Tell us a few words about you.
My name is Elena, and I am a handmade textile toy maker based in Odesa, a beautiful southern city by the sea in Ukraine.
I have been sewing for as long as I can remember. Since childhood, I have always loved creating — clothes, accessories, and small details for the home. I have always been drawn to things with individuality, not like everyone else, with character and soul.
For me, creativity is a natural way of living. I deeply value handmade work, aesthetics, and meaningful objects that bring warmth into everyday life.
When did you start making toys and why?
Toys came into my life through a very warm and personal family story. It was June 2020. We were preparing for a special family celebration — my grandson’s first birthday. It was a very touching, meaningful, and unforgettable time.
My daughter came up with the idea of a photoshoot — a little gardener story. He had a small watering can and textile vegetables that he could “plant,” “water,” and collect, like a real little gardener. On that day, we were surrounded by our closest family — godparents and grandparents.
For this photoshoot, I created a set of textile vegetables — beetroot, radish, onion, potato, carrot — as well as clothing for the little gardener. After we shared the photos, people began asking if they could order the same toys. Step by step, everything started to grow — new pieces, new ideas, new shapes.
But most importantly, all of this was originally created for my grandson. He became the very first owner of these toys, and today he has a large collection and almost the full range of everything I create.
What inspired you to create food toys?
In fact, everything started with that very first story. From there, it all developed very naturally: my grandson was growing — and along with him, my small fruit and vegetable atelier was growing too. New types of toy food appeared, along with new forms and ideas.
I am inspired by simple things from everyday life — vegetables, fruits, the food that surrounds us. I love transforming them into soft, tactile toys that children can use to explore the world, imitate real life, and create their own little stories.
Many of my toys were also inspired by my customers — their requests, ideas, and wishes gently guided me and helped shape my collection.
It is very important to me that toys feel kind — that they bring warmth, comfort, and a sense of calm. They carry a feeling of natural beauty and a soft, gentle childhood.
