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meet the maker

Gezellig Studio

    Grumpy Stuffed Animals

  • Location: Hamilton, Ontario
  • Established: 2021
"You know those moments when you’re with loved ones, sharing a laugh without a care in the world? That’s gezellig and what I strive for in everything I create."

Hi! I’m Kristy Woudstra, the writer and textile artist behind Gezellig Studio in beautiful, downtown Hamilton, Ontario. After nearly 25 years of working as a journalist and in the nonprofit world, I decided to embark on a new creative adventure. Yup, this studio is basically my mid-life crisis.

I absolutely love that the Grumpy Faces have made their way to Ottawa. These whimsical creatures aren’t actually grumpy, that’s just their resting face! As a mom and former editor at both Today’s Parent and HuffPost Parents, I wanted to design simple, heirloom toys that spark imagination in kids big and small. With a focus on sustainability, they are hand-sewn by me and created with felt that’s made from recycled plastic bottles. Each one also has a name and bio meant to make you smile.

Oh! You might be wondering what Gezellig (heh-sell-ick) means. I’m the kid of Dutch immigrants, so I named my studio after the one word that, to me, defines Dutch culture. Gezellig doesn’t have a direct English translation. It’s more of a feeling or an experience. You know those moments when you’re with loved ones, sharing a laugh without a care in the world? That’s gezellig and what I strive for in everything I create.

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