I put together this Cannibal Barbie and oven combination 5 or 6 years ago when I found this awesome little Barbie stove in a second hand shop. Barbie has a pan full of brains, a heart in her pot and a brain roasting in the oven.
She lives in a bag in a cupboard. Maybe I should bring her out and display her.
Who else used to eat crumbed lambs brains? Now that brings back bad memories.
The last time I made Brain Earrings (of the needle felted variety) was in 2012. They were something I made quite a few pairs of over a few years and I had become a bit tired of making them. Making small brains like this is a bit of a challenge. Half they time they don’t look very good at all and I’d started making them bigger and bigger, to get better details. I wasn’t really happy with the size or the process and stopped, for 4 years.
Recently I got to thinking about them again. Why? I don’t know. I just decided to give it a shot. Forget about all of the OTHER work I need to do and spend way too long making brain earrings. Yeah, they take forever!
The brain earrings come with a little glass jar so you can store them like a brain specimen, also available in my shop.
This Pituitary Gland in a jar has been in and out of my Etsy store for quite some time. Years ago it was in there with the original photos and just hung around, and then it was out of my store for a while waiting to have new photos taken and lazy me never did. I’ve only ever sold one.
I remember making the Pituitary because I got a “convo” (the Etsy speak for a message within Etsy) asking me to make one. In the early days I would make anything and everything people suggest without taking an order or getting them to pay as it was a great way to get ideas for new pieces. (This is also why a thymus is sitting my shop.)
What I love about the way I have made the pituitary is the red and blue threads. I’ve almost always used the same shades of blue and red, I’d sometimes pick up a different shade but also return to my same favourite DMC colours.
Anyhooters, after finding this guy again I’ve also decided to make a brooch. I find myself getting back into making and experimenting with anatomy again after going on a bit of a journey off my path. Not that taking a detour here and there isn’t useful!
Sometimes you just have to make something new. Making new products is always a gamble but there is an absolute joy in making something new. That feeling when you are working on something new and it is going well. That is what I live for.
I picked up some of these hoops a while ago (and recently grabbed more). I’m slowly choosing anatomy to fill them using calico and the stem stitch, one of my favourite embroidery stitches. I think the next one will be a kidney.
I first learned to carve stamps from Kay Watanabe in a workshop at Hands On Brisbane. In that workshop I did a very crappy tree and a little mushroom but despite my initially bloody horrible job I did keep at it and started making my own stamps from my own versions of anatomy.
Below are the Kidney, Brain, Uterus, Intestine and Pelvis.
My favourite is without a doubt the Intestine. I’ve even printed onto shrink film and shrunk it down for a brooch and collar clips. I really need to make some of these for myself.
It’s almost half way through February and I’m still plugging away on replacing anatomy that sold before Christmas as well as recently sold bits and pieces. Lots of hand sewing in front of the TV to keep my eyes all good, even though I recently got glasses.
I’m currently addicted to Pretty Little Liars which my sister loaned me. I’ll start season 5 next week to see what happens with Alison being back. I read that PLL is like “I Know What You Did Last Summer” meets “Gossip Girl.” I never watched Gossip Girl but my Mum loves IKWYDLS so have seen that so many times. Although I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s quite like IKWYDLS it is a very addictive mystery with lots of weird story arcs that leave you going WTF?!
Below-Brass Ribs Necklace, Brain brooch and Lungs Brooch
I made my first Brainy Barbie maybe 5 years ago. I’ve only sold 5 or 6 of them but they always get attention at markets. Many people laughed, “Barbie with a Brain, ha!” but I never thought of Barbie as being particularly stupid. I had Doctor Barbie and other Barbie who did interesting things and I never acted out Barbie as a ditz, she was also doing a job. Bratz on the other hand…
I never intended for my Brainy Barbie (or Barbie with a Brain) to be a commentary on the doll but just did it because I had a Barbie there, without a head and a brain there and just put the two together. I like the way this doll creates discussion and how much people love the idea.
Stamps are hard not to love. Whether it is a humble potato stamp, store bought stamp, someone else’s hand carved handy work, or, best of all, your own hand carved stamp.
I learnt to carve stamps from Kay Watanabe as part of the Hands On Brisbane and truly love the technique and the results.
Today I spent a little time making some more wrap for orders using my own hand carved Your Organ Grinder Anatomy stamps. I use my stamps to make wrap and tote bags, rather than selling the stamps I carve.
Some Stamped little stuffed things. Not sure what to do with them. Any ideas?
Stamped Tote Bag, bird skulls.
The Uterus Stamp
The Ovary Stamp
Your Organ Grinder 