My name is Francesca Boretti. I'm Italian but I live in Switzerland since 2010.
I've always enjoyed creating and through the years I have experimented in several crafts: papier mache', cross stitch, embroidery, mosaic, decoupage, fabric painting, polymer clay sculpture....just to name a few.
In 2004 I first learned the basics to craft a jointed teddy bear: that was the beginning of a passion that I think and hope will fuel my creative life for years to come.
In 2011 I started selling my creations under the business name of KALEideaSCOPE ...a kaleidoscope of ideas! I love to set myself new challenges and the animal world is my true inspiration. Although my creations are realistic in style, none of them is a copy of a particular specimen but more the embodiment of the distinctive characteristics of a given animal as I perceive them.
Through the years my craft has developed, incorporating new techniques. I'm fascinated by the concept of creating using materials and techniques that traditionally come from separate 'categories'. This way of doing things appeals to my restlessness and curiosity to try new things. It is so that in my creations I combine polymer clay sculpting and painting with more traditional bear making techniques.
Every animal that I make is One Of A Kind. Each creation is entirely made by myself. This means that the designing, sewing, polymer clay sculpting, shading, trimming....all the techniques involved into creating this unique animal are my own achievement. It also means hours of work.
Ultimately, when my creation is born...I spend some more time designing a cute accessory to go with it. My 'brand' is felt, as I love creating embroidered felt ornaments.
When the accessory is done, there is one last important thing. The identity card. All my creations have peculiar and distinctive identity cards, sewn from felt in matching style and colour with their accessory. I always use a piece of the animal's fur, it is a sort of DNA proof! On the identity card I write the name of the animal, year of birth, and FB i.e. my initials and signature.
I ACCEPT CUSTOM ORDERS, if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me!