beetlegrass

Plastic Baby Buggy Bumpers

Babycakes Jr. had been making mewling baby noises about getting in on the Food Truck craze and establishing some visibility in the sectors of his community where his brick-and-mortar store ISN'T, so to that end, I did his bidding by gussying up some super inexpensive plastic baby buggies, the sort that are typically used at baby showers for little candies and whatnot.

This post will be less of a step-by-step how-to and more like a here's-what-I-started-with and here's-the-end-product type of thing. So I bought a package of 2 blue plastic baby buggies at the dollar store for $1.29. Why they don't call it the "$1.29 Store" is another Mystery for the Ages, but there ya go.

Here they are, above, as I bought them. As you can see, I was able to pop the parts out. Well, I wasn't able to pop the wheels off. I probably could have, but I didn't want to risk breaking my oh-so-expensive purchase.

I basically added fabric and painted the buggies. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

- flannel fabric for interiors
- felt mattress with coordinating flannel fabric for mattress
- lace (gathered and glued) around buggy
- lace in interior of buggy "bonnet" (bonnet remains removable)
- polka-dotty ribbon as trim
- painted undercarriages and handles silver
- wheels painted
- bit of fabric wrapped & glued around handles

So I'm saying to my dad that I'd like to have a whole fleet of these food trucks for Babycakes Jr. Dad asks, "Does he have anyone else helping him?" I say, no, that he has parents, but I haven't made them yet. Dad says, "Well, for one guy, 2 food trucks is probably all he could manage." I say, "Well I was thinking that he could just leave the food trucks unmanned in various parts of town, and rely on Good Faith payments from his customers." Dad's response to that was UNSATISFACTORY. But I love that we are discussing the business dealings of a finger puppet with something that approaches seriousness.

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

This Week on Big & Little: Cast Iron Stoves

Today "This Week on Big & Little" makes its Triumphant Return! Did you ever think you'd see the day? Why or why not? Stove Sr. is an actual wood-burning stove. The next one up from that is a toy/possibly a sample that stove salesmen would bring to show customers. The other 2 stoves are pure toy, straight up. I've shown you them before, but you probably weren't paying attention. You do that a lot you know. It's beginning to be a bad habit.

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. 

Flea Market Finds: Old Man Hand Puppet

The outdoor flea market started up again today!

 

I actually got this old man puppet for little less than $2.50. He's from the same manufacturer as the handmaiden puppet I got back in '09. She cost me $2 then, which I thought was a pretty good dealio. The guy selling the old man puppet told me initially, "$5!" when he saw me pick it up, then he said, "Put on a puppet show for me." I didn't have the nerve to tell him that THAT would cost HIM $5.

This image is © Megan E. Jeffery. All rights reserved. 

Flea market Finds: Red Cross Bag

It's fantastic; it's made of plastic. Necessary for Life as I know it? No.

Flea Market Finds: Grill Magnet

The flea market was on again this week, thanks to the great weather we've been having. Could this outdoor venue continue into DECEMBER? Only time will tell...

So this little grill is a magnet, although we both know that it's unlikely it will be used that way in this household. The cover lifts up to reveal a couple of kebabs, a hamburger and a hotdog.

This character -- her image, design and stories -- are the property of Megan E. Jeffery. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Flea Market Finds: Miniatures

 

Flea Market Finds: Mini Mailbox

So excited about this mini mailbox that has a flap that lifts and a door that opens (with keys), and a shelf inside! I've been looking for a mailbox for so long, and this is better than I could have hoped for! Still on the Wish List: a British mailbox and a French mailbox, oh an' also like a (U.S.) homeowner's mailbox. "Dear Santa..."

Flea Market Finds: 2 Mini Horse Trailers

Today at the flea market: 2 horse trailers for $1.

The smaller one reads, "Rodeo Team", which is great because I have rodeo clown puppets, and the larger one reads, "Silver Saddle Horse Ranch", which is great because it just is. 

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.

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.