I love when grown-up objects are inspired by kids. How could our lives not be inspired by these tiny creatures, begging us to slow down and look deeper and play longer? Such is the case with Ingrid Hulskamp’s latest collection: “En Voyage.”
A collection of hand-crafted stone objects resembling toy trains, the pieces range from bracelets to desk toys to everything between. “The objects stimulate our senses in a subtle way; by their shape and the association with children’s toys, they inspire touch and play,” Ingrid writes. “They encourage us to be caught up in the moment, something we could do so easily as a child.”
When I was a kid, my family and I visited a tiny town in Tennessee and stopped at a Christmas shop. I was immediately taken with a massive (or at least what appeared to be massive to the pint-sized version of myself) train display perched on a cloth-covered table. I snuck away to explore, crawling underneath the tablecloth and promptly fell asleep listening to the bells and whistles and rhythmic click-clacks of the tracks overhead.
My parents didn’t appreciate my curiosity (or narcoleptic tendencies), searching the store high and low, alerting employees and customers of my absence. Eventually, I was found (this story pains me now, as a parent – I can’t even imagine!), but I’ve always thought of that majestic train display. I’ve always thought of that need to peek below the cloth, behind the curtain, beyond the horizon.
Curiosity is a beautiful thing, one that is so easily lost on us “grown-ups.” Here’s to letting our minds wander to the train displays around us, pausing to look and listen and perhaps close our eyes to dream, if only for a bit.
Image Credits: Ingrid Hulskamp
p.s. Another inspired train.