Frost Unicorn

This beautiful girl is now on ebay if you'd like to bid on her! http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/322372076176?

Sometimes I am hit with an idea that I'm SO excited about I have to drop everything and go work on it right then. That's what happened with this girl. I woke in the middle of the night, Christmas night actually, and I was freezing (we had just had a huge snowstorm earlier that day). I had the idea of a frost unicorn that wouldn't let me go back to sleep. And this is her, almost exactly like I pictured her in my head! She took a couple of days, and many, many hours to finish, but here she is and I love her. I hope you do too.

Her name is Hylzarie, lover of moon and stars.

Arendaile the Kirin now on ebay!

Click here to bid

Summer is nearly over, the kids are back in school, and I'm finally getting back into a regular sculpting routine. Taking on custom orders during summer vacation was probably not my smartest idea as I just haven't had the time to devote to them that I would like. Which also means I haven't been making any adoption or auction creatures. 

But I did finally squeeze in some time to sculpt this pretty lady. I love love LOVE sculpting Kirins. They are so magical and just entirely enjoyable to sculpt. They're one of my favorite things. :) 

I'll be having a sale on Etsy this Friday at 8 PM MST if you'd like to try and snag a Tumble Creature! Until then friends. 

Hugs,
Crystal

Snacking on: peanut butter and rice cakes

Drinking: Orange cinnamon herbal tea

Listening to: Linkin Park

Watching: Fear the Walking Dead

Reading: City of Heavenly Fire 

Updated Custom Ordering Info!

Well everyone I'm getting closer to be able to accept a very limited number of custom orders. I won't be taking long waiting lists like I have in the past. But will be taking a few new orders from time to time. I haven't set the date yet, just have a few things I need to finish working on before I do that. This information is long but hopefully it has all the answers you need!


Hi there! And thanks so much for wanting to custom order a Tumble Creature!
*** CUSTOM ORDERS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE***


Here’s how my ordering process works: I do not have an ongoing waiting list for my custom sculptures, due to the large amount of daily requests I receive I have found that it is best for all to work on a limited amount of orders at one time. This can vary depending on how much time I feel I have to devote to each custom order. Custom art work is exceedingly time, labor, and skill intensive and I want to be sure to devote my very best effort to each custom, therefore I can only work on a very limited amount at a time.


When I’m ready to take new orders I will announce the date and time they will open through my email newsletter. Click here if you'd like to sign up: http://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?llr=vbi8mwsab&p=oi&m=1119590654005&sit=yris4dkjb&f=7bc3869c-4e70-439c-8453-d8217d538ea9


At least one spot will be given priority to a subscriber of my mailing list. I will then post it on my Facebook page, and other social media sites as well that I will begin reserving spots. Here is what you will need to do if you’d like to secure a spot for a custom sculpture when I am open for new orders:


Send me an email at tumblecreatures@gmail.com within 24 hours of the date and time stated. Exactly 24 hours after the time I stated I will begin compiling the list of names from the emails and randomly select the number of names for the number of custom sculptures I will be creating. Since I will not have a lot of spots available I think this is the fairest way possible for everyone. In addition to the number of spots I announce available through my newsletter sometimes I will also have one available to purchase through some kind of trivia game that will be played on my Facebook page. Please include in your message, your email address, a photo of the animal you would like sculpted as well as its style (Traditional or Hybrid) pose, and the country you live in (for shipping estimate purposes). This information is used to quote you a price as well as to do the work on your sculpture. At this time I am limiting custom orders to one per person so that more people can have a chance at a spot. For this round of ordering I will not be accepting orders for fantasy animals and creatures. I will still be making them and selling them, but they will be ideas from my own imagination.


Although I have had several size options for custom ordering in the past currently I will only be accepting custom animals in my Standard (3 - 3.5 inch) size, along with a bust option, and prices vary depending on the detail, style (Traditional or Hybrid) and pose of your animal.
Prices effective as of June 1, 2015


Standard size - Traditional style (3 - 3.5 inches) Pricing starts at $85 for solid color (Excluding dapples. Most facial markings and leg markings like socks, blaze, and bald faces are included), short coated (like horses and Labs) animals and goes up to $145+ depending on pose, coat length, and color complexity (to be determined by me from a photo you send)


Standard size - Hybrid style (3 - 3.5 inches) Pricing starts at $125 for solid color (Excluding dapples. Most facial markings and leg markings like socks, blaze, and bald faces are included), short coated (like horses , smooth coated cats, and Labs) animals and goes up to $350+ depending on pose, coat length, and color complexity (to be determined by me from a photo you send)


***What's the difference between Traditional and Hybrid style? Traditional is based on the Original Tumble Creature™ Pony, made entirely out of colored clay, with hand painted eyes in your choice of color, all poses available with at least 2 legs on the ground, but a more simplified, cartoon version than the more elaborate and realistic Hybrid style. Hybrid style features fully articulated legs in more complex poses (running, trotting, bucking, etc.), is entirely hand sculpted and hand painted from artist quality oil paints and pigments, and has a very delicate and detailed face and hand carved manes and tails.***


Portrait bust (Realistic style) About 4 - 4.5 inches head and neck only. Pricing starts at $300 and goes up depending on the amount of detail included. Since this is such a larger sculpture than the full body ponies much more detail can be included. Mounted onto a wooden base and painted in your choice of color. The Portrait busts take all the features of the Hybrid style and amplify them on a larger and even more detailed and realistic scale. Fully hand sculpted and entirely hand painted with artist quality oil paints and pigments.


The base price does not include shipping, shipping for one animal to the US is $6, Canada $9, International $15. Please contact me for an exact shipping quote for more than one sculpture.


Basic pose options are standing, sitting, lying down, and rearing. But within those three choices are numerous other variations. I'm open to sculpt any type of pose.


I do ask for payment before I begin work on your sculpture. I will send you a message in the beginning of the month your order is scheduled for to let you know I will be sending you an invoice through paypal, or if you are an International customer I will send you an Etsy shop link.


For each month I will work on custom sculptures in the order their invoices have been paid.


***If you haven't paid your invoice by the 15th of the month you are scheduled in I will not be able to hold your spot any longer and will remove you from my order list. Work will not begin on your sculpture until your invoice has been paid. ***


And please, feel free to send me a message at any time with questions you might have. But please keep in mind that I do receive many messages, so it may take me a while to get back in touch with you, although I try to answer as quickly as possible.


I want this experience of creating a custom Tumble Creature for you to be a joyful, happy time. :)
Thank you!!


Hugs,
Crystal and the Tumbles

How Tumble Creatures Got Its Name

Recent pair of Tailor Made Tumble Ponies

 

When I first opened up the Tumble Creatures Etsy shop nearly two years ago I agonized over what to call it.  I wanted something cute and unique. Something that wasn't too long or hard to remember. Something that felt authentic to me as the creator. Something that summed up exactly how I felt about making these little characters out of clay. Something that I could call them in my mind that was endearing and sweet.

 

As you can see from the photo below. I came up with some pretty terrible names. Haha. :)

 

A page from my journal when I was brainstorming name ideas for Tumble Creatures.

 

I stumbled across this journal a few months back and had almost totally forgotten I wrote any of this down. But as soon as I found it I instantly remembered how much thought I gave to naming this Creature shop. I'm a huge fan of the book "Where the Wild Things Are" and I think you can see from the photo that some of my ideas were trying to honor that. Other names are just plain crazy town. Some words I'd looked up that had some kind of meaning with creatures, wild things, mixtures, and possibly. . . cute. I can't tell you for sure, clearly I was scrambling for ideas. :)

 

I remember finally settling on Tumble Creatures because of a memory I had of my mom. When I was little she used to hold me on her lap with my hand in hers and she would sort of sing along to this Danish (I think) rhyme that we called Tumble Tot, while she named my little fingers. It went like this: (I'm pretty sure I've spelled all this wrong, but this is how I remember her sounding as she said it) ;)

 

'Tumble tot (thumb)

Lick-a-pot (index finger

Long-a-mon (middle finger)

Gold-a-band (ring finger)

And little-bitty-speeler-mon (pinky)'

 

Every time I think of that rhyme I think of my mom. And of being a kid, and feeling safe and happy and like the world was just wide open and full of magic and endless possibilities. I think of picnics on fluffy blankets under an enormous blue sky. Tea parties with stuffed animals wearing their best dress. Summer afternoons on my horse in an endless grassy field. That's what I wanted Tumble Creatures to be about. Magic. Hope. Love. Endless possibilities. Maybe that's too much to ask of clay sculptures. . .  but I sort of think they're up to the task.

 

There's magic in creating something purely because you want there to be cuteness where there was nothing but a lump of clay before. :) I believe that. And if you're reading this. I'm pretty sure you do too.

 

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.”
― Roald Dahl

 

A page from my sketchbook this week.

 

 

I want to quickly say a very big thank you to all of you out there who are Tumble fans. You make my dreams a reality on a daily basis, and you prove to me that by believing in magic you will find it. Thank you so much.

 

Love, Hugs, and Pony kisses,

Crystal and the Tumbles

Listening to: Gary Clark Jr.
Watching: The Escape Artist
Reading: The Rook
Snacking on: Hummus and pita chips
Drinking: Peppermint herbal tea

 



Creative Momentum

 

“When the creative impulse sweeps over you, grab it. You grab it and honor it and use it, because momentum is a rare gift.” Justina Chen

 

My son's back at school this week (thankfully fully healed) and things are slowly returning to the normal way they were before his surgery. For the first time in several weeks I've had a few hours here and there to return to work.  

 

In the quiet mornings I find myself sitting at my desk. I feel a little lost with everyone back to work and school. The creative momentum I've used to sustain me for so long seems just out of reach.

 

But I've been here before. As most other things in life creativity seem to have a natural ebb and flow. But this time feels different.  

 

I lean back in my chair and place my cup of herbal tea in front of me. Steam curls from the rim of my mug. Sunlight pours in through the window. Clay rests near my fingertips. Sculpting tools fill a glass jar to the left, their metal tips glinting in the light. A nearly filled sketchbook sits at my right. But none of it tempts me to create.

 

Out of habit more than anything else, I pick the sketchbook up and rifle through the pages until I land on an empty one. I choose my favorite sketching tool, a sepia Prismacolor, and start to draw. The pencil feels comfortable and familiar in my hand. It whispers against the paper, the sound soothing, mellow and contemplative.

 

 

 

And slowly. . .  I start to feel the creative momentum returning.

 

I work on the realistic bust for hours. Smoothing facial planes, sculpting angles and gentle contours. The tea has grown cold but I lift it to my lips anyways, and glance at the colored clay I've mixed and kneaded but haven't used for several days.

 

I pick it up, and start to mold it into shape. A pony starts to emerge. Chubby little body, dishy face, and wide, dark eyes that seem to look right back at me. I sculpt a heart shape on her rump. And a name comes to mind. Aphrodite. The little love pony. That's her name. She's adorable, and I am so happy with her. I've suddenly forgotten how uninspired I felt just a few hours ago. :)

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Aphrodite #14/365

 

 

Through all the years I've been an artist it sometimes still takes me by surprise to realize that inspiration usually finds us while we're working. Not while we're sitting here not working and waiting for inspiration to hit us in the face.

 

Duh. ;)

 

Love,
Crystal, Aphrodite, and the rest of the Tumble family

Sale update: I will be having a small sale in my Etsy shop Tuesday at 4 PM MST (that's 6 PM EST)

Listening to: Lincoln Durham
Watching: Psych
Reading: The War of Art
Snacking on: chocolate covered fruit
drinking: peppermint hot chocolate

 

The place of creative incubation

To have a sacred place is an absolute necessity for anybody today. You must have a room or a certain hour of the day or so, where you do not know who your friends are, you don't know what you owe anybody or what they owe you. This is a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be. - Joseph Campbell

This is it. My studio. Well one wall at least. I'll save the rest of the room for another day, once I've tidied it up. ;) From the time I was little I dreamed of what my art studio would be like. I'd have vaulted ceilings, north light pouring in from 6 foot tall windows that took up one entire wall. And couches. Plump, and cushy couches with shelves and shelves of art books. You know. . . for when you're feeling uninspired. Or feel like taking a nap.

In reality, I spent most of my art career working in a cramped corner of my bedroom. Or at the kitchen or dining room table. I can't tell you how many times I had to sterilize the kitchen counter of oil paints to get ready to make dinner. The truth is, a glamorous studio is an amazing thing to have, but it isn't essential. All you really need is a quiet place to work, where you can focus on the creativity that's waiting to flow through your fingers.

In my studio above I have my drafting table, where I'm sitting right at this moment writing this blog post to you, my pink hoodie which I almost always wear (you may notice that some Tumble Creatures have a faint pink glow to them in their photos. . . that's because I usually wear this pink hoodie on those chilly mornings when I take photos), my shelves full of paint (in alllll kinds of mediums) books, magazines, shipping supplies, palettes, glitter, still life props, DVDs, and lots of other essential things one needs to be an artist and make cute things like this:

And on the very top shelf you will see a portrait I painted of my youngest son when he was just a  baby, and my own personal collection of Tumble Creatures (at this typing it numbers 2) and other sculpts and figurines I've collected from artist friends.

I like to listen to music when I sculpt or draw, or watch movies (favorites ranging from Sabrina with Audrey Hepburn, to past seasons of the Walking Dead and Vampire Diaries). or listen to podcasts or audio books. I like to have something playing in the background that helps me feel less alone in this quiet space, but also gives me freedom to just create and not talk.

But two rather large, black. . . things are not present in this photo. And that's these two lovelies:

My girl Heart.

And. . .

My boy Chauncy.

They are what really makes this room of creation a most pleasant place to be. :) And make lovely foot warmers too.

Thanks for taking a peek behind the scenes with me. Let me know what other blog posts you'd like to see from me!

<3, Crystal and the Tumble Creatures

The night watch

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click here to purchase

 

 

"I know this much: that there is objective time, but also subjective time, the kind you wear on the inside of your wrist, next to where the pulse lies. And this personal time, which is the true time, is measured in your relationship to memory.”
― Julian Barnes

It's nearly the end of another week in my year long daily sculpting project. And probably one of the hardest for keeping up with. I mentioned on Facebook that this week my son had surgery, and that has forced me to slow down, to look on moments spent with my kids in a different, more appreciative light, and to set aside the clay in favor of a small hand to hold.

There's been a lot of introspection happening for me this week, and not a whole lot of sculpting. Many nights spent in solitude, watching the rise and fall of my son's chest as he breathes, deeply asleep, with the entire house quiet. The gentle, intermittent snore of the dog who has finally fallen asleep and left me to keep watch of his precious boy alone, is the only sound. The flickering light of the Christmas tree, which I haven't had the heart to take down, the only light.

And lots of time for me to think. And be grateful for this life and this family, for these children, for this art. The things I care most deeply about. My son is doing well, recovering every day.

One of the reasons I wanted to do a daily sculpting project was so I could fit in little spots of joy every single day. To be more aware of life, and the little things that bring me joy, to think of things that might bring joy to others. To live in appreciation every day for what I have.  

In the quiet hours of the night I planned out sculptures I want to make for this next week, and the week after that. . . and the week after that. I thought up blog posts I want to write, sketch projects I want to start. Creatures and ponies waiting to be born from clay, pencil, and paper.

I can't wait to share them with you. I hope you'll stick around for the journey. And let me know what it is you'd most like to see me sculpt or draw. You guys are a great source of inspiration for me.

There will be no Mystery sale this week, I have custom orders to finish, and daily sculpting to fit in as I can (all of which will be available). I'll keep you updated when I have new creatures ready to find new homes. You'll probably hear from me very soon. :)

Love, hugs, and pony kisses,

Crystal

Watching: Chopped
Listening to: The Civil Wars
Reading: The Dream Thieves
Snacking on: soft pretzels
Drinking: Ice water
Mood: Contemplative