Leafy Alphabet

I have really neglected this blog! Busy with lots of custom orders and working again. Here's a recent project I finished, staying in theme with my alphabet obsession. It only took me a year to start and finish this! Enjoy!

Pics from the Toying with Art Show

Here's a picture of my game, way down on the bottom, in green, underneath the big colorful mosaic. I can't wait to visit the Cameron Art Museum and see it in person!

2009 Holiday Ornaments in the Shop

I've listed three in a series of twenty holiday ornaments in the MarthaLand shop. Each one is made from a big jingle bell with a little snowy slug scene on top! They make unique and inexpensive gifts, or get one to decorate your own tree!

Artist Made Toys Submission

I've been busy on a project of another kind. My first submission for a show! The Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, NC is having an Artist Made Toys show in November and invited me to participate. My contribution will be a slug themed board game called Journey to the Garden of Eatin', get it, haha! Here are some pictures of the work in progress.

Fox Bride and Bunny Groom

Another custom wedding cake topper. First time I've made a fox, I think she came out quite nice!

Chowder!

I wanted to post this so long ago when I made it, but it was a birthday present for a very special gal, and I didn't want to ruin the surprise! We love Chowder. I was sad to give him away, but her reaction was the best! Thanks Katie!!!!!!!

New Wedding Cake Topper

Here's the latest project I've completed. Another wedding cake topper, featuring two snails and a trio of mushrooms!

Diarama Complete!

I have been away and very busy. Here's some pictures of the completed Earwax Cafe diarama. Besure to check out real pictures of the actual restaurant (and the rest of my images too) on flickr. Many hours and about 6 pounds of clay later...this was so much fun to make but I miss it already!

Back From the Redwoods

I'm back from vacation and feeling a bit more complete after visiting the Redwoods and seeing my first banana slug in the wild. Actually I saw a lot. It was exciting!

Custom Wedding Table Topper

Just finished this massive project. What started as a small wedding cake topper evolved into a table display, mainly because the couple won't be having cake, but other tasty desserts instead! The base is built on a terracotta planter and the bunnies and trees are detachable and connect securely to the base with magnets.

I'm also working on a huge project for another wedding: a gift to the bride and groom comemorating when they first met! It's a diarama of the Earwax Cafe in Chicago. Can't wait to post pictures as I go along!

MarthaLand on Facebook

MarthaLand is now on Facebook. Become a fan for updates on sales, new items, and more. From August 1st until August 5th, leave a comment on the wall and get a discount code for 15% your next purchase in the Etsy shop.

Two New Illustrations

Here's two new drawings I did today. The bear took quite awhile even though I had a sketch to work from. The sad mountain only took about an hour surprisingly, right off the top of my head as I went along. I submitted it to Illustration Friday this week, topic is Idle.

Where the Wild Things Are

I don't know if I can wait until October to see this movie. I feel like I've already waited so long since first hearing rumors that Spike Jonze was making it with live action puppets. The first time I saw the preview I cried! And to be honest I don't even remember the book that well. Maybe it has something to do with the amazing soundtrack by Arcade Fire. You can check out their band site here.

Where the Wild Things Are!! from Matt Krenitsky on Vimeo.

And guess what I discovered over at Roadside Projects...Jayme's been featured on a wonderful blog dedicated to artwork inspired by the book. Be sure to check out Terrible Yellow Eyes for all kinds of amazing art in the likeness of Max and his friend. Very fun stuff. I can't wait!

Look what I inspired!

Yeah, I'm all about inspiration this week! I just got some great feedback on Etsy from a customer and check out what my little slugs inspired her to make...a pink and yellow slug puppet! I want one. Thanks Theresa! Be sure to go and check out her Etsy shop.

Amazing Magnets!

Okay, I have to nerd out a little and post this awesome video. If I had $24.95 to waste, I would totally buy these!

New Illustration Inspiration

I've been working on some new illustrations recently. I have always been discouraged by my lack of ability to draw people, even in a funky cartoon way. The other night I grabbed my sketchbook and just started doing some quick loopy drawings without really thinking about it and low and beyond, I think I finally found my style! I scanned all the sketches and digitally colored them, which takes quite awhile, but to me is worth it. Not sure what will become of them, perhaps I'll will do some custom portraits? Who knows! Here's the most recent one I finished today. I tried to use an old color palette from colourlovers called chicken soup and revamped it by switching out a green for a nice earthy brown. I ended up using black and white as well, but I guess that's not really cheating. I found the background photo from my friends M&B's Vermont wedding album. And lastly added to the collage effect with a coffee stained paper I found laying around the studio. You can see some other illustrations here, will no color palette restrictions and plain backgrounds.

Stop Motion Meets Digital Graphics

I came across this video on Share Some Candy. Just lovely.

Opening from Gabo Gesualdi on Vimeo.

Myke asked me the other day: If you could have any hobby or interest that you wanted, no matter how much it cost or any of that stuff, what would it be? I'd have to say, it would be really super awesome to have a stop motion animation studio and a working knowledge of how to make a quality short film. I don't have the attention span or patience for a full length! I've been dreaming of learning how to make a doll with movable limbs out of polymer clay, but alas, lack of funds and lots of other things to do has left it only a dream. What hobby would you take up if money and other restrictions couldn't stop you?

Forest Hollow

Here's just a little peek at something I've been working on. Hopefully there will be more to come. I'm expanding quite a bit into the custom market on Etsy, so I need to come up with fresh new ideas!

Slug Hedge!

You can bet that if I had a house with a massive row of hedges along the side, I'd definately pull an Edward Scissorhands and sculpt out a leafy slug friend like this one in Washington. Found on Flickr. So cool, he has CDs for eyes! No doubt those pesky AOL free trials that used to come in the mail every other week!

Happy 4th

This has absolutely nothing to do with our nation's independence, but I like it. Enjoy!