On the craft desk

This week I have been able to spend a little time just carving for fun.  I don't get to do that much -what a treat!

Here is what's hangin' out on the craft desk currently...

A little bit of the Master, 1" x 1.5"

A warm-up for the Erte swap, 1.5" x 1.75"

Capt. Rex in pink stuff, 1"

To all my readers - I love you!
2.5" x 1"

Dear Secret Santa,

I make it my policy not to post the artwork and efforts of other carvers on this blog (due to privacy and spoilers), but I just cannot resist sharing this gem.

It would seem that I am on the special list of those who receive secret mailings, all of which are absolutely FABULOUS in technique and design. Due to the busyness of the past holiday craziness, I didn't have a chance to go through the pile of envelopes that were carefully placed on my desk by my children. Yesterday, I finally had a moment to sit down and enjoy all the fruit of loving labor that graced my mailbox during this past couple of weeks, the above included.

Now, I had taken note of people exclaiming surprise and gratitude to someone named "Secret Santa", but didn't take much time to investigate further. I just figured it was part of a project I wasn't a part of...which does happen, by the way. When I found this green postcard in my pile, however, it all came flooding back. The resident from Whoville had included me in his (or most likely, her) dastardly plans...

I do find it rather fascinating that I received this particular fellow, since it is no secret my feelings on the most recently passed holiday. I did get a pretty good chuckle that I received 'the mean one'...

Thank you, you most secret of Santas! The carving is impeccable, the surprise was sweet and your choice of image(s) absolutely perfect for this recipient! Your efforts have gained you much notoriety and personal pleasure, I'm positive!

~SHH, who now has the Mr. Grinch song stuck in her head... :-)

Cinderella

OK, I admit it. Cinderella is my all-time favorite Disney movie. Back in January 2008, this postal was my last.

(stamp size 3.5" x 2.5")

If you love Cinderella as much as I do, you will most certainly enjoy some of these tidbits of trivia:

• In both Cinderella (1950) and Sleeping Beauty (1959), the main character's friends surprise her with a new dress, calling out "Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! Happy birthday!"
  
  
• Not only is the name of the Prince never revealed, he is nowhere in the film mentioned as "Prince Charming".
  
  
• Ilene Woods beat exactly 309 girls for the part of Cinderella, after some demo recordings of her singing a few of the film's songs were presented to Walt Disney. However, she had no idea she was auditioning for the part until Disney contacted her; she initially made the recordings for a few friends who sent them to Disney without telling her.
  
  
• Lucifer was modeled after animator Ward Kimball's cat. Animators were having trouble coming up with a good design for that cat, but once Walt Disney saw Kimball's furry calico, he declared, "There's your Lucifer."
  
  
• When Cinderella is singing "Sing, sweet nightingale", three bubbles form the head and ears of Mickey Mouse.
  
  
• The first fully-developed, feature-length film the studio released after wartime cutbacks forced them to release several "package films" (Melody Time (1948), Fun and Fancy Free (1947), etc.). The success of the animation department depended greatly on its success.
  
  
  original release movie poster, 1950
  
  
  
• Walt turned for the first time to "Tin Pan Alley" song writers, to write the songs. This would later become a recurring theme in Disney animation.
  
  
• The royal proclamation on the castle gate wall reads: " All loyal subjects of his Imperial Majesty are hereby notified by royal proclamation that in regard to a certain glass slipper, it is upon this day decreed that a quest be instituted throughout the length and breadth of our domain. The sole and express purpose of said quest is as follows to wit: That every single maiden in our beloved Kingdom shall try upon her foot this aforementioned slipper of glass, and should one be found whose foot shall properly fit said slipper, such maiden will be acclaimed the subject of this search and the one and only true love of his Royal Highness, our noble Prince. And said Royal Highness will humbly request the hand of said maiden in marriage to rule with him over all the Land as Royal Princess and future Queen."
  
  
  "Proof" bonus stamp, size 1.25" x 1.5"

• According to Ilene Woods, who did the voice for Cinderella, it was Walt Disney who suggested the layered harmonies in the "Sweet, Sweet Nightingale" sequence. She thinks that it might have been the first time that it was attempted (Mitch Miller claimed to have invented the technique during his tenure as A&R man at Columbia Records a few years before 'Cinderella' started production)
  
  
• According to Marc Davis, one of the directing animators of Cinderella, at least 90% of the movie was done in live action model before animation. Dancer Ward Ellis was the live action model for Prince Charming.
  
  
• Was the first Disney film to have its songs published and copyrighted by the newly created Walt Disney Music Company. Before movie soundtracks became merchandise-able, movie songs had little residual value to the film studio that owned them and were often sold off to established music companies for sheet music publication.
  
  
• GOOFY HOLLER: When both the King and the Grand Duke fall from the chandelier.
  
  
• The transformation of Cinderella's torn dress to that of the white ball gown was considered to be Walt Disney's favorite piece of animation.
  
  
• Walt Disney had not had a huge hit since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). The production of this film was regarded as a major gamble on his part. At a cost of nearly $3,000,000, Disney insiders claimed that if this movie had failed at the box office, it would have been the end of the Disney studio. The film was a big hit. The profits from its release, with the additional profits from record sales, music publishing, publications and other merchandise gave Disney the cash flow to finance a slate of productions (animated and live action), establish his own distribution company, enter television production and begin building Disneyland during the decade.
  
  
• Disney restored and re-mastered the movie for its 4 October 2005 DVD release as the sixth installment of Disney's Platinum Edition series. According to the Studio Briefing, Disney sold 3.2 million copies in its first week and earned over $64 million in sales.
  
  
• The story takes place roughly in June. In the movie, the sun rises slightly before 6:00 AM (in France), as it would within a few weeks of the summer solstice. Also by this time, a pumpkin would have grown to 20-40 pounds.
  
  
• Gus' full name is Octavius, presumably after the Roman Emperor.
  
  
• Cinderella's carriage is actually a live-action model painted white with black lines; this was the first time this technique had actually been used.
  
  
• [June 2008] Ranked #9 on the American Film Institute's list of the 10 greatest films in the genre "Animation".
  
  
• The carriage that Cinderella and the Prince take after the wedding has an emblem of a sword and two hidden Mickey Mouse heads around it.

...and they lived happily ever after!

Fred and Ginger

My mom loves classic Hollywood movies - Doris Day and Rock Hudson, Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, Shirley Temple...man, there were so many great movies. My favorites starred Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Gosh, he was so debonair and she was just so beautiful and quick-witted. Just to watch them dance kept me enthralled, especially as a young girl.


From the way-back machine comes a stamp from the Classic Hollywood postal ring. I like to play with lines and with this one I wanted to use as few lines as possible without losing the feel of movement. It's a rather large stamp at 3.75" x 2.75".

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire are quite possibly the most famous dancing duo ever paired, and every bit of their fame is well deserved. Of the ten musicals they made, none was ever nominated for any acting or writing Oscars (the plot of their movies is not usually their strongest feature), but the various dance numbers, be they tap or aesthetic, as well as fun songs, make them more than enjoyable. And even though most may have been written off as "diversion" films of the Great Depression, they continue to divert quite successfully today.

More Portraits

(stamp size 3.75" x 2")

Today, I'm featuring two carves of people. More than just their face, their body language speaks as loudly as their facial expressions. The first is Emma Roberts as Nancy Drew. Carved for the swap by the same name hosted by our favorite Nancy Drew fan, Amanda from Seattle. I took this image from the DVD cover of the new movie. However, during the carving, something went awry and I ended up creating this rather unique shaped stamp.

(stamp size 4" x 2")

A similar oops happened with this dashing fellow. Taken from a photo I snapped at Norwescon '09 (a Sci-Fi & Fantasy Convention here in Seattle), the gentleman was an excellent example of some of the great Steam Punk costumes we saw. He was more than pleased to pose for a photo. Somehow, though, part of him was really hard to see in the photo. Since this image was for my Steam Punk LTC, I used the gear stamp along with my stately friend for a collage-type of effect, thus covering his lack.

You remember this one, right?

(stamp size just under 2" across)

I hope he doesn't mind.

Beloved Anne

(actual size 2.5" x 3.5")

Thought I'd share one of my more popular carves as of late. It is everyone's beloved Anne "with an E". Carved for the recent Green Gables swap, I stepped in as a last minute replacement for a dear friend.

I have to admit, I love Anne, too. *smile*

Mr. McGregor, if you please

Hands down, my absolute favorite portrait I have done to date. OK, so that may be a bit strong, but I really like this one of our friend Mr. McGregor. Some stamps are just a joy to carve; sometimes I say it's like eating dessert and this one definitely qualifies. Carved for the fabulous Heart Throb swap hosted by my friend Maiden about a year ago. (stamp size 3.25" x 2.5")

Below was the inspiration - I love this group of shots. I have to say that he must have an awful lot of photo shoots, as there is a ton of photos of him online! That's all good for me *shrug*...!!

I'm guessin' that this set was taken a bit before shooting began for Attack of the Clones, judging by the hair style and beard.

Nice. *smile*

The Best of Ewan McGregor

Rich and Famous

Hey, how 'bout a few portraits today?

Can you guess them?

(actual size 3" x 4")

(actual size 3" x 1.75")

(actual size 3" x 2.25")