリコがチョコを前面に出しているのに対してキャンディーでコーティングしてあるお菓子をイメージしています。流石にこれだけ塗り分け…
Silver Ornaments are a standard for the Miao people. For more than 400 years, it's been the custom to decorate oneself head to toe, with silver. A full set can weigh up to ten kilograms. The purpose of wearing all this silver is of course primarily aesthetic, but they are also worn as amulets to ward off evil, and as symbols of wealth. The clothes bear strong cultural message. The patterns range from ancient totem to historic legend. Historians view it as the "Wearable History Book". The tradition of wearing silver is preserved by a great number of craftsmen, scattered through the Miao villages. Most of the silver accessories are made by hands in a traditional way. A silver head-piece takes a couple of months to finish. In some villages, every male is trained in silver-work. Each ornament is an exquisite work of art and sparkles with the wisdom of the Miao people. The fancy Miao silver accessories include silver hat, silver horns, silver comb, silver ear-rings, neckband, necklace, bracelet, etc. It is a tradition that, when a girl is born, her parents will start saving money to make and collect fancy silver ornaments that can weigh several kilograms. And on the wedding day, the girl will be wearing these beautiful silver accessories, adding joyful atmosphere to the happy event.
