Artist Name: idle.
Artist Website: www.idleware.com
Artist location: Kassel, Germany
Toy Type: Creative Kokeshi
Toy Story: On my recent travels I came through the village of Arashiyama. Taking a hike in the deep forests and steep hills of said area I came upon an old abandoned house. I could not resist the temptation and dug through the decay in hope of finding something valuable. However not much was left that seemed of interest and the only thing that I managed to find was a little copper kokeshi. Not only was the material for this sculpture unusual but also the paint job was unlike anything I had ever seen. If it hadn’t been for the strangely compelling depiction of eyes and mouths I would have thrown this chunk of metal away long ago. However as my journey hasn’t ended yet and recently strange things have been happening I am sending you this as a greeting and souvenir from a vastly different culture which I have yet to understand…
Toy Available for sale: No
Artist available for custom toy commission? YES, Contact artist through website

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Artist Info: Idle, Kassel, Germany [www.idleware.com]
Toy Name: Frank
Toy Type: 8″ Munny
Toy Story: This is Frank. Frank is not from here. He’s actually from outer space from a planet that can’t be spelled or pronounced in our language. Well one could image it as the combination of the letters XCZT, the sound an empty stomach makes plus that of a finger dragged across the surface of a movie poster. Frank (yeah, that’s just a pseudonym so we can identify him) is an environmentalist and was on his way to a conference but stopped by for a little visit on earth because he wanted to see some of its flora and fauna before it vanishes. While being here he thought it would be nice to get some cool tats as well.
Toy Available for sale: Yes [Email artist]
Artist available for custom toy commission? Yes

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Artist Info: Idle, Kassel, Germany [www.idleware.com]
Toy Name: Idle Labbit
Toy Type: Toby HK (Blue Colorway)
Toy Story: This is supposed to me (idle.) but I have to admit that the resemblance is not really that big, especially since I don’t run around wearing a spandex circus suit.
Toy Available for sale: No
Artist available for custom toy commission? Yes

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Artist Info: Idle, Kassel, Germany [www.idleware.com]
Toy Name: The Valiant Little Tailor
Toy Type: Toby HK (Blue Colorway)
Toy Story: This custom is based on the fairy tale “The Valiant Little Tailor” by the brothers Grimm. It depicts one scene from the story.

I’ve tried to modernize the look of the little tailor using bright colors, tattoos and a shirt that on one hand quotes “Seven at one stroke” but also gives a reference from where a modern little tailor would take such a phrase. Nevertheless, to still keep him within the context of the story he’s carrying messenger bag pierced with a preposterous needle. He still squeezes the liquid out of the cheese and the story is quoted on the banderole.
Toy Available for sale: Yes [Email artist to buy]
Artist available for custom toy commission? Yes

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Artist Info: Idle, Kassel, Germany [www.idleware.com]
Toy Name: The Motion of the Owl vs. Not Working
Toy Type: Toy Car
Toy Story: My original idea was to produce a reminder for the horrible disaster of Chernobyl back in 1986 because the car somehow brought back memories of how I was forbidden to play in the sand with all my toys due to the nuclear fallout rain. Unfortunately the idea (or muse?) turned its back on me and I had to go a different route.

Still a bit of the original inspiration remains in the text depicted on the sides as well as the “Russian” coat of arms on the front. The text on the right reads “owlmovement” while the text on the left reads “idle”. Ok, possibly not quite because I used one of these simple internet translation tools…
Toy Available for sale: Yes [Email artist to buy]
Artist available for custom toy commission? Yes, Artists will be honored

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