Meet The Enchanted Cupboard Giveaway!

As I had mentioned before! I am very excited to have found on Etsy “The Enchanted Cupboard”.  This is truly a magical place even for an adult!

Beccijo is the Master Mind behind this wonderful shop.  Her love for nature, imagination and children have taken her through amazing experiences. Now a mother of 4 beautiful kids her Artistic Nature and creativity have found the perfect environment to nurture this gorgeous world of wood, color and imagination.  I love the way she manages to transfer into her toys all those amazing and magical moments experienced among the trees and fairies of her early years.

This is what Beccijo has to say about her inspiration and her toys:

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1. How did you start working on such beautiful handmade toys? Who taught you the art?

About a year ago I bought a blank set of family dolls for my daughter. Then I fell in love with the idea of the fairies. There were plenty of sellers making the family dolls, but no one had full playsets. I love how everyone selling wooden play dolls has a different style, and I work very hard at not competing with someone else’s idea. I really feel my doll series are born from me and my childhood. They are not just dolls, but have their own names, their own personalities on their faces and soon their own stories for others to read in book form.
As a child I was always encouraged to be creative, and I was always making toys for myself or others. I loved all the story books like The Little’s, and how the characters took items and reused them. I started drawing at 11 years old after I picked up some oil pastels and found a true love for art. My parents signed me up for art class at a local art studio. I was hooked and even won some Gold Key Awards from my first art show. I donated many of my art works to charity for auctions and sold my first painting when I was 17. I went off to study Art at college and was awarded, The Most Outstanding Student of Art for 1991, but commercial art was not for me.  At the time there was no other “real” way to make a living from your talent. Now I am a Toy Maker, and that title rolls so sweetly off my tongue. I have found a great passion for toy making and personal custom dolls painted to the likeness of other people. I love the personal side of what I do.

2. How do you choose your materials and design?

I like natural materials, and use them as much as possible.   I have tried watercolors on the dolls, but I can not get the level of detail that is so important to me. So, my paints are acrylic, but they are only a small percent of the item. All my supplies are non-toxic and bought from U.S. companies.  Natural items just have a feeling of being “real”. My ideas and designs, as well as stories, come from everywhere and my imaginative childhood. I see the world in a very magical way. I have tons of little note books and scraps of papers with designs and ideas, but never enough time to make them all.
This year I have really focused on finding inspiration for toys for boys. I have 3 boys of my own, so I know there is a lack of good, fun, natural toys for boys. I have challenged myself to step out of my comfort zone.

3. What are your thoughts when working on these beautiful pieces?

As I paint, the stories flow from my mind and these little miniature worlds come to life. When I am making custom dolls that look like people I think of great happy thoughts, of their dreams coming true. I really believe that “things” can hold a positive or negative feeling. I like to paint after my husband and children are asleep. Late at night the world is peaceful and quiet, and all the work and troubles of the day melt away. I can sit, create, and dream. As the holidays come upon us, I get so excited about all the children that get to open my toys on their holiday morning. I just love seeing the photos customers send me of happy children holding my toys like treasured gems.

4. What would you like Parents to understand about Handmade Toys vs. Commercial ones?

Toys, playing, and using ones imagination is the foundation to all education. If a child does not grow up using their imagination they lose out on more then just creative play. The life and birth of a toy is just as important as the toy itself. Something created in a lab, poured in a mold, and boxed in more material then the toy has is what most kids will receive. Other children will receive a toy lovingly made by hands of an artist who charge a fraction of the true cost to make the item that will last for generations. With every stitch and brush stroke they put love into each toy. They lovingly bring that toy to life not only for their love of their craft, not only for the child they dream will love it, but for the earth that their creation brings it no harm.  Love and dedication is added into every aspect of their work even the careful packaging, as they get the toy ready for it’s new home.

Although it is wonderful to think globally, when you buy handmade you are supporting America. Do we only want our worth as a Nation to be that we are a nation that stimulates the world economy? If you want to see real economic changes buy local, buy handmade. You are supporting real people, real families, not just a company when you buy handmade.

5. Which is favorite piece ever?

This is very hard, as they are all so personal to me. The fairies have been with me the longest, and they are who I most would want to bring to life if I could. So I would say if I could miniaturize myself and join the merriment of a midnight dance in The Fairy Ring, life would be good. To sip tea with Lavender and try Petunia scones and wear silly hats like Daffodil would be a real treat.

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Now, here comes the best part!! Beccijo has already been recognized by Nickelodeon! I guess they are going green, eco, and natural! Congratulations Beccijo! We are very proud of you!

To celebrate her creativity, her talents and her shop, we are going to be running a fantastic Giveaway of one her natural toy sets.

Here are the details for the Giveaway