Down the Rabbit Hole

Here’s another button/sewing notions jar!

It comes with:

An Alice bead doll clutching a bunny, three charms (an Eat Me cake, a Drink Me bottle, and a little brass key) that can be left on the jar for decorative purposes or other projects…

…and four pins made by yours truly! A toadstool, the Mad Hatter’s hat, a rabbit, and a cup of tea.

The best part of this is the amazing trim I found. It was EXACTLY what the jar needed. Don’t you love it when that happens?

It was a shame that I couldn’t use the entire length for this project, but you can bet that I’ll be using it for other ones!

The Blackadder

…the best historic sitcom ever to come out of Great Britain…or anywhere else, for that matter.

The Blackadder cast from series II (I was really sorry that Lord Chamberlain Melchett didn’t make it into this set).

“The path of my life is strewn with cowpats from the Devil’s own Satanic herd!” –Blackadder

“I do love it when you get cross. Sometimes I think about having you executed, just to see the expression on your face!” –Queenie

“It’s the latest fashion actually and as a matter of fact it makes me look rather sexy!” –Lord Percy Percy

“You’re so clever today, you better be careful your foot doesn’t fall off.” –Nursie

“To you, Baldrick, the Renaissance was just something that happened to other people, wasn’t it?” –Blackadder to his servant.

If you haven’t done so already…check out The Blackadder—all four series!

In Praise of the Floating Kingdom

I am not going to talk about the horror the Japanese is facing right now. It’s terrible that such a thing should happen to this gem of a country. Instead, I want to share with you some of the beautiful sites I had the pleasure of seeing not too long ago.

My trip to Japan had been one of the nicest, most pleasant experiences in my life. Everyone I met there had been incredibly courteous, helpful, and friendly. It’s the kind of vacation that every holiday makers dreamed about but very few got to experience. Although matryoshka dolls are traditionally a Russian folk art, it was in Japan that I felt an overwhelming need to paint them and the ideas had been coming strong and fast ever since. In a way, I owed this country, its people, its art and culture tremendous gratitude for steering me down this very interesting path. I can only hope now that Japan will get itself out of this unspeakable disaster and land on its feet.

The Big Bang Theory Postulation

Who knew nerds can be cool and fashionable? Meet the cast of “The Big Bang Theory.”

While I was painting this set I came to the horrific realization that I used to dress like Sheldon Cooper…only my tees weren’t quite as cool. No wonder I was so popular at The Forbidden Planet!

The one and only Sheldon Cooper in his favorite Flash tee…

…holding onto his Green Lantern and playing the rock paper scissors lizard Spock game.

I know, I know, Leonard Hofstadter has a full-sized light saber flashlight, but I thought the little one suits him better!

Raj Koothrappali with his grasshopper and a copy of People magazine.

I figured the copy of Tara Banks on the cover is apt, since in one episode the boys located the mansion resided by the America’s Next Top Model contestants.

Penny! Penny! Penny!

…in her Cheesecake Factory uniform.

…and her “Penny Blossom.”

Howard Wolowitz and his robot hand, his alien pin, and his Nintendo belt buckle.

If I weren’t such a nerd already, I’d be on the internet right now, looking for the same belt buckle.

Here are the Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock game rules:

Scissors cuts paper, paper covers rock, rock crushes lizard, lizard poisons Spock, Spock smashes scissors, scissors decapitates lizard, lizard eats paper, paper disproves Spock, Spock vaporizes rock, and as it always has, rock crushes scissors.

Mistress Mary, Quite Contrary

It’s high time I revisit a classic. Now that my niece is older and will most likely inherit my stash of children’s literature, I’ve been mentally sorting through my catalog of books and Frances Hodgson Burnett’s “The Secret Garden” refuses to make way for any others. I got my first copy through the Troll Book Club in the third grade—back when I barely understood English, but boy, was that book cover enchanting. A girl poking around a secret garden behind a huge scary house. Forget after school art classes! Give me Hooked on Phonics so I could read this book on my own! Even back then I knew this book would be my cup of tea!

Dickon, Mary, and a surly Colin. I know, I know, he cheered up eventually, but I still liked the disagreeable brat he was throughout most of the book.

A close up of Mary’s basket. If you look closely you can see Hector the Hedgehog peeking out.

Even though I adored the stage version of “The Secret Garden,” I liked the movie more because Dickon got to play with a ton a little woodland critters.

We feed an injured crow that’s shacked up in our backyard, so I had to feature Mr. Poe (an apt name for this bird, don’t you agree?) in this set.

Here’s Colin Craven in his wheelchair. Have you ever looked at a Victorian wheelchair? It’s as though someone’s nailed a set of wheels onto a comfy chair and then called it a day.

Now, if you will excuse me, I’m going to go and dig up my copy of “The Secret Garden” and have a quick read before it makes its way to my niece!

“Oh, What Big Eyes You Have!”

Introducing: “The Little Red Riding Hood Sewing Jar”

This project took a while to assemble, as all the bits and pieces came from all over the world. Literally! France, Australia, the US, Japan, Russia…it turned out to be the most international set I’ve ever made!

This sewing jar includes:

Little Red Riding Hood bead doll (but of course she’s got a hedgehog in her basket).

Red and the Wolf buttons. Yes! They’re actual buttons! And no, I didn’t make them. Woodworking is beyond my capabilities, as my 11th grade wood shop teacher never failed to remind me.

…and two decorative pins made by me…not the toadstool, but it’s so cute that I had to include it. The hedgehog is Nectar, sister of Hector from a previous set.

The whole shebang.

I am absolutely in love with the ribbon. Aren’t you?

 

Magnet Mania!

They’re here! Mini matryoshka-shaped magnets!

Click on the pics for close ups.

Frida Kahlo, Punk Gurl, Lady Gaga

NYC tourist munching on a bagel, Steve Zissou, and Lady Gaga (again!)

Mermaid in purple glitter, the strongman, mermaid in turquoise glitter

Marie Antoinette with cake, Cupcake pageant winner, green luchador

Assembling these guys were fun. They’re made 100% out of polymer, lovingly baked and hand-painted by yours truly. Making these magnets were a little different than painting matryoshkas. For one thing, you can make all sorts of head gear. For another, my mermaids finally got real tails!

They’re now available at my etsy shop, ready to add some attitude to your fridge…or whatever magnetizable surfaces that suits you.