“My personal collection is quite large,” explains designer, illustrator and stylist Sara Harvey (@4theloveoftoys) of the assortment of toys she's pieced together over the last 15 years. “I have no idea how many I have, but it’s in the thousands.” Far from the children’s playthings many think of when they hear the word ‘toy,’ the objects that fill Sara’s home in San Jose, California, are better considered works of art. “I started collecting designer toys in the late ‘90s and early 2000s when my favorite artists started creating them from their illustrations,” says Sara. She shares her collection with the world through her photos, complete with information about the artists. And as she composes, she focuses on bright colors and the emotions they evoke. Her photos often include a personal cameo as she inserts herself — complete with vivid clothing and ever-changing colored hair — to add a sense of story and scale.

Above all, though, Sara says that the toys bring her happiness. “At the heart of it all, I love how they make me feel. I’m a giant child. Life can get way too serious.” Photo by @4theloveoftoys

Jun 2, 2015