Back to Work!!!

I took a break over Christmas to enjoy the season and all of a sudden I realized my "batteries" were recharged!!! I mixed paper mache clay yesterday and have ideas flowing (a very nice thing to have happen) into sketches so I don't lose some of the concepts I propose to do in 2010. The hats are getting more exaggerated, I'm sculpting part of the detail I use to finish just in paint, and I think some pieces will be more complex in design elements in the coming year. I'll still be doing some of my favorite characters, but I'm really excited to try some larger, more complex pieces.

This little guy ended up being almost half hat and half figure...glad I don't have to wear that big thing on my head!!!!

Before I go, I want to thank all of you for your support and encouragement in 2009. It was a very exciting year and I owe the success of Monkey-Cats Studio to my family, especially my husband, my artist-friends and my collectors. I feel I probably do not thank everyone often enough so I think that as 2009 winds down it is a good time to let you know that you are always in my heart, and I couldn't do what I do without you. Your friendships are treasured and I wish you all a bright and joyous New Year filled with love and prosperity. Thank you!

Time for me to get back to work!!
Happy New Year and celebrate safely!

Laurie

My Last Figure for the Year

This will be the last papermache figure for the year from Monkey-Cats Studio. It is a snowman, but unlike the other snowmen this season, this little guy has a human nose, and not a carrot to try to breath through. He is also dressed not only in a plaid scarf, but in a little green vest as well...which my sister said looked a tad tight like he had one snowflake too many! Poor little "Roller," he just can't give up those snow cones and rolls in the fresh snow. He is a friendly sort and has his right hand up waving at you from his frosty home.


"Roller" is carrying his little cousin "Ice Cycle" and a candy cane to swirl in their hot chocolate at the end of the day...another reason perhaps why "Roller's" vest is on the snug side. "Roller's" arms and hands are wire and can gently be moved to change their position.

Lots of little details in this fellow from his peppermint swirl button to the highlights in "Ice Cycle's" coal features and his little wooden carrot nose.

"Roller and Ice Cycle" have sold and will be moving to a warmer climate...they are thrilled and so am I!!

Have a great day!
Laurie

SpookyTime Jingles Update!!!

Where is the time going to? It can't possibly be time for another SpookyTime Jingles update on Saturday night can it?!!!! Yes, it is time and luckily I managed to get some pieces done this month in the middle of the Christmas tree farm madness!!! Not everything I wanted, not everything I thought I would get done (I have exceeding high expectations), but I did manage to produce 4 pieces for the update!!! (This seemed to be a really SHORT month!)

First, is "Standish the Pumpkin Elf," that you already had a preview to in an earlier blog. "Standish" is one of Santa's "go to guys" at the North Pole and he is a Pumpkin boy loving his elf costume!!! He is shown grinning with pride and holding a paper mache teddy bear and paperclay candy canes. Hours and hours in sculpting and painting the hat and those boots, but so worth it!!! The jingle bells on his hat and boots are actually paper mache balls painted to look like bells.


Then, there are the jingles for the month of December, "Topper", "Siegfried and Bubo" and "Tosser"....the 3+ snowmen from Monkey-Cats!!!


"Topper" is a unique piece that functions as a tree topper, but I also designed him so he can sit on a shelf. He is the shortest and smallest of the three, but he looks adorable on top of a Christmas tree.


Next, is "Siegfried" with his wise little snow-fellow companion, "Bubo". "Siegfried" loves this little stack of snowball goodness and carries him lovingly where ever he goes. "Bubo" may be small, but he is loyal and has kept Siegfried of a hot water more than once...which is really critical to a snowman!! You might say they are made of the same....stuff.


The final snowman in the group is "Tosser." Tosser is a guy's-guy, and has the throwing arm of a major league pitcher. He is known to always have a spare snowball concealed on his body somewhere (literally), and in an instant can toss a snowball with such accuracy that any challenger doesn't stand a chance. One good thing about "Tosser"...he never throws the first snowball.


I hope one of these new pieces finds a place in your heart! They will be available at midnight tomorrow night!!!!
Time sure is flying!
Laurie

STJ Tree on eBay

What an opportunity...a tree fully loaded with one of a kind originals made by the artists of SpookyTime Jingles is now on ebay!!!! Go give the auction a look and get close up photos of the ornaments because the group really came out full force to cover this little tree with the Christmas spirit!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110467416957&ssPageName=STRK:MESCX:IT

Yes, there is a Monkey-Cats Studio ornie on that tree and I'm going to be naughty and make you look at the auction for a peek! Great group, great fundraiser...now go bid and get yourself a special tree!!!

On another note...SNOW, and lots of it!! Home for the day painting because they are forecasting an inch an hour today...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

Have a great day all!
Laurie

Fa-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la

Well, I just had a pleasant surprise. I went to Flickr to upload my images and much to my surprise I found this lovely holly frame to put around my photos. It is cold outside, snow possibly on Sunday, holly frames available to "Christmas-up" the figures...all is good with the world. (It doesn't take much to make me happy!!)

Below is the finished Pumpkin-Elf, "Standish". I need my head examined for putting the hours into sculpting and painting his hat and boots, but I just couldn't resist. Unlike last month's "Elf in the Ornie", this hat doesn't have real jingle bells, these are made of paper mache and painted to look like bells.

"Standish" is another one of my Pumpkin Boys that loves all holidays. He doesn't deliver presents on Christmas day, but he does help Santa with the distribution side of things up at the North Pole. He checks the names and packaging of each gift (along with a crew of "elves", if you know what I mean *wink-wink*) so that Santa successfully delivers each child the correct toy and gift. It isn't like it use to be at the North Pole as they have even gone to bar coding! "Standish" takes his responsibility very seriously to assure that Santa doesn't disappoint the children of the world and is shown here holding a teddy bear (also paper mache) and candy canes (paperclay) to be packaged for....oops, that would let the surprise out!

"Standish" is one of the more dashing of the Lumina family members and is never seen without his full elf costume except when he takes his January vacation to the Caribbean....then it is strictly island shirts and shorts for this little guy.

"Standish" hopes as Christmas approaches that you have a joyous and loving holiday season and that he doesn't see your name on the naughty list!!

Have a great weekend!
Laurie