The Stories We Hold Dear: Play, Nostalgia, and Timeless Joy

The Magical Moments of Childhood

Remember when you were a child, the feeling of textures beneath your fingertips, the wonder of vivid colors, the fascination with new shapes and forms, and sometimes even the scents that lingered in memory. These moments were more than just simple pleasures. Play taught us how to perceive time and space, became a language for expressing and sharing emotions, and nurtured our sense of beauty through one of the purest artistic experiences of all.

The Seal Pillow: “Cliff”, or “Bipu”

My younger brother had a beloved toy from the age of six that stayed with him for years. It was a flat, cotton-stuffed turtle, which he saw as both a friend and a source of comfort. When the turtle became too worn out, my mother replaced it with a new turtle toy, but my brother rejected it outright. No matter how much it looked like the old one, it wasn’t his turtle.
Later, he grew fond of a large, seal-shaped body pillow named “Cliff”. But Cliff wasn’t just an object. He was a companion, always present. Decades later, Cliff’s legacy continued. My brother’s daughter embraced Cliff as her own, calling him “Bipu” For over 30 years, this seal pillow has been cherished across two generations and still remains a trusted friend in my niece’s bedroom.
My brother’s attachment to Cliff made me wonder:

What makes something worthy of being loved and cherished for a long time?

Stolleen: A Place Where True Value is Embedded

Stolleen’s linen dolls don’t follow fleeting trends. They don’t have oversized eyes or bold, flashy colors to demand attention. Instead, they embody a soft, natural simplicity — the kind of quiet charm that makes you want to hold onto them forever.
As someone who has worked in the field of art education for many years, I’ve observed how children and parents have become accustomed to cheap, trendy, and overly stimulating toys. Meanwhile, I’ve also seen the gradual fading of aesthetic sensibility and the joyful creativity that once came with play.

The Essence of Play and Connection

As an artist and educator, I’ve led numerous workshops where children didn’t just play games — they created them. Instead of following pre-set instructions, they invented their own play. Their creations were often rough and unfinished, but they were bursting with originality and joy.
To encourage this kind of creativity, I developed play kits and distributed them to parents. Their responses were telling. Some parents were excited, saying, “I can’t wait to make this with my child!” But others were uncertain or hesitant, saying, “There are no instructions. I’m not sure how to play with this.”
From these experiences, I realized a vital truth: Play isn’t just about the tools or toys we use. Its true value is found in our attitude toward play and in the connections we build through the process of playing together.

Join Us on Stolleen’s Journey

Shifting from art education to product development initially felt unfamiliar and daunting. But over time, I came to understand that every experience and every skill I had developed was interconnected. At Stolleen, we seek to connect with daily life through beauty, sustainability, and authenticity.
Through this newsletter, I hope to share stories about the culture of play, art, and the pursuit of a richer life. Together, I want to explore what it means to create lasting value. I also hope to connect with animal lovers, collectors, those who appreciate simple, meaningful moments, and those who enjoy simple pleasures in life.
Join us on Stolleen’s journey as we share small joys and special moments from everyday life.