If you have kids or know people who have kids, you are completely worried about the amount of plastic in our lives. I often see my twins’ bedroom with the a million and one Polly Pockets and huge Dora play house and wonder what all this bright orange material is doing to us.

Enter Helicopter Studios. A brand new vendor at this year’s Crafty Bastards, they make these fantastic chilren’s playsets. Take a look.

These handmade playsets are not only amazingly beautiful, but also completely portable.

The idea that my kids could have a cityscape or a countryside or a campfire kit and then close it up into a little bag to take with them is just brilliant. And the fact that there is no orange plastic in site is double plus awesome.

I talked to Shannon Duffy about how she came up with these and just how long they take to make. Shannon says:

I have my Master’s in metals and had been working with metal for the last 10 years or so. While living in NC, we bought a house with a studio and I moved from a remote location to home. I also, have two young children who were home with me all day at that time. So, working in metals was not the best choice of mediums due to fire, chemicals and intense concentration. I decided to try something different that I could do around them and put down and pick up without a real problem. Sewing it was.

I came up with my first one which was the race track, and then it just evolved from there. My landscapes are by far my favorite to make, I worked at an architecture firm for a few years building scale models. I think that’s where they came from to start. Plus, just being an earth/nature lover, I really wanted to present something that evoked imagination. There are so many crappy plastic battery operated toys that leave no imagination.

Also, as a parent I am always trying to organize toys and keep the chaos down so I love the way the totes work as beautiful storage too!

I would say new ideas that go to the prototype stage take about four to six hours to produce.

Even if you don’t have kids, you are going to love Helicopter Studios. A great concept, amazing color choices and lovely craftsmanship make these playsets something not to miss at this year’s fair. Check them out in Booth #91 at the Crafty Bastards Arts and Crafts Fair on Saturday, October 3rd from 10-5 at the Marie Reed Learning Center.

Got old sweaters? Make some seahorses!

These lovely seahorses ($40 for the set) by Snaulkter are made from 99% recycled materials; old (washed) sweaters and plastic shopping bags in the fins to make them crinkle. Not only do I love these guys because they are upcycled, but they are totally kid friendly. I could see my kids spending hours making up stories about the Papa Seahorse and his babies. What an awesome use for an old sweater!