beetlegrass

I Live in a Small Town

"I Live in a Small Town" is a 17-scene exhibit I created for Providence Children's Museum, which featured 36 of my handcrafted finger puppets and hundreds of miniatures I've made or collected over the years. The exhibit was on display for four months and was well received by little kids and by big kids who are sometimes disguised as adults.

Below are some of the inhabitants who resided in the display boxes which measured 12 5/8" L x 6 3/4" H x 5 1/8"W -- now THAT'S a small town!

Designing thematically when it comes to puppets, I believe, makes for endless and richer storytelling possibilities as the characters interact with one another. Some of the themes I work with include: Little Paris, the Rodeo and Nursery Rhymes. 

It was in the crafting of these puppets that their stories unfolded, which indicated to me where these guys would like to live -- what sorts of backdrops and props needed to be made -- in order to make their small world REAL.

Working on a miniature scale is both challenging and hugely rewarding to me as an artist. So, whether I'm working with fiber and fabrics, or with clay, wood, or wire, I am striving for a high level of detail, for impeccable craftsmanship, and for believability. The goal is ALWAYS to pull the viewer into the "story", and to delight.

 

These characters' stories and images are the property of and are ©Megan E. Jeffery. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

Thy Rod & Thy Staff, They Comfort Me

Some more silliness for you today. (Were you running low?)

Another of Life's lessons, as illustrated by donuts, can be found here. ENJOY. 

The name, concept & design of this puppet and his stories are the property of Megan E. Jeffery.This image is © Megan E. Jeffery. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Turn in Your Piece for Peace!

Not only is Babycakes Jr. a world-class baker, he's ALSO a civic-minded community leader. It's his commitment to his fellow citizens that led him to implement a gun turn-in program, with a drop-off point RIGHT IN HIS BAKERY... and what's more incentivizing than FREE PASTRY? Since Sal feels he's TURNING OVER a new leaf, he's putting the squeeze on Babycakes for some free apple TURNOVERs, too. Oh, Sal, you'll never REALLY change, will you?

(Cannoli are made from polymer clay. Just for this joke. YUP.)

The names, concepts & designs of these puppets and their stories are the property of Megan E. Jeffery.This image is © Megan E. Jeffery. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Dough, My Dear.

More money-related idioms for you today -- this time with Babycakes Jr. chiming in!

"On the breadline" is an idiom that means to be very poor, having to wait on line for food from a government agency or charitable organization.

For Babycakes Jr. however, it just means CONGA TIME after all the loaves and rolls are baked.

"Rolling in it" is an idiom that means "very rich".

Which Babycakes Jr. is. In all the ways that matter.

Someone's "bread and butter" is the way they regularly earn their money.

For Babycakes Jr., his bread and butter is bread. But not the butter.

 

"Dough" is a slang term for money, and "raking in the dough" means to receive a lot of money; to earn a large salary.

For Babycakes Jr., it's something he needs to do and does to knead.

 

To be a "breadwinner" means that you support your family with the money you earn.

Babycakes Jr. also supports his family with his bakery (but his mom and dad pull their weight, let me tell you), in part by selling Award Winning Bread!

1st place: Baguette. 

1st place: Sliced Loaf.

1st place: Unsliced Loaf with Sesame Seeds.

Unfunny note: Thought I was done shooting for the day, when I looked up and a magazine I have hanging on my wall (yes, I have magazines hanging on my wall, shut up) said, "BREADWINNER". So I had to do one more picture!

[You can click on any of these images to see them larger in a pop-up window.]

The name, concept & design of this puppet and his stories are the property of Megan E. Jeffery.This image is © Megan E. Jeffery. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Paschal Pastries

As alluded to yesterday, Babycakes Jr. has been a blur in the kitchen, trying out new recipes and baking up the time-tested standbys for which the small townspeople all clamor. The carrot cakes were of particular interest to one gentleman...

All the food items were made using polymer clay, and Google image search inspired the looks of these goodies. I used a bit of semolina flour in the layers of the carrot cake for texture. The duck/egg pastries made use of some small colored eggs that have been kicking around here for hundreds of centuries. Didn't know if the plastic would melt in a 275 degree oven, but as you yourself can now attest: they did not. The clay of both the ducks and the rabbits was brushed with pastel dust -- prior to baking -- for a baked look. The Easter basket-y things are cupcakes with "jelly beans" on top.

And, yes, I found the scuzziest dime possible as a size reference. (Click on image to see it larger.)

The name, concept & design of this puppet and his stories are the property of Megan E. Jeffery.This image is © Megan E. Jeffery. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

A Dime a Dozen?

Babycakes Jr. has been whipping up all sorts of delectables for Eastertide  -- yesterday for Good Friday he had a whopping 2 for 1¢ special on HOT CROSS BUNS!

The name, concept & design of this puppet and his stories are the property of Megan E. Jeffery.This image is © Megan E. Jeffery. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.