Dolls on a Balloon Ride

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As a frequent visitor of a cute blog called Du Buh Du Designs by artist Christine Alvarado, I was amazed to see the creation below. She sculpts these adorable polymer clay dolls and her husband made her the hot air balloon for one of their outings. Christine did a great job decorating the balloon and staging the pictures; don't you think so? And the dolls look like they're having a great time!

Muppets Kit at FAO Schwarz

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I was so excited to visit FAO Schwarz when I heard about their new "make your own" Muppet station. They've been available for several months now in the store and online.

If you're ever in the New York area and are a fellow fan of the muppets, you have to stop by FAO; if not to buy then at least to see them in person. They don't have any of the famous muppets on display or available to make but the Whatnots are just as amazing. I know it sounds weird, but when you see them it's like seeing a celebrity. So cool.

Winter White Flower Jack in the Box

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This Jack in the Box is my submission for the Paper Mache Artisans Webshow A winter white flower pops out of her ice blue paper mache box on a cold snowy day.

She is made using ivory velvet & silk flower petals and sprinkled with mica flakes with sprigs of vintage flower puffs. The box sparkles with silver glitter painted in an ice blue hue with a trim of white and silver double tubular tulle ribbon. Sprigs of vintage flower puffs and flocked greenery adorn the base of the box while a tiny blue bird rests on a blue velvet pad ornament on the top of the box. Box measures 11 1/2"h x 5 1/2"w open. $180

Baby Announcement

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Delilah Soleil Mercado

arrived Monday, October 20th

at 3:56 p.m.

weighing 8 lbs 9 ounces

and measuring 20 inches long

Both mom and baby (and dad) are healthy, happy and thankful to you all for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

Yellow Flower Jack-in-the-Box

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And out! pops a dainty daisy delivering daily dazzling displays while delightfully decorating your den.

Neutral colors adorn this JITB with vintage sheet music and a musical movement that plays "Playful Melody". Made using vintage muslin flowers, velvet leaves & ribbon and bells. The box has a generous coating of beeswax for depth and texture. Box measures 5 1/2" h x 4 1/2"w (closed). - $115

Baby and Art Update

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Well the baby's due date came and went so, yes, I'm still pregnant (thanks to those who keep asking for updates). The good news is that baby and I are both fine and will probably be together for another week. In the meantime, we have finally finished her room (making curtains, putting furniture together, painting etc.). All that it needs now is the baby!

The paint I used for the wall was actually a throwaway from my mom. She ordered the color for her bathroom but ended up not liking it. I turned her trash into treasure and I love how the subtle color works with the bright decorations and artwork. I forget the name of the paint but I like to call it Haagen-Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream - it looks sooo delicious!

I decorated the room with some of my hot-air-balloons and some leftover alphabet boxes from my baby shower. My sister made dozens of decorations from scratch; including the boxes, banners, favors and even designed the cake. The shower turned out beautiful and I just had to incorporate her hard & loving work into the baby's room.

I also, absolutely love the two Blackbird Designs paintings purchased from Earth Angels Toys (one of which was my first baby gift from a good friend). The paintings ended up working so perfectly together with the other things in the room that they look custom made! Thanks Deirdre and Jen!

Onto news of M Ann M art: Being that I have been so busy (and physically drained) with the coming baby and custom orders, I really haven't been able to make new work available for purchase. After the Hamptons Craft fair, I've been wiped out of almost all my inventory and have to start getting busy creating more JITB's and HAB's. I have only one more JITB available for purchase which I'll put on ETSY tomorrow. Thanks again to my new and repeat customers!

Here's a picture of a Red & White striped HAB, part of a custom order I recently completed. I always provide drawings of the piece to customers of commissioned orders for pre-approval.

Black & White Jester JITB

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The jester shook his hood and bells and leaped upon a chair;

The pages laughed, the women screamed, and tossed their scented hair;

The falcon whistled, stag-hounds bayed, the lap-dog barked without;

The scullion dropped the pitcher brown,--the cook railed at the lout;

The steward, counting out his gold, let pouch and money fall:

And why? Because the jester rose to say grace in the hall!

- George Walter Thornbury

A Jester JITB donned in all black & white with gold and silver accents has a musical movement installed that plays "Music of the Night". Both the jester and his stick have four-pointed hats with bells on the ends. Box measures 11 1/2"h x 5 1/2" w (open). The jester's stick measures 4" long. - $180

What was a jester's stick used for anyway? A 'Jester's stick' was used as a way to mock the clergy or the King and Queen themselves. It was in this way that a fool could get away with saying almost anything of disrespect because, after all, it was his 'stick' that said the slur.The Jester's sticks were used much like a ventriloquist uses a dummy.