Each of these Wild and Wonderful hand knit animals is from a collection of Wild Things!  All are made with a high quality acrylic yarn (allergy free) and are stuffed with poly-fiberfill (also allergy free).  Each item is unique, handcrafted, soft and durable.

Check out the entire collection in the Online Store - Design Inspired for adorable Wild and Wonderful Knits - Alligators to Tigers and others in-between.

Size: Approximately 12-13“ high,  10-11 “wide.  Sizes vary slightly depending on the animal.

Construction: All bits are securely attached with yarn, and features are embroidered.  There are no small parts, metal or plastic making them perfect for children of all ages. 

Care: This is a handcrafted item.  Hand wash,  do not spin or tumbledry.  Gently squeeze out all excess water with a towel, arrange to original shape and allow to dry away from sunlight. 

Orders and Shipping: Unless otherwise stated as "ready to ship", Wild and Wonderful Hand Knit Toys are hand knit to order.  Production time varies and orders are taken”First Come.”  Generally,  from date of order you can expect shipment in 10-15 days.  Once your order is placed, you will be notified when it is expected to be completed and shipped.  Orders are shipped via USPS First Class mail.

Wild and Wonderful creator: Susannah Ross Ziehe has been knitting since the early 1960’s.  She was a student at many Seattle Weaving Works workshops and classes, member of Seattle Knitters Guild and has taken several workshops with Kaffe Fasset, Alice Starmore, Nancy Bush, Cheryl Oberle, and Beryl Hiatt to name a few.  She is a master knitter who takes considerable pride in completing each item with high quality materials and expert finishing.  Look for an added flourish or two (scarf, necktie, or flower) when called for and inspiration strikes. 

She has a short story published “Spirit Knitters”, Sign of Spirits, 2006.

In late 1960s and early 1970s,  I had an opportunity to make several trips to Greece.  Like many previous travelers I was struck by the stark simplicity of the outlines of the ancient buildings, windmills and landscapes.  When time permitted I stopped to sketch a few impressions.

One of these became the original logo for the International Institute for Bau-biologie® & Ecology, Inc. Founded in 1986 in England - this became the first English institute for the discipline of healthy homes.

These sketches can be purchased in the Online Store - Design Inspired.

Sketch 1 - Wooden house - Mykonos.

The architecture of Mykonos Greece is typically Cycladic, the Greek cliche which everyone waits to see. The superb linear Cycladic architecture sees his spare lines represented at their best in the island of Mykonos.  This can be best expressed in the spare outlines of windmills which dot the landscape of the islands.

Sketch 2 - Windmills.

Churches in the Aegean islands have the Cycladic style with large domes and highly decorated interiors.  The churches are everywhere:  in the streets, squares, parks or on top of hills.  They are a strong part of the Greek Everyday life.

Sketch 3 - Hydra1.

The traditional and picturesque white-washed cubic houses with flat roofs, wooden coloured doors and windows and flowered balconies and the multitude of paved narrow streets are particularly charming and magic in this region.

Sketch 4 - Village Ios1.

Throughout the Greek islands, houses, churches, chapels, and all the buildings in general, all have a smooth and asymmetrical shape on their corners, a phenomenon which gives to the whole ensemble, a perfect harmony.

Sketch 5 - Village Ios2.

Each sketch comes printed on high-grade white paper using archival ink.  Each image measures 9"x12", matted (see Sketch 5), ready to hang either individually or as a group.  The standard frame size is 16"x20".  They can also be purchased fully framed.   

Helmut Ziehe was born in Germany in 1937.  He received a Dipl.Ing. degree in Architecture from the Technical University of Berlin, and Master's in Tropical Studies from London School of Architecture.  He founded the International Institute for Bau-biologie® & Ecology, Inc. first in England and later in the United States.  He currently resides in Clearwater, Florida.