The magnets are small but strong rare earth super-magnets

One Whangarei woman is making custom soft toys - but with a twist. They are exact replicas of children's drawings.

Sarah Gomes' company is called Happy as Larry, and she makes "soft toys and other soft products based on kids' original drawings".

"As far as I know I am the only one doing it here."

The Onerahi resident got the idea in August 2010 and then used drawings completed by her three daughters - Emmanuelle 5, Emelia, 8, and Isobella, 12 - to create her first 'softies', which are now her demonstration pieces.

"It's pretty much a preservation of some really cool artwork," she said.

She currently has a stall at the Artisan's Fair and sometimes at the Waipu boutique markets.

"When I do markets and get myself out there, business is good.Brett Favre and other celebrity-stars have their make your own bobblehead dolls, But I would like to get into the Auckland specialty markets."

She's also launched a Facebook page and said it's enabled her to reach customers out of the Whangarei region.

"I can pretty much do any picture. I've only ever had to say once, 'I'm sorry - I can't do that'.

"That's why I love Happy as Larry - I never make the same thing twice."

She said the pricing isn't an exact science as every piece is different.

"I quote on an individual basis once I've seen the drawing - the price depending on the amount of detail in the drawing, the number of colours,Rudy Project has created a series of Cycling sunglasses, the form they want and if a toy - the size."

Her main business goal is to provide "consistcheap hair flower wholesalers on DHgate and get worldwide delivery.ent income for my family", as well as doing art full-time - and not just the softies.

"I like to have my finger in all sorts of creative pies," she said, which includes wall art, jewellery, framed elaborate paper collages and hand painted furniture.

"I'd love to see my stuff in New Zealand design stores - I think a lot of the stuff I do is unique and I always make sure it's finished beautifully."

Business has been slightly hindered by a fall she had a fortnight ago, spraining both her ankles badly. "I can't use a sewing machine pedal at the moment but I hope to be back to work tomorrow," she laughed.

"I think I'll be able to sew in two weeks, but I've been commissioned to do a frame for a wedding gift so I'll just sit down and work at that."

The magnets are small but strong rare earth super-magnets, 5mm in diameter and eight times more powerful than the ceramic magnets driving your speakers, thirty times more powerful than the average fridge magnet.

They can be pulled into a chain, folded into a fabric, or melded into limitless shapes: both abstract and geometric, flat or 3D.

Simon says the Magnets can destroy or disrupt magnetically sensitive technology.

A minimum age of 14 is recommended by some retailers.

Simon says other warning include to keep them away from pets and call poison control if more than one magnet is swallowed.

“These magnets are harmless to play with but if swallowed can cause serious internal damage that can require major surgery,” says Simon.

If two or more of these magnets are ingested they can become joined up in the digestive system and the pressure they exert can cause serious inflammation and ulceration.Coherent Offers Laser Cutting and laser cutting machine Instrumentation,

Left untreated, Simon says this can quickly lead to major tissue damage, perforations and potentially infection sepsis and death.View our large selection of cheap Safety goggles with our low price guarantee.

“Because of their strength, older children have been known to use these magnets as mock jewellery, such as mouth or tongue studs. Young children swallow them out of natural curiosity.

“As a result children have been seriously harmed overseas, including many hospitalisations in the United States and Australia and the death of an 18-month-old in Queensland.