As You Wish

I don’t know about anyone else, but every time I watch “The Princess Bride,” I always half expect a couple of Muppets to come out and do a little song and head bob number. Yes, it’s THAT kind of movie.

Fezzik, played by the awesome Andre the Giant.

Princess Buttercup

Unfortunately I owned no silver floral doodads in my Hoarder’s pile, so I ended up painting in her crown instead of making a little one as it should’ve been…

Westley

Inigo Montoya, played by Mandy Patinkin. I couldn’t take his role on “Homeland” seriously because of this movie.

…and of course, Vizzini and his cup o’ poison.

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Steampunk Faeries

One of the hardest things I had to do when I was helping my parents pack up their house for the Big Move was to throw away my fairy wings. It’s silly, and I have no reason to own them since I rarely attend Renaissance festivals, but I loved it. I’d wear it once a year on Halloween and amused my students as a tooth fairy (along with my wand with a gigantic molar on it), but other than that, it’s not something to bring back to Oz with me. Imagine trying to explain it to customs.

This Steampunk set didn’t have to be all about the fairies, but it is now because it gave me the excuse to build a miniature version of the wings I had to throw away.

Here’s my jolly gang of Steampunk characters…but of course I didn’t stop there…

These aren’t your delicate little floofy fay things! I was so tempted to empty the entire box of watch parts on these guys, but I restrained myself.

I’ve built a box and wings out of a miniature general store crate, wire and panty hose. It’s amazing what you can create after raiding your closet.

This gal’s got an antique Blackberry strapped to her arm.

For this set all the faeries have their own little steampunk mascots. Probably got that idea from those “His Dark Materials” books. Or that I just wanted to paint a bulldog.

…or a helper monkey.

How cool is this guy? His accessories consists of an owl and a tricked out guitar!

I had a bit of a flashback painting his wing pack…reminded me a bit of the Ghostbusters proton pack.

Gears!

This faery with the Bjork buns has a little mechanical bee for a pet and a blunderbuss instead of a wand. I don’t know about you, but I’m not keen on receiving a pair of glass slippers from the end of a gun.

Her faery wings are just bones, but that’s all right, she’s got a blunderbuss so what does it matter?

This guy is awesome because not only does he carry a steampunk sword, but his wing pack has a small television built in and…

…his mascot is a bulldog! Bulldogs, I’ll have you know, is as Victorian as they come since this breed was perfected in that era by an English gentleman who chose to keep them as pets instead of letting them engage in a horrific sport of bullbaiting.

Last but not least we have a little steampunk baby:

He’s got himself a little pet octopus with a mechanical eye.

So there you have it, a gang of faeries ready to blast their way into our realm.

What To Do When Nothing’s Good On TV Part II

I’m coming at cha today with yet another series of neck wear…yes, TV at this time of year in Australia is pretty dismal…especially when you don’t have cable.

This one is so silly I don’t even want to tell you how I came up with the idea. But clearly, it’s all about the three little pigs and the Big Bad Wolf.

I’m sure there are pig shaped beads out there somewhere, but I had a blast making these guys that I didn’t bother looking for them.

I thought I kick it up a notch by adding a supplementary necklace into the mix. The tool charms have this Bob the Builder feel to it so I had to throw it in there somehow.

I made a wonkier version of this one years ago for my brother’s wedding banquet to go with this fabulous Betsey Johnson dress. A trip last year to my favorite bead shop in in NY had me salivating over the pearls even though I am so not a pearl girl. But I need to grow up some time, right? I mean, I can’t wear necklaces made out of Fruit Loops forever.

These two buttons are hand painted with mermaids on them—along with a boat they’re attacking and their lagoon on the flip side. The problems with some beads that it gets turned over while you’re wearing them and that just drives me absolutely batty.

One of the extra thing I worked in here is this amazing seashell locket. Lockets are awesome because it can conceal not only photographs and a be-ribboned tress of hair of someone you’re stalking. It can also be the best accessory someone with chemical dependencies ever have! Haha! Sorry. I’ve accidentally watched “Cruel Intentions” again.

The Luchadors

One of the earliest sets I’ve ever painted were the five luchadors, which eventually went to a couple as their wedding present (I know, right? No sissy napkin rings or a Cuisinart for those newlyweds), were easily my favorite, so I was extremely happy to have another go at them, this time super-sizing it!

I keep forgetting how long it takes to paint these giant sets! But as always, I feel no sense of relief after its completion, only a little bit sad…especially when I discover the hubs has eaten the last pickle.