About Finkelsteins
Finkelstein founder, Michelle Jewell was longing to do something creative and be her own boss. So in January 2010, the artist-turned-toymaker quit her job and started the Finkelstein’s Center. Now with a small team of creature makers, the FC is a toy workshop for the “forgotten things to be reborn - a facility for materials to be upcycled, many times from donations and thrift stores that are washed and repurposed.” Love and imagination go into each quirky critter they make. It’s an organic process. There are no patterns; everything is hand cut and no two are alike. Though the bodies are made from consistent colors of first run polar fleece, each one gets their own personality, complete with clothes and/or accessories made from up-cycled materials. She hopes the toys will help people to be passionate about supporting local artisans and the community that it creates.