Merry Creatures

In 2005 after quitting my last biology job in BC I moved to Regina SK in the spring and was very fortunate to be able to participate in a large community art festival put on by the "Dream Community" in Taiwan that fall.  The six weeks I spent in Taiwan included an intense amount of papier macheing to build giant puppets and other props.  When I returned to my new Saskatchewan home I had so much "build energy" remaining that I papier mached a large Halloween display for my lawn.  

As soon as Halloween was over I got the idea to start making little papier mache animal Christmas ornaments wearing Santa Hats, which I sold under the label "Merry Creatures". There were 9 or so in the first batch.  They were intentionally silly and had names, like "Ned the Christmas Cobra", "Eugene the Christmas Vulture".

A cool paper store in my neighbourhood kindly sold them, and I made about 50 Merry Creatures each season, for 2005, 2006 and 2007.  The prices started at $9 each for the first batch and by my last Christmas in Regina they were $21 each.

I made a few santa-hat-wearing-paper mache ornaments since moving to Nova Scotia in the fall of 2008 but didn't name them or use the Merry Creatures label.   It is now November 2014.  Lots has happened since that first November in 2005  when the first Merry Creatures decided to come to town!   It feels like a blissful reunion with a very good idea that is now 9 years old, so I'm pleased to pick up where I left off and to be naming and labeling these creatures again as they appear. 

All of these papier mache ornaments and figurines are "one offs" in that they are all hand sculpted originals.  This particular page will serve as an index  for the links to posts about different 'batches' of Merry Creatures as they are produced where from now on they'll all be photographed.   

Coming up with different labels is fun so the Merry Creatures will include "My Little Lobsters", "Hockey Raccoons" and anyone else that shows up in the future.  Organizing the various papier mache creatures reminds me a bit of undergrad biology classes in taxonomy.

I'm also happy to consider commissions if there's a personalized Merry Creature you'd like to order; I can be contacted through the methods listed on the 'About' page of this blog.

List of Links to Blog Posts with Merry Creatures

2014

Brendan and Nazem, the first Christmas Hockey Raccoons

Christmas Ski Jumper - My Litte Lobster #2

Merry Creatures! November 14th, 2014