Two of my first home-made toys, a gonk and a clown.
I was brought up in a household where it was expected that you would make things. Both of my grandmothers were a great knitters and experts at crochet. My father could draw and was able to construct pretty much anything he set his mind to.
For my brother and I it was natural to be drawing, painting and creating our own toys. I was fortunate because my mother subscribed to a series of craft magazines so there was always a wealth of projects I could tackle. I was taught to knit at an early age and my grandmothers’ patterns (especially for toys) were another source of inspiration. Amazingly enough, some of my early attempts at toy making have survived – thanks to my mother’s prudent rescue and long-term storage policy of a few of the more successful creations!
My very first real doll, bought for me by my long-suffering parents, was a cheap, hard-plastic seaside doll with sticky painted hair, and rubber band stringing, sporting a plastic bra and panties combo. I was always considered an artistic boy – never happier that when I was drawing, painting, or playing with dolls (obviously). So I think Mum and Dad thought of it as an expression of this side of my nature and were willing to turn a blind eye to one poorly-made Hong Kong import.
My earliest attempts at doll-making, two rag dolls, a knitted donkey, and a jointed teddy bear. All carefully stored by my mother for years!