Another fairy tale inspired piece, this time from the brothers Grimm.  This is my twist on Red Riding Hood – the wolf is her companion.

Red Riding Hood walks through the night time forest

This wire and papier mache sculpture stands 28cm wide, 33cm high and 22cm deep.

Red Riding Hood with her companion

The figure is made from wire and papier mache, accompanied by the trees and her wolf she rises out of the book from which they are formed. Her hair is made from a soft viscose material which is gathered and ruched, then falls into a long plait. Her dress is 100% cream silk, with three buttons down the side. Flowing behind her, the vibrant red cloak is also 100% silk.

To find out more about the authors – the brothers Grimm and the fairy tale, try these Wikipedia pages – the authors or the fairy tale. If you would like to read the fairy tale, you’ll find it along with other fairy tales freely available in Kindle format and many more, here at the wonderful Project Gutenberg .  If you’ve lost your copy of the fairy tale and want to replace it or would like to buy a hard copy, try Amazon – Little Red Riding Hood

To purchase this item, please, visit Our Etsy Shop for further details.

The Swan Princess

Latest addition to the Etsy shop, is this assemblage comprised of a wire an papier mache figurine accompanied by a cast metal swan on the stage of a mock theater.

The Swan Princess

Inspired by the mythical creature of many tales and legends, who shape-shifts from human form to swan form, this piece owes its origins to the story of the Swan Maiden.  Folktales usually adhere to the following basic plot. A young, unmarried man steals a magic robe made of swan feathers from a swan maiden so that she will not fly away, and winds up marrying her.

To find out more about the fairy tale, try these Wikipedia pages -the fairy tale. If you would like to read the fairy tale, you’ll find it along with other fairy tales, freely available in Kindle format and many more, here at the wonderful Project Gutenberg . If you’ve lost your copy of the fairy tale and want to replace it or would like to buy a hard copy, try this list at Amazon The Swan Maiden

To purchase this item, please, visit Our Etsy Shop for further details.

I’ve been working on the “The Princess and the Pea” for what seems like ages but, she’s finally here.

The Princess and the Pea - Papier Mache, Wire and Fabric Sculpture.

Of course, she’s inspired by the well known Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea”. In the fairy tale, a young girl is revealed as a princess after claiming to have had a restless night, caused by a pea being placed under the multitude of matresses and featherbeds upon which she slept (the actual number was 20 matresses and 20 featherbeds – I stopped at 15 ).

The Princess and the Pea - Papier Mache, Wire and Fabric Sculpture

23cm wide, 33cm high and 16cm deep, the piece depicts a small princess wearing a billowing silk nightdress, awakeing from her restless slumber, yawning and streching as morning approaches.

The figure is made from wire and papire mache. Her hair is made from soft viscose, gathered and ruched, which falls in a lomg plait to the floor. Her nightdress is 100% silk – after all, she is a princess! On the rug are her discarded slippers, patiently made form little pieces of paper.

Now to the bed, it’s also made form wire and papier mache and sits atop a book as if coming alive from the story. A ladder sweeps in a curve to the top of the bed. Whilst her mattresses, each one individually handmade, come from all over the world - Indian cottons, Chinese silk and satins, beautiful cottons, linens and 100% cashmere. The sheets under which she lay, like her nightdress are made from 100% silk, overlayed with warm luxurious blankest made form vintage lace and cahmere.

The photos shown here, unlike the ones on Etsy, were taken against a dark background. I’m  not to sure which I like best, what do you think?

To find out more about the author – Hans Christian Andersen and the fairy tale, try these Wikipedia pages – the author or the fairy tale. If you would like to read the fairy tale, you’ll find it along with other Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales freely available in Kindle format and many more, here at the wonderful Project Gutenberg .  If you’ve lost your copy of the fairy tale and want to replace it or would like to buy a hard copy, try Amazon – The Princess and the Pea

To purchase this item, please, visit Our Etsy Shop for further details.

Commissioned As A Keepsake

Its taken a little while longer to complete than I thought it might but here it is.  Commissioned to be placed in the nursery of a newborn baby girl, with the intention it is kept safe for her until she is older and  can look after it herself.

Will It Stand The Test Of Time?

If you would like to commission a similar piece as a keepsake for someone special or to celebrate an important occasion, anniversary or event; please e-mail me at info@messiejessie.co.uk to discuss your requirements.

The assemblage as a closed book

I was given a tiny old 1930′s encyclopedia and loved the size of it.  So, I just thought of Alice in Wonderland, where she enters a minature world.

The assemblage opened

When I took the photos for our online shop and Etsy store the sun was out and I managed to get some good photos in the natural light.  Here are some of the extra photos I took but have not been used on Etsy.

In the 1920′s, a dolls house was made for Queen Mary of England.  It was built by craftsmen, on a scale of 1:12, and everything in it was built to perfection, including minature lights and running water.  The house includes paintings commissioned from well-known artists, readable miniature books from writers of the day, state rooms, servant’s quaters, a garage and hidden underneath is a retractable garden.

Heather Benning - Dollhouse - Front

Heather Benning - Dollhouse - Rear

When Iwas young, I was fascinated by a terrace of derelict houses near my home.  They weren’t boarded up so, you could see into them and catch glimpses of wall paper and old fire places.  From these snippets of detail I used to imagine what they were like when they were occupied.  Sometimes I would make my wau in and play there for hours at a time.

I recently completed a couple of pieces of work, brought about by those childhood memories.  They depict bedroom scenes, purposely left almost bare, so that the observer can interact with the piece and project onto it their own memoires.

I’m enjoying playing with book sculptures at the moment and love the idea of little theater sets.

Another Stolen Moment

In the next few pieces I want to create drama and atmosphere in the pieces.

Another Stolen Moment

As usual this assemblage is available in my online shop or Etsy store